Catskills Magazine 2019 Issue 1.

CATSKILLS AMERICA’S FIRST WILDERNESS

SPRING INTO ACTION TRACKING PLANTS

+ POLLINATORS IN YOUR BACKYARD

DON’T GET STUCK IN THE MUD CATSKILL MOUNTAIN PUDDING GREAT BLUE HERON COLORING PAGE

CATSKILLCENTER 1969 -2019

ISSUE 1 2019

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AT THE ERPF GALLERY

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CONTRIBUTORS

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SPRING INTO ACTION

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NATURAL RESOURCES: A NEW BOOK

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GREAT BLUE HERONS

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HERON MAMMA

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SNAPSHOT

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NEW KIDS AT THE CABIN

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DON’T GET STUCK IN THE MUD

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CATSKILL MOUNTAIN PUDDING

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A POETIC SUGGESTION

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ENDNOTE

Cover Photo: Kerissa Battle

Catskill Steward Michael DiBenedetto / Photo: Heather Phelps-Lipton

CONTENTS

June 14-July 19 ERPF GALLERY 43355 Route 28 Arkville, NY Mon-Fri 9:30am - 4:30pm

THE QUILTS OF LESLEY GREY

AT THE

ERPF GALLERY CATSKILL CENTER

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CONTRIBUTORS 2019 ISSUE 1

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.

KELLI HUGGINS Visitor Experience Coordinator, Catskills Visitor Center Kelli is an historian, educator and native Catskillite. She experimented with and contemporized a 19th century recipe — Catskill Mountain Pudding.

WILL LYTLE aka Thorneater Comics Will is a Catskills-born and raised 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 1.

KATIE PALM Katie Palm is the Catskill Center’s Director of Programs and spends many sun-filled days in Catskill streams talking to students about macroinvertebrates.

ANDY MOSSEY Andy has a knack and a passion for speaking up for public lands without a voice. Andy is the Stewardship and Advocacy Coordinator at the Catskill Center.

KERISSA BATTLE Kerissa Battle is a research ecologist and entrepreneur whose work is focused on social-ecological connectivity, network resilience, community science and plant-pollinator conservation. She founded the New York Phenology Project and works as a strategic advisor for organizations seeking to build capacity in the fields of conservation and education.

Kerissa is a member of the Catskill Center’s Board of DIrectors.

MICHAEL DRILLINGER Michael enjoys the great outdoors and watching the many birds of the Catskills.

ABOUT US: Since 1969, the Catskill Center has protected and

CCCD can be reached at:

fostered the environmental, cultural and economic well-being of

43355 State Highway 28

the Catskill region.Our mission is to ensure a bright future for

Arkville, NY 12406

the Catskills by preserving our environment, expanding our economy

845.586.2611

and celebrating our culture. Become a member at: catskillcenter.

cccd@catskillcenter.org

org/membership

CATSKILL CENTER

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BY KERISSA BA T T L E

SPRING INTO ACTION TRACKING PLANTS AND POLLINATORS IN YOUR BACKYARD

AMIDST GROWING CONCERN OVER THE RAPID DECLINE OF POLLINATORS AND NATIVE PLANTS, A VIBRANT NETWORK OF OBSERVERS, HABITAT MAKERS AND CONSERVATION-MINDED GARDENERS ARE APPEARING ON THE SCENE TO SEE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. 6 

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Unlike some environmental restoration efforts which require equipment or expensive instruments, building native pollinator habitats and tracking the timing of life cycle events in the natural world (known as "phenology monitoring") can be done by almost anyone with the interest and gumption.

The idea of phenology isn’t complicated: observe the same plants in the same area over time and note how they change: when do they bud? When do they flower? Track the appearance or activities of particular animals: when do the Monarch butterflies arrive? When do the bluebirds nest? Whether you have volumes of experience with plants and/or animals or none, you can create a monitoring site that is connected to both regional and national efforts through the power of community science.

More people collecting equals more relevant data.

