Use this thread to discuss recent and upcoming trips, get help with random questions, and otherwise chat with some helpful ultralight New Yorkers.

I am planning to do a first backpacking overnight with my 7 year old. This will be in the next few weeks - so December conditions. (I am all set on solid winter backpacking gear, R value up the wazzoo and so forth.)

He has plenty of hiking experience and plenty of camping experience just not all together. I want to do something with about 2-5 miles in and the same out and not more than about 1,500 feet of elevation gain in one day. No particular preference for a loop, lollypop or there and back route. No particular preference for disbursed camping or camping at a shelter. I would, however, like a route where there is a reliable water source near where we would be camping. I know this is an issue at the moment in Harriman and more generally problematic in the cold months.

My initial inclination is Elk Pen parking lot to Fingerboard Shelter via the AT and back the next day via Ramapo Dunderburg/Bottlecap to Lemon Squeezer and then AT to Elk Pen. It looks to be about 4 miles and 1,300 elevation gain on the way in and easier on the way out. As far as I can tell, Lake Tiorati is a guaranteed water source for an overnight at Fingerboard any time of year.  This would keep the hiking pretty manageable for my son on both days (he has hiked well more than that on day hikes).

Any issues/disadvantages with this route? Any ideas on a better route? Fingerboard seems like my best bet mostly because of the proximity to Lake Tiorati and I can’t find any info on other camping spots near a guaranteed water source this time of year but am certainly open to suggestions.

Use this thread to discuss recent and upcoming trips, get help with random questions, and otherwise chat with some helpful ultralight New Yorkers.

Use this thread to discuss recent and upcoming trips, get help with random questions, and otherwise chat with some helpful ultralight New Yorkers.

Use this thread to discuss recent and upcoming trips, get help with random questions, and otherwise chat with some helpful ultralight New Yorkers.

Use this thread to discuss recent and upcoming trips, get help with random questions, and otherwise chat with some helpful ultralight New Yorkers.

Use this thread to discuss recent and upcoming trips, get help with random questions, and otherwise chat with some helpful ultralight New Yorkers.

Use this thread to discuss recent and upcoming trips, get help with random questions, and otherwise chat with some helpful ultralight New Yorkers.

It's tough out there.

I need some help deciding where we should go next weekend! This is an open discussion, but considerations should include the current lack of overlap between water and camping in Harriman and the Catskills.

Right now I'm thinking that doing a little over half of the Devil's Path as an out and back might be the best option; all of the water sources are down low, and we can even camp low. We would start Friday night for this to work and it'll be a couple of big vert days.

Use this thread to discuss recent and upcoming trips, get help with random questions, and otherwise chat with some helpful ultralight New Yorkers.

I've got about 20 miles of the NY AT left to complete, starting from mile 1388.1 (between Harriman and Tuxedo stops on the Metro North Port Jervis Line train) going south past Greenwood Lake to the NY-NJ border (mile 1369.7).

Would anyone like to do this as an out-and-back this weekend ?

(I live in Europe now, but am from NY and got to meet some of ya'll on the trail 2 years ago ! I am section-hiking the AT.)

Use this thread to discuss recent and upcoming trips, get help with random questions, and otherwise chat with some helpful ultralight New Yorkers.

Use this thread to discuss recent and upcoming trips, get help with random questions, and otherwise chat with some helpful ultralight New Yorkers.

Use this thread to discuss recent and upcoming trips, get help with random questions, and otherwise chat with some helpful ultralight New Yorkers.

It's the elusive beginner friendly meetup; come through!

Don't forget, we're meeting at the Grey Dog tonight if you want to confirm that we're weirdos.

What: <10 mile days in Harriman State Park! This is a public transit friendly hike. I do not recommend driving if you want to hike with the group.

Where: We're leaving out of Tuxedo and sleeping at Stone Memorial Shelter. There are no privies in Harriman, but all shelters do have bear cables.

When: September 21-22. The train bus is scheduled to arrive in Tuxedo on Saturday morning at 10:59am, so we'll be leaving from the station promptly after arrival. Yes, this is multiple transfers and you start in Manhattan on the train.

Weather: Should be partly sunny with temps ranging from 50-70F. I'm excited.

