Day hike is a good chance to shake-out the gear closet for the new season. We headed to Harriman on Sunday, but the NorthEast suffered through a freak snowstorm on Saturday — there was 10 inches of snow on the ground. Was in the 40’s so comfortable given the effort — but here’s what worked or didn’t:

Marmot Cervino Jacket:

Was fine — no issues — am a little down on Gore-Tex at the moment, but this was not that wet. Fine.

Garmont Vetta Light Boots

Better than fine. Gore-Tex lined but I think boots are a better spot than a rain-coat. Gore will wet-out at some point — fellow hiker had these and was pretty pleased: http://www.sealskinz.com/

OverBoard Pack

Got this for water/sailing — wasn’t sure if it would really work as a “daypack” did fine – wouldn’t ask much more from it, but have a NYC apartment and my wife doesn’t really support the level of gear in the house as is — not getting separate packs for each effort. Pack worked well.

Nothing critical missing. Above are the big things and they’re good to go. Probably 25 pieces of stuff if you count each/every thing carried or worn. Good start — looking to pry myself out and away as much as possible across the winter. Soft circled Mt Washington if I can’t get way North.

I was looking forward to my first day-trip with Outdoor Bound this weekend. A quick trip up to Lake Skenonto. Busier work gets, the greater the challenge to get out so I was looking forward to even a quick trip upstate. Then there’s the weather. Irene. Interrupted.

In retrospect we could not really have pulled off the day-hike. Even though the storm was scheduled for Sunday, the rain arrived Saturday and the drive and the hike would have been more hell than it would have been worth.

The weather turned and instead of hiking we were camping — urban camping. My kit is more complete than it probably needs to be due to my never ending adoration of good gear. My gear motivates me out the door at times, just because I want to see it work. This would be indoors.

The drill was pretty simple, be prepared for 3 days of camping. As a sometimes sailor, I wasn’t focused on weather reports like The Weather Channel, instead I like the NOAA reports and Jeff Masters Blog. I understood the high tide scenario in Lower Manhattan (use Aye Tides), but a Cat 1, hitting North Carolina seemed like it would be a bit spent after its interaction with land and then the colder waters after. Having ducked a North Carolina low thanks to a weather router in a 55 foot piece of land (Tayana) en route to St. Martin from New York, I just get the sense that we were safer by many degrees here in NYC in a building built in 1890 with enough steel to create a battleship.

Irene kept her Cat 1 intensity, was certainly no joke and I know many businesses and families have been seriously affected by the storm.  Again, Irene was no joke and for some deadly. In any case, I was thinking one-day of camping. We were ready with food, water, batteries, and light(s). Lately I’m a little less focused on cell/communication — sure we should be ready to make an emergency call, but between my wife and I we have three phones (2 iPhones, 1 Blackberry), 2 computers, and an iPad. In NYC you can pretty much always assume you’re within 100 yards of a person, unlike sailing where you can get very lonely and I always rent a Sat Phone off-shore.

But camping was pretty posh as the lights stayed on and very little gear was actually put to use. My 4 year-old was very impressed with a head-lamp with a red filter which he thought could zap any alien hiding under the bed. But dusting off the gear has me wanting to get out for a some quick trip.

Think I’ll squeeze in an overnight with Outdoor Bound end-of-September. Till then, be at my desk, running over the bridge in the morning, and maybe kayaking in the river if it clears up. And looking at gear…could use a new dive light….

I’ve had fly fishing on my mind for a while. One more thing to do when I’m looking for something to do. And it’s one of those activities that takes something more than a casual amount of effort and somehow that has an appeal. Like sailing, fly fishing offers a lifetime of learning if you care to pay attention.

On a fluke I stopped through Orvis on 5th Avenue one day and they were offering “free” fly fishing lessons. In all the times I’ve stopped through Orvis it never struck me as particularly hip or really even a part of the NYC outdoor community, but just the opposite! Signed up and showed up for a lesson in Central Park.

The lesson was great, and the people greater. Pictured is casting instructor Phil Shook and he and the other instructors were fun, funny, and informative. The day in the Park was better than expected and I’m sold on Orvis and look forward to fishing upstate or in New England at some of the tours/destinations that they host. And we have one more Central Park trip to combine casting with landing some of the Central Park pond inhabitants. Another “who knew” discovery right here in the City and free. Can’t beat that.

Decided to walk to the West Side today to check out a wine shop, Le Dû’s Wines. Great idea. Have been buying wine on the web, which makes sense for many reasons, mostly price in a city like New York with pretty wide selection.

And there are some great on-line outlets. But Le Dû has the other aspect hard to find on the Web, insight. I need all the help I can get.

