View Full Version : Trail conditions in NY/NJ
Well, I started my Bear Mt - DWG trip Saturday as planned. Right now I'm at the hiker hostel in Veron - got the whole place to myself. :)
What a hoot! It has taken me 4 days to go 40 miles - I hiked all day Sunday in sleet/snow and had to come off the trail Monday to dry out. On top of that, I skipped the 4 mile section between Fitzgerald Falls and Bellvale (17A) because I didn't want to risk Cat Rocks hiking solo. Due to ice, Agony Grind, and the Lemon Squeezer were a real PITA as were some other spots. If the snow hadn't melted off the ridge around Prospect Rock so that I could see the blazes I would have had to call it quits.... NY is a bear!
I'm trying to figure out what to do now... Temps were in the 40s today and the trail was a creek from the snow melt - it's going be below freezing the rest of the week....
Bags4266
12-15-2009, 19:49
You, have about 50-60 m to go to the DWG and overnight lows are down to the mid teens. Also calling for snow on Sun but you should be done by then. Weather looks clear. If your dry and have warm gear it looks good. NJ rocks aren't any better than PA.
You, have about 50-60 m to go to the DWG and overnight lows are down to the mid teens. Also calling for snow on Sun but you should be done by then. Weather looks clear. If your dry and have warm gear it looks good. NJ rocks aren't any better than PA.
I'm done boulder climbing and sliding across slabs of rock.. What I'm trying to find out is if there's a lot of that between Vernon and DWG.
It's just too dangerous...I've busted my butt too many times already and there's nobody else out right now.
Bags4266
12-15-2009, 20:14
Damn, I just did that section this fall. From what I remember the only bad spot was before Mohigan Sun. There was a small rocky area to climb down. Also by Rattle Snake trail its fairly rocky. Most of NJ is rocky however.
mohegan sun is a casino in connecitut. you mean the mohican center, no? (not sure of spelling). none of this is a problem in "normal" weather. poor 10-k, you'll never want to leave the south again.
Bags4266
12-16-2009, 16:48
Correct, mohican center
too bad about the skipped miles - there was a bad weather trail around cat rocks but I'm not sure about that next stack of boulders right before you get to 17a. if you had fallen off those, you'd roll downhill for a week. oh well, better to be able to hike another day.....hope the rest of it goes ok.
After this weekend, we are going to need snowshoes. 12/19/2009
sasquatch2014
12-19-2009, 09:41
After this weekend, we are going to need snowshoes. 12/19/2009
Only until after Xmas when we will have it all coated in freezing mix and it will become bullet proof then you will need crampons.
too bad about the skipped miles - there was a bad weather trail around cat rocks but I'm not sure about that next stack of boulders right before you get to 17a. if you had fallen off those, you'd roll downhill for a week. oh well, better to be able to hike another day.....hope the rest of it goes ok.
If you're talking about Eastern Pinnacles, there's a bypass around that, too, although in these conditions, I'm not sure it would be much of an improvement. :rolleyes: In good weather, I call those "wuss" bypasses, but at a time like this, it's a little different. He also got to skip the huge climb out of Fitzgerald Falls, which isn't too much of a loss. . .
jersey joe
12-19-2009, 12:40
After this weekend, we are going to need snowshoes. 12/19/2009
Yes, huge blizzard coming through the NY/NJ area tonight...if you are heading out, bring snowshoes!!!
sasquatch2014
12-19-2009, 13:50
I would assume that 10K is off the trail by this point and is instead stranded on the drive home. He was at Vernon on the 14th so pretty safe to think that he is wrapping up or wrapped up by now.
Bags4266
12-19-2009, 15:05
lol, I was thinking about him. He was pretty funny. Talk about a streak of bad luck.
yes, he saw the northeast at its finest. temps in the single digits, high winds, blizzard. I hope the weather is more forgiving for his next AT section.
...is this the moment when those who encouraged 10K to go (like...me!) sheepishly say... sorry...
He should post up once he gets somewhere.
Probably stuck in a traffic issue.
Bags4266
12-19-2009, 16:22
yea, that would be a perfect end to his week.
Has been snowking HARD in Philly since 2:45am this morning.......would not love to be out in this. Bailing could be a great option/plan.
Got home this morning and am just waking up after crashing all day.
After leaving Vernon, the most dangerous part of the rest of the hike was sliding across the boardwalk south of Vernon - the trail was pretty easy from Vernon to DWG. I made it from Vernon to Unionville by 12:45, grabbed a sandwich at Horler's and hiked on up to High Point shelter, and the next day made it to something-road shelter (don't remember the exact name). Double timed the last 25 miles on Friday trying to beat the storm.
The drive home took 19 hours - 10 of those hours were spent driving the 70ish miles between DC and Richmond - after hiking 25 miles, driving 19 hours was hellish.
So... I'm glad I didn't bail in Vernon because that was the end of the dangerous stuff. And I'm really glad I went south instead of north...
