Tag Archives: Hudson Valley Hikers

Saranac Lake Canoe Camping, Fishing, and Hiking Ampersand Mountain!

Saranac Lake, NY

In June of 2019, I spent a weekend canoe camping on Lower Saranac Lake in New York’s Adirondack Park. I went with friends from Hudson Valley Hikers. HVH hikes have a reputation for being long, difficult, and fast. Our canoe camping events tend to be quite the opposite. Most of these trips are slow and relaxing. Canoe camping is also a nice departure from my normal minimalist backpacking style because it is easier to carry cooking equipment and real food.

Saranac Lake
Saranac Lake at Sunrise
Continue reading Saranac Lake Canoe Camping, Fishing, and Hiking Ampersand Mountain!

Intro to Backpacking – Recommended Tents

This last weekend, I hosted an Intro to Backpacking workshop with Hudson Valley Hikers.  The idea of the event was to allow future backpackers to see and feel real gear in the real world.  Each of our hosts brought one or more of their favorite tents. Students were able to watch them set up and then crawl inside to get a feel. They especially liked hanging in the hammock! Continue reading Intro to Backpacking – Recommended Tents

Intro to Backpacking – Recommended Backpacks

Intro to BackpackingThis last weekend, I hosted an Intro to Backpacking workshop with Hudson Valley Hikers.  The idea of the event was to allow future backpackers to see and feel real gear in the real world.  Our hosts brought several popular backpacks loaded with common equipment. Each pack was fully loaded as if for a weekend-long backpacking trip. The equipment ranged from “bought everything I saw in the store” to “who needs a toothbrush anyway?”  The students had the opportunity to carry each of these packs and experience the impact of weight and pack design. Here are some of the packs that were present: Continue reading Intro to Backpacking – Recommended Backpacks

Intro to Backpacking Syllabus

Intro to Backpacking

This weekend I will be hosting an Intro to Backpacking seminar with Hudson Valley Hikers. This is not a backpacking trip, but a short hike with an opportunity for show and tell.  The idea is to let novices see some gear options in the field before they go shopping.  My co-hosts and I will have a wide variety of gear available, ranging from typical “beginner gear” to expert ultralight gear.  Participants will get to try on our packs and takes turns carrying them to our mock campsite, where we’ll set up various tents and talk about our gear.  Continue reading Intro to Backpacking Syllabus

Weight Range for Backpacking

Hikers with a wide weight range for backpacking.
Crossing the Shenandoah River

Connie asks the following question about a weight range for backpacking.  Connie will be participating in my upcoming Intro to Backpacking event at Harriman State Park.  The event is part of Hudson Valley Hikers and beginners will get to try out a variety of gear.

“Is there a specific weight range your backpack should be in if you’re very new to the activity, so that you don’t end up with a bad back?”

Continue reading Weight Range for Backpacking

HVH Intro to Backpacking Gear List

Intro to Backpacking at Harriman State Park with HVH
Intro to Backpacking at Harriman State Park with HVH

This last weekend I hosted an intro do backpacking workshop with Hudson Valley Hikers. I worked with St Gregory and Kremlin to demonstrate various pieces of equipment each of use for backpacking at different times of year. During the workshop, there were many questions about where to purchase various pieces.  I hope that this list helps those who attended and anyone else reading it make good choices: Continue reading HVH Intro to Backpacking Gear List

Sharing Backpacking Gear

The Tarptent Rainshaddow 2 is a 3 person tent that weighs just 2.5 lbs.
3 Person Tarptent Rain Shaddow

This coming weekend I will host  “Intro to Backpacking” at Harriman State Park with “Hudson Valley Hikers.”   I’ve asked everyone who has signed up to email me a question about backpacking as a pre-requisite to attending the workshop. These questions have made for a nice series of posts. Today we will discuss sharing backpacking gear.

Mark Asks, “Is it ever a good idea to split camping gear between or among two or three people? In other words, if I carry a two or three person tent, would it be wise if someone else carried extra clothing, cooking gear, etc.?” Continue reading Sharing Backpacking Gear

Water Treatment

Water Treatment
Platypus Water Bladders

In a few weeks I’m going to be hosting an “Intro to Backpacking” Seminar at Harriman State Park.  I’m hosting this event via the Meetup Group “Hudson Valley Hikers.”  Meetup events tend to get a lot of RSVP’s, but also a lot of No-Shows. In order to vet people out before giving them a spot at the seminar, I’ve asked them to email me questions about backpacking.  Some of them are pretty good and I’ll be sharing the answers via a series of posts called “Ask CampingJay.” This post will discuss Water Treatment Methods. Continue reading Water Treatment

Backpacking Mistakes

In a few weeks I’m going to be hosting an “Intro to Backpacking” Seminar at Harriman State Park.  I’m hosting this event via the Meetup Group “Hudson Valley Hikers.”  Meetup events tend to get a lot of RSVP’s, but also a lot of No-Shows. In order to vet people out before giving them a spot at the seminar, I’ve asked them to email me questions about backpacking.  Some of them are pretty good and I’ll be sharing the answers via a series of posts called “Ask CampingJay.” This post will discuss Backpacking Mistakes. Continue reading Backpacking Mistakes

Appalachian Trail Section Hiking with HVH: Video

2016 Appalachian Trail Section Hiking with HVH
Click to Watch Video

Appalachian Trail Section Hiking

2016 was a year of discovery and adventure as I renewed my goal of Appalachian Trail Section Hiking. During this epic year I hiked more than 500 miles of the Appalachian Trail, climbed some of the North East’s most famous mountains, and explored unique and interested places.  Most of all, it was a year of building new friendships which I hope will last a lifetime.  To show my appreciation for all those who helped make my 2016 Section Hiking Campaign great, I put together this video: 2016 Appalachian Trail Section Hiking with HVH.