Iconic Views on West Mtn & Bear Mtn: 9 Miles, Spots Available, Free Event

This event is not full. I’m experimenting with an additional RSVP step to reduce no-shows. Read the details below on how to get a spot.

Hi Hikers,
Come join me for a loop covering West Mountain to Bear Mountain. This is a great hike with views of the Hudson and the surrounding highlands. GaiaGPS Link.

Contact Andre with any questions about this event.

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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 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. This is still a hike, and participants should expect a day of sustained physical activity.

Route Info & Skill Level

• Distance: 8- 10 miles, depending on route
• Elevation: Approximately 2k'
• Pace: Moving pace of 1.5 to 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: Limited
• Water Sources: Limited or poor quality (requires treatment)

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• Meeting Time: 9am
• Meeting Location: Meet at the northeast corner of the Anthony Wayne parking lot (Google maps). Note that cell phone reception is very poor in that area.
• Public Transit: None
• Driving Directions: Park at the Anthony Wayne Recreation Area
• Car Pooling: Please use the comment section to organize riders if you are driving from the city. Passengers should chip in for gas and tolls (usually about $10).

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Gear:

• Standard day-hiking gear: Hiking footwear, non-cotton clothing, sunscreen, bug spray, sunhat, sunglasses, rain gear, and an extra warm layer (always come prepared for a change in weather)
• I highly recommended treating clothing with Permethrin insecticide for protection against ticks
• 2 liters/ 2 quarts of water minimum, 3 liters are suggested for a hot day
• Lunch and Snacks
• GPS app with offline maps: 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. (AllTrails is fine for ideas, but is not really a general purpose GPS.)
• Map & Compass: NYNJTC Harriman-Bear Mountain Trails or National Geographic Harriman, both available locally at REI

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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

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To get a spot, add yourself to the waiting list and message Andre that you will be attending this event - include the event name, what you have for a map, and how much water you are bringing. You’ll be counted as a no-show if you don’t attend. You will be removed from the group if you don't attend without updating your RSVP, or after two no-shows.

Why am I requiring that extra step? I limit events to around 15 attendees, which is about the maximum manageable group size. Unfortunately that means events fill up the day they are posted with people who are just holding a spot themselves, not people who intend to come. Then, as people drop-off, the meetup platform automatically fills spots from the waitlist with people who might not want to come anymore or even saw that they were given a spot. The net result is a lot of no-shows, a waitlist of people that have made other plans, and no way for those who actually want a spot to get one.

This is a bit more work for everyone, but hopefully leads to better events for everyone as well.