Sap-Snow in the Catskills

March came in like a lamb but issued a mighty lion's roar mid-month when the western Catskills saw an average of 30-inches of heavy wet snow fall and brought traffic and commerce to a stand-still.

It  also provided snowmobilers and snowshoers one last opportunity for a weekend of snow-filled fun.
Sap-snow, is so named for the time frame during which it falls - maple syrup making season. Though there is no official start date and it changes every year. It's the time when the tree's sap is running freely with above-freezing temperatures during the day and colder temperatures at night.
When snow falls during that time frame, it doesn't stick around long.
Several days of above 40-degree temperatures followed the storm and the snow became heavier and stickier - making for excellent snowman creating.

The snowmobilers packed the snow to make hiking an enjoyable experience and offered friendly waves as they slowly passed by.
The most professional New York State forest rangers were also on hand to make certain that state-owned property was being used in a lawful and safe manner.

The snow, as expected, melted quickly, leaving toppled snowmen askew and

snowmobilers, cross-country skiers and snowshoers looking forward to the next big snow event.

*Between hikes, Lillian Browne writes about the environment, politics and business in Delaware County. She is a NYS licensed outdoor adventure guide exploring the world around her, one step at a time, with her dog - Charlie. Follow her on Instagram @catskills.unleashed on Twitter @browneinwalton or on Facebook/Catskills Unleashed. www.CatskillsUnleashed.com - #unleashyourpotential

Catskills Snowopolis - How Stella Caused a Standstill

"Beware the Ides of March" is not only a soothsayer's uttered death warning to Julius Caesar in William Shakespeare's famous play of the same name, it now marks an epic meteorological event that crippled the western Catskills on March 15, 2017.

Winter Storm Stella, predicted to dump feet of snow through mid-state New York and along the eastern seaboard, was the one time the weather forecasters were right on the money.  Though initially forecast to arrive on March 13, just weeks after 60 degree temperatures began to bud wild apple trees, Stella arrived in all her dangerous, white, wondrous glory on the 14th.

New York found itself in a state of emergency and travel bans quickly followed as the snow fell for the next two days, sometimes at the rate of two-inches per hour.

Small dogs, those meant for warming the lap or captaining a kayak, were reluctant to partake of nature's call - and did so grudgingly and quickly to avoid the expansive piles of snow. Big dogs, those meant for hiking, romping, exploring and guarding, found the snow tiring after a few minutes of dolphin-like diving.

Stella reminded Catskill residents of winters-gone-by - the kind experienced in the region in the time before global warming altered her name to "climate change." 

Old Man Winter could be heard on the edge of 40 mph wind gusts screeching "Remember me from '93?!" - reminiscing about the last big snow storm, also in March, that disabled the region.

Though roads, schools and businesses were closed, we winter sports enthusiasts, thrilled that the weatherman was correct - donned snow shoes and embraced the late-season sap-snow storm that brought the Catskills to a standstill. "Et tu' Stella?".

*Between hikes, Lillian Browne writes about the environment, politics and business in Delaware County. She is a NYS licensed outdoor adventure guide exploring the world around her, one step at a time, with her dog - Charlie. Follow her on Instagram @catskills.unleashed on Twitter @browneinwalton or on Facebook/Catskills Unleashed. www.CatskillsUnleashed.com - #unleash your potential

Reflections on Autumn in the Catskills

Warm autumn colors have long left the Catskills and have been replaced with a brown, crunchy, naked terrain that nearly demands a late morning or late afternoon hike.

Landmarks unseen throughout summer's lush landscape now include intricate stone walls which serpentine long-forgotten property lines and still water hideaways that mirror undressed timbers in a sapphire sky.
Shadow play is irresistible as Father Time now gives the east coast and early start and finish time turning an April evening into a November early-afternoon.
The few aboriginal apples to have matured and made their way to the ground, make a fetch-feast for a feisty Labrador Retretiever during an afternoon romp.

Rochester Hollow, step into the past

For those who like a bit of history with their hike, Rochester Hollow, in the Pine Hill Wild Forest in the town of Shandaken in Ulster County, fits the bill.
The 5.6 mile trail offers an elevation gain of just under 900-feet as it traverses a landscape dotted with stone walls as well as foundation remains and the remnants of toll-gates.

A longtime friend suggested a hike on the Delaware-Ulster county border, without a specific trail in mind. We settled on Rochester Hollow after passing its access - Matyas Road off state Route 28.
There is ample parking at the trail head which can easily hold 10 vehicles, for this easy-moderate hike that has little appeal for hardcore purists who like a challenge.

The trail is an old toll-road which parallels a mountain stream that held scant water during the first week of October.
The trail travels easily through heavily canopied hardwoods where stark white birch trees slice the evergreen backdrop of hemlocks and spruce.
Because the trail snuggles Rose Mountain, the birches are protected from the elements and displayed nearly no sign of autumn's touch in their green, toothed leaves; a contrast to the showy red Maple leaves and fluorescent yellow of fallen Oak leaves. The flashy fallen foliage is nestled between stinging nettle in carpet-like fashion along the first mile of trail.

The small mountain stream cascades continuously and is a conduit for nature to provide poison and
anecdote side-by-side - Jewel Weed can be found close by.
A trail highlight is a monument honoring the memory of famed Catskill naturalist, environmentalist and writer - Roxbury native John Burroughs.

" Their history is of heroic cast. Ravished and torn by the tanner in his thirst for bark, preyed upon by the lumberman, assaulted and beaten back by the settler, still their spirit has never been broken, their energies never paralyzed."- John Burroughs - from his essay 'In the Hemlocks.'
There are two spurs off the main trail - the yellow Burroughs Memorial Trail, accessed before the monument;

 and the red Eignor Trail which loops around fences, partially-buried and still-standing foundations, all made of stone.
Either, or both trails make for a spectacular fall walk in in the woods.

