AMERICA’S FIRST WILDERNESS
BE ALERT IT’S HUNTING SEASON
INVASIVE GARDENING AS ECOLOGICAL POLLUTION DOT’S APPLE CAKE HOW A WATER BOTTLE CAN AID IN CONSERVATION
CATSKILLCENTER 1969 -2019
ISSUE 3 2019
CONTENTS 3
AT THE ERPF GALLERY
4
CONTRIBUTORS
7
INVASIVE GARDENING
11
SOCIETY PAGE
12
BUSINESS SPONSORS
14
OLD APPLE COLORING PAGE
17
SNAPSHOT
18
HOW A WATER BOTTLE CAN AID IN CONSERVATION
22
BE ALERT! IT’S HUNTING SEASON
24
UPPER ESOPUS FIRE TOWER
26
DOT’S APPLE CAKE
30
ENDNOTE
Cover Photo: Heather Phelps-Lipton
ERPF GALLERY 43355 Route 28 Arkville, NY Mon-Fri 9:30am - 4:30pm
Selected photos and outakes from the 2019 Catskill Center publication,
NATURAL RESOURCES: 50 STEWARDS OF THE CATSKILLS
AT THE
ERPF GALLERY CATSKILL CENTER
3
CONTRIBUTORS 2019 ISSUE 3
JEFF SENTERMAN Jeff is a Catskill native and when he’s not steering the ship that is the Catskill Center, can often be found atop a local peak. Jeff contributed his regular column, "Endnote", and is the Executive Director of the Catskill Center.
HEATHER PHELPS-LIPTON Heather edits and contributes to the magazine. She’s also the Catskill Center’s Director of Communications and planted this year’s garlic bed by the light of a hurricane lamp.
KELLI HUGGINS Kelli is an educator, historian, and native Catskillite. She experimented with and contemporized an old family recipe — Dot’s Apple Cake. Kelli is a Visitor Experience Coordinator at the Catskills Visitor Center.
WILL LYTLE aka Thorneater Comics Will is a Catskills native comic artist and illustrator. Deeply influenced by the natural environment of the Catskills, Will tries to capture the form of magic they inspire.
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2019 ISSUE 3
OLIVIA BERNARD Olivia’s been in the Catskills for much of her life and can often be found hiking or nerding out about Leave No Trace principles. She has a deep background in outdoor education and conservation and is a Visitor Experience Coordinator at the Catskills Visitor Center.
MICHEAL TESSLER Michael Tessler contracted with the Catskill Center for 20182019 to use eDNA to survey for early detection of invasive species in the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership (CRISP) region.
J ESS J . K ÄTH E Jess has toiled in a multitude of greenhouses, earned a degree in Environmental Geography from SUNY New Paltz, and just finished a season with CRISP on the Invasive Strike Force. Deeply interested in human impacts via invasive species introduction, she is devoted to the Catskill Region.
DAN SNIDER Dan is a hiker, a paddler, and a board game aficionado. He’s also the Field Projects Manager of the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership.
ABOUT US: Since 1969, the Catskill Center has protected and
43355 State Highway 28
fostered the environmental, cultural and economic well-being of
Arkville, NY 12406
the Catskill region. Our mission is to ensure a bright future for the Catskills by preserving our environment, expanding our economy and celebrating our culture.
845.586.2611
Become a member at: catskillcenter.org/membership
cccd@catskillcenter.org
CATSKILL CENTER
5
JAPANESE BARBERRY
JESS J.KÄTH E
INVASIVE GARDENING
AS ECOLOGICAL POLLUTION AN EXPERT EXPLAINS WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO ‘KNOW BEFORE YOU GROW’ We had been walking the roads and trails, surveying campsites, and admiring scenery for five or six hours when we reached the day-use area at North Lake. Searching for terrestrial invasive species has become second nature as I’ve scoured landscapes with the Catskill Center’s Invasive Species Strike Team and seeing a native ecosystem flourish, even under the pressure of consistent seasonal tourism, made it a truly enjoyable day. The trail led to the asphalt, which led to a mowed picnic area peppered with birches surrounded by laurel. At the base of each birch we noticed a messy shrub adorned with hundreds of tiny crimson bead-like fruits. Upon closer examination, we affirmed a familiar target species, Japanese barberry, which had been planted intentionally between the picnic tables, and had begun to spread into the treeline among the laurels. Woefully, we unpacked our data collection instruments, wondering how many of the tiny brilliant red berries had CATSKILL CENTER
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been already distributed into the
out. This places the responsibility of
pristine forest.
prevention in the hands of gardeners, a community that is often removed from
An invasive species is one that is
the scientific aspect of what a garden
introduced to a region where it would
can be. Aestheticism is an enjoyable,
not normally grow. With no natural
and profitable aspect of gardening, but
competitors, it is able to overtake other
when invasive species are introduced
organisms in the ecosystem and it has a
to the garden setting, it teeters on
high tolerance for a range of conditions.
ecological pollution.
Barberry and other familiar non-native species are purposely introduced by the landscaping industry.. Although legislation has restricted the sale of some invasive species, cultivars of barberry (Berberis thunbergii) are still available for purchase. Before I became involved in the study of invasive species, I worked in garden centers where these nonnatives were some of our bestsellers. Myrtle or pachysandra made a quaint groundcover, border privet and burning bush could be used as a fast-growing hedge for gardeners seeking privacy. It was not until I found myself swinging a brushcutter into a thicket of burning bush at a removal site that I began to see the harm in my recommendations. In plain terms, the big name garden centers don’t make the legislation or ethics of conservation a high priority. There will always be burning bush available to those who seek it 8
2019 ISSUE 3
AN INVASIVE SPECIES IS ONE THAT IS INTRODUCED TO A REGION WHERE IT WOULD NOT NORMALLY GROW, SO IT IS ABLE TO OVERTAKE OTHER ORGANISMS IN THE ECOSYSTEM WITH NO NATURAL COMPETITORS, AND A TOLERANCE FOR A RANGE OF CONDITIONS. Plant Wise NY is a publication designed by the Cornell Cooperative Extension and NYS PRISMs to inform gardeners of this issue, using the slogan "Know Before You Grow." 1 Plant Wise includes recommendations for look-alike native substitutes
for
common
invasive
landscape plants, such as swapping big
bluestem
(Andropogon gerardii)
for Chinese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis),
virgin’s
bower
(Clematis
BURNING BUSH
virginiana) for sweet autumn clematis
you can see a vast sea of phragmites"
(Clematis terniflora),
highbush
or "On your left, observe a woodland
blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum),
or
area completely engulfed in oriental
for burning bush (Euonymus alatus).
bittersweet."
A visually similar blueprint can be
when wreaths were traditionally made
carried out with these native species,
from bittersweet, no one suspected such
effectively averting the ecological
a biological backlash; it was merely a
harm that results in $35 billion
pleasant embellishment around the
damage and treatment expenses per
home. But once you catch a glimpse of
year in the U.S.
the skeletal leafless forests beneath the
1
During the Victorian era
lush blankets of invasive vines that line When I encounter someone who
the roads, you might think twice about
expresses doubt on the invasives
purchasing a plant with an alias like
issue, I challenge them to glance
"ground-cover." They’re cover, indeed;
at the roadsides the next time they
invasives have been shown to spread
find themselves a passenger on the
over one million acres of wildlife habitat
thruway. I often give satirical "invasive
per year.
tours" while driving: "And on your right CATSKILL CENTER
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Gardening is a terrific way to spend
From one plant lover to another, I hope
time outdoors, but the responsibility
the choice to Know Before You Grow
of manipulating a green space is
resonates thoroughly with all those
not one to take lightly. It is more
who encounter the initiative, so that
than likely that the non-native
the Catskill Region herself can continue
landscape installations I’ve been
to show us how she gardens, birches,
involved with in the past will outlive
laurels, and all.
me significantly, and will spread
- JJK
into the forest that I revere so greatly as a resident of the Catskill region.
1
PLANT WISE: KNOW BEFORE YOU GROW IS A GARDENER’S TIP SHEET PUBLISHED BY
THE NYSDEC TO HELP NEW YORKERS RECOGNIZE AND AVOID GARDENING WITH PLANTS THAT CAN BECOME INVASIVE. READ + DOWNLOAD PLANT WISE AT BITLY.PLANTWISE
Wifi. Guidance. Garb. Maps. Snacks. Restrooms. Events. Books. Hikes. Treasures. Firetower. 5096 Route 28 Mount Tremper, NY 12457 845-688-3369 catskillsvisitorcenter.org 10
2019 ISSUE 3
PHOTOS BY: HEATHER PHELPS-LIPTON
The evening of September 21st in the Catskills was by all accounts marvelous — one of those lit by a light so crisp it seems almost supernatural.
At the Union Grove Distillery, we gathered and
celebrated 50 years of Catskill Center. See more at bit.ly/2019FallGala CATSKILL CENTER
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BUSINESS SPONSORS HELP MAKE US POSSIBLE
SCHWARTZBERG & KENYON, PLLC
12  
2019 ISSUE 3
CRISP COORDINATOR, JOHN THOMPSON AND CATSKILL CENTER STEWARDS RESTORE A RIPARIAN BUFFER AT THORN PRESERVE
YOUR LEGACY
THE FUTURE OF THE CATSKILLS Planned Giving. Secure the health of the Catskills for generations. catskillcenter.org/plannedgiving
A WILL LYTL E C O L O R I N G P A G E
Notice
a
chipmunk
among
the
undergrowth, and a chickadee and a titmouse in the branches of the tree. The flowering natives below are goldenrod,
white
lowries aster.
14  
2019 ISSUE 3
snakeroot,
and
Your tax-deductible donation supports healthy ecosystems and vibrant communities throughout the Catskill region.
CATSKILLCENTER 1969 -2019
Become a Member Individual ($35) Dual / Family ($50) Senior/Student ($25) BENEFITS INCLUDE SUBSCRIPTION to the Catskill Center’s quarterly Catskills magazine with news from the Catskill Center and across the Catskill Region. 10% DISCOUNT on purchases at the Maurice D. Hinchey Catskills Visitor Center, all Catskill Center facilities and Campmor in Paramus, NJ with presentation of member card. MEMBER ONLY INVITATIONS to the Annual Gathering, lectures and special events. MEMBER PROGRAM SERIES ACCESS TO THE CATSKILL CENTER ARCHIVES at the Erpf Center in Arkville. Please contact the Catskill Center to schedule an appointment. MEMBER PACKAGE Members receive a membership package in the mail, including a member card and Catskill Center cling sticker.
Catskillcenter.org/membership Or complete this form and mail to: CATSKILL CENTER P.O. BOX 504 ARKVILLE, NY 12406 NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE
MEMBERSHIP LEVEL $35 — Individual $50 — Dual / Family $25 — Senior/Student $100 — Partnering member $250 — Benefactor $500 — Leadership Circle $1000 — President’s Circle
AMOUNT CARD # EXPIRATION SECURITY #
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2019 ISSUE 3
ZIP
PHONE
Member Snapshot LEIGH MELANDER, PHD PARTNER, SPILLIAN "When I was considering moving to the Catskills from California fifteen years ago, I came across the Catskill Center’s website. Finding an organization that saw conservation and development as interwoven ideas rather than in direct competition (since the 1970s - years before most people were thinking this way!) was one of the reasons I knew we could thrive here. CCCD is unique, both in its reach as the one truly regional Catskills organization, and in its continued sense of vision about how we can make these mountains sing. And I will always be grateful for CCCD’s willingness to take on Catskill Trout Tales, which Spillian birthed as an experiment in grassroots regional tourism in 2018, and breathe life into it as an ongoing, Catskills-wide invitation for people to come and explore the area not just as tourists, but as stewards. "”
CATSKILL CENTER
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MICHAEL TESSL E R
HOW A WATER BOTTLE CAN AID CONSERVATION FINDING AQUATIC ANIMALS IS HARD. IN A SINGLE POND, IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO SPOT ANYTHING WRIGGLING, HOPPING, OR SWIMMING
D IN Animals are great at hiding. Plants too can be surprisingly difficult to find in any given pond. Even if a plant is obvious, once you have spotted it you might have to take a canoe to find it in another part of the pond or go for a swim if it is living deep in the water. With enough experience, we can become experts on certain organisms and learn to efficiently find likely habitat for a particular frog or flower. Anglers use this prolonged learning to better catch fish. Scientists use it to survey for particular organisms. For instance, if trying to keep an endangered species alive, it is important to know how many individuals are in the remaining populations. Additionally, if trying to deal with invasive species, it is typically easiest to put effort into early detection to prevent rapid spread. CATSKILL CENTER
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Unfortunately, populations
more are
species
decreasing,
(think pollen grains), defecate (all
or
animals make regular deposits), or
are even becoming endangered,
simply lose cells (we are constantly
while evermore invasive species
shedding skin).
are becoming problematic. It has accordingly become paramount to
Using
come up with faster ways to survey
techniques,
for
plants,
this
of
molecular
environmental
other
DNA, or eDNA, can be used to survey for many organisms all in
enough scientists or naturalists
one sequencing run. For studying
to effectively survey broad areas
aquatic life, researchers typically
for dozens, if not hundreds, of
collect a water bottle, filter it,
species. Therefore, scientists have
extract DNA from the filter, and then
been putting a lot of effort into
sequence the DNA to determine
applying new technologies towards
what organisms are present in or
conservation efforts. These efforts
around their survey area. Instead of
may involve using drones to scout
surveying for a few plants or animals
longer distances at faster speeds
at a time, DNA can be assessed for
or, as I will discuss here, using DNA
numerous species all at once.
there
and
variety
aren’t
organisms;
animals,
a
simply
found in the environment. Typically we think about DNA coming from tissue samples, maybe from a blood sample taken at a doctor’s office, or found at a crime scene. However, as DNA sequencing has increased in power, it has become easier to sequence DNA directly from the environment. The DNA can come from living cells of microscopic organisms, like bacteria living in a soil sample or tiny algae in a water column. It can also come from larger organisms when they reproduce
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2019 ISSUE 3
MORE SPECIES POPULATIONS ARE DECREASING, OR ARE EVEN BECOMING ENDANGERED, WHILE EVERMORE INVASIVE SPECIES ARE BECOMING PROBLEMATIC For the past two years, my colleague Seth Cunningham and I have been using this eDNA technique to survey numerous sites in New York State (particularly the Catskills), thanks
PHOTOS: DAN SNIDER
in large part to funding from the
extremely
complementary
Catskill Regional Invasive Species
traditional physical surveys, can
Partnership. The work has helped to
be done efficiently across broad
detect new sites for invasive species
areas, and undoubtedly will become
(specifically aquatic plants) that are
an
both well established and relatively
for people trying to learn about
new to this area. Equally exciting
the environment and protect the
is that our use of this method has
organisms in it.
increasingly
standard
with
tool
detected species of conservation concern, such as American eels in
-MT
the Hudson River. MICHAEL TESSLER CONTRACTED WITH Like any new technique, there are
THE CATSKILL CENTER FOR 2018-2019
unique sets of challenges. For
TO USE EDNA TO SURVEY FOR EARLY
instance, a plant or animal may have
DETECTION OF INVASIVE SPECIES IN THE
detectable DNA far downstream
CRISP REGION. CRISP (CATSKILL REGIONAL
from where it was actually living.
INVASIVE SPECIES PARTNERSHIP) IS A
Still, the method appears to be
PROGRAM OF THE CATSKILL CENTER. CATSKILL CENTER
21
JEFF SENT E R M A N
BE ALERT IT’S HUNTING SEASON + FALL WEATHER CHANGES CAN BE TRICKY JEFF SENT E R M A N
DOGS (AS WELL AS THEIR Deer hunting season is open in the Catskill Park now until early
BLAZE ORANGE WHEN THEY
December, starting with bow
ARE IN THE WOODS DURING
season (Oct - Nov 15) and moving
HUNTING SEASON AND
into rifle season (Nov 16 - Dec 8). There are also hunting seasons
SHOULD ALWAYS REMAIN
for turkeys, bears, bobcats, and
UNDER YOUR CONTROL TO
other small mammals.
AVOID BEING MISTAKEN
Hikers, walkers, and anyone GET A “CATSKILLS” KNITTED HAT IN BLAZE ORANGE (OR BLACK) AT BIT.LY/CATSKILLSKNITTEDHAT
HUMANS) SHOULD WEAR
FOR A HUNTER’S TARGET
planning on being in the woods, must be aware of the hunting regulations in the area where they are recreating. Be sure to always wear blaze orange during hunting seasons to reduce the risk of any incidents. Don’t forget to protect your pets, too! Dogs should also be wearing blaze orange when they are in the woods with you during hunting seasons and should always remain under your control to avoid being mistaken for a hunter’s target. Anyone who recreates in the woods during the fall hunting season should check the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/65231.html for further details on the various hunting seasons, their geographic areas, and
comprehensive information. In addition to preparing yourself for hunting season, November weather can be unpredictable as well. Always plan ahead and be prepared for the possibilities of weather, which can change dramatically between the Hudson Valley and Catskill summits, especially in the fall. A light rain at low elevations can often be freezing rain or snow at higher elevations. Wetness and dampness can quickly escalate to hypothermia as it becomes more difficult to stay warm. To enjoy your outdoor adventures in the Catskill Mountains - whatever the season check the weather in advance, and pack the proper gear and clothing! -JS CATSKILL CENTER
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Here at the Catskills Visitor Center (CVC),
The tower was rebuilt, galvanized to
we’re excited to have the newly restored
prevent rusting, given a fresh coat of
Upper Esopus Fire Tower open on our
silver paint, and the stairs were enclosed
trails. Discovered in Venice, Florida
with safety caging. A space in the wall of
by the New York State Department of
the tower where an air conditioner once
Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)
lived (Florida!) was patched up for its
and Davana Fire Tower Restoration,
new home in the much cooler Catskill
the fire tower was disassembled and
Mountains. On Thursday, October 3rd
shipped north (over 1,200 miles) to New
the ribbon was cut in proper celebratory
York.
fashion and the tower was opened for visitors. The
Upper
Esopus Fire
Tower
is a short, flat
walk
(less than a quarter of a mile)
from
the
main
CVC parking area. Throughout the Catskills, five historic fire
towers
still
stand
that
were
once used for monitoring
OLIVIA BERN A R D
forest
fires.
As
recently
as
1989,
seasonal
NYSDEC observers would hike up to
Schoharie Valley. It can be accessed by
those towers and stay for several days
car (or by hiking if you prefer) and is
in the backcountry.
well worth a visit.
Balsam Lake Fire Tower is in the
As we move into the winter and early
western Catskills; Hunter Fire Tower in
spring, the cabs at the very top of
the northern part of the Park; Overlook
each tower will be closed. With the
Fire Tower to the east; Mount Tremper
right gear, you can hike to the towers
Fire Tower in the Central Catskills; and
year-round and enjoy the views by
Red Hill Fire Tower in the southwest
climbing just below the top. From May
region. Depending on which one you
through October, the fire tower cabs
take, the hikes to these fire towers
are open and staffed by Catskill Center
range from just under three miles to
volunteers on weekends and holidays.
eight. Although these towers are no
These volunteers help maintain the
longer used for tracking fires, their
towers and provide interpretation of the
purpose today is to give hikers a greater
area.
perspective of the Catskill Park and perhaps spark a desire to protect our
The five original Catskill Park fire towers
unique environment.
were able to be restored and rebuilt with the efforts of organizations like
This year the original five towers are
Catskill Center and the NYSDEC. Please
part of a Five Fire Tower Challenge that
consider donating to the Catskill Fire
the state put together for Catskills
Tower Project to keep volunteer efforts
hikers. From now through the end of
running and funded! The volunteer
December, hikers can take their picture
application and more information
at the bottom of each tower and send
about the Catskill Fire Tower Project can
in those photos as proof that they
be found here: http://catskillcenter.org/
completed the five rigorous hikes for a
fire-tower-project, and we hope you’ll
set of commemorative pins.
visit the Upper Esopus Fire Tower at the Catskills Visitor Center, 5096 State
A sixth fire tower, Mt. Utsayantha, is
Route 28, Mt. Tremper, NY 12457.
located just outside Catskill Park’s boundary line. The tower stands above
- OB
the town of Stamford, NY and offers a terrific view of the Catskills and the CATSKILL CENTER
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Vintage Recipe
DOT’S APPLE CAKE DID YOU GO APPLE PICKING THIS FALL? DO YOU HAVE AN APPLE TREE ON YOUR PROPERTY THAT PROVIDED A GENEROUS BOUNTY THIS YEAR? IF SO, YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING WHAT YOU SHOULD DO WITH ALL OF YOUR EXTRA HARVEST. APPLE PIES ARE GREAT, BUT WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO WITH APPLES?
PHOTOS: HEATHER PHELPS-LIPTON
KELLI HUG G I N S Apple cake is my apple recipe of
Dot’s (original) Apple Cake
choice. My mom Sharon got this
2 cups chopped apples
apple cake recipe decades ago from
1 cup sugar
a woman named Dot, a neighbor
1 1/2 cups flour
in West Kill. Dot’s Apple Cake has
2/3 cup vegetable oil
everything you want from a cozy fall
1 egg
recipe: a dense, rich cake flavored
1/2 cup raisins
with cinnamon, vanilla, and a heap
1 tsp baking soda
of chopped apples. It’s the kind of
1 tsp cinnamon
cake that makes you want to spend
1 tsp salt
a lazy afternoon curled up with a
1 tsp vanilla extract
blanket, a cup of tea, a good book, and a slice (or two).
