By Jean Mcevoy to Walk, Books to Read
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
by Jean McEvoy to walk, books to read. I even discovered into the ground to discourage my local a small preserve three miles from my woodchuck, gets hand-watered every I recently took my first group hike since house, where I could step off pavement morning and has responded with exuber- the Mid-Hudson ADK resumed gather- and onto forest duff. For the longest time ant gratitude. Close attention to the yard ings, thanks to New York’s success, so I ventured only as far as my feet could has revealed new plant species and the far, in reducing the flood of Covid-19 carry me, except for infrequent darts into drama of slow-motion plant colonization cases to a trickle. It was a typical summer the world for necessities. Two tanks of strategies and battles for supremacy. hike—take it easy, seek shade—up on the gas in my car lasted four months. But this Attentive listening has announced which Shaupeneak Ridge, with leader Lalita self-imposed solitude didn’t chafe or feel birds are nearby and where some of them Malik filling in for Georgette Weir. But it confining. Instead, the gradual changes of are nesting. Small, daily changes in all didn’t feel typical or ordinary. It felt, si- the seasons and the tiny, quiet life going these things have become as interesting multaneously, like a return to normal and on all around my feet opened up unex- as the books I enjoy in the cool evening. a risky, new behavior. As I slowly regain pected vistas. By lowering my horizon Part of me is reluctant to give up this shreds of my pre-pandemic life, I am I’ve been able to see much farther than I peacefulness and stillness. But I know that amazed to find how much I’ve changed thought possible. in a few short months, and how much it’s important to stay connected to other "normal" has changed. It was wonderful In a normal year, the return of warm people, and the ADK offers me a way to to be part of an outdoor-loving group weather brings traveling, singing, canoe- ease into a social world in the comfort again, but I felt a bit like a feral cat, want- ing, hiking, and visits with family and of the natural world that gives us all the ing that bowl of food set out on a back friends. In a normal year, my garden, space to breathe. which I can’t resist planting in the spring, stoop but jumpy about getting too close Jean McEvoy is a life-long resident of the gets scant attention and less watering. My to people. I kept altering my pace and Hudson Valley, who worked as an envi- yard gets quick and infrequent mowings. position to maintain a nice, breathable ronmental educator, rural mail carrier, and This year, all of my usual summer pas- space around me. environmental-permit analyst until her times have either become impossible or recent retirement. Her love for the Valley No doubt about it, I’m one of the lucky difficult to do with anyone. ones. Even when the boundaries of my is reflected in many of her original songs, world were at their smallest, in the early Instead, I’ve developed a new rhythm, some of which she’s been singing with days of the NY Pause, I still had room to new habits, and new eyes. A new, sunnier the quintet Betty and the Baby Boomers breathe: a house, a yard, fairly quiet roads garden, whose fence I sank 10 inches for 34 years. www.midhudsonadk.org 1 ANNUAL PICNIC VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT Elected Officers QUARANTINED; FOR APPALACHIAN TRAIL Chair HOLIDAY PARTY? MAYBE! CONSERVANCY EVENT Georgette Weir [email protected] At our July meeting the Board decided, Gathering in New Paltz, August 2021 845-462-0142 after much discussion, that it was best to Ron Rosen, cancel the picnic for this year. This event Vice Chair MHADK member is usually so well attended that keeping Carla Barrett and co-chair of the required 6 foot social distance and the Appalachian Secretary wearing masks would be a struggle, if not Trail Vista 2021 Annette Caruso impossible. event, scheduled Treasurer/Finance Committee Chair I think the attendees enjoy chatting, for August 6-9 at Ralph Pollard laughing and catching up with friends, SUNY New Paltz, Club Director sharing delicious and unique sides, is looking for people willing to help out, Wayne Owens salads, and desserts, and of course, the specifically with local arrangements. hamburgers and hotdogs cooked to per- This four-day weekend event, hosted by Alt. Club Director & Chapter Director fection by our amazing Grill Masters. Bryan Sachse the New York-New Jersey Trail Confer- The picnic is also when we vote on the ence, will celebrate the 100th anniversary Chapter Director new members to the Board, with a public of the Trail Conference’s founding as well Barry Skura show of hands. This