Not According to Plan

Not According to Plan

For weeks I was anticipating a vigorous hike and 2 nites of camping in Harriman State Park in the days right after Easter.  I planned to do, more or less, a reverse of a hike I did in 2017.  That was almost at the same time of year (April 29-May 1) when I’d come east from Champaign for my cousin Margaux’s Confirmation.  On that occasion, I didn’t carry a tent, just a tarp, and only 1 gallon of water.

But for this intended April 6-8 jaunt, I carried a tent and 4 liters of water besides food, fuel, warm clothing, and more—probably 40 lbs.

From Reeves Meadow, a view of Dater Mountain,
which one climbs via "Almost Perpendicular"

I parked at Reeves Meadow Visitors Center on 7 Lakes Drive on the outskirts of Sloatsburg, N.Y.  There were about a half dozen cars in the lot.  I got on the trail about 9:15 a.m., trudging up Reeves Brook Trail, which I had to myself for over an hour. 

The solitude ended when a family of a dad and 4 kids came down the trail.  We exchanged a brief greeting.  Shortly, I could hear a racket behind me and didn’t guess what it was until, at the RBT’s junction with the 7 Hills Trail (1.35 miles) I paused for a breather.  And up the trail came a noisy Wolfpack (Cub Scouts) with 3 women guiding them.  They hesitated, not sure of their route; assured that I’m a Scouter, was equipped with a map, and was pointing them east on 7 Hills (their intention), they headed off with exuberance.

Every so often, I emailed Fr. Mike Conway and Fr. Jim Mulloy of my whereabouts and intentions.

I was soon passed by 3 Korean day hikers, apparently a family.  At the Raccoon Brook Trail (.3 mile), they went east, as I meant to do also.  They hesitated at the steep climb then proceeded, and when I got there, I hesitated as well.  With my full pack, I decided that ascent would be too much of a challenge, not say precarious (which I did say in my notes).  So—change of plan:  no RBT to the Hillburn-Torne-Sebago Trail and the Russian Bear, where I’d intended to camp.

Instead, I went west on the RBT .3 mile to its end at the 7 Hills Trail.  Along the way I stopped for lunch (turkey and cheese sandwich with some trail mix, a Kind bar, and water).

  A party of 5 day hikers passed by, heading west.  At the junction with 7 Hills,

Raccoon Brook Trail's end
at Seven Hills Trail

there’s an excellent viewpoint (Torne View) with westward and northward vistas. 

I started south on 7 Hills around 12:20 p.m., figuring to take that to the HTS and Ramapo Torne (which would’ve been my 2d campsite, after Russian Bear).  But clambering down rocky descents with my heavy pack, heading toward the valley between the 2 tornes, and the thought of then ascending Ramapo Torne (which loomed in view),

soon discouraged me.  My legs were feeling the strain of it all.  So I decided to backtrack and look for a camping spot off the trail.

I found a good site before long, about 1:30 p.m., maybe a quarter mile south of the RBT junction, a bit after noon—a level area fit for my tent and a spot to make a fire. 

I pitched my tent, gathered firewood (which was abundant), and hung my bear bag. 

Two or 3 couples came by; I was right off the trail in plain sight, and we greeted each other and conversed briefly about the weather and the trail.  The leaves aren’t out on the trees yet, so shade was scarce, but I found a little bit where I could sit on a rock and read.  I had an issue of Columbia and a little religious book, and on my phone the Liturgy of the Hours.

A group of young Hasidic men went by, southbound, and returned about an hour later; at that point we spoke briefly.  They were amazed that I was camping out and wondered that I wasn’t scared of the wildlife.  Actually, the only wildlife I’d seen was a pair of crows and some hawks.  There were a lot of deer droppings in the area where I was camped.  Nothing to make a hiker or camper nervous.  I did tell the young men I’d seen bears 3 times in the park in 30 years.

Part of the area around my camp

I checked the temperature at 4:34 p.m.--49°.  The elevation was 1,153 ft.  The sun was out nicely, and the wind was strong, giving me a chill.  But I had enuf clothing to layer up well.

About 4:30 I prayed Evening Prayer, read a bit more, then prepared supper:  a hamburger with bread, Crystal Lite, trail mix, apricots, and a Kind bar. 

I put the rest of my food into the bear bag, about 150 ft. from my camp.  I read more.  I admired the sun’s setting behind a bank of clouds, and I could see parts of the Manhattan skyline afar off.

As the sun was lowering, I made a small, sheltered fire, which I fed as needed as I continued reading. 

Not very long after the sun went down and it got dark, I called it a day and retired to the tent.  I changed into fresh, dry clothing.  My REI air mattress provided a comfortable enuf bed under my winter sleeping bag.

The forecast was for a low temp of 39°.  I was snug, but (as usual) I tossed and turned all nite, with some periods of sleep and even dreaming.  At least I didn’t have to get up in the middle of the nite to visit Mother Nature.  I was thirsty, in fact, and did take some water after midnite.  Altho it had clouded over by sundown, the clouds must have cleared away in the middle of the nite because the half moon lit up the tent (to some degree).

At 6:20 a.m. I rose.  It was 40°.  With enuf layers of clothing, that was tolerable; I found a light pair of gloves useful.  After visiting Mother Nature and retrieving my food, I made breakfast (hot granola with strawberries, coffee, apricots, and nuts), then prayed the Hours. 

I began the process of breaking camp and considered where else I might hike and make a 2d nite of camping.  After an interval following breakfast, I picked out a reasonably flat rock and celebrated Mass.

Then I packed up the tent and other gear.  My pack should have felt lighter with 2 liters of water and some food gone, but it didn’t feel appreciably so.  I headed north on 7 Hills at 9:45.  That stretch of trail was reasonably flat and pleasant.  I was thinking I’d get to the car, and drive to Johnsontown Road, then hike to the Dutch Doctor shelter for the rest of the day and overnite.

But as the trail began its descent, I had to pick my steps with great care, and my pack was weighing heavily.  By the time I reached 7 Hills’ junction with Reeves Brook Trail (.8 mile), I’d put the idea of more hiking out of my head and just wanted to get to the car.  My legs were straining, and my shoulders ached.  On reaching the RBT, at first I thought I was to continue northeast on 7 Hills—where an intimidating climb faced me; but, happily, I checked the map (never hike without one!) and I realized that I wanted RBT, which took me steadily downhill alongside the brook, 1.35 miles back to Reeves Meadow—crossing a couple of streamlets and always requiring careful footing.  I didn’t meet a soul the whole way from camp to the parking lot.

I reached the lot around 11:15 a.m.  It was packed, and there were cars along the road as well. 

Several day hikers came along, disappointed that the visitors center—and the bathrooms—were closed.  (I was disappointed too.  After more than 24 hours in the woods, I would’ve liked a real bathroom.)  Several hikers (obviously newbies) wondered whether the trails were closed, too.  Of course they weren’t.  They never are, unless some specific section has been wiped out by a storm (as happens now and then).  I helped orient 2 hiking groups toward Pine Meadow Lake or RBT toward Torne View.  A party of about 10 guys came off the Pine Meadow Trail, regretted the restrooms were closed, and headed to their cars.

After lunch (PB & J with water), I got into the car and emailed my confreres that my plans had changed and I was returning a day early.  It felt good to sit down out of the wind.

Here are all the photos and the map.