Walkin' in the Rain

Walkin' in the Rain

I got out to hike and camp for 3 days, 2 nites in Harriman State Park, Tuesday the 20th to Thursday the 22d. Altho I actually did more walking in the rain on my last hike, this trip truly was soggier.

I walked a 4-trail loop hike from Lake Skannatati’s parking lot.  

Many, many day hikers were out all 3 days, even in Wednesday’s fog.  Tuesday afternoon, when I started, was gorgeous.  I hiked up the Long Path to its crossing of the Dunning Trail, along which are several old iron mines.  (This area produced a lot of iron used to make Revolutionary War weapons, but these mines probably aren’t that old.)  

High above the Dunning Trail is a small plateau where Fr. Jim Mulloy and I camped many moons ago, and it’s still a fine place to camp; there were 2 fire rings used fairly recently, and no litter to speak of except a lot of broken glass.

                                         

Light rain overnite left everything sopping wet except the inside of my tent.  I was up about the same time old Mr. Sun should have shown up, but he never showed all day.  

I got on the trail at 9:00, refilled my water bottles at a stream (ugh--very heavy pack!).  Where there's a side trail directly to the Bald Rocks shelter, there was a park sign prohibiting overnite camping at there because of a bear problem.  Wasn’t my plan anyway.  Beyond that a short distance, I took the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail north, part of which was completely submerged, crossed by some rickety logs.  

On top of Hogencamp Mt. I met the 1st couple of hikers of the day, taking pictures of the foggy world.  On my way down the other side, I met a large party of seniors (about a dozen) out for a vigorous hike.  The rocks, leaves, and mud were slippery, and my trekking poles were very useful--but didn’t save me from one spill that tore a hole in my rain pants (but not in me, thank God).

At Times Square I met a bunch of hikers—a couple having lunch, and later others just passing thru.  The couple informed me that the Fingerboard shelter, also—my intended destination—was closed because of bears.  At Times Square 3 major trails cross:  the Long Path, the RD, and the Arden-Surebridge; hence its name.  With Fingerboard out of the question (1.5 miles farther, and a return on Thursday), I wasn’t completely disappointed (that pack was heavy!) just to head in the direction of the car via the Arden-Surebridge Trail, which would’ve been my Thursday route anyway.  

On the ASB eastward there were hardly any spots suitable for camping except for one fantastic site where the Dunning Trail starts and a brook crosses the ASB—large, flat, and carpeted by birch leaves.  

The only fault was that it’s right alongside the trail.  I seized it, then celebrated Mass; several hikers came by as I was setting up, but "miraculously" none came while I was actually celebrating.  Everything was wet, so there wasn’t any point in gathering wood for a fire.  Lots of hikers came by as I enjoyed afternoon tea, set up camp, and cooked freeze-dried beef stew for supper (delicious and filling).

There wasn't any more rain to speak of, but there were lots of falling birch leaves and water shaking out of the trees.  The ground was harder than at the Dunning plateau, and I spent the nite tossing and turning; was ready to get up at first light and get back to the car, a mere 1.15 miles away (with a couple of climbs, but mostly downhill).  After prayer and breakfast, I packed everything up, much of it wet with rain, dew, or sweat. The only sign that I'd been there was a dry spot where my tent had been.

I was at the car a bit before 10.  I’d seen a few hikers already on the trail, and the parking lot was filling up again.

A good hike and campout, all in all, despite the weather.

Here’s the link to the pix: https://link.shutterfly.com/gRk587DXNab.