Hiking

First: Go out and get a pair of decent hiking boots. You won't go any faster or be less tired, but you will be less likely to twist an ankle or get bruises on the soles of your feet, and reduce the likelihood of slipping on wet and/or mossy rocks. The next most important thing is water. Get dehydrated and you will suffer what cyclists call the "bonk"; fatigue and often nausea. Bring at least a quart of water. Nowadays it is easier than in the past, you can buy a "Camelback" pack with a buit-in water supply with a plastic tube that you clip to your shirt from which you can take a swallow of water at any time. Make sure you take drinks regularly during the hike, no sense bringing most of it back. Then - food. You will be exercising, sometimes strenuously. Bring snacks that are high in carbohydrates that your body can quickly convert to sugar to power your muscles. Complex carbs like granola, nuts, and dried fruit work better for this than candy bars. Don't bring a salami & cheese hero, at best it will lay like a stone in your stomach. You may even barf it up. Deer ticks are always a problem, even in mid-winter. Use bug spray liberally, and when you get home, remove & wash all your clothes ASAP! Take a shower & check yourself for deer ticks. This can be fun if you shower with a friend. If rain is a possiblity, bring a light poncho or rain jacket. Above 60º you will get wet from sweat inside it; under 60º and you will sweat but stay warm (important!). Bring a pair of socks so you can change if your feet get wet ("sweaty" counts as wet) and avoid blisters. Dress lightly and in layers. If you start off comfortable, you will very quickly get hot. Best to start off chilly & get warm as you go.

Ramapo's hikes are generally 4 to 6 miles; 4 - 5 hours long. Terrain varies from rolling to very steep, that is why we suggest hiking boots rather than sneakers. If you get out in front of the hike leader, we always stop at trail intersections to make sure we gather everyone up before proceeding, and/or turning. We have never left anyone for the wolves. We stop for breaks as needed and generally stop for a lunch break somewwhere in the middle. If the weather forecast is 80% chance of rain at the start, the hike is cancelled (www.weather.weatherbug.com), otherwise we go. If it is cold, you'll get warm, if it is hot, remove some clothing. If we get caught in the rain, you did bring raingear (see: What to bring).

We meet 10:45 to start hiking at 11 unless otherwise noted. Most hikes are loops, but where the finish is different from the start, we meet at the finish point and squeeze into as few cars as possible and drive to the start point. The maps we use are NY-NJ Trail Conference maps available at most sporting goods stores (like Campmor) and the book store on the P.I.P. between Exit 16 and Anthony Waye Rec Area. There is a new 2010 edition! If you have questions or special needs, call the hiking chaiman at 845 947-3050 or email him at pensmith@optonline.net.

Everyone is welcome! We recommend that you be in reasonable physical condition and play nice with others. There is no charge for the hike, but if there is an apres-hike party at someone's house, there will likely be a contribution requested and they may require that you notify them in advance so they know how many to buy food for. We welcome newcomers!

Kids are welcome, and kids past 6 or 7 can keep up IF THEY WANT TO, so motivation is really key here. Make sure you have some sweet snacks like M&M's for them, to get their blood sugar up if they start to get tired as well as enough water. Dog owners must obey Harriman Park leash laws (legally: dogs must be on a leash at all times. In fact, if you let your dog off leash, be sure he gets along with other dogs & people. You are responsible for your dog. Be prepared to quickly put him back on leash when we meet other groups along the way).

NOTE: you come at your own risk. There may or may not be trained first-aid people present. If you leave the group and go off on your own, you are responsible for yourself; be aware of this if you have no map and compass or don't know how to use them, and you are not very familiar with the area! Cell phones generally get spotty reception in mountainous places like Harriman Park.

—And, we are looking for people to host apres-hike parties! Hot dogs & hamburgers etc. are just fine and we pass the hat to reimburse the party host. Cheers!

Oct. 2 Walkway Over the Hudson. Meet 10:00 to hike at 11 at the Sheraton Hotel / Sharp Plaza — that the HUGE tower (with nothing else around it) near the intersections of RT 17, 287 and 87. Follow the roads and signs towards the hotel / Crossroads BLVD and the office complex. We meet on the lower level of the garage - row 4 (last row) in the middle. We will carpool from there as we need to go up the Thruway to Exit 19, then east to Highland, NY. The hike is about 3.5 miles and quite easy, suitable for beginners! Read more here.

Oct. 9 Silvermine to the Cave Shelter. We will meet Silvermine Recreation Area on Seven Lakes Drive, about 1 mile north of Lake Tiorati in Harriman Park at 10:45 to hikle at 11. The easiest way there is to take the Pailsades Interstate Parkway North to the Rt. 6 (Queensbury) Traffic Circle. Take the third exit off the circle (Seven Lakes Drive South), go about 2 - 3 miles, Silvermine is on your left. We will hike the Menominee Trail & the Long Path past Stockbridge Shelter to the Cave Shelter, a remnant of the last glaciation; probably inhabited for 10,000 years (sorry - now Park land!). Great caves to scramble through. We should be out by 4 pm.

