JUNE – AUGUST 2016 Newsletter of the Mohican Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club Serving Westchester, P utnam, and Fairfield Counties ...and Beyond equipment, the scenery, and your feet don’t hurt. Preparations are key to a good outing, especially since our outings take place in all four seasons, and each Sunday, September 11, 2016 at Noon season has a variety of safety precautions. Newcomers Annual Picnic—FDR Park are always welcome to join the adventures of the Adirondack Mountain Club. We offer a wide variety of activities locally and around the state, thanks to all the This year the annual Mohican picnic will be held at volunteers. Local hikes don’t need as much planning Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park in Yorktown. It is easy as the deeper woods or the mountains. to get to as it is right off the Taconic. Sign up by sending $10 to Kathie Laug, 33 Vincent Avenue, While signing up for a hike, speed, length, weather, Stamford, CT 06905 (203-348-3993). Please indicate elevation, and terrain are the keys to knowing whether which of the following you will bring: appetizer, side it is an easy, moderate, or expert hike and the type of dish, salad or dessert so the menu can be balanced. boots, how much water and food is needed, and any Please include your telephone number. Fee covers winter equipment needed (in season), maps, and cost of main course and beverages. parking areas. From the Chair Know how many people are on the hike. Stay --------------------------------- together, especially at intersections. The follower must THANK YOU: Adeline Natiello for the last 2 years as also let the leader know if they are leaving and if they CHAIR; to Jean Dolen who is now CHAIR; to Jane know the way back. A large group needs a “sweep” in Restani who was SECRETARY and is now Vice the back. Have them sign the new release forms CHAIR; to Lisa Weismiller who remains TREASURER; recently posted. to ANNETTE GRAU who is now SECRETARY and MEMBERSHIP; to Leslie Millman who remains as Learn the weather patterns. The temperature and DIRECTOR (her second term); to Fran Resch who is winds can change at any time. Don’t be caught without 1st ALTERNATE DIRECTOR; to Kathie Laug who is 2nd the essentials (listed below) especially in higher ALTERNATE DIRECTOR; to Carol Harting who elevations, or near rivers, oceans, etc. Avoid cotton remains in PUBLICATIONS; to Pat Johnston our clothing. They stay wet when you sweat. The warm WEBMASTER; to Jane Smalley for PADDLING temperatures bring out the snakes, ticks, mosquitos, COORDINATOR; to Barry Leibowitz who remains as and increases the risk of thunderstorms. Most of the DELEGATE TO NY/NJ TRAIL CONFERENCE; to Dod snakes are not bothersome if you leave them alone. If Chahroudi who remains as CONSERVATION CHAIR. lightning strikes in the middle of a hike, avoid metal, Thank you to trail maintainers and hike leaders. Thank wires, and being on the highest point. Cold weather you to NOMINATING COMMITTEE: Carol Harting, dehydrates you faster than warm weather. Drink lots of Steve Klepner, and Jane Smalley. fluids. Rub your hands together if feeling frozen or put them under your armpits. Gloves inside of mittens THERE WILL BE NO CHAPTER MEETING IN JUNE works well. ENJOY THE MOMENT WITH Learn the terrain. Get to know how the trails respond GOOD PLANNING AND A CAMERA! to weather conditions. It may be a dry beautiful day, but if it rained two days prior to the hike you will encounter A great hike is when you are comfortable with the wet leaves, mossy rocks, muddy trails, etc. These people, the weather, the terrain, your capabilities, the areas can turn to ice if the temperature drops below 1 JUNE – AUGUST 2016 32º after a rainfall, and make treacherous conditions. Moderate to Expert hikes: (longer days, longer rock Some areas dry up faster than others. scrambles, rougher terrains, steeper climbs, temperature changes). Examples: (under 3500 feet) Learn what your capabilities are. Knowing your Minnewaska (longer trails), Breakneck Ridge, ability makes it easier to select a hike. Rock scrambling Anthony’s Nose, Catskill Mountains, Adirondack may not be your skill in the current moment, but you Mountains, Berkshire Mountains, Appalachian Trail, can work up to it in time. Start out on easy trails and etc. work up to harder hikes. Long hikes may not be fun now, but you can also gradually get to that level. Hiking Expert hikes: (long days, steep climbs, rough terrains, poles help the knees when you are going downhill. scrambles, temperature changes). Examples: (above 3500 feet) Adirondack Mountains, White Mountains, Learn the basic essentials for hikes. Maps (DO NOT Green Mountains, etc. RELY ON ELECTRONICS); compass; flashlight; first aid; tissues; baggies; hand wipes; pens; paper; Enjoy