Trout Lilies and Trout Season - Wild Edibles in the Catskills

Spring has certainly sprung in the Catskills.  The return of robins are always a sure sign. Mother Nature can fool us with her wily ways, taunting us with 60 degree temperatures for a week followed by a two week cold snap with nights falling back to mummy-wrapped down comforter degrees. We may fall trap to spring's strip tease, but not so with the season's ephemeral perennial pop-ups - trout lilies and ramps.
Depending on elevation, these decadent beauties that natives take as official "spring-sign" begin emerging anywhere from the first week of April through the first week of May. This year, there was very little snow to be found in the western Catskills and sub-zero temperatures - the theme of Old Man Winter circa 2014 - were experienced less than a hand-full of times. 

Ramps, or wild leeks, emerged during the first week of April, heralding the arrival of spring in the Catskills.

Pickable wild edibles had emerged by April 10.
The seasonal patchwork pattern of trout lilies and ramps, or wild leeks, across shaded forest floors positively confirm both the arrival and the countdown of the fleeting season.

Trout lily leaf

Interestingly enough, the opening of trout fishing season coincides with the arrival of trout lilies, something our ancestors who fished and foraged, were well aware of.


 

New friend Barry Fetterolf harvested a lovely rainbow trout the first week of April on the Beaver Kill.

Before the days of processed, preserved and packaged foods purchased from the shelves of the local grocery market, we picked and fished for whole, natural foods for nourishment.

Some of us still do.

Sustainable harvesting is key to preserving wild edibles for future generations. Harvest only the leaves, above ground, and leave one-third of a patch to propagate next year's crop.
Ramps have become hip in local eateries that cater to weekenders and out-of-towners. Those, whose families have lived here for generations, have been picking, pickling and stewing this spring ephemeral for generations. 
One of the tastiest ways to consume ramps is to turn them into garlicky "chips." Fill a gallon-sized plastic zip-top bag with freshly picked ramps; add several capfuls of extra-virgin olive oil;  massage the greens until completely covered with oil and spread onto a baking sheet in a single layer; sprinkle with coarse sea salt and bake at 250 degrees for 25 minutes OR preheat the oven to 500 degrees then turn it off - leave the ramps in the oven until you remember to take them out. 
If that seems like to much work - eat them raw - in any type of salad - or in place of any recipe that calls for onion, garlic or chives.
Consume trout lilies sparingly, raw, in salads; and don't forget the dandelion greens!

Always positively identify a plant before consuming it.

* Lillian Browne works as a newspaper and travel magazine editor to fund her adventure habit - which she indulges every chance she gets. She is exploring the world around her, one step at a time, with her dog - Charlie. Follow her on Instagram or on Twitter @browneinwalton

 

Something's Fishy in Roscoe (and Livingston Manor) - Legends and Lore

The mini-hamlets of Roscoe and Livingston Manor that comprise the town of Rockland in Sullivan County are long-standing rivals; though residents are hard-pressed these days to say why. The rivalry likely started with a high school sports competition of yesteryear, before the days of shared sports teams.
Competitiveness seems to be ingrained not just in the residents, but in the landscape and the waters that flow throughout the town. The most notable waters are the famed Beaver Kill and it's partner the Willowemoc Creek.

Both streams flow through "The Manor" as it it known locally - before meandering into Roscoe and converging at Junction Pool.

There, Roscoe-residents capitalize on a whopper of a fish tale that involves a two-headed trout called "Beamoc." 

The Beamoc tale  involves a migrating trout that has grown two heads caused by the indecision of which stream to swim - the Willowemoc Creek or the Beaver Kill, once it happens upon Junction Pool. The indecision, the legend goes on to say, is due to strange and mystifying currents and eddies at the pool. There the two streams rival for the attention of the fish. The creature eternally swims in the pool, but has never been caught, nor to anyone's knowledge - seen. 


 

An angler wades beneath the Chiloway Bridge, in the Cooks Falls - Horton area - on April 10.

The waters are touted as magical and can certainly cast a spell on an angler. But other visitors have also been known to dip a toe, or hand, into the magical waters - just to see what happens.

