Category: Harriman Hikers Singles Hiking

Harriman Hikers – A New York / New Jersey Singles Hiking Club website content

Happy New Year From Harriman Hikers!

Harriman Hikers would like to wish everyone a Happy, Healthy and
Prosperous New Year for 2006. Make your New Year’s resolutions to
“Hike More and Stay Fit!”

***NEWS***

*PHOTO GALLERY*

We have lots of new pictures in the Harriman Hikers Photo Gallery:

including several new albums:
From Greg & Steve’s trip up to Gene’s in New Hampshire in the late
Fall, we now have
begun a White Mountains Album (we will add more NH pics as we get them
from Gene) and an Adirondacks Winter Album from Rich Hobbs’ trip to
Lake Placid.

We would like to specially thank our Contributing Photographer Hikers
Tatyana Smushkova, Ron Vitale, Lin Goetz, Dan Yukon and Doug Williams
for their photos which you will find in our Hiking Pictures Album.

As always, we encourage everyone to bring their cameras hiking and
appreciate any hiking/landscape photos you might wish to share with the group.

If you have an outdoors photo project and you need a venue for your work,
please contact us and we will try to help you.

*RECENTLY HIKED/ NEW HIKES*

Last weekend we hiked the Tuxedo Mount Ivy Trail (TMI) from its
eastern starting point in Suffern, NY off Rt. 202 to Big Hill Shelter.
We have been to Big Hill Shelter in Harriman State Park many times in
the past, but never along this route (the most popular route has
traditionally been from St. John’s Church in the Wilderness on Lake
Welch Drive). We have many new and exciting hikes planned for 2006 so
dont miss a thing!

Conversely, we would like to remind everyone that we do NOT schedule
hike destinations. This means we cannot tell you exactly where we will
be hiking for a future Sunday. The decision where to hike is the Hike
Leader’s and the Hike Leader makes that decision the morning of the
hike with the group’s best interests in mind, taking into
consideration many factors, including weather and trail conditions,
size and abilities of the group and available parking at the
trailhead.

*RAMAPO COLLEGE STUDENTS AND STAFF HIKE FREE*

In exchange for the Ramapo College of New Jersey in Mahwah, NJ
graciously allowing us to meet in the B-1 Parking Lot, we are very
happy to waive our $6.00 fee for any RC Student or Staff that wishes
to hike with us. If you’re a Ramapo College Road Runner, we welcome
you!

*TALK TO THE HAND!*

We keep getting famous-er and famous-er! Our “Harriman Hikers Guide to
Winter and Cold Weather Hiking”
http://harrimanhikers.org/Harriman_Hikers_Guide_to_Winter_Hiking.pdf
has been accepted for publication in the internet outdoors e-zine Real
Travel Adventures http://www.realtraveladventures.com/ for next
October. RTA has asked for some photos to accompany the article, so start
coming dressed in your best gaiters and crampons!

In the meantime, please check out the Real Travel Adventures website-
there are some really great stories to read there.
http://www.realtraveladventures.com/

Do you like to write about the outdoors or all things hiking? If you
need an outlet for your creativity, please let us know, we would love
to help you get published.

…and don’t be surprised when you are on the trails and passing hikers
ask for your autograph! 😉

Elvis has left the building.

*VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES!*

We have a request for volunteer(s) from a physical therapist who has a
patient who is very athletic but was injured and is presently
disabled. This male patient needs someone to hike with him. The
therapist will train people interested in working with this man. If
you can help, please contact us and we will pass along further
details. harrimanhikers@gmail.com

and…

Jennifer Lipins writes to us: “I met this girl who works for an
organization that is looking for outdoor-oriented people who can lead
hikes through the Grand Canyon. They need to have compassing skills,
etc., to teach the group. The leader in turn goes for free.”

If this volunteer opportunity is something you think you might be
interested in please contact us and we will pass along more details
and contact info. harrimanhikers@gmail.com

*WEBSITE*

We have been working very hard this Winter to build page rank with Google
and other internet search engines as well as placing our group in
resource directory listings. This translates into more exposure for
the group and more people that will want to check us out and hike with us.
If you know of an outdoors or singles website that might be
interested in exchanging links with us or that might want to list us
as a resource for singles hiking activities please let us know.

*THIS JUST IN*

Garden State Ski Club has an opening they are trying to fill for their
annual Lapland Lakes Cross Country Ski Trip Jan 27-29. $215 includes
skiing Fri/Sat/Sun, lodging Fri/Sat nights in a tupa at Lapland Lakes,
meals. Male prefferred. Contact Ron Vitale for more details
Links:
http://gardenstateskiclub.com/SkiTrips/LapFly_06.pdf
http://laplandlake.com

*THAT’S IT FOR NOW*

In closing, please remember, we hike year-round!

