Eastern Outdoor Experiences
  • Home
  • Events
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • Our Trips
      • Catskill 3500 Experiences
      • White Mountains Experiences
    • Partners
    • Shop
  • Policies and Forms
    • What to Bring
    • Basic Guiding Rates
    • Refund Policies
  • Reviews
  • Blog
    • Articles
    • Upcoming Trips
    • Trip Reports
  • Cart

CONNECT NATURALLY!

Group Outings and Team Events

Outdoor Education and Skills Programs

Hiking, Camping and Paddling Trips

Exciting Backcountry Adventures

‹ ›

Catskill Hikes 2021 Social Series

Posted on May 19, 2021 by EdMoran
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. 

  • Thursday January 7 – Kaaterskill High Peak – PHOTO ALBUM
  • Thursday February 18 – Windham High Peak
  • Thursday March 11 – Balsam Mountain (meets winter requirement) – PHOTO ALBUM
  • Thursday April 8 – Westkill Mountain – PHOTO ALBUM
  • Thursday May 6 – Blackhead Range (3 peaks) – PHOTO ALBUM
  • Thursday June 10 – Panther Mountain – PHOTO ALBUM
  • Thursday July 8 – Indian Head and Twin Mountains
  • Thursday August 12 – Balsam Lake Mountain – PHOTO ALBUM
  • Thursday September 16 – Balsam and Eagle Mountains – PHOTO ALBUM
  • Thursday October 14 – Plateau Mountain
  • Thursday November 18 – Slide Mountain
  • Thursday December 9 – Halcott Mountain – PHOTO ALBUM

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


Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
Social hikes

Vaccinated

Posted on April 30, 2021 by EdMoran

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

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook

Westkill Mountain Hike

Posted on March 25, 2021 by EdMoran
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

Contact

 

See the full schedule of the Catskill Hikes 2021 Social Series

2021 social series

 

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook

Our 2021 Catskill Social series hike schedule will be published soon

Posted on November 18, 2020 by EdMoran

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.

Contact

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook

Santanoni Backpack

Posted on July 10, 2020 by EdMoran

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
Continue reading→

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook

Catskill Hikes 2020 Social Series

Posted on July 5, 2020 by EdMoran

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.

Continue reading→

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook

White Mountain Peaks Honoring Patriots

Posted on July 4, 2020 by EdMoran
Mt Washington

There are White Mountain peaks honoring patriots who signed the Declaration of Independence, but Mt. Washington is not one of them.  When the declaration was signed in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776 General George Washington was in New York with his troops.

Continue reading→

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook

Full Moon Backpacking in the Catskills

Posted on July 3, 2020 by EdMoran

Full Moon Backpacking in the Catskills is a special experiences that you’ll want to bring friends along and repeat. Our take on this amazing experience goes off-trail and navigates a fun route to an amazing remote campsite. The camping location is next to an open summit that (weather permitting) will allow fantastic views of the full moon. Please book in advance so that we can take take maximum advantage of timing of the full moon.

Full Moon Backpacking in a secluded mountain-top location

This full moon backpacking is definitely off the beaten path (pun intended) and is a Catskill bucket-list experience. It is strenuous covering 9 miles and 3000 feet of elevation gain over the 2 days while carrying overnight gear. Clear skies not guaranteed, but this is a fantastic trip even without the moon.

Continue reading→

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
Catskill Backpacking Catskill Bushwhack Full Moon

COVID-19 Impacts on Hiking and Camping

Posted on March 29, 2020 by EdMoran

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

Continue reading→

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook

Burroughs Range Traverse – February 6

Posted on January 5, 2020 by EdMoran

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.

Continue reading→

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook

News and Events

  • Catskill High Peaks – 2025 Social Series

    Catskill High Peaks – 2025 Social Series

    At least once a month, usually on a Wednesday, we will meet for a guided hike of …Read more »
  • Catskill Backpacking for Beginners

    Catskill Backpacking for Beginners

    Catskill beginner backpack with instruction.  Meals and group gear included. Upcoming workshops: Check back for 2025 Schedule …Read more »
  • Wilderness First Aid Instruction

    Wilderness First Aid Instruction

    Upcoming Wilderness First Aid Classes: I am proud to share that I am instructing HSI Wilderness First …Read more »

Contact Us

Email
ed@easternoutdoorexperiences.com

Phone
631-741-3765

  • Prev
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • …
  • 9
  • Next
© 2021 Eastern Outdoor Experiences
© Eastern Outdoor Experiences
 

Loading Comments...