CATSKILLS CATSKILL FIRE TOWERS
THEN+NOW
FIRE TOWER FIVE-IN-A-DAY CHALLENGE CATSKILL MOUNTAIN HOUSE ROLLS BRAMLEY MOUNTAIN FIRE TOWER PROJECT
ISSUE 2 2020
CONTENTS 3
CATSKILLS VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR
4
CONTRIBUTORS
7
FIRE TOWERS: THEN AND NOW
10
FIND THE TOWERS
12
BRAMLEY MOUNTAIN FIRE TOWER PROJECT
15
A WILL LYTLE COLORING PAGE
18
THE VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS
21
CATSKILL MOUNTAIN HOUSE ROLLS
25
FIRE TOWER FIVE-IN-A-DAY CHALLENGE
29
BEESWAX WRAPS
30
ENDNOTE
Cover Photo: Heather Phelps-Lipton
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THE CATSKILLS VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR celebrates contemporary Catskills writing through exclusive author interviews and encourages people to support local writers and independent booksellers.
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CATSKILL CENTER
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CONTRIBUTORS 2020 FIRE TOWERS
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. For this issue, he tells his tale of hiking all five Catskill fire towers in one day. Jeff is the Executive Director of the Catskill Center.
HEATHER PHELPS-LIPTON Heather edits and contributes to the magazine. She’s the Catskill Center’s Director of Communications and for this issue, she photographed the Fire Tower Volunteer Coordinators and Patti Rudge’s method of making wraps with beeswax.
KELLI HUGGINS Kelli is an educator, historian, and native Catskillite. For this issue, she contemporizes an old recipe for Catskill Mountain House Rolls. Kelli is a Visitor Experience Coordinator at the Catskills Visitor Center. She also curated and produced the Catskills VIrtual Book Tour and helps edit the magazine .
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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2020 FIRE TOWERS
MICHAEL CONNOR Michael runs Open MIC, a non-profit media advocacy organization, and lives in Phoenicia. He is a member of the Catskill Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Board of Directors and penned for this issue "Fire Towers: Then and Now."
PATTI RUDGE Patti lives deliberately and with a bit of pluck and humor, embracing a lifestyle that lends itself towards sustainability. She is often exploring the familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s woodlot, tending her gardens or helping Bill get evermore firewood. For this issue, she shows us how to make reusable wraps with fabric and beeswax.
NOELLE MARTIN Noelle is a recent graduate with her MA in English. She works as an executive assistant at the Catskill Center and helps edit the magazine. For this issue, Noelle chats with Ann Roberti about the Bramley Mountain Fire Tower Project.
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
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5
6â&#x20AC;&#x192;
FIRE TOWERS
PHOTO: COURTESY OF LAURIE RANKIN
FIRE TOWERS THEN AND NOW BY MICHAEL CO N N O R
Laurie Rankin remembers when, as a young girl, she would occasionally be invited to join her father for a day at work at the Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower in Hardenburgh. "I loved it, I knew it was an important job,"” she says. “"It was very important that my father protect the local community by stopping a fire."” Laurie’s father, Larry Baker, was the last full-time fire observer at the Balsam Lake tower, working there from 1958-72. He spent long hours armed with binoculars searching for wisps of smoke in the forest. If he spotted something, he’d call or radio other fire observers in nearby towers who would use pieces of string on a tabletop map to triangulate the location of the smoke or fire. With "string, binoculars and people" they accomplished
what is now done largely through
industry and railroads were thriving
telephones
in the region. As a result, "sparks
and
GPS
satellite
technology, says Laurie.
from trains and train tracks often set fire to treetops and brush, "
While fire towers are no longer used
says Martin Podskoch, a writer
to detect fires in New York State,
and author of the book, Firetowers
the Balsam Lake Mountain Fire
of the Catskills: Their History and Lore.
