wanderlust wednesday: car camping

Given the amount of attention backpacking gets in these here parts, one may be lead to believe that I favor backpacking to car camping.   That simply is not true. Ok, maybe it is a little bit true but when the air becomes crisp and I find myself craving for a home with a hearth, car camping is where it is at.  Let's be real folks, my dreams of an apartment with a fireplace, yard, and parking space are not going to be realized any time soon. 

The addition of a vehicle and a prescribed camping spot enables cold-blooded people like me to enjoy the great outdoors.  The other weekend I brought camping no fewer than 2 jackets, 2 sweatshirts, 1 long sleeved tee, 1 tank top, 2 pairs of pants, a couple pairs of socks, hat and gloves not to mention various sleeping bags/pads.  With the forecast predicting nightly temperatures in the 20s, I left nothing to chance. Being properly bundled meant I could actually enjoy the great outdoors and fully embrace the arrival of fall.  And to be a complete cheese ball, there’s something magical about the combination of autumn air, roasted marshmallows and bourbon-spiked cider around a campfire with friends.   For us New Yorkers, these next few weeks look ideal for those of you wanting to venture out on your own car camping adventure. If you're up for it, here's what I would recommend for the perfect fall getaway:

STAY

At the risk of sounding repetitive, Harriman/Bear Mountain State Parks are the perfect locale for a weekend camping trip.  They're only about an hour from the city and the parks are big enough to experience something new every time you visit.  Beaver Pond Campground is open through the end of October on a walk-in basis.  We had no trouble securing a spot last Saturday and there were plenty of places to park your tent without being on top of your neighbors.  If you're looking for something within the city limits, try Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn.  And for those of you sans gear and car, check out Malouf’s Mountain in Beacon. 

EAT

S'mores are a must in this environment and frankly it would be a sacrilege to go without.  I'm more of a deconstructionist (each element consumed separately, please) rather than a purist but some version of graham crackers + marshmallows + chocolate are an absolute necessity.  Also, we are all adults – get the good stuff.  With regard to meals, pick up some trail mix, jerky, and apples for an easy hiking lunch.  Cheesy sandwiches that can be wrapped in tin foil and thrown on the fire make for a delicious dinner. For breakfast, get yourself to a diner after breaking down camp and questioning your sanity.  Your hair will be matted across your forehead, your derriere will be lumpy from all the added layers, and you will have a particularly musty scent affixed to your clothing.  Fear not, the locals won’t notice you and the kind wait staff will happily serve you up the best hot coffee and fried eggs. 

SLEEP

The drop in temperature is no joke, especially for someone who spends most of the winter under an electric blanket. (Don’t knock it until you try it).  In addition to the standard tent (do not forget the fly) and sleeping bag, I highly recommend a sleeping pad.  It not only provides a nice cushion but also adds some insulation to help you stay toasty throughout the night.  Extra blankets and layers are also a good idea, especially since I find that a sleeping bag rated to 30 deg F means I can sleep comfortably in weather around 50 deg F.  Last but definitely not least, this is one of those moments when you want to sleep four people in a 4-person tent.  Body heat is an asset and now is the perfect time to get up close and personal with your friends.

Anyone else dreaming of a woodland weekend adventure? 

note:

most of these photos are from a hike to the old jackie jones fire tower (see below).  the views are epic (can you find the itty bitty nyc above?) but watch your step should you choose to climb it.  quite a few steps are missing and a number of boards are loose.  if you are staying at beaver pond, the park staff can help you with finding your way to the trail.  it's about 3 miles round trip if you go directly there and back.  

trail guide: 24 hours in harriman state park

If you were in NYC this past weekend, or really anywhere on the Eastern seaboard, you may have spent considerable time cursing the dreary fall weather and wishing for summer’s sunny skies.  But Mother Nature is looking kindly upon us New Yorkers because these next few days and possibly (fingers crossed) the weekend as well are looking to be absolutely beautiful. 

