Gear: Do you have the time?

One of the most important pieces of gear you can have when trekking is a good wrist watch.  Not only can you keep time with it, but you can also establish your heading if you find yourself lost without a compass (http://www.wikihow.com/Find-Direction-Using-a-Watch). Today, watches come with a ton of features.  Watches can act as a stop watch, an altimeter, a barometer, a pedometer, etc.  Some watches will even provide you with a weather report.

Personally, I want a solid watch that does what it needs to do best...telling me what time it is.  I find the more gadgets you pack into a simple product the harder it is to use and the sooner they break down.  Pack as many features into your cell phone as you can, they are mini computers, but a watch is a watch and should remain only a watch.

My watch has to be able to stand up to the elements and, of course, tell me accurate time.  That's why I chose the Bertucci A2-T.

Its a light weight watch made of titanium, 100m water resistant, with a scratch resistant crystal.  It also comes with a screw down crown which was very important to me.  I know once the watch is set it won't magically change on me.  It is styled after your classic field watch with a nylon band.  The housing of the watch is the perfect size for your wrist...not to big and not too small.  The combination of the nylon band and the light weight titanium truly make this a comfortable watch for trekking.  You forget you have it on half the time, even when you are in a full sweat from a hard trek.  The numbers are large and easy to read, while the hands illuminate in the dark (which is always important).  I wear it everyday, even to work, as it it stylized for any time and any place.

While this watch lacks the bells and whistles you can get with a Casio Pathfinder or Suunto fitness watch, it makes up for it in simplicity.  I am a firm believer that when you need a compass you should bring a compass.  When you need a thermometer bring one.  When you need a timer there is no reason not to use the second hands on your watch.  Gadgets are great and in this day and age you have so many to choose from.  One thing I wont mess with is my watch.  So if you are a simple watch lover like I am you can't go wrong with the purchase of a Bertucci watch.  Great, solid product for trekking along with everyday life.

Trekking...money in the bank

The newspapers and television are filled with stories about the stock market, the deficit, inflation, and taxes. These days it's tough to own a home and support your family without being worried about your financial future. Goods and services are at an all time high and makes it very difficult to keep up with a hobby you love.

Trekking is a great hobby that is extremely rewarding and also very cost effective. Sure there is money to be spent. We all need the best pair of shoes, the best wicking outerwear, the best pack, etc...but in the end the only piece of gear you really need is the great outdoors.

The good news is it's basically free. Sure lots of parks now charge you for entrance, but that money goes to help park infrastructure.  I'll gladly pay the $7 fee, or buy the Westchester parks pass for $50 as I know (or at least hope) that money is being put back into the park.

It's easy to get frustrated going to a baseball game (see last post), heading to the mall, or even seeing a movie and dreading the amount of money that you are going to spend. A great alternative is to put on a pair of sneakers and get out to your local park for a walk, hike, or picnic....the possibilities are endless. Endless and cheap!  The money you will save can be huge. Having that extra money will take some of the financial stress off your life. Less stress helps everyone, and getting outside to enjoy the fresh air doesn't hurt either. 

Take me out to the ballgame...

One of my favorite signs that spring is approaching is the beginning of the major league baseball season. Really Stu, a post about baseball on a outdoors blog? Hell yes this is a post about baseball. The enjoyment of the outdoors doesn't have to be on the trail, it can found at your nearest ball park.

As you keep reading my blog you will sooner or later find out that I am a huge Met fan. I grew up in Queens rooting for my favorite team and I have never stopped. Along with the Mets, I am just a really big fan of baseball.

Baseball is where I got my first taste of the power of the outdoors. As a child I was happiest being outside playing in my little league games, having a catch with my dad at the local park, or attending a Met game with friends and family. Baseball brought me out of the house and away from the TV. Till this day getting a group of guys and playing a game of softball at the park is one of my favorite things to do.

Money and commercialism have tainted the purity of the game but my love will always be unwavering. I will always be that child that dreamed of being a professional baseball player. Do yourself a favor and celebrate the beginning of spring by attending a game at your local ballpark or, if you have enough friends, start a game of your own.

For some baseball inspiration, I highly recommend reading W.P. Kinsella's book The Iowa Baseball Confederacy.  Here is one of my favorite passages from the book:

"There's no limit to how far a man might possibly hit a ball, and there's no limit to how far a fleet outfielder might run to retrieve it. The foul lines run on forever, forever diverging. There's no place in America that's not part of a major league ball field. The meanest ghetto, the highest point of land, the Great Lakes, the Colorado River. Hell, there's no place in the world that's not part of a baseball field."