Wine is kind of a social object, meant to be shared and that sense of sharing can easily include the whole purchase if you find someone helpful. Personally, the folks at New York Vintners have been great in figuring out what I would like, and I get the sense Le Dû would be the same, especially with a founder being a former sommelier (Jean Luc Le Du).

I’ve been to many wine retailers in the City. After checking out movie Mondovino kinda see that wine, like agriculture in general is changing in the midst of globalization and the effort by many to eat as few chemicals as possible. Or at least be aware of what one is eating/drinking.

In that sense, wine can be a mystery as labeling requirements outside of Sulfur (preservative SO2) are minimal. Several retailers in the City are moving to stock more wines made with less chemical intervention from places like Moore Bros where that effort is front and center to Chamber Street Wines and others who’ve expanded organic and biodynamic wines.

Definitely not an expert, but have found the following five to be great resources (kind of in order, but they’ve all been top shelf):

Le Dû’s Wines, 600 Washington Street, New York, NY 10014, Tel. 212.924.6999

New York Vintners, 21 Warren Street, New York, NY 10007, Tel. 212.812.3999

(Web): K&L Wines

(Web): Wine Library (and WineLibrary TV -  will love/hate this – I think it’s great)

(Web): Sokolin (they’re in New York so no huge shipping issue)

These five would take me a long way. I’ve found that Le Dû is a winner as is New York Vintners. Real people, service that is helpful when you need it or invisible if you don’t; solid selection and prices I can live with.

Otto, at 1 Fifth Avenue, is one of those places I am conflicted about. It has the perfect lunch or late afternoon vibe. The bar is perfect, the folks sitting at the bar are perfect, so there is no need for anything to change the chemistry. Then again, it’s really no secret so if you like an extensive wine list, bartenders that invite you to sample it, and good food, then swing through. .Quick post, that’s it…check it out….see you there.

Stuck in NYC? Head for the water. It’s an island after all. Quick post. Have not been kayaking in a couple years — really kayaking. But headed back to Manhattan Kayak near Chelsea Piers for some much needed time on water. I forget why I loved it some much; it’s another kind of Yoga….for me.

Hard disk crashed yesterday so trying the Wordpress app – will embellish later – and will be back out with Manhattan Kayak, perfect time of year. And saw the owner (Eric) out on a Stand Up Paddle Board — now that looks like fun…we did a quick tour — North/South…Eric will take you anywhere from a Statue of Liberty to the rare NYC circumnavigation…good to get back there….even with the unidentifiable flotsam which populates the Hudson…part of the experience…but seriously will pick up the water quality theme when I get my hard-disk back…

Water is not optional.

Squeezed in an all-day Match Racing clinic out at Oak Cliff Sailing Center on Saturday (in a driving rain storm). Great info. The clinic was led by legendary sailor Dave Perry (Dave is actually seated in front of the computer in this picture and in videos below, NOT standing with red jacket).

There are so many references to him and his accomplishments on the Web, I didn’t know where to link to. It’s humbling to sit in the audience, and later this year looking forward to getting some of his insight when we’re out on the water. Oak Cliff’s Exec Director, the super accomplished Dawn Riley , took over after to talk about the upcoming season and sounds pretty exciting. Dawn Riley on Twitter here.

If you’re curious what one might learn in a Match Racing clinic here is a small clip — Dave turned to the presentation over to a couple of the umpires in the audience. During the race two boats follow the race looking for penalty’s and the call the race out loud on the boat to keep track of what’s going on in front of them:

Oak Cliff – One from John Pasmore on Vimeo.

Oak Cliff – Two from John Pasmore on Vimeo.

The clips just give a sense of the day and apologize for their lack of substance, but you know, you gotta sign-up for the clinic! Takeaways were read the rules and know the rules because your tactics are dictated by the rules as much as the wind.

A North U (university) sailing seminar looks something like this picture. Less than riveting. Looks aside the time spent was solid. It’s hard to learn sailing in a classroom or by reading a book.

But it’s is part of what you need if you want to push sailing skills forward. There are some basic parts of sailing that are best introduced in a class and then repeated again (and again) on the water. Instructor, Bill Gladstone was great and while sharing theory preached to simply “sail fast.” Sounds obvious, but that simple statement is what racing trim is all about.

Why do you want a “twist” in the mainsail? Because you go faster. And we could spend hours discussing the aerodynamics involved, but we stopped with fast. The best resources I found getting me started in sailing was taking an ASA course, “Introduction to Keelboat Sailing” while on vacation in Miami. If I were to do it over again I would opt for the same course given by US Sailing, but the learnings are the same.