As the days get shorter and the temperatures hint at dropping below the freezing point, I've been making a concerted effort to soak up every minute of sun I can get by hitting up the trails on some of the local mountains.  More often than not I find myself amongst the trees at Harriman/Bear Mountain State Park.

At just over an hour (sans traffic) by car and easily accessible via public transit, you really have no excuse to not go.  Also the trails are beautifully maintained by the New York – New Jersey Trail Conference, which means you won’t be haphazardly stumbling around 50,000+ acres.  That being said, there are seemingly endless possibilities of paths which can make choosing a few for a hike or attempting a backpacking trip quite the daunting task.  Since I was just there the other weekend, I thought I’d share where my friend and I went just in case you want to check it out yourself. Disclaimer: it's a detailed doozy - feel free to scroll on down a bit to the shortened version.

THE ROUTE

Park at Elk Pen which is off of Route 17 in Southfields, NY.

Make your way across the meadow to where there is a sign with many different destinations (pictured above). 

Follow the white-blazed Appalachian Trail off to the left.  It is a bit of up and downs for just shy of 2 miles until it reaches the Arden-Surebridge Trail (red blazes).

At this point, you could check out Lemon Squeezer but since we had our packs we continued on our way to the right along the Arden-Surebridge.  Make sure you choose the  correct direction.  When looking at the entrance to Lemon Squeezer, it is the first red-blazed trail on your right.

About a half-mile further, turn right on to Lichen Trail (L on white background).  Of all the trails our feet graced, this was one of my favorites.  We stopped here for dinner and watched the sun sneak behind the hills.  

After another half-mile, you will reach the end of Lichen, turn right on to the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail (red blazes) and follow it for a half-mile to the shelter area.  Set-up camp or continue on your merry way if making this a day trip.

The Ramapo-Dunderberg continues for another  mile before reaching the turn off for the Nurian Trail (white blazes). We planned to take this route on our first pass but due to a missing blaze and yours truly with her head in the clouds, an extra mile and maybe 500 feet in elevation gain was added to our trip.  Don’t be like us (unless you love backtracking uphill) and make a right on top of the rocky peak.  If you start going steeply downhill for more than 100 feet, you have sadly missed the turn. 

After successfully making it on Nurian, the trail  meets up with White Bar Trail for a bit and at that point it is marked as a black N with a while background since the White Bar also uses white blazes.  It also kisses the yellow-blazed Dunning Trail.  Ignore these two trails and stay on Nurian through the Valley of Boulders until it reaches Stahahe Brook (red horizontal strip with a white background) on your right. 

For the rest of the hike, the trail is pretty flat and it pretty quickly feeds into the Arden-Surebridge Trail (red blazes) which lead back to Elk Pen.  This backpacking trip was short and sweet but not too shabby for having less than 24 hours to spend gallivanting outdoors.  And yes, we stayed out for the night but this could easily be hiked (or run – the footing was pretty solid) in one day.

THE SKINNY

Elk Pen >> Appalachian Trail >> Arden-Surebridge >> Lichen Trail >> Ramapo-Dunderberg >> Nurian >> Stahahe Brook >> Arden-Surebridge >> Elk Pen

THE STATS

Mileage = 8.75 miles
Best Elevation Estimate Using an App on my Phone = 1792 feet
Times I Was Temporarily Lost But It So Does Not Count = 1
Total Time Hiking+Eating+Sleeping = 20.5 hours

notes:

lichen and ramapo-dundergberg involved hiking on semi-smooth rock.  if it has been raining or is going to rain, these would probably not be my first choice.  also remember to look for cairns as well as blazes on these trails as the trail markings aren’t always that easy to see.  to avoid getting lost, i highly recommend downloading the aveza pdf maps app and then purchasing ny-nj trail conference maps for harriman.  you can then pinpoint your location to the trail map should you find yourself in a pickle.

