Day Trips
Clay’s Private Rock Climbing, Hiking & Camping Weekend
Registration for Clay’s Private Group
It’s Clay’s rugged guys’ weekend...sign up here!
Click the Itinerary Tab to see what’s in store.
Event Details
- Friday, June 20 Depart 73rd Street and Broadway at 6:00 PM
- Monday, June 23 Return to Manhattan ~7:00 PM
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Itinerary
Friday > Arrive & set up camp
Arrive and set up camp. Food, beer...you know. Guy’s weekend stuff.
Saturday > Search for the Ice Caves
THE SEARCH FOR THE ICE CAVES: You will hike about a mile up the Smiley Carriageway (500 ft elevation gain), to a small wood bridge over a dry creek. We will follow this creek (Shingle Gully) on a steep upslope. It’s a faint path. The gully becomes steeper and steeper until suddenly, a vertical wall of rock appears. This cliff is unusual because it runs up and down the slope instead of across. It is the beginning of the odd formation that forms the ice caves.
The caves in this area are tectonic, not eroded or dissolved like most caves. In other words, they are formed by the natural movement of the ground. The geology of the area consists of a layer of slippery shale underneath a hundred feet or more of much harder limestone/conglomerate. Where the whole formation leans, huge chunks of it break off and slide down a few feet at a time (called a block slide). This creates the deep cracks that make up the canyons. The ice caves of Shingle Gully are like a shark bite—an inverted U, in the edge of the plateau.
ICE CAVES: Above the canyon it can be scorching hot and dry, down at the bottom it’s always cool and moist. You will notice large quantities of ferns and moss surrounded by constant fog and cold air pouring out of the cracks in the side walls. Inside the canyon you will be able to peer into several caves. You might be able to go into a few, but many are too steep to descend without proper equipment (ropes and such). The canyon extends for a considerable length with alternate narrow canyons that run parallel to it.
HIGH POINT: From here we will switch onto another trail and begin a steep ascent to High Point (1500 ft elevation gain). Towards the top the plateau is rocky and barren—essentially solid limestone—so the vegetation is mostly bushes and stunted pines, but provides a great view. Once we arrive at High Point we’ll chow down on lunch.
After lunch we will hike along the ridge for a consistent view of the Gunks region until we arrive at Vederkill Falls where we will spend time exploring the area.
That night we are going to cook and camp in the backcountry.
Sunday > Hiking 8-10 miles
Wake up early and begin to head northeast towards Lake Awosting which has restrooms in case you need it and a designated swimming hole. This entire day will be spent exploring the beautiful Minnewaska State Park. On your journey you will be able to see Awosting Falls, Rainbow Falls, countless overlooks, Wolf Jaw, Battlement Terrace, the famous Trapps and The Lost City.
That night we will all camp out at a designated camp site.
Monday > Rock climbing in the Gunks
Have breakfast and spend the entire day climbing in the famous Gunks. Though instead of climbing in one spot you will get a chance to climb, repel and traverse as you travel around the area. Levels of difficulty will vary with everything from beginner to expert to hard-core!
Surprise Lake Hike
Experienced, Fun & Qualified Guides
From cycling across the United States to leading horse treks through New Zealand to scaling Nepalese peaks, Outdoor Bound guides have real-world outdoor experience. Collectively, they have hiked, biked, climbed and kayaked tens of thousands of miles around the globe.
Whether their professional backgrounds are as teachers, personal trainers, artists, environmentalists or business leaders, they all have an extensive knowledge of the natural world and local history. Each guide has also passed a rigorous guide certification program and is trained in wilderness first aid or as a Wilderness First Responder.
Diverse & Interesting Groups
There is no typical Outdoor Bound participant. While ages typically range from 20 to 50, those who come to experience outdoor adventure range from singles to couples, from lawyers to waiters. They are a mix of women and men. While the group is always diverse, you will certainly feel welcome. Our guides go the extra mile to make the atmosphere of each trip social and fun. Many people in the Outdoor Bound community have forged lasting friendships as a result of our trips.
New Experiences
Skydiving, ice-climbing, hot-air ballooning, skiing and hiking every weekend are just a few of Outdoor Bound’s year-round adventures. These trips are accessible to everyone, including the novice, who might feel a little uneasy, the young urban professional trying to get away and even the adrenaline junkie looking for a new rush.
Environmental Awareness
“Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures,” is the Leave No Trace motto embraced by Outdoor Bound. From purchasing bamboo T-shirts to printing with soy-based inks on recycled paper, Outdoor Bound strives to create the least environmental impact possible while on trips and in the office.
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- Clay’s Private Rock Climbing, Hiking & Camping Weekend
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Bringing a Friend or Two?
Please be sure to enter the total number of people in the Qty box. In addition, be sure to include your friends’ names and cell-phone numbers on the final Checkout page. The final discount price is the price per person, multiplied by the Qty you enter.
Reminder about Winter Trip Conditions
We closely monitor snow, ice and related weather conditions before each trip. Lack of snow or similar, unsatisfactory weather/trail/river conditions may lead to changes to the trip or rescheduling or cancellation.
Please consult the individual trip description or Event Calendar for notice of any such changes. Refer to our full Policies page for more information about reservations and cancellations.