And there are no shortage of boat owners (Captains) who need crew. It’s a challenge to round up three or four people every time you want to take your boat out, so it’s an opportunity to learn. There is a unique zen-like connection to the elements when sailing that I haven’t felt in any other sport (err…maybe kayaking, maybe even scuba diving, and xc skiing but different zen). Zen or adrenaline, looking forward to warm weather…being back on water if/when schedule works with the wind…humbling being around these coaches and teachers though, so much to learn, so much to know…

As I toss on a few layers to run across the Brooklyn Bridge I’m guessing that my wife thinks I’m nuts. Given the weather. The fact she doesn’t say anything…at all…cements the POV. Yeah, we’re probably both thinking about the torn calf muscle last year and the 8+ weeks of rehap or… maybe not. Who knows really, it’s not worth asking.

I made it and had little company on the bridge. First none at all which was a little disconcerting as it was only 7PM and usually there are reams of folks. But I made it to Brooklyn and to Tillary Street certainly without seeing another runner. The way back, still no runners, a bicycle (one), feet down, trying to guide his way down the hill. Good luck, I’d walk. I didn’t look back to see if he’d agree with my thinking.

By now the snow is stinging my face and coming at a steep angle. Occasionally a large-ish piece of snow/ice comes off the bridge from somewhere up above and lands with a thud. I understand why they might close the bridge to pedestrians. I read later that some unfortunate dude is killed in Central Park by falling branch weighed down by the snow and, as always, realize life can be shortened in the most bizarre and capricious ways.

“…The man, Elmaz Qyra of Brooklyn, was killed around 3:30 p.m., along a picturesque stretch called Literary Walk, named because of the statues of Shakespeare, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Burns overlooking it…”

But gear is holding up well (could have used cramp-ons). In the midst of what was becoming a driving snow storm a lone Indian (looking) tourist tries to flag me down to take his picture — err — I passed on the opportunity. I was “running” the bridge – thought that was obvious, and welcome to New York. I mean c’mon.

Anyway, gear:

Clear lenses in ESS glasses,

Wool hat (which actually was keeping me warm even though it was very wet),

Some Patagonia liners for gloves,

New Balance sneakers,

Inexpensive Duofold Long Johns that were doing as well as much more expensive merino long johns I left at home (was 32 degrees out),

Icebreaker merino long sleeve short (like my Patagonia merino better, but Icebreaker did the job and scored it at steep discount from Gilt Group wedged amidst the tight and attitudinal designer wear that is the stock/trade of their email offers),

And an old Marmot pull-over waterproof shell (am a pretty big fan of Marmot),

Basic pair of Red Ledge water-proof/slip-on/velcro/zip-up pants,

Wrapped up the iPhone running Runkeeper App in an OtterBox Defender which did its job as well. Personally I just keep the iPhone in a Nathan runners pouch, not purpose-built but works for me.

I do three+ miles in the wet snow. Is kinda fun. And as long as I don’t trail water through the apartment wife is fine….I think.

Escaped to Hunter Mountain in upstate New York for a quick ski lesson. I need all the help I can get so a quick day trip to follow-up on whatever was learned the last time I skied. The drive from New York City was a solid two hours and more with traffic (got Zip Car back late thx to traffic).

Am always trying to find some time to get outside and this week managed to pull this off. I had a great instructor who I would recommend, George Schneider, who didn’t waste any time taking me to the top of the hill (though a short one).

It would be great to have two weeks of skiing, but I’m not really seeing a ski vacation on the horizon — am much more beach/sail focused. I will work on practicing though and looking to try Mountain Creek in New Jersey. It’s closer and the hill (mountain) doesn’t make that much of a difference — at my skill level snow is snow.

The trip to Hunter Mountain (800-486-8376) was mostly via I-87 and there were no shortage of State Troopers writing tickets. I think my GPS (iPhone running CoPilot – poorly) clocked in around 120 miles door-to-door. Did the whole thing as a day trip but the town looks like a good option for a mini-vacation with antique stores, small B&B’s, bars and restaurants. Maybe not now, or for me, but for anyone who wants to get out of the City and explore upstate, Hunter is a good option and is past New Paltz (someone should build them a website) in the Catskills and not far from Woodstock. And you can learn to ski.

(Taking Pictures from Ski Lift: advice caution when trying to take pictures from Ski Lift — as above — number one you’re holding ski poles (2), and you’re fairly high off the ground, and then you’re moving. So in addition to maintaining control of the ski poles you need to remove and hopefully not drop gloves, and then don’t drop iPhone or camera while taking picture pretty much one-handed (if attempting solo) — and with iPhone you’re only guessing as to what you’re taking a picture of as in the extreme bright light is difficult, at best, to see the screen – same issue in sailing, but without the risk of dropping gear or yourself from height. Obviously, you need to do all the above and then be prepared to ski off the lift when it arrives at top of hill/mountain. But skiing is all about risk taking anyway…or managing risk. Stay safe…)

Gear: Have all I need and rented ski’s, boots, poles AND helmet. Patagonia gloves were not up to keeping fingers from freezing after a couple of hours, but other than that all good.