Hey, winter backpacker looking for info on if open burning is still prohibited at Harriman State Park (including if I even stil should, given common sense)

Went out for a hike from Silver Lake to Brien Memorial Shelter and noticed a group near silver lake with an open fire by the dam trail and was wondering if open fires were permitted again now that the ny state fire ban has expired. (I know given the wildfire risk that even if legal its probably still not advisable)

Would be using one of the shelter firepits and following the open burning fire guidelines if anything. Thanks.

Update Edit: User below called the park and received a response stating they were also unsure on the status of the fireban as the New York State general fire ban has lifted as of December.

**Fireban in Rockland county remains active. Covering about half of the park in its jurisdiction.

I would air on the side of caution and assume conditions are still not favorable for opening burning.

Looking to try circuit hike #1 today with two kids ( 10 and 8). Any insight on trail conditions. Will it be too wet to handle the parts where you need to climb? It's been years since I've done this.

Thank you for the last help on this subreddit. We've done a monthly hike for a year now creating a tradition.

Anyone know if today’s rain (downstate) turned out as snow in Harriman? Thanks!

https://youtu.be/RJ-ghXwdBQI

Thought I would hike Tuxeudo to Tom Jones tomorrow, Sunday, 11/25. Any report on the current conditions? I know there is snow. I heard there was as much as 12” at Tom Jones. Is there still much on the trail? Is it wet and muddy, icy? I will just have a daypack. I was thinking boots and spikes. Could I do trail runners and spikes? I don’t have gaiters. Should I? Poles, w/ or w/o baskets?

Assuming this rain will end the fire ban? I need an overnight trip and need a campfire!

Are there any camping sites near a water source available after the Park sites close? My partner and I are hoping to make a trip there next month, and appreciate any guidance.

I've been camping at Harriman once before, but it's been a long long time since I've been camping whether at Harriman or anywhere else. I'm currently planning an overnight at Harriman where I'll be bringing a bear canister.

For those of you who use canisters, where do you stash them at night?

• If there are bear hang pulleys provided by the park, should I place my bear canister under them?
• If not, any tips for where inside (or outside) of the campsite area I should place the canister? We all know about the bear-muda triangle, but what if I choose a location X yards from my tent, place my canister there, go to sleep early, then another camper arrives and inadvertently sets up near my canister?

https://preview.redd.it/l5h6cx7g5h1e1.png?width=800&format=png&auto=webp&s=d54433f96df92d34a3a5064e8cb75fd5c56846a0

I keep seeing online that it is possible to get to Harriman by using public transport from NYC
Can someone recommend the *easiest* and *closest* stop that we can use, that will bring us within closest distance of entering the park and enjoying hiking trails? We are looking to create a 1-day itinerary for teenagers that begins in Brooklyn, and returns by 8-9 pm.
It seems like some stops (Sloatsburg e.g. ) are a few miles from entering the park? But maybe I'm misunderstanding.
I'd love for someone very familiar with Harriman and the public transport options to give a clear suggestion.
Thank you!

Rain and wind all night but worth it for the view! Didn’t see much smoke from the fires, but pretty sure I was the only one on the mountain. Good times!

The press conference was broadcasted by the Town of Warwick on Facebook, link here. It involved the following people speaking:

• NYDEC Forest Ranger Bryan Gallagher, Nassau and Suffolk counties. He seemed to the official in charge and answered questions at end.
• Orange County Emergency Sevices Comissioner, Peter Cirigliano
• Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus
• Town of Warwick Superviser Jesse Dwyer
• Greenwood Lake Mayor Thomas Howley

Here are notable things they mentioned:

• I joined a little late, but the first thing they talked about was the 18yr old Dariel Vasquez who lost his life. See gofundme for more info about him, absolutely heartbreaking
• Red Cross is set up in the GWL community center providing people with potable water and N95 masks for free.
• 12 houses/families on Cliff Road voluntarily evacuated
• They are calling it one of the biggest natural disasters in both the Town of Warwick and Village of Greenwood Lake.
• The fire actually started in New York, at the intersection of the Lake to Lake and West Valley hiking trails in Sterling Forest State Park. Location here.
• It spread to New Jersey from there, as where it started is only 0.15 miles to the NJ border.
• Cause is unknown and will be investigated once the fire is contained/gone.
• The fire is minimally contained, about 20%, 10% contained in each state. Currently 5000 acres in total. 2500 estimated in each state.
• Wind conditions are mostly predicted to be favorable over the next few days and spare it from blowing towards GWL.
• Gusts above 20mph may ground helicopters tomorrow.
• At least 30 different fire departments are assisting. Fire trucks from Syracuse and Oneonta drove through the night to get here.
• They have about 5 engines, 4 water tankers, 6 helicopters, and 230 people in the field.(I'm unclear if this is NY only or NY/NJ combined. Given the press conference was NY only, I'm inclined to think this is NY only response)
• The rocky terrain of the state park is making fighting the fire a challenge. Normally, they would be able to use heavy machinery to contain the fire, but the terrain is too dangerous.
• Firefighters need to hike in and do what machines would do manually.
• A reporter asked what qualifies a 18 yr old barely out of HS to fight a forest fire and asked what training he received. The DEC guy just rattled off training that they do.

My 5yo, wife, and I slept one night at Dutch Doctor on Sat, getting a great test of future walking ability for the little one (he's into it!). We definitely saw the Sterling Forest fire on the way in... Scary!

While getting water at Sebago, I had the pleasure of meeting David, who I shall now think of as "Mr. Harriman." I mean, I don't think there's anything he doesn't know about this wonderful park! Thanks for the chat, David, and I think you may have inspired my son and me to walk all the trails just as you have!

Before catching the train back to NYC, we grabbed some food at Los Molcajetes, and...it was very disappointing. Anyone else ever eaten there? What was your experience?

Thanks,

Oliver H.

If you’re camping, please don’t use ANY type of fire. There’s a ban and we have wild fires popping up all over the place. I saw several camps near the Bald Rock shelter this morning with camp fires. Completely clueless.

Hi guys. Last min question for this weekend.

I'm looking to do Timp Torne from Anthony Wayne. If I come in via the orange line I drew, what's the best option to get to timp from the red pin?

1. Out and back white line
2. Loop black and white lines: this was my original plan, but after double checking with my paper NYNJTC map, the line I drew as black is a dotted line on NYNJTC map. What is the deal with that? Should I avoid that section and stick with option 1?

Got an overnight planned this weekend for an annual camping trip. We’re going to take a longer route from 9W. I assume there’s no water on trail and fires are definitely a no go with the dry conditions right now?

I found a machete lying just slightly off the AT trail yesterday during a day hike between the Elk Pen Parking Lot and Lemon Squeezer. I intended to bring it to the park office but I pushed myself too hard, too far and couldn't make it back to my car before sunset. If you think this is yours, please message me. I've already posted this in the Appalachian Trail sub.

Looking for a good route that I can do an overnight at West Mountain shelter for my first time backpacking. I've done a lot of day hiking/camping but usually not overnight on the trail. Anyone have suggestions or one they've used before? I have a car so any trailhead is fine, a loop or short shuttle ride.

I was going on the Pingyp Mountain Trail and on the may back, after passing the highway a state trooper stopped and asked me if I was ok as I was stopped on the side of the road taking a break. I responded and said “yes, im on a hike” and he responded with “ok, don’t go that way” (he points towards the Pingyp mountain). Does the have to do with the fire today? Or is the trail closed?

Here is a link to the map- Fire Danger Map - NYSDEC

Hi! I'm looking to do the Suffern to Bear Mountain Trail soon. Seems to have been mentioned plenty of times that the park is very dry, so I'm not expecting any water from streams. That said - is there any chance Third Reservoir is dry, or would that be a reliable source for at least the first half of the hike? Thanks!