harriman state park has a number of lean-tos that you are required to sleep in or near if you stay the night.  you will see many people not sleeping in the designated areas.  don’t be like those people.  the rules are in place to protect the park and come on now, if you are backpacking an hour from nyc chances are you are never going to be completely alone.  perhaps sad but true.

for more photographic evidence of what you would be getting yourself in to if you decided to follow our footsteps, check out this post. 

north woods, ny

As soon as I took the last exam for my summer semester,  I drove my well-packed vehicle north into the mountains.  While my recent return to school has been better than what I anticipated, life lately has still been ridiculously busy.   By the end of finals, I knew I would be due for life away from computer screens so I coordinated time off from work with time off from school and made the 6+ hour drive to New York’s Adirondack Park. 

My extended family has an annual summer tradition of descending on the North Woods.  As each of us winds our way down one of my favorite wooded paths to the designated campsites we will call home for the next week, a regression occurs.   The past weaves in and out with the present and we all fall back into the familiar rhythms of lovingly harassing one another through the routine of sleep, eat, play, repeat.  The sheer number of bug bites and bruises on my body attest to this undeniable fact about family vacations.

Time has a funny way of nonlinearity when family traditions are involved.  We run and scamper, and poke and prod, and tease and tangle our way back into the familiarity of unchanging relationships.  I am yours and you are mine and I will love you until the end of time.  Isn't that the rhyming vow of all families?  Sure the attendance may vary a bit from year to year as relationships begin and turn into marriages, extraneous commitments take precedence, and the traveling to a place where there is no longer a living family member at times seem a bit too much to bear.

But even with the hubbub and the schlepping and the rigmarole of it all, this yearly ritual is an utmost necessity.  We play games both old and new, tell mostly true stories, and go on the most epic of adventures.  We stay up late, endearing ourselves to our neighbors with our deafening laughter well past the quiet hours curfew.  We sneak out onto the lake in the middle of the night for just one more glimpse of the Milky Way and maybe even just one more shooting star. 

This tradition did not begin with my generation but I will do everything in my power to ensure that it sticks around for the next one. There is something undeniably magically about intentionally gathering together year after year in this little piece of the woods we claim as our own.  Something that I hope to experience with this family of mine for a very long time.

notes:

- there are many places to lay claim to in new york’s adirondack park, including public and private campgrounds.  we stay near tupper lake as per tradition and fortunately it is also an ideal locale since it provides easy access to the tri-lakes area for a variety of hiking/paddling opportunities as well as rainy day adventures.

- related to the above note: if you happen to be in the area and looking for mild outdoorsy/rainy day activities check out the wild center or the lake placid olympic sites.  we checked out the ski jumps which host extreme summer tubing during the latter half of the week.  sadly, we visited on a tuesday but fear not; we have big plans in place for next year.

- my big brother got engaged to one of my favorite people while we were camping.  krissy has been a voting member of the family for many years but i am ridiculously excited for them to make it all official.  obviously my excitement is not real unless i announce it onthe interwebs.  obviously.

be careful what you wish for

Over the past few weeks, I have been figuring out how to maintain some sort of balance in my life.  And I get that this will always be a work in progress but I am feeling pretty good about it these days.  Maybe it's because this summer sun has me all sorts of happy.  Or maybe it's because I greatly overestimated how crazy my life would be at this point.  Granted I am only a three weeks into the swing of school, work, summer, etc., but so far so good.

With yesterday's festivities, I knew that my cousin Colin would be around in our hometown and that he would totally be up for a mini-adventure.  We set our sights on an early run at Connetquot River State Park for Sunday morning.

The only time we were running 'together.'

To be completely honest, I have fallen off the running wagon these past couple of weeks.  I would like to blame this entirely on an injury but there has also been just a lack of motivation.  No bueno.  It's funny because I am feeling fairly motivated in other parts of my life.  It's almost like I only have so much brain capacity for willpower.  At the end of the day, all I want is ice cream and my bed.  I hoped that by getting my feet dirty I would feel re-inspired to stick with my training plan or you know at least run a couple times a week.  If I had known what these trails had in store for me, I probably would have cut back on that whole I need motivation thing.