Mix apples, sugar, oil, egg, raisins, and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl and mix well. Add dry ingredients to the apple mixture and mix well. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes in an ungreased 8x8 inch pan. CATSKILL CENTER
27
As great as Dot’s original recipe is, my
Like my mom’s alterations, you can
family lightens it up most of the time
also tailor this recipe to your tastes.
when we make it now. My mom has
Personally, I don’t prefer raisins in this
modified the recipe with her handwritten
cake and leave them out when I make it.
substitutions and annotations on our
If you like walnuts in your cakes, those
copy of Dot’s recipe. The new version cuts
would be a good addition. To make it
some of the sugar and oil, but retains
vegan, use a flax egg replacer (1 tbsp
much of the richness of the original and
ground flax + 3 tbsp water) instead of the
is slightly less dense.
egg.
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2019 ISSUE 3
2 cups chopped apples 1/2 cup sugar 1 cup flour 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
Dot’s Apple Cake 2.0
1/3 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce 1 egg 1/2 cup raisins 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp salt 1 tsp vanilla extract Mix apples, sugar, oil, applesauce, egg, raisins, and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl and mix well. Add dry ingredients to the apple mixture and mix well. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes in an ungreased 8x8 inch pan. The longevity and variations of Dot’s cake speak to the joy of sharing recipes with the people in your life. In addition to wanting to preserve some of our local baking history, I also write these articles to share some of my favorite recipes with you. I’m always thrilled to hear when you’ve tried one of the recipes we’ve put in the magazine. -KH #dotsapplecake
Endnote There’s a takeaway my partner shared
We might not always agree on the
from his Appalachian Trail thru-hike
specific steps to get there, but there is
(a thru-hike is a long distance trail
great power in the community created
hiked end to end with continuous
as we support each other to achieve a
footsteps in one direction) that really
common goal.
sticks with me: every member of his group recognized that they were all in
Taking the time to really see each
the thru-hike together. Reaching the
other and recognize the value that we
end was an individual achievement,
each bring to the table – no matter
but the path to success was only
who we are or where we come from - is
possible with the generosity and care
key. It can be easy to allow perceived
of each hiker along the way.
differences to divide us and become groups of "us" and "them," but this is
Whether it was an extra granola bar
counterproductive to the good sought
when someone was hungry, a hand up
by most.
after a fall, or encouraging words after a tough day, thru-hikers function as a
Such disconnect became real for me
community based on a collective goal
while involved in recent conversations
and leave the individualities that are
around improvements that had been
so often traditionally divisive at the
made to a local trail to protect the
start of the trail.
surrounding natural resources and make the trail safer. While most
Granted, a 2,000 mile thru-hike is
involved in the exchange agreed that
quite different from the everyday in
Catskill trails need to be improved
the Catskills, but isn’t that the kind
and
of community that we should want
"improvement" can seem like too
to cultivate? Be it the protection of
much or too little to others. However,
our Catskill Mountains, the continued
some of the discussion I observed
viability of communities or any
wasn’t about working towards the
number of other efforts where we
greater good; instead, it became an
agree on the endpoint, there are many
opportunity for individuals to divide,
collective goals here in the Catskills.
insult, and otherwise dismiss the
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2019 ISSUE 3
maintained,
one
person’s
TAKING THE TIME TO REALLY SEE EACH OTHER AND RECOGNIZE THE VALUE THAT WE EACH BRING TO THE TABLE – NO MATTER WHO WE ARE OR WHERE WE COME FROM - IS KEY views of others.
We must recognize the ties that bind us and work to strengthen them for the betterment of our Catskills. I am committed to making a positive collective impact by
finding common threads that we all Who was right in that conversation
support as a group, no matter who we
is not what’s important. Rather
are as individuals.
than focusing on a collective goal of improved trails and protection of resources, a group of individuals who all love the Catskills and cherish
Jeff Senterman
hiking in our beautiful mountains were torn down by each other. The focus had narrowed on the divisions within our own community and we left a conversation about improving our natural environment worse off than when we began. The Catskill Center’s efforts to find common ground on many of our region’s issues is vital. We must celebrate our differences and harness the strength found in diversity.
The Catskills knitted hat (as seen on the cover and here on Jeff) is
JEFF SENTERMAN is the Executive
available in blaze orange or black
Director of the Catskill Center.
at the Catskills Visitor Center or at bit.ly/catskillsknittedhat CATSKILL CENTER
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2019 ISSUE 3
Delivered directly to Catskill Center members. Read it and pass it along!
A periodical celebrating New York State’s glorious Catskills.
PO Box 504 43355 State Highway 28 Arkville, NY 12406
The Catskill Center for Conservation & Development