Trek: No honey, there are no bears...

Trek location: Rockefeller State Park
Trek duration: 1 1/2 hours
Trek difficulty: Easy
Trail Map: http://www.friendsrock.org/parkmap.html

When going on hikes, having a partner is always ideal.  I have been trying for a few years now to get my wife into hiking as well.  She loves the outdoors but has a fear of wildlife.  One animal scares her more then anything...bears.

Rockefeller State Park located in Northern Westchester is a great place for beginner hikers.  The trails are wide and mostly gravel because the park welcomes horses.  With the wide open trails and the popularity of the area you will never feel alone in this park.  It was a perfect place to bring my wife.  Oh...of course there are no bears.  You do see plenty of deer along your hike, as well as other wildlife.

From the parking lot we started out on the Overlook trail.  The trail gently slopes up as you turn around the bend you have a great view of Swan Lake to your left.  Stay on the path until you intersect with the Old Sleepy Hallow trail.  Here you will find plenty of runners, as the wide open spaces provides plenty of room for everyone.  Take this path and cross over Sleepy Hollow Road.  After few hundred yards you will see a marker for Eagle Hill.  Follow the sign (you will be continuing on the Old Sleepy Hollow trail).  You will come to the intersection to begin your loop on the Eagle Hill trail.  Its a moderate climb to the top, but nothing a beginner can't handle.  At the fork, take either side of the trial.  I prefer the right fork, as I believe the view is better once you approach the summit.  The top of Eagle hill provides you with a great vista of the Hudson River and the Tappan Zee Bridge.  Its also a perfect place to sit a while, enjoy the view and have lunch.

As you can see we did this trek towards the end of the winter.  It was about 50 degrees outside. It was still a very enjoyable hike that will be even better when the plants start budding.  To finish your loop, exit off the Eagle Hill trail onto the Old Sleep Hollow.  On this day we had to make a quick exit from the park.  We trekked back on Sleepy Hollow at a brisk pace that brought us back to the parking lot.  From the map you will see many other alternatives to continue enjoying your day.  We visit there often so there will be plenty follow ups at this park.

"I just want to scream, hello..."

One of the things that truly amazes me out on the trail is how outgoing other trekkers are.  Hiking etiquette states to say "hello" to passing hikers. Many hikers (including myself) are more then willing to slow down or even stop to have a conversation.

Personally, I have had conversations about what type of shoes I was wearing, tips for the remainder of my trek, and even what moves the Mets would make in the off season. All with complete strangers.
Why does this amaze me?  Well when you look at everyday life, this never happens in a normal setting. I commute an hour each way to work on the train and will not utter a word to the person seated next to me the entire time. Yet in such a personal setting, one we use to "get away from it all," here we are ready to carry on a conversation.

Is there some kind of cosmic bond created by the outdoors?  Is it a safety thing?  I don't know.  I do know that it is better then our normal day to day social practices. Next time on the trail, say hello, strike up a conversation if you dare.  Hell, if your feeling adventurous give it a shot on the street.

Yeah....I'm that guy

Who I am:

• Your normal average Joe.  I have lived and worked out of New York City my entire life.  I have a normal day job and after a recent move now live a normal suburban life.
• I love being outside.  I could be going on a hike, taking a bike ride, working on my house, or just sitting in my yard enjoying a beer. 
• A firm believer in finding a balance in life.  Work dominates so many peoples lives, it consumes them.  With blackberrys and the internet there is no escape.  Enjoying the outdoors helps me find the balance between work and life.
• I love Gear.  Being a trekker is a hobby just like playing an instrument.  I enjoy reading up on a lot of gear although I own a minimal amount.  

Who I am not:

• An extreme adventurer.  Lovers of the outdoors always have dreams of that amazing trip to Patagonia or trekking through the Amazon. I am realistic.  So while I dream of these places, I just don't have the resources to drop everything and leave work for a month.
• A minimalist/extreme liberal/environmentalist. I love the environment and take plenty of steps to make sure I do my part.  I am not an extremist though.  I am open to any opinions anyone may have.  Great ideas for everyday life can come from anywhere.
• That guy who has DVR'ed one too many Discovery Channel or National Geographic shows.  Yes I love them, but I don't consider myself an expert on anything just cause I watched an entire season of shows on Alaska.