Minnewaska (Shawangunks) Mountain Madness

The Fat Man and I took a 90-minute ride up to New Paltz, New York to meet some friends for a day of biking, hiking, and swimming (a triathlon!).  We’ve had near triple digit weather all week and we were delighted that it was only 81 degrees.  Almost chilly (not).

Castle Point Carriage Road

Our friends were camping so we met them at the upper parking lot at Minnewaska State Park Preserve.  The park is located on the beautiful Shawangunk Mountain ridge, which rises more than 2,000 feet above sea level.  It cost $8 per car to enter. 

Our first leg was mountain biking. Our fearless leader — The Weed — told us it would be a gradual climb up the mountain.  He lies just like the Fat Man.  Just when we didn’t think we could possibly go any higher, we were going higher.  “Not much farther,” The Weed cheered continually during the 120-minute ascent.

Scenic Minnewaska view

“There is no shame in walking,” I kept muttering to myself and anyone else who would listen whenever I had to stop and walk my bike up, which was about every seven minutes.  Out of our group of five, only The Weed never walked his bike. I should mention that he is nine years younger than me and rides his bike to work every day.  Plus he doesn’t have an ounce of fat on his body.

“I think I have lung cancer,” I announced at one scenic vista and rest stop.  I could barely breathe and was sweating like a pig. Thank God for my hydration pack, which I was sucking on every few minutes.

We took the Castle Point Carriage Road up (“the scenic route,” The Weed said, which is code for the longer route).  At one point, we had to make a very sharp turn.  I’m a bit clutsy on my bike so I sprang to attention. One false move and it would have been a long way to Tipperary.  But the views were spectacular.

Swimming area

We took the Lake Awosting Carriage Way down to the swimming area for lunch and a refreshing swim.  Then we took the fairly flat Lake Awosting Carriage Way to the Upper Carriage Way — which is pretty much all downhill — and ends at another swimming area, a real restroom, and a hill that leads back to the parking lot.  But we stopped on the Upper Carriage Way, parked the bikes, and hiked on the Long Trail to Rainbow Falls.  

Rainbow Falls

It only took us 20 minutes to come down the Upper Carriage Way.  I was glad we had the Hemlock Pond ride under our belts because I was much more confident. If you don’t like riding fast down steep hills on uneven and changing surfaces, this is not the trip for you.

Rainbow Falls Trailhead

I may have been last going up, but I led the pack coming down.  “You were smoking!” cried the Fat Man. One wrong move, however, and it would have been lights out.  You also need to keep your mouth closed or risk inhaling a gnat.  The frequent turns were tricky because people were walking and biking up the trail and it was hard to see them until you were on top of them.  There was one S curve that was really hairy, but the Fat Man and I were screaming with delight. I prayed to Jesus the whole way and thanked Him for keeping us safe.

View from Upper Carriage Way

Despite the difficulty, biking is definitely the way to get up and down the mountain.  We’ve hiked there before and it takes you all day on foot.  But I would go in early spring or fall when it isn’t hot and buggy.  It didn’t help that we didn’t start until noon, the hottest point of the day.

I would probably skip Rainbow Falls next time (The Weed won’t give up until he actually sees a rainbow).  The 8.5 mile bike ride was exercise enough for me.  It is two days later and I am still coughing up chunks. I think I might have ripped some lung tissue or triggered an old case of bronchitis.

Heidi’s rating: ★★★★★ The “Gunks” are gorgeous and New Paltz is an aging hippie’s delight

The Fat Man’s rating: 4 liters of spring water and 2 deodorant sticks