N e w s

The week of May 3rd begins with a partly sunny, breezy and cool Sunday with highs in the low 50's. Monday will be breezy in the morning then partly sunny with highs in the low 60's. Tuesday will be breezy and pleasant with a blend of sun and clouds and highs in the low 70's. Wednesday will be breezy and cooler with periods of rain and highs in the high 50's. Thursday will be breezy with periods of rain and a thunderstorm with highs in the mid 50's. Friday will see a morning shower in the area then it will be windy and cool with intervals of clouds and sunshine with highs in the low 50's. On Saturday it will be partly sunny with a shower in the area in the afternoon with highs in the low 50's. The week starts with relatively warm weather followed by cooler temperatures later in the week. These weather conditions lead to standing and running water and a lot of mud on the trails. Conditions may change significantly from morning to afternoon and day to day. Overnight temperatures may be cold enough to freeze some water leaving icy patches in some places. What you wear for clothing and on your feet will depend on your hiking location. Daylight is slowly increasing heading toward the summer solstice with longer and longer days. Packing a working headlamp is always a good idea as it may mean the difference between finishing a hike easily and wandering around in the forest. NEVER assume that conditions at the trailhead are the conditions on the mountain. When the weather conditions are constantly changing, be sure you have dressed appropriately in clothing that will wick away moisture to prevent it from accumulating in your clothing, which can, at the very least, be uncomfortable. Layering should be with non-cotton materials as cotton tends to hold moisture. Keeping hydrated is essential no matter the temperatures since hydrating properly will allow you to hike longer and in greater comfort. Be sure to carry plenty of water with you as local water sources can be unreliable and may be contaminated. Once you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated! Remember, the weather forecast is only a prediction and always contains percentages. Be prepared and have a plan for the most likely and least likely forecast! Are you prepared to stay out overnight on a trail? Conditions in the morning can change drastically by the afternoon. Conditions at the trailhead do not always reflect the conditions on the peaks! Variable trail and weather conditions are a hallmark of these mountains. BE CAREFUL AND BE PREPARED!

Sheila: September 24, 2011 - July 12, 2024

Sheila was with us for more than 12 years. She was a great friend and a fantastic hiking companion. She went with me on all but a handful of hikes in many diverse places. Her first hike was at Frick Pond in December 27, 2011. Her last hike was July 1, 2024 on the Parksville Rail Trail. After that hike, her health began to deteriorate rapidly. When she could no longer breathe properly we called on the staff of the Jeffersonville Animal Hospital to put an end to her suffering. We cannot express are gratitude for the caring and compassionate treatment we received. The end was quick and quiet. Cindy and I stayed with Shiela until it was over. She never seemed in distress. We are heartbroken but knew that what we did was right for our good friend.

Sunday: March 8th: Parksville Rail Trail
Monday: March 9th: Beaverkill Campgrounds
Friday: March 20th: Parksville Falls
Tuesday: March 24th: Hodge Pond by Flynn Trail
Thursday: March 26th: Loggers Loop Counterclockwise
Monday: March 30th: Trout Pond Counterclockwise
Tuesday: April 7th: Parksville Rail Trail
Wednesday: April 8th: Neversink Unique: Denton and Mullet Falls
Friday: April 10th: Beaverkill Campgrounds
Tuesday: April 14th: Frick Pond: Flynn and Big Rock Loop
Thursday: April 16th: Parksville Rail Trail to Sonoma Falls
Monday: April 20th: Parksville Falls
Tuesday: April 28th: Long Pond Loop
Wednesday: April 29th: Parksville Rail Trail
Thursday: April 30th: Round Top Maintenance
Friday: May 1st: Frick Pond: Loggers Loop