Tower is very much alive. In fact, it’s
Campfires
one of several Catskills fire towers
hunters and other outdoor people
that are open and accessible to
presented additional threats.
and
cigarettes
from
the public. From May to October, volunteers
open
up
the
tower
At one time, there were more than
cabins for visitors to enjoy stunning
100 fire towers throughout New York
panoramic views of the region. The
State, with 23 towers in the Catskill
towers make for some of the best
Mountains. In the 1970s, however,
hiking destinations in the Catskills,
New York State began using planes
offering unparalleled 360-degree
to scan the forests for fires. As
views of the surrounding Catskill
Catskills communities grew more
Park and mountains.
populous and easily connected by telephones, the need for fire towers
THE TOWERS MAKE FOR SOME OF THE BEST HIKING DESTINATIONS IN THE CATSKILLS, OFFERING UNPARALLELED 360-DEGREE VIEWS OF THE SURROUNDING CATSKILL PARK AND MOUNTAINS
waned. But in many ways, the fire towers "explain the history of the Catskills and
how
they
protected
our
communities," says Podskoch, and in the 1990s local organizations and volunteers began efforts to preserve and reopen them. Today, the Catskill Center, through
‘A BEACON OF SAFETY’ Catskill fire towers date back to the early 1900s, when the logging 8
2020 FIRE TOWERS
the Catskill Fire Tower Project, manages five fire towers within the Catskill Park. There’s another
1909 WOODEN FIRE TOWER ON HUNTER MOUNTAIN
tower just beyond the boundaries
"A fire tower was a beacon of safety,
of the park, and a tower that’s been
and it’s important that we protect
recently opened at the Catskills
that history," says Laurie Rankin,
Visitor Center in Mount Tremper.
who
In addition to offering a window on
interest in fire towers and is now
history, organizers say these tower
New York State director of the
destinations
opportunities
Forest Fire Lookout Association, a
to engage hikers in discussions of
volunteer position. "On a clear day
hiking safety and best practices
at Balsam Lake, we have 100 mile
for forest conversation, including
views - 60 miles south, 40 miles
Leave No Trace principles.
north. It’s really incredible."
offer
has
pursued
her
father’s
-MC
AT THIS TIME, THE 6 FIRE TOWERS OF THE CATSKILL PARK (OVERLOOK, HUNTER, TREMPER, BALSAM LAKE, RED HILL AND UPPER ESOPUS) ARE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF COVID-19. WATCH CATSKILLCENTER.ORG/FIRE-TOWER-PROJECT FOR THE LATEST UPDATES. CATSKILL CENTER
9
IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN VISITING A FIRE TOWER IN THE CATSKILLS, THERE ARE SEVEN SITES THAT OFFER HEALTHY HIKES AND CLIMBS PLUS SCENIC VIEWS. Five of these towers were originally constructed for fire control and prevention in the Catskill Park.
BALSAM LAKE MOUNTAIN
OVERLOOK MOUNTAIN
IN HARDENBURGH ELEVATION 3,723 FEET
IN WOODSTOCK ELEVATION 3,140 FEET
The first fire tower on the top of a
The newest of the five remaining fire
mountain in New York State was
towers in the Catskill Park, having
placed at the summit of Balsam
been built in its present location in
Lake Mountain in 1887.
1950. The tower closed in 1988 and was reopened in 1999.
RED HILL HUNTER MOUNTAIN
IN DENNING ELEVATION 2,990 FEET This
60-foot
fire
tower
was
IN HUNTER ELEVATION 4.040 FEET
constructed in 1921, is listed on the
Originally built of logs about a third
National Historic Lookout Register
of a mile from where it now stands,
and has been nominated to the
the current, 60-foot steel tower was
National Register of Historic Places.
constructed in 1917. In 1953, it was relocated to its current location on
TREMPER MOUNTAIN
the summit of Hunter Mountain.
IN SHANDAKEN ELEVATION 2,740 FEET Believed to be the original structure that was built in 1917 and used for fire observation until 1971. It was reopened to the public in 2001.
10
2020 FIRE TOWERS
For more information, check out Catskillcenter.org/fire-tower-project
In addition to those towers, there are two others:
UPPER TOWER
ESOPUS
FIRE MT. UTSAYANTHA TOWER
FIRE
An 80-foot tower imported from
Located just outside New York
Florida
renovated,
Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s property boundary for the
opened in 2020 at the Catskills
and
recently
Catskill Park, is above the town
Visitor Center in Mount Tremper.
of Stamford, NY on top of Mount
This tower allows visitors who may
Utsayantha.
not otherwise be able to undertake the challenging hike of several miles to experience a fire tower on the high peaks in the Catskills. CATSKILL CENTER
11
NOELLE MART I N
THE BRAMLEY MOUNTAIN FIRE TOWER PROJECT A CONVERSATION WITH ANN ROBERTI How did the Friends of Bramley
I read that the Fire Tower was
Mountain Fire Tower get started?
decommissioned and taken down
AR: The Catskill Mountain Club
in the 1975. Why was that decided?
(CMC) built a hiking trail on Bramley
And what do you think has changed,
Mountain, which has become very
45 years later, that it’s being
popular. When the owner of the fire
reconstructed?
tower, Tom Clark, learned about the
AR:
hiking trail he reached out to us to
commission
say that he would like to see the
stopped being used to look for fires,
fire tower (that has been in his barn
because they found that airplanes
since his father, Pete Clark, bought
were traveling the region quite a
it in 1975) put back on Bramley
bit and they could do the job rather
Mountain. He thought because of
than having individuals stationed at
the hiking trail we might be able to
these different fire towers. When the
do it. So, he was the instigator of it
DEC decommissioned all of the fire
all.
towers, they no longer had anyone
Fire
towers by
went the
out
DEC.
of
They
manning them and watching for And we, the Catskill Mountain
fires, so they were taken down.
Club, thought it would be really
Pete Clark, a farmer in Delhi, NY at
cool to get the fire tower put back
the time, thought it would be nice
up, too. The CMC, along with some
to have a fire tower on his property—
residents of Delhi and Bovina, and
and it was a bargain at $50—so he
your own Executive Director, formed
bought it. But his home owner’s
a separate corporation, the Friends
insurer never really wanted him
of Catskill Mountain Fire Tower, to
to put the tower up, so it has been
concentrate on this project.
sitting in a building on his property
12
2020 FIRE TOWERS
IN 1975, BRAMLEY MOUNTAIN’S FIRE TOWER WAS REMOVED. FIFTY YEARS AFTER BEING DECOMMISSIONED BY THE NYS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION (DEC), THE FRIENDS OF BRAMLEY MOUNTAIN FIRE TOWER HAVE COME TOGETHER TO SEE THE ORIGINAL FIRE TOWER RECONSTRUCTED AND RETURNED TO THE TOP OF BRAMLEY MOUNTAIN. Here is what Board President, Ann Roberti, had to say about the project [now owned by his son, Tom] for all of
Why have you decided to lead this
these years.
effort? AR: Well, I got involved in trailblazing
It’s the original fire tower. It was
with the Catskill Mountain Club
taken down with such care that all
because
the pieces are marked and all the
to somehow give back to the
bolts are in buckets, although we
community and help economically.
won’t be using the original bolts;
I was involved in a group that was
we’ll be getting new fasteners. Every
against fracking and we wanted to
piece of it is there—the map table is
not just be against things, we wanted
there—so that’s very exciting.
to be able to contribute in a positive
I
wanted
to
be
able
way. The idea of building trails was What is the map table?
the first way that I thought I could
AR: The map table is a device that
finally do some contributing—this is
has maps on it and triangulating
an outgrowth of that.
equipment that would help when two or three different tower observers
The trails that we’ve built are family-
would see a fire. They would map it
friendly and near towns that bring
with this map table, and then when
a lot of people into the area. I think
you put them all together you could
the fire tower will do even more of
pinpoint the exact spot. Kind of like
that. And it’s a fun project. It’s really
surveyor’s work.
an exciting kind of thing that will be very fun to work on.
CATSKILL CENTER
13
It seems like you’re in the very early
As you explained earlier, there is a
stages. How is progress going?
pretty popular trail leading to the
When do you expect the tower to be
tower. Do you know how long the
completed?
hike is altogether? And how tall the
AR: We are. I’m hoping that it will
tower will be?
be two years, possibly three, to get
AR: The tower is 80 ft tall (one of the
the fire tower up. That’s my goal.
tallest models of fire towers there
It certainly won’t be this year, but
is). The trail up to it is about 2 miles,
the first step (other than working
so 4 miles round trip.
