October Newsletter 2023
Blueberry bushes, pic by M Waldman
FALL LUNCHEON: Join us at the annual Fall Luncheon! See old friends, make new friends, enjoy a nice meal and an interesting presentation. Send your reservation now!
Where and when: Moscatiello’s Italian Restaurant, 99 North Greenbush Rd (Rte. 4), Troy, on Sunday, November 5, 12:00 to 3:00 PM
Cost: $20 per person. The Club partly subsidizes the meal.
Meal: The buffet includes salad & rolls, portabella mushroom ravioli, meatballs & sausage, and chicken marsala, followed by mini cannoli.
Meeting & Speaker: After the meal we will have a brief business meeting followed by our feature presentation.
Speaker: Jane Winn, Executive Director, Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT)
Jane Winn grew up in Pittsfield when the Housatonic River was so polluted that one evening it caught on fire, creating a smaller version of the 1969 Cuyahoga River fire in Cleveland, OH. Jane has her bachelor’s degree in biology from Quinnipiac University and a masters in zoology from UMass Amherst. In 2003 she was part of a group of volunteers who founded Berkshire Environmental Action Team - or BEAT - to protect the environment for wildlife in support of the natural world that sustains us all.
Jane will talk in her usual animated way about this local environmental action organization that, despite its small size, has a big impact on the health of our environment in the Berkshires and, of course, on the Taconic Range. BEAT is part of a larger partnership that works to protect and connect habitat to ensure that wildlife will be able to move throughout to complete their daily, seasonal, and dispersal needs. BEAT’s mission echoes that of other area conservation nonprofits like the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance but is more issue and advocacy focused. Jane has many stories to tell about the wins BEAT has had against tough odds. She will tell us why she thinks the forested lands around the Berkshires are one of the best places to be given our rapidly changing climate and she can offer ideas about some of the many things that can be done to make our area more resilient in the face of our climate and biodiversity crises.
To learn more about BEAT and their upcoming gatherings see https://www.thebeatnews.org/BeatTeam/. If you subscribe to their newsletter, you can find out some intriguing things about nature, habitats, and the roles humans play.
Make your reservation now! Mail your $20 check made out to Taconic Hiking Club, to Taconic Hiking Club, c/o Margaret Parks, 9 Tokay Lane, Schenectady, NY 12309.
Due Date: Wednesday, November 1. (Note: Refund in full if you cancel by November 2.)
BENIGHTED ON THE TRAIL! WHAT TO DO??
It’s getting darker earlier now as the days get shorter. It’s important to adjust expectations about how much daylight you’ll have for that longer hike or a later start. To be “benighted,” meaning to be “overtaken by darkness,” is generally not a good thing—especially if you are unprepared!
What should you do if you find yourself unable to get back to the trailhead before dark?
First, it goes without saying that avoiding being stuck overnight in the first place is the best idea. That means doing pre-planning for your trip, including knowing the weather and sunset times, reviewing trail maps for distances and elevation, for reviews of conditions, and for understanding your own rate of travel given the terrain. Then those maps go in your pack with a compass and the “ten essentials.” Take with you but don’t depend on your phone; often there is no cell service and the batteries freeze up when it is under 32 degrees, and GPS guidance are more reliable but can use a lot of battery.
Overnighting won’t be a problem if you are prepared—both mentally and physically—and if you can keep your wits about you. There are a number of items that pack small and light that can help you get through a night without suffering from exposure, hypothermia, fear, or hunger.
Make sure someone knows where you plan to go and when you expect to get back. Make a plan to check in when you return. Give them exact details of where you are going, the trail you plan to follow, when you will return, the vehicle you are driving (and where you plan to park) and how many people will go with you – do not go alone.
But one day you are hiking along, and you realize you’re not going to make it back before dark. STOP as soon as you realize you might be lost and stay calm and stay put. Try not to panic. Instead think about the trail and landmarks you remember and do not move at all until you have a specific reason to take a step. If you are on a trail, stay on it. It’s just safer to stay put.
