The Jewish Outdoors Club

Meine Damen und Herren!

It’s that time you all have been waiting for. That’s right. Time to finish off all that food you still have in your fridge from yom tov!

Ok…that other thing you have been waiting for…the annual Fall Foliage Hike!!!

Yes - that time of year when you get to leave the city, go out into the woods, be one with nature, see the leaves, get rained on, hopefully not get lost and work off those extra pounds you put on during the – not two, but – three 3-day-yom tovim we just had .

Sound like fun? Well read on for all the details (copied from previous messages but sprayed with Fabreeze ™ to get that new e-mail smell):

What: Fall Foliage Hike, 2007

When: Sunday, October 21, 2007

Where: Storm King Mountain, located on the Hudson, just north of West Point.

Length of the Hike: Approximately 4 miles

Duration of Hike: Approximately 4 hours

Difficulty of Hike: 5 out of 10.

Difficulty of Hike Explanation: This is not a difficult hike but it isn’t a walk in Central Park. We will be hiking *up* a mountain with an elevation gain/loss of about 500 Ft. The trail is not flat and will be *very steep* in places. It is doable for people in decent shape. If you have difficulty walking up hills or have problems with your knees/legs/ankles/hips/toes/etc I would not advise attending this hike.

Cost of hike: $2 (please have exact cash)

Payment to Drivers: $10 per passenger

Clothes to Wear: Please wear clothing that 1) afford you the mobility required to hike comfortably, 2) are appropriate for the weather and 3) you don’t mind getting dirty or possible damaged. Don’t wear expensive suits unless you plan on attending an opera at the trail head. I recommend wearing layers that can be removed/added as you get hot/cold. Try to avoid cotton as it stays wet and will chill you when you start to sweat.

Footwear: Please wear footwear appropriate for hiking and overall outdoor activity. Appropriate: Hiking boots, trail shoes or sneakers. Not appropriate: Open toed or backed shoes and sandals, flip-flops, Crocks or anything with a heel (i.e. if you wear stilettos you will be the most fashionable person waiting all day in the parking lot).

Food to Bring: Please bring whatever food you will require to survive a day of hiking. This will include lunch and snacks (preferably something with carbs for energy and salt/minerals to replace lost electrolytes). Do not rely on other people having enough to share.

Drinks to Bring: Please bring a minimum of 2 liters of water for the hike – this does not include whatever you may drink on the way to the trailhead. Additionally, you may wish to ALSO bring sports drinks to help replenish those electrolytes (this is in addition to the 2 liters of water). If you feel that you will need more water, please bring more. DO NOT BRING LESS THAN 2 LITERS OF WATER. If you do, you will not be allowed to come on the hike. I don’t think there will be an option of buying drinks at the trail head. While it is the end of October, it is still possible that it will be hot – do you remember Succos?  

Necessary Gear: Backpack to put your stuff in. If you come with your stuff in a shopping bag or some other bag you have to carry in your hand, we will leave you in the parking lot with people in the stilettos.

Other Gear to Bring: Aside from the appropriate clothes, footwear and backpack, recommended items include – hat, sunglasses, rain gear/windbreaker, hiking poles, camera, binoculars, first aid kit (if you are trained in its use), sun screen, insect repellant, car door (in case you get hot, you can roll down the window…).

Warning: I/we reserve the right to turn you away if you come inappropriately equipped. So please, dress properly with proper footwear, and bring the requested food and water. You dig?

Main Meeting Location: In front of The Westmont - 730 Columbus Ave (between 95th St. & 96th St.).

Meeting Time: 9:00 AM Sharp! If you come late you won’t get the option of waiting in the parking lot with the stiletto wearers and the ill-equipped.

Return Time: If all goes according to schedule, and there is no traffic, you should be back in NYC at approximately 4:00 PM. Please keep in mind – this is an educated guess as to when you may get back. It is not an exact science and it depends on many factors (i.e. hike start time, speed of hike, number and length of breaks, traffic, etc). If you have a pressing engagement that you cannot miss, please plan accordingly (i.e. stay home, schedule a police escort, etc).

Distance to Trailhead: 52.4 miles – just over an hour with no traffic.

Note About Registration: Registration is open to everyone – drivers and non-drivers. I will be accepting non-drivers in accordance with the number of passenger seats I have available on a rolling admission policy. Please note – your registration is not confirmed until you receive an e-mail from me stating that you are. Please don’t send multiple e-mails asking if you are in.

Reservations: To reserve a spot, please send ONE E-MAIL ONLY to the address: joc_hike AT mlehmann DOT com. Please include the following information:

1) Your name and the names of anyone else you are registering

2) Your e-mail address and the e-mail address of anyone you are registering

3) Your phone number (Cell mandatory, home optional)

4) Where you will be departing from.

5) Can you provide transportation? (All passengers must pay their drivers $10)

  a. If yes, how many can you transport in your vehicle

  b. Drivers helping out by coming into the city to pick up passengers will be given priority of having a full car (i.e. we’ll try to fill your car so you can get the max $)

6) How much water do you plan on bringing?

7) What was the best thing you ate this yom tov season?

 If you do not provide the requested information, I cannot guarantee your registration.

Number of Hikers: I will be limiting attendance to 40 hikers.

Rain cancellation: Steady rain will cancel the hike; light rain/drizzle/mist may not. Please check back later in the week and on the morning of the hike.

Questions?: Please re-read the above info.

Questions?: Please re-re-read the above info.

Still have questions: Please e-mail me at the above address, but beware – silly questions will be shared at the next JOC Board meeting - why do you think we plan these events?

And now – the review in about 50 words: Fall Foliage Hike, Storm King Mountain (5/10) (4 Mi) for 4 hours, Sunday October 21, 9:00 AM - Westmont, bring food, 2L water, layers, cotton bad, backpack, assorted gear, stilettos and ill-equipped in parking lot, late comers in Manhattan, $2 for JOC ($10 for drivers), rolling admission, required registration info, no rain, questions…

So set your alarms, loose the heels and fill your camelbacks, and I’ll see you meet you on 10/21 for the Fall Foliage Hike.  

Hmmm...Does this roast smell good to you…?