7/16/17 Claudius Smith Loop hike Haven’t posted in a bit, not because I haven’t been out there but for...other reasons that I’ll maybe talk more about on this blog thing. it involves the former soviet union. Started around 10:30 and ended before 5 Really beautiful July day with clear skies but not unbearably hot. This is the 4th hike that I got to complete in the “magic” loop hike book (see bottom of page) and with the help of a snafu in terms of direction we got to complete both the long and short version of this particular circuit hike. The area that we were hiking in is known as "The Master Bedroom", a reference to the massive boulders scattered throughout the area. ). Got to check out the lair of American revolutionary era highwayman, who along with his sons would rob from passing Continental shipments going through the nearby Ramapo Valley/River. He was a Loyalist Gorilla leader according to all accounts. Him along with two of his sons were caught and subsequently hanged.

Met a frog, a chipmunk and a lone deer. Saw a bunch of figs that weren’t ripe just yet though I did snatch up a couple of handfuls of blueberries that were delish as well as a single ripe raspberry.

With the extra detour we probably squeezed out a good 8+ miles of hiking, a really excellent day out. Circuit Hikes of Harriman book link: https://www.google.com/search?q=Circuit+Hikes+in+Harriman&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAONgecTozS3w8sc9YSmnSWtOXmO04eIKzsgvd80rySypFNLjYoOyVLgEpXj10_UNDZPK08qKTSvKNRik-LlQhXgA4rZ5oFAAAAA&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjli53F4ZXVAhVC5oMKHffTCwsQ6RMIdzAL&biw=1303&bih=618 PS Got a new bike. Been doing a lot of bike messaging in the city. Postmates mostly Also been busking/openmiking/partying a bit Might start posting about that stuff soon.

Russian Bear

5 hour hike # 2 in the book around 6.5 miles of hiking should give myself 7.5 hrs not including travel Day of Hike: It's an hour into this thing and i'm feeling great. Book says I've hiked a total of 2.1 miles, but it might be more since I walked from the Bus stop. Got a hitch, but I'm pretty sure the dude was hoping for company for a longer journey, ended up saving me only like 10 minutes. Gonna make some sushi rice for lunch. Was going to go with the pops but luckily that didn't pan out. Think I messed up w/ my OSO. sent a lieutenant a rather lude comment, might just be for the best. Who knows. Dad says he's gonna kick me out again,again,again. Says that I'm not acting like an adult. Forget him.

AB - hitchhiking can b a varied experience Did the hike in around 5 hours. Aprox Times: Got to Sloatsburg - 9:15 Started hiking - 9:45 Russian Bear - 10:45 - 11:50 ( rice came out great could have kept it cleaner, made about 4 handfuls) All done - 2:45 Saw some awesome caterpillars (snapped a pic), that I'm pretty sure end up as moths, some salamanders and a single small black snake that I wouldn't be surprised if it was hoping to make some of those salamanders his lunch.

who's that dude?

First hike in a while. Back in Harriman (where else), I'm hoping to head up there every Sunday for a while. 5 would be ideal, B4 I go west. Got a book of loop hikes, 27 in all, we'll just have to see how many I get through. Today's hike does't/shouldn't count for one, got lost twice. I got to the hike's 'goal' the top of "Raccoon Brook Hills", before that though I ended up in a bunch of thickets when I lost sight of the trail markers and after I returned to the start through a totally different way then the what the loop was supposed to cover (following Reeve's Brook). It ended up being more like an arch then a loop. Overall it was great.
While in the thicket my chabad on campus ski hat feel out of my pocket and now belongs to the forest. This wouldn't bear mention other then the fact that at the top/middle of the hike I met a J4J guy who told me to read Isaiah, as these guys are known to do. It was a completely amiable conversation though and the guy told me he had been hiking in Harriman for over 25 year! He also said he grew up conservative and had lived in Kensington (not far from where I'm employed at the time of writing this post. If the connection between Chabad and Jews for Yushki is lost on you its the fact that Chabad on Campus is there in order to counter these sort of guys on College Campuses. Maybe they should make a Park Ranger Chabad shlichut in order to counter more nature oriented missionaries.



some pics: