Author Archives: Charlie
Connetquot River State Park Preserve, Suffolk County, NY
A freak snowstorm left snow covering most of the upstate parks, and I suspected that the scheduled hikes were all canceled. However, New York City itself had very little snow and Long Island was clear, so I decided to go on … Continue reading
Minnewaska State Park Preserve, Ulster County, New York
I joined the Jewish Outdoors Club for this trip to Ulster County, about 80 miles northwest of New York City. I drove through Manhattan picking up three other hikers on the way. We were told to arrive at the park … Continue reading
(Return to) Norvin Green State Forest, Passaic County, NJ
I arrived at Norvin Green State Forest for the second week in a row. This time, I joined about 20 people with the Jewish Outdoors Club. We followed the green trail southwest from the Weis Ecology Center for 0.4 miles, … Continue reading
Norvin Green State Forest, Passaic County, New Jersey
I arrived at the parking lot of the Weis Ecology Center at 10:25 a.m., and expected to meet a small group of people between 10:30 and 10:45. When that group didn’t show by 10:50, I instead accepted an invitation to hike … Continue reading
Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park, Putnam County, New York
I drove north on the Taconic and turned west on Route 301, parking at the southern end of Canopus Lake. 12:10 p.m.: I hiked north on the white-blazed Appalachian Trail, where in the course of a few minutes I met nine hikers, in five … Continue reading
Sterling Forest State Park, Orange County, New York
This was my first hike after the Grand Canyon. Several weeks had passed, in part due to weekend thunderstorms. On this day, I joined the Appalachian Mountain Club, with the understanding that they were going to visit Harriman State Park, … Continue reading
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona – July 13-14, 2011
Wednesday: We woke up about 4:45 a.m., dressed, ate breakfast, finished packing, weighed our duffel bags and left them for the mules to carry to the top of the South Rim (my bag weighed 14 pounds, if I recall correctly, and … Continue reading
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona – July 12, 2011
Tuesday: I wasn’t sure whether to be happy or sad about the third day, which would be our last day on the river. I was enjoying the rafting, but at the same time thought it would be interesting and fun … Continue reading
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona – July 11, 2011
Monday: The wake-up call was “coffee,” and it came around 5:30 in the morning. After breakfast, we took down the tents and packed up our gear, then we boarded the boats and got underway.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona – July 8-10, 2011
Friday: I flew from LaGuardia to Charlotte, then on to Phoenix, then to Flagstaff, where I checked into the Holiday Inn Express in the mid-afternoon.