| . | Saturday HikeWhen we are not working, my husband and I try to spend as much time as possible doing outdoor activities like hiking and climbing. Two weeks ago, we joined a hike group in Harriman,NY. We liked it so much that we decided to join another one yesterday up in New Paltz, New York. The hike covered the Shawangunk Trails in Minnewaska State Park. It was an interesting Saturday outing, starting from the bus ride, the designated walk, and to the concluding part of the hike. We took a bus from the Port Authority on 42nd Street; it left around 8:30 AM. People boarding the bus seemed to know each other, greeting each other on a familiar basis. The ride was soundly full of words with some stories bouncing back and forth among the bus passengers. A man and woman were talking about non-human live species like bears, snapping turtles, and sharks. They were saying that it was important, especially for hikers, to know the difference between a black bear and a grizzly bear. Then, another group was talking about some people they knew. I was fascinated by how many topics people could cover in a one- and- half bus ride. Amazing! New Paltz: bus station: the bus arrived on time at around 10:05. Some people who were part of our group were already waiting and we joined them. The hike leader was already there gathering everybody. He gave driving directions to where the hike was supposed to begin. A man named Carlos was very kind to offer us a ride, along with another hiker named Agnese. It was a pleasant ride; Carlos and Agnese were cheerful companies. Trailhead Parking: We arrived at the starting point. The hike leader completed the protocols like signing group members and making sure that everybody had arrived. The hikers prepared their gears and put necessary insect-defense sprays. Three "cookie" people were assigned. Later part of the hike, free cookies would be served. The walk began at around 11:00 o’clock on a level surface. Then, we took a variety of routes: uphill walking, a hole in a small cave, and ascending/descending trails. We saw some panoramic views like
Like the group we joined the last time, this group was composed of good hikers. They knew the trails, the short cuts, and the necessary hike conventions like calling "bikers" and "branch." The hike leader made some stops to make sure that the group was still intact and able to enjoy the scenic views. Regular "separation" stops were given for both genders. Being a novice hiker, I found the experience informative; being a fast walker, I was able to get the right speed I preferred. We finished the hike at around 8:30 PM. Everyone in the group made it. People began to disperse. Carlos offered to give us a ride back to the city. Agnese and another hiker also joined the group. On the way, we stopped at an Italian restaurant. There, we got to know more the people in the group. Dinner was a pleasant conclusion of our hike. Overall, my husband and I appreciated the Gunk Trails and the people we met in the group. It was a recreational activity that made our weekend eventful and energetic- a pleasant Saturday to remember. Hikers |
<---Castle Point, Lake Minnewaska, Echo Rock (first stop), Lake Awosting,
Margaret Cliff, and Mud Pond. There was also a one-hour stop to