CATSKILL CENTER

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Even if you have only a container garden

entire national dataset (the national

outside your house, or you tag one

platform is run by the USA National

red maple in your yard, or you (with

Phenology

permission from your town) mark

org). Some of the most beloved nature

plants on your favorite local trail and

preserves and institutions in the region

gather a group of friends to collectively observe — you can become a meaningful part of the larger effort.

High-quality pollinator habitats (which are capable of increasing connectivity across a landscape) can be created in small backyard gardens or nature preserves — or even abandoned lots — by planting high-resource pollinator plants

that

bloom

sequentially

throughout the season. Create nesting sites for native pollinators by leaving parts of your yard or garden un-mowed or un-raked and leaving grasses long until early spring. It’s really that simple.

Creativity and ecology have always converged in the Catskills and larger Hudson Valley area, so it’s no surprise that the region from NYC to the Catskills is currently submitting the most plant and pollinator phenology data in all of

PHOTOS: KARISSA BATTLE

New York State. The New York Phenology Project (NYPP), a networked community science initiative focused on climate change

impacts

on

plants

and

pollinators, began in 2012 and has since rapidly spread across the state. In 2018, NYPP contributed more than 10% of the

Network:

www.usa-npn.

PHENOPHASE’ REFERS TO THE DISTINCT LIFE CYCLE PHASES; I.E. BUDDING, FLOWERING, FRUITING, MIGRATING, HATCHING, ETC. are now involved and new monitoring sites pop up every year. The Catskills Visitor Center is currently setting up a plant and pollinator monitoring site and is looking for volunteers to aid the efforts of staff and board members.

Monitoring

sites

are

created

for

various purposes: education, research, community engagement, and even for the development of a meditative practice.

Some

are

focused

on

monitoring plants (native or invasive), while others build pollinator gardens or other associated stewardship activities.

Whatever their focus, they all contribute data to help understand the impact of climate change on organisms. These monitoring and habitat development sites are a potential game-changer for the plant-pollinator conservation movement; the dynamic interplay between data collection and restoration CATSKILL CENTER

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creates opportunities for adaptive management on a larger geographic scale. Big shifts in policy and procedures can come from the aggregation of small initiatives.

Gardeners

are

naturally

intuitive

phenologists. When gardeners start, plant, cut back, harvest, or collect seeds, they are essentially tracking phenophases. (The term phenophase refers to the distinct life cycle phases: i.e. budding, flowering, fruiting, migrating, hatching, etc.) Phenology monitoring is the tracking of phenophases with no outcome in mind – like gardening with a zen mind— simple observation of what is with a patience for the next phase to manifest. Paying close attention to seasonal changes and a recording of when the changes occur is the essence of tracking phenology.

There are a few practical reasons why a gardener might benefit from tracking phenology as part of an organized effort.

To begin, it’s a chance to interact with plants and with other plant-lovers in a broader context. It’s also an opportunity to bring one’s skills to the aid of climate change mitigation efforts as well as join a movement of folks who are capturing important ecological data (regionally, nationally and globally) for future generations.

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Beyond the pure pleasure of phenology monitoring, you can also craft your garden or yard within the larger context of the surrounding ecosystem.

You might begin to notice that the pollinators on your tomatoes are the same as those you see on the milkweed in the field. Perhaps you note that the red maples in your yard flower later than the red maples in town.

You might wonder if the heavy fruit set on the mountain laurel near your garden happened due to your garden’s deep lushness which caused native pollinators to nest nearby.

Which insects are arriving and when?

What birds are hanging around your

Voila!! An open flower appears where

gardens? What else is in bloom near

there once was a dormant bud.

your garden that might be attracting pollinators? You begin to realize that the

My husband and I set up a phenology

pollinators are not just servicing your

trail

garden, but you understand that your

includes our garden and intentional

plantings are actually feeding them.

