O N D S C H U A H P - T D E I R Mid-Hudson M

News and activitiesTRAILS of the Mid-Hudson Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club ADK Spring 2019

ORDEAL ON MT. TAURUS Two perspectives on an emergency rescue.

Our Mid-Week Hike to I will always remember Mt. Taurus in the Hudson Thursday, January 17, 2019. Highlands was a great hike, That was the day I found out until it wasn’t… I am not invincible. By Ginny Fauci By Lalita Malik

It was a beautiful January morning in Ginny Fauci and I were leading our Mid- the Hudson Highlands when twelve of Week Hike up Mt. Taurus. It was comfort- us met at the new Washburn parking lot ably cold for the steep ascent. We made on Route 9D. Lalita Malik and I were co- pretty good time and reached our lunch leading the hike, and at 9:30 we started spot, a sunny rock with views of the Man- up toward Mt. Taurus. At the quarry on hattan skyline. After lunch, we continued the way, some of the hikers took a walk to the top of Mt. Taurus, and began our around before continuing up to the top. Lalita before 12:15 descent. We picked the summit rocks facing the Ginny Fauci I stopped to change into warmer gloves. Hudson as our lunch spot. You could see Wham! I was face-down on the ground, the Bear Mountain Bridge, the new Mario with a searing pain in my right thigh and Cuomo Bridge, and a hazy NYC skyline. in my left upper arm, which had broken Gorgeous views! Time to head down. my fall. I lay there, and, for the first time in And then, at 12:15, Lalita took a fall. She my life, could not get up. Dazed, I called said she couldn’t get up and believed out to Ginny, and asked her to start res- her leg was broken. Al Limone and I were cue procedures. It was clear that I would able to get her into a sitting position with not be able to walk out. I wasn’t sure if she packs supporting her back, leaving her comprehended what I said, so I repeated legs straight in front. myself, still face-down on the ground. The first thing I did was phone the Park Ginny looked up the Park Office number Police, and they took it from there. I be- on a map and reported the incident. Then gan getting calls from Park Management, she called out to the rest of the group, Phillipstown EMS, North Highland FD, which had gone ahead, and asked them Cold Spring FD, and even one from 911. to come back. Al Limone came over to That person told me that if I had called help me up. I gradually rolled on my left 911 I would have gotten Orange County, side and was able to sit. The pain was and it might have taken longer to get Lalita after 12:15 excruciating, but once I was in a sitting help. position it abated somewhat. I could see Ginny Fauci Continued on Page 3, Column 1 Continued on Page 3, Column 3 www.midhudsonadk.org 1 A BUSY WINTER FOR Elected Officers SEARCH & RESCUE TITLE NAME EMAIL PHONE Town of Lexington, Greene County Chapter Chair Georgette Weir [email protected] 845-462-0142 On Jan. 10, New York State Police re- Vice Chair Carla Barrett [email protected] ported to Forest Rangers that two hikers Secretary Annette Caruso [email protected] on the Devil’s Path in the Hunter Moun- tain- Wilderness Area needed Treasurer Ralph Pollard [email protected] assistance returning the five miles back to Club Director Wayne Owens [email protected] their starting point. Five Forest Rangers re- sponded and found the 22- and 24-year- Alt. Club Director Bryan Sachse [email protected] old Rockland County men within an MH Director Chis Cring [email protected] hour. Rangers escorted the inadequately prepared hikers back to their vehicle. MH Director Pete Cantline [email protected] Town of Shandaken, Ulster County Committee Chairs & Other Volunteers On Jan. 13, two hikers in the Slide Moun- tain Wilderness Area reported to 911 that TITLE NAME EMAIL PHONE they needed assistance descending Slide Mountain. A subsequent call indicated Conservation Daniel Jones [email protected] both hikers were cold and one had suf- New Members Jennifer Anderson [email protected] fered a hip injury. Later that day, another hiker reported to 911 that the injured News Media Michele Van Hoesen [email protected] hiker, a 23-year-old New Jersey man, was Education Chair Don Urmston [email protected] now unconscious. By 8:30 PM, Rangers reached the injured hiker and found three Social Events Carole Marsh [email protected] additional hikers needing immediate Webmaster Georgette Weir [email protected] evacuation due to the onset of hypo- thermia. As these hikers were led off the Newsletter Editor Dana Bennet [email protected] mountain, the injured hiker was treated Database Admin Eli Cohen [email protected] for mild hypothermia and secured in cold-weather gear. At first light on Jan. 14, Outings Co-Chair Sue Mackson [email protected] 845-471-9892 Rangers determined that he could hike Outings Co-Chair Ginny Fauci [email protected] 845-399-2170 out with their assistance, and a helicopter rescue was no longer needed. By 9 AM, Trails Chair; NY-NJ Rep Tom Amisson [email protected] the man was off the mountain, evaluated Water Trails & Paddles Russ Faller [email protected] by emergency medical technicians, and released to his own care. Hyde Park Trails Rep Salley Decker [email protected] Town of Hunter, Greene County Meet Up Jeanette Tully-Baker [email protected] On Feb. 2 around 5:15 PM, DEC Central Fall Outing 2019 Lalita Malik [email protected] Dispatch received a report of an injured 36-year-old visitor from Germany who had hit a rock and fractured his lower leg while skiing a steep section of the Devil’s Path. Forest Rangers hiked nearly a mile Thank you... up to the patient from the Notch Lake Trailhead. Several volunteers, Hunter Po- to long-serving board members Dan Brown (former Board Chair, now our lice Department officers, and a New York State Police officer were already with the chapter’s Conservation Chair); Ellen Zelig (former Board Secretary); victim. “We hypo-wrapped him to keep him warm,” Ranger Rob Dawson told Bill Beehler (long-time Chapter Board Director); Sayi Nulu, who served as HudsonValley 360. “Then we placed him into a sked to secure him and attached Conservation Chair and Meetup Coordinator; and Jean-Claude Fouere, ropes for a belay.” The trip down was slow and arduous. Working through the who completed six years as our Club Director, representing the Mid-Hud- evening in steep, icy conditions, rescu- ers were able to get the patient to safety son Chapter at the state-level ADK board. by 1:30 AM. He was taken to Columbia Memorial Hospital.

