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Catskills

Catskills

Catskill Backpacking for Beginners

Posted on by Posted in Articles, Backpacking, Catskill Backpacking, Catskills, Trip Reports, 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: We will be running additional Catskill Beginner Backpacking Workshops this fall and are happy to schedule specific dates upon request.

Come explore the wonders of camping at 2150 feet of elevation with us.

Price: $249

Reserve your backpacking experience now!

Continue reading→

Catskill Hikes 2020 Social Series

Posted on by Posted in Articles, 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.

Continue reading→

Full Moon Backpacking in the Catskills

Posted on by Posted in Backpacking, Bushwhacking, Catskill Backpacking, Catskills, Trip Reports, Upcoming Trips

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.

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Burroughs Range Traverse – February 6

Posted on by Posted in Catskills, Trip Reports

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.

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Slide Mountain Hike

Posted on by Posted in 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

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.

See the latest beginner backpacking trips:

Catskill Backpacking updates

 

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

 

Join Us at the Catskills Great Outdoor Expo

Posted on by Posted in Articles, Bushwhacking, Catskills

Eastern Outdoor Experiences will be exhibiting at the Catskills Great Outdoor Expo.  We are proud to join this fun and informative event in Kingston, NY on Saturday March 30.  The Expo runs  from 10 AM to 5 PM at the Best Western Plus Hotel and Conference Center, which is located at 503 Washington Avenue in Kingston, New York

Please stop by and say hello.  We will be there all day and therefore eager to chat about outdoor adventures in the Catskills.  Above all we are excited to meet other outdoor enthusiasts.  We love answering questions and hopefully getting to hear about your Catskill experiences.  There will be mini clinics during the day for those looking to learn hiking and camping skills.  At noon, Ed will be giving a presentation titled, “Bushwhacking The Catskills”.

There will be dozens of other exhibitors. These include hiking clubs, outfitters, Catskill food producers, arts and culture organizations and more.  As a result you can expect to enjoy expert presentations, free samples and raffles.

Proceeds will benefit the Catskill Center.  The center’s mission is to protect and foster the environmental, cultural and economic well-being of the Catskill region.

Eastern Outdoor Experiences looks forward to seeing you at the Catskills Great Outdoor Expo on the 30th.

If you have any questions feel free to contact Ed Moran.

 

Eastern Outdoor Experiences will be at the Great Catskills Outdoor Expo in Kingston on March 30

 

Catskill Guided Hiking and Skiing with Lodging and Food

Posted on by Posted in Adventure Travel, Articles, Catskills

Enjoy Catskill guided hiking, skiing and lodging this winter!  The winter snow season is off to a great early start in the Catskills and therefore so are the winter activities we look forward to each year.  As a result it is looking like a promising season for cross-country skiing on natural snow.  Join us for a celebration of winter with a 3-day / 2-night package of guided hiking or skiing with an experienced and enthusiastic guide.  This package includes two nights of comfortable lodging, homemade breakfasts and trail lunches.  Your Guide will accompany and assist with all facets of your Catskill experience.  Consequently, you will love this getaway whether you are looking forward to advanced or beginner snowshoeing or relaxed ski touring. Continue reading→

Catskill 3500 Bushwhack Series – North Dome and Sherrill Mountains – Tuesday May 29, 2018

Posted on by Posted in Catskills

These two required peaks include some rough terrain that you have to negotiate to reach the summits and sign the canister log books. The ledges on North Dome are notorious and can be a major obstacle for the uninitiated. The summits themselves are view-less, but we will guide you to spectacular viewpoints near both summits.

The cost for this adventure is $125. Contact us for group discounts.

Interested in extending your Memorial Day hiking holiday?  Contact us for extended guided hiking and lodging options. Continue reading→

Catskill 3500 Bushwhack Series – Friday and Balsam Cap Mountains – Saturday June 2, 2018

Posted on by Posted in Bushwhacking, Catskills

Friday and Balsam Cap Mountains are two of the “trail-less” peaks required for Catskill 3500 club membership. The hike from the parking area to Friday is one of the steepest in the Catskills climbing over 2600 feet in two and a half miles. Although there are “herd paths” on Friday that have become more pronounced over the past couple of years, good navigational skills are still required. We will guide you to both summits and Continue reading→