February Newsletter 2023

Blackhead Range, 1/15/23, pic by M Waldman

Trail News

There was a recent, successful NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) operation to catch an individual who caused MAJOR damage to the Robinson Hollow trail and parts of the Taconic Crest Trail and an old section of Crest Trail. Ranger Jackson and Ranger Gullen were able to catch the individual and therefore prevented further damage. There is about a two-mile track and rut caused by illegal vehicle operation on the trail from the Robinson Hollow trailhead to a section of the forest boundary near the location of an abandoned bus on private property. The subject had also illegally cut and damaged over one hundred trees and saplings ranging in size and species along the entire two-mile track. Robinson Hollow is not going to look good for a while, but the culprit was caught and ticketed. We are grateful for the dedication of the DEC Rangers and are happy that they were able to apprehend the offender.

NYS DEC has replaced the trail registers at the Mattison and Green Hollow trailheads

 

Trail Work

The heavy, wet snow, ice storms and high winds in December left a lot of fallen trees and broken branches across hiking trails in the area.  Between Christmas and mid-January a few of our trail stewards have been out clearing the blowdown from a few of the Mattison and Green Hollow access trails and the southern end of the Taconic Crest Trail.  Some of the blowdown is easily thrown or pulled of the trail, other larger blowdown require the use of hand saws.  

Spring Gathering

Save the date! Our Spring Gathering will be at Cherry Plain State Park on Saturday, June 10. We have the Water’s Edge Pavilion reserved for the day. There are great hiking and paddling opportunities as well as time to socialize! More details to follow.

Blowdown removal on TCT, pic by M Waldman

Quotes about being outdoors: Here are a some quotes about hiking and the outdoors for you to ponder and digest on these dark winter days. They can inspire you, help you persevere, or widen your perspective.   Maybe you’ll come up with some of your own!

  • “Walking is a man’s best medicine.” – Hippocrates

  • “Getting to the top is optional. Getting down is mandatory.” – Ed Viesturs

  • “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

  • “In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous.” – Aristotle

  • “I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.” – John Burroughs

  • “I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than trees.” – Henry David Thoreau

  • “Take only memories, leave only footprints.” – Chief Seattle

  • “Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better.” – Albert Einstein

  • “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” – John Muir

  • “Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.” – Gary Snyder

  • “If you think you’ve peaked, find a new mountain.” – Unknown

  • “We don’t stop hiking because we grow old – We grow old because we stop hiking.” – Finis Mitchel

  • “Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.” – Frank Lloyd Wright

  • “It’s impossible to walk in the woods and be in a bad mood at the same time.” – Anonymous

  • “It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” – Terri Guillemets

  • “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.” – T.S. Eliot

  • “Jobs fill your pockets, but adventures fill your soul.” – Jaime Lyn Beatty

  • “There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.” – Beverly Sills

  • “A walk in nature walks the soul back home.” – Mary Davis

 

Outings: Refer to the THC website outings page for details about the outings and how to register. We schedule on a monthly and short-term basis, so check the website periodically.

  • Wednesday, February 1 Grafton Lakes State Park B-

  • Wednesday, February 8: Shaker Mountain Trail B-

  • Wednesday, Feb 15: Cherry Plain State Park ("somewhere" on the Rens Plateau) Circular Hike C+

  • Saturday, Feb 18: Moreau Lake State Park- Waterfall, Lake Bonita, Lake Ann, Ridge Trails Loop B-/B

  • Tuesday, February 21: Keleher Preserve B-

  • Thursday, February 23: TCT TREK - Robinson Hollow to Mattison Hollow B

  • Saturday, February 25: Huyck Preserve loop trails B

It was a winter wonderland at GLSP Winter Fest, pic by M Waldman

 

Lily Pond, Grafton Lakes State Park (GLSP), pic by M Waldman

 

Harmond Pond, Margaret Lindley Park outing, pic by M Waldman

 

Fungi on hemlock, GLSP, pic by M Waldman

 

On Harmond Pond dam, pic by M Waldman

Overlook Mountain fire tower, pic by M waldman

 

Remains of old hotel on Overlook Mountain

NewsletterMartha WaldmanFebruary 2023