www.midhudsonadk.org 2 “At 12:15, Lalita took a fall. She said she couldn’t get up and believed her leg was broken.”

ing lot to get our cars. Lalita had left her pocketbook with her medical cards in her car. (Always carry ID and medical cards with you in your backpack or in a little fanny pack, as I do.) Her carpoolers had put the pocketbook in my car and driven her car home for her. Anthony Sorace and I headed to Vassar Hospital to give her the pocketbook. It seemed to take forever—do not go up 9D or 9 during rush hour— but apparently the ambulance went the same way, because we got to the parking lot just as the attendants were unloading the patient. Inside, we visited with Lalita for a couple of minutes before a nurse came in with morphine. I got Help arrives and the real discomfort begins home at 6:30. The adrenalin had finally worn off, and then it hit me: I was exhaust- ed! The rescue was fairly fast, but it had

Ginny Fauci been a long day.

Ordeal by Ginny Fauci thing we had done and said all was good, Ordeal by Lalita Malik Continued from Page 1, Column 1 but Matt wanted to secure the injured leg Continued from Page 1, Column 3 more firmly before they put her on the There was no sense in everyone stand- Stokes stretcher. I suggested he use one my right foot flopped over and told Al ing around in the cold, so I sent the other of her poles as a splint. Other rescuers that I had broken a thigh bone. Ginny hikers down. I was on the phone almost arrived with regular blankets and got her helped remove my backpack. continuously, giving reports on Lalita’s completely covered. Then they lifted her Meanwhile, the rest of the group had condition (and our condition) and getting and slid the stretcher underneath. gathered around, and people were dig- ETA updates. Meanwhile, we were fetch- We headed down the mountain about ging into their backpacks for emergency ing clothes out of Lalita’s pack to keep 2:30. The rescuers took it nice and slow blankets. Someone fashioned a sit-upon her warm. Al took my Therm-a-Rest seat over the steep, rocky Notch Trail, stop- and my half pole into a makeshift splint. and used it as a splint on her thigh, tying ping every so often to switch bearers. Someone else helped me put on my rain- bandanas to keep it secure. We borrowed There weren’t enough rescuers to switch coat, and soon I was wrapped in multiple another seat and placed it beneath her off six at a time, so some had to carry blankets. I sat there holding my right leg and wrapped a down jacket around her most of the way. They were very coordi- up with my hands. I asked for support legs. Then, without moving her too much, nated and did a great job! under my thigh, but nothing worked. The we put three emergency blankets around thigh seemed to float, so I just held onto We got to the bottom about 4 PM. An ATV and under her as best we could. Al used it. My feet were cold, and I asked that awaited us on the other side of the stream. duct tape to keep the blankets together. chemical warmer bands be tied around Lalita got a short ride over to the dirt road Lalita said she was warm all over, but I my ankles. One of the hikers wrapped leading to Lake Surprise. A Park pickup and kept checking to make sure she wasn’t his down jacket around my feet and legs. fire engine greeted us. The men transferred shivering. After a while, she said her feet Ginny told the rest of the group to con- Lalita to the back of the pickup (we got in were getting cold, so we got some hand tinue the descent. the front) and took a slow, bumpy ride over warmers from her pack and tucked them the rutty road to Lake Surprise, where the Two of the hikers had car-pooled with under the tongue of her boot. Then we Phillipstown EMS Ambulance was waiting. me from the ShopRite Plaza in Arthurs- wrapped the blankets around her again. There was also another fire truck there, and burg. I asked them to drive my car back That seemed to help a little. I told her more Park pickups. to my house, use the remote to open the to wiggle her toes occasionally to keep garage door, plug in the car for charging, After making sure Lalita was safely in the them moving. and leave from the side door. I was glad I ambulance and asking where she was The first responders, Matt Steltz and an was with a bunch of calm and competent being taken, I gave the Park Police all her EMS worker, arrived about 2 PM and got ADKers. info and mine. to work immediately. They checked every- By now, the rescue operation was in full A Park pickup returned us to the park- www.midhudsonadk.org 3 She’ll never get through the A little nourishment before the journey to safety metal detector now Ginny Fauci

