free gunks camping?

Im trying to hit the Gunks for a day or so on my way back from VT towards the end of next week. Looks like the NY State DEC Multi-Use Area is the only free place I can find. Is this accurate? and if so does anyone have directions to get there. The home page for the Gunks here on MP says that its on 229, 1/2 mile from 44/55 but Im not familiar with the area, does anyone have any more specific directions. Or recommendations for other free camping? I just sleep in my truck so I dont need a full camp site, just somewhere I can park and not get hassled by local authorities.

Also, I have been wanting to pick up a Misty Mountain Cadillac harness, I would love to have it when I climb there but definitely dont have time to order it from MM themselves. Does anyone know of a place in the area to pick one up? I will be driving from Williamsport PA to NYC to Keene NH to Burlington VT then to the Gunks. Could stop anywhere along that route if anyone knows a shop that carries them.

Thanks

Photocodo

Call Rock & Snow, (845) 255-1311. They will be happy to sell a harness and discuss camping.

MUA is 6 miles west of New paltz on Rt 299. Basically take Main St out of town and look for the brown/yellow DEC sign on the left. Camp in designated spots only!

Gunkiemike wrote: Camp in designated spots only!

You can camp on the preserve at camp slime with your day pass or membership too. And if you want to just sleep in your truck, doing so at the West Trapps lot (for slime) is still OK, I think. Better than at the MUA where you'll be taking up one of the already limited parking spaces for folks tent camping. Quieter too.

Be careful sleeping in your truck at the west Trapps lot. There are no camping signs posted throughout the lot. I dont know if the ranger will do much more than ask you to leave, but I would do my best to stay unnoticed.

Ksween wrote:Be careful sleeping in your truck at the west Trapps lot. There are no camping signs posted throughout the lot. I dont know if the ranger will do much more than ask you to leave, but I would do my best to stay unnoticed.

Sorry for the bad suggestion then. Never tried it myself, but I thought it was OK inside a vehicle but not to set up a tent or roll out a bag next to the car.

"Cited," as in issued a citation?

Happiegrrrl wrote:"Cited," as in issued a citation?

I don't believe there have been any legal citations for camping at the West Trapps, much less bivying in a vehicle.

I do know that there was, about 3-5 years ago, one trailhead person who took the "no camping" signs quite seriously and when he came on shift(8am?) would do a drive-through and tell anyone he felt had slept overnight that "they couldn't camp." I recall talking to this person about the issue and being surprised at their stance. I have seen people with Westies top-popped and tables set up next to them - a definite no-no, but this one seemed to feel even having sleep dirt in the corner of your eye and stumbling about obviously pre-caffeination was an offense. Even so, there was no possibility of being legally fined.

But - Currently, I can say that - one a weekend morning - anyone who sets up for cooking or organizing their crap(beyond racking and packing for the day's climbing/biking)and is using what would be seen as a second parking spot, will very likely be given the stinkeye by people walking by and may be politely(or very rudely) told that they are taking a spot which someone else will soon be wanting.

For the last three weeks, the West Trapps lot has become FULL by 8:30am. Hopefully it is partly due to the Healthy Ulster passes(free access to MP for Ulster County residents) which ends on June 9th. But, when coveted parking space is at a premium(cyclists also want West Trapps parking), even people who park stupidly are at risk of being schooled by somebody.