Appalachian Mountain Club New York-North Jersey

Full event details and registration are only available through the Appalachian Mountain Club website. Please do not RSVP via Meetup.

Series Overview: Hike just one or collect the whole set as we traverse the southernmost portions of the Long Path from its start in Washington Heights north to Harriman State Park - about a dozen hikes in all. Whenever practical these will be loop hikes - it’s about the journey, not the destination, right? Many segments are rated Moderate or Easy and are suitable for new hikers, and many will also be public transit-friendly. Long Path (one-way) distance previously hiked: 17.3 miles.

Hike #6: We'll start at the northern entrance to Tallman Mountain State Park in Piermont NY (41.037414, -73.915694). From there we'll make our way through picturesque downtown Piermont and uphill onto the Palisades Escarpment. Passing through Rockland Cemetery we'll pause at several noteworthy monuments along the way. From there we'll proceed through a patchwork quilt of county and municipal parks that include a former Nike missile emplacement: Clausland Mountain County Park, Mount Nebo Town Park, Nike Overlook Park, and Tackamack Town Park. We'll start our loop back to Piermont when we reach Clausland Mountain Road. This is a "lollipop" route that follows the same path to/from the mountaintop parks but loops around within those parks. Although the elevation gain is somewhat greater than previous "Chain" hikes, this is still a Moderate excursion.

Distance, Elevation Gain, and Difficulty: 8.3 mi., 1,200 ft. elevation gain, Moderate

For complete details and to register: https://activities.outdoors.org/s/oc-activity/a5UUN0000021paP/act00017793

Overview:
9:30 am, Tuesday, December 16
Devil's Den Preserve, Weston CT 06883
(only 34 miles from White Plains, 19 miles from Stamford)
GPS: 41.23734, -73.39542
7-8 miles; terrain - easy to low-moderate; pace - moderate

This is a notification only. Registration is via the AMC website: https://activities.outdoors.org/s/oc-activity/a5UUN0000022kYf2AI/act00017904

Details:

At 1800 acres, Devil's Den is one of the largest contiguous parklands in Fairfield County. It is managed by the Nature Conservancy, whose website notes that the preserve provides a “patchwork of woodlands, wetlands and rock ledges and a series of north-south ridges and valleys woven with streams and swamps,” making it “ideal for low-impact outdoor activities such as hiking.”

Our first and only visit of the year to Devil's Den takes place at a great time to hike there. With trees bare, the rhododendron tunnels that obscure the landscape in warmer seasons give way to sweeping vistas, highlighted by the Great Ledge overlooking the Saugatuck Reservoir, where we'll stop for lunch (unless it's windy). The Trail along the Great Ledge is at least 10 feet from the edge, so those concerned about steep drop offs need not worry.

We'll start at 9:30 am and plan to cover 7-8 miles on various red (primary) and yellow (secondary) trails, beginning on the Pent and Saugatuck Trails and proceeding clockwise (north), mostly around the outer perimeter. The terrain is predominantly flat with some mild ascents and descents, but no serious climbs of more than a few minutes, no rock scrambles and no bushwacking; overall, an easy-to-moderate outing, with the “moderate” part due to the pace and mileage. About 1000 feet total elevation. Expected duration is 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours, but please allow time in your day's plans for a potentially later finish.

Early Outs: There are many early outs along the way, which can reduce the total mileage by anywhere from 1 to 3.5 miles. If this is your plan, please have a preserve map with you, as there are many turns to navigate. Trail maps are usually available at the parking lot, but not always. Also, please keep in mind that if you take an early out, the AMC considers you to have left the organized hike voluntarily. https://www.nature.org/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/documents/DevilsDenTrailMapTNC2019SmFile.pdf

AMC Health Advisory: Covid and other respiratory illnesses are circulating in our communities. Do not participate in this hike if you, or someone who you have recently been in contact with, is either infected or symptomatic.

AMC Membership Opportunity: Now through December 31, new members can get a first year membership at half-price: a regular membership for only $25, under-30s and seniors (70+) only $12.50, and family only $37.

If you are already a member, these low prices make AMC membership a very affordable Christmas/Hanukkah gift, too.

Get these membership deals at https://www.outdoors.org/get-involved/become-a-member/?chapter=NY&campaign=7012J000001R5F0QAK

RSVP for "yes" only, by 6 pm, Monday, December 15, at https://activities.outdoors.org/s/oc-activity/a5UUN0000022kYf2AI/act00017904. A pre-hike note, including detailed logistical information, will be sent to registered hikers at that time.

Join photographer (and avid AMC member) Rebecca Galbinski for a holiday season phone photo walk in Downtown Manhattan! We will meet at Brookfield Place near the palm trees at 12:00 noon for the Holiday Harmonies music show, which lasts until 1:00 pm. Then the phone photo walk begins. We will visit various sites in Lower Manhattan, such as the Oculus, Zucotti Park, and South Street Seaport, and pay special attention to the Christmas and Chanukah (and whatever else) trees and decorations. We may visit the food hall in the Tin Building at Pier 17 as well.

Bring your smartphone and be ready to take some shots. Rebecca will share some tips on how to use your phone's features to capture better photos. For some inspiration, take a look at her Instagram page: @rebecaphotony

Dress warmly and bring some snacks. We plan to finish up by 4:00 pm. If you want to arrive after the musical performance, or just come for the walk (and not take photographs), that is perfectly OK.

AMC website listing:
https://activities.outdoors.org/s/oc-activity/a5UUN000001wUEr2AM/act00017346

For more information about the AMC and its wide range of activities, visit outdoors.org

AMC Health Advisory: Covid and other respiratory illnesses are circulating in our communities. Do not participate in this activity if you, or someone who you have recently been in contact with, is either infected or symptomatic.