About Us We’re Susan and John, a couple of outdoor nuts who decided to open a hiking and backpacking specialty shop. I had about enough of the rat race and started thinking about something fun to do with the rest of my working years. On vacation in Arizona, we visited hiking shops wherever we went. (John’s a big gear nut, and I couldn’t keep him away!) We’ve always had to travel south to Paramus - a 70 mile drive - to get our gear. So these cool Arizona shops set us to thinking...hey! Why aren’t there any shops like this near us? Hmmm ... a couple of months later, with a little research and a business plan in hand, we set out to create The Catskill Hiking Shop. We chose Wurtsboro because it’s right in the middle of a bunch of great hiking, and it’s not far from most mid-Hudson towns. (Only 15 min. from Middletown, Port Jervis, Ellenville, Montgomery and Monticello) It’s a beautiful drive, especially in the Fall, and much nicer than the traffic-clogged routes in Paramus. Plus, we live here. We had lots of fun putting the shop together and filling it with all the best gear - all the stuff we’ve always wanted. Most of our fixtures are handmade, because we really didn’t want all of that chrome stuff in our shop. John made the clothes racks out of logs and landscape ties, and my brother-in-law Michael designed and custom made our shelves and brackets. One wall is a mural of the woods, it was a challenge putting that up! We wanted the shop to feel warm and comfortable, so people could come and hang out, talk about local hiking, cool gear, and share outdoor experiences. It’s working. We celebrated the Hiking Shack's eight-year anniversary in July, and couldn’t be happier. We’ve made lots of new friends, made lots of customers happy, and shared a lot of great experiences. We’ve also learned a lot from our new friends. It helps us make sure that we have all of the stuff that you need to enjoy your trip. Our website is designed to give you info - on local hiking, backpacking & camping, what to bring, how to pack it, what to do if, and all that stuff. We've launched a Hikers' Forum section where you can input your news: trail conditions, what you experienced, just share in like-minded peoples' adventures. To access it, just use the 'Your Hikes' button on the left. We're looking forward to doing gear reviews, letting you express your thoughts on various products; how they held up and performed when you put them to use. We don't have e-shopping (yet) but don’t buy your gear anywhere else until you check with us. If we don’t have it, we’ll try our best to get it. And, we match most any price. So enjoy yourself, get to know your way around the site. Use it as a reference. (If you move your cursor over the photos, you'll learn a bit more about them while they're loading.) You'll see some familiar faces and places and maybe make some new friends on some of the hikes listed in the 'Upcoming' section, during some trailbuilding or local cleanups. There's a lot of good stuff going on and you can be a part of it. There's nothing like being outdoors, it really clears out your head. If you're in the neighborhood, drop by the 'Shack. We'll be glad to see you. Gear We Carry [top of page] We have lots of backpacking gear, hiking gear, camping gear, local guides and maps, and the greatest hiking footwear. We sell all of those outdoor accessories you just gotta have and basically can’t live without! We have all kinds of hiking & camping stuff like compasses, whistles, filters, fire starters, gaiters, sleeping pads, candle lanterns, hydration systems, binoculars, trekking poles, topo maps and emergency blankets. Lots of outdoor cooking and food stuff like cool stoves, cookwear (even titanium!), bowls, utensils, windscreens and freeze dried foods. All kinds of first aid and personal care doodads like moleskin, bite kits, biodegradable soap, first-aid kits, bug juice, water purifiers, hand sanitizer gel, toilet trowels, etc. We have every kind of water-toting apparatus you could ever need. We have backpacks of every size and shape - most guaranteed for life! The best hiking socks, really cool supplex pants and shorts, bomber outerwear, rain gear, and the infamous Seattle Sombrero. We have some of the most informative hiking and backpacking books known to mankind, including local trail guides. We even have hiking accessories for that canine companion of yours, including foldable dog bowls and dog packs. We carry the top brands like MSR, Outdoor Research, Platypus, Gregory, Vasque, Five-Ten, Kelty, Thermarest, Tracks, Montrail, Sierra