NYC Hiking And Nature Meetup

Sat, Oct 18 · 9:30 AM EDT

Harriman Foliage Hike [~10 miles] [Car Pooling]

See event details for meeting location, 1 Broadway, new york, NY, US

Hi Hikers,
Come join me for a ~10 hike out of Silvermine Lake, hitting a few hills and views but mostly just covering several miles of tree-line trails for what should be peak foliage.

Contact Andre with any questions about this meetup.

Event guidelines:

• This is a social event for hikers, not a guided hike. We do try to stay together as a group, but everyone should be prepared to hike alone with a map or offline-GPS app (and the knowledge to use them) just in case.
• This is generally suitable for fit beginners: Trails are well marked (for trails), and there are shorter trails back for those who cannot complete the entire loop. Although this is a relatively easy hike, it is still a hike, and participants should expect a day of sustained physical activity.

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Route Info:

• Track: GaiaGPS Track
• Distance: ~10 miles, depending on the route
• Elevation Gain: ~1,800'
• Pace: Moving pace of slightly over 2 mph
• Navigation and Route Finding: Blazed trails
• Terrain Type: Hiking trails that may be rough and steep (Class 2)
• Commitment Level: Shorter routes and bailout points are available
• Cell Phone Coverage: Generally ok
• Water Sources: Frequent but requires treatment

***

Logistics:

• Meeting Location: Meet at 9:30am the Silvermine Lake Parking Lot (Google Maps).
• Public Transit: None. However, it might be possible to arrange pick-ups from the Suffern Train Station. (Train runs from Penn Station to Suffern, arriving 8:36 AM.)
• Car Pooling: Please use the comment section to organize carpooling, especially if you are driving from the city. Passengers should chip in for gas and tolls (usually about $10-$15).

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Standard day-hiking gear:

• Hiking footwear (boots or trail shoes), non-cotton clothing, sunscreen, bug spray, sunhat, sunglasses. (Treat clothing with Permethrin insecticide for protection against ticks - they are active until there is snow on the ground).
• Dress in layers: Rain/wind shell, medium insulating layer, base layer. Plus one extra warm layer just in case. Hat, gloves, and face warmer as needed.
• 2 liters/ 2 quarts of water minimum, 3 liters are suggested for a hot day.
• Lunch, Snacks, and electrolytes for hot days, hot drinks for cold days.
• GPS app with offline maps & battery pack: Avenza Maps App is free and there is a free Harriman map in the in-app store. CalTopo ($20/yr) is an excellent general purpose GPS program. Mapy App has basic offline trail maps that are adequate.
• Map & Compass: NYNJTC Harriman-Bear Mountain Trails or National Geographic Harriman, both available locally at REI

***

General FAQ:

• No dogs allowed, sorry
• No guests beyond the RSVP guest limit and no one under 18 allowed
• Hikes are generally rescheduled for thunderstorms, heat index >95f, or AQI >80

***

Sat, Oct 25 · 10:30 AM EDT

Last Foliage Hike of the Season [~10 miles] [Train Access]

Tuxedo Commuter Parking Lot, E. Village Rd/Powerhouse Ln, Tuxedo, NY, US

Hi Hikers,
Come join me for a ~10 hike out of Tuxedo, hitting a few hills and lakes, for what will probably be the last foliage hike of the season (maybe penultimate if the season runs a bit late).

Contact Andre with any questions about this meetup.

Event guidelines:

• This is a social event for hikers, not a guided hike. We do try to stay together as a group, but everyone should be prepared to hike alone with a map or offline-GPS app (and the knowledge to use them) just in case.
• This is generally suitable for fit beginners: Trails are well marked (for trails), and there are shorter trails back for those who cannot complete the entire loop. Although this is a relatively easy hike, it is still a hike, and participants should expect a day of sustained physical activity.

***
Route Info:

• Track: GaiaGPS Track
• Distance: 8-10 miles, depending on the route
• Elevation Gain: 1,800'
• Pace: Moving pace of slightly over 2 mph
• Navigation and Route Finding: Blazed trails
• Terrain Type: Hiking trails that may be rough and steep (Class 2)
• Commitment Level: Shorter routes and bailout points are available
• Cell Phone Coverage: Generally ok
• Water Sources: Frequent but requires treatment

***

Logistics:

• Meeting Location: Meet at the Tuxedo commuter parking lot off East Village Road (Google Maps). (Use the address 2 Powerhouse Ln, Tuxedo Park, NY 10987.)
• Public Transit: Take the 9:14 am NJ transit train from Penn Station to Tuxedo Station, arriving at 10:29 am. The station is just around the corner from the parking lot we are meeting at. Return on the 4:20 train (or 6:44 pm train just in case). Note that we are not meeting in the parking lot of the train station, the commuter lot is a short walk away.
• Car Pooling: Please use the comment section to organize carpooling, especially if you are driving from the city. Passengers should chip in for gas and tolls (usually about $15).