swing. Ginny was in touch with multiple EMT kept checking to make sure I was visit me. Suddenly, my friend Connie ap- people and informed me that teams were OK, offering me Al’s hot chocolate. peared. She had walked from her home, coming up from Lake Surprise Road and in Poughkeepsie, wearing her micro- After an eternity, I heard someone say we would reach us in two hours. It was one spikes to negotiate the ice. I had emails had arrived. They put me on an ATV for o’clock. The sun was shining on me, and I and cards from numerous ADK friends. a short ride. Pretty soon after that, I was was warm and smiled for a picture. The officer who had orchestrated the transferred to a flatbed truck, and eventu- rescue called to see how I was doing. My The rescuers arrived earlier than expect- ally to a warm ambulance. ed. That’s when the torture started. Matt daughter came up from Virginia to move At Vassar Hospital, I received a V.I.P. Steltz, the rescue-team leader, removed me from Vassar to rehab and took care reception and was rushed into a cubicle my warm cocoon and asked me to lie of things at home. Across the oceans, my to be examined. My status was Trauma down for an evaluation. I refused, arguing family reached out to me from India. 3, which meant I was bumped to the top that it would hurt. He told me firmly that I There were setbacks. I was in tears when of the line for x-rays and tests. The x-ray had no choice and helped me gradually I was told that I couldn’t put weight on revealed a split femur. The solution was reposition myself. Another EMT, a woman, my left arm and therefore couldn’t use a surgery. A rod would be inserted in the helped him with the evaluation. They tied walker. And I have just learned that I can’t bone and screws would hold it in place. something around my thighs to keep put any weight on my right leg for four I called my cat sitter to ask him to please them together and slid something under more weeks. The recovery will take far take care of my cats and birds until further me and slowly lifted me onto a stretcher. longer than I expected, but with the sup- notice. I called Sayi Nulu and asked her Once the movement stopped, the pain port of an extraordinary network of family, to bring me my device chargers and fresh lessened, but I was cold now, and my feet friends, and therapists I expect to be back clothes. For the first time, I relaxed a bit. were even colder. on the trail this summer. In the ensuing days, I had surgery and Teams of six people at a time began my recovery got underway, I realized UPDATE! carrying me down the mountain. I could how lucky I was to have so many friends, hear someone in front warning the oth- Lalita is out of rehab and is staying mainly ADKers and neighbors. They kept ers when a boulder or a stream or some with her daughter and family down in my spirits up with visits, doing my laundry other obstacle was coming up. They kept Virginia. She can now put 50% of her and bringing me clothes, food, tea, and reassuring me that I would soon be down weight on her leg, which is beginning sundries. I never felt alone. and in a warm ambulance. When the carry to heal nicely. She will start physical teams switched sides, Matt warned them One day, there was an ice storm, and therapy next week and hopes to be back not to step over the patient. The female I was certain no one would come to in her own home some time in April.

www.midhudsonadk.org 4 remembering Ellie Shari Aber

Ellie Shortle, a long time MHADK member, found life change—the loss of Jack, her and an avid hiker and kayaker, passed husband of fifty-some years. Together, away on November 16, 2018 at the age of they had raised several kids and paddled 91. She will be missed by so many. the Adirondacks and hiked all over. I remember her infectious laugh and her When Ellie and I were on one of Russ’s positive attitude. eight-plus-mile paddles, I remember her excitement as, under inevitably, on the return trip, the stron- the tutelage of her daughter, Margaret, gest paddlers would be up front, maybe

she mastered kayaking, which she would Don Urmston a quarter-mile ahead. Ellie would start enjoy till the end. getting tired trying to keep up. I would I wanted to kayak on the ... drop back and stay with her. (Shh, don’t I remember our chapter paddling trip. Don’s trip. Ellie offered to go with me. I tell anyone, but, I was getting tired also.) Greg, our local guide, put in at the was very thankful. I thought she was tak- Together, we would paddle at our own Okefenokee Swamp and led us through ing me under her wing. At the wake, her speed, talking, joking, telling stories, a marsh overgrown with dense grasses. daughter told me Ellie had thought I was enjoying nature. We were not in any rush. It was hard going, and we followed helping her out. The amazing thing was, even at 85, or 87, single-file, ever watchful of the alligators —Glenda Schwarze or 89, she was always willing to try—she in the water watching us. I remember never gave up. Ellie’s frustration when her strength at 81 seemed almost unable to meet the ­—Eli Cohen Ellie was a cheery participant for over ten challenge. And I remember her laughing years in the MHADK Friday Breakfast. She about it the next day. I had the huge pleasure of being in Ellie’s rarely missed a Friday unless for illness or company just a few times. The last was this I remember a kayaking/camping trip in a kayak trip. Her laughter was contagious. past September. We kayaked in the Hud- the Adirondacks. Ellie was in her mid- She enjoyed sharing Bill’s bacon and son in Poughkeepsie. The river was not eighties and feisty, and defied the advice brightened everyone’s day. To celebrate gentle that day: dark, menacing and, un- of her daughter not to go. Towards the her 90th birthday, she dressed for the oc- predictable. I was a little nervous, but then end of the trip, we had to cross the open casion in a yellow floral skirt. Her absence I looked over and there was Ellie, cruising water of Raquette Lake and the head- leaves a void. winds whipped. If you stopped paddling, along as though she were in a bathtub. —Ellen Zelig She was so cool. So confident. So skilled. you’d be pushed back. When I noticed Ellie dropping behind a little, her hair She and I went farther than the guys, and I spent so many wonderful days on the windblown, her eyes tearing, I waited up I’m pretty sure we could have gone to water with Ellie. She always had a smile and asked her if she was all right. Facing Beacon if we’d had our headlamps. on her face and a fantastic sense of directly into the wind and never missing a humor. She was in her late 80s when she —Carla Barrett stroke, she answered, “I love this!” paddled over 75 miles with us on the Erie That’s what I remember most about Ellie. I remember first meeting Ellie on a Thurs- Canal! She was truly an inspiration to us She never gave up and loved it all. day hike. I had recently retired and she all. It was so common to hear another had just experienced a much more pro- —Shari Aber paddler say, “I want to be like Ellie when I www.midhudsonadk.org 5 Eli Cohen

