Every day nowadays seems to end with 5 hours of darkness. Here is how I use them when I am out camping.
5 PM. Build campfire, catch up on the news.
6 PM. Cook dinner and eat dinner.
7 PM. Sit back and enjoy the night by the campfire
8 PM. Listen to a podcast or read a book
9 PM. Head to bed early, as it’s best to get up early in the morning to maximize the daylight.
One of the things you have to consider about camping in November is how short the days are so darn short. Literally, you get up to darkness, and by 4 PM, you have to get camp set before the impeading darkness.
Literally, you won’t see the sun most mornings until 6:45-7 AM, so you wake in darkness. And total darkness overtakes the landscape by no later then 5 pm. While artificial light can help make the nights a little shorter, it really cuts down on time for the day’s adventures.
I’ve found the best way to handle the long nights is to get up early. Set up the alarm clock and be up prior to dawn. Cook breakfast under the camp lights and wait for morning to come.
Then at the break of dawn, get on to the day’s activities. Try to make the best out of your limited hours prior to dusk appearing once again at 4:30. It’s just the nature of this time of year.
This past October has been one of the rainest and cloudest months in recent memory. I can’t seem to remember such awful weather in a long, long time. Maybe it will break eventually, but for now this dreary weather pattern seems unending.
It just seems to rain and rain. The 7 day forecast just says more rain. No chance to get out and walk, as it’s always pouring. And when it’s not raining, it’s cloudy and damp out.
Normally, I like the October weather, but this year has been awful.
It real surprising to look at the calender, and realize today is September 30th, the last day of the month of September. October starts tomorrow.
Where did the time go we have to ask ourselves? So quickly?
It seems like winter is just around the corner, much quicker then any of us could have ever predicted.
The endless summer has shown it must come to an end. I woke up the other day at Moose Plains, and the temperature was only 46 degrees out. It was a chilly morning out, but only a symbol of what is to come as we fade into winter. Daylight is rapidly dropping every day.
Probably it would not be as big of deal for me, if I didn’t have to work so much during the fall. But I expect this fall to be a very busy season, where I won’t get to spend much time in the wilderness, camping, hiking, and spending time outdoors until mid-November. You know, I got to work and make money for the toys. And by mid-November, the winter will be well among us.
There is nothing to stop to winter from returning. And as soon as winter comes, winter will be on its way out, as we move back towards April and ultimately mid-May when things finally green up and the endless days of summer return once again. It’s the cycle of life.
It seemed like only a few weeks ago, it was just June. Now we are seriously looking at the end of summer as September is near. Labor Day Weekend is only a week away now, even though I swear it was just Memorial Day Weekend.
Yet, everything is saying summer is coming to a close. The days are definately growing shorter every day, and the temperatures are moderating. Sure there will be hotter days in days to come, but nobody can stop the descent into winter.
Summer seems like such a fleeting thing, with winter and cold weather being such a permanent part of living in NY State Lots of brown and cold weather, and not so much green. Summers greens will die out to fall’s brilliant colors, until we are left with the browns of winter.
There isn’t much we can do about it, but enjoy summer while it lasts. And remember in 9 months, it will come back around again, as all does.
Located in the Jessup River Wild Forest, North of Spectulator, offers great views of West Canada Wilderness, Cedar River Flow, Moose River Plains, Spectulator Tree Farm, Siamese Pond Wilderness. Should be close to peak foliage now. Consider camping at the roadside/tent campsites along Mason Lake to the North on Jessup River Road / NY 30. Take NY 30 to Jessup River Road to Military Road to Parking Area to get there. You may want to park at the start of Military Road if you have a low-clearance vehicle.
Click on map to download and print.
Located near Stony Creek, NY, it offers some great views of the Wilcox Lake Wild Forest and the Great Scanadaga Lake. I’ve never been there in the fall, but I suspect it offers many great views this time of year, with peak foliage being not far away.
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This is one of my most recent hikes, but definately offers really good views of Lake George and elsewheres, especially now that the fall colors are starting to set on in. One of the more difficult hikes on the list, it’s not really that difficult, but if you go from Pilot Knob, expect a 3.1 mile hike, and gaining around 2,100 feet in elevation. Regardless, a very nice hike.
Click on map to download and print.
Located near the North South Lake Campground, offers great views of the Clove, Hunter Mountain, Palenville, Hudson River, and farms and other lands near Catskill. Park on Scutt Road for free, which is last right before campground. Take Escarpment Trail all the way around to the Catskill Mountain House Ruins, then walk past North-South Lake.
* Area may be temporarily be closed due to Irene.
Click on map to download and print.
Located on the ledge between Slide Mountain and Panther Mountain, a relatively easy hike, with a relatively brief but not scary scramble onto the ledge that runs for 3/4 mile. Colorful views of vast Woodland Valley with Mount Tremper and other mountains in the distance, along with good views of Slide Mountain, Cornell Mountain, and other hike peaks.
* Slide Mountain Road was severely damaged by Irene. Area may be temporarily be closed due to Irene.
Click on map to download and print.