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Welcome to the (very exclusive) Club
The CMC is happy to announce that two more long time hikers have qualified for the Catskills All Trails Challenge Certificate of Completion. Kathy Mario (#18) and Jim Gebhard (#19) completed the requirements this winter. Both Jim and Kathy say that they were encouraged by friends who are themselves qualifiers! That makes us feel like we've started something pretty cool.The Challenge attracts dedicated hikers, new and experienced, to our 350 miles of hiking trails, all of which must be hiked in order to qualify for the awards. Nope, you can't buy a membership, nor can you buy the shirt or the patch. Not with money, anyway. A little blood, sweat and tears will do. You can learn more about it here.
Watershed Steward Program
Many of us who paddle the Pepacton Reservoir frequently tout its many charms to other paddlers and would-be paddlers. We also pick up litter and debris we find, and help people who want to know how they can paddle, sail or fish on the Reservoir. The DEP is looking for people who are interested in doing this in a more formal manner, as part of their pilot Watershed Stewards Program. If you'd like to join us and become part of this program, click here to learn more and then contactLydia Lewis at the DEP at (845) 340-7855 or llewis@dep.nyc.govWe hope to see you at the training session on March 30th at 6:30 at the Catskill Watershed Corp. in Margaretville.
CATSKILL PARK AWARENESS DAY IS A GREAT SUCCESS
45 volunteers from the CMC and our Catskill Park Coalition partners paid a visit to Albany yesterday to talk with some 47 members of the New York State Senate and Assembly. We took the message of our plans and needs for the Catskill Park, and its role as a main economic driver for our region, seeking support for funding a wide variety of priorities to improve and protect this great natural ecosystem and recreational destination. These included funds to fight invasive species, build and improve infrastructure, and support programs that help our visitors better enjoy their time in the Catskills. (Read more about our goals and how you can help: https://catskillparkawarenessday.splashthat.com/) CMC President Rick Roberts and Vice President Wendell George served as team leaders for the day, along with six other partners. We are happy to report that we received a great deal of encouragement and support from many of the legislators that we visited.While there, the Coalition delivered over 1835 petitions of support for our requests to the governor from members of the public. The following weeks will be very important to our success. So, if you have not already, please click on the link above and use it to find and contact your representatives in Albany. Let them know of your support for our efforts. All New Yorkers, and especially those who reside in or love to recreate in the Catskills, will benefit from our success as we BUILD A MODERN PARK.
Catskill Park Awareness Day 2016 - A Time for Action
On February 9, the CMC and some 30 partner organizations of the Catskill Park Coalition will head to Albany to deliver a call to action to our state government leaders. The message will focus their attention on the needs and aspirations of our region and, especially those of the Catskill Park.Even while we suffered massive cuts in funding for stewardship, planning and capital improvements during the recent great recession, we have had a huge increase in usage. Economic realities that saw many people focus their travel plans closer to home have now combined with increases in visitors from around the world. From feature articles naming the Catskills one of the top “must visit” destinations in the world (see here and here) to Governor Cuomo's recently announced initiative to spend $5M on advertising to promote the Catskills worldwide, we realize that these important achievements mean that we must rise to the occasion to meet the challenges that the increased use of our recreational assets will bring. On the basis of this knowledge, we are seeking funding for a number of programs and initiatives that will help address these needs.Please take a look at our list of priorities on the web page linked to here. You will find a sample letter that you can use to send a message of support to your state legislators. You'll also find a petition to sign that will be delivered with our requests. Your support is crucial to our success, so please act now. It will take a few minutes to inform yourself and act, but the positive results for the Catskills that we love will last for years.
Catskills Lark in the Park Bonus Photo
The leaves are mostly gone here in the Catskills now. There may be a little color left towards the Hudson River, but up in the mountains about the only leaves still on deciduous trees are on beech and oak. So what better time to post this stunning photo taken during the Catskills Lark in the Park and shared with the CMC by Adam Bosch of the NYC DEP? He was visiting Giant Ledge on a gorgeous day and snapped this view across Woodland Valley.You missed the Lark? Enjoy the picture and then mark your calendar for next year's Lark events, scheduled for October 1 - 10.In the meantime, get those snowshoes, crampons and skis ready. It's almost time to play in the Catskills winter wonderland!
Catskills All Trails (CATs) Series
If you haven't Hiked Them All yet, you may want to consider joining the Catskill Mountain Club for a Catskills All Trails (CATs) Series hike.