year the vote will be as the birth of the A.T. idea in Benton accomplished online. (For people who MacKaye’s 1921 article “An Appalachian do not receive information from MHADK Trail: A Project in Regional Planning.” Committee Chairs electronically, there is a ballot on The volunteer positions Ron seeks to fill Outings Chair page 7.) We also are planning to convene include: Ginny Fauci an online Zoom meeting for our members [email protected] as a way to keep in touch. More about • Someone (or a pair working together) 845-399-2170 that is elsewhere on this page. to work with the college's food service on meal planning, including information Membership Chair Just a note about the Holiday Party sched- for the registration packet (e.g., meal Pete Cantline uled for December 13. We have the room times, boxed lunches for hiking, etc.). Outings Co-Chair Communications booked at Locust Grove, but, as of the • Someone (or multiple volunteers) to Sue Mackson time of this writing, in summer, we expect that the number of people allowed in work on the hiking committee to identify Trails Chair; NY-NJ Trail Conference Rep the room will be drastically reduced, no hikes (A.T. plus many other destinations Tom Amisson buffet allowed, and everyone must bring within an hour of New Paltz), help recruit Conservation Chair their own food. Things could change by hike leaders, determine timing and dura- Daniel Jones December, so we will keep you updated. tion, difficulty, etc. Watch your email. Database Administrator • Someone to help work with the college Eli Cohen I will miss being able to sit with friends on finances, especially setting room and enjoy the view of our wonderful Hud- costs, options, etc., and to coordinate Publicity son River this fall. Be well, and we hope to with the NY-NJTC on financial manage- Michele Van Hoesen be getting together in person soon. ment. Education Carole Marsh For more information or to volunteer, Eric Harvey MHADK Social Chair contact Ron at: [email protected] Social Programs Carole Marsh ADK 2021 FALL WEEKEND: MEET US ON ZOOM, OCT. 6 Webmaster/Meetup OLD FORGE, TAKE 2 Jeanette Tully-Baker Save The Date! The MHADK Annual [email protected] The 2020 ADK Fall Weekend in Old Forge meeting this year will be virtual, on Zoom, Tuesday, October 6th at 7 PM. It’s no pic- Newsletter was cancelled due to Covid-19. But the nic, but we’ll share our chapter’s election Dana Bennet hosts, the Onondaga Chapter, are already planning a revised edition for 2021, still in results, highlights from the board, and Water Trails & Paddles Old Forge. The weekend will be Septem- presentations on the year's activities, hik- Russ Faller ber 24, 25, 26, 2021. Please add to your ing and advocacy. Look for further details Hyde Park Trails Committee Rep calendar and watch coming soon in your email from our Salley Decker for information in ADK communications chair, Sue Mackson. emails and publications We’ll see you there! early next year. Annette Caruso MHADK Board Secretary www.midhudsonadk.org 2 MORE THAN 200 ACRES ADDED TO BLUESTONE WILD FOREST Property features new trail developed by OSI and its partners, after original acquisition by OSI in 2019 Underscoring ongoing efforts, sup- ported by ADK, to protect the Bluestone Wild Forest in the Town of Kingston from the effects of a proposed industrial development, the Open Space Institute announced on June 24th the addition of 208 acres of forested land to the Catskill Park’s Bluestone Wild Forest. The addition creates an official link between two previ- ously unconnected sections of the Wild Forest: Jockey Hill to the east and On- teora Lake to the west. Located just five Miller Greg minutes from the NYS Thruway in Kings- A visitor enjoys mountain biking at Bluestone Wild Forest ton, the expansion of the Wild Forest, along with a new multi-use trail created femur and plastic shoulder, right back in by OSI and local partners, will enhance northern portion of a high-quality body the swing of things. recreation opportunities in the southeast of water known as Pickerel Pond. This section of the Catskill Park. coordinated effort to enhance the Blue- Glenda Schwarze is now an old hand at stone Wild Forest has been achieved at leading our weekly paddles, though that During its ownership, OSI, working with the same time that local officials continue season was slow to start due to the cold the Woodstock Land Conservancy and to review plans to construct a steel and spring. Dave Webber has been able to Tahawus Trails and in coordination with precast concrete manufacturing opera- follow our new Covid rules while con- DEC and the bicycle advocacy group Fats tion directly adjacent to the former OSI- tinuing with paddles days and evenings in the Cats, constructed the two-mile Main owned land.