the trails safely! And take pictures! sunglasses; bug spray; suntan lotion; mini-scissors; ® Jean Dolen, Chairperson matches; moleskin; aspirin; extra socks (SmartWool ); extra shirt; gloves; mittens; hat; poncho; water; food; boots; traction aids and/or snowshoes (winter); etc. Use life preservers for canoeing and kayaking. Separation breaks should be approximately 200 feet Werner Hengst, a former Mohican member, died on th from water sources to avoid contamination. February 7 from complications of diabetes. Werner was an avid hiker and sailor and was active with the The DEC provides a list of safety rules for the outdoor Wednesday hikers group. enthusiast. Kathie Laug and In general, we try to break up the types of hikes into Jane Restani categories, especially for people who are new to the joined an AMC adventure. Each person has their own opinion; but in February cross- general, these are some of the hike categories. If a 5- country skiing trip mile flat trail is done in an hour, then that is not easy, to Yosemite because of the speed. National Park. Snow the Easy Hikes: (2-3 hours, 3-5 miles) rolling hills in previous week between flat surfaces, and no rock scrambling. provided Examples—Rockefeller Park, Edith Read Sanctuary, excellent skiing in Rye Marshlands, Croton Aqueduct, Mianus River, the Badger Pass Cranberry Lake, etc. area above the valley, but great Easy-to-Moderate Hikes: (3-5 hours, 5-7 miles) weather inspired moderate hills in between flat surfaces, a minor hiking from the scramble, and some obstacles (tree roots; rocks; valley to the wooded trails). Examples—Mountain Lakes Camp, iconic waterfalls-- Fahnestock, Westmoreland Sanctuary, Butler Vernal, Nevada Sanctuary, Pound Ridge, etc. and Yosemite. We recommend a winter trip to Yosemite to avoid the summer crowding in the valley Moderate-Plus hikes: (4 or more hours, more than 5 and on the trails. Also, winter provides an opportunity miles) hills in between flat surfaces, and obstacles (tree to see the natural fireball at Horseshoe Falls. Check it roots; rocks; wooded trails; scrambles; steeper hills). out on line. Submitted by Jane Restani Examples: Locally-Minnewaska (carriage roads), Bear Mountain, Harriman Park, Pound Ridge, etc. 2 JUNE – AUGUST 2016 Jeanne Thomson and Jane Restani joined the 70+ We wish Doris and Bill Bosworth the best of health Ski Club for a and happiness in their new home. They moved from delightful North Salem, NY to Heritage Village in Southbury, CT, outing to and we hope they will keep in touch with all their Quebec City friends in the Mohican Chapter. and environs. They skied at three different resorts and visited the Ice Hotel for a tour and drink. Beautiful but January 2016 not too many of the group are making reservations for Kevin McGahren, Andrew Rohr a night on the ice. Perhaps the 60+ group will find it Rejoined Member: appealing. The spring skiing conditions were excellent, Marilyn Maracic i.e. not too springy. The grand and historic Hotel Frontenac on the St Lawrence River provided a terrific February 2016 base camp. Be prepared to ski hard to work off the Stephen Sagner and Jennifer Tower fabulous French cuisine. Submitted by Jane Restani March 2016 Kathie Laug was pictured in the March-April issue of Cathleen Becker, Lester Brickman, Liz & Bill D’Imperio, Adirondac magazine on Page 25. The article centered John & Lisa Griffin, Matthew Meister and Leba Wise on 91 year old Ruth Kuhfahl who had been an active member of the Niagara chapter before she moved to This column is dedicated to you, our Keene Valley. Kathie had been a member of the members, whose lives, events, and Niagara Chapter when she lived in Buffalo. Ruth’s achievements on and off the trail are friends put together a plan for Ruth to hike to JBL with to be recognized and shared. friends from that Chapter and the date was set for August 2015 and Kathie was eager to help celebrate If there is a special event, vacation with her friend. After a pre-hike dinner and early or achievement in your life you would like to share, birthday celebration on Saturday night for Ruth, who please send in your news to Annette Grau at was turning 92 in October, 18 hikes assembled in [email protected]. Keene Valley on Sunday for the hike to JBL. Ruth carried her own pack. On Monday, Ruth toured some of her favorite remembered places near JBL. That night the group picture was taken in front of the JBL fireplace and Kathie is “front and center”. Tuesday the group Saturday, March 26 hiked back to the Garden. This article is an inspiration Fahnestock Loop to all of us and if you haven’t seen the article, go back and look at it. Submitted by Carol Harting This is the end of March and the day was cool with sun and clouds appearing alternately throughout the day.