pollinator patches. We check our plants

Maybe you will observe them move

nearly every day when taking our

from your garden to the patch of wild

dogs and babies on a walk. We get our

bergamot down the road (which you

exercise and slow down while taking

are also observing). Perhaps the birds

everything in. It is meditative and

are also feeding on the fertilized seeds

enlivening at the same time. At first this

of the wild bergamot at the end of the

noticing was a revelation for us. Then it

summer. Suddenly you’ve gone from

became a skill, which progressed into

intentionally observing your garden

an art and now it is our practice. When

participating in the performance of

we followed our passion for phenology

nature, a bustling play with you as both

monitoring, we came to a joyful and

actor and audience.

spiritual place: a place of noticing, of

OBSERVING THE YEAR-ROUND PHENOLOGY OF EVEN JUST A FEW PLANTS OR ANIMALS PUTS YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE WHOLE OF LIFE — EVERY PHENOPHASE ECHOES THE PHASES OF PERSONAL EXISTENCE

around

our

property,

which

presence, and of acceptance of what is. What could be better than practicing presence while contributing valuable ecological data in service of the land you love?

- KB

As you watch, the seemingly glacial pace of change is suddenly punctuated by rapid transformation.

INTERESTED IN CREATING BACKYARD POLLINATOR HABITAT? Resources are available at communitygreenways.org . If you’re interested in setting up an NYPP site, visit (nyphenologyproject.org) or contact Kerissa Battle at kerissabattle@gmail.com CATSKILL CENTER

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JAY UNGAR + MOLLY MASON / PHOTO: HEATHER PHELPS-LIPTON

50TH ANNIVERSARY BOOK HIGHLIGHTS 50 STEWARDS OF THE CATSKILLS The Catskill Center continues its

and some farmers, authors and

50th anniversary celebration this

musicians,

year with the publication of a book,

and civic leaders, retired school

Natural Resources: 50 Stewards of

teachers and a minister." Members

the Catskills, that celebrates 50

of the group share, "A singular

individuals in the region for their

commitment to the Catskills region

contributions

of New York State, where they all live".

to

the

Catskills’

policy

advocates

environment, economy and culture.

Those

profiled

include,

Michael

Featuring photo portraits by Heather

Kudish, a student of Catskill forests

Phelps-Lipton

and

who notes that it took him 30 years

interviews by Jessie Koester, the

to understand why the summits

publication shines a spotlight on

of the Catskills high peaks are all

local residents with a wide range

different. ‘It was such a puzzle,’

of backgrounds. According to the

he says. Hiker Heather Rolland

introduction,

includes

tries to explain how reaching the

"..a hiker and a birder, a historian

summit of a Catskill mountain can

and

the

writing

book

CATSKILL CENTER

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be ‘visceral, almost mystical.’ And

individuals and their passion for the

publisher Geddy Sveikauskas, of

region are inspirations for all of us

the Woodstock Times and Ulster

that love these mountains."

Publishing,

says

that

reporting

news and telling the stories of multiple Catskills communities is ‘just endlessly fascinating, a kind of anthropology’" .

"The Catskill Center could not do the work we do without people like this," said Markey Boyer, chair of the Catskill Center’s board, in announcing the publication. "Our communities

are

our

strength,

and the dedicated work of these 14

2019 ISSUE 1.

NATURAL RESOURCES: 50 STEWARDS OF THE CATSKILLS CAN BE FOUND AT • CATSKILLCENTER.ORG/SHOP • CATSKILLS VISITOR CENTER • KAATERSKILL GALLERY & STORE

DIANE GALUSHA / PHOTO: HEATHER PHELPS-LIPTON

GREAT BLUE HERONS Great Blue Herons are the largest

mammals, insects, and even small

and most widespread heron in North

birds. They stand very still and wait

America. They range from Maine

for some unsuspecting prey to come

to Cuba, Washington State to Baja,

by. They then stab their prey with their

California, and all states in between.

sharp, dagger-like bill.