reach her age.” To which I would reply, “I want to be like Ellie right now!” —Donald Urmston And the President’s

I don’t remember when I first met Ellie; Award goes to... it seems like I’ve always known her. She At the final 2018 meeting of the JC in his native France and invariably came on our Thursday hikes Adirondack Mountain Club’s Board of at home in the Hudson Valley until one day on the Long Path going Directors, Jean-Claude Fouere, or JC, as some of us call him, received the ADK over Hook Mountain, she told me that President’s Award. In presenting the award, President John Gilewic recognized this was her last Mid-Week Hike. But she JC’s active contribution toward “successfully revitalizing the Club’s Membership wasn’t done with hiking. She started lead- ing easier hikes on Tuesdays and called and Development initiatives.” As a member and then, as chair of the committee, them the “High Hopes” hikes. I paddled Jean-Claude “helped cultivate, strengthen and sustain ADK’s membership and with her on the Hudson, the Erie Canal donor relationships.” and local ponds. Then I invited her and a JC initiated a membership survey in 2015 that helped define ways to engage few others to join my brother Ken and me the younger generation and encourage them to become active members of the for four nights of kayak camping in the ADK. The older members were encouraged to remain active in chapter activities Adirondacks. Ellie, Shari, Joe, Roberta, and to financially support ADK programs geared toward young people. Ken and I headed up to Lake Durant State Campsite for our first night and then, af- Jean-Claude has always led an active life in the outdoors. As a schoolboy, he ter leaving cars at Raquette Lake, started walked through the Vosges Mountains in Eastern France, going uphill/downhill out on Blue Mountain Lake to Eagle Lake by foot or ski to and from the schoolhouse. Upon taking residence in the Hudson to Utowana Lake, short carry into the Valley, in the fall of 1988, he joined the Mid-Hudson Chapter, and has since Marion River and finally into Raquette spent 25 years as an active hike and paddle participant and then leader. He Lake. The lake had whitecaps on it that sought chairmanship of our chapter’s Conservation Committee while simultane- day, and we needed to cross over to the ously serving on the ADK Club’s Conservation Committee. . other side where there were two lean-tos. It was rough, but she was a trouper. At While generating ideas on the Club’s Membership and Development Com- the holiday party this year, as I walked mittee, JC was elected as our chapter’s Club Director. In that position he was a in the first thing I thought was that Ellie voting member of the Club’s Board of Directors and a liaison between the Club, wasn’t sitting behind the table giving out with headquarters in Lake George, and our chapter, which essentially covers hugs and signing people in. I miss her Dutchess, Orange, Putnam and Ulster Counties. Jean-Claude has just stepped smiling face! down from that office after serving for three two-year terms. —Ginny Fauci Jean-Claude makes time to participate in High Peak Work Weekends, held every According to my records, Ellie started year at the end of April and in early November, cleaning up and improving the attending the ADK breakfast in February, campgrounds and other areas around the Adirondack Loj. He recently joined the 2012—and became one of the most con- crew of volunteers which erected three yurts on ADK Loj premises. stant attendees. She was always a good Jean-Claude says he was surprised at being honored with the President’s Award audience, with ready laughter if anyone- and accepts it on behalf of all those dedicated staff and volunteers working on had something amusing to say. It was a behalf of membership and development. pleasure to have known her! —Ralph Pollard www.midhudsonadk.org 6 OutingsLog

