WINTER SAFE! Hiking and Biking in Spain
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WINTER 2020 WINTER FUN! WINTER SAFE! Winter is here! Snow is falling, creating limiting in snow and ice. Never a pretty white wonderland outside your underestimate the impact of the window. The Farmer’s Almanac calls for wind. Always check the temperature a “Wet and Wild” winter. I have been for the entire day. Will it snow, rain, feeling that snow was coming for some or sleet? And don’t forget about time now. Are you anxious to get out sunrise/sunset times - winter days there, to play in the snow? But to keep are short. winter fun, it is important to be WINTER What to wear and bring? We are all SAFE. a little different with what keeps us Planning ahead is crucial; the weather warm outside. That being said, forecast is key to a successful day remember layers are best. Wear outdoors. Driving conditions to any what keeps you warm from head to hike or snowshoe outing are important toe. I highly recommend good to consider. People have different winter boots, gloves or mittens, and tolerances for winter driving, and this a hat. Hand warmers should be should be taken into consideration. packed even if you do not ordinarily You do not want to be running out of use them, just in case. And take technology you prefer. I like my cell the woods due to nervousness about sunglasses and a scarf. What gear do phone! And do let others know of your the ride home. you need? Traction assists such as plan to hike. Microspikes are a must if it is icy. Is this Deciding on the hike route ahead of So - get out your maps. Are you ready? a snowshoe hike? Do you have your time is smart. It is also good to have a Let’s go have some winter fun together. poles? Bring water, something warm to backup plan, should conditions prove And stay winter safe! drink, and snacks for energy. Last but too difficult. Remember both terrain not least are your map, compass, See you on the trail this winter. and distance are more difficult and flashlight, whistle and whatever Deanna Felicetta Hiking and Biking in Spain by Diane Grunthal palace in Seville, the residence for Spain's Allen and I started our bike rulers for 2000 years, tour in the southern part of features mixed Islamic Spain, known as Andeluci: and Christian elements, a kaleidoscope of 10 a style called Mudejar. centuries of history, great artistic masterpieces, and Cordoba is a city with a many different forms of glorious Roman and architecture. Moorish history. During the Dark Ages, it was a Seville’s cathedral, the third haven of enlightened largest in Europe (after St. thought, famous for Peter's at the Vatican and religious tolerance, St. Paul's in London), is the largest Gothic church …continued on page 2 anywhere. The lavish 10th century Moorish royal Hiking in Capileira Photo by Allen Grunthal www.adknjr.org Meetup: NJR - Adirondack - Mountain - Club Facebook: North - Jersey - Ramapo 1 Hiking and Biking in Spain ADK NORTH JERSEY - RAMAPO … continued from page 1 CHAPTER artistic expression, and dedication to philosophy and the sciences. The most impressive and exciting site for us was the Mezquita in Cordoba, an exquisite 385 N. Franklin Tpke, Box 7, Ramsey NJ 07446 wonder of the medieval world. The mosque dates from A.D. 784 and a 16th For information: [email protected] www.adknjr.org century church rises in the center. This has to be the most beautiful building we had ever seen. OFFICERS CHAIR - Paul Margiotta We cycled through olive plantations and a town known as the "Last Arabian 201-391-6011 [email protected] Frontier". In Subbetica National Park, we stayed overnight in the Baroque town of VICE CHAIR – Geoff Fonseca Priego de Cordova. We took part in a cheese festival in Zuheros, a village hanging 845-357-9366 [email protected] from rocks, with a dramatic Moorish castle. The further south we pedaled, the TREASURER – Allen Grunthal more often we needed our studied Spanish, but we were happy to occasionally 973-728-8057 [email protected] have our pronunciation corrected: try saying corkscrew in Spanish (sacacorchos). SECRETARY - Fred Hodde 973-728-3223 [email protected] Our biking tour ended in Granada, home of the Alhambra, the last and greatest ADK BOARD OF DIRECTORS - John Jurasek Moorish fortress. Its jewel is the royal palace, built mostly in the 14th century. 