Touch Me Not

[dirtbag]

Companion forum thread to: Touch Me Not

I went for a short solo overnight trip in the Catskills this past Labor day. This trip I decided to hike on a much less traveled trail in the Delaware

[Kevin Babione]

Thanks for posting another enjoyable video.  A couple of things:

• You zoomed in on a bunch of flowers, but I didn’t see any “Touch Me Not” flowers!  I don’t know if I have the name correct, but that’s what we used to call orange flowers that grew in very wet areas.  They had small pods on them that exploded with seeds when you touched them (hence the name).    We used to love finding them as kids, but given that the name of the trail is “Touch Me Not” I would have assumed much of it was pretty wet.
• It looks like the perfect trip for a hammock!  Are you finding sleeping on the ground to be more comfortable or is it just that your Gatewood setup is lighter?  I’m curious.  I’m heading out for two nights this coming weekend and I’ll definitely be in my hammock…

Thanks again!

[dirtbag]

Thanks Kevin.

Ummmm.. the trail crosses over Touch Me Not mountain.. thats all I got.. lol. I did not see any of those flowers you mentioned.  Though it was very wet and moist.. and plush greenery along majority of the trail.

Also.. pretty much any trip is good for the hammock. I honestly was hoping for a lake side camp spot along Alder Lake.. so the Gatewood Cape and net tent were my go to for this trip. True,  it is also lighter weight and less bulk to carry then hammock set up with tarp and top and under quilts.  No, sleeping on the ground is NOT more comfortable then in my hammock!! I can sleep comfortably on the ground.. but 100 times more comfortable in my hammock. In fact, problem with my hammock.. there have been times when i slept too much.. wake up at 10 or 11 am!!!  When I sleep on ground, I know I will wake early and pack up and hike on.  I really love being on the trail early as possible..  I go back n fourth with my sleeping systems.  I have everything I need to be comfortable at any time of year on any trip wherever I go, so I like to use it all. Lately I am enjoying sleeping on the ground again.

Have fun on your trip coming up!!  Im heading to Atlantic City this weekend then next weekend to PA for some whitewater kayaking on the upper Lehigh river.. Cant wait!!

Enjoy your time out there!!!

[Kevin Babione]

Thanks – I’m finishing the northern half of the Mid State Trail through PA this weekend.  We have about 40 miles to go from where we last finished to the NY State line, but about 12 miles of it is road walking (which we’re going to skip).  It should be a fun weekend.

I’m guessing you timed your Lehigh River trip for a release…Well done!

[Lowell k]

Nice video, I used to visit that area as a kid when I lived on Long Island. Your accent makes me miss pizza and other food you can only get in NY :)

[dirtbag]

@Kevin.. I usually time it for damn release. My buddy lives up there and said with all the rain.. He has been running it without damn release. He ran it a few weeks ago at 8000cfm. So it should be flowing ok without damn release.  I’m no pro.. Still learning.. Highest I have paddled it was something like 1420.. Around there.. And that was pretty gnarly on damn release.

@Lowell K. Thank you. I live on Long Island.. Lake Ronkonkoma. Pizza is pretty good in NY yes! Lol.

[Lowell k]

I grew up in Setauket and Smithtown, small world.

[dirtbag]

Lol. Nice. Yes it is.

[Kevin Babione]

We were about 20 minutes into the start of our hike this past Friday and we walked past a small spring completely surrounded by Touch Me Nots and I thought of you…

[Josh B]

Thanks for the report. Nice to see a northeastern trip report on BPL.

[dirtbag]

Ahhhh.. look at that!!! Very cool.

[dirtbag]

@Kevin.. how was your trip???

[Kevin Babione]

It was good – thank you.  I’m working on posting a trip report.  As you know, any night out is better than not being out.

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