This running buddy is more my speed.

As we made our way to the park, the skies opened up and it started to pour.  Not to be deterred, we continued to the trail and accepted that we would be thoroughly soaked.  Looking back, I should have been thankful for the rain because at least it wasn't hot.  After a couple of miles, the rain stopped and the air became stagnant, sticky, and steamy.  Not my favorite.  And to make matters worse, with this insanely humid weather came swarms of insects which were mostly horseflies.  Stupidly, when I first saw them encroaching in my space I thought what funny looking moths.  I know.  I am just as disappointed in myself as you are.  They let me know pretty quickly that they were merciless bloodsuckers and hence became my primary running motivation. 

I spent the remaining 3-4 miles of my run alternating between swinging my arms in the air above and around my head and smacking myself all over my body in a sad attempt to keep them off of me.  The shear number of bugs was ridiculous.  Also, at this point my feet were audibly squishing in my sneakers and with each stride I was generously sprinkled with sand and mud.  I was uncomfortable, looked absolutely ridiculous, and knew that there was no way I could stop. I could have been angry about it or at the very least frustrated but all I could do was laugh. I mean I got exactly what I asked for.

I should have known better when this swamp was at the start of the trail.

notes:

- if you drive to connetquot, you must pay to park there ($8 per vehicle).  you can alternatively bike, run, or horseback ride in and avoid a fee.  with that in mind, be aware of horses while exploring this park and remember that they always have right of way.

- get a map when you enter the park or use gps on your phone.  i am pretty familiar with this park as i used to horseback ride here and i still managed to get turned around making my planned 3-4 mile run a 5-6 mile run.  you can imagine how thrilled i was to be running for an even longer time with my horsefly friends.

- no fathers were neglected in the execution of this activity.  they were of course invited and shockingly decided that spending the morning indoors and dry was a better option.  don't fret - there was plenty of adventuring that afternoon (evidence below).

sunken meadow state park, ny

I started classes a couple of weeks ago and I’m not going to lie.  This whole find time to run in between full-time work and full-time school is not going so well.  Actually, finding time to do anything other than my job and classes during the week has proven to be rather difficult.  I spend Friday evenings attempting to reconnect with friends I had to cancel or ignore throughout the week which really does not feel good. (Mea culpa, mea culpa).  That being said, I have managed to sneak in a few runs and activities to keep me a sane person and hopefully somewhat on track for September’s race. 

This past weekend I took advantage of the break in rain and checked out Sunken Meadow State Park out on Long Island.  I am in love.  I have been to this park a few times before when hiking the greenbelt as part of a family Thanksgiving tradition but never to run the trails.  When asking my cousin where he recommended I run this weekend, he immediately replied Sunken Meadow.  And being the swell guy he is, he even mapped out a path for me to make my miles.  Cousins are the best.

He also recommended I arrive at the park early to avoid the picnicking crowds.  I did not follow this advice and somewhat regret that decision.  I saw somewhat because I really love people watching and there were all sorts of people enjoying the outdoors on a very sunny Sunday.  There were families playing soccer and barbecuing up a feast, kids climbing up into the trees, impromptu baseball games using sticks for bats, and music.  So much music. 

As soon as I left the picnic areas and made my way for the trail, the crowds disappeared and I could no longer make out the Latin beats.  Instead I was completely consumed by the LI Sound to my left and the hills up ahead.  Having not run on a trail with any kind of elevation for a few weeks, they burned.  But it also was so much fun just to get out and stretch my legs.  The only other people I saw were a couple going through a proposal/break-up (I’m really not sure which and yes, it was super awkward for me to literally run into it.)  and some disgruntled yogis (shouldn’t that be an oxymoron?).  At the end of my jog, I cooled down on the boardwalk and breathed in some salt air while cooling off with the seaside breeze.  All in all it was a lovely way to spend the afternoon.

 How was your weekend?