Tropical Storm Fay to Hit New York
Tropical Storm Fay is set to reach the Catskills (and Adirondacks) by Friday into Saturday. It has the potential to bring heavy rains of up to 3-inches with high winds of 25-mph sustained lower elevations in the Catskills. Gale winds (39–54 miles/hour) on high summits. As we found out with Tropical Storm Irene track and storm totals can change. The dry conditions may benefit from the rain, but with a short period of time the…
COVID-19 Hiking and Camping: NYS Fire Towers Closed
As we have all been asked to be socially responsible and practice social distancing during the COVID-19 (aka coronavirus) outbreak, it is hard to do in urban areas. It seems that this will go on for some time and mandates will change as the situation changes. People have been heading for parks and playgrounds with their kids to ease the tension of being indoors. Who can blame them? We in the hiking community know all…
Backpacking the Adirondack’s Dix Range
The Dix Range, peaks associated with Dix Mountain anchor the High Peaks. As one drives the Adirondack Northway from the south one can catch a glimpse of these peaks, especially the crown-like summit of Macomb. Situated south and separated from Marcy and the main jumble of high peaks Dix offers some of the best hiking, overnight or multiday backpacking and views in the Adirondacks and possibly in the Northeast. One can push and “do” the…
Devil’s Path temporarily closed due to vandalism
See update on this closure. The NYSDEC has announced on its web site a section of Devil’s Path is closed until further notice due to vandalism. The closure is from Pecoy Notch to the summit of Twin Mountain. This act comes not long after another unlawful event of illegal blazing on Cascade Mountain in the Adirondacks and a wildfire at 3,100′ on Blackhead Mountain’s in the Catskills due to an unattended/abandon campfire. Those events did…
2019: DEC to close Wilmington Notch Campground early
Heading to the Dacks? According to the DEC in the following press release, they will be shutting down the Wilmington Notch Campground on 9/4/2019. Read below: “The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced plans to close the Wilmington Notch Campground and Day Use Area on Sept. 4 to install a new well and water system. Early closure of the campground will also provide for additional time to complete additional repairs and…