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Long Island Mountaineer

NEWSLETTER OF THE ADIRONDACK MOUNTAIN CLUB

LONG ISLAND CHAPTER SEPTEMBER — OCTOBER 2008

F or me, September is the beginning of the new year. That’s the student and the teacher in me.

During the summer months, I am refreshed and re-newed by indulging in a lot more outdoor play time, enjoying the longer days and maybe even getting in some lazy time. Then as September comes along, I look forward to a new year with new goals and maybe new challenges. (I will go to the gym more often...I will go back to doing my Catskill peaks...etc.) It’s like starting that new school notebook. (There’s the teacher in me again!) I can start fresh. In the chapter as well, fall allows us to start a new year with new challenges and fresh ideas. This year, the biggest change will be our meeting day. Our meetings, which have been on Thursdays since al-most forever, will now be on Wednesdays—the third Wednesday of the month. That’s going to take some getting adjusted to. We’ll publicize it as much as pos-sible on the ADK -LI website and our Yahoo Group listserv to remind you, and I hope that we won’t lose too many of you in the process. We may even gain a few people who always had other commitments on Thursdays. So start marking your calendar for ADK-LI meetings on the third Wednesday of the month, beginning on September 17th. New Day. Same time. Same place.

N ext, some of our very dedicated volunteers who help make this chapter vibrant, have changed.

After thoroughly enjoying editing the newsletter for five years, I have slowly eased Orrie Frutkin into that role. He brings to the job professional experience as a writer and editor. Who could be better for the job? His creativity will continue to make our newsletter something special to look forward to. Of course, he

President’s Corner Micheline Kagan

course, he needs your articles, photos, news and views to make the Mountaineer truly reflect our membership. For a long time, your trip reports, a special feature in the newsletter, have been compiled and edited by Laura Ter-williger. You may have noticed that since the last issue Ron Engasser has taken over that role. He was newslet-ter editor even before I was a member of the club, so he knows the importance of deadlines. Don’t forget to send him your trip reports.

W hat’s an ADK chapter without great outings? We have always had a variety of great outings, for the

last seven years, thanks to Sheila Lipshie, our Outings Coordinator. She reminded, cajoled, suggested outings and encouraged new leaders. Now, Sue Kenyon will be taking over that responsibility, and she has already shown her organizational skills by sending out a calendar to hike leaders to show what dates are available. Be prepared – Sue is going to be calling on you to get out there and lead. Last but not least, Goodie Frutkin has been doing an ex-cellent job as Membership Coordinator, in spite of her travels and increased grandmother responsibