December-February 2013 Check out our new 3-month schedule Newsletter of the Mohican Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club Serving Westchester, Putnam, and Fairfield Counties ...and Beyond Mark our Mohican meeting dates From the Chapter Chair on your calendar: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 – 7:30 p.m. ------------------------------- Our hearts go out to all the victims of Hurricane Wednesday, May 1, 2013 – 7:30 p.m. Sandy and Nor'easter Athena. We must all have a greater appreciation of our ancestors living in the darkness of night, reading by gas or candlelight, no refrigeration, exposed to the elements, etc. But that is all they knew. There were no cars, microwaves, hairdryers, immediate news, Twitter, Facebook, email, TV, internet, etc. Mother Nature took away what we are used to and some of us forgot how to play board games, read books, and curl up under six blankets when it's cold. She brought us back to some of the simpler things in life. This is when we realize that necessities are more important than stuff. As we get back to our lives don't forget the destruction on the shore Saturday, December 1, 2012 communities who lost everything. The Red Cross, Mohican Holiday Party food banks, and blood banks are in need of any For last minute attendees, call Carol Harting donation you may want to give. at 845-669-6731 I was in NYC during both storms and arrived there Saturday, December 9, 2012 15 minutes before they were closing down Grand WTA Holiday Party Central on Sunday prior to the hurricane. The (See details in the hike schedule) eeriness of an empty food court, empty halls, and -------------------------------------------------------------------- the echo of evacuation was an unusual sight. The subway station that I use ended up with seven feet of water by Monday night. But I luckily went to upper Manhattan with lights and came back when the trains were running again. In late September, Mohicans Steve Klepner, Kathie Laug, Jane Restani, Jeanne Thomson and We send the power of strength to our utility workers Margaret Freifeld participated in an ADK trip to who are dealing with a lot of stress with the Yellowstone National Park. Prior to the group trip, overwhelming mess from the two storms. they spent three days on their own in Bozeman, MT hiking in the surrounding mountains and exploring To all you hikers out there you may encounter the town. Beautiful, unseasonably warm weather many damaged trees in the woods. There will greeted them throughout their 10-day stay. probably be much need of trail maintenance. Enjoy all your hikes and be careful where you step. For the Yellowstone portion of the trip, the group of 11 occupied a large self-service cabin just outside the Park near Gardiner, MT. There, every morning Jean DoleDolennnn they were picked up by their guide and driver for excursions into the Park. They alternated hiking days with visiting the major sights in the Park: 1 December-February 2013 Mammoth Hot Springs with its transient population Reservations will be at the Berkshire Lakeside of rutting elk, Old Faithful, the magnificent Grand Lodge in Becket, MA (a 2-hour drive from Canyon of the Yellowstone with its impressive Westchester). We have secured the lodge (3 waterfalls, and Yellowstone Lake, where Jane, bedrooms and 2 baths), which sleeps 8, and motel Kathie and Margaret took a swim/dip. In addition, rooms for additional participants. With 14 people they stopped at other geothermal sites and saw lots signed up, cost would be $82.47/person/3 nights. of wildlife along the way. The six days spent in the Obviously with less people, the cost would be a bit Park gave them a glimpse of the history, the great more. The lodge has a full kitchen so one night we beauty, and the wildness of the park. With the very will do a potluck dinner. Linens are provided in the lucky break on weather and our terrific guide, this lodge. Canterbury Farms in Becket, MA is the was a wonderful and memorable trip! closest x-country ski center, which is about a 10-15 Submitted by Margaret Freifeld drive from the lodge/motel. There are 22 km of groomed and tracked ski trails surrounded by 2000 acres of private and state lands including a beautiful lake. Trail use fee is $15. Rentals (interchangeable for one price) and lessons are available. Snowshoe trails are maintained just for snowshoeing for those who want that experience. There is also October Mountain and Becket State July 2012-- Dedrick Damato, Gregory Roll and Forests where you can do some backcountry Katherine Whiting (and children-Nicholas Roll and skiing. If you are interested in attending or have Grant Roll) questions, please contact Pat