Herons usually breed in colonies

Great Blue Heron body feathers are

between the months of February and

slate-gray with chestnut and black

May. They most often set up their

accents. Herons have very long necks

nests, which are made of sticks,

and very long legs. When they fly they

in trees close to wetlands. They lay

fold their necks into an "S" shape as

clutches of between 3 and 6 eggs that

their long legs trail behind. Full-grown

incubate for 28 days before they begin

herons stand 3 to 4’ feet high and

to hatch. If you find a Heron nesting

have up to 6 feet of wingspan.

ground, it is best to back away slowly and leave them alone. Herons are wary

They live in wetlands that include

of humans and will abandon their

lakes, streams, swamps, marshes,

nests if humans intrude.

and

- MD

ocean

shorelines—any

wet

place they can catch fish. They will also snack on amphibians, small

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HERON MAMMA - A COLORING PAGE — CREATED BY WILL LYTLE

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)

Catskillcenter.org/membership Or complete this form and mail to: CATSKILL CENTER P.O. BOX 504 ARKVILLE, NY 12406 NAME

SUBSCRIPTION to the Catskill Center’s quarterly newsletter with news from the Catskill Center and across the Catskill Region.

ADDRESS

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.

EMAIL

MEMBER ONLY INVITATIONS to the Annual Gathering, lectures and special events.

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.

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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ZIP

PHONE

Member Snapshot ANDREW DICLEMENTE "I was ten years old my Uncle Robert took me on my first camping trip to the Beaverkill River & Campground in Roscoe, NY. ...this wonderful outdoors experience changed my life and began a lifelong love of not only an outdoors lifestyle but also of the Catskills.

Since then, I have been fortunate to participate in many activities throughout this region. One such special moment was back in 2012 when I participated as a volunteer interpreter for the Catskills Fire Tower Project—a fire tower volunteer program run by the Catskill Center.

A few times throughout the summer and early fall season I would leave New Jersey early in the morning, park in the lot by Mount Tremper and hike up the 3 miles of trail to open the tower up so that visitors from all around had an opportunity to relish in the exhilarating beauty of nature and views from atop the tower."

Read more at bit.ly/adiclemente

Wifi. Guidance. Garb. Maps.

Snacks. Restrooms. Events. Books.

Hikes. Treasures.

5096 Route 28 Mount Tremper, NY 12457 845-688-3369 catskillsvisitorcenter.org CATSKILL CENTER

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KATIE PALM

NEW KIDS AT THE PLATTE CLOVE ARTISTS’ CABIN THE CATSKILL CENTER HAS HOSTED RESIDENCIES AT THE PLATTE CLOVE ARTISTS’ CABIN IN GREENE COUNTY SINCE 1997.

SCIENTISTS, WRITERS, PAINTERS, FILM MAKERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS AND MANY OTHERS HAVE HONED THEIR CRAFT DEEP WITHIN THE 208 ACRES OF FORESTS AND VIEWS THAT INSPIRED THE HUDSON VALLEY SCHOOL OF PAINTERS.

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’

I

n early May, a four-person jury completed their review of over 40 applications to select 13 artists to spend a week at the Platte Clove Artists’ cabin.

The jury was comprised of Wijnanda Deroo, a Catskills-based photographer whose works have been in exhibits around the world; Beatrice Georgalidis, CATSKILL CENTER

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Writer and Executive Director at

art, industry, indigenous people, and

Bright Hill Press & Literary Center;

environmentalism."

Susan Mayr, Former Platte Clove AIR, Painter and Platte Clove Cabin

Victoria van der Laan is a true folk

Steward; and Jenny Rosenzweig,

artist who learned textile arts from

Executive Director at the Roxbury

her grandmother. During her first

Arts Group.

residency, Victoria’s goal was to

T

discover the possibilities of fabric

he

artists

and thread beyond the traditions

hail from New York, Texas,

2019

selected

taught by her grandmother. Her time

Michigan, and Nevada and

at the cabin in 2018 resulted in a

will each spend a week at the Platte

collection that intuitively explored

Clove cabin this coming summer.

curves in nature and focused on

The intention for this retreat is for

systems of repeated forms. This was

selected artists to relocate from their

a major departure from the strict

daily routine, and allow the beauty of

linear method formerly employed.

the Catskills to inspire new sparks of

During her residency this summer,

creativity. Every year, two spots are

Victoria is looking forward to using

reserved for returning artists. This

the natural areas of Platte Clove as

year, the Catskill Center is thrilled

inspiration to continue expanding

to welcome back filmmaker David

her art.

