Camping in NY

Camping a few hours away from NYC was a completely new experience for me. Past my quite California and European camping trips, there's something to be said for NY camping. Here's my positive spin on it....

 

• You show up at midnight and your campsite is already brightly lit by your neighboring campers ultra bright lantern.
• You set up your tent to the base of rap music coming from the campsite 2 sites down, with a metal swing set on it.
• You meet George, the firewood delivery guy who manages this campsite, and is somehow living your quasi-dream-life.
• You watch in amazement as your friends swiftly build a fire, a talent you never knew they had.
• You can hear a slight babble from the creek you sleep beside, over the music and crackling fire.
• You realize that the motor homes on the campground may have been there longer than just a few days, as their Christmas lights and turf lawns spot the landscape.
• You can walk to get another bag of ice when you run out.
• The local store you buy ice at is also the town's DMV.
• Your hike for the day includes of a mile and a half long walk along a highway with no sidewalks.
• You hike up to the top of Mt. Temper Tantrum, which takes about 2.5 hours, exposes beautiful views of the entire Catskills Park.
• Your dip in the creek after your hike feels a fresh and cold, but it doesn't quite "clean" you off.
• Waterfalls are note the easiest places to pee in the water.