Johnston as soon as August 2012-- Glenn Kauffman possible via email at [email protected] or September 2012-- Lucio and Theresa Di Dileo, call me at 845-294-3439. Julie Ferrara, Walter and Karen Greenwood, Claudia Milne, Douglas and Mary Ann Parent (and Advance Notice children Charlie and Celia Parent) Spring Hiking Week Shenandoah National Park Saturday, April 20-Saturday, April 27, 2013 Rejoined July: Tom and Melany Campanile (and children Grace, Everett, and Daniel Campanile) WTA will hold its 2013 Spring Hiking Week in August: Ben Lobalbo and Karen Manzi (and Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park. With over children-Sheila, Jimmy, and Tom Lobalbo), and 200,000 acres of protected lands and 500 miles of Emma Olic trails, we’ll have access to hikes of all lengths and degrees of difficulty, plus biking, fishing, horseback This column is dedicated riding, ranger programs, waterfalls and spectacular to you, our members, vistas. The surrounding area offers plenty of whose lives, events, and options as well, including a visit to the world famous achievements on and off Luray Caverns, several museums in Winchester, the trail, are to be and sightseeing along Skyline Drive. A full day can recognized and shared. be spent exploring the homes of Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe and James Madison in If there is a special event, Charlottesville and Orange, VA, and Washington vacation or achievement in DC is just 75 miles away. your life you would like to share, please send in your news to Jean Dolen at We’ll be staying at Skyland Resort located about 42 [email protected] . miles past the northern entrance to Skyline Drive. Accommodations are rustic--no phones, spotty WINTER X-COUNTRY SKI TRIP cellphone coverage and no WIFI. As their website Friday-Monday, February 15-18, 2013 says, “Skyland lets you leave the hi-tech world behind so you can immerse yourself in the We are planning another x-country ski trip tranquility of nature.” In other words--a true hiking to the Berkshires in MA and are definitely vacation. hoping for more snow this year. 2 December-February 2013 Rates for 2012 were $111 per room/day for a small under the Route 9 Bridge up the Croton River. cabin with 1 or 2 double beds (no TV) and $132 for Staying close to shore, we were able to see the a traditional motel-like room with a king or 2 queen buildings of Van Cortlandt Manor. Farther along, beds, a balcony and TV (Trip Advisor says the the banks rose high with homes on top, some with views from the second floor “traditional” rooms are many stairs descending to the water. In less than preferable). There are other more expensive an hour, we arrived at the gravel beach to see options as well. All rooms have private baths, clock whitewater tumbling down through rocks on either radios and coffee makers; and a small number of side of the beach. This was our lunch and swim mini-fridges are available on a first-come, first- spot. As the day was warm, several swam and served basis. Rates are subject to change for 2013, Jane gave lessons how to safely swim in the fast and taxes and NPS surcharges are extra so be water. Heading back, we saw a great blue heron sure to check about these amounts when you and several belted kingfishers. It was another reserve. AAA members and people over 55 receive enjoyable paddle outing. Submitted by Jane Smalley a 10% discount on all nights except Saturday. Skyland has a restaurant, as well as a bar, with Saturday, October 20 tavern fare and evening entertainment. In addition Teatown – Kitchawan Trail to daily hikes throughout the park, we plan to take advantage of our stay on site by scheduling short I led this hike in the spring and decided to put it on sunset hikes to western vistas. the schedule in October to take advantage of the fall colors. Fourteen hikers were not disappointed; it Skylands Resort is quite popular, and early was truly spectacular. After a short car shuttle, we reservations are strongly suggested (call 888-896- started in Kitchawan heading west to Teatown 3833 or visit http://www.visitshenandoah.com ). Use Reservation. With leaves at the height of autumn Group Code 2ED1Q8 when booking, since the colors, we hiked through the preserve into DEP resort is trying to keep our accommodations within land, along the parkway for a short time, followed the same general area. Stay as many days as you the New Croton Reservoir on a dirt road, ascended want. Eileen West will keep a list with arrival and to a hardwood forest, and up Bald Mountain to departure dates for those needing a roommate or distant views overlooking the reservoir and the who can offer a ride (the drive is 6-½ hours so Hudson River.