MyValley0720

Volunteers and staff members of the New York-
New Jersey Trail Conference were asked to recom-
mend their favorite hikes in the Mid-Hudson and Cats-
kill Mountains region. Here are10 of their top choices.
More details about each of these hikes including direc-
tions can be found on the Trail Conference website,
www.nynjtc.org, under the Go Hiking tab — Find a Hike.
Appalachian Trail in Dutchess County: Yes, we have a stretch of
possibly the most famous trail in the world right here in Dutchess
County: the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. A particularly nice
section can be hiked starting on Route 22 in Pawling; Metro-North
offers a weekend stop here for hikers. An impressive boardwalk
built by volunteers extends from near the train platform, over the
GreatSwampandisworthavisitallbyitself.Youcancontinueonthe
Appalachian Trail up a modest wooded hill, through farmland, past
the Dover Oak — an impressively big tree — steeply up (but not for
long) West Mountain to the viewpoint at Cat Rocks, then onward to
loop around scenic Nuclear Lake. This entire hike is just over 12
miles, but do just parts of it as suit you and your family.
Left: Hikers
on Mossy
Glen Bridge.
PHOTOS
COURTESY OF
N.Y.-N.J. TRAIL
CONFERENCE
HIKING HEAVENAbove:
Hikers on
Breakneck
Ridge.
COURTESY
PHOTO
N.Y.-N.J. Trail Conference shares
top 10 choices for outdoor nirvana
By Georgette Weir
See HIKING, Page 2G
SUNDAY, July 20, 2014 • www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/myvalley DUGAN RADWIN, Section Editor • 845-437-4841 • dradwin@poughkeepsiejournal.com 1G
MyValley
OUTDOOR ADVICE
STAY SAFE ON TRAIL
Even experienced hikers make mistakes, 4G
Business: Railroad rules could change, 6G
COMING NEXT WEEK IN MY VALLEY
Visit www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/myvalley next week for the latest environmental news and this story: Tuesday: Earth Wise looks at the great Pacific Garbage Patch. On Saturday, Jour-
nal staffers will lead a hike at Mohonk Preserve along with Mohonk Preserve hike leaders.
Until a few weeks ago, all I really
knew about Lake Tahoe and the Sierra
Nevada mountain range was what I had
seen in the opening scenes of “The
Godfather II.”
But after attending a journalism
conference in San Francisco, I man-
aged to steal away for a couple of days
to the Sacramento area, and then take a
day trip to Tahoe and the Angora Lakes
Resort.
If you’ve ever visited the Sierra
Nevada mountain range, you’ll prob-
ably agree — words fail to describe the
scenic beauty.
So I won’t even try.
But the trip reinforced something I
once heard the organizers behind Walk-
way Over The Hudson say to me when
the bridge was nothing but a vision.
That is, once you walk out onto the
bridge, you get it.
Once you visit the Sierra Nevadas,
you get it.
And once you visit any of the in-
credible natural wonders right here in
the Hudson Valley, you get it.
That’s why the Poughkeepsie Jour-
nal is joining with the Mohonk Preserve
to host a free hike Saturday to Bonticou
Crag and back. (The hike is filled, but
don’t worry, we’ll plan more.)
The Hudson Valley is the birthplace
of the modern environmental move-
ment.
And one of the legacies of that ongo-
ing effort are organizations such as the
Mohonk Preserve that not only protect
precious open space, but also make it
accessible to you and me.
We can thank land trusts like Mo-
honk, Scenic Hudson, the Open Space
Institute, the Dutchess Land Conser-
Gain a true feel for our natural treasures
JOHN
FERRO
OUT THERE
See FERRO, Page 2G
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2G SUNDAY, July 20, 2014 poughkeepsiejournal.com
Weekly Weather
July 10 - 16, 2014
Temperature
(F)
High
7/12/2014
87.8°
Low
7/11/2014
55.6°
Average 71.4°
Precipitation
(in)
Weekly 2.46
Year-to-Date 27.74
Average
Year-to-Date
23.20
Historical
Temperature
(F)
Record High
7/16/1995
103°
Record Low
7/11/1898
40°
Average 72°
Ozone
(ppb)
High
7/12/2014
84
UV
(mW/m2)
High
7/14/2014
263
CO2
(ppm)
Average 450
Precipitation
pH
Volume-Weighted Mean 4.81
For current weather data, visit:
caryinstitute.org/emp
Data provided by:
Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
(Historical temperature from Poughkeepsie. Ozone data from NYDEC.)
www.caryinstitute.org
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www.nynjtc.org/hike/
appalachian-trail-
dutchess-county-ny
Breakneck Ridge
Loop, Hudson Highlands
State Park, Dutchess and
Putnam counties: This
short but steep and stren-
uous hike is said to be the
most popular trail hike in
the country. Great views
up and down the Hudson
Valley and a dedicated
Metro-North train stop
(weekends only) are two
reasons. Though we call it
a hike, be prepared for
rockscrambling.You’llbe
exposedtothesunonyour
way up, so be sure to use
sunscreen and carry wa-
ter. Make sure you are
wearing appropriate
shoes or boots. No flip-
flops. And carry a map to
navigate the network of
trails. Don’t be among
those who need rescue be-
cause they are lost or in-
jured. Despite these cau-
tions, it’s a great chal-
lenge very close to home.