***

***
Standard day-hiking gear:

• Hiking footwear (boots or trail shoes), non-cotton clothing, sunscreen, bug spray, sunhat, sunglasses. (Treat clothing with Permethrin insecticide for protection against ticks - they are active until there is snow on the ground).
• Dress in layers: Rain/wind jacket, medium insulating layer, base layer, plus one extra warm layer just in case. Hat, gloves, and face warmer as needed.
• 2 liters/ 2 quarts of water minimum, 3 liters are suggested for a hot day.
• Lunch, Snacks, and electrolytes for hot days, hot drinks for cold days.
• GPS app with offline maps & battery pack: Avenza Maps App is free and there is a free Harriman map in the in-app store. CalTopo ($20/yr) is an excellent general purpose GPS program. Mapy App has basic offline trail maps that are adequate.
• Map & Compass: NYNJTC Harriman-Bear Mountain Trails or National Geographic Harriman, both available locally at REI

***

General FAQ:

• No dogs allowed, sorry
• No guests beyond the RSVP guest limit and no one under 18 allowed
• Hikes are generally rescheduled for thunderstorms, heat index >95f, or AQI >80

***

Sat, Nov 1 · 7:00 PM EDT

Who's Interested in Weekend Cross Country Skiing Trips?

Location not specified yet

RSVP if you are interested in some weekend XC trips! I'll start organizing January's trips in mid December and use this event to post general updates.

Trip dates will be MLK weekend, President's Day weekend, and likely one or two other weekends.

Likely destination include:

• Sections of the Catamount Ski Trail, which runs the length of Vermont.
• The Adirondack's Jack Rabbit Ski Trail and Avalanche Pass.
• New Hampshire with the AMC for various outings.

Contact Andre with any questions.

Required Gear & Skills:

• Solid intermediate skiing skills: These routes range from "easy and mostly flat" to "long, isolated, and very steep routes suitable for advanced, properly equipped skiers only." Even an easy backcountry trail is still a backcountry trail - ungroomed (or even unbroken) with unbridged steam crossings, blow-downs, and other backcountry hazards, plus there's always some steep and narrow bits.
• Backcountry cross-country gear: BC XC with metal edges are required, with a backcountry boot and backcountry binding. (For example: Fischer Traverse 78 Crown). Skins are highly recommended.
• Your Share of Group Emergency Gear: As group, we will typically carry at minimum: 1+ sleep pads, 1+ sleeping bags, shelter for one person, tarp, stove & pot, saw, and fire starter. Plus person first aid and repair kits. Emergencies do happen and help is still many hours away even with a SOS beacon. (You do not need to have all of this yourself, but expect to carry your share.)
• Layered winter clothing suitable for temps in the teens: Wicking base-layer top and bottom; insulating top layer (usually fleece); windbreaker/ softshell jacket; insulated water-resistant pants; waterproof shell pants and jacket; big puffy jacket; warm and water resistant gloves and mittens (two pair); face protection; winter hat; headlamp; gaiters; chemical hand and foot warmers.

If the above sounds intimidating, AMC's Winter School offers a weekend-long Nordic-to-Backcountry course, which makes for a great introduction to Backcountry XC. There is usually one in late January and one in February. (Details TBD in the fall.) There might also be an option to join the group on an easier day (especially if you are driving).

What a Trip Generally Looks Like:

• Leave on Fridays as early as possible, skiing Saturday and Sunday before returning to the city Sunday night (or Monday for a long weekend).
• Lodging is generally hotels, sometimes a house if there is a good deal at the last minute but winter weather is generally too unpredictable to book anything without a great cancelation policy.
• Attendees are responsible for their costs.

Sat, Nov 15 · 9:00 AM EST

Wilderness First Aid Course / CPR, Gowanus Location, Nov 15th and 16th

Movement Gowanus, 242 Butler street,, Kings County, NY, US

Hi Hikers,
I take a Wilderness First Aid class every few year and I can't recommend it enough, whether you are a climber, skier, mountaineer, or just a someone who frequents the outdoors.

And it's not just for those heading into deep wilderness - nearly 90% of all incidents* and 50% of all serious injuries* happen within just a few hours drive of NYC. (*Based on my experience. I hear they also happen in other places.)

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If you are interested, register with Wilderness First Aid NYC. (And RSVP here, we might organize drinks or something after class.)

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Offered by Wilderness First Aid NYC
Schedule Hours: 16 hours over 2 Days (Saturday and Sunday)
Training: Wilderness First Aid, CPR, Wilderness Anaphylaxis Training
Certification: 2 year certification
Prerequisite: None

The Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course is an introduction to wilderness medicine and basic life support skills. This is a hands-on, scenario-based training focused on prevention, assessment, and treatment of environmental illnesses, recognizing and stabilizing life threats caused by trauma, and calling for a rescue in the event of a wilderness emergency. The WFA is ideal training for outdoor enthusiasts, camp counselors, and backcountry trip leaders.

Wilderness First Aid Curriculum includes:
– Urban vs Wilderness Medicine
– Intro to Wilderness Recreation Law & Liability
– Basic Wilderness Medicine Guidelines
– Intro to Wilderness Risk Management
– Patient Assessment
– Basic Life Support
– Basic Traumatic Injuries
– Red Flag Backcountry Medical Problems
– Wilderness Anaphylaxis Training
– Basic Environmental Medicine
– Intro to Backcountry Communication Devices
– Basic Documentation
– Basics of Calling a Rescue

Wilderness First Aid NYC is a provider of Desert Mountain Medicine curriculum. All courses meet the highest industry standards of wilderness first aid training curriculum according to Desert Mountain Medicine and the Wilderness Medicine Education Collaborative.