845-519-4247 [email protected] Despite the Dark Ages, here Moorish opulence blossomed--ornate stucco, plaster ALTERNATE DIRECTOR - Peggy Wissler stalactites, carved wood ceilings, and exuberant gardens. One can imagine sultans 914-260-7506 [email protected] with hookah pipes lounging on pillows upon Persian carpets. COMMITTEE CHAIRS On this biking tour our lodgings included haciendas, old monasteries, and DELEGATE to NYNJTC – Pete Heckler [email protected] convents, many dating from the 15th and 16th centuries and some with stupendous views of the mountains and castles. CONSERVATION [email protected] The bus to meet our hiking tour in the Sierra Nevada mountains took a winding OUTINGS SCHEDULE - Peter Tilgner 201-871-3531 [email protected] narrow road with hairpin turns to the sleepy country village of Capileira, located in the Alpujarras mountains. Capileira, built into a hillside and sitting at nearly 5000 SIGN-IN FORMS - Mario Medici 201-396-9391 [email protected] feet, is the highest and most remote of 3 whitewashed villages in the Poqueira Gorge, an area of rugged scenery and 1000 year-old narrow, twisting cobblestone MARKETING - Peter Reiner 845-634-7635 [email protected] streets undulating throughout the village. Many hikers come here because so MEMBERSHIP – Roy Wooters many trails go right from the town. 845-304-0867 [email protected] The British group with whom we have hiked in Europe every year for over 9 years, NEWSLETTER - Pat Banker 201-390-7755 [email protected] offered its usual 2 hikes each day. Their hikes are described as harder walks and easier walks, the term "easier" being relative: easier hikes on this particular holiday PROGRAMS [email protected] were 5 to 8 miles with ascents from 800 to 1800 feet. Allen took several days to TRAILS - Karen Rose hike by himself in the Sierra Nevada mountains, scaling peaks from 8500 feet to 201-962-8546 [email protected] 10,000 feet and one day covering 15 miles VOLUNTEERS and 6000 feet of NEWSLETTER COPY EDITOR - Sheila Rizzo 201-567-8108 [email protected] ascent. SOCIAL MEDIA & EVENTS COORDINATOR – The most exciting part Daphne Downes 845-372-5717 [email protected] of our trip was WEB MASTER – Jimmy Garingo ascending Mulhacén, 845-358-6050 [email protected] at 11,400 feet the highest peak in the Trail Talk is published quarterly. The Spanish mainland: 250 deadline for submissions is generally feet higher than Aneto, one month prior to publication date. the highest mountain of the Pyrenees. The Please send articles and/or photos to [email protected] 9.2 mile round trip took almost 6.5 hours. …continued on page 5 Mulhacen Photo by Allen Grunthal www.adknjr.org Meetup: NJR - Adirondack - Mountain - Club Facebook: North - Jersey - Ramapo 2 A Message From The Chair Yes, indeed, 2019 was yet another banner year for our leaders in the North Jersey and Ramapo Chapters before Chapter! We had 168 outings scheduled throughout the their merger into our current Chapter, and may have year! (For those who have never seen it, the above is a remained active after the merger. So, to honor those photo of our 6 foot long banner.) leaders, we have established the “Lifetime Volunteer Award”, which is now the most prestigious award that we Notice that I stated “outings” in lieu of “hikes”. For, can bestow. The first three to be so recognized for theiir although most of the outings were hikes, we had our service are Phyllis Key, Ike Siskind, and June Slade. You Chapter’s first ever kayak paddle and, we believe, the first can read about their invaluable contributions starting on blood drive by any chapter of ADK. In addition, a tour of page 4. Bannerman Island was held and a bike ride was reintroduced into the schedule. You should expect more Another volunteer to thank is John Jurasek, who has of the same for the coming year. All of this would not served for 7 years on the ADK HQ Board of Directors. have been possible without volunteers -- volunteers Replacing him will be Peggy Wissler, who has served as make it happen. the Alternate Director during the past year and, I am confident, will well represent us on the ADK Board. At the holiday party/chapter meeting on December 8, I had the pleasure of recognizing many of our volunteers. Now, a word about the weather, which is a first for me. Outing leader awards were presented to or announced Please do not let the cold, snow and ice keep you from all for 16 members for leading 4 or more outings during the the fun of hiking in the winter. On the back page of the year. The coveted “Bullwinkle” award for leading the most newsletter, you will find a photo with a tongue-in-cheek outings in 2019, at 17, went to Karen Rose. I would be caption about traction devices for hiking on icy trails. If remiss if I didn’t thank Karen for, once again, organizing you have a question on how to select traction devices, the holiday party. We were fortunate to have 4 members poles, snowshoes, a windbreaker or any other question who led hikes for the first time in 2019 - Mary Gelber, concerning winter hiking, send it to [email protected].