AboutWounded Knee Expertise I can advise on anything having to do with hiking and backpacking skills and equipment, including map and compass and orienteering skills. I cannot advise on the use of GPS devices. I cannot advise on car camping or group camping (10 or more people). My primary geographic expertise is in the US Northeast, but I know how to find information on hiking and backpacking just about anywhere.
Experience I've been hiking and backpacking for about 40 years, including ongoing section hiking of the Appalachian Trail (almost 1300 miles so far). I have hiked extensively in the New York Metropolitan Area, as well as various other areas from Virginia north, including upstate New York, New England, and Eastern Canada.
Publications New York Walk Book, 7th Ed. New Jersey Walk Book, 2nd Ed.
Education/Credentials Not applicable to this area of expertise.
Question QUESTION: First, thanks for all your great advice. I'm organizing a two-night backpacking trip for a small group of Boy Scouts (12 or less). Can you recommend a good route with stopping points at shelters? Doesn't need to be a loop, as parents can pick us up on the other end. Also, who do we need to contact to let them know we're coming?
Thanks,
Jim
ANSWER: How many miles do you want to hike on each day? And how rugged do want to make it? I need to know before I can suggest a route. As for contacting someone (I assume to make shelter reservations), there's no need -- shelters and their associated tent sites are available on a strictly first-come-first-served basis. In fact, I would recommend that you plan on tenting rather than using the shelter -- your group may be small by Boy Scout standards, but it's large by backpacking standards, and no shelter in the park system can accommodate much more than 8 people. Some of the nicer ones hold only 4. And in any case, most Scout groups that I've come across in Harriman use tents rather than shelters.
Once you send me your planned mileage, I'll come up with some routes.
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QUESTION: Thanks for your answer. We can hike about 3 miles Friday evening and 5 to 7 Saturday and Sunday. It can be moderately rugged. We weren't planning on using the shelters, but I understand that there is only camping in the shelter areas. We were planning to use tents near the shelters.
Answer Just some spelling corrections...
Here are a couple of routes to consider:
1. Start at Montebello Park on 202, take Kakiat trail to Suffern-Bear Mountain (SBM) trail. Follow SBM NE to Stone Memorial shelter for your first night. Continue NE on SBM to Big Hill shelter for your second night, then follow SBM to Gate Hill crossing for pick-up. Note: There is no overnight parking at Montebello Park.
2. Start at Tuxedo commuter Park and Ride, take Ramapo-Dunderberg (RD) trail to Tuxedo-Mount Ivy (TMI) trail. Follow TMI east to White Bar trail, follow White Bar a hundred yards or so north to Dutch Doctor shelter (first night). Continue north on White Bar to Triangle trail. Follow Triangle north to RD, then RD north to Bald Rocks shelter (pass Tom Jones shelter on the way). Exit via Dunning trail to Long Path to Lake Askoti parking area.