Mountain Fire Tower becoming a
And there is an easy trail that
503b nonprofit organization) is
doesn’t go to the tower, Quarry Trail
that we are going to do a complete
is the name of it, people can take
inventory of the fire tower parts: lay
it and get to this very interesting
them out and inspect them all, and
abandoned quarry and then if their
then we can decide if there are any
friends want to zip up to this harder
that need repair. From there, we’ll be
piece [the fire tower] and then
able to come up with a much more
meet them back, they can do that.
accurate budget. This inventory
But I’m also hoping that having a
check should be done by May of this
fire tower at the top will get some
year.
people to have a goal of working toward making it all the way up the mountain. Find the entire interview at bit.ly/bramleyfiretower
14
2020 FIRE TOWERS
PHOTO: COURTESY OF ANN ROBERTI
toward Friends of the Bramley
A WILL LYT L E C O L O R I N G P A G E Download a high-res pdf to print and color at bit.ly/firetowercoloringpage
CATSKILL CENTER
15
YOUR LEGACY
THE FUTURE OF THE CATSKILLS Planned Giving. Secure the health of the Catskills for generations. catskillcenter.org/plannedgiving
Your tax-deductible donation supports healthy ecosystems and vibrant communities throughout the Catskill region.
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
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Volunteer Coordinators
TAMMY PORTER, RED HILL The Catskill Fire Tower Project, a program of the Catskill Center, runs smoothly every year because of a team of Fire Tower Coordinators. Fire Tower Coordinators wear many hats. From fire tower upkeep to volunteer training and scheduling, historical and naturalist interpretation for visitors, as well as maintenance projects, they encompass the spirit of the Catskill Park with their passion and dedication to the five original Catskills fire towers.
DOUG HAMILTON, RED HILL
18 â&#x20AC;&#x192;
2020 FIRE TOWERS
CHARLIE LUTOMSKI, OVERLOOK MOUNTAIN In the 1990s, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) decommissioned the fire towers located on Forest Preserve lands atop Catskill peaks. Organized by the Catskill Center, an ensemble of volunteers restored the final five fire towers to a safe and sustainable condition and the Catskill Fire Tower Project was born. Today, the Catskill Center manages the five original fire towers in the Catskill Park for public access and interpretation. In 2019, a sixth tower was added to the Catskill Park and the Catskill Fire Tower Project on the Catskills Visitor Center property. On weekends during the summer months, the volunteers open the tower cabins for visitors to enjoy the stunning
PHOTOS: HEATHER PHELPS-LIPTON
panoramic views of the region.
MARK ATCHNISON, TREMPER MOUNTAIN Not pictured: Laurie Rankin, Balsam Lake and Gordon Hoekstra, Hunter Mountain. CATSKILL CENTER
19
Vintage Recipe
CATSKILL MOUNTAIN HOUSE ROLLS THIS RECIPE INVOLVES A LOT OF WAITING TIME, BUT NOT MUCH ACTUAL WORK TIME. DIFFERENT FLOURS AND YEASTS ALL GIVE PRETTY RELIABLE RESULTS. EVEN IF YOU’RE NEW TO BREADBAKING, GIVE IT A TRY. K ELLI HUG G I N S
Y
ou’ve probably heard of the
show a variety of rolls and bread options.
Catskill
House,
Regardless of its actual connection to
which
the hotel, the way the recipe spread does
opened in 1824 and overlooked
highlight people’s desire to experience a
the Hudson River.
piece of an elite Catskill’s locale.
the
Mountain
grand
hotel
Despite being
gone for decades, it still holds a powerful place in local history and
The original recipe is pretty bare
imagination.
bones.
I stumbled across a recipe for Catskill
Set a thin sponge with wheat flour
Mountain House rolls in the February 1890
at about four o’clock as follows:
PHOTOS: HEATHER PHELPS-LIPTON
edition of Hall’s Journal of Health, a 19th century wellness publication. Intrigued, I
Stir into a quart of water flour enough
found that the recipe made the rounds in
to make a thick batter, adding half a
national publications beginning in late
cake of compressed yeast dissolved.
in 1889. While I’ve not been able to verify
Let this sponge stand till nine o’clock
if the recipe is authentic, menus from
and then knead up thoroughly; add a
the Catskill Mountain House, like those
piece of butter the size of a large egg.
