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COVID-19 Impacts on Hiking and Camping

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The COVID-19 impacts on hiking include the universal disruption of plans, including ours. 

This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses.

Like lots of people, I’m going more than a little stir crazy due to the COVID-19 outbreak. I’ve been taking local hikes to get some fresh air and exercise and this really does help. It’s been a challenge to keep up with constantly changing COVID-19 impacts on hiking activities.    Active guiding is on hold for now and near-term trips that were planned have been canceled.  Longer term everything is tentative, although we are still taking bookings for guided trips.  These will be dependent on both public health policy and local rules as well as common sense regarding COVID-19

Officially, we are still encouraged to get outside, but there are important common-sense guidelines.  Below are some key takeaways regarding COVID-19 impacts on hiking and camping, my personal thoughts and interpretations regarding access and safety considerations, and some links you can use to keep track of rapidly changing guidelines for outdoor recreation

COVID-19 Impacts on Hiking – Takeways for Backcountry Users

The good news is that most parks and trail systems are open and being outdoors is considered low-risk when it comes to contracting or spreading COVID-19.  The bad news is that doesn’t guarantee access to your favorite park or trail:

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Catskill Hikes 2020 Social Series

Posted on by Posted in Blog, Catskills, Upcoming Trips

Join us for some or all of the monthly hikes in our series of free Catskill hikes.  Each month on a Thursday we’ll meet for a guided hike of one or more of the Catskill 3500 peaks.  Although we’ve tried to keep things relatively simple, most of these hikes have some challenging sections.

This is a great chance to hike with a guide and meet fellow Catskill hiking enthusiasts.  Perhaps you’ll even become a Catskill 3500 Club aspirant.  Membership in the club is granted when an aspirant has completed 39 peaks, including all 35 of the Catskill 3500 footers in any season and 4 of them that have to be hiked twice with at least one of the hikes during the winter.  It’s a lot of fun and a great motivator.  You can find more information about the Catskill 3500 Club on their website: 

http://catskill-3500-club.org/membership.php

Along the way we’ll learn about the history, geology and plant life of the Catskills as well as some basic navigation skills.  I hope you’ll be able to join for one or more of these hikes.  Drop me a note with any questions via the contact form or the phone number or email listed on the contact form: 

Contact

Below is the list of Thursday Catskill group hikes for 2020.   Click the links for more information about the hikes and how to register.  There is no charge for these hikes but you will need to sign the typical liability waivers.  These hikes are also being offered to Adirondack Mountain Club and Catskill 3500 Club Members.  Both are non-profit hiking clubs that do great work in New York State and I’m a proud member of both organizations.

We offer a full range of Catskill guided activities:

Catskill 3500 Experiences

Catskill Backpacking for Beginners

Posted on by Posted in Articles, Backpacking, Catskills, Upcoming Trips

Our Catskill Backpacking experience is a fully guided overnight hiking and camping trip that is ideal for beginners and novices.   This fun and hands-on experience will focus on teaching backcountry fundamentals in a small group setting. Therefore, it is ideal for backpackers who want to learn new skills or brush up on old ones while getting away for a relaxing weekend in an enchanting location.

We will hike between 2 and 4 miles with minimal elevation gain to a beautiful campsite in the Catskill Mountains. Your experienced guide will provide assistance, instruction, and coaching as you learn by doing.

Dates: Check for recurring dates or request specific dates

Price: $275

Reserve your backpacking experience now!

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Burroughs Range Traverse – February 6

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Catskill Free Guided Hike Series

This challenging winter through-hike of the Burroughs Range is not for everyone. The 10 mile hike with 3800 feet of elevation gain includes three Catskill high peaks (Wittenberg – elevation 3782 feet, Cornell – elevation 3858 feet, and Slide Mountain – elevation 4184 feet). Along the way we’ll negotiate many steep ledges including the famous Cornell Crack. The Burroughs Range Traverse is a fun hike for fit hikers who enjoy some light scrambling.

There are several spectacular viewpoints along the route including the famous views from the Wittenberg summit, spectacular views of Wittenberg and Slide Mountain from Cornell, and others.

Winter view of Wittenberg during a traverse of the Burroughs Range

We’ll need to spot cars at both ends to do the through hike. Plan on a full day of hiking plus extra time for car shuttling at both ends of the Burroughs Range trail heads.

Full winter gear will be required for this hike including snowshoes and crampons.

Recommended Gear

Slide Mountain Weather Forecast

Please register for the Burroughs Range Traverse by by emailing edmoran@gmail.com, calling 631-741-3765 or use the contact form below.  Mention where you learned of this hike when registering.  There is no charge for this hike. Registration ends February 4 or when all spots are filled.

This is one of the tougher hikes in our 2020 monthly Catskill hike series. If this is not appropriate for your current level of preparedness, hopefully you will be able to join on a future hike.

Contact Ed to reserve your spot

Contact

Slide Mountain Hike

Posted on by Posted in Articles, Catskills

Catskill Free Guided Hike Series

Winter view of Slide Mountain

We’ll summit Slide Mountain in the final hike of our 2019 Catskill Fall Hike Series, although “pre-winter” or even “winter” may describe the conditions that we will encounter.  Slide Mountain is the highest peak in the Catskill Mountains at 4190 feet and we’ll need spikes or crampons and possibly snowshoes depending on snow conditions.  The total hike will be 7 miles with approximately 1800 feet of total ascent.  Please wear winter hiking boots and bring layers of clothing that can be added or subtracted depending on the temperatures.  We’ll discuss strategies for staying warm before and during the hike.  See our recommended gear list for day hikes for advice on what to bring:

Recommended Gear

Slide Mountain Weather Forecast

Please register for the Slide Mountain hike by by emailing edmoran@gmail.com, calling 631-741-3765 or use the contact form below.  Mention where you learned of this hike when registering.  There is no charge for this hike. Registration ends December 10 or when all spots are filled.