Becker and Textile Artist Victoria van der Laan.

The newly selected residents for this summer include three painters,

David Becker worked on the film To

two novelists, a poet, a botanical

Be Forever Wild about the Catskills

illustrator,

during his first residency in 2010.

playwright, and two mixed media

This summer he is traveling from

artists. The Catskill Center is thrilled

his new home in Nevada to work

to have such a diverse group of

on a second film about the Catskill

artists at the Platte Clove cabin for

region. He says he "envisions a film

the summer of 2019. -KP

that tells the history of American

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a

photographer,

a

WORKS BY VICTORIA VAN DER LAAN / PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY THE ARTIST

THE NEWLY SELECTED 2019 RESIDENTS INCLUDE THREE PAINTERS, TWO NOVELISTS, A POET, A BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATOR, A PHOTOGRAPHER, A PLAYWRIGHT, AND TWO MIXED MEDIA ARTISTS.

Leave No Trace

DON’T GET STUCK IN THE MUD ANDY MOSS E Y

SQUELCH, SQUISH, OR SQUERCH!

to get too dirty, is there anything I could

Nope, it’s not goo or a baking experiment.

wear to beat the dirt?

We’re talking about muddy trails and tips on how to best hike them.

Prepare for anything + everything. Before any outdoor adventure, consider any

Spring is the ultimate transition season

worst case scenarios and be honest

in the Catskills — winter wonderlands

with your skill and fitness level. Spring

defrost into overwhelmingly saturated

conditions may mean your favorite trail

wetlands: a transition that confronts

is now a lagoon of soupy sludge, which

hikers with all sorts of interesting

not only makes the hiking harder but

conditions and makes a heck of a

also increases the amount of energy and

confusing time to hit the trails. Will I find

time required to get through. Choose an

mud? How much? Should I go around

objective that meets the physical needs

it? Should I go through it? What about

of your party and offers a reward—the

ice and snow in the spring? I don’t want

goal of a view or other point of interest.

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2019 ISSUE 1.

Fortunately, there is something for

problem: trail braiding. When one

all levels of walkers and hikers in the

person walks off trail, others are likely

Catskills.

to see the impacts and follow your lead; after a few people have gone around

Once you’ve chosen your trail and

the mud puddle, the trail widens. The

mapped your route, it’s time to head to

puddle becomes muddier and muddier

the gear closet. Start with the standard

and new trails start to form beyond the

pieces necessary when hiking trails

freshly widened trail. Now, the whole

with a higher difficulty level: pack,

area looks less like a hiking trail and

water bottles, snacks, first aid kit, repair

more like a choose-your-own-adventure

kit, map and compass, GPS/phone,

through muddy obstacles.

rain gear, headlamp, multitool, hat, sunscreen, lip balm, reusable trash bag,

To avoid creating a complete mud bath

and your favorite gear.

and the braiding of trails, hikers need to get a little dirty. When you get to that

You know your boots are going to get

muddy section of trail, revel in your pre-

muddy; better pack the tall ones. When

trip planning and hike straight through

the mud is really thick, break out the

the mud (and straight into hiker glory). By

gaiters. No need for the huge winter

sticking to the middle of the trail, hikers

versions (unless this is all you have);

minimize impacts, which reduces the

go for ankle or mid-calf height. Gaiters

amount of trail maintenance necessary.

PHOTOS: HEATHER PHELPS-LIPTON

will absolutely keep the mud, dirt, and insects out of the tops of your boots and

This year we had a wet winter that lead to

make for a much more enjoyable walk in

a wet spring. The trails are quite muddy,

the woods. Let’s round out that packing

but there are certain places that are

list with tall boots or gaiters, and hiking

going to be less wet than others. Where

poles (for keeping upright on slippery

are the driest conditions? To avoid

trails).

serious mud, find a hiking trail that has a south facing aspect. South facing

IT MAY SEEM LIKE A GOOD IDEA TO GO

trails get more sun during daylight

AROUND THE MUD and bushwhack across

hours, which optimizes drying time.

the surrounding, uneven ground and

Another note when searching out a

sensitive flora to the dry trail beyond.

