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Trip Reports

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.

* We’ve had to cancel some hikes and group sizes are being reduced due to COVID-19 so check back for updates.

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 as post quarantine conditions and guidance permit.  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

Santanoni Backpack

Posted on by Posted in Adirondacks, Backpacking

Our next Santanoni Backpack trip is scheduled for June 26 – 28, 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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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

Posted on by Posted in Catskills

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

Adirondack Backpacking – 4 Peaks

Posted on by Posted in Adirondacks, Backpacking

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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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

 

Join Us at the Catskills Great Outdoor Expo

Posted on by Posted in 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 3500 Bushwhack Series – North Dome and Sherrill Mountains – Tuesday May 29, 2018

Posted on by Posted in Trip Reports

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→