Designs, LOWA Boots, Masters Poles, Nalgene, Markhill, Janspost, Vaude, Swiss Army, Silva, Petzl, Red Ledge, Sportif, Schrade, Tasco and lots more! You know, all the accessories and gadgets you need, and just gotta have! We’ve also tried to create an atmosphere of warmth and woods. Come in, browse all you like, pick our brains, get all the info on local hiking, munch on some free gorp and enjoy yourself. Where is the Catskill Hiking Shack? [top of page] It’s really easy to get here. If you hike (or camp in) the Catskills, we’re probably on the way to where you’re going anyway. If not, you must get up here and see how many beautiful places there are to get away from it all. We’re smack dab in the middle of some great hiking experiences. The Bashakill Wetlands are minutes away from the shop. Wildlife abounds in the Bashakill, including the bald eagle and blue heron. The Long Path cuts right through Wurtsboro - in fact, the Wurtsboro Ridge Trail (on the Shawangunk Ridge) is one of the most scenic pieces of the Long Path - featured in the “50 Best Hikes in the Hudson Valley.” Spectacular views in every direction. The D&H Canal Linear Park and towpath are just 4 miles from the shop on 209 north. Head up 17M (an extension of Sullivan Street) 6 miles (into Rock Hill) and you can visit the Neversink Gorge Unique Area. Miles of beautiful trails, waterfalls and riverviews. Excellent fishing spots, too. Stop in and I’ll give you directions to any of these wonderful spots. Here’s a map and directions: Take Route 17 to exit 113. Head towards Wurtsboro (turn right off the exit if you’re traveling west, left if you’re traveling east) and when you hit the light, turn right onto Sullivan Street. We’re the third building on the right. Packer the Bear should be out front. (Unless it’s raining...he seeks shelter in rain and high winds.) Here’s what you’re looking for....   We’re open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 - 6, we're closed on Sunday and Monday. Sometimes we stay open later (especially on Friday and Saturday nights) if there’s lots of action in Wurtsboro, so call if you have any doubts. After just one visit, you won't consider an expedition complete without first making a trip to the 'Shack. Brand Links [top of page] Red Ledge Outerwear   www.redledge.com Gregory Packs, Hydration Systems www.gregorymountainproduct.com JanSport Packs www.jansport.com Kelty Packs, Kid Carriers, Tents, Sleeping Bags www.kelty.com Walrus Tents www.walrusgear.com Camp Trails Tents, Packs www.jwa.com Silva Compasses www.jwa.com Swiss Army Knives, Watches www.swissarmy.com Sierra Designs Sleeping Bags, Tents, Clothing www.sierradesigns.com LOWA Boots Boots www.lowaboots.com Outdoor Research Medical Kits, Hats, Gloves, Stuff Sacks, Vacuum Bottles, Outdoor Kitchen, Bivy Sacks, Gaiters, Organizers, Emergency Kits www.orgear.com MSR Stoves, Cookware, Water Filters, Snow Shoes www.msrcorp.com Crazy Creek Chairs www.crazycreek.com Bota of Boulder Bota Bags, Bottle Socks www.gorp.com, search under BOTA Platypus Hydration Systems www.cascadedesigns.com Tracks Poles www.cascadedesigns.com Vasque Hiking Boots, Trail Shoes www.vasque.com Garmont Boots, Trail Shoes www.garmontusa.com Alpina Boots, Trekking Poles www.alpina.com Montrail Boots, Trail Shoes www.montrail.com Five-Ten Approach Shoes, Hiking Boots www.fiveten.com Markhill Stoves, Lanterns www.vaude.com Coghlan’s Hiking and Camping Accessories Peak One Stoves Gaz Stoves Alpine Aire Dehydrated Meals www.alpineairefoods.com Wigwam Socks, Hats www.wigwam.com Adventure 16 Hats, Dog Packs & Accessories www.adventure16.com Shakespeare Chairs, Backpacker Fishing Poles www.shakespeare-fishing.com Pro Rainier Rainwear www.redledge.com Schrade Knives, Tools www.schradeknives.com Freestyle Watches www.freestyleusa.com Altibaro Altimeters Suunto Compasses Thermarest Sleeping Pads, Chairs and Pillows www.cascadedesigns.com Nalgene Water Bottles Tectron Shoe Care Biwell Shoe Care Extreme Optiks Sunglasses Bass Fishing Sunglasses NY NJ Trail Conference Trail Maps, Books www.nynjtc.org Vaude Packs, Tents www.vaude.com Sportif Clothing www.sportif.com Uco Candle Lanterns www.ucocorp.com Whistle Creek Hiking Sticks www.whistlecreek.com Petzl Headlamps www.petzl.com MAG-LITE Flashlights CLIF Bars USGS Topo Maps www.usgs.gov/webglis/ top of page | home | tips/hints | upcoming events | local hikes, camping & backpacking photo contest | favorite links | tell us your stories | contact us    © 1999-2002 Catskill Hiking Shack