“drier” spring hike: trails that have been

While this might keep your boots clean,

recently maintained or built will have

such a hiking style creates a major

better rain shedding characteristics.

CATSKILL CENTER

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Do your best to avoid naturally forming wetlands and lowlands; these areas pool water and are always wet. For those who don’t particularly like to hike in muddy conditions, steeper trails with higher elevations and sunny aspects will always be your best bet.

Do your homework and hit the trails! Get outside and enjoy the adventure. Hello Catskills—excellent in all four seasons!

- AM

SPRING HIKING KIT ESSENTIALS A multi-tool (or multitool) is any one of a range of portable, versatile hand tools that combines several individual functions in a single unit.

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PACK WATER BOTTLES SNACKS FIRST AID KIT, REPAIR KIT MAP AND COMPASS GPS/PHONE RAIN GEAR, HEADLAMP MULTITOOL HAT GAITERS SUNSCREEN LIP BALM REUSABLE TRASH BAG

For those who don’t particularly like to hike in muddy conditions, steeper trails with higher elevations and sunny aspects will always be your best bet.

Vintage Recipe

CATSKILL MOUNTAIN PUDDING Catskill Mountain Pudding is a simple, silky custard that derives all of its sweetness from a sauce that’s spooned over the baked pudding.

K ELLI HUG G I N S In 1886, New York City’s Royal Baking

company was clearly hoping that

Powder Company published a book

by publishing as many recipes as

of recipes called, My Favorite Receipt.

they could stuff into their book,

It was a clever bit of marketing;

they would convert those who were

recipes

submitted

buying the book just to see their

from bakers across the country were

name and recipe in print into new

collected in a book that touted the

customers.

(or

receipts)

PHOTOS: HEATHER PHELPS-LIPTON

benefits of baking powder. This may sound odd today, but in the latter

Catskill Mountain Pudding (Original

half of the 1800s the invention of

Recipe)

baking powder was recent and many

4 eggs; 1 cup flour; 1 qt. milk; ½

home cooks still favored traditional

teaspoon salt; beat well together, and

(if less reliable) leaveners, such as

bake 1/2 hour. Sauce: 1 tablespoon

yeast.

cornstarch, wet with cold milk; stir in 1 pt. boiling milk, add a lump of

Interestingly, not every recipe in

butter half as large as a hen’s egg. ½

the book includes baking powder or

cup sugar; flavor to taste.

any leavener at all. Such is the case for the Catskill Mountain Pudding

Catskill Mountain Pudding’s lack of

submitted by a M.H. Whitson. The

baking powder in a baking powder CATSKILL CENTER

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book isn’t its only curiosity. The

Preheat the oven to 350.

recipe also calls for “a lump of butter half as large as a hen’s egg.” When

Butter a dozen small ramekins or one

printed in 1886, American baking

9x13” pan and set aside.

was undergoing significant changes.

The introduction of baking powder

Combine the flour and salt in a small

was one such change, as was the

bowl and set aside. Whisk together eggs

standardization of measurements

and milk. Slowly add the dry ingredients

like cups and tablespoons. This

into the egg and milk mixture, whisking

recipe contains both modern and

thoroughly until smooth.

traditional measurements, giving us a glimpse of this transition.

Pour into the ramekins or pan, place into a larger pan filled with boiling water (to create a water bath) and place in oven.

Pudding

Bake for 30 minutes or until they have

4 eggs

a slight giggle in the center. To prevent

1 cup flour

overcooking, remove cooked puddings

4 cups whole milk

from water bath.

1 teaspoon salt While the puddings are in the oven, make Sauce

a paste of cornstarch with 3 tablespoons

1 tablespoon cornstarch

of milk in a saucepan. Whisk in

3 tablespoons + 2 cups whole milk,

remaining milk, butter, and vanilla

separated

and cook over a low heat, continuing to

2 tablespoons butter

whisk until the mixture has thickened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

slightly. Vanilla is lovely, but you can also use another preferred flavoring, such as

Catskill Mountain Pudding 30

2019 ISSUE 1.

almond extract.

Spoon sauce over cooked pudding(s).

Best consumed soon after baking, the puddings are perfectly delicious after a couple of days in the fridge too.

SOMETHING DELICIOUS FOR THE HAMMOCK DAYS as suggested by the Golden Notebook’s Gretchen Primack

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2019 ISSUE 1.

YOUR LEGACY

THE FUTURE OF THE CATSKILLS

Planned Giving. Secure the health of the Catskills for generations.

catskillcenter.org/plannedgiving

Endnote

I

’ve been hiking a lot over the

for college in New England: where the

past year. Of course, much of

mountains are bigger, summits rise

my exploring has been in the

above treeline and there is a knife edge

Catskills, including my completion

in Maine so narrow that my knees

of the Catskill 3500 peaks earlier in

were left shaking at the top--amazing,

2019.

breathtaking, and challenging.

My

time spent out West to see the Sierras, In part, I have my husband, a thru-

the Cascades and many more can

hiker of the Appalachian Trail and

also be perfectly described by any

overall outdoor lover and guide,

adjective of wonder.

to thank for being my constant cheerleader and inspiring me to get

However, no matter what beautiful

outside. The other reason being that

place I found myself, I was always

I wanted to see the Catskills and

happy to come home to the Catskills

really know them. Having grown up

throughout those two decades away

hiking in the region, I found myself

from them. Even if I was just back

often relying on my recollection of

for a weekend, it was energizing and

an area when having conversations

refreshing--special in a way that no

with stakeholders instead of more

other place could be. When asked

recently knowing the place intimately.

what my favorite place was, I’d always

A year of hiking on more than 460

respond with “The Catskills.” Once you

miles of trail (and bushwhacks) has

experience the Catskills, they infuse

strengthened in me a sense of place

into your bones, becoming a part of

and a reconnection to the glory that is

you and leaving them unforgettable.

our Catskill Mountains.

When I decided to lace up my hiking The Catskill Mountains were the first

boots and explore the Catskills once

mountains I grew up scrambling

again, it wasn’t for the physical

around,

and

challenge or to check peaks off a list

exploring with my dad. Next, he and I

(and definitely not for the bugs and

took to the Adirondacks which would

wet weather we had last year), but it

eventually prepare me for when I left

was to reconnect with the mountains

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cutting

my

2019 ISSUE 1.

teeth

ONCE YOU EXPERIENCE THE CATSKILLS, THEY INFUSE INTO YOUR BONES, BECOMING A PART OF YOU AND LEAVING THEM UNFORGETTABLE that first defined me and have always

that the Catskills are worth protecting

held a very special place in my heart.

and that our efforts to protect them

That I could do all that again with

are working, as we have tens of

someone I love was even better. After

thousands of acres of wilderness

21 years, we found new ways to bond:

just hours from one of the greatest

over grueling 19 mile hikes through

metropolitan regions in United States.

mud and nettles, fueling our hiker

The greatest lesson? The Catskills

hunger at a Chinese buffet, or just

inspire. They inspire awe, reverence

getting ourselves back home, sitting

and create a sense of place deep in

on our porch and treasuring the

your being that makes you realize you

fact that we live in one of the most

are right where you belong.

extraordinary places around.

What did I learn after all those PHOTO: JEFF SENTERMAN

peaks, those trail miles and miles of relatively untouched wilderness we bushwhacked through? The Catskill Mountains are extraordinary and there is magic in these mountains. All this effort reinforced my strong belief

JEFF SENTERMAN is the Executive Director of the Catskill Center.

CATSKILL CENTER

35

2019 ISSUE 1.

Delivered directly to Catskill Center members.

A periodical celebrating New York’s State’s glorious Catskills.

PO Box 504 43355 State Highway 28 Arkville, NY 12406

The Catskill Center for Conservation & Development