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: Hi. You seem to have been extremely helpful and I was hoping you could help with my question. My girlfriend and I would like to go hiking and camping this weekend (leave NYC early Saturday and return Sunday afternoon) but have to use NYC public transportation. We have both been camping a number of times before but neither of us has ever done it alone (we've also had a friend with us who was the "leader"). I've done a lot of research and there seems to be a number of options but I wanted to get your expert opinion.
We don't mind walking a few hours to a campsite from the bus/train stop, would like to do some recreational hiking (but don't mind a challenge), would like to be able to build our own fire, don't mind a lack of toilets or privy, want to be able to just relax "in the woods" at our campsite, and would like to not be surrounded by other campers. Neither of us has been on the Appalachian Trail before but it sounds like a campsite near the trail may be a little intimidating with all of the experts and potentially crowded?? I understand it may not be possible to have all of this but I wanted to provide as much info as possible.
I found an option for hiking and camping from the metro north line called Malouf's Mountain Sunset Campgrounds in Beacon, NY but they pick you up from the train station, provide food, etc. – all of which seems too easy and doesn’t sound like the experience I want to have.
Thanks for your help!
ANSWER: I've had a number of questions about Malouf's Mountain -- your impressions of the place are pretty accurate, as best as I can tell.
But WRT your other concerns: It is the nature of almost any backpacking that you might do within public transportation access from NYC that total solitude will be difficult to achieve. The park regulations for Harriman require that you camp at or near a shelter, so there will very likely be other campers nearby. On the other hand, campers are generally a pretty polite bunch and tend to leave each other alone if it's clear that they want to be left alone. And notwithstanding park regulations, lots of folks "stealth camp" at sites along the trail. Most of the lakes in Harriman have easily identifiable sites along their shores, for example.
The AT is something of a special case -- this time of year there will be a fair amount of thru-hiker traffic. But the intimidation tends to be low because the thru-hikers don't hang out with weekenders -- they form their own somewhat closed community.
Regardless, you have several bus/train options for Harriman and also along the east side of the Hudson. Harriman is accessible along the west side (Route 17) by both bus and train, and on the east side (9W, Bear Mountain Inn) by bus. The Metro North Harlem Line has stops up by the AT (Pawling and Wingdale). Get the NY-NJ Trail Conference maps of the area, study them, and make your decision.
I also recommend that you study my past answers to questions similar to yours. After you've had a chance to do this, if you still have questions, feel free to send me a follow-up.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks for your advice. I bought the Trail Conference maps and have spent a
lot of time studying them and reading your past responses.
We have changed our plans and are now planning on just a day hike on
Sunday. We are going to take the bus to Tuxedo and have planned a loop:
Tuxedo-Mt Ivy, Blue Disc south, Kakiat, Stony Brook north to Lake Sebago,
and then Tuxedo-Mt Ivy back to the bus stop. I think it will be a nice hike for
us and a good introduction to Harriman.
Any thoughts or suggestions?
Thanks again for your help!
Answer That's a good hike, although I find the Stony Brook trail to be kind of boring. You might consider staying on the Kakiat until it hits the Pine Meadow trail, then follow that to Pine Meadow Lake. Backtrack a bit, and you can get on the Diamond Mountain trail, which will connect you to the Hillburn-Torne-Sebago trail. Follow HTS to the Tuxedo-Mount Ivy trail to return to your route as planned. The reason why I suggest this change is that you'll see some very nice rapids and pools along the Kakiat and Pine Meadow trails, and you'll be able to spend some time at Pine Meadow Lake, which is very pleasant (nicer than Sebago!)
BTW, the point where the TMI intersects the Blue Disc trail is Claudius Smith's Den -- set aside some time to explore the place. It's a good-sized talus cave, and if you're willing to do some rock scrambling, you can get to the top of the cliff by going through the cave.