Tug Hill Ski Weekend

Nov 4: Zaidee’s Bower tunnel. Everyone marveled at this 19th on Route 9G and found that the lot had Leader: Roberta Forest Century engineering feat. We walked been plowed but the gate was locked. Zaidee’s Bower is a scramble that is not along the Old Croton Aqueduct trail Additionally, the gate to Vall-Kill across regularly done. We were an enthusistic heading back toward the dam. One of the street was locked. We waited 15 or 20 group and we took varied trails to get our walkers became very uncomfortable minutes, but no one else showed up. Since us to and fro our desired scramble. This with pain, so at about the half-way point, we were there, we decided to do three hike was partly on trails, with one short we decided to leave her and a friend at of the hikes which did not include Val-Kill bushwack, one ladder to climb and many the Croton Grange building, which was a and think about adding two other hikes, fallen trees to surmount. Lots of fun! private club, while the Leader pressed on likely to be Mills-Norrie, but that would toward the dam so he could get to his car add about four miles of hiking. We would Nov 10: Croton Aqueduct and drive back to pick them up. The rest decide about that later. Leader: John Ragusa of the group were able to make it to the Our first hike was at Winakee Nature We met at 9:15 AM at the Croton Gorge top of the New Croton Dam and look out Preserve. We approached the trailhead Park. The day was blustery and cold, with upon the Reservoir and the Croton Gorge and saw that a considerable section of some breaks of sun and a snow shower Park below. The uncomfortable walker the trail was flooded. We walked as far as or two. The nine hikers who participated recovered and the trip ended well. we could, turned around and went to the got to enjoy spectacular views of the other trailhead, on Terwilliger Road. We Nov 17: Hyde Park Trails New Croton Dam and the spillover, which got to the other side of the flooded area Leader: Mike Cunningham was raging with water overflowing from and turned around again, then completed the reservoir because of all the rains Normally I lead the “Patch in a Day” hike the rest of the trail. we’ve had. It was a sight to see. We then in May but the funding for the patch Next up was Pinewoods Park and the car-pooled to Ossining and entered the didn’t come in until late summer. Hav- big .7-mile loop. We enjoyed slogging Joseph Caputo Community Center, where ing to pick out a day way ahead of time through the snow and the waterfall. After we watched a short film on the history of and being busy with other hikes and that was Hackett Hill, with another slog. the Aqueduct that was given by a NYC backpacks, I could not schedule the hike We could barely see the picnic table DEP Engineer, with a Q & A after the film. until November. Two days before the in the pond, because the water was so We also went through a small museum hike there was a freak snowstorm which high, and we skipped Gorilla Rock but with more history on the Aqueduct and dropped about five or six inches of snow. completed the required trails. There were of Sing Sing Prison. We then crossed over Wonderful! Two of my buddies usu- some slippery spots on the hills but we the double-arched bridge to the Ossin- ally come on this hike but one of them managed not to fall. ing weir and descended into the water dropped out ahead of time. We drove over to the Roosevelt Farm Lane trailhead www.midhudsonadk.org 7 We got back to the parking lot and Town of Poughkeepsie. We went slowly the leader and four guest participants. decided that we were too tired after four through the woods to the high point and The day was sunny and cold with a brisk or so miles of breaking trail through the descended through the orchard, gabbing breeze. We started on the Blue Trail fresh snow, so we decided to postpone along the way. It had rained the day be- through the Meadow and up to the tree the next two hikes. fore and there were muddy spots, some line with great views of Osborne Castle. We followed the trail past the gazebo, A week or so later, when the snow had of them covered by short boardwalks crossed a small brook and were shortly melted, I went back by myself and hiked which we greatly appreciated. These were on the Red Trail. We noticed a big swath the blue and white trails at Mills-Norrie. built by the Friends of Peach Hill over the of blowdown from the micro-burst last The next month both of my buddies ac- last years. (Yes, they’d love to have your spring. The trails were cleared of the companied me as we hiked all five of the support.) The day was dry and somewhat debris but you could see all the downed original trails. windy. Temps were in the 40’s, warm for this time of year. Those of you who didn’t trees around you. As we walked up in Nov 17: Mills-Norrie Trails attend missed all kinds of goodies back elevation, we saw a small pond to the left Leader: Annette Caruso at my house, including: panettone, mint which in spring holds a lot of frogs. We cookies/candies, Italian butter cookies then made the final ascent of Sugar Loaf Two days after the first big snowstorm and red Jello. Twelve members and three Hill, which was steep but short. We walked of the year, ten strong participants hiked guests participated. With great thanks to along the ridgeline on top to the end of the river trail loop through Mills-Norrie John Ragusa for bringing a trail map and the trail, where there’s an outcropping of State Park. Lots of wet snow covered the washing all those soup bowls and cups! rocks, and enjoyed the spectacular views rocks and leaves, though poles and micro of the Hudson River looking south and spikes made the going relatively easy. Jan 6: Farm Lane Hike then north toward West Point across the The river views on our left were lovely, the Leader: Annette Caruso water. Luckily, there was no wind on top, so woods on the right, serene... we saw deer we enjoyed a picnic lunch and observed and a large hawk. An invigorating, enjoy- Rain, locked gates and the U.S. govern- the native cactus all around us. We then able walk in the park. ment shutdown did not dissuade thirteen hikers from a Hyde Park Trail loop trek returned on the trails we came in on. We Dec 1: Lost City on the Farm Lane. Jeannette Baker, our were back in our cars, smiling, by 2:30 PM. Leader: Roberta Forest MeetUp chair, brought three friends and A cold day, but a great one to be out! the rest were all ADK members. The plan We took a route that bypassed some was to hike the red and yellow woods Jan 19: Locust Grove of the more wet and muddy trails. Our trails out and green gravel trail back. At Leader: Georgette Weir route to Lost City was on an unmarked the first junction, the majority of hikers de- Perhaps it was the prediction of impend- climber’s trail. We enjoyed the Lost City cided the water level to reach the woods ing bad weather that prompted fifteen vista and headed to Compass Rock after was prohibitive and opted for the green walkers to join Georgette Weir for a lunch. Next, down to the Peterskill and trail round