Winter camping trip somewhere?

[coldfeet]

Hello, I'd like to get some experience hiking/camping in the winter (I think), something like the group did last year in Baxter (3-5 days). I have off from school (teacher) during the middle of February. Is anyone planning something that isn't to crazy for a beginner?..thx

 

[funkyfreddy]

Hi David, The Catskills might be a good place to start, Ashokan High Point comes to mind immediately. There's also a lot of other places in the vicinity that might be good winter camping spots. I might be interested in doing this in February as well. Fred

 

[MattC]

David,

First I'll just say that it's great that just a while back you had the knee issues, and now you're bagging peaks and proposing winter trips!

I agree w/ the funky one that the Catskills would be a good place to start w/ winter camping-lots of places to go that aren't too far up or in from the road. I'll be up for oodles of Catskill hiking this winter as I'm after 15 peaks to finish the winter 35, and I'm sure I'll hit some others as well. That's dayhiking of course...

I'm not sure I'm quite up to winter backcountry camping just yet. For one thing, I'd need to borrow a sleeping bag. Maybe some form of quasi-car-camping would be easier. We'll see, it's still a long way off.

Matt

 

[Halite]

I'll add another vote for the Catskills. Great place to get your feet cold!

There are a lot of great places to camp that wouldn't be too hard a hike in and would make a good base camp for further hiking. The jeep road up the back side of Hunter, for example, allows good sled access to a shelter. So bringing plenty of food and warm gear wouldn't be a problem.

Unless it's just wicked cold, you don't absolutely need a winter bag or expedition tent to enjoy winter camping. Doubling up sleeping bags can easily deal with pretty cold temps.

It's a ways off, but you got me looking forward to the winter season already.

 

[CrisisBill]

I did 2 winter campouts in the Catskills last winter, I went to Peekamoose and had a blast! Set up the tents and had a great time. The last trip was the weekend of the spring blizzard. Lots of nice sites right along Peekamoose Road, the hardest chore was clearing out the cars in the morning.

 

[Tom Rankin]

Hello, I'd like to get some experience hiking/camping in the winter (I think), something like the group did last year in Baxter (3-5 days). I have off from school (teacher) during the middle of February. Is anyone planning something that isn't to crazy for a beginner?..thx

There is a thread I started about going to JBL this coming March for ADK hiking. It's not really camping, but we need to bring sleeping bags, food, etc. We'll be staying in a lodge about 3.5 miles from the road.

 

[coldfeet]

Thx for info and interest....i did mention wanting to try a backpacking trip this past gathering, i want to know what i physically can or cannot do...catskills sounds great, didn't even think about it....i also want to get experience because i would like to go on one of those Mt Hood expeditions in a few years from now and have some experience under my belt.

Tom...I have a week off in Feb to try this..March might be a problem but who knows maybe i can do both

Matt...I'll be in the catskills around the middle of Nov...have my sons bar mitzvah in late oct..need to stay alive until then..after that ?

Fred...i know where u live..need a ride?

Halite ..CrisisBill...your welcome ...I like company and i try to learn from others...sometimes the good and bad..

I'm joining weight watchers this week for the 3rd time in 2 years...will take it serious this time to help out my knees..
I'll be patient and wait...have a great autumn!

 

[daxs]

I started my Winter Catskills last year and I am looking forward to adding more peaks this winter. Please keep me in the loop for hiking this winter.

 

[Tom Rankin]

I started my Winter Catskills last year and I am looking forward to adding more peaks this winter. Please keep me in the loop for hiking this winter.

I know it's getting off the track a little here, but if you join the Catskill 3500 Club, they will send you their quarterly newsletter, which typically lists 2 hikes every weekend, all year round, covering most, if not all, of the 35 required peaks, in all 4 seasons. I'm leading one 12/24 to Sugarloaf and Plateau.

http://catskill3500club.org/ - Web Page

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/3500club - Yahoo Group

 

[coldfeet]

Tom..I'd like to go on that 12/24 trip (daughter's b day) and Ed's 12/17 trip (my b day)....oh boy...i can i might be getting into trouble with my wife this winter...better do my chores for real!

Daxs -- for me the more the merrier...
I'll keep on dieting and walking the track to get into shape..

 

[Tom Rankin]

Tom..I'd like to go on that 12/24 trip (daughter's b day) and Ed's 12/17 trip (my b day)

Generally, to sign up for a club hike, you should contact the leader directly, but since I mentioned it here and I know you David, I will sign you up.

 

[charlos]

harriman

i started my winter backpacking love affair in harriman state park and highly recommend it.
first trip was ramapo dunderberg next was the suffern bear mountain trail then long path. it doesn't get as cold as the Catskills so you don't need as much gear. the shelters have fireplaces in them (generally) and the terrain is gentler which has helped me keep the miles up in coincidence with the shorter days.
cant wait for winter!

 

[Jay H]

All the longer trails in Harriman have shelters (Long Path), Ramapo-Dunderberg, Suffern-Bear Mountain, however, it is technically illegal to camp in Harriman, it's only legal to stay in the leantos. I'm not sure whether they even will allow tenting around leantos... Just letting you know.

Suffern-Bear Mtn has some really nice stone leantos on it, Big Hill and Stone leanto come to mind. There's a metal leanto on the LT that I can't imagine being to nice in winter or if it's raining..pitter patter... pitter patter!

If You want to just practice winter camping, heck, you can do so in your backyard!!!! Assuming you have one and there is enough snow in Long Island...

Jay

 

[coldfeet]

Jay...the scout master advided me on doing that...sleeping in my backyard on a cold night...if i liked it i could join them on their winter trip in the catskills...i did that jan 04....i was the big talk during the indoor soccer the next day because i ended up doing it 2 nights in a row!


Carlos...after my trip with the scouts i went with a scout venture group the next month and hiked somewhere in harriman...all i remember was the "lemon squeezer"...it was fun

after those 2 experiences almost 1 1/2 years ago i think i enjoy this hobby...keep the ideas coming...thx

 

[Jay H]

Well Coldfeet, I know I plan on finishing my Winter Catskills 3500 this winter, so if the catskills clan are planning some winter events, we could let you know if you would like to join us...

Jay

 

[Tom Rankin]

Well Coldfeet, I know I plan on finishing my Winter Catskills 3500 this winter, so if the catskills clan are planning some winter events, we could let you know if you would like to join us...

Jay

Hey Jay, do you still need West Kill ? I'm planning to finish there this winter. I'll save it for a nice day! Keep in touch!

Matt... You too ?

 

[KenC]

I'm interested in doing some winter hiking in the Catskills also. I'm just now ordering the maps and guide of the area. Got B/C Skis (1st ski season)and i'm building a sled for the winter so would be in for some ski trips within my ability.

I'm in western Mass so it's not a bad drive at all. Some weekends the 4.5-5 hour drive to some of the whites areas aren't in my cards. So the Cats look like a great alternative for those times.

Great links Tom.

 

[Jay H]

Hi Tom, actually, Terri and I have on the agenda to figure out what peaks I need left... I had my list sheet thingy at work.

I don't think I need West Kill in winter but the lookout from Buck Ridge is really pretty in winter, let me know when you plan on doing that, it would be nice on a nice day.

Arggh, I was going to put my winter list here but my winter sheet is at home, squirrelled away somewhere...

to be continued.....

Jay