But that is just one legend, there is a legend further upstream, in a tributary to the Willowemoc, in The Manor, of the "Love Rock." The Love Rock sits slightly downstream of a bridge that spans Covered Bridge Road,  just outside of the business district.

Every school-aged child that walked that road to and from school, knew the trick of getting the person they had their heart set on as a romantic partner to fall in love with them; say the name of the true love and throw a stone onto Love Rock. If it hits the heart-shaped rock, the object of one's affection will soon be enamored with the stone-thrower.

I rediscovered this gem of a legend last year and gave it a go. It worked! However, the staying power seemed to wear off. I gave it another whirl, this time with a larger stone, to see if it "sticks" longer. On my third attempt, my stone hit its mark. I'll keep you posted on the outcome.

Back in Roscoe, a third tale continues to bring in tourists and legend seekers by the droves. That is the legend of Agloe, a fictional town, that actually was a town and became the basis for the popular teen novel "Paper Towns," authored by John Green.  

The remains of this town-that-wasn't-that-actually-was sits alongside state Route 206, just west of Beaverkill Road, near Hodge's Pond. The site is cleverly marked with a sign and promoted without shame by the local Chamber of Commerce.
There is much more to the Catkills than just hiking or fishing.

* Lillian Browne works as a newspaper and travel magazine editor to fund her adventure habit - which she indulges every chance she gets. She is exploring the world around her, one step at a time, with her dog - Charlie. Follow her on Instagram or on Twitter @browneinwalton

 

Muddy Ruins - Bear Spring Mountain Trail No. 8

Bear Spring Mountain, a state forest preserve located in the towns of Colchester and Walton in Delaware County, is a showcase of fantastic views, opportunities for up-close encounters with wildlife, an abundance of water features, a variety of flora, fauna and wild edibles to be enjoyed.

Trail 8, located near the bottom of the park, off West Trout Brook Road (accessed from state Route 206), begins at Middle Pond. It is the sloppiest and wettest trail in the system, partially due to a recent timber harvest and because it is the catch basin for run-off from the eastern peak. State maintenance crews also just installed three new drainage culverts along the first half-mile of trail, which will keep soup-footing until summer.

A pair of waterproof boots with hearty tread - NOT sneakers - are highly recommended on this trail. 

The trail begins with a man made waterfall - an excellent place to cool off in the summer since it is heavily shaded with a never-ending spray.  

If you are lucky, you might spot a rainbow! (lower right hand corner)

Explorers have pulled out old farm house implements buried in the mountainside but exposed by the weather and time - and tucked them into and atop the stone walls. There are pieces of old silverware,  pottery, colored glass, nails, etc. 

The multi-use trail is a direct connection to Spruce Grove, where trailered horses are permitted to be stabled. Don't be surprised to find horse-prints in the mud or an occasional horse and rider on the trail.  The 2.3 mile trail is rated as easy, outfitted with several meadows and ponds, tons of apple trees, and hardwood forest throughout the mostly shaded trail. 

Trail side, late spring through mid-summer, there are a plethora of wild edibles - such as bergamont, wild strawberries, yellow dock, watercress, knotweed and acorns, present. In the autumn months look for berries and apples.

There are also several ghosts of farms past along the trail in the form of partially exposed stone foundations. These are worth stopping for.

Early spring is the perfect time to access this trail as mother nature has yet to don her leaves and greenery after awaking from a winter's rest, and landscape visibility is prime. 

In much the same fashion as people constructed roads alongside rivers and other waterways, the length of the trail hugs the mountain stream. There are places where the stream manspreads into a thirsty field with last season's knee-high grass disguising mired footing.  

Though wet, muddy and sticky this trail has its attributes. There are numerous foot bridges, wild flowers, water features and ruins to be explored and enjoyed at any time of the year. Hike on!

* Lillian Browne works as a newspaper and travel magazine editor to fund her adventure habit - which she indulges every chance she gets. She is exploring the world around her, one step at a time, with her dog - Charlie. Follow her on Instagram or on Twitter @browneinwalton