You can enjoy if you are
properly prepared.
breakneck-ridge-trail
Mount Beacon Fire
Tower, Hudson High-
lands State Park: Anoth-
er hike that will give you a
satisfying cardio workout
and great views starts at
Scenic Hudson’s Mount
Beacon Park in the City of
Beacon on Route 9D. A
relatively short but steep
climb will take you to a
wonderful overlook fes-
tooned with the ruins of
theinclinerailwayandca-
sino that once attracted
tourists to the site. From
there, continue more
gradually upward to the
fire tower, restored and
reopened in 2013 by the
Mt. Beacon Fire Tower
Restoration Committee.
Hike up and back, or, for a
longer hike, continue on
theScofieldRidgeinHud-
son Highlands State Park.
east-hudson-highlands-
beacon-ny
WappingerGreenway
Trail: A great hike that of-
fers views without the
need to climb a mountain
starts at the Metro-North
train station in New Ham-
burg. Do a loop that
passes through a historic
cemetery, parallels the
Wappinger Creek, tra-
verses a scenic section of
Bowdoin Park, and passes
several panoramic view-
points over the Hudson
River before returning to
the train station. www.ny
njtc.org/hike/wappinger-
greenway-trail
Stissing Mountain to
Fire Tower: In the very
northern reaches of
Dutchess, the Stissing
Mountain Fire Tower of-
fers great views over a
beautiful pastoral patch-
work landscape. The
trails up the mountain
from Lake Road in Pine
Plains are not blazed, but
are easily followed. Hike
Stissing seasonally to en-
joy the changing colors in
the landscape below. Con-
sider adding a walk
around the Nature Con-
servancy Preserve
ThompsonPond.It’satthe
foot of Stissing Mountain.
stissing-mountain
Wonder Lake State
Park, Putnam County:
Just over Dutchess Coun-
ty’s southern border is a
recently developed, beau-
tiful, rugged and rustic
park with a shallow lake
and pond and nearly nine
miles of trails built by
Trail Conference volun-
teers. Choose your hike
circuit. It’s a nice destina-
tion on a hot day, as the
park is almost entirely
wooded, offering cool
shade throughout the
hike. Historic and pictur-
esque stone walls abound,
as do a variety of ferns
and birds. www.ny
njtc.org/hike/wonder-
lake-laurel-pond-loop
-hike
Mossy Glen to Castle
PointLoop,Minnewaska
StateParkPreserve:Min-
newaska can be a very
busy place. This hike
starts from the (usually)
less busy lower parking
lot. The first mile and a
half or so is a relatively
easy walk to and along the
beautiful Peters Kill, first
on carriage road, then on
the Mossy Glen Trail. Vol-
unteers have made im-
provements to this trail
following damage caused
by Hurricane Irene, but it
is always a lovely walk.
This trail connects to the
Blueberry Run Trail, a
moderately difficult trail
that can be followed two-
plus miles to the Castle
Point lookout over the
Hudson Valley and south-
ern Shawangunk Ridge.
Follow carriage roads
back to the lower parking
area,passingLakeMinne-
waska on your way.
mossy-glenblueberry-
runcastle-point-carriage
way-loop
Slide Mountain, Cats-
kill Park: Standing 4,180
feet tall, Slide Mountain is
the highest peak in the
Catskills. A 6.8-mile loop
hike rock-hops across the
WestBranchoftheNever-
sink River, briefly follows
an old woods road, then
climbs to the summit and
offers several outstand-
ing viewpoints. Along the
way, you will pass trails to
other Catskill peaks, des-
tinations for other hikes.
slide-mountain-highest-
peak-catskills-loop
Shaupeneak Ridge
Recreation Area: Eight
miles north of the Mid-
Hudson Bridge is the
Shaupeneak Ridge. A nice
5.6-mile hike starts at the
bottom of the ridge,
passes an attractive wa-
terfall, climbs to a pan-
oramic viewpoint over
the Hudson River, and
loops around picturesque
Louisa Pond. Kids love it.
shaupeneak-ridge-
cooperative-recreation-
area
Black Creek Preserve:
This small but charming
Scenic Hudson preserve
just off Route 9W in West
Park provides rare public
access to the Hudson Riv-
er. An easy to moderate
2.5-mile loop hike crosses
the Black Creek on a 120-
foot wooden suspension
bridge, winds among ver-
nal pools, and descends to
the shore of the Hudson
River, giving panoramic
views across the river.
black-creek-preserve
Georgette Weir is com-
munications manager for
the New York-New Jer-
sey Trail Conference.
Hiking
Continued from Page 1G
A hiker on the boardwalk on the Appalachian Trail in Pawling. PHOTO COURTESY OF N.Y.-N.J. TRAIL CONFERENCE
A scene from Black Creek Preserve. PHOTO COURTESY OF N.Y.-N.J. TRAIL CONFERENCE
The Mount Beacon Fire
Tower. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE
N.Y.-N.J. TRAIL CONFERENCE
vancy, the Wallkill Valley
Land Trust and the Har-
lem Valley Rail Trail, just
to name a few.
And we can thank
local, county and state
governments which have
supported the land
trusts’ efforts.
But until you walk (or
run, bike, climb or go
horseback riding) in
these places, you can
never really appreciate
the incredible scenic and
ecological largesse that
is sure to benefit future
generations.
You may be financial-
ly invested, through tax
dollars or other contribu-
tions.