trip. Ginny, Connie, Ellen and short morning walk on the trails at Locust up a steep path that took us back to our Annette ventured through the woods. An Grove in Poughkeepsie. In the end, the vehicles. Another fine day in the Gunks. absolute perfect hike to split up as all led storm disappointed (too little snow, too Dec 2018: Holiday Season Short Hikes to same place in the middle where we much icy mix), but our very social group Leader: Georgette Weir met for lunch. The sky turned blue, the enjoyed a good stretch of the legs on dewdrops in the bare trees glistened in easy trails at this convenient park. Eleven A short-hike series offered on Friday the sun, bushy white-tailed deer dashed ADKers welcomed three guests (poten- mornings in December by Georgette by, the forest was enchanting. It was a tial members) who found us via MeetUp. Weir proved to be a popular formula beautiful day. Highlights included Hudson River views, (although the second two of the four a pair of pileated woodpeckers and a planned walks were rescheduled to Jan 11: Minnewaska juvenile eagle flying overhead. February owing to rain). Ten participants, Leader: Georgette Weir including five guests, several from the The day was predicted to be cold and Jan 18-21: “Go With the Snow” Dutchess County Master Gardener pro- Tug Hill Ski Weekend windy but turned out to be sunny and gram, enjoyed a walk along the Hudson Leader: Ron Gonzalez beautiful, and so this Minnewaska jaunt River and through the woods at Mills- was very much enjoyed by the leader A mixed group of ADK and AMC members Norrie State Park on Dec. 7. On Dec. 14, and two participants. We stretched our gathered for the Martin Luther King, Jr. seven explored the trails below the man- legs on the High Peterskill Trail (no ice!!), weekend on north-central NY State’s Tug sion at the FDR estate. looping back and passing magnificent Hill Plateau. Hoping for powdery snow, we were not disappointed. We stayed at Jan 1: New Year Day Walk Awosting Falls. Short, but sweet with the comfortable Harris Lodging in Sandy Leader: Sue Mackson good conversation, all agreed. Creek, conveniently located just off of I-81 What a winter—pity the poor skiers and Jan 13 Castle Rock Unique Area and less than five miles from the Winona snowshoers in our area—not enough snow Leader: John Ragusa State Forest ski trails. We were lucky to to do anything. But without snow we were We met at noon in the parking area of have good weather for our trip up on able to ascend to the heights of Peach the Castle Rock Unique Area in Garrison. Friday, avoiding the impending Saturday Hill Preserve, the highest spot in the There were eleven members, including night storm. www.midhudsonadk.org 8 3 PM, while the hardcore group stayed out for another hour after that. One of our participants had hurt his ankle a bit the previous day and stayed at the lodging, and to our surprise and delight, greeted us with a pot of hot soup he had made for us. We got back to a warm house with fresh hot soup, after being out in nearly arctic conditions for the day. How nice was that? It was great to see old friends, and to meet new friends. Every- body had a great two days of satisfying, strenuous skiing. The Tug Hill delivered once again. Great snow, and lots of it. I’m sure we’ll be back. Vassar Farm Feb 2 Georgette Weir Georgette Feb 2: Vassar Farm For our first day, we split into two groups, enough for us to drive right in, and there Leader: Georgette Weir with Russ Faller leading his contingent to was nobody else there! We got ready, The single-digit temperature at the start the Osceola-Tug Hill XC Ski Center, while split up into two groups, and started ski- of our four-mile hike around the pe- I (Ron Gonzalez) led a group for a scenic ing. Ron led the more hardcore group, rimeter of the Vassar College Farm in loop along Inman Gulf, in the Rodman- while Russ took the more laid-back skiers. Poughkeepsie was no deterrent to eight Barnes Corners ski-trail system. Except for The snowmobile trails (actually unplowed hearty MHADKers who joined Georgette one thing, that is—I managed to forget my motor roads) had been groomed, but Weir for a Saturday-morning outing. ski boots! Fortunately, we had the chair of the cross-country ski trails had not, and The powdery snow was a delight and the AMC NY-NJ Ski Committee along for had picked up about a foot of heavy, a challenge—a lot like hiking on beach the trip, Ed Sobin. Ed graciously offered windblown powder. Trail breaking wasn’t sand. But the sun was shining and two to lead the group while I and a kind par- too bad, though. After breaking trail for a hours later the temperature was up to 28 ticipant doubled back to Harris Lodging short while, Russ’ group was fortunate to degrees as we returned to our cars. Our to get my boots and hustle back. That we find a broken route on Salley’s Ride. We route took us up and over the drumlin did, and we were able to catch up with followed it to its end, then turned around (“an elongate or oval hill of glacial drift”— the rest of the group around midday. It’s and followed the tracks to more tracks Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, a good thing conditions were so good for on Bill’s Belly Trail, which led us back to 10th edition), over the , where cross-country skiing, with about 6 inches the parking lot. It was very cold, stay- we saw the impact of beaver activity, of cold, dry powder sitting on a support- ing around zero the whole day. Nobody through the woods and past the agri- ive but not too hard base. It was so much wanted to stop for very long, so we kept cultural fields of the Poughkeepsie Farm fun to crank up the speed in the group’s moving. The laid-back group left by Project. tracks. Meanwhile, Russ’s group had a fine day skiing in excellent conditions at the Our Chapter’s annual Presidents Day Weekend at the Wiezel Cabin, part of Nordic Center. At Osceola-Tug Hill, we ADK’s Heart Lake lodging in the heart of the High Peaks, was another adventure- broke up into smaller groups so that ev- filled success. Big thanks to Pete and Carol McGinnis for arranging the weekend eryone could ski at their own level - from and making sure there were plenty of snacks and beverages for all to enjoy; to easy to advanced trails. We met back at Chris Bickford for helping to organize the two dinner potlucks; and to all who the lodge between 12:30 and 1 PM for participated with enthusiasm and good spirits. See you next year! lunch and shared our adventures. After lunch, we went back out for a few hours more of skiing before calling it a day. Everyone got back to Harris Lodging at the end of the day to warm up, make our group dinner, and settle in for the storm. On Sunday morning, we found that about a foot of snow had fallen. It was very cold, right about zero degrees Fahrenheit. High winds had blown large drifts between the cars. We spent the morning shoveling out our cars while the lodging’s proprietor worked his snowblower on the driveway. We were underway by about 10 am, heading to the Winona State Forest ski Presidents Weekend at the Weitzal Cabin

