Hiking the Long Path: From Manhattan to the Catskills

On the first day of summer, a photographer embarked on a journey from New York City to the Catskills, carrying a 35-pound backpack filled with camping gear. This trek followed the Long Path, a hiking route that stretches approximately 130 miles north. The photographer was inspired by a trail marker seen during a previous hike in Edgewood, N.Y., and sought to explore this lesser-known trail with minimal navigation. The Long Path was conceived in the 1930s by chemist Vincent Schaefer and was initially a series of waypoints leading toward the Adirondack High Peaks. Although it gained traction through the efforts of hiking columnist Raymond H. Torrey, its development faced setbacks during World War II. Interest in the trail was rekindled in the 1960s, leading to its re-envisioning as a long-distance hiking trail with a defined route. Mary Ann Nissley completed the first through-hike in 1998, taking 25 days to finish. Since then, the trail has been rerouted to reduce the amount of time spent on public roads. In 2019, Jeffrey Adams set a record by running the entire trail in just seven and a half days. The photographer, however, was not focused on speed or completing the trail in its entirety. Instead, he aimed to enjoy the journey at his own pace, reflecting a personal connection to the landscape and the experience of hiking the Long Path.