Map: https://caltopo.com/m/8S7162U

Who should come: Anyone who likes backpacking, or wants to see if they like backpacking. You don't need to be ultralight, but the weather is looking pretty ideal for testing out your lightest setups. You're always welcome to drive in somewhere else or take a later train to hike in to meet us.

Who shouldn't come: Meanies.

Transit Info: If you’re taking the train, download the NJTransit app. Roundtrip tickets are less expensive. You’re going to want to grab the train from NY Penn at 9:14am and transfer at Secaucus for the second train, then again at Ramsey for the bus. Return is the opposite of arrival, and buses seem to run every two hours from Tuxedo. Alternatively, trains run hourly all day from Suffern if you want a shorter hike out.

Additional Details:

• If you comment here, I’ll confirm your attendance by 9/20.
• If you're feeling unwell, please be cautious and stay home.
• Anyone that would discriminate against someone else has no place on our meetups; we are an inclusive group. Seriously, I mean it.
• Do not park in the DEC lot in Tuxedo; hikers have been ticketed recently. The train is once again not running to Tuxedo; I give up so we're doing the bus transfer and will start hiking after 11am.

Update: I'm under the umbrella in the back right

Yes, that's tomorrow.

What: We're just hanging out! Come grab some food, a coffee, maybe a drink.

Where: The Grey Dog near Union Square - here's the menu

When: Wednesday September 18 starting around 6p

Weather: Shouldn't matter!

Transit Info: It's a couple blocks south of the Union Square subway stop.

Additional Details:

• Anyone that would discriminate against someone else has no place on our meetups; we are an inclusive group.
• If you're feeling unwell, please be cautious and stay home.

Use this thread to discuss recent and upcoming trips, get help with random questions, and otherwise chat with some helpful ultralight New Yorkers.

Use this thread to discuss recent and upcoming trips, get help with random questions, and otherwise chat with some helpful ultralight New Yorkers.

Use this thread to discuss recent and upcoming trips, get help with random questions, and otherwise chat with some helpful ultralight New Yorkers.

https://www.njtransit.com/fare-holiday

Trains and busses are free for the next week, until the 2nd, so if you were thinking about heading up to Harriman this is the sign. And if anyone's been to other cool transit accessible parks recently, even for a day hike, I'd love to hear about them.

Use this thread to discuss recent and upcoming trips, get help with random questions, and otherwise chat with some helpful ultralight New Yorkers.

Check it out. There are a number of great bags and some packs that are out of stock on GGG. And if you’re lucky you might even get a chance to talk to designer and founder, Livio!

Use this thread to discuss recent and upcoming trips, get help with random questions, and otherwise chat with some helpful ultralight New Yorkers.

I'm looking to rent 2 sets of backpacks, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads for an upcoming backpacking trip in October -- tried REI (they don't rent anymore) and base camp brooklyn, but haven't been able to find any equipment in new york that doesn't require it to be shipped in.

Does anyone have any recommendations or equipment nearby that they'd be willing to rent out Oct 8-15? Would be happy to put down a deposit for insuring against damages or anything, and handle pick up + return!

Use this thread to discuss recent and upcoming trips, get help with random questions, and otherwise chat with some helpful ultralight New Yorkers.

A while back, I saw a state park that was not too hard to get to by public transport from the city and had basic cabins you could reserve. I am trying to convince some friends to go on a weekend trip in September, but I forgot which park it was—I was wondering if anyone knew some of the parks that would fit this category.

Howdy folks, flying out to the Bay Area later this month to backpack in Inyo National Forest and have wilderness permits for Kearsarge Pass from August 23-26th. I am going with my cousin.

We are staying in the Bay Area August 20th and the 21st, then driving to Onion Valley Campground on the 22nd. We will start backpacking on Friday the 23rd and exit the backcountry on Monday the 26th. Fly back to NYC on the 27th. I have 4 extra wilderness permits available.

I am a 26-year-old veteran backpacker who will be embarking on this trip with my cousin. Throwing this out there incase anyone would be interested in accompanying us in this escapade! I can definitely share my social media handles and hate to see these permits go to waste! Will probably cancel them if I can't find anyone to come with in the next week.

Please DM me if you are interested!

Use this thread to discuss recent and upcoming trips, get help with random questions, and otherwise chat with some helpful ultralight New Yorkers.