Harnesses and Holds

The Austrian Alps are larger in size, scope and dimension than the Catskills but my relatives visiting from Germany still enjoyed a brisk hike up and around the Gunks today. The Gunks, short for the Shawangunks Mountain Range, stretches over 50 miles from Port Jervis to Rosendale and reaches 260 feet in height. It didn't take us more than an hour to hurry down I-87 exit at New Paltz and then skirt over to the Mohonk Preserve.

Unfortunately, when we got there we paid a fairly high entrance fee of $9/per person. No matter how hard I argued for senior citizen discounts or half-day rates (we arrived at 3pm) the woman at the counter wouldn't budge. Little did I know, nor did she tell me, that I could have parked for free about 1 mile up the road. Personally, that's taking advantage of unsuspecting visitors so if you visit be forewarned that your paying $9 for a small fold-out map.

The hiking in the Gunks especially at the Minnewaska State Park Preserve is truly breathtaking. Several sections offer remote wilderness as well as well-marked trails and on weekdays the paths are practically empty. The leaves are aging fast though. By next week popping browns, reds and oranges will be a delight to photograph. And, if you've got the right gear and grit try climbing the Trapps, Near Trapps, Skytop and Millbrook. My Aunt and Uncle left their carabiners and crampons in Deutschland or we would have been climbing all night.