These hikes are designed to help interested hikers complete the Catskills All Trails Challenge. They may go to familiar destinations, but they'll follow lesser-used alternate trail routes to get there. Many of these group hikes include strategic car spotting to allow for straight-through routes in favor of out-and-back routes. You get to travel across more unique trail segments and avoid doubling your efforts as you pursue the challenge. And, as you get deeper into the challenge, let the Catskill Mountain Club guide you to lesser traveled sections of the Catskill Park.
You don't need to be pursuing the Catskills All Trails Challenge to participate in these hikes. However, you may find as you join us for some group hikes, that you're actually further along to the goal of having Hiked Them All than you might otherwise have thought.Fall 2015 Catskills All Trails (CATs) Series HikesSaturday, October 17, 9AM – Overlook Traverse: Platte Clove to MeadsSaturday, October 24, 9AM - Escarpment Traverse: North/South Lake to Colgate LakeSaturday, October 31, 9AM - Halloween Twin Mountain LoopWatch this page for updates, as we hope to add more Catskills All Trails (CATs) Series hikes to the Catskill Mountain Club's event schedule.Another way to meet the Catskills All Trails ChallengeConsider joining a Trail Maintenance Hike where you can help keep our Catskills Trails in great shape while hiking the many trails that the Catskill Mountain Club, its members, and partner groups maintain. Many of these trails are in beautiful areas of the Catskill Park and go near or over Catskill peaks. You can enjoy a great hike while offering much-needed volunteer efforts.Trail Maintenance: it's a group hike with tools!
We've entered the double digits in the Catskills All Trails Challenge!
Congratulations to our Catskills All Trails Challenge Finishers!
| #1 David White |
| #2 Ralph Bressler |
| #3 Carol White |
| #4 Mike Dwyer |
| #5 Ellen Dwyer |
| #6 George Grzyb |
| #7 Laura Smith |
| #8 Ken Morgan |
| #9 Mark Petrie |
| #10 Tom Martone |
| #11 Jim Bryden |
| #12 Laurel Bryden |
| #13 Heather Rolland |
| #14 Rick Taylor |
| #15 Steve Emanuel |
If you'd like to know more about this great milestone of Catskills Hiking, read more .....
CATs Challenge Updates
Now that our harsh Winter of 2015 seems over, hikers are preparing for getting into the woods. We have had several recent inquiries about the Catskills All Trails Challenge that we think many hikers might like to know about.Several people have asked if hikers must complete road walks when trail segments connect via a road route. The answer is no. The CATs Challenge is to hike the hiking trails.Some people have wondered about multi-use trails. CATs hikers must hike multi-use trails when one of the designated uses is hiking. You do not need to hike trails that are designated for cycling, equestrian or snowmobile use.Due to some recent changes to the trail system in the Bluestone Wild Forest, our list of trails has been updated. (You can download it on the CATs page.) The Jockey Hill - Wintergreen Ridge Trail succeeds the Jockey Hill Trial. The entire trail is marked yellow. The distances for the three Onteora Lake Trails (red, blue and yellow) have been adjusted, but the trails remain the same. The most recent map is available on the DEC website: http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/recmapbswf.pdfWe will begin posting hikes on some of the less well known and used Catskill Park trails shortly. Please join us for the fun of these explorations in search of sights and features seldom seen.If you have questions about the CATs Challenge, please email them to activities@catskillmountainclub.org. or ask them in the comments section at the bottom of the CATs page. We are happy to clarify any issues and know that many people will find the answers useful.Happy hiking!
Hardy CMC members braved the cold to cross country ski at Mountain Trails in Tannersville, Presidents' Day 2015
We did have the sense to postpone it to Monday from Sunday though.
Ice Skating, anyone?
Ice skating is another wonderful family activity, as well as great exercise. You don't need to know what a salchow is to have a great time out on the ice.The Town of Delhi, in Delaware County, opened an ice skating rink last year, and it is in frozen operation right now. The rink is located in Sheldon Park near Delware Academy. The Town of Delhi website says "Ice Skating 2015 Opening Day - Saturday, January 10 -- Borrow skates for free on site...or just stand by the fire and watch the cool kids skate".Another area rink was just opened in Downsville, in Pepaction Park. Two Downsville women who created the Best Dam 5k in 2013 have turned their efforts and the money raised by the run, to create a free public skating rink. The Oneonta Daily Star has more details on this terrific effort, here.Other area rinks are:
- Badgley Park in the Village of Middleburgh
- Livingston Manor rink