6 am we're dragging ourselves from bed, by choice. Prepping the last pieces of equipment. Emptying the car and refilling it with a host of adventuring gear. We have a rendezvous set up at The Bagel Store with the rest of our expedition crew.
Bagel and coffee fueled we turn onto the Williamsburg Bridge and head north. Crossing the GW we’re on the Palisades Parkway with visions of mountains and campfires in our minds.
We bring our New York aggression to the road swerving between cars, we have no time to waste when a campsite is waiting.
At the foot of North-South mountain we pull over to a supermarket. Everyone grabs a cart and we start to stock up on the forest feast essentials. Marshmallows, apple cider, coffee, eggs, bacon, whiskey and wine. We stand out here, catching glances from locals as we pick over the selection in store, zig-zagging between aisles of a foreign store.
Back in the car we head west and begin to spiral our way up the mountain. Waterfalls and hikers pop up along the road. And an explosion of fall leaves line the route. Falls come early this far north and we’re all floored by the scene.
We drive up to the North-South Lake Campground...