But it says here, you
can’t be spiritually in-
vested until you stand in
a place of wonder such as
Bonticou Crag or the
Great Swamp in Pawling
or Ferncliff Forest in
Rhinebeck — or any of
the dozens of well and
lesser-known spots in
Dutchess and Ulster
counties.
I happened to be driv-
ing to Rhinebeck the
other day and I decided
to pass through Staats-
burg.
While I’ve been to
Margaret Lewis Norrie
State Park and the Staats-
burgh State Historic Site
many times, I had never
come across the little
Hopeland trail loop.
The loop is accessed
by a small dirt parking
lot at the northern end of
Old Post Road, just be-
fore it intersects with
Route 9.
A quick search of the
Poughkeepsie Journal
archives reveals few
mentions of this short,
flat loop that appears to
be best known by local
bird-watching enthusi-
asts.
Far better known is
Bonticou Crag in the
Mohonk Preserve, acces-
sible by carriage road or
rock scramble.
The stark-white rock
formation soars nearly
1,200 feet above sea level,
offering sweeping views
of the surrounding land-
scape.
You could spend a
week exploring the Mo-
honk Preserve and the
surrounding Shawan-
gunk Ridge, and see only
a small portion of that
landscape’s scenic trea-
sures.
But you’d be glad you
tried.
“Out There” appears
every other week in My
Valley. Reach John Ferro
at 845-437-4816; jfer-
ro@poughkeepsiejour-
nal.com; Twitter: @Po-
JoEnviro
Ferro
Continued from Page 1G

Hiking. Eco-
logicalfootprint.
These two con-
cepts converge
nicely. In fact, I
would say that
strapping on hiking boots and
conquering a mountain is 100
times more eco-friendly than
conquering a mountain in a
car, even if it does have that
“my other car is a pair of hik-
ing boots” bumper sticker on
it. But how to make our hikes
even greener?
Tread lightly: Leave No
Trace is a concept that began
post WWII and really picked
up in the 1960s and ’70s when
hiking and camping equip-
ment improved and enthusi-
asm boomed. The basic idea is
leaving the places you visit as
you found them — that means
no sign of your fires, food,
feet, or feces should be found
when you leave. It’s a basic
sign of respect to the land, the
wildlife, and the people who
will visit after you. To be good
at it, plan where you’ll park,
hike and camp and choose du-
rable paths and tent sites. Fol-
lowing Leave No Trace princi-
ples is a good way to “hike
green.”
Make friends: One Leave
No Trace principle is “respect
wildlife.”Well,itturnsoutthat
giving respect gains you re-
spect, at least in the animal
kingdom. This applies to
things such as food and trash
left on the trail, but also to our
face-to-face encounters with
animals. First, be careful with
human food and wild animals.
A pigeon might be harmless,
but a bear can be dangerous,
even if you’re offering honey.
Try to avoid unintentionally
feeding predators and try to
limit your intentional feeding
to bird seed. Second, respect
their comfort zone. Besides
causing them stress, which
can be life-threatening for a
wildanimal,staringatorchas-
ing after wild animals is just
not going to win you any
friends. Isn’t a part of hiking
seeing the animals? If you
stare or run them down, they
go away. Try to make them
comfortable and keep them
around for a while.
Walk like a fox: Even if we
do want to see them, why do
we tend to see animals run-
ning away (at least in the
woods)? Basically, they hear
us before we see them. That’s
true of most of the cool crit-
terswe’dliketosee.But,ifyou
keep the animals calm, you
can keep them in sight. Have
you ever found yourself talk-
inginaroomfullofpeopleand
suddenly realized you’re the
only one talking and you’re
talking so loud? Check your
volume in the forest, too.
While it’s nice to get a good
pace and a good conversation
going with a friend, it’s not a
good way to see animals. If
you stop mid-sentence, you
might find yourself creating a
“tunnel of silence” all around
you. Try walking quietly for10
minutes once in a while, wher-
ever you are. You might hear
the creatures all around you,
and what you hear you might
also get to see.
Interesting: it all comes
down to respect. Respect for
the animals, respect for the
people and don’t forget re-
spect for yourself: wear ap-
propriate clothes, drinks lots
of water and know what you
need to get out safely (and
lightly) — we’re all counting
on you.
Tom O’Dowd is executive
administrator for the Envi-
ronmental and Urban Studies
Department at Bard College.
Hiking
with
footprints
in mind
By Tom O’Dowd
ON THE WEB
» Leave No Trace: https://
lnt.org/learn/7-principles
» http://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Leave_No_Trace
» Wilderness Awareness
School: http://wildernessa-
wareness.org
SUNDAY, July 20, 2014 poughkeepsiejournal.com 3G
There are a lot
of places to go
hiking in the Hud-
son Valley. One of
my favorites is
Bonticou Crag.
Located within the Mohonk
Preserve, the crag is accessed
fromSpringFarm,whichisjust
off Mountain Rest Road, a few
miles west of the entrance to
the Mohonk Mountain House.
There are two basic ways to
gettothetop.Thefirstisashort
but very steep trail that re-
quires hands and feet to climb.
This is not recommended for
anyonewhodoesnothaveexpe-
rience with rock scrambling. If
that doesn’t sound like your
idea of fun, you can go around
the back of the crag and ap-
proach on a much easier, but
longer trail.
