Team Hike Fall 2004 (September 24 – September 26): Arden Valley Road to Arden Valley Lake around Tuxedo NY.
This area of the AT runs through Harriman State Park and the lake is huge and beautiful. On the opposite side of the lake from where we were is the foundation of the house that Harriman lived in. At this time of the year the leaves on some of the trees were just starting to change color, the weather was in the upper 70’s and the lake water perfect for swimming. This spot was ideal for the weak at heart campers who don’t really like to hike because you could drive and park about 100 yards away from where we were camping. This worked out perfectly for those who brought coolers, tons of beer, excess gear and ridiculous amounts of food.
A guy walks into a bar. Behind the bar he notices a monkey in a cage, which he thinks is really unusual, but he doesn’t want to be rude so he orders a beer and just sits there. After 5 or 6 beers he finally gets the courage to ask the bartender why the monkey was behind the bar. The bartender says, “I thought you’d never ask”. He opens the cage and the monkey starts monkeying around on the bar. Then the bartender hits him over the head with a stick and the monkey unbuttons the bartender’s pants and starts blowing him. The bartender says you want to try that and the guy says “OK but don’t hit me so hard”.
Friday night
- Boner
- Rocco
- Gramps
- Sterni
- JD
- Hicks
Memorable moments:
· Boner, Rocco, Sterni & Gramps went up early and made sure we got the best camp spot.
· Set up the ten-man tent, brought in 3 coolers (filled with food and beer) and all our gear and set up camp.
· Hiked in from the parking lot with no gear except for Rocco who wanted to hike with his pack. Half way in he admitted he wished he didn’t do that.
· Gramps, Rocco and Boner swam to an island that looked a lot closer then it was, Sterni took a nap.
· Hicks and JD met up on the road and came in after dark.
· Sterni fell in the fire because he couldn’t stand up and then held his burnt hands high shouting “Yes… In the face!” from Coming to America.
· Ate like pigs, sandwiches for lunch, Blackened tuna and catfish, tuna burritos, Sterni brownies, cookies, bacon.
· Boner picked a fight with Rocco, tried to burn his hat and bit his finger. He then tripped over a bench and had to be helped to bed by Sterni and JD.
· Hicks kicked in the fire ring and made a bear piñata by hanging all the food in a tree
· Hicks got promoted to Team Hike Mom.
Saturday night same camp spot
(In that night)
- Chet
- Anthony
- Pio
- Manning
- Flush
- Ben (first K-9 Team Hiker)
Memorable moments:
· Taylor Ham egg and cheese on a bagel for breakfast followed up by bacon.
· Boner too hung over to wake up before one
· Snack tuna and catfish
· Pio and Manning came in before noon and started drinking heavily Manning actually told Pio to “slow down”.
· Some dork had a stash of firework hidden by our site which earned him the right to be heckled.
· Lunch – hot ham and turkey club wraps
· Rocco’s friend Orlando came in for the day with his friend Dom.
· We made a ghetto grill out of some rusted metal on the trail. Excellent grill marks!
· Day Hike to Lemon Squeezer and swimming.
· Snack – pork loin
· Rocco made up Team Hike awards and the first award ceremony was held. There was musical sing alongs and a guest performance of the Red Hot Chili Peppers song Airplane by a shirtless Pio.
· We were blessed with an re-enactment of the naked fire walker by Flush.
· The Group all took placebo pills as an experiment. The pills were vitamin C and no one acted weird.
· Dinner was salad, eel in a sugar soy sauce, veggie burritos, veal in a caper sauce, ribs, veal cheese steaks and zeppoles
· Light rain fell but nothing serious. Pio was thrown into the big tent when it started raining to keep him dry
· Manning ran out of rum so he started drinking vodka right out of the bottle.
· Manning tripped and fell on the crumpled beer cans after blaming Boner for stepping on his hand.
· Manning argued with Chet and Hicks about the greatest Karaoke singer. Of course Manning was promoting his client/boyfriend Pio and Chet and Hicks were pushing Gramps… the result was a hung jury.
· Great tasting chalice by Hicks, rum cranberry and pineapple.
· Chet donated his “I’m Rick James bitch” t-shirt to the woods after Gramps used it as a urinal. Somehow the shirt ended up in Gramp’s cooler upon arrival home.
· New Team Hike rules NO POLITICS NO RELIGION!
E-mails for this hike:
Hi fellas Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
It has been requested in the past to get the word out early for Team Hike so here are the dates for you all to save as voted by the people who made the Spring Hike. Last weekend in September, Friday 9/24 through Sunday 9/26. We are still working on the logistics of the Hike but we will be sure to make it a good one (Rocco). We'll also work on making arrangements for those who want to come one night only.
This is a special hike. As some of you may or may not know this is going to be the last hike before JD Joins DD in Florida for some gay aqua activities. We will make this a send off party for him Team Hike Style. Hopefully you all can make it.
Team Hike Bio - JD
JD was born to a family of clam farmers in Cape May NJ. After working in the mud for 18 years he realized he needed an out so he joined the Navy. After he was dishonorably discharged for peeing on an officer’s head after a night of drinking he enrolled in The Richard Stockton College of NJ. He was quickly accepted by a bunch of guys who were under aged and needed someone to buy them beer and he joined Pi Kappa Phi. The highlight of his college career was dressing as an abortion for Halloween. After College He has been a Sea Tow Captain, NYE Bartender, Booze Cruse/Parasailing business owner and most recently 8th grade girls basketball coach. He knows nothing about basketball but is quite an influence in the locker room. JD has been a regular on Team Hike since Team Hike three and has been known to wear funny hats and outfits on the trail. His most recent accomplishment is bringing a buddy along from Cape May that will throw himself in the fire or sleep in zero degree weather for the amusement of other campers.
**************************************************************************************************************
Fall is the best time of year for hiking and once again its time to ditch the ho's and carry as much crap into the woods for the weekend as we can.
Although I always express interest in a "real hike"(lightweight/long distance) many of us have become overweight, lazy, high blood pressure having, outdoorsmen. So I concede and this hike will appeal to all. We are going to hike a part of the AT where some of us have been before. The trailhead is on Arden Valley road in Tuxedo NY (1st exit off the thruway). The hike in is uphill 1 3/4 miles but there is another way in further up Arden Valley Road for the late arrivals or the Saturday crew. The second way in is a dirt road with a parking area at the end, from here it's only about 1/4 mile to the campsite. The campsite is on an awesome lake with plenty of rocks to dive off. There is also a "stage" for show tunes, awards, or heckling. Plenty of grassy spots to set up tents and numerous fire rings abound. If you come in on the dirt road there is a place to launch canoes or kayaks and you can paddle 500 yards to the campsite instead of a short hike.
I will go up at the butt crack of dawn on Friday with whoever else can get off to reserve the spot. The area is a popular hiking spot
and this spot in particular is in high demand. Although the spot is only a few hundred yards off the trail the are some rocky outcroppings which will provide privacy. The lemon squeezer is about ½ further up the trail which is a cool spot for happy hour or late night crack sessions. I will forward detailed directions soon.
Team Hike Lives!!!
Rocco "treesleeper"