After hiking all day Sunday in the sleet and rain, my plan was to hike up past Cat Rocks and walk into Greenwood Lake. Had I done that, I would have lugged all my wet gear, including wet tent, up that mountain only to walk into Greenwood Lake to find the hotels closed for the Winter. As it was, Monroe Taxi drove me to a pretty decent hotel in Central Valley about 300 yards from a great diner and I was able to dry out my gear and start at 17A/Bellvale the next morning. I'll just have to make up that 4 mile section on the way to Bear Mt. next year when I plan to start from and knock out the rest of the AT.
The hostel in Vernon was great - had it all to myself and Vernon Taxi delivered me to and from the trail w/o any problems.
The 2 things I didn't like about the hike were the ice and the time I had to spend looking for the trail in places. In Harriman State Park, people had hiked most of the trail so it was no problem. There were miles of trail where I was the first to hike it since the snow fell and there were several places I spent anywhere from 2-15 minutes trying to figure out where the trail was. Kudos to whoever painted the blazes in NY/NJ because they were "just right" IMHO.
Hiking in the sleet and rain didn't bother me - I had good gear but man do I really hate carrying wet gear, especially a wet tent.
It also got VERY cold at night but I didn't get cold sleeping. Getting out of the bag in the morning to pack up was a 'close your eyes and do it" event though.....
The entire hike I did not pass another backpacker... Some day hikers in Harriman State park and that was it.
Finally, I don't know if it's just carrying a heavy winter pack or what but NY seemed very tough to me. Straight up, straight down, repeat. - even in GA, NC, TN, and VA you have some flat stretches. I don't recall a single one in NY.
Cookerhiker
12-19-2009, 23:27
Got home this morning and am just waking up after crashing all day.
After leaving Vernon, the most dangerous part of the rest of the hike was sliding across the boardwalk south of Vernon - the trail was pretty easy from Vernon to DWG. I made it from Vernon to Unionville by 12:45, grabbed a sandwich at Horler's and hiked on up to High Point shelter, and the next day made it to something-road shelter (don't remember the exact name). Double timed the last 25 miles on Friday trying to beat the storm.
The drive home took 19 hours - 10 of those hours were spent driving the 70ish miles between DC and Richmond - after hiking 25 miles, driving 19 hours was hellish.
So... I'm glad I didn't bail in Vernon because that was the end of the dangerous stuff. And I'm really glad I went south instead of north...
After hiking all day Sunday in the sleet and rain, my plan was to hike up past Cat Rocks and walk into Greenwood Lake. Had I done that, I would have lugged all my wet gear, including wet tent, up that mountain only to walk into Greenwood Lake to find the hotels closed for the Winter. As it was, Monroe Taxi drove me to a pretty decent hotel in Central Valley about 300 yards from a great diner and I was able to dry out my gear and start at 17A/Bellvale the next morning. I'll just have to make up that 4 mile section on the way to Bear Mt. next year when I plan to start from and knock out the rest of the AT.
The hostel in Vernon was great - had it all to myself and Vernon Taxi delivered me to and from the trail w/o any problems.
The 2 things I didn't like about the hike were the ice and the time I had to spend looking for the trail in places. In Harriman State Park, people had hiked most of the trail so it was no problem. There were miles of trail where I was the first to hike it since the snow fell and there were several places I spent anywhere from 2-15 minutes trying to figure out where the trail was. Kudos to whoever painted the blazes in NY/NJ because they were "just right" IMHO.
Hiking in the sleet and rain didn't bother me - I had good gear but man do I really hate carrying wet gear, especially a wet tent.
It also got VERY cold at night but I didn't get cold sleeping. Getting out of the bag in the morning to pack up was a 'close your eyes and do it" event though.....
The entire hike I did not pass another backpacker... Some day hikers in Harriman State park and that was it.
Finally, I don't know if it's just carrying a heavy winter pack or what but NY seemed very tough to me. Straight up, straight down, repeat. - even in GA, NC, TN, and VA you have some flat stretches. I don't recall a single one in NY.
Welcome back - glad you made it safely not only the hike but the drive home. I think you did really well considering the conditions.
About the trail difficulty - ahem, some of us mentioned that NY west of the Hudson was difficult and that NJ was fairly easy. Frankly I think those who say that NJ is as rocky as PA greatly exaggerate and in fact, mislead SOBOs who hearing such advice would likely think PA must be a cakewalk.
Re. NY, rest assured that NY east of the Hudson is much easier - it's not constant up and down and it's nowhere near as steep.
Oh you said the southern states all have some flat stretches. Where in Georgia? Maybe about 3 miles north from Low Gap Shelter - otherwise, it was all up-and-down.
jersey joe
12-19-2009, 23:57
Glad to hear you made it through the brutal weather 10-k...you had some pretty bad luck/timing hiking through NJ/NY this week for sure!