Whichever trail you take,
you will arrive at the top of a
large open area, interspersed
with pine trees. The views from
the top are expansive and in-
clude the Hudson Valley to the
east, the Shawangunks to the
south and the Catskill Moun-
tains to the west. The lightly
colored slabs of rock at the top
are quartzite and called “White
Shawangunk Conglomerate.”
This is a great place for a picnic
lunch or dinner. If you bring
kids,makesureyoukeepaneye
onthemastherearesteepcliffs
and fissures in the rocks.
Tom Rankin is an avid hiker
and President of the Catskill
3500 Club. He can be contact-
ed through the Catskill 3500
Club Web page: www.catskill-
3500-club.org/about/
officers.htm. Disclaimer: Hik-
ing involves risks. Anyone
reading this column who goes
hiking in the places described
does so at their own risk. Nei-
ther I nor the club are respon-
sible for any problems that you
may encounter while hiking.
Valley Explorer is a regular
feature in My Valley.
Mohonk Preserve. Their web
page has a good description of
the trails that can be taken to
get to the top of the crag.
If you are not a member of
the preserve, there is a day-use
fee that must be paid at the
parking lot. If you join the pre-
serve, you can hike anywhere
on their land for free. The park
allowsdogs,butitwouldbebest
to take the long way around for
their safety.
To find out more about the
preserve, visit http://
www.mohonkpreserve.org
While you are walking back,
make sure to hit the “Million
Dollar View,” an open meadow
filled with wild flowers that
looks west to the Catskills.
My wife and I like to hike up
to Bonticou Crag in the eve-
ning, watch the sunset and then
hike back as it gets dark. If you
do this, make sure you have a
map of the area and bring a
flashlight or headlamp. The
hike back is not very long, but
it’sbesttobepreparedincaseit
takes longer than you expect.
The N.Y.-N.J. Trail Confer-
ence has excellent maps of the
The view from the top of Bonticou Crag. PHOTO COURTESY OF LAURIE RANKIN
Bonticou Crag a favorite hike
By Tom Rankin
Another shot of the view from Bonticou Crag at Mohonk Preserve. PHOTO COURTESY OF LAURIE RANKIN
Some of Mo-
honk Preserve’s
most treasured
resources are its
35 miles of histor-
ic carriage roads. For more
than a century, these carriage
roads have provided millions of
visitors with a direct connec-
tion to the preserve’s vistas and
lands.
Originally built in the late
19th and early 20th centuries,
the carriage roads were creat-
ed to transport people and
goodstotheShawangunkRidge
resorts, including the Mohonk
Mountain House and Minne-
waska Mountain House.
The carriage roads were de-
signed for both utilitarian and
picturesque purposes, afford-
ing sweeping views of both
mountain ranges and the val-
leys below. Many of these same
views can be enjoyed today on a
visit to Mohonk Preserve.
Hiking, trail running, cy-
cling, horseback riding, cross-
country skiing and snowshoe-
ing are all great ways to experi-
ence the carriage roads. They
also provide easy access for
rock climbers, with many
climbs located adjacent to car-
riage roads.
The carriage road network
extends throughout the pre-
serve. Following are three pop-
ular routes:
Undercliff and Overcliff
Carriage Roads: Follow this
scenic loop trail skirting the
base of the rock climbing cliffs
for spectacular views of climb-
ers and the valley below. Ac-
cess from the West Trapps
Trailhead.
Cedar Drive and Bonticou
Carriage Roads: This four-mile
route crosses over Glen Anna
gorge and winds through a ma-
ple forest. Access from the
Spring Farm Trailhead.
Bonticou and Spring Farm
Carriage Roads: Travel
through both fields and forests
on this 1 3/4-mile route, which
also links to the Bonticou Crag
Ascent Path. Access from the
Spring Farm Trailhead.
Several excellent guide
books and trail maps are avail-
able for purchase at the Pre-
serve’s Visitor Center on Route
44/55 in Gardiner. Preserve
trail maps are also available at
all trailheads, and preserve
trailhead assistants and rang-
ers can provide additional as-
sistance.Formoreinformation,
visit mohonkpreserve.org.
MohonkPreserveiscommit-
ted to critical restoration work
and ongoing maintenance to en-
sure that its carriage roads and
other trails continue to provide
pathways to nature for future
generations.
Gretchen Reed is director of
marketing and communica-
tions for Mohonk Preserve in
Gardiner.
Mohonk carriageways offer pathways to nature
By Gretchen
Reed
A horse and rider cross the New Cedar Drive Bridge at Mohonk
Preserve. PHOTO COURTESY OF RENEE ZERNITSKY
Bonticou Carriage Road at Mohonk Preserve. PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL
NEIL O’DONNELL

4G SUNDAY, July 20, 2014 poughkeepsiejournal.com
Whether you are going
for a day hike or back-
packing overnight, it is
good practice to carry
what we call The 10 Hik-
ing Essentials. These es-
sentials will help you en-
joy your outing more and
will provide basic safety
gear if needed.
These days, many peo-
ple consider a cell phone
to be essential equipment.
If you do, too, make sure
you input the emergency
numbers for the area
you’regoingtoandrealize
that in many hiking loca-
tions, especially moun-
tainous ones, your phone
may not get service. Also,
be mindful of your bat-
tery, especially if you are
using location features;
these tend to use power
quickly.
Before heading out,
check the weather fore-
cast and know the rules
and regulations of the
area.TheBoyScoutmotto
“Be Prepared” is timeless
good advice.