Start planning for these necessary survival needs:
Shelter: Find shelter somewhere protected from wind and rain—under a rock overhang, out of the wind, under dense firs or spruces. Don’t lose track of the trail! If you’re in a cold area, it’s possible to stay warm by building a snow cave, but be sure you know what you’re doing to prevent a cave-in that could leave you buried. Pack one of those mylar blankets that are light and wrap up to be quite small.
Food: Always bring more than enough food and water for the activity you plan. Sports bars are light and easy to pack.
Warmth: Pack insulating and waterproof clothing layers, an emergency foil cover, and if you need to, make a fire.
Have you ever made a fire? It’s one of those things that sounds simple — however, a small change in conditions can make it extremely challenging. Clear all debris and combustibles from around the area to build a fire. Practice starting a fire with what might be around and what you can easily pack, like waterproof windproof matches, a BIC lighter, or magnesium rod or flint and steel. Gather some firewood early. Don’t count on rubbing two sticks together; if you don’t know exactly what to do, you’ll end up only with blisters and no fire. Use dryer vent lint or start with thin strips of birch bark and cross-layer small twigs, then larger ones until you get some heat going. Then add dry wood if you can find it. Remember, always make sure a fire is completely extinguished before leaving.
Light: Lighting such as a flashlight or headlamp, both with extra batteries, is essential.
Hydration: Finding water is critical, and this scenario is why it’s a good idea to carry a small kit with basic first-aid materials and a filter or purification tablets anytime you go out.
Other: Pack a knife or multi-use tool and a whistle. You’ll quickly lose your voice screaming for help. And always include a basic first-aid kit of bandages and gauze, Benadryl for allergic reactions, insect repellent to prevent mosquito and tick bites, and medications. Store in a small Ziplock bag or get a premade hiking first aid kit.
Wildlife encounters: Always respect wildlife around you. If there are dangerous animals, understand how they behave toward humans and how to resolve an encounter with one. Rattlesnakes make a noise warning you to get away, and that’s exactly what you should do. A territorial bear might give you a harsh look, but turning and running isn’t a good idea. Puff your chest up and make yourself appear larger than you are.
Finally, STAY CALM! You won’t perform well with anxiety. Chances are you can see your way out of the situation if you make it through the night.
For more information click here for the NYS DEC HIKE SMART page.
HUNTING SEASON IS HERE! Grab your blaze orange vest!
It is now hunting season. You can find specifics on dates for your region, seasons for specific game, and which firearms are allowed on these links: NYS: 2023-2024 NYS Hunting Season Summary, MA: MA Hunting Season 2023-24 summary and VT: Hunting Seasons | VT. The good news for hikers is Massachusetts does not allow any hunting on Sundays. Spread the word!
For hikers, the season to pay extra attention to is the regular deer season. This year, deer hunting season with rifles in the southern region of NYS runs from November 18 through December 10. In the western region of MA shotgun season for deer is November 27 through December 9. Vermont has an earlier regular deer season of November 11 thru November 26.
In addition to wearing blaze orange or fluorescent pink vests, hats, or other articles of clothing, it is recommended that you stay on well-used trails when hiking. Note: bushwhacking during hunting season is not recommended! Let the hunters enjoy their limited time in the woods.
TCT trail workers
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.
Friday, October 6: Field Farm C
Wednesday, October 11: Burbank Trail & Parson’s Marsh Overlook Foliage Hike C/C+
Monday, October 16: Fire Tower Hike, Grafton Lakes State Park C
Wednesday, October 18: Rounds Rock Loop hike from Visitor Center, Greylock B
Wednesday, October 18: FALL STREAM Paddle B
Monday October 23: Hunter Mountain B+
Saturday, October 28: Shaker Mountain Trail, Pittsfield State Forest B
Sunday, November 5: Fall Luncheon
“We don’t stop hiking because we grow old, We grow old because we stop hiking.” Finis Mitchel
Hudson River and Catskills from Greenport Conservation Area, pic by S Bonk
Windham High Peak, pic by T Rodrigues
Basin Pond. pic by M Waldman
Blackhead Range from Windham High Peak, pic by J Gorman
Basin Pond, pic by M Waldman
Albert Family Community Forest. pic by M Waldman