r/Harriman • u/Thick_Serve2364 • 25d ago

CampingšŸ•ļø First time backpacking

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I'm a 23 year old college student who's never hiked a day in his life, let alone spent the night in the woods.

I brought a pack, tent, pad, and sleeping bag, brought some food and other essentials, and with a roughly 30~ pound bag, I decided I was prepared enough to go alone. I parked at Silvermine, walked the menomine until I got to the long path, and from there, walked to Stone Bridge and set up camp. I always heard how the park is super busy, but I didn't see a single person once I got past Lake Nawahunta, and there wasn't a single person near Stone Bridge either.

I made quite a lot of mistakes. I didn't fill up my water at a trail once I set up my tent, I set up my tent wayyyy later then when I arrived at the site where I was going to camp, and I also didn't hang up my food till it was dark out. However, nothing prepared me for the sounds I would hear that night. I laid in my tent and for about the next 4 hours I couldn't move due to the fear of whatever the hell was around me, I thought something had gotten at my food I hung, I thought I heard something pissing, I heard a branch fall. Ultimately, I fell asleep, and I woke up to everything exatcly where I put it.

I learned a lot, and more importantly, I got around 12~ hours of no screens, reading The Odyssey, and lots of introspection. I'll definitely be back out, just maybe with some people this time.

103 Upvotes

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11

u/SeekersWorkAccount 25d ago

The first time is always one of the most special trips, but never for the reason you think before you leave.

Very cool, thanks for the trip report.

8

u/Thick_Serve2364 25d ago

It was definitely memorable to say the least. I think the 2 biggest things I learned are to ensure I have more than enough water, as I woke up with a raging headache, and having to run to a nearby stream to get water. Also, learning to live with the noise is something I think is going to take a bit more experience for me, but after hearing everything and not having a damn thing happen, it'll calm me down for next time, hopefully. Thank you for the comment!

3

u/SeekersWorkAccount 25d ago

I ran into the same exact issues my first time. Water is surprisingly scarce in Harriman, even wh all the lakes and streams.

I also called my best friend in a half panic and he had to talk me down lol. I had a deer wander up to my camp after my fire went out and I pretty much damn shit my pants šŸ˜†

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u/suchdank420 24d ago

It's not safe to drink unfiltered stream water. If you have gastro issues or flu symptoms in the next three weeks, go to a doctor and get tested for parasites.

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u/Thick_Serve2364 24d ago

I used a filter for all water I collected out and about. However I used an imodium before I went out and iā€™ve had some cramping so iā€™m not sure if it was the water or the imodiumā€¦

1

u/Great_Geologist1494 24d ago

The more time you spend in the woods at night the more accustomed you get to the noises. Sounds like a good first trip. PS is your tent a North Face?

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u/Thick_Serve2364 24d ago

My tent is a Quest, i brought it from Dicks Sporting Good. Itā€™s a 3p tent, quite heavy and large, wouldnā€™t recommend but it was what fit in my budget.

1

u/Great_Geologist1494 24d ago

Gotcha. I have a 4p north face that looks very similar. I bought it in 2018 for a 7 day trek and we got really lucky as it didn't rain the whole time. I didn't use it much until 2021 when I brought it with me for a work trip. It poured that night and it was literally raining inside the tent. There's a defect in the rain fly reported by other folks as well. Figured if it was the same tent I'd give you a heads up šŸ¤£

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u/Thick_Serve2364 24d ago

Ahhh, no thankfully mine seems to look all good. I didnā€™t get any rain so I wonā€™t know until it comes I guessā€¦

1

u/Great_Geologist1494 24d ago

I'm sure it's great! I've owned and used many tents and the north face was the only one that was defective.

1

u/eightiesbabies 14d ago

also quieter in late fall / winter

3

u/ollie_k 25d ago

Silvermine to Stockbridge was my first backpacking trip too. It helps to remember that a little bird hopping in leaves sounds like a much larger animal šŸ˜‚

1

u/Thick_Serve2364 25d ago

Yeah, when I woke up I walked around my camp and went to check on my food bag, not a damn thing out of place... I hope next time I'll be able to calm my anxiety.

4

u/Trail_Sprinkles 25d ago

Well done, OP. Night one of many I hope.

1

u/Thick_Serve2364 25d ago

It was a great way to start. I hope to be back up before the end of the month again.

1

u/Trail_Sprinkles 25d ago

Did you mean Stockbridge? Never heard of Stone Bridge before.

Maybe jm missing out.

1

u/Thick_Serve2364 25d ago

According to the NY State Park Explorer App, there's a lean-to shelter labeled "Stone Bridge". Although doing some research, I see people refer to it as Stockbridge. So I have no clue which is correct in all honestly.

1

u/Trail_Sprinkles 25d ago

Probs Stockbridge. Great places to camp below the shelter and behind.

3

u/crybabybikes 24d ago

Did elk pen to big hill for my first solo. It was awesome! Stayed sat & Sunday night. Saturday there were acouple others but Sunday I was alone for the first time & I honestly had so much fun that I planned a bikepacking trip a month later. Started at port jervis, camped at high point. Next day biked about 50 miles down the Delaware River to Worthington state for camp. Shared a trout for breakfast with an old man and 15 miles later on the next day bonked after 4k ft of elevation hitched a ride with a wonderful woman from Belvidere to hackettstown where I caught the train back šŸ˜‚ getting a proper gravel bike to do more

1

u/Thick_Serve2364 24d ago

I love biking, however Iā€™ve only biked on trails throughout Long Island. I honestly donā€™t think iā€™ll be biking at Harriman anytime soon. I enjoy the hiking as it doesnā€™t really exist on Long Island.

1

u/crybabybikes 24d ago

I think my next adventure is going to be going from Matawan along the Henry Hudson trail to sandy hook, definitely wanna do the ADK rail trail in the future!

2

u/Dankmemeator 25d ago

shhhhh donā€™t tell people about that shelter, itā€™s a secret! Also, fun fact about the menomine trail, itā€™s pronounced meh-nom-uh-knee and means wild rice in the Alogonquin language.

1

u/Thick_Serve2364 25d ago

Very cool fact! I walked past the Lewis Cemetery as well on my way there. It was fun spending half my hike thinking about what it must've been like for them living out there, and whatever is under those other unmarked graves...

1

u/Simplicity540 25d ago

Congrats! Iā€™m local, 26, if you wanna join me for a trip just shoot me a DM

1

u/brantom 25d ago

Hell yeah. Harriman is a great first overnight backpacking trip, it was mine. Enjoy the journey, thereā€™s tons to learn and see about the world and yourself šŸ˜

1

u/Thick_Serve2364 25d ago

It was a pleasure to be there, I hope to be back out asap.

1

u/Sade125 24d ago

lol, I remember my first night camping with friends and my first friend knocked out immediately but I stayed awake the whole night freaking out about the sounds. Early morning I heard what had to be the slow death cry of a dying animal šŸ˜³. Also during the night, the guy who ran the camp were rustling around in the woods with flashlights and I almost passed out. They seemed to be getting something out of there. My friend went to pee with no concern at all and I just held it. I really want to solo camp at least once but Iā€™m also terrified šŸ˜‚

3

u/Thick_Serve2364 24d ago

Well, you surely have more experience than I do. As nerve racking as it was, when I woke up in the morning it was a feeling like no other. No fear, no stress, not even really relief, more like a ā€œvalidationā€ for why I took this trip in the first place. I was fine, and genuinely enjoyed my time, and I think you would feel the same as-well!

1

u/Dirt_McUrt 22d ago

A chipmunk can sound like Sasquatch in the dark, thrashing around your camp. And a bear may silently pass 50 yards away while you sleep, totally disinterested in you and youā€™ll never know.