Catskill Backpacking for Beginners

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Catskill beginner backpack with instruction.  Meals and group gear included.

Upcoming workshops:

Our Catskill Backpacking experience is a fully guided overnight group 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.

Catskill Backpacking is a fun and enjoyable way to get back to nature.

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

In addition to our favorite Catskill locations, the beginner backpacking workshop is also given in Harriman State Park upon request.

Dates: We are happy to schedule specific dates upon request and also periodically run open enrollment trips.

Come explore the wonders of backcountry camping with us.

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Catskill Hikes 2022 Social Series

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We’re continuing the popular tradition in 2022 of monthly Catskill “social” hikes.  The turnout in previous years has been tremendous with registrations for hikes filling up well in advance.  Each month on a Thursday we 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.

Below is the list of Thursday Catskill group social hikes scheduled for 2022.   Click the links for more information about the hikes and how to register.  Please read the hike descriptions and gear requirements before registering. There is no charge for these hikes but you will need to sign the typical liability waivers. 

Hike with a Guide

This is a great chance to hike with a guide and meet fellow Catskill hiking enthusiasts. Along the way we’ll learn about the history, geology and plant life of the Catskills as well as some basic navigation skills. 

Get Introduced to Local Hiking Clubs

Many of 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. The Catskill 3500 Club awards a patch and membership to hikers who summit all 35 of the Catskill high peaks plus four more 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

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 use the phone number or email listed on the contact form. You can also use the contact form to join the mailing list for our “HerdPath” newsletter:

Contact

Halcott Mountain – Catskill Social Series 2021

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Halcott Mountain – some say Hal-cot and some say Hawk-it, but on December 9th we’re gonna hike-it.

Halcott Mountain in Winter

The Catskill social series takes us to Halcott Mountain on December 9. This 4 mile bushwhack has plenty to offer and makes for an interesting day. Unless global warming overwhelms the Catskills this December, please be prepared with full winter gear including proper clothing, foot traction and snowshoes. If you are not new to winter hiking, then like me you are probably hoping for good snowshoeing conditions. December 9 might be a little early in the season for that, but we can hope.

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Adirondack Backpacking – 4 Peaks

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Join us July 26 – 28 on 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.

View photo album from previous trip

View from Mt Skylight
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Wilderness First Aid Instruction

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Upcoming Wilderness First Aid Classes:

  • July 16 – 17, 2022 – Alpine, NJ (registration closed)
  • July 30 – 31, 2022 – Port Washington, NY

I am proud to share that I am instructing ASHI Wilderness First Aid certification classes. First Aid in the backcountry has unique challenges. This course teaches practical skills that will enable you to respond to wilderness injuries and emergencies. I’d be happy to arrange classes for your group or organization.

Keeping a "patient" warm in Wilderness First Aid class.

Course Description

Contact us for more information

Catskill Hikes 2021 Social Series

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Catskill Hikes: Eastern Outdoor Experiences group at the Balsam Cap summit.

We’re continuing the popular tradition in 2021 of monthly Catskill “social” hikes.  The turnout in 2020 was tremendous with registrations for hikes filling up well in advance.  Each month on a Thursday we 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.

 

Hike with a Guide

This is a great chance to hike with a guide and meet fellow Catskill hiking enthusiasts. Along the way we’ll learn about the history, geology and plant life of the Catskills as well as some basic navigation skills. 

Get Introduced to Local Hiking Clubs

Many of 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. The Catskill 3500 Club awards a patch and membership to hikers who summit all 35 of the Catskill high peaks plus four more 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

2021 Catskill Social Series Schedule

Below is the list of Thursday Catskill group social hikes scheduled for 2021.   Click the links for more information about the hikes and how to register.  Please read the hike descriptions and gear requirements before registering. There is no charge for these hikes but you will need to sign the typical liability waivers. 

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 use the phone number or email listed on the contact form. You can also use the contact form to join the mailing list for our “HerdPath” newsletter:


Contact


Vaccinated

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I received my second dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine on April 21. A few days ago, the CDC announced that fully vaccinated people can safely engage in outdoor activities like walking and hiking without wearing masks.

For people that aren’t fully vaccinated, outdoor activity is still considered very safe while maintaining social distancing.

I can’t prevent you from being exposed to Covid-19, but as a guide your safety and comfort is important to me. If you are more comfortable traveling the backcountry with me wearing a mask, I’ll respect that and wear mine.

The CDC announcement of April 27 can be read here: When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated

Westkill Mountain Hike

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Catskill Hike Series: View of the Black Head Range from West Kill Mountain
View from Buck Ridge lookout

April’s featured Catskill Social Series hike is Westkill Mountain.

Westkill Mountain is the 6th highest peak in the Catskills and the highest point on the Devil’s Path trail (nearby Hunter Mountain is taller but the trail doesn’t pass over it’s summit). This trek is a great introduction to the Devil’s path on one of the gentler sections of the famous trail.

Join us on April 8 as we hike past waterfalls and great views to the evergreen clad summit. There may still be snow and ice in places and we’ll need appropriate footwear and traction devices.

This is a mostly moderate hike despite the lofty summit at less than an arms length shy of 3900 feet. There are one or two tricky ledges, especially if ice persists.

Reserve your spot for Westkill Mountain

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See the full schedule of the Catskill Hikes 2021 Social Series

2021 social series

 

Our 2021 Catskill Social series hike schedule will be published soon

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To get an advanced copy of the schedule, use the Contact button below to subscribe to our newsletter.

Due to the overwhelming success of our 2020 Catskill Social series (there has been a wait-list for every hike since resuming after lockdown) we’re gonna do it again in 2021. Once a month, usually the 1st or 2nd Thursday of the month we’ll feature a fun social hike to one or more of the Catskill 3500 foot peaks. These hikes are open to all in appropriate condition and with the appropriate gear for the conditions including members of local hiking clubs and our followers on social media.

Our first social hike of the season will be a combination trail hike and bushwhack of Kaaterskill High Peak on Thursday January 7. Stay tuned for the full 2021 schedule.

Please contact us with any questions, suggestions, or requests to be added to our newsletter mailing list. Newsletter subscribers will be first to see the full 2021 schedule.

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Santanoni Backpack

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Our next Santanoni Backpack trip is scheduled for August 7 – 9, 2020. 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.  This will be a small group with appropriate social distancing and PPE guidelines followed.
View of Couchsachraga
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