PLEASE READ THE DESCRIPTION CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU RSVP.
This is the first time I am leading a hike with this group and I look forward to it. We can do this event jointly with the group I am an Organizer for called New York City Hiking Tours.
WE WILL MEET AT ORCHARD BEACH IN THE BRONX-I'LL PROVIDE A SPECIFIC LOCATION A FEW DAYS BEFORE MAY 19. THERE IS A VERY HUGE PARKING LOT AND IT SHOULD BE FREE BECAUSE WE ARE NOT DOING THIS IN BEACH SEASON.
I know you folks like dogs-and I do too-but unfortunately NO DOGS on this one.
At first, we will limit the size to 15 -20 members from each group and see how that goes.
Please wear long sleeves and long pants on this event. There are deer where we are going and where there are deer there are ticks.
This event will be a fun, relatively fast paced 4 mile hike beginning in Orchard Beach which will include a hike around Hunter and Twin Islands which are on the far edges of Orchard Beach. Terrain is uneven but mostly flat and not that difficult to deal with. I suspect only a few members have ever been to "The Islands". In fact, most folks probably have no idea these islands-and they are no longer islands- even exist. Both "islands" are heavily wooded, uninhabited and even a bit mysterious. A while back, I literally ran into a deer while scouting out the route on Twin Island. FEATURE PHOTO TAKEN BY THE LATE & GREAT JIM WILLIAMS OF NYC HIKING TOURS (SEE THE PHOTOS FROM https://www.meetup.com/nyc-hiking-tours/events/288442707/ when I did this last. If you can't make it or don't want to go, you can look at the photos and make believe you went!)
The first time we did this with my group, we were led by the NYC Urban Park Rangers but the second time I led the group thru Pelham Bay to Orchard Beach and then around "The Islands". (The professional is the one who can do it again-Dizzy Gillespie said that. And Stymie of the Little Rascals said, I don’t know where we’re going, but we’re on our way.)
Although I mostly lead relatively fast paced walking tours, I will provide a very minimum amount of commentary about the creation of Orchard Beach and the "Tent City" that once existed there before the Beach was created. But this is a hike at a moderate pace.
YOU CAN BRING LUNCH TO EAT ON ORCHARD BEACH AFTER WE FINISH.
There is NO charge for anyone attending this event but I encourage you to help support The Westchester Hiking Meetup Group by making a contribution the next time you see your Organizer Sandy. Meetup does NOT charge that much to be an Organizer but anyone who organizes a group has to spend much time and effort in preparation and managing the group. Support your Organizer!
I would ask that people not post comments or questions pre-event. If you need to reach me you can contact me at bsb2@att.net I have found many of the comments/questions posted pre-event are not really relevant to anyone other than the person asking them and can be answered by reading the description of the event. You can always post photos or comments AFTER the event.
Attendance is limited to only those who RSVP and a registered guest-limit of 1. No exceptions, please.
I don't do rain or a poor forecast.
Hope to see you all soon.