Hi folks,
I'm gonna be coming to the gunks in october. I'll be coming from manhattan and won't have a car. Does anyone know how I can find the best way to get out there.

Also, I was thinking of flying out of stewart intl airport in newburgh. Does anyone know if there is public transport from the gunks/new paltz to there?

I would check with airport info about transport. I'm fairly certain that Trailways runs a route from the airport to New Paltz, but that still leaves you a fair bit away. Taxi? Kevin Bein used to ride his bike back and forth each day and I'm sure you can rent one from Mike Newman's shop, but that hill is not easy. I would recommend posting for a partner who might be able to pick you up or asking around at the gyms.

For decades, I took the Trailways bus from the PA bus terminal in midtown Manhattan. It's quick, stopping only at Ridgewood to pick up passengers -- if the driver sees none (usually the case) he doesn't stop. From the New Paltz station, I'd walk just past the road junction near the other side of the Walkill bridge and hitchhike from there. I seldom had to wait long.
But ever since the Uberfall ceased to be a concentration point for climbers exiting the Preserve, finding a ride back from there has become problematical. Hitchhiking from Rt. 299 at the Brauhaus is the best way to get back if you must hitchhike.

I would like to put this out there.
I am starting a ride service that would start in Philly and move up to the gunks for each weekend. I haven't worked out the specifics yet but am working on them.
so far.
Leave friday night after 5. I will pick you up at your location and drive to the gunks MUA. rides to the cliff saturday morning and back to the MUA that evening.
Same for Sunday but returning to your location Sunday night.
I have room for 3 pasangers so its first come first serve.

-Karl Trout

Would you require said potential riders to contribute to gas or is just being female adequate payment? Now that you can chase them down again and all...

I hitchhike to the cliffs from in front of the Guilded Otter(a restaurant on Main St. in New Paltz, for the OP. It is a 7-10 minute walk from the bus station).

It's a spot that gives drivers time to see you and think about stopping, and also a safe place to pull over if they do stop.

On the way back, I go to the Overlook(a turn-out/parking area on the road in front of the cliffs, for the OP) and see if anyone is headed towards town. If not, or no one can provide a ride, then I hitch from the road just before the Overlook.

It's a little hairy because it's actually NOT a good spot for drivers to stop, especially if the Overlook lot is very full and they can't pull into it. Isually, the drivers do that, but last time a guy pulling a horse trailer stopped right there on the road, not giving a damn about traffic behind him.... I felt bad, but - hey, I needed a ride!


Question: IS it legal to hitch rides in NP? Last week I was in front of the Otter with my thumb out, and a car crested the hill. I said to myself "That looks like a cop car. But there's no lights on top..." So, I kept my thumb out and...it was a patrol car. Oops.

They didn't stop, either! But they turned right at the corner and I was like "Crap. They're circling around and I am going to be STUCK with no way to get to the cliffs once they tell me I can't hitch rides."

I prayed for the next car to pick me up and lo and behold, they did! Just as I was getting into the car, the patrollers swung back through. HA! I made it away!

Perhaps a different world then, but I used to hitch all over the eastern US in college. Had some great experiences and some that could have been bad but ended OK. It is supposed to be illegal to hitch everywhere now, but I've not ever seen the actual laws, so I'm not sure. I found that it was not enforced unless trying to get on a highway or in a place that might cause a dangerous traffic situation.
Glad to hear it is working for you. Keeping your rope exposed usually gets a fellow climber's attention.

According to this site, hitching is legal in NY except on the Thruway.

New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law
Article 23
§1157. Pedestrians soliciting rides, or business.

(a) No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride, or to solicit from or sell to an occupant of any vehicle.

(b) No person shall stand on or in proximity to a street or highway for the purpose of soliciting the watching or guarding of any vehicle while parked or about to be parked on a street or highway.

(c) No person shall occupy any part of a state highway, except in a city or village, in any manner for the purpose of selling or soliciting.

Agreed...I hitched up and down the entire eastern seaboard many times in the mid-1970's when there was usually no issues with getting rides. I wouldn't do it now if you paid me.

So I guess a hooker is only breaking this law if (s)he's out on a country highway?