digitized by the New York Public Library,
Let the rolls stand until morning, then
CATSKILL CENTER
21
roll them out as thin as your hands,
FOR THE SPONGE, COMBINE
handle the dough as little as possible,
IN A LARGE BOWL
cut it into narrow strips and lay in a pan
gives the bread a tangy taste and a nice
2 CUPS OF WATER (about 95-100 degrees, warm but not hot enough to kill the yeast) 3 CUPS OF FLOUR (white or wheat, I tried both and either works) 2 1/4 TSP QUICK RISE YEAST or 2 1/2 TSP ACTIVE DRY YEAST (I tried both and preferred the results of the active dry, but if you have quick rise on hand, you can use that. I did not track down cake yeast for this.)
structure.
Mix well and let sit covered at room
to rise for three-quarters of an hour. Bake in a quick oven ten minutes. This left me with a few questions: How much flour? Can you even get cake yeast now? (Yes, but it’s rare!) How long are these "narrow strips?" After some tinkering, I figured it out with modern measurements and ingredients. If you’d like to make your own Catskill Mountain House Rolls, follow along with these steps: First, make the sponge. If you haven’t made bread with a sponge before, this method adds fermentation time and
temperature in a draft-free location for 5 hours. The mix should get all bubbly, puffy, and sticky. Resist the urge to touch it until the time is up
These rolls would be great on your din or for carb-loading before a big hike.
WHEN THE SPONGE IS READY ADD
3 TBSP SOFTENED BUTTER 2 TSP SALT 2 1/2- 3 CUPS FLOUR (if using wheat flour, you will probably need less because it absorbs the liquid more. Add in a little at a time to not use too much.) Knead the dough for ten minutes until soft and stretchy. A little extra flour might be necessary for kneading, but not much. Lightly grease a large bowl and add the dough ball. Cover and let stand. The original recipe calls for it to sit overnight, but I found that unnecessary. Mine sat for about 3 hours.
dinner table e.
Once the dough doubles in size, punch it down and shape the individual rolls. The original recipe is pretty confusing about the shape, but I interpreted it as a short breadstick, batch baked. I also made some in knots and round dinner rolls, so go ahead and try your favorite roll shapes. It should make about two dozen rolls. Let the shaped dough rise for another 45 minutes. Bake on a greased pan at 425 degrees for about 10-12 minutes or until they are golden brown. -KH
THE CATSKILLS FIRE TOWER FIVE CHALLENGE: A CHALLENGE TO HIKE TO EACH FIRE TOWER IN THE CATSKILL REGIONâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; SOUNDS EASY, RIGHT?
HOW ABOUT HIKING THEM ALL IN THE SAME DAY?
JEF F SENTER M A N
THE CATSKILLS FIRE TOWER FIVE-IN-A-DAY CHALLENGE It was an ambitious idea born on the afternoon of Governor Cuomoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2019 Catskill Challenge, which is an opportunity to celebrate the Catskill Park and all that the region has to offer. After a morning hike with New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lieutenant Governor and Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), we were listening to Governor Cuomo speak about the Catskills when he announced his new "Catskills Fire Tower Five Challenge," The goal being to climb all five mountains in the Catskill Park that still have remaining fire towers, take a selfie at the top of each tower, and then submit those selfies to the NYSDEC for a certificate and five fire tower pins. CATSKILL CENTER
25
My husband Moe and I looked at
furthest away, Red Hill Fire Tower,
each
simultaneously
and then traveled north through the
agreed that we had to be the first
Park checking off each of the towers:
hikers to get this challenge done. By
Balsam
the time we got home that evening,
Tremper, Overlook Mountain, and
we had reached out to our good
finally Hunter Mountain.
other
and
Lake
Mountain,
Mount
friend and hiking buddy Greg and hatched a plan to hike to all five fire towers in a single day. Although Moe and Greg are avid hikers who enjoy tougher and tougher Catskills hiking adventures, and I tend to enjoy a more reasonable day of hiking, we were all ready take on this challenge together.
EACH OF THE FIRE TOWERS IN
THE
CATSKILL
PARK
We began at dawn on the day of
ARE ON FIVE DIFFERENT
the challenge and arrived at Red
MOUNTAINS THAT ARE ALL
Hillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Trailhead just before 7:30am.
