N e w s

The week of December 15th begins with a cloudy Sunday with highs in the mid 30's. Snow will develop overnight from Sunday into Monday morning with an accumulation of a few inches. Monday will have an accumulation of snow, sleet and rain before turning to rain in the aftern with highs in the low 40's. Tuesday will have a dew showers in the morning under cloudy skies with highs in the high 40's. Wednesday will be cloudy with highs in the low 40's. Thursday will have low clouds with a breeze and highs in the mid 30's. Friday will be cloudy with highs in the low 30's. On Saturday it will be mostly cloudy and breezy with highs in the low 30's. Some trails will still have some snow which will be suitable for using snowshoes. The rain and warmer temperatures followed by extreme cold will mean ice will be present in many plaes. Snow was measured in feet on some high peaks. Spikes and snowshoes should be part of your gear. Research your hike to determine what traction devices may be necessary. Remember you can't wear them if you aren't carrying them. Daylight will continue to slowly decrease heading toward the winter solstice and the end of daylight savings time means longer hikes should start early as daylight ends earlier. Packing a working headlamp is always a good idea as it may mean the difference between finishing a hike easily and wandering around in the forest. NEVER assume that conditions at the trailhead are the conditions on the mountain. When the weather conditions are constantly changing, be sure you have dressed appropriately in clothing that will wick away moisture to prevent it from accumulating in your clothing, which can, at the very least, be uncomfortable. Layering should be with non-cotton materials as cotton tends to hold moisture. Keeping hydrated is essential no matter the temperatures since hydrating properly will allow you to hike longer and in greater comfort. Be sure to carry plenty of water with you as local water sources can be unreliable and may be contaminated. Once you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated! Remember, the weather forecast is only a prediction and always contains percentages. Be prepared and have a plan for the most likely and least likely forecast! Are you prepared to stay out overnight on a trail? Conditions in the morning can change drastically by the afternoon. Conditions at the trailhead do not always reflect the conditions on the peaks! Variable trail and weather conditions are a hallmark of these mountains. BE CAREFUL AND BE PREPARED!

Sheila: September 24, 2011 - July 12, 2024

Sheila was with us for more than 12 years. She was a great friend and a fantastic hiking companion. She went with me on all but a handful of hikes in many diverse places. Her first hike was at Frick Pond in December 27, 2011. Her last hike was July 1, 2024 on the Parksville Rail Trail. After that hike, her health began to deteriorate rapidly. When she could no longer breathe properly we called on the staff of the Jeffersonville Animal Hospital to put an end to her suffering. We cannot express are gratitude for the caring and companionate treatment we received. The end was quick and quiet. Cindy and I stayed with Shiela until it was over. She never seemed in distress. We are heartbroken but knew that what we did was right for our good friend.

Hunting Season: Wear Blaze Orange

The hunting seasons for deer and bear is in full swing and continues, in some form, until late December. Although there are hunting seasons for turkey in the fall and spring and small game most of the year, big game season has proven to be the most dangerous for hikers. Rifle season is a particular problem as a few hunters shoot when they see movement and the projectiles from rifles can carry more than a mile. Blaze orange may not be a staple in most hiker's wardrobes but it is important to wear it during hunting season! Click here(DEC website) for a complete summary of the hunting seasons in New York.

Winter Hiking Gear

Recently there has been a lot of discussion on social media about snowshoes and other winter traction devices. The choice of this kind of equipment is highly personal and depends upon diverse criteria including hiking terrain and hiker budget. Few people will ever agree completely on the "best" equipment and even on what equipment to bring on a hike. Steve Olesen was kind enough to work up two chart that deal with this subject. One chart lists some popular brands of snowshoes while the other has other traction devices from spikes to full crampons. Many thanks to Steve. Check out his list below:

Snowshoes
Other Devices

Thursday: October 3rd: Walnut Mt XC Course
Friday: October 4th: Walnut Mt XC Course Review
Monday: October 7th: Round Top Figure 8
Wednesday: October 9th: Walnut Mt XC Course Review
Saturday: October 12th: Round Top Figure 8
Thursday: October 17th: Round Top Figure 8
Sunday: October 20th: Around Frick and Mongaup Falls
Tuesday: October 22nd: Round Top Figure 8
Thursday: October 24th: Parksville Rail Trail
Monday: October 28th: Round Top Figure 8
Wednesday: October 30th: Round Top Redoux
Saturday: November 2nd: At Least There's Round Top
Monday: November 4th: Two Figure 8's for Sheena
Thursday: November 7th: Parksville Falls
Saturday: November 9th: Two Full Figure 8's
Wednesday: November 13th: Two Full Figure 8's
Saturday: November 16th: Two Full Figure 8's
Thursday: November 21st: Round Top Loops
Monday: November 25th: Parksville Rail Trail
Sunday: December 1st: Cemetery Loops
Thursday: December 5th: Cemetery Loops Redoux
Thursday: December 12th: More Cemetery Loops
Saturday: December 14th: Parksville Rail Trail