Archive for April, 2007

Danger Zone

Tuesday, April 24th, 2007

April 22, 2007: Danger Zone

We had 10 hikers today but with totally 22 legs. Why? It was because the main character today was pets and we had a representative. Miss Laisee Lee.

Three miles was a safe and comfortable number for new hikers so I met 7 new friends today. Very likely, they didn’t prepare to climb a steep slope to reach the viewpoints so Susan even didn’t bring her backpack. Jason had to pick up a branch as hiking pole and Willa felt no need to add any more miles after lunch.

The first viewpoint was terrific because we could see the skyline of New York City. Eagles flew and Laisee ran front and back along the team checking no one was missing. When we under passed the high voltage electricity tower, we could hear the zzz sound when electricity was being transmitted. We found it was a hazardous area for hikers as the radiation might affect us.

We took lunch at the road side behind tree trunks to give us a little shade against the sun. I took out a cold Hami melon from my backpack and they knew now why I needed to carry a big backpack. I buried the melon skin and we started the trip back to trailhead. There were a few points that the trail met the stream and in where we usually stayed for a few minutes to touch the water.

The park rule stated that dogs with length longer than 6 feet should be leashed. We didn’t leash Laisee because her size was under the limit. It turned out a park ranger warned us to leash the dog. It was the second danger of hiking with your pets here as you might get an unexpected summon in this County Park.

One more danger for hiking here was Lyme disease. We saw the warning notice stated that there were a high report number of hikers being infected with Lyme disease. It was really a threatening to our new hikers. Wendy was worried and asked for quick retreat back to the car.

We stayed at last river to clean up the muddy hiking shoes. Jessica touched the river again and finally came back with a fresh water baby lobster. Too bad that Willa and Susan didn’t bring their pets today and made Laisee becoming the only pets of all of us.

 

Posted in Hiking Journal | No Comments »

First Attempts

Tuesday, April 24th, 2007

April 21, 2007: First Attempts

It was the first Saturday trip of Nature-You Club; it was the first re-scheduled trip due to unfavorite weather the week before and it was the first real hiking trip for Penny.

We had a team of magnificent seven today. We started along Long Path at Route 6. When I told them it was the same trail I helped my friends leading a team of 75 hikers last time, they all curious about how noisy it was on the trail. It was such a beautiful day that I supposed a perfect day for hiking, but we didn’t meet too many hikers until we reached the Stockbridge Shelter and driving home. Penny told me she hiked very often at a park of Long Island, just the trail was pretty flat. When we climbed the Stockbridge Mountain, she knew the big difference between hiking and walking. She almost wanted to give up if without the encouragement from Jessica. After seeing the gigantic nature made Cave Shelter and getting re-chargeable rest at the artificial Stockbridge Shelter, she got used to how to breathe in the mountain area. We enjoyed the down slope to Lake Nawahunta and had a good lunch at the lakeside under giants liked pine trees forest.

The restrooms at Silvermine Lake Picnic Area were a place we shouldn’t miss today. The picnic area was quite packed with families enjoying their BBQs. Jessica was busy at searching any living creatures in the river. She was a person fond of Nature Touch. Finally, she caught a fresh water baby lobster and an edible snail from the river to take pictures.

Being very curious about the scenery at the other side of the mountain, Yim suggested climbing the ski slope. It was my first attempt even I hiked in this area for more than 10 times. The climb was a heart stimulating add-in since the slope was so steep. When looking back from the top, Silvermine Lake was so pretty. We met Penny at the lakeside and walked back to parking in a quick pace along the Fire Road.

On the way home along Seven Lake Drive, the parking areas at Lake Skannatati and Visitor Center were so pack that probably we should name today National Hiking Day.

Posted in Hiking Journal | No Comments »

Christmas-liked Easter Hike

Tuesday, April 10th, 2007

Journal:

April 8, 2007: Christmas-liked Easter Hike

 

(Contributor: Leader)

 

It was Easter today, but we hiked in a weather liked Christmas. It was a cold windy cloudy day with only 29 degree and light flurry. Some of our first time hikers were not prepared so came with no windbreaker. I knew I had to keep a fast pace and maintain only short breaks in order to save them today. We had 10 hikers to challenge the belated 6 miles winter hike. We would visit 3 shelters and probably would experience how important a shelter for hikers under such a windy day.

 

The parking lot at Route 106 was quiet. Some hikers were cried for the start when I was still exchanging for my hiking boots because it was so cold to stand there. We climbed Carr Pond Mtn rapidly to give everyone a warming up. It turned out I forgot to find a route to visit the first shelter on Carr Pond Mtn.

There were a lot of ups and downs today. Once we climbed to the ridge, we were rewarded with great open view of the area but also strong cold wind from all directions. We could not spend too much time to stay or take pictures. Our teen hikers today likely had to come back next time to enjoy more on photo taking and posting. We took lunch at a distance away from the Tom Jones Mtn Shelter because it was early occupied by a small group of Korean hikers. Before we left Tom Jones Mtn, we went to the shelter to play with the fire furnace to warm our hands up.

 

After passing Route 106, we climbed Black Rock Mtn. A whisper demand of cut short the trail came but finally rejected by most of our participants. Even the young hikers were eager to complete their first Level C trip. My nickname was turned into Cat Leader by Mei Si because C for Cat. I expected my name will be changed into Dog, Egg, and Flower later.

 

The stay at Bald Rocks Shelter was short. We finished the last 1.5 miles flat trail in a quick pace. Each participant got a piece of special designed stamp. Level C is probably good for Zhou Xia, Yi Shao and most of today’s group. Only Mei Juan asked continuously for Level D trip. Sure we will have longer or more difficult trips next month to let my fans taking the challenge.

Posted in Hiking Journal | No Comments »

Hike in front of rain

Wednesday, April 4th, 2007

April 1, 2007: Hike in front of rain

 

The drizzle and cloudy sky in the morning pushed my heart to the bottom since it might ruin my 8 miles hiking plan. We had 9 participants today so eager to try NYC’s first 8 miles activity. Even the weather was not supportive, I still insisted to go because I trusted the weather forecast: rain pour will start at 3pm. Therefore, we would have 5.5 hours to finish an 8 miles level C. Would it be possible?

 

The temperature was still low in mountain especially there were rarely sunshine today. Luckily, we didn’t feel cold until lunch because there were enough of upslopes for us to climb and generate body heat to keep us warm. With 30 pounds in my backpack and no time to take breakfast in the morning, I felt the rocky steps were legs shaking machine. But, I was confidence enough to reach Lake Skenonto, our lunch point without clamp.

 

2 miles climbing on Blue Disc brought us to the famous little pond. The high points rewarded us some great viewpoints. After a short break, we kept climbing 2 more miles on RD. I determined the pace as I remembered the deadline: 3pm. We reached Lake Skenonto before 12:15pm. 2.5 hours to complete 4 miles uphill. It was the best record of us all. I had a Formula One team which could hike in a steady fast pace.

 

I took out the 15 pounds item, a water melon to share with the group. It showed that it was not the season yet for this kind of fruit because it was only a watered green ball but not sweet enough. In addition, the weather was not hot enough to intake cold water melon. Finally, I myself consumed half of the melon and had to skip my lunch. We buried the melon skins and got ready for the second half of our trip.

 

With 20 pounds less on my back, I led the group in a pace liked cross country running. In fact, the remaining 4 miles were flat and easy. We stopped by the Dutch Doctor shelter and reached the parking lot around 2:15pm. We completed 4 miles flat trail in less than 1.5 hours. We were safe without being hit by a single rain drop. Actually, we hiked in front of the rain because it did rain when we drove on highway.

Posted in Hiking Journal | No Comments »