Sat, Mar 4 – High Peterskill Loop. About 6 miles moderate B
Leader: Roberta Forest, robertaforest@gmail.com
This hike is half way on carriage roads and half way on trails. We’ll pass Awosting Falls and follow a trail above the Peterskill. If we have enough snow, we’ll snowshoe it. Otherwise, you might need traction for icy spots. Bring enough food and drink for the day, and your own first aid kit. Details will be sent to those who register.
Sun, Mar 5 – Mill Brook Preserve, New Paltz, Easy 2 miles C
Leader: Carla Barrett, barrettinclinton@gmail.com
MBP (millbrookpreserve.org) has low rolling hills with narrow bridges (two boards wide) 1 to 3 feet above shallow water. Bring hiking poles for balance assist if needed. Heavy rain or deep snow will cancel. 1.5 – 2 hours. Frequent stops to view nature. Some periods of silence during the walk will be requested. Back in the parking area we will have a drink/snack/lunch while discussing other walking areas in New Paltz. Participants may want to continue on to one of these with leader or explore New Paltz on their own, including the Dorsky Art Museum at SUNY New Paltz. Must confirm with leader for meeting place and time. No more than 8 participants including leader due to the fragile nature of the Preserve.
Tues, Mar 7 – Walk at Carnwath Farms Historic Site & Park followed by full moon rise viewing.
Leader: Sue Mackson, 845-471-9892, suemackson@gmail.com
As the sun begins its winter end of day descent, we will walk the up and down (hills, not mountains) at Carnwath Park in Wappingers Falls. This is the location of the Dutchess County Sports Museum. We will end our walk climbing the hill to watch the sunset beyond the river. We will then reverse our direction and
wait for the pop of moonlight. Bring warm drinks and snacks. Rain cancels.
Fri, Mar 10 – Fahnestock State Park, moderate 6-7 mile B walk & hike
Leader: Georgette Weir, georgette.weir@gmail.com
We will walk the scenic Sunken Mine Road–an unpaved woods road closed to cars December-April–up and down past ponds and historic mines, along rushing streams and old stone walls to the 1.2-mile rough trail up and over Candlewood Hill, then onto the extension of Bell Hollow Road and back to Sunken Mine Road to retrace our steps. A good stretch of the legs!
Sun, Mar 19 – Pocantico Lake and Rockefeller Park Preserve Hike, Briarcliff Manor, NY, Class C. About 4 miles.
Leader: John Ragusa, email: jrjr1059@msn.com, cell: 917-692-1159
We will meet in the parking lot of the Pocantico Lake Park. We will walk on a nice trail along the shore of the lake to the dam and observe the old pump house. From there we will walk along the Pocantico River and into the Rockefeller Park Preserve where we will walk along carriage roads into the deep woods and observe towering Tulip trees. It’s hard to believe you’re in central Westchester. We will do a loop which will bring us back to Pocantico Lake along the shore and back to the parking lot. Bring sturdy shoes and a picnic lunch. Must contact leader for time and meeting place.
Mon, Mar 20 – First Day of Spring Hike – Minnewaska Litchfield Ledge B
Leader: Ginny gefauci@gmail.com or 845-399-2170 (text only)
We’ll hike a combination of carriage roads and trails to Litchfield Ledge for lunch and views of Lake Awosting and the Catskills. Possible side trip to Rainbow Falls on the way back. Please confirm with leader. Note: If Minnewaska is still grooming for skiing, I’ll move the hike to another area.
Fri, Mar 24 – FDR National Historic Site, 3.5 miles, easy, C hike
Leader: Georgette Weir, georgette.weir@gmail.com
We will start at the Visitors Center and walk down to and loop around on the Roosevelt Woods Trail, taking a few short, exploratory side trails.