Please read our Winter Hiking Guide which will help prepare you for
hiking comfortably in the cold weather.
http://harrimanhikers.org/Harriman_Hikers_Guide_to_Winter_Hiking.pdf

When/if we get more snow we want to organize a snowshoe hike. Stay
tuned and pray for snow!

Don’t be a “fair-weather friend”. We miss you!

See you on the trails-

Ed Burdzy, Hike Leader
Greg Paret, Hike Leader
R. Richard Hobbs, Webmaster
harrimanhikers@gmail.com
—
Harriman Hikers
A North NJ Singles Hiking Club
Established 1974
http://www.harrimanhikers.org

Holiday Greetings From Harriman Hikers

The Harriman Hikers would like to wish one and all a Happy Holiday Season and a prosperous, joyful New Year!

****NEWS****

***HOLIDAY HIKES***

Once again we would like to remind you that we (typically, for about 30 years now) hike each and every Sunday, rain or shine and that this Sunday, December 25th (Christmas Day) and Sunday, January 1st, 2006 (New Years Day) we will be on the trail hiking.

After you unwrap all those presents (bring your new hiking toys to show off 😉 Christmas morning, come on out and enjoy a hike!

Make your New Year resolution to increase your health and well-being by hiking and enjoying the fresh air and outdoors!

***CHRISTMAS EVE (DAY) HIKE LED BY ED***

Ed will will lead a FREE HIKE Christmas Eve Day, Saturday, December 24th
Please call Ed for details 973-471-0492 FREEE! (as are all Ed Hikes!)

***THANKSGIVING HIKE 2005 REPORT***

The Thanksgiving Hike was once again a huge success and well-attended. We met up at Ramapo College, organized carpools and travelled to our trailhead at the Rt. 6 parking lot in Harriman State Park after which we hiked to Stockbridge Shelter, built a roaring fire and enjoyed one another’s company and culinary delights on the mountainside. We had wonderful weather and a fine time was had by all!

Several people photographed the Thanksgiving Hike festivities and have contributed pictures from the day as well as other hiking photos. We would like to take this opportunity to specially thank Dan Yukon and Doug Williams for their photographic contributions and hope you will visit our online photo galllery and check out the pix:

***INFORMAL APRES-HIKE HOLIDAY GET-TOGETHER SUNDAY DEC 18***

A bunch of us regularly get together after the hike each Sunday for dinner at The Mahwah Bar & Grille (on Rt. 202 north of Ramapo College past Rt.17 in Mahwah) and this week we would like to extend a special invitation to everyone to join us there between 5 and 6pm (depending on when the hike ends and we all get back to the parking lot).

If you are not hiking Sunday you are still invited to attend.

If you get there early dont worry, we will eventually show up. Relax, have a drink and catch some football on tv in the bar.

We will be there in due time, aplomb in our fashion-statement gaiters!

Our Hike Leaders, Ed Burdzy and Greg Paret will be there so if you have not hiked with us before this will be a good opportunity to meet them.

If you missed the Thanksgiving Hike this might be an additional chance to catch up with friends.

*If you think you might be coming please drop us a line at harrimanhikers@gmail.com in case it turns out a lot of people end up showing up so we can call ahead and get a table big
enough to accomadate all of us.

***FIRST SNOW(S)***

The week after Thanksgiving we had our first significant snow of the season and we were out enjoying the scenery as we do every Sunday. The woods were lovely as you will see in our photo gallery:

Last week we got a 2nd snow- this time even more (8-10 inches) and we were outdoors on Sunday as always!

On Saturday some folks got together for an impromptu cross-country skiing expedition at Anthony Wayne Recreation in Harriman State Park over by the Palisades Interstate Parkway that went along the bike trail and Beechy Bottom.

If you are interested in cross-country skiing please look below for more details about groups
and other people in the area who are also interested.

***HARRIMAN HIKERS GUIDE TO WINTER HIKING***

Based on our collective years of experience hiking under just about every kind of weather condition (including cold, snow, sleet and ice) we have compiled some information we think think will help make your outdoor hiking experience in the winter a comfortable and dry one.

