BLAZE >> Backpacking Gay Men of NYC

Ready for a nice hike on the first day of fall and on the eve of Blaze's 15th birthday? Let's go for a day hike to Stokes State Forest and see Buttermilk Falls again!

The hike will be up to 12-13 miles long with the total elevation gain of a about 1500 feet. This is a difficult hike because of the mileage hiked. Only physically fit individuals can participate, though no prior hiking experience is necessary. The number of participants is limited only by availability of carpool seats. (I'll open more spots as more drivers sign up, so go ahead and put yourself on the waiting list. If you are willing to rent a car, indicate so. If we need a car rental, I'll let you know. In that case the car rental cost gets split across all people who need carpooling from NYC.)

The plan is to leave New York City around 8 a.m. so that all of us can meet at Dunkin' Donuts in Lafayette, NJ (Route 15) by 9:15 a.m., see the exact address above on this page. Drivers should take I-80 West to Exit 34, then Route 15 North to the Dunkin' Donuts in Lafayette. From there we'll drive our cars to the park, rearrange them for a through hike, and start hiking.

Everyone should bring a lunch snack and at least two liters of water for the hike. We'll stop for dinner on our way back home. We should be back to NYC around 7:30 p.m.

As to the gear, everyone should have good boots. Also bring layers of clothes since it may be cold, but we'll be warm while hiking. Prefer synthetic clothes, which dry quickly, since we'll sweat. Don't forget to bring a rain jacket in case we get a rain shower or strong winds.

I'll have a map, a compass, a first aid kit, and some other essential gear. If you have any question, please e-mail me. If you have a question for everyone, post it. I will contact you on Thursday evening to organize the carpooling.

Milos

Bag three Catskill High Peaks and get your legs ready for snowshoeing season with a three peak traverse over the Slide-Cornell-Wittenburgh traverse. If the seasons and the weather cooperate, we will be blessed with amazing autumn foliage.

The beloved Twentieth Century Naturalist and Nature Writer John Burroughs compared the Slide Mountain range to a "gigantic horse. The horse has his head down grazing; the shoulders are high, and the descent from them down his neck very steep ... the high round shoulders and the smooth strong back of steel are alone visible." Our journey will be up the horse's nose, over his head (the summit of Slide) and down down his neck to the twin shoulders of Cornell and Wittenburgh. Then we re-trace our steps back to our starting point for a 12-mile roundtrip hike.

It is a 2.9 mile moderate uphill hike from the Slide Mt. Parking Lot on Olivera Rd to the summit of Slide (4,180 feet). Then a 2.3 down and up trek to Cornell (3,860 feet), followed by a 0.7 hike over to Wittenburgh (3,780 feet). Burroughs claimed that the spruce-coned Wittenburgh has the best views: "The view from Wittenburgh is to many respects more striking, as you are perched immediately above a broader and more distant sweep of country ... You are on the eastern bank of the southern Catskills and the earth falls at your feet and curves down through an immense stretch of forest til it joins the plain of Shokan, and thence sweeps away to the Hudson and beyond."

Climbing a mountain can be taxing on the body. This hike will have us climbing three different mountains, two of them twice on the there-and-back. Some of the cliffs have wooden ladders that we ascend and descend. Sturdy hiking boots are a necessity as is a good amount of water and energy foods. Hiking poles are recommended. Dress in layers and pack a jacket and winter hat for use on the summits if need-be.

Our pace will be moderate, which means steady but not so rushed as not to take time to appreciate the views, vistas, and nature specimens along the way. Everyone is encouraged to hike at their own pace, with the group coming together on the summits. Everyone is encouraged to have their own hike such that anyone is welcome to turn back at any time such that the mileage or ruggedness of the trail should not intimidate.

We will start this hike at 10am to permit travelers from afar the morning leisure to join us; the drawback is we may finish in the dark. Bring a headlamp with fresh batteries. If we time it right we might be able to watch the sun set while on our return hike over Slide Mt.

Anyone wishing to set up a carpool is encouraged to use the Event Chat to discuss this with other participants.

I'm so excited!! We are having our first overnight Gourmet Cook-OFF in Harriman State Park! The one requirement being you have to cook a Gourmet Meal to share with all. We are not looking for the next Gordon Ramsey Hell's Kitchen Chef; however, hamburgers and hotdogs don't make the cut unless you are creative turning them into amazing sliders and fancy pigs in the blanket. Seriously, lets have fun and enjoy some good cooking out in the woods. Oh yeah, no dehy's allowed, LOL. Cooking on the fire will be limited based amount of people, so be prepared to cook on your stove if need be. Please cook a main and a side, and feel free to be creative! Plan to cook for a quantity of 2-3 people.

Harriman State Park is our destination, and we'll be camping lakeside at Lake Skenonto. We'll hike in about 2 miles on Saturday, and cook the same night for optimum freshness. The hike in will include some scenic views and about 250 feet of elevation gain. We'll hike out again the same way.

Temperatures should be about 75 as a high and potentially low 40's at night. Be sure to bring a suitable sleeping bag, tent, and pack to port in all your delectables. Day hiking after we set up camp is an option. You should have basic backpacking gear, and reach out to the organizer for tips and questions. We'll have a logistical spreadsheet to coordinate rides from the city (train service also available).

Space is limited, so sign up now!

Ready for a fall colors backpacking trip? This time for an overnight to the Catskills! The sixth annual edition of this hike!

We'll hike about 24 miles in two days with the total elevation gain of about 5,000 feet. This hike is NOT suitable for beginners. It is a very difficult hike because of the mileage hiked, the elevation gain, and the fact that we'll be carrying heavy backpacks. The weather may be challenging, too. You have to be physically fit and have backpacked in the past. The number of participants is limited to 9 by the park rules and regulations and by available seats in our cars. (I'll add more spots as more drivers sign up, so go ahead and put yourself on the waiting list.)

We should leave New York City on Saturday at 7:30 a.m. so that all of us can meet at Phoenicia Diner by 10:00 a.m., see the exact address above on this page. Drivers should take I-87 North to Exit 19, then Route NY-28 to Phoenicia (total distance 120 miles). From there we'll drive our cars to the park, rearrange them for a through hike (nearly a loop), and start hiking. Saturday night we should spend on Terrace Mountain or Woodland Valley. On Sunday after the hike we'll stop for dinner in Phoenicia. We should be back to NYC around 9:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Everyone may need to bring at minimum 1 gallon of water if we stay at Terrace Mountain since there is no water. You have to bring two lunch snacks, one dinner, and one breakfast meal.

As to the gear, everyone has to have good boots and layers of clothes (preferably non-cotton). Be prepared for rain and cold. (A few years back we had snow.) A sleeping bag and a sleeping mat are a must. Tents and stoves can be shared.

Don't forget to bring cash - we'll share the cost of carpool, gas, tolls, and you'll need to pay cash for dinner on Sunday.

I'll have a map, a compass, a first aid kit, and some other essential gear. If you have a specific question, please e-mail me. If you have a questions for everyone, post it. I will contact you a few days before the hike to organize carpooling.

Milos