Four day hiking trip

Engignar

New Member
I am trying to plan a four day hiking/ camping trip for the middle of march. Two of us want to cover about 25-30 miles, get some great views and preferably do either a point to point hike or a loop (no doubling back). I am looking for any suggestions as to a good route/ trail to take within an hour or two driving (North Jersey). We are also going to need a safe place to park a car or two for the time we are gone. I have done trips like this on the AT in Harriman, I would like to hear some other suggestions!
 

Glancing Aft

Active Member
If it wasn't so early I'd obviously suggest doing the Adirondacks but that's also way past your 2hr drive distance.
If the snow pack has subsided, or you guys are up for a challenge I would definitely suggest doing the Devil's Path it the Catskills, it's one of the best hikes in close proximity to NJ. It's short at only 27 miles but is rather challenging with over 18,000 feet of elevation change. Two years ago I did a portion of it as a weekend trip with some friends here are some pics and motion based logs,
http://picasaweb.google.com/william.weismantel/63007To7107DevilsPathBackpackingTrip#
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/3182450
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/3182444
Some additional information on the trail can be found here,
http://www.connarch.com/miscellaneous/devils_path_and_burroughs_range.htm.

Another hike I would recommend would be along the AT from Highpoint to the Delaware Water Gap. I believe it's about 50 miles but rather fast paced. Doing it in the summer time with long light, I was able to do it in 2.5 days several years ago.
 

axcxnj

Hipster Keys
damn...you just said everything i thought of

but honestly, take a minute and think more about the adirondack high peaks reigon. I go there every year for a few days and its just incredible....way better hiking than harriman, and worlds apart from the watergap
 

Engignar

New Member
I would absolutely take the drive for the 'dacs if you all are telling me it is worth it. Do you have any more info/ maps of the area, and where to start?

Thanks!
 

Glancing Aft

Active Member
I'll let Axcxnj give you the details on the High Peaks but I'll give you a warning. I don't know your backpacking ability or anything but you're most likely not doing that hike in the middle of march without crampons, an axe, and appropriate winter camping gear.

Since I love sharing pics today, here's from a hike to the high peaks back in 06, http://www.pbase.com/glancingaft/high_peaks&page=all
 

noonito

New Member
The Adirondacks are really great. The High Peaks region near Lake Placid is spectacular. I second the warning from Glancing Aft - if you go in March, be prepared for deep snow and ice. If you go above treeline, be prepared for nasty weather. Also, there are a few avalanche areas.

In some other parts of the Adirondacks that are lower elevation, you might not need the technical gear.

Here is some good info from the Adirondack Mountain Club: http://www.adk.org
 

axcxnj

Hipster Keys
yes, in winter it is actually required to hike with snowshoes or crampons, but if youre not going so soon, there are TONS of great routes to hike.

step one would be to go to a camping store and pick up a trail map of the high peaks region, I plan all of my hikes off of the trail map.

what i like most about the high peaks region is that the mountains are actually pretty high, and have a tree line! so youre not just hiking in the woods all day, you get a change of terrain and scenery, and on clear days you can see incredibly far.

there are lots of great leanto's that you can hike to and use, i prefer the leanto to a tent...more roomy, and in some areas you can have ground fires, which is nice.

you can do alot in 4 days, the mountains are pretty close by so you can hit alot of peaks quickly, which is nice. if you dont want to rough it, you can stay at Johns Brook Lodge (when they are open) which is a nice little cabin about 4 miles in that is a great base camp for multiple day hikes with some of the higher peaks

heres some links to some photo albums of a few of my trips, you can get an idea for the scenery and terrain. I usually do my trips in late summer, but we did our last trip in october, which was great to see the colors on some leaves.

its a 5 hour drive from north jersey, and definetly worth it if you like actual mountains

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2033758&id=54900311&l=d1144

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2033764&id=54900311&l=bc79e

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2018986&id=54900311&l=e18ba
 

Engignar

New Member
Devil's Path

This looks like it might be the perfect trip - rugged, technical, secluded, and just the right length. I am wondering if I will need snowshoes or crampons for portions of this if I am leaving on March 14, I am essentially hiking at Hunter mt, which certainly has snow at this time.
 

axcxnj

Hipster Keys
i would seriously consider snowshoes....postholing for miles is not fun and can be very dangerous. the catskills do get alot of snow
 

Glancing Aft

Active Member
Judging by the snowpack up there this weekend and the fact that it was still coming down I'd say there will be snow. How much depends on the next few storm cycles, which are looking to be rain.

This thread got me thinking about trips I could plan for this upcoming year. I stumbled upon this, anyone ever do this hike? http://www.catskillmountainclub.org/overnight.html It looks like a good summer time trip with many swim holes.
 

Engignar

New Member
Due to the amount of snow that will still be in the 'dacks and Catskills next weekend I have decided that the hike is probably going to be along the AT in between High Point and DWG. That section is about 43 miles, a bit longer than I am looking for. I have been looking for places to park a vehicle somewhere in the middle, as we can either start at High Point and go south, or start at DWG and go North. I have heard that Culver's Gap is a possibility for parking, but I am not familiar with the area. Do you know where I can stick a car there for four days, or somewhere else that is ~25 or 30 miles from one of the two ends?
 

ellbiddy

Active Member
I did the AT from the water gap up a few years ago when I thought I wanted to do the georgia to maine through hike. I've given p on that for sure. I rather bike and ski than walk for 5-6 months :p
 

Norm

Mayor McCheese
Team MTBNJ Halter's
Due to the amount of snow that will still be in the 'dacks and Catskills next weekend I have decided that the hike is probably going to be along the AT in between High Point and DWG. That section is about 43 miles, a bit longer than I am looking for. I have been looking for places to park a vehicle somewhere in the middle, as we can either start at High Point and go south, or start at DWG and go North. I have heard that Culver's Gap is a possibility for parking, but I am not familiar with the area. Do you know where I can stick a car there for four days, or somewhere else that is ~25 or 30 miles from one of the two ends?

There's a lot at Culver's Gap, right off 202. You could also park at the Stokes office right up the road.

I did the AT from the water gap up a few years ago when I thought I wanted to do the georgia to maine through hike. I've given p on that for sure. I rather bike and ski than walk for 5-6 months :p

Yeah, a few of us went through the same cycle about 10 years ago. Ultimately, at least for me, I'm too ADD and I got bored. Maybe when I'm 60 and I enjoy watching leaves and rocks more, like a lot more.
 

Glancing Aft

Active Member
Due to the amount of snow that will still be in the 'dacks and Catskills next weekend I have decided that the hike is probably going to be along the AT in between High Point and DWG. That section is about 43 miles, a bit longer than I am looking for. I have been looking for places to park a vehicle somewhere in the middle, as we can either start at High Point and go south, or start at DWG and go North. I have heard that Culver's Gap is a possibility for parking, but I am not familiar with the area. Do you know where I can stick a car there for four days, or somewhere else that is ~25 or 30 miles from one of the two ends?
It's a bit pricey I know, but I'd really suggest picking up the NY/NJ AT Guide from Campmor. Those guides have great details for everything and the maps are good as well. http://www.nynjtc.org/pubs/books/atg/index.html

Awesome pictures Glance (only I can call him that) :p, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the complements on the pics! I strongly suggest to anyone who enjoys the outdoors to take a stab at the High Peaks Ridge hike, it is one of the best the east coast has to offer!
 
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