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.

I want to go on a one-night backpacking trip near NYC. Can anyone recommend a good location? Also, do I need a permit or reservation, and is overnight parking available? Thanks!

This summer I’ve been organizing some weekend trips to take friends on with the goal of sharing my love of backpacking with other people in my life. The first one was in the Catskills (peekamoose mtn, table mtn, fisherman’s trail) and as much as I personally enjoyed the trip I think the monotony of green tunnel hiking ( + a tough climb up a hot and humid trail) made it not quite enchanting for my friends.

This past weekend I was driving in the SW Catskills (Pepacton reservoir to Bethel via Beech Hill rd, Beaverkill rd & old route 17) and was struck by the beauty of these rolling hills where much of the tree coverage had been cleared on minimally developed properties (mostly small farms) along the side of the road. Previously I had restricted my search for trails to wilderness areas and focused on trails that climbed up to some mountain vista, but I’m rethinking that now. These hills aren’t in any wilderness protection area and there was a noticeable human footprint, but it seemed to be in harmony with the natural landscape and didn’t detract from the area’s beauty. Using the NY/NJ Trail conference maps I found some hiking trails in the area (Mary smith, Middle Mountain, Touch-Me-Not trails) but they all run perpendicular to the roads and seem to be under tree coverage for >90% of their length.

One trail section that falls into this category would be the short section of the AT in NY from west Dover rd to the Pawling nature reserve, I thought that section of trail was very pretty when I backpacked it years ago but its not quite long enough for a weekend trip.

Does anyone know of any trails / trail sections that spend a decent amount of their length outside of tree coverage in a pretty landscape? (ideally within a 3-4hr drive of the city)

I guess one option might be the high elevation areas of the Adirondacks, but I think relying on high elevation to get out of tree coverage will inevitably entail a decent amount of elevation gain which might be tough for the uninitiated. Still, am open to hearing any and all suggestions!

TLDR: Looking for pretty trails / trail sections that spend a decent amount of time outside of tree coverage (or have notable features outside of tree coverage like meadows or fields) and are accessible by a 3-5 hr drive from nyc.

Happy Trails :)

Planning a backpacking trip in Harriman for a weekend (Friday night until sunday night). Plan would be to train to sufferin after work on Friday from penn. Any good tips on where to camp or any particularly good routes or loops (with maps if possible)? Looking to do ~10-15 miles Saturday and Sunday but very flexible.

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.

Hey all, I wanted to see if anyone has some gear they'd be willing to rent out for a weekend. I'm just looking to rent a bag/pad + small tent. Would love to rent a backpack too, but I've got a smaller one that I could make due with since I'm not actually backpacking.

If you've got something you'd be willing to rent out, lmk! Happy to leave something as a deposit

edit: Someone reached out, so I'm all set

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

I'll be going regardless, but it would be nice to meet some backpackers in the area.

See the AllTrails link for details but it is one of the most well known loops in the Catskills. About 15 miles total.

Burroughs Range Trail (Wittenberg, Cornell, Slide Trail) on AllTrails https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/new-york/burroughs-range-trail?sh=ed60mu

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

I was going to go to the 4th of July sale at REI, but I missed it for personal reasons. Now I am looking for reasonably priced tent and backpack. Any ideas?

I live in the Upper Midwest and I have one week in September or early October to do a backpacking trip in the Northeast. My only experience in that area was the penny loop. Any suggestions for a one-week backpacking trip?

Looking to backpack around North south lake with family. Does anyone e know if there are ca.psites along the escarpment trail?

I am leaving to do some backpacking out west soon and I need to do an overnight gear check here (have not yet been out overnight this season). Unfortunately this July 4th weekend is all I got. I am looking to do 25-35 miles, it can be out and back. I just don't want to be out with a lot of people. I know a lot of parts of Harriman are underused but I am always out there so I was looking more towards the Catskills or possibly Wharton State Forest down in Jersey?

Any thoughts? Even just the name of a trailhead or area to look into would help.