trails. The parking area was plowed well Christopher Bickford www.midhudsonadk.org 9 A VIEW FROM THE TOP

Fire Tower Hikes in the Mid Hudson Region by Georgette Weir

Ferncliff Firetower and a view of the Catskills from the top

Be on the lookout this year for hikes to • Stissing Mountain Fire Tower, Pine fire towers in our region led by Georgette Plains. The tower is owned and managed Weir. Hike difficulty will range from easy by Friends of Stissing Landmarks. Hikers to strenuous; time commitments from are welcome to access the tower at their half-day to full day. Not all towers are own risk and at no cost. open to visitors, but many are. Some re- visits may be planned to enjoy seasonal ORANGE COUNTY changes in views. Watch the schedule and join the explorations. Other lookouts, • Black Rock Forest Fire Tower, Corn- such as Perkins Tower, on Bear Mountain, wall. Erected in 1929 as a private look- and Skytop, at Mohonk Preserve, may be out on the Stillman Estate, which in time added. became the 3,800 acre Black Rock Forest, owned by Harvard University. In 1989 Much of the info below comes from the ownership was transferred to the Black New York page on the website of the Na- Rock Forest Consortium. tional Historic Lookout Register: http:// nhlr.org/lookouts/us/ny/ • Graham Mountain Fire Tower, Mount Hope. Erected on present site on the Sha- County. The restored tower offers 360-de- gree panoramic views of the DUTCHESS COUNTY wangunk Ridge in 1948 by NY DEC. skyline, the Catskills, and Mount Beacon. • Ferncliff Forest Fire Tower, Rhinebeck. • Sterling Mountain Fire Tower is The current overlook is a 1933 Interna- located in Sterling Forest State Park. Built ROCKLAND COUNTY tional Derrick Fire Tower and is approxi- in 1922 on the Harriman Family’s Sterling is in the Bear mately 80 feet high. The overlook offers Park estate, the tower is now owned and • Jackie Jones Lookout Mountain-Harriman State Park. On a clear spectacular views of the Hudson River managed by the New York State Office of day, the tower offers a view of Manhattan and . Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preserva- tion. It was placed on the Federal Reg- in the distance. The last remaining steel • Mt. Beacon Fire Tower is in Hudson ister of Historic Places on June 12, 2006 fire tower in the Park, Jackie Jones Look- Highlands State Park. The property is along with the observers cabin. out was constructed in 1928 by the Pali- owned and managed by the New York sades Interstate Park Commission, which State Office of Parks, Recreation, and PUTNAM COUNTY operated the facility until 1931. From that Historic Preservation. On a clear day, the time the facility was operated by Forest tower offers views of both Manhattan and • Mount Nimham Fire Tower is in Fire Control, until it closed in the 1970s. Albany in the distance. Nimham Mountain State Forest, Putnam www.midhudsonadk.org 10 ULSTER COUNTY READY, SET, MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

• Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower, “the oldest documented forest fire 2nd Annual Catskills National Park Service MARCH APRIL observatory in New York State” (National Great Outdoor Expo “Earth Day” Recycling Day Historic Lookout Register), is in Balsam Saturday (morning) at the Hyde Park Lake Mountain Wild Forest, Ulster County. 10 AM—5 PM Drive-In Theater property The restored fire tower offers views of the 30 and an afternoon hike 27 Best Western Hotel and Pepacton Reservoir. Conference Center We will hike a portion of the Roosevelt Farm Lane Trail, leaving from • Mount Tremper Fire Tower is in Phoe- 503 Washington Avenue Kingston, NY the trailhead kiosk. Parking is in the lot nicia Wild Forest, Ulster County. Located The Catskills Great Outdoor Expo—learn there. Look for more details on the Hyde in New York’s Catskill Forest Preserve, about all the best the Catskills have to Park Trails Facebook page (https://www. Tremper Mountain Fire Tower was con- offer in hiking, paddling, bicycling, and facebook.com/HydeParkTrail). structed by the New York Department all outdoor recreation activities in this of Conservation (now DEC) in 1917. The one-day Expo with dozens of exhibitors, Anyone wishing to help man a MHADK tower was in active service for 54 years, expert presentations, free samples and table at this event, should contact Salley until it closed in 1971. It has also been raffles—plus the famous Catskill Center Decker: [email protected] by restored by a joint effort of the Catskill Gear Sale. Tickets will be $3 at the door. April 12th. Forest Center, the Highlands Group of Kids under 10 are free! More info at MAY FFLA and the NYS-DEC. http://catskillcenter.org/outdoorexpo “I Love My Park” Day in New York State is back! • Overlook Mountain Fire Tower is Although the details are not Celebrate Earth Day at in Overlook Mountain Wild Forest. The APRIL yet available, events will be Locust Grove 4 60-foot tower offers views of the Hud- scheduled in several local NYS with some trail TLC! son River Valley, , and Parks. More information will be in the Weekly Devil’s Path. Built in 1917, the tower was in On Saturday April 20, we’ll E-mail of outings in late March or April. celebrate Earth Day (offi- 20 active service for 54 years, until it closed in 1971. It has also been restored by a cially Monday, April 22) by tending to the It’s time for the Annual joint effort of the Catskill Forest Center, trails at Locust Grove. JULY Appalachian Trail Work the Highlands Group of FFLA and the We’ll celebrate our Earth with two proj- Weekend at the RPH cabin NYS-DEC. ects. The first is removing barberry and in East Fishkill. This is the other invasive plants alongside the trail. 17-19 • Red Hill Fire Tower is in Sundown third weekend of July, one The work will be cutting back brush and Wild Forest, Ulster County. The view from week later than usual. Details hauling it away. Stooping and bending is the tower is of the Catskill High Peaks to will be available in June. a given, as we use loppers, clippers and the north, and to the hand saws to cut and gather brush. The south. The tower was constructed by NYS- Fall Outing 2019 second project is building water bars to SEPT DEC in 1920 and staffed until 1990. direct water off the trail. We’ll use picks AMC’s Harriman Outdoor and shovels to install the water bars to fix Center on Breakneck Pond Let’s Get Started! the drainage problems. in the heart of Harriman 6-8 Long pants, long sleeves, work gloves State Park will be the base Sat. Mar 9: Sterling Forest Fire Tower and sturdy footwear are recommended. for daily hikes, paddles, and other excur- and Iron Mines, B loop hike. 4.5 miles Safety Glasses are a good idea. And, of sions as ADKers from all over convene Leader: Georgette Weir, georgette.weir@ course, bring lunch and water. If you have for the moveable feast that is the Club’s gmail.com. tools bring them along. If not, then we’ll annual Fall Outing. This is the first in a planned series of hikes provide tools. Harriman and adjacent Bear Mountain to fire towers in our region. We will begin Where: Locust Grove, State Park feature more than 225 miles from the beautiful Sterling Forest Visi- Route 9, Poughkeepsie, NY of marked trails and numerous lakes, tor Center, which features history of iron making it a hiker’s and paddler’s paradise. mining in the region. Our route will take When: 10 AM­—2 PM, Saturday, April 20, Other notable parks are nearby, and five us past historic mining remains, the fire (Rain date: Saturday, April 27) downstate chapters of ADK—with our own tower, and Sterling Lake. Contact leader Please confirm with Dave Webber, Mid Hudson Chapter as the lead—are for car-pooling and meet time. [email protected] or 845-242-9905 collaborating to offer a rich selection of outings for all tastes and abilities. Fri. Mar 29: Short Hike plus Fire Tower, Arbor Day is celebrated in APRIL Ferncliff Forest, Rhinebeck, C hike, New York State on the last Mark your calendars to explore the beau- meandering— around 2 miles. Friday in April. Does any tiful Hudson Valley this September, and Leader: Georgette Weir, georgette.weir@ gmail.com. Contact leader for car-pool- knowledgable botany en- sign up early to reserve your preferred ing, meet time. thusiast want to volunteer 26 accommodations at the camp! Watch for to lead a tree-I.D. hike? details this spring.

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