6879 – Strawberry Moon at Valley View – June 16, 2019
Write-up: Meg Higgerson
Leader: Meg Higgerson
Co-Leader: Sharon Kaelin
The Tramps were out, but the Strawberry Moon was not to be found. The full moon in June is named such because this was the time to pick wild strawberries.
On this rainy evening we hiked under umbrellas or raincoats up the switchbacks at Valley View Golf Course. As we descended back to the pavilion we were greeted with a lovely clear sunset but still no Strawberry Moon. It was too cloudy!
At the pavilion, Sharon had a fire going and we enjoyed strawberry lemonade, fresh strawberries and some cookies before heading back down to our cars.
Seven of us hiked 6.5 miles on a cloudy, misty day. However the rain held off. The bugs did not and we needed our bug-netting. Typical spring day in the Adirondacks.
Saturday: Launching from the parking lot at Gems Along the Mohawk at 8 AM sharp, our little band car-caravaned down the Thruway to New Paltz, then up the road to the Mohonk Preserve, where we started off in bright sunny weather from the Spring Farm trailhead on the Bonticue Crag Trail. The trail soon forked, and the decision had to be made whether to take on the daunting challenge of scrambling 1200 feet up the rocks on the sheer face of Bonticou Crag, or walking up the trail for normal hikers. Those that opted for the scramble were in for a true adventure, complete with a lemon squeeze and plenty of thrilling moments. (See Jerry’s write-up which follows). At the top, the two groups met up for lunch on the rocks with unobstructed views across the valleys of the Catskill Mountains and more thrills, as Tom Schenck edged out on the ledge of the overhanging precipice, daring fate and Nancy’s ire, to get a better view. After lunch, we continued on the trail to Table Rock and more spectacular views, and finally back to the cars. By now, we were all beat by the 80 degree heat and ready for the icy cold beer and pub food of the Gilded Otter Brewery back in New Paltz.
Sunday: Because of thunderstorms threatening in the afternoon and the need to get back to Utica in time for a fellow Tramp’s family wake, we had decided to start Sunday’s activities earlier than scheduled and modify the routes. After a good night’s sleep at the Econolodge in New Paltz, we again split into two groups, this time of hikers and bikers. The hikers drove to the Walkway over the Hudson and then walked a loop that included both the Walkway and the Mid-Hudson Bridge. The bikers started from the Econolodge Parking lot and rode beautifully paved rail trails all the way through Highland Landing and across the Walkway Over the Hudson. We continued on the tree lined and shaded Dutchess County Rail Trail for about ten very pleasant miles until turning around and retracing our path back to again cross the spectacular Walkway. Here we enjoyed “Mangos on the Hudson” along with the exciting view from high above the Hudson River. We re-met the hikers on the other side of the bridge and hurried on to our cars to beat the coming storm. As we loaded up, we were already talking about what our next trip to this remarkable treasure-trove of hiking and biking opportunities will look like, when the Tramps will again go “on the road”!!