WELL SEPARATED FROM ONE ANOTHER. The first step was understanding the logistics of the day. They are not connected by trails and, altogether, there are miles of driving between them. Since home for us is in the northeastern area of the Park, we settled on a south to north plan of action. We started at the tower the
26 â&#x20AC;&#x192;
2020 FIRE TOWERS
We quickly reached the summit, enjoyed the view from the fire tower, and had a chance to say hello to the volunteer steward who was just getting everything set up for a day of visitors. Then we made haste back down to the car and off to the trailhead for Balsam Lake Mountain. Still feeling fresh when we arrived at the Mill Brook Road Trailhead, we made quick work of the almost 3 mile hike to the summit of Balsam
Lake Mountain and its fire tower.
up Mount Tremper definitely felt
After a small snack, our required
longer than the others, but we still
selfies, and a take in of the view, it
made good time and, also unlike
was back down to the car again.
the first two mountains, we took a moment to relax at the base of
The first two mountain trails were
the tower and enjoyed a late lunch
either quite short or fairly gentle
before we headed down.
in their climbing. However, Mount Tremper, our next climb beginning
We felt pretty good as we reached
from Old Route 28, is known for its
the Meads Mountain Road Trailhead
very steady slog up the mountain.
and began to get ready for the fourth
By
the
destination of the day: Overlook
trailhead, we had realized one of the
the
time
we
reached
Mountain. Unlike the other four
unanticipated side effects of our
mountains, the trail up Overlook
journey—sitting in a car between
from Woodstock follows an active
hikes is a sure way to cramp up, as
road so it’s wide and well graded. We
if your body aches are saying: what
were all grateful for the extra food
the heck are you doing to me?
and beverages we had packed in the car. Of course, it was important
Before we slung our backpacks
to keep our calorie intake up and
on
the
stay hydrated along the way. The
Acetaminophen in our first aid kits.
shadows on the mountains grew
Our beautiful July day was rapidly
longer in the late afternoon as we
approaching the heat of mid-
reached the summit of Overlook. Our
afternoon. The roughly 2.5 mile hike
time at this peak was brief since we
again,
we
broke
into
still had one mountain left to climb in our challenge.
PHOTOS: JEFF SENTERMAN
Hunter Mountain, the second tallest mountain in the Catskills and the highest with a fire tower, would be our final destination for the day. Why did we decide that we’d leave Hunter Mountain as our last hike? And better yet, that we’d ascend CATSKILL CENTER
27
and descend the mountain via the
at 10:30pm toasting our amazing
Becker Hollow Trail (arguably one
accomplishment.
of the steepest trails in the Park, climbing almost 2,200 feet in about
Was it the best way to fully
2.2 miles)? None of us could seem to
experience the five fire towers of
recall. The reality of that final climb
the Catskills? Probably not. With
hit us in the Becker Hollow Trailhead
the goal being to complete all five
parking lot. We were all a bit tired
hikes in one day, we were unable to
and sore, escaping into our own
pause and really soak-in each peak
little worlds, as we climbed higher
and the journey itself. Each tower,
and the evening light began to fade
as well as each mountain they call
along with our stamina.
home, is truly unique and deserves the
attention
of
an
individual
It was around 9:30pm when we
trip; however, the commitment,
reached the summit of Hunter
perseverance, and teamwork the
Mountain. We paused at the Hunter
challenge required of us created a
Mountain Fire Tower to watch the
day of hiking and climbing that we
last flickers of light disappear off
will never forget.
the horizon. The hike down Becker Hollow, in the dark, was perhaps
Moe, Greg, and I later received our
the greatest challenge of the day.
completion certificates identifying
Exhaustion tested our attention, but
us as the 1st three to meet the 2019
we were determined to reach our
Catskills Fire Tower Five Challenge.
final trailhead.