We will continue the monthly Catskill hike series in 2020. Check back for details on upcoming hikes. Winter’s coming and many feel it is the best time of the year to hike.

Contact Ed to reserve your spot

Contact

Ireland Hiker’s Tour – Dates TBD

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Join us for 8 to 10 days and nights of hiking, touring, pubs, and B&B’s in Ireland.

We’ll stay in charming B&B’s, eat in comfortable pubs and sample the beauty of Ireland’s mountains and coastline. Some of the hiking is strenuous.  The itinerary will include:
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Adirondack Backpacking – 4 Peaks

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We’ll be welcoming the fall September 20 – 22 with a 3-day Adirondack backpacking trip to bag 4 remote peaks. After a long hike in and setup of our campsite, we’ll set our sights on bagging Cliff, Redfield, Skylight and Gray Peak.  This trip is for experienced hikers in good physical condition.

Cost: $525 pp

Book Trip

View from Mt Skylight
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Santanoni Backpack

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Our next Santanoni Backpack trip is scheduled for August 2 – 4, 2019. This trip features 2 nights of camping and hiking the Santanoni Range, which includes three of the Adirondack 46’er peaks. We will summit Santanoni Peak, Panther Mountain, and the “character building” Couchsachraga Peak.

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Full Moon Backpack of Allen Mountain

Posted on by Posted in Adirondacks

Join us for a two-night fully guided backpack of Allen Mountain.  This trip is scheduled for Tuesday July 16 – Thursday July 18, 2019.  The midweek hiking should provide us with Adirondack solitude.  The full moon will add an additional sense of wonder to the evenings.  All meals and group gear will be provided by your enthusiastic and professional New York State licensed guide.

The entire hike to Allen Mountain and back is 19 miles with 4000 feet of elevation gain, but we’ll sandwich a moderate backpack around a day-hike of approximately 5 miles to the summit.

Allen Mountain has fantastic views as you climb and another fabulous viewpoint featuring the Great Range of the Adirondacks near the 4340 foot summit.  The summit itself is wooded, but the great views are close by.

Although only 5 miles round-trip, the hike from our campsite to the Allen Mountain summit will be very strenuous.  The route near the Allen Brook is steep, rugged and sometimes slippery.  Therefore, the reward of a hot meal back at our campsite will be well earned.  Once back at the camp, it will be R&R time under the full moon until we have to load our packs and leave the next morning.

The cost for the July 16 Allen Mountain Backpack trip is $400.  Limited space is available.

 

Reserve your spot now:

Reserve

 

Contact us now to request more information or to schedule custom trips:

Contact

 

View / Print Full itinerary

Allen Mountain Backpack Itinerary

 

 

Bridge over the Opalescent River on the way to Allen Mountain Tremendous views close to the summit of Allen Mountain Full Moon over the trail to Allen Mountain - September 2018

Beginner Backpacking – Catskills

Posted on by Posted in Backpacking, Catskills

A backpacker is born - Eastern Outdoor ExperiencesThis overnight beginner backpacking class focuses on back-country fundamentals in a fun and enchanting location.  Therefore, it is ideal for backpackers who want to learn new skills or brush up on old ones in a small group setting.

The next beginner backpacking overnight is scheduled for June 12 – 13 in the Catskill mountains.  We’ll hike 3 miles or less each way with modest elevation gain to a beautiful campsite.  An experienced professional guide will provide instruction and coaching as you learn by doing.

Date: June 12 – 13, 2019

Price: $350

Reserve your backpacking experience now:

Book Trip

 

Whats included:

  • Meals (1 lunch, 1 dinner, 1 breakfast)*
  • Group gear (e.g., tents, cookware, stoves, water filtration, fuel).  Carrying the group gear will be a shared effort.
  • Licensed, professional outdoor guide, instruction and coaching.

Whats’s not included:

  • Personal gear (e.g., backpack, clothing, sleeping bag and pad, headlamps, water bottles, medications)
  • Transportation to/from the trail-head
  • Snacks

 Download our recommended gear list

 

A quiet backcountry campsite in the Catskills - Eastern Outdoor Experiences

Beginner Backpacking Itinerary

Before the Trip

  • We will gladly advise you remotely with preparing for the overnight beginner backpacking trip.  See the recommended gear list.

Day 1

  • Meet at the starting trail-head parking area
  • Introductions, meet the group
  • Pack-check and gear distribution
  • Hike and setup campsite
  • Optional short day hike from campsite
  • Group dinner preparation (bagged lunch is provided)

Day 2

  • Group Breakfast
  • Breakdown camp and hike back to starting point
  • Debrief and return of group gear
  • Optional post hike meal at a Catskill eatery

Class Outline

  • Campsite selection
  • Campsite and tent setup
  • Sleep systems
  • Meal planning, cooking and safe storage
  • “Kitchen setup”
  • Dressing to stay warm and dry
  • Campfires
  • Water filtration
  • Sleep systems and techniques
  • Leave No Trace

 

Contact Ed to reserve your spot or to request information about scheduling different dates.

Contact

 

*Please speak to us in advance if you have special dietary requirements.  We will accommodate special requirements at our discretion if practical, but you may need to bring your own food.  Please complete and return the Health History Form and Waiver and Liability Release Form as soon as possible.

 

Beginner backpacking group on the Neversink Rier