*Between hikes, Lillian Browne writes about the environment, politics and crime in Delaware County. She is exploring the world around her, one step at a time, with her dog - Charlie. Follow her on Instagram @lillian.browne, on Twitter @browneinwalton or on Facebook.

Reflecting on Bear Spring Mountain, Delaware County

The western Catskills are decked out in brilliant fall finery right now, which turns an average hike into a visual celebration.

Particularly stunning are views along ridges and from peaks, where a patchwork

of contrasting colors quilt the landscape, clamoring and competing to be seen. 

But sometimes, climbs to those places are impractical, if not impossible, because of physical conditioning or time constraints.

Bear Spring Mountain, a state managed wildlife preserve, is my go-to place when I am short on time since it is located only five-miles from my home.

Over the past two days, I've accessed the mountain via the intersection of trail #2 and #12 at Middle Pond, off West Trout Brook Road - known by longtime residents as Shinhopple Brook Road.

From there, a short but quasi-strenuous-from-quick-elevation-gain hike can be had by heading straight up trail #2.

One way that I have been able to enjoy autumn's offerings, without much exertion, is by sticking close to the three different bodies of water located within proximity of the trail head.

Middle Pond showcases its surrounds with reflection.
Because the pond drains over a man-made retaining wall, a waterfall can be found on it's southwestern side, just the other side a recently rehabbed wooden bridge.

At different times of the year, recreationists of a varying sort - anglers, hunters, equestrians and snowmobilers, use Middle Pond as a meeting point. Its a great place to stop and reflect.

Hunters and Hikers - enough room for both?

Small game hunting season is about to begin in Delaware County, New York and with early bear season already underway,  forested lands, public and private, are about to get very busy.

Hikers, who have been sporadically visiting the trails are finally gearing up for both leisurely and hardcore trekking now that the heat and humidity have left the air, taking all of those no-see-um and other pesky, biting bugs with them.
The two nature loving groups are about to converge. It can be a scary time for hikers, and hunters alike, with so many people in the woods, eager to harvest a trophy and some wild game.
New York forest rangers are also about to get busy making sure that everyone stays safe. They are also making certain that our public lands are protected.
Ranger Jason Seeley, assigned to Department of Environmental Conservation's Region 4, which includes Delaware County, reminds hunters and hikers alike that each has equal rights on public land during hunting season.

Sign in at all trail heads on public property. It will

help officials find you if you become lost or get hurt.

Some common sense ways to stay safe, he suggests, are to wear blaze orange when in the woods no matter which group you belong to.
If hiking - stick to the trail. If a hunter - positively identify your quarry before pulling the trigger or releasing an arrow.
Both groups of public land users should always sign in at trail heads which helps officials to determine how much public land is being used, which in turn dictates funding, and it also provides search and rescue teams a last known location, in the event you get lost or hurt while in the woods.
Seeley is stealthy. He knows the landscape of Bear Spring Mountain's 7,000 acres (where I bumped into him) like the back of his hand, and you will not see or hear him approach, unless he wants you to. So, if hunting, make certain you have your tags and your license on your person.
If you are traveling with your canine companion, they must be licensed.

Bird dogs and those on the scent of small game are permitted to be off-leash, but all dogs must be under control.

Ranger Seeley caught me with Charlie Browne

off-leash, however, when I demonstrated

the I had control, he opted not to write me

a violation ticket.

As an avid hiker, I take a short hiatus from hiking during the first two weeks big game season. Not only do I think it's fair to give hunters a wide berth - after all they only get a few weeks per year, I get the entire year - I'll be with the sportsmen and women in the woods curating photos and stories for writing assignments.

*Between hikes, Lillian Browne writes about the environment, politics and crime in Delaware County. She is exploring the world around her, one step at a time, with her dog - Charlie. Follow her on Instagram @lillian.browne, on Twitter @browneinwalton or on Facebook.

Mount Utsayantha - a tongue-twisting view

The only thing more fun than gazing from the fire tower atop Mount Utsayantha, is saying it's name. Pronounced ooh-sigh-on-tha, the mountain peaks at 3,214 feet. It gets its name from the legend of a Native American woman, who was said to have drowned herself after her father killed her newborn baby and the baby's father - a white settler. The woman's father, bereaved, retrieved her body and buried it, the legend goes, on the mountain. There is a memorial site, plaque and stones, located 3/4 of the way to the peak.

This gem is located in extreme northern Delaware County, just outside the small village of Stamford. Getting there is a cinch, as a resurfaced and well-maintained dirt road leads to the property which is maintained by the municipality. There are several communication towers positioned adjacent to the fire tower.

No matter the day, the climb to the viewing platform in the fire tower will provide access to spectacular views at a temperature that is several degrees lower than on the ground.

If you visit on a day like I did, you'll fight the wind to stay upright while climbing. My hat sailed away twice and I finally gave in and stuffed it into my backpack.

This outing took place the first weekend in September and was more of a sight-seeing trip than hiking. If desired, and up for a 700 foot gain challenge, one can hike the 1.5 miles from the pull-off at the bottom of Tower Road. The remains of a hand-gliding take-off ramp near the educational building are the makings of a neat photo opportunity.

Fun fact: There is thermal and ridge soaring here and the air-space is managed by UFO (Utsayantha Flying Org) a parasailing and hand-gliding organization.

*Between hikes, Lillian Browne writes about the environment, politics and crime in Delaware County. She is exploring the world around her, one step at a time, with her dog - Charlie. Follow her on Instagram @lillian.browne, on Twitter @browneinwalton or on Facebook.