Oct. 17 Walkway Over the Hudson. Meet 10:00 to hike at 11 at the Sheraton Hotel / Sharp Plaza — that the HUGE tower (with nothing else around it) near the intersections of RT 17, 287 and 87. Follow the roads and signs towards the hotel / Crossroads BLVD and the office complex. We meet on the lower level of the garage - row 4 (last row) in the middle. We will carpool from there as we need to go up the Thruway to Exit 18 (New Paltz, Poughkeepsie), then east to Highland, NY. The hike is about 3.5 miles and quite easy, suitable for beginners.We did this Oct.2 and 4 of us went - everyone thought it would rain! You now have another shot at this easy, scenic walk!

Oct. 23 Maggie's Mystery Tour Maggie Langley and Ron Hudgens will lead. Maggie says "I'll provide the chili for the apres-hike party, you bring the beer/wine. Ramapo people drink too much!". People can meet at our place, 57 Scrivani Drive, Wanaque at 10 am and then we'll carpool
Check the GALLERY for photos of Maggies hike!.

Oct. 30 Hook Mountain.  The Bassells will once again guide us on this long-time favorite. Great views of the Hudson Valley from the ridgeline along the Long Path, and from the river's edge as we return north along the river on the bike trail to Rockland Lake. The Bassells will be hosting an apres-hike party, but you MUST CALL BY THE PRIOR THURSDAY so they can get an accurate head count! Moderate, about 6 miles. We'll be hiking in light rain - cancelling in heavy. Meet 10:45 to hike at 11:00; at the trail head on Landing Road, which is about 20 yards east of the Rockland Lake fire house- Check it out here. See last year'spictures!

Nov. 6 Meet at 10:00 AM at Dave and Trudy Stolte's house in the Deerhaven section of Mahwah. Off route 202 two miles south of Ramapo College. (210 Dogwood Lane, Mahwah, NJ, Tel. 201-327-1241) We will hike up Bear Swamp Rd. toward Camp Yaw Paw. Before we reach the camp we will take the orange trail (not on map) up to look out point. Beautiful view of New York skyline. From there we will take the yellow trail to the yellow/silver trail which will lead us back to Bear Swamp Rd. Approximately 5 miles. Eating and drinking to follow. Pray for nice weather. RSVP appreciated.

Nov. 13 Beth Talini Special. Beth says: "We'll meet 9:30 a.m. at theSterling Forest Visitor Center, Tuxedo, NY. The Visitor Centre is a great place to meet - interesting and warm! As the days are getting shorter, an early start is a good idea.
Map & directions: http://www.northjerseyhistory.org/about/directions/dir.sf.htm

Nov. 20 RMSC Member Nicholas Reitter will be taking us to hike the Hi-Tor/Low-Tor ridge above Haverstraw bay.He writes: We will meet at 9:30am at Exit 11 of the Palisade Interstate Parkway - on New Hempstead Rd. (Co. Rte. 80) just east of the Pkwy. (If coming from South, simply turn right off exit ramp; if from North, go left off ramp and under Pkwy. Meet in the parking lot of the Hilltop Shopping Center, just east of tyhre PIP

Nov. 27 Hook Mountain, Being Retried.  We gor snowed out on Oct 30, so the Bassells have agreed to try again - THANKS! They will once again guide us on this long-time favorite. Great views of the Hudson Valley from the ridgeline along the Long Path, and from the river's edge as we return north along the river on the bike trail to Rockland Lake. The Bassells will be hosting an apres-hike party, but you MUST CALL BY THE PRIOR THURSDAY so they can get an accurate head count! Moderate, about 6 miles. We'll be hiking in light rain - cancelling in heavy. Meet 10:45 to hike at 11:00; at the trail head on Landing Road, which is about 20 yards east of the Rockland Lake fire house- Check it out here. See last year'spictures!

Dec. 4 Brooklyn Bridge & Chinatown. Season finale, a long-time Ramapo tradition – a "calorie replacement" program. We will meet at the K of C in Ramsey at 10 am to carpool into the city. We will drive down by South Street Seaport and park at the Public Parking there. We will then cross either the Brooklyn or Manhattan Bridge and return via the other, and find a place to eat in Chinatown - or Little Italy. Walt Bogushefsky has a great surprise for the first 20 who sign up! Side trips to see the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center (not by/for me!) may be planned...

Maggie Langley and Beth Talini Cook took these great photo on Maggie's Magical Mystery Tour 10/23/2011

Send us your Photos! here are six submitted by a member. Can you do better?