Write-up: Meg Higgerson

Leader: Meg Higgerson

At 9 am 20 hikers dressed in color coordinated clothing met at the Campsite Road and 28N for our ride to Minerva.   We parked at the Post office and consolidated drivers to cut down on the number of vehicles.

Following a jostle up the unpaved but well maintained Moose Pond Club Road, the leader almost missed the trailhead but we soon started our hike.   Although humid, we had a nice 2.5 mile hike through the woods, where we could hear the river on our right.

Just before noon we descended down the trail. We then picnicked on the banks of the Hudson and some swam in the shadow of the famous Blue Ledges.

Within 5 minutes there were at least 12 rafts full of adventurers pulling up for lunch before they floated and paddled toward the Class III and Class IV rapids we saw downstream.

   After watching them bounce by, get stuck, get unstuck and hear them scream, we started our return trip hoping to and just able to avoid oncoming rain. We stopped for refreshments in Minerva and from there the majority of the Tramps headed back home from Newcomb Weekend #8.