Go here:
http://www.harrimanhikers.org/Harriman_Hikers_Guide_to_Winter_Hiking.html

This document is also available for viewing with Acrobat Reader or download as a .pdf file:
http://www.harrimanhikers.org/Harriman_Hikers_Guide_to_Winter_Hiking.pdf

***OTHER WINTER ACTIVITIES***

Cold weather is no excuse to become a couch potato! In addition to hiking there are a number of other cold-weather activities available in our area to help you stay fit and trim as well as meet new people:

Snow shoeing: Are there enough people with snowshoes (or willing to buy them?) and interest in using them to warrant organizing a snowshoe hike? Email us! harrimanhikers@gmail.com

Cross-Country and Downhill Skiing/Snowshoeing/Ice Skating:
(this list is by no means complete):
There are a number of local Ski Clubs that are very active and organise local skiing events, trips (day trips, weekends) and impromptu get-togethers:

Garden State Ski Club http://www.gardenstateskiclub.com
Mid-Hudson Cross Country Ski Society http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mhxcss/
NJ Nordic Ski Club http://www.njnordic.cjb.net/
HighLife Ski Club http://www.highlifeskiclub.org/
Hudson Valley Ski Club http://members.aol.com/hvsc/
Hoboken Ski Club http://www.hobokenskiclub.com/
Ramapo Mountain Ski Club http://www.ramaposkiclub.org/
! Tons more listings here: http://www.skicentral.com/

There are also a number of destinations in the area that are great for winter activities when there is snow:

Harriman State Park! (A number of fire roads and trails in the park are good for cross-country skiing)
Fahnestock Winter Park, Cold Spring NY http://www.roberts-1.com/fwp/
Mohonk, New Paltz, NY http://www.mohonk.com
Minnewaska State Park, New Paltz, NY
http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=78
High Point Cross Country Ski Center, NJ http://www.xcskihighpoint.com/
>>>Some of the above rent equipment- check the websites for details<<<

Ice Skating:

Bear Mountain Ice Rink http://tinyurl.com/c3szg
Palisades Ctr Ice Rink W. Nyack, NY http://www.palice.com
Ice House Paramus NJ http://www.icehousenj.com/

Other stuff to do:

Sledding/ tubing- If you grew up in these parts you know that tubing down the hill at Silver Mine is a Rite of Passage. If you are new to the area what’re ya waitin’ for?
Tip: Fahnestock Winter Park rents inner tubes when they are open (when there is snow)

A closing thought in the old year for the coming New Year:

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
– Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

Thats it for now- See ya outdoors!~

Ed Burdzy, Hike Leader
Greg Paret, Hike Leader
R. Richard Hobbs, Webmaster
—
Harriman Hikers
A North NJ Singles Hiking Club
Established 1974
http://www.harrimanhikers.org

Harriman Hikers News November 19th, 2005

Hello Fellow Single Outdoors Persons:

This is the November edition of your favorite internet newsletter from
The Harriman Hikers.

***THANKSGIVING HIKE(S)***
We are fast approaching one of the highlights of The Harriman Hikers
year, the Annual Thanksgiving Hike. As is HH custom, Sunday November
27th (Sunday following Thanksgiving Day), we will once again commune
in the wilderness to eat up all those delicious leftovers and catch up
with one another.

The Thanksgiving Hike is normally very well attended and each year;
many friends (old and new) generally materialise, as if by magic, for
this event.

As always, the Thanksgiving Hike will be a FREE hike, and all family
members and friends are welcome to join us. The hike will be very
moderate; we’ll hike to a shelter and have a feast on the mountain.
Usual meeting time/place at Ramapo College (11:30am). In such case
that we have imminent foul weather afoot on the day of the hike, we
will post a notice regarding same on the website.

Please note that in our previous newsletter in October and on the
website the date given (11/26) for the hike was erroneous, the
>correct date for the Sunday following Thanksgiving is 11/27.

*** FREE HIKE FRI 11/25 LED BY ED BURDZY***
For all those of you that always wished there was an alternative to
going to the mall on Black Friday, HH is at your service! The
bacchanal is over, chunkster! Git your butt up out of that easy chair
and TAKE A HIKE! Ed will be leading a glorious fall hike Fri 11/25,
departing the usual alternate meeting place, (the public parking
adjacent to the Mason Jar Restaurant in Mahwah NJ) at 10:00am. Please
be on time, the days are getting short. Call Ed 973-471-0492 for more
info.
What better way to work off all those extra Turkey Day calories than a hike?!

FYI~ Ed leads many extracurricular hikes falling on or near holidays
all year long. !Ed’s hikes are ALWAYS FREE.

***OTHER HOLIDAY HIKES***
Christmas Day and New Years Day both fall on Sundays this year. Ya
think some silly holidays stop HH??? NO WAY JOSE!
Rain or shine, you can depend on Harriman Hikers to be there for you
every Sunday at 11:30 am at the parking lot at Ramapo College. The
only thanks the hike Leaders ask for is for some friendly faces to
hike with them (ok, the $6 bucks a head helps;-). You wont find a more
reliable group that is as consistent and dependable about hiking on a
regular basis. Get off your duff and hike!

***WE’RE FAMOUS!***
Wendy Baumgardner, About.com’s (http://www.about.com) Walking Guide
profiled us for her weekly hiking and walking column:
http://walking.about.com/b/2005/11/12/carnival-of-the-walkers-20.htm
http://walking.about.com/od/clubsamerica/p/harrimanhikers.htm
Makes sense- We ARE a >pretty interesting bunch aren’t we?

***NEW PHOTOS***
Doug Williams was kind enough to send us some photos from his
collection of hiking pictures which we uploaded to the photo album.
Thanks Doug!
Some recent photographs from our hikes to Sterling Forest, The Pingyp
and this past Sunday’s hike to Ramapo Reservation have been added to
the Photo Album as well.
>>>See it all here:
We welcome hike pictures and encourage all to photograph the wonderful
world of nature we are so very fortunate to encounter each week as we
make our way thru the woods. If you have some hike photos you’d like
to share please email us at harrimanhikers@gmail.com

***OTHER HAPP’NINGS***
(Note: The following events do not directly involve the Harriman
Hikers as a club but they may be of interest to you outside the group)

Bob Gawel will lead his annual Christmas Hike to Doodletown from Bear
Mountain followed by dinner Richie’s Little Place in Ft. Montgomery on
Saturday Dec 10th. The hike is FREE but >>>for dinner there is a
charge involved and reservations need to be made<<< Complete details
here:

Cross-Country Skiing
Some of us cross-country ski as well as hike. Rich Hobbs is, (while
not neccesarily all that talented or adept;-), an avid cross-country
skier nonetheless. Rich is planning to ski at least one day a weekend
just about anytime we get enough snow to do so this winter, and once
there is snow in the New Paltz area (Minnewaska, Mohonk and other
local higher-elevation areas) should be headed there pretty regularly
on the weekends. May be interested in organizing out of town ski trips
with like minds as well. FYI The Garden State Ski Club
http://www.gardenstateskiclub.com, Mid-Hudson XCSki Society
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/mhxcss/ as well as a number of other ski
clubs in the area offer opportunities too. Anyone interested in
impromptu cross-country skiing get togethers please contact Rich
rrhobbs@gmail.com.

***WE'LL HELP!***
If you have an event of possible interest to the group (or even just
an idea) contact us and (if appropriate) we will help you announce and
promote it. Email harrimanhikers@gmail.com

That's all for now- HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Ed Burdzy, Hike Leader
Greg Paret, Hike Leader
Rich Hobbs, Webmaster
—
Harriman Hikers
A North NJ Singles Hiking Club
Established 1974
http://www.harrimanhikers.org

Harriman Hikers News October 20th 2005

Howdy Hikers and Hikerettes:

This is the first of what we hope will be regular ongoing news about
Harriman Hikers events as well as news about related, mostly outdoors
singles activities from outside the Harriman Hikers.

As we all know, our Hike Leader Emeritus, Gene Doleschal, has
completed his move to NH and the hike is now being led by a consortium
of Ed Burdzy and Greg Paret. Since Gene has now left the area, if you
need hike info, please call Ed at (973) 471-0492 or Greg at (845)
628-3986 or e-mail harrimanhikers@gmail.com. Please visit our website
http://www.harrimanhikers.org.

[Complete article is available through the “Read More…” link, below.]

HH Honors Gene Doleschal, Hike Leader Emeritus

Harriman Hikers Honors Gene Doleschal, Hike Leader Emeritus – Update: Gene Doleschal passed from this world October 23rd, 2009. Rest in peace, Gene. – HH
 
Harriman State Park, NY | Sunday May 1 2005
 
The Harriman Hikers today honored Eugene Doleschal for his 18 years of service as Hike Leader with a ceremony at lunch on the trail and presentation of a gift GPS Unit.
 
Gene will gradually be leaving us for his new home in the Conway, NH area. His new title will be Hike Leader Emeritus.
 
A consortium group of 4 rotating experienced hikers will continue to lead the Harriman Hikers for the weekly hikes which have been a regular feature since 1974.
 

 
– webmaster

Harriman Hikers
A New York / New Jersey Singles Hiking Club | Established 1974
www.harrimanhikers.org

Hike Destinations Are Not Pre-Scheduled

New and potential hikers frequently ask for a hiking schedule or want to know ahead of time which hike we are going to do on a given Sunday or where such a hike might go.

Please note that the decision where to hike is made every Sunday morning by the hike leader for that day which allows us maximum flexibility to adjust to changing weather conditions. If the weather is sunny and pleasant we hike to mountain tops to enjoy the scenery, if it is cold or rains we hike to a shelter where we keep warm by a fire. In the heat of the summer we hike to lakes. Other factors that go into the decision as to where to hike includes the size of the group and the availability of parking. A hiking schedule would not allow us to do that.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

best

Eugene Doleschal, Hike Leader Emeritus, May 2005

Harriman Hikers
A North New Jersey Singles Hiking Club | Established 1974