The 10 Hiking Essen-
tials:
Water: Two quarts per
person is recommended
in every season. Keep in
mind that fluid loss is
heightened in winter as
well as summer. Don’t put
yourself in the position of
having to end your hike
early because you have
run out of water.
Map: Know where you
are and where you are go-
ing. Many hiking areas in
the Hudson Valley region
feature interconnecting
networks of trails. Use a
waterproof/tear-resistant
Tyvek Trail Conference
map if available or en-
close your paper map in a
Ziploc plastic bag. If you
have a mobile device, you
may be able to download a
map of the area you plan
to visit. A backup Tyvek
or paper version of the
map is good to have just in
case your batteries die or
you don’t have service.
Get tips on map-reading
basics at www.nynjtc.org/
content/how-read-map.
Compass: A simple
compass is all you need to
orient you and your map
to magnetic north.
Food: Snacks/lunch
will keep you going as you
burn energy walking or
climbing. Nuts, seeds and
chocolate are favorites on
the trail. These are espe-
cially important when
hiking with children.
Keep them motivated.
Rain gear and extra
clothing: Rain happens.
So does cold. Be prepared
for changing weather.
Avoid cotton — it traps
water against your skin
and is slow to dry. If you
are wearing wet cotton
and must return to your
starting point, you risk
getting chills that may
lead to a dangerous hypo-
thermia. Choose synthet-
ic shirts, sweaters and/or
vests and dress in layers
for easy on and off.
Light: A flashlight or
small, lightweight head-
lamp will be welcome
gear if you find yourself
still on the trail when
darkness falls. Check the
batteries before you start
out and have extras in
your pack.
First-aid kit: Keep it
simple, compact and
weatherproof. Know how
to use the basic compo-
nents.
Firestarter and
matches: In an emergen-
cy, you may need to keep
yourself or someone else
warmuntilhelparrives.A
firestarter (this could be
as simple as leftover
birthday candles that are
kept inside a waterproof
container) and matches
(again, make sure to keep
them in a waterproof con-
tainer) could save a life.
Knife or multi-tool
and duct tape: You may
need to cut a piece of
moleskin to put over a
blister, repair a piece of
broken equipment, or
solve some other unex-
pected problem.
Common sense: Pay
attention to your environ-
ment,yourenergyandthe
conditionofyourcompan-
ions. Has the weather
turned rainy? Is daylight
fading? Did you drink all
your water? Did your
companion fail to bring
raingear?Areyougetting
tired? Keep in mind that
until you turn around you
are (typically) only half-
way to completing your
hike —you must still get
back to where you started
from. (Exceptions are
loop hikes.)
10 hiking essentials recommended by the N.Y.-N.J. Trail Conference
By N.Y-N.J. Trail
Conference
When planning a hike,
visit www.dec.ny.gov/
outdoor/28708.html for
essential information on
all-season hiking safety.
Every pack should have
extra food and water,
headlamp or flashlight,
matches/fire starters —
try dryer lint, first-aid kit,
whistle, pocket knife, sun-
block, hat, rain/wind jack-
et and pants; map and
compass — GPS is helpful
but not sufficient — and
warm clothing. Avoid cot-
ton, which does not dry
and clings coldly to the
body; synthetics dry fast
and wool remains warm
even when wet. Wear
good boots. The Catskill
region, especially, has
slippery sedimentary and
loose rock, which can re-
sult in injuries and even
deadly falls.
Learn about equip-
ment, the terrain and
trails you’ll hike, and al-
ways check local weather
forecasts. One warm, sun-
ny Memorial Day, three
thinly clad men climbed
the Burroughs Range.
Snowandsleetwereblow-
ing in tremendous wind at
3,800 feet, and on Slide
Mountain, the thermom-
eter registered 20 de-
grees with eight inches of
snow. This hiker became
the Catskill 3500 Club
Winter Weekend chair-
man. He learned all too
well that mountain condi-
tions can be radically dif-
ferent than those in the
valley — and constantly
changing in any season.
We happened upon a
helpless hiker on Mount
Marcy one recent August;
her foot had suddenly
wedged in rock, and she’d
suffered a detached liga-
ment. Keep eyes on the
trail ahead, just as we
keep eyes on the road
while driving. Neither she
nor her partner had warm
clothes or a flashlight. Af-
ter providing ours, we
called a ranger emergen-
cy contact number, 518-
408-5850, and Adiron-
dacks at 518-891-0235. She
was helicoptered out.
Don’t count on cell ser-
vice.
Common mistakes in-
clude not bringing a flash-
light or headlamp and ex-
tra batteries, on every
hike. Each person needs
one. At dusk on the Seager
Trail, a hiker took the
wrong way at a junction.
The dirt road petered out,
and it was very dark — no
moonlight with no flash-
light. He tumbled down a
ledge, landing on his face.
Realizing he must stop, he
piled leaves together for
bedding, but with soaked
feet from several stream
crossings and plummet-
ing October temperature,
he spent a long, shivering
night. Hot weather can be
as deadly as cold weather
— symptoms of heat ex-
haustion include profuse
sweating, nausea, head-
ache, lightheadedness
and muscle cramps. Stop
activity and rehydrate.
Bring plenty of water and
know where springs are
— though they’re not al-
ways reliable. Filter wa-
ter or treat it with iodine
pills. Eat regularly — as
one experienced hiker
says, on the trail is not the
time to diet.
Take a map and com-
pass course. There are
two common reasons for
hikers to get off course:
By subtracting instead of
adding13 degrees for dec-
lination,givinganerrorof
26 degrees, and by not re-
ferring to the map and
compass continuously.
Four of the best hikers in
the 3500 Club found Fri-
day Mountain summit
twice, because they had
U-turned on the ridge —
someone set a fine com-
pass course and then put
the compass in his pocket.
Two men decided that the
only way to avoid spend-
ing the night in the woods
one chilly October day
was to drop east off Bal-
sam Cap peak; after de-
scending many minutes,
the skyline told them they
were headed in the oppo-
site direction, toward
Slide Mountain. An over-
cast day without sun to
help with orientation
makes it doubly unwise to
leave a summit without
taking a compass head-
ing.Also,anerrorof10de-
grees can cause one to
miss a target just two-
tenths of a mile away, as
one pair learned when
reaching the Neversink
River instead of Rocky
Mountain. It is not uncom-
mon to disbelieve your
compass. A solo hiker on
Southwest Hunter Moun-
tain was walking 180 de-
grees in the wrong direc-
tion.
Bring gear you might
need to spend an un-
planned night out. A hiker
left a group to return to
theparkinglot.Blowdown
made her think she was
off trail, and she con-
tinued bushwhacking —
downthewrongslope.She
spent two nights in the
Windham wilderness — a
day and a half in cold rain.
Such a wrong turn can be-
come life-threatening.
Hypothermia occurs
most often between 30 de-
grees and 50 degrees
when you are in wet,
windy conditions. She had
left her wool shirt and
poncho behind for the
first time in years.
Luckily, she had
matches and started a
fire. Keep calm, taking
time to get out of the
woods and proceeding
carefully to avoid injury.
She finally made it down
to Route 23. If you start as
a group, hike and end as a
group; pace the hike to the
slowest person. This can
be difficult, so appoint an
experienced hiker as a
“sweep.” A man devel-
oped back problems on a
hike last September; the
sweep waited for him,
lightened his pack and
helped him descend with-
out impacting the rest of
the hike.
Manypeopleenjoyhik-
ing alone, but do so only
after much experience.
Tell someone where
you’regoing,bywhattrail
(s) and your planned re-
turn time. Sign in at trail
registers for every hike.
Ifyoucan’tseetrailmark-
ers, retrace until you do.
On Peaked Mountain in
the Adirondacks, Peaked
Pond is visible below the
summit, but three hikers
lost the marked trail that
often changes direction.
By dusk, 10 miles away
with no warm clothes, no
food, no map and com-
pass, and no flashlight,
they luckily came to a
pond and campers told
them where they were.
Their next day’s plans
would have had them hik-
ingfordaysbeforehitting
the road — if they’d sur-
vived.
Experienced hikers
who built the Curtis-
Ormsbee Trail on Slide
Mountain died in an ice
storm hiking to a June 30
meeting on the summit of
Mount Washington, re-
counted in “Peak Experi-
ences: Danger, Death, and
Daring in the Mountains
of the Northeast.” They
should have turned back
after warnings from four
people.
Set a turnaround time
with a safety margin, in-
cluding the tiring factor.
“Catskill Peak Experienc-
es” and “Adirondack Peak
Experiences” also deal
with these themes and
many related tales of les-
sons learned in the wild.
Carol and David White
are authors of “Catskill
Day Hikes” and “Catskill
Trails,” both published by
the Adirondack Mountain
Club. David White is
author and Carol White is
editor of “Peak Experi-
ences: Danger, Death,
and Daring in the Moun-
tains of the Northeast,”
published by the Univer-
sity Press of New Eng-
land. Carol White is edi-
tor of “Catskill Peak
Experiences,” published
by Black Dome Press.
A hiker’s injury required a helicopter rescue from Mount Marcy summit, seen here. PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID WHITE
Tips for safe hiking, with trail stories
By Carol and David White
A woman returning to the trailhead alone became lost for
two days in the area of Windham High Peak from the
Escarpment Trail, seen here. PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID WHITE
A guide on what
to bring, more

SUNDAY, July 20, 2014 poughkeepsiejournal.com 5G
See private gardens in Co-
lumbia County — Columbia
County. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. July 20.
Explore two private gardens in
Canaan and New Lebanon, open
to the public for self-guided
tours to benefit the Garden
Conservancy. No reservations
required; event will be held rain
or shine. Visitors may begin the
tour at either of the following
locations: Rockland Farm, 180
Stony Kill Road, Canaan; or The
Tilden Japanese Garden, 576
Route 20, New Lebanon. Cost is
$5 per garden; children 12 and
under are free. For more in-
formation, visit www.opendays-
program.org
Evening paddle — Wappingers
Creek to Hudson River. 6 p.m.
July 22. A four- to six-mile
paddle at an easy pace with the
mid-Hudson chapter of the
Adirondack Mountain Club.
Explore the tidal Wappingers
Creek and perhaps a peek a the
Hudson River. Personal flotation
device required. Contact leader
Dave Webber at webberd1@ya-
hoo.com or 845-452-7238.
www.mohonkpreserve.org
Bob Babb memorial walk to
Beacon Hill — Minnewaska
State Park Preserve, Route 44/55,
New Paltz. 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
July 23. A moderate four-mile
hike for adults of all ages and
levels of ability. No reservations
required. Meet at the Minne-
waska State Park Preserve
Wildmere (upper) lot at 9:30
a.m. or the Mohonk Preserve
Visitor Center at 9:10 a.m. and
carpool. Parking is $8 per car. Be
prepared with appropriate gear
for the conditions and type of
hike. In case of inclement weath-
er, call hike coordinator June
Finer at 845-255-7247 between
7:30-8 a.m. www.mohonk-
preserve.org
Junior Naturalists: Pond
exploration and blueberries
— Minnewaska State Park
Preserve, Route 44/55, New
Paltz. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 23. A
program for 6-10-year-old
children with an adult. Join park
educators to learn about ani-
mals and insects that live in the
ponds and pick blueberries.
Includes a two-mile hike to visit
two remote ponds where chil-
dren will use nets to search for
animals. Parking is $8 per car.
Pre-registration is required; call
845-255-0752.
Seek birds at Roosevelt site
— Franklin D. Roosevelt Presi-
dential Library and Museum,
4079 Route 9, Hyde Park. 7:30
a.m. July 23. A Waterman Bird
Club outing. Meet at Visitor
Center parking lot, 4097 Albany
Post Road, Hyde Park. Call
Adrienne at 845-264-2015.
www.watermanbirdclub.org
Junior Naturalists: Trees and
papermaking — Minnewaska
State Park Preserve, Route 44/55,
New Paltz. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. July 24.
Program for 7-12-year-old chil-
dren with an adult. Children will
make recycled paper from
discarded, clean newspaper. As it
dries, they’ll walk the trails near
the Nature Center, learning how
to age a tree and making friends
with a tree by playing a fun
game in the woods. All regis-
trants should bring a sandwich-
sized bag of newspaper, ripped
into small pieces. This is a messy
activity, so participants should
wear clothing they don’t mind
getting soiled. Parking is $8 per
car. Pre-registration is required;
call 845-255-0752.
Seminar on planning for sea
level rise — SUNY Orange, 1
Washington Center, Newburgh.
6-8 p.m. July 24. Cornell Cooper-
ative Extension will hold a
seminar on “Planning for Sea
Level Rise — Resources for
Hudson River Communities,” as
part of the regional Hudson
Estuary Watershed Resiliency
Project. Presenters will be Jason
Winner, Conservation GIS Man-
ager at Scenic Hudson and Nava
Tabak, conservation scientist at
Scenic Hudson. This event is free
and open to the public, but
registration is recommended. A
question and answer and dis-
cussion period will follow.
Certificates for training credits
will be available at the end of
the seminar. To register for the
event, visit www.sealevel-
risemapper.eventbrite.com or
call 845-677-8223, Ext. 138.
Fishing the River — Norrie
Point Environmental Center, 256
Norrie Point Way, Staatsburg.
Noon-3 p.m. July 26. A monthly
fishing demonstration. Includes
free use of rods, reels, and bait.
Call 845-889-4745, Ext. 109.
www.dec.ny.gov/
lands/4915.html
Paddle Croton River and
Hudson River — Croton River
and Hudson River, near Ha-
verstraw. 9:45 a.m. July 26. A
paddle for experienced paddlers
with the mid-Hudson chapter of
the Adirondack Mountain Club
up the mouth of the Croton
River to an island to take a swim
in the crystal clear water coming
out of the reservoir. Then back
out and into a wetland before
entering the Hudson. From
there paddle around Croton
Point and back. Mileage to be
determined. Kayaks must be at
least 13.5 feet long and with
dual bulkheads. Wet exits and
experience paddling the Hudson
required. Bring lunch, water and
paddling gear. Personal flotation
devices and spray skirts required.
Meet at 9:45 a.m. at Croton-
Harmon railroad parking lot.
Look for kayaks on car roofs.
Contact leader Russ Faller at
845-297-5126 before 9:30 p.m. or
russoutdoors@yahoo.com.
www.midhudsonadk.org
Pond exploration for kids —
Minnewaska State Park Pre-
serve, Route 44/55, New Paltz.
10-11:30 a.m. July 26. A program
for children 6-9 with an adult. A
two-mile hike to explore the
ponds in Minnewaska’s former
golf course. Participants will use
nets to see what life can be
found in these ponds. Wa-
terproof boots for all partici-
pants are highly recommended.
Parking is $8 per car. Pre-regis-
tration is required; call 845-255-
0752.
Seek birds at James Baird
State Park — James Baird State
Park, 122 Freedom Road, Pleas-
ant Valley. 8 a.m. July 26. A
Waterman Bird Club outing.
Meet at restaurant parking lot
at Baird State Park off Taconic
State Parkway in Pleasant Valley.
Call Adrienne at 845-264-2015.
www.watermanbirdclub.org
Singles and Sociables Chodi-
kee Lake canoe/kayak —
Chodikee Lake, Highland. 10
a.m. to 2 p.m. July 26. A moder-
ate five-mile paddle for adults.
No reservations required. Meet
at Chodikee Lake Parking Lot.
New participants are strongly
encouraged to contact leader
Art Raphael at 845-255-5367
prior to the hike. This is a free
program. www.mohonkpreser-
ve.org
Volunteer recruitment open
house — Mohonk Preserve,
3197 Route 44/55, Gardiner. 11
a.m.-2 p.m. July 26. Visit the
Mohonk Preserve Visitor Center
to learn about the Preserve’s
many volunteer opportunities
including back country patrol,
bike patrol, education, phenol-
ogy, photography, trailkeeping
and more. Light refreshments
will be served. All ages welcome.
Children must always be accom-
panied by an adult. RSVP to
volunteers@mohonkpre-
serve.org or call 845-255-0919,
Ext. 1269. This is a free program.
Hike in Manhattan — New
York City. July 27. Take Metro
North to Marble Hill station,
walk approximately four miles
crossing the Harlem River
through Inwood Park, scene of
Revolutionary War History and
wonderful views of the Hudson.
Continue to George Washington
Bridge. Possible walk across the
Hudson over the bridge and
then return to travel back to
Poughkeepsie. Bring lunch,
water and cushioned walking
shoes. Prepare for the unknowns
of an urban walk. Contact
leader Sue Mackson at Suemack-
son@gmail.com or 845-471-9892.
www.midhudsonadk.org
Seek blueberries on Beacon
Hill — Minnewaska State Park
Preserve, Route 44/55, New
Paltz. 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. July
27. An moderate approximately
3.5-mile hike on the Beacon Hill
Carriage Road and Footpath.
The outing includes some hills
and narrow, cliff-edge sections
of trail. Parking is $8 per car.
Pre-registration is required; call
845-255-0752.
Singles and Sociables outing:
3 peaks in the Catskills —
Catskill Mountains. July 27. A
strenuous nine-mile hike for
adults. No reservations required.
New hikers are strongly encour-
aged to contact leader John
Kenney at 845-436-6046 prior to
the hike for information.
Bob Van Slyke of Staatsburg submitted this photo of a turtle that he found in his dog yard. Do you have a nature photo
to share? Send it to dradwin@poughkeepsiejournal.com READER-SUBMITTED PHOTO
OUTDOOR NOTES
The type
of hike you
decide to
take on any
particular
day depends a lot on your
mood and constitution.
Some mornings, you wake
upandfeellikesubjecting
yourself to a lengthy,
heart-pounding scramble.
On others, a gentle wood-
land walk fits the bill.
Trails in Scenic Hudson
parks not only cover this
entirephysicalgamut,but
allow trekkers to experi-
ence every aspect of the
region’s natural beauty —
all without traveling far
from home.
For a day of hard-core
activity, the 11 miles of
trails at Fishkill Ridge in
Beacon offer consider-
able aerobic challenges.
Fortunately, the workout
also provides ample re-
wards — an impressive
waterfall, spectacular
views of the Hudson
Highlands and even a
glimpse of Manhattan.
Not far away, at Mount
Beacon Park, you can
reach equally magnifi-
cent views after just a
mile of steep but decided-
ly less strenuous climb-
ing. A short trail from
Mount Beacon’s summit
leads to the restored fire
tower in Hudson High-
lands State Park. On a
clear day, you can gaze 75
miles into the distance.
Across the river in Or-
ange County, the Esty &
Hellie Stowell Trailhead
in Cornwall allows hikers
to ascend Storm King
Mountain beginning at its
base. This trail is more
difficult but decidedly
less crowded than the
route commencing at the
popular trailhead on
Route 9W. Wherever you
start, you should wind up
sitting on a ledge atop
Storm King’s summit,
practically perched over
the Hudson River. From
this windswept vantage
point, you understand
why Scenic Hudson
fought for 17 years to halt
a massive industrial pro-
ject from defacing this
mountain.
For hikes in the middle
range of physical activity
and ones that can be ac-
complished in a couple of
hours, I’d recommend
Franny Reese State Park
in Highland and Manitou
Point Preserve in Garri-
son. Both have distinct
character. Some of the
trails at Franny Reese
State Park — created by
Scenic Hudson and
named in memory of the
organization’s guiding
spirit — follow a historic,
tree-shaded carriage road
that parallels the Hudson.
An overlook provides a
great view of the Walk-
way Over the Hudson, to
which the park is connect-
ed via the Walkway Loop
Trail.
The four miles of trails
at Manitou Point connect
hikers with a wildlife-
filled marsh, a gurgling
brook and the Hudson
River. The route along the
river’s edge is particular-
ly dramatic, making its
way atop rock slabs that
slant into the water. Giant
ships seem but an arm’s
length away.
For those times when
you feel like taking more
than a walk but less than a
full-blown hike, Scenic
Hudson offers several op-
tions that also are perfect
for families eager to in-
troduce young children to
nature. Trails at Black
Creek Preserve in Esopus
cross an exciting suspen-
sion bridge before mak-
ing the only steep ascent
you’ll encounter.
Finally, Falling Waters
Preserve in Glasco packs
a lot of nature and history
into three miles of trails
— views of the Catskill
Mountains, encounters
with two picturesque wa-
terfalls, a mile-long saun-
ter along the riverfront
and a chance to explore
the remains of an ice-
house that once held up to
10,000 tons of ice.
Visit www.scenic
hudson.org/parks. Which-
ever park you choose, I
guarantee you’ll see
something special and re-
turn home refreshed
from a great day in the
outdoors.
Reed Sparling is a writer
for the environmental
organization Scenic Hud-
son, based in Pough-
keepsie.
Louisa Pond at Shaupeneak Ridge COURTESY OF N.Y.-N.J. TRAIL
CONFERENCE
Nature’s splendor awaits you
in the Scenic Hudson parks
By Reed
Sparling

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