The certificate hangs proudly in my office as a reminder that the
Once we did, there were high-fives
Catskills Fire Towers are special
all around, much hydration and the
pieces
realization of just how much we had
whether hiked all in one day or over
accomplished in the Catskill Park. In
a lifetime. Either way, be sure not to
a single day, we hit the Red Hill Trail
miss out on your own experience of
at 7:30 that morning and then—five
them.
mountains later, 23 miles of hiking, hours of driving, and more than 7,500 feet of elevation gained (and then lost)—we had made it to the car 28
2020 FIRE TOWERS
-JS
of
Catskill
Park
magic,
Beeswax Wraps with Patti Rudge PHOTOS: HEATHER PHELPS-LIPTON
GET THE WHOLE HOW-TO AT BIT.LY/BEESWAX_WRAPS
Endnote By the time you read this, we will all be
this would have been an amazing
months into adjusting to a new reality
accomplishment. This year it was
with the COVID-19 virus. For us here
beyond any expectation. The budget
at the Catskill Center, the response
also
to this pandemic has changed the
Bond Act that, if approved by the
way we work, but the commitment to
voters in November, will provide $3
further our mission remains strong.
billion to address climate change in
Our staff are working from home all
the State. In addition, fracking was
across the region and continue to rise
banned permanently and a number
to the occasion with virtual efforts
of other environmental priorities were
making real world accomplishments
advanced.
possible.
COVID-19
may
includes
an
Environmental
change
our process, but it will not change
The funding for the CVC is the result of
our fundamental commitment to
persistence and teamwork in action.
protecting, preserving and enriching
The Visitor Center was first envisioned
the
more than 30 years ago as a place
environmental,
cultural
and
economic well-being of the Catskills.
to interpret the Catskill Park and region to visitors. Five years ago this
This April, in the midst of the pandemic
July, that vision was finally realized
and an unprecedented response by
when the Catskills Visitor Center first
New York State, we applauded the
opened to the public. As a public/
Governor and Legislature of the State
private partnership between New
for sticking to their environmental
York State and the Catskill Center,
priorities even though letting those
we quickly found that to properly
priorities slide may have been the
realize the potential of the Catskills
easier choice. The budget includes
Visitor Center, we would need to find
a
Environmental
adequate funding for operations and
Protection Fund; within that fund,
programs. We were able to educate
there is a new line for the Catskills
our legislators and the Governor
Visitor Center (CVC) that provides
on the importance of this resource
$150,000 to the Catskill Center for
through the efforts of the Catskill Park
operations. In a regular budget year
Coalition, our friends, supporters,
30 â&#x20AC;&#x192;
fully-funded
2020 FIRE TOWERS
members, and lovers of the Catskills. We kept at the hard
WHILE WE MAY NOT BE ABLE
work with our partners at
TO INTERACT IN PERSON, OUR
NYSDEC to identify needs and
STAFF
opportunities—resulting in this
LAUNCHING FRESH
newly announced funding in this year’s budget!
IS
EXPLORING
AND
WAYS TO
STAY CONNECTED WITH OUR MEMBERS, SUPPORTERS, AND
Our collective efforts in Albany also
resulted
in
increased
THOSE WHO LOVE THE CATSKILLS.
money for work on the Forest
Watch
for
virtual
workshops,
Preserve, which will create more trail
programs, and more from the Catskill
crews, better trails, improved access,
Center and CVC websites. Stay tuned
new facilities, better campgrounds
to our social media platforms—
and much more. The Governor will
Twitter, Instagram and Facebook—for
also establish a high-use task force
daily opportunities to engage, learn,
for the Catskills; we look forward
and advocate with us.
to serving on that committee and working with all partners to address
Most importantly, know that by being a
the challenges and opportunities that
member and supporter of the Catskill
increasing visitation will likely bring
Center you are helping us protect and
to our region.
preserve the Catskill Mountains that we all love. This glorious Park will be
Thanks to a recent Smart Growth
even better preserved than before
Grant from NYSDEC to create a
because of our collective hard work,
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
and we will one day leave our homes
Plan for the Catskill Center, we are
to explore, travel, and enjoy everything
excited to begin working on this
this region has to offer once again.
DEI plan for the Catskill Park. The Catskill Center looks forward to the opportunity to more comprehensively address these issues internally and is really excited to also explore them
JEFF SENTERMAN is the Executive
further with stakeholders Park-wide.
Director of the Catskill Center.
CATSKILL CENTER
31
FIRE TOWERS
Delivered directly to Catskill Center members.
A periodical celebrating New York Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s glorious Catskills.
PO Box 504 43355 State Highway 28 Arkville, NY 12406
The Catskill Center for Conservation & Development