General and Off Topic

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qvideo's picture

I'm looking for a safe & legal place to park overnight along the east side of Harriman, in order to get in a weekend backpack. I understand that you cannot park in the Kakiat county park, but that would be a prefered trailhead. Any suggestions?   Paul
Michael K7's picture

There is a parking area at the trailhead of the TMI trail in Pomona, but i'm not sure if you can park there overnight. I usually take the bus to that area, and it's always on a weekend, so i see some work trucks parked there along with one or two cars of hikers or dog walkers. If that is not too far north of where you want to be, maybe try contacting the TC directly, and see if they know about parking in that area.
qvideo's picture

That would be at Diltz Road? We checked there and it seems there is a private road and a camp.We thought about it but we weren't sure about overnight parking and there was no one around to ask. So we didn't take a chance. We also noticed parking was available at the Town of Ramapo Equestrian center, but did not try that one. (that would be at the Pine Meadow Trail).
Daniel Chazin's picture

I think that you misidentified the parking at Diltz Road (also known as Diltzes Lane).  The parking area shown on the map is on property owned by Orange & Rockland Utilities, which has agreed to permit hikers to park on their land.  It is not adjacent to any camp (the camp in question is located some distance from there).  As far as I am aware, overnight parking is permitted there, but it is a very remote location, and you might not feel comfortable leaving a car there overnight.  As for the Ramapo Equestrian Center, there are people there all the time during the day, so you could ask them whether they would permit overnight parking for hikers at their facility.
qvideo's picture

Thanks, Daniel, for helping to clarify this. We saw a sign at the start of Diltz (alternate name duly noted) which said private road, so we did not venture down the road. That would be the left turn from Mountain Rd. -  at the camp. I guess we then drive to the far end of Diltz Road. I'm not too worried about my old corrola sitting overnight. I use standard precautions, so it won't be very inviting.
Daniel Chazin's picture

You make the left turn at the junction onto Diltz Road, but you don't continue all the way to the end of the road.  You will see a large parking area on the right side of the road.  There is a sign there stating that parking for hikers is permitted.  This parking area may have some potholes, so use care when parking! 
qvideo's picture

Potholes?! Don't they all???   :-)
rshiking14's picture

Daniel,   Left July 5th and hiked to brien shelter from elk pen, then next day from shelter to bear mt bridge. Met 8 thru hikers, all really nice people. Perhaps a thruhike will happen in the future for myself :)
Mark Whitman's picture

I am hiking NY and Connecticut starting on July 4th and wanted to see if anyone is interested in joining me at the beginning or along the way may trail name is"late starter"
rshiking14's picture

What are the odds of seeing a Thru Hiker on the AT this weekend in Harriman?
PVPatrick's picture

If you are heading south on the AT it would be extremely likely that you would pass thru hikers.
rshiking14's picture

I'm going rt 17 to bear mountain.
Daniel Chazin's picture

Most thru-hikers hike the A.T. from south to north.  Therefore, if you are hiking in the southbound direction around this time of the year, you are lilely to encounter some thru-hikers.  If you are hiking in the northbound direction, you are less likely to meet thru-hikers, as you will be hiking in the same direction that they are.  But if you intend to stay overnight along the way, there is a good chance that you will encounter thru-hikers who will be staying at the same shelter that you are, or will be passing you on the trail. I might add that, today, my friend Keith and I hiked the section of the A.T. from Route 17A to Lakes Road in the northbound direction.  We still managed to meet three thru-hikers who passed us along the trail.  We subsequently met two of them again at the Wildcat Shelter.
PVPatrick's picture

 I remember just a few years ago what a great leap forward it was for the Conference to move from Manhattan to Mahwah. Please tell me the trail conference, whose efforts I have supported for years, can't survive without a $2.5 million headquarters? Is historic restoration the Conference's objective? That doesn't seem to be necessary to support the 3 mission bullets of the Conference. What do the members think? Couldn't these goals be achieved more cost effectively? How many trail users are going to travel to the headquarters?  I know I'm going to get flack from the insiders, but what about everyone else that has  an interest in hiking and keeping things small?   http://nynjtc.org/content/our-mission-0  
egoodell's picture

We want to “thrive” not just survive and I think this headquarters will be a major asset.  Historic restoration is not our mission and it is relatively expensive, but keep in mind that the local community and the state of New Jersey consider this a precious resource worth preserving and they have helped us fund it  State, county and private grants have paid the vast majority of the costs so far.  The parkland setting, the visual appeal and native materials of the building, as well as our stewardship of it, are an important statement of who we are.  I think the number of visitors will go up significantly and we have designed the building both as a much-needed training facility and as a welcome place for members, hikers and the general public.  To get to know the Trail Conference, is to love it!  So, more visibility should result in more support, more volunteers and more “mission accomplished.”  
Michael K7's picture

I'd like to hear from someone at the TC about the benefits of the schoolhouse as headquarters. Do the potential benefits justify the cost of restoring the schoolhouse?
srtmaintainer's picture

Being that I am a trail supervisor, maintainer, crew leader, co chair of the Long Path, member of the conservation committee and member of the pubs committee I guess I'll comment on this. I attend many meetings throughout the year and can tell that the current office does not have enough space. A need exists for more space. What is the cost to the TC? I watch this closely as I prefer to see all funds go to the place each person specifies when they donate. As I see it many of the expenses have been paid for with grants from other sources. The TC has been raising funds through donations too. The people donating that money know exactly what they are supporting and have the right to make that choice. I do think it will be a much better home for the TC verse the place we are in now.   Andy Garrison Volunteer  
Michael K7's picture

Thanks for offering your take on it Andy.
joerichkus's picture

I  really like the GoLite Pinnacle internal frame pack.  At 4400cubic inches and only 36 oz.  it's the best for my backpacking needs.  It fits everything I need for a 3 to 4 day trek, including bear canister, sleeping bag and ultralite tent.  It's got big side mesh pockets that can fit three bottles on each side, and I can access them without taking the pack off.  It also has nice pouches on the waist belt, for certain things that you may want to access quickly.  It can also be cinched down to a smaller size if desired.  I now carry a compressible summit pack (from EMS) if I'm not going to traverse a peak, but just go up and then back down.  That way, I leave the backpack at the base and just carry the necessities to the top and back in the much lighter summit pack  There are many packs to choose from, but I tend to aggree that the internal frame is a lot less clumsy.  The best thing perhaps to be said for the external frame is that the pack is away from your body and allows air to flow between your back and your back.  Otherwise I tend to have a soaking wet shirt on my back from perspiration.  I've used the GoLite Pinncale on several backpacking trips in the Adirondack High Peaks as well as overnight treks in Harriman State Park.
rshiking14's picture

Thanks for the help, much appreciated. It's good to hear a suggestion from someone who isn't trying to make a sale! I'm leaning toward internal, we'll see what happens.