Sat, March 25, 11:00am – BLUESTONE WILD FOREST PROGRAM
Location: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Catskills, 320 Sawkill Road, Kingston, NY, 12401
Sponsored by Mid-Hudson ADK, Mid-Hudson Sierra Club, and the Climate Action Team of UUCC
To RSVP for the in-person event (there will be refreshments) or to sign up for the Zoom link, go to Catskill Mountain Keeper: Hidden Gems in the Bluestone Wild Forest.
Learn about the unique historical and geological features of a part of the Catskill Forest Preserve that has been the focus of protection efforts by ADK and other groups (Catskill Mountainkeeper, Woodstock Land Conservancy, Sierra Club) for the past three years.
On Sat. morning, March 25, Paul Rubin of Hydroquest will do a photographic presentation, in person, on the special features of the Bluestone Wild Forest, which he discovered while doing hydrogeological studies in the area. These features will form the basis for the nomination of the “Hemlock Historic Quarry District” within the forest to the National Register of Historic Places. Paul will present these findings, just a week earlier, at the annual meeting of the Northeastern/Southeastern Section of the Geological Society of America.
According to the New York State Office of Historic Preservation, the area is significant “. . .for its potential to inform our understanding of historic bluestone quarrying methods and the organizational principals that characterized this industrial site.”
This popular hiking and swimming area (it includes Onteora Lake) between Woodstock and Kingston has been in the news in recent years because of the negative impacts posed by a proposed concrete and steel manufacturing plant on a site surrounded on three sides by the forest. Inclusion of the site on the National Register of Historic Places would strengthen the cas e against the proposed manufacturing plant.
In April, MHADK hike leader and Bluestone advocate Sharon Klein plans to lead a hike in the area with Paul Rubin.
Again, please RSVP for the in-person event (there will be refreshments), or sign up for the Zoom link here: www.catskillmountainkeeper.org
Sun, Mar 26 – Light hike/walk along the Beacon waterfront and Madam Brett Park, followed by a visit to DIA:Beacon to view large scale contemporary artworks, C level walk on level ground, about 4 miles.
Co-Leaders: Lalita Malik, lalitamalik@aol.com, and Lyn W., hikebuddy@gmail.com
This is a multipart day starting with a 2.5 hour walk at 10 AM, with a break for a snack, followed by a tour of DIA:Beacon at 1:00 PM and optional early dinner on Beacon Main Street following. Email Lyn W. at hikebuddy@gmail.com for parking instructions and to register for free DIA:Beacon tickets, which must be done in advance.
We will walk the River Trail between two Scenic Hudson Parks; Long Dock and Madam Brett. Along the way we will have views of the Hudson and cities across from Beacon and Newburgh Beacon bridge. We will see ruins, waterfalls, and possibly amphibians, aquatic mammals and ospreys and bald eagles. Check out the links below of what we will see.
https://www.scenichudson.org/explore-the-valley/scenic-hudson-parks/scenic-hudsons-long-dock-park/
https://www.scenichudson.org/explore-the-valley/scenic-hudson-parks/madam-brett-park/
Our day continues as we gather in the bookshop/cafe of DIA:Beacon, an industrial former box factory that houses large scale art installations from the 1960’s to the present. On view are galleries filled with famous artworks from Richard Serra, Andy Warhol, Sol Lewitt and others. We can walk around on our own or join the guided tour that begins at 1:30 PM and is complimentary with admission. Tickets are no charge to all Hudson Valley residents the last Sunday of every month, or $20 if you live outside the area. Optional early dinner follows around 4 PM in town a few blocks away. See gallery info here: https://www.diaart.org/visit/visit-our-locations-sites/dia-beacon-beacon-united-states
Fri, Mar 31 – Bushy Ridge in Fahnestock S.P. Hike Level is B
Leaders: Joan B. and Georgette Weir
Contact: georgette.weir@gmail.com
Joan’s “favorite” hike in Fahnestock: A 6-mile lollipop at about a 2-mph pace to and over Bushy Ridge. Lots to see, including views of Stillwater Lake and Wiccopee Reservoir and the remains of a past community, Odletown.