....sorry to the OP his thread's gone off topic. People also, I hear, go to Rock & Snow(New Paltz climbing shop) to see about catching rides to the cliffs. I preferred the hitching and never tried it, thinking it would be a slower proposition.

They could also do a variation of my transport deal when I have my dog along.... Not that anyone needs those details, but the variation would be:

- Put an ad on Craigslist in the Employment section for a ride. I guess the odd jobs or gigs section would be the category for a one-time situation. Post the date you need the ride, and the time, and ask how much they would want to be paid.

Being a college town, there will be kids who will do it. The first person who answered my ad like that back in 2007 is STILL giving me rides and has never let me down. If she can't do it, she gets a friend to . THANK YOU LAUREN!!!!!

You could also post the similar request on the college job board, but I don't know the URL for it. It costs something like $20 with tip included(correct me if I am wrong) to taxi from the NP bus station to the cliffs. It is like 6 miles away. So....a private person should be less than that, obviously. Of course you run the risk of getting a flake, but I think you can tell if someone is really flakey. A person who wants the gig will be clear with details, give you phone contact in case of problems and such.

Why not just rent a car?

Well, if the OP is under 25.....

TS

The parking lot across the street from Rock and Snow is usually packed with climbers every weekend morning if you get there before 9. This is a short walk from the bus station and seems like an easy place to meet someone heading out to the cliffs.

Just because it's not specifically mentioned in one section of a statute doesn't preclude it from being prohibited elsewhere.

Even if you aren't standing there holding your thumb out, the cops can still ticket you for other things like loitering and impeding traffic. Then there are those pesky local town ordinances which nobody but the cops seem to know.

Don't forget vagrancy, that's what got Rambo in trouble...

As for getting paid for giving someone a lift; if you're making a profit, you're running an illegal taxi service. If they pay for just gas and maintenance, you can probably get away with calling it a carpool. In NY, you need a Class E license to drive a taxi. There's also issues about insurance.


Anyway, for the OP; Trailways runs from NYC to New Paltz. Shortline/Coach USA runs from NYC to Newburgh. The SUNY website says there's a bus from Newburgh to New Paltz, but it isn't listed on Shortline's website. Trailways shows Newburgh on their website, but doesn't list it on their schedule. There's also UCAT, which only runs during the week. Probably best to call Shortline or Trailways to find your best option for getting up to NP.

It is possible to walk from town to the cliffs. Think of it as a long approach. Lazy climbers...

Possible, but long. I think it is about 6 miles (give or take) to the cliffs from NP. At a brisk pace, and to walk 4 miles on flat ground (without a pack) takes about an hour.

Do the math...

It is possible to walk from town to the cliffs. Think of it as a long approach. Lazy climbers...

After you've done it carrying full climbing/camping impedimentia, tell us about it in a subsequent post.

Was a time folks walked from the Albany area to New Paltz...

Barefoot! In the snow! and uphill in both directions!

I get 7.7 miles from New Palz to the cliffs from my Garmin Mapsource software. That's gonna be 2 hours of brisk walking, which you won't be doing with a full pack. Three hours is probably a better estimate.

A colorful fella from my early gunks days lived very near the MUA and walked to and from town each day, hitching rides as he could. We called him "Leather Man" for the big belt, bag and vest he wore and he clearly had some issues, but we always said Hi when he caught a ride with us or was in town sweeping out stores. Didn't seem to hurt him any.

I remember him very well. I think his name was Ed, and I believe there was conversation on gunks.com several years ago that he moved from the area (but, not far), and passed away.

I'm sorry to hear that he passed. Thanks.

I've known Harry to do just that, and once in a down pour if I remember...

What, you can't hike 7.7 miles with a 60lb pack? Leave the cooking gear at home and use the deli for food and for god's sake use a single rope. I brought doubles once...once.

As advised earlier, rent a car already. Since the OP hasn't responded to any of the suggestions in this thread, the recommendation still stands.

Will be climbing for 3 weeks in the Gunks starting late Sept through mid October. Old red Toyota pickup with Utard plates. Glad to help you out if I can. Budman