The state of New York stopped staffing its firetowers in the 1980s as modern fire-spotting techniques developed. By 1990, the five current Catskill towers had fallen into such disrepair that the state declared them off-limits. The towers were restored with the help of nonprofit groups and reopened in 2000 and 2001. A volunteer interpreter program was established shortly...
Learn MoreA mile-long trail in the Town of Lincoln, NY is the subject of a dispute that’s prompted a lawsuit between two recreational organizations and the state. The North Country Trail Association (NCTA) is suing the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and the Tri-Valley Trail Riders after use of a trail was handed over to the snowmobile...
Learn MoreCuyahoga Valley National Park in New York is a park for all seasons, with programs and activities throughout the year. These activities are fun, and also deepen appreciation for and involvement in the park. The park is known for trails and open space, so it should be no surprise that hiking and outdoor recreation are a big part of the program schedule. Every season...
Learn MoreDoug Bassett doesn’t own a cellphone, and when it comes to studying birds, bugs and trees he’d much rather head outside and into a 14,000-acre classroom called Letchworth State Park than turn on a computer. “The Internet is wonderful, television is wonderful, communication at a touch of a button is wonderful,” said Bassett, 57, Letchworth’s...
Learn MoreThe Great Eastern Trail Association, working with American Hiking Society and local trail partners are creating America’s newest long distance hiking trail. This path is 1800 miles long and crosses nine states. The Great Eastern Trail (GET) provides a premier hiking experience on a series of existing trails that are being linked to each other into a long-distance...
Learn MoreTWENTY feet away from the dogs and children playing on the grass, deep inside a Central Park thicket, the city almost disappears. A street lamp shines through the leafy canopy, and runners and cyclists race past, oblivious to a lean man huddled beneath the trees holding fire in his hands — a fire he created using a wooden bow drill. Since childhood the man has been...
Learn MoreZoar Valley in the Southern Tier of the Adirondacks is a study in contrasts. Like a pendulum swinging wildly between breathtaking beauty and life threatening danger, Zoar can be a perfect example of how a peaceful day in nature can turn into a traumatic, sometimes fatal experience. The valley is incredibly beautiful, with Cattaraugus Creek winding through 400 foot cliffs,...
Learn MoreThere are plenty of stories about people who display extraordinary endurance as “thru-hikers,” those who cover the entire 2,181-mile Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine in a northbound marathon of consecutive months, spring through fall. In August, for instance, a 28-year-old woman finished in 46 days, the fastest-ever thru-hiker. But let’s not...
Learn MoreMost outdoor lovers are familiar with the Adirondacks, but with the park covering about 9,375 square miles of New York state, even the most experienced hikers haven’t seen all this segment of the nation’s oldest mountain range has to offer. More than 2,000 miles of hiking trails, 3,000 lakes and countless memories to be made are just a hop, skip and a jump away from...
Learn MoreHurricane Irene hit the Catskills hard with heavy rains and strong winds. Some places received over 12 inches of rain, which created flooding that has exceeded historical records for almost all Catskill rivers. A number of Catskill communities including Windham, Tannersville, Margaretville, and Prattsville received catastrophic damage while almost every other community...
Learn MoreUpdated August 29, 2011 TRAIL ADVISORY (8/29): Hurricane Irene has created dangerous conditions across most of the Eastern Adirondacks including flooding, bridge wash outs, trail wash outs and blow down of trees and other debris. Back country travel is difficult, if not impossible, throughout much of the Eastern Adirondacks. Hikers and campers should expect to encounter...
Learn MoreThe origin of many hiking trails in NY State have their roots in the Native American-made paths to various hunting grounds. The intrepid artists of the Hudson River School used these trails to find beautiful panoramas to sketch and later paint in their studios. There is a wide variety of hiking trails, ranging from the most easy such as the paved and flat, like the path...
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I am Jeff Clark, founder of Internet Brothers, publisher of Meanderthals, and a passionate hiker. I live in western NC near the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains. Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests are just out my doorstep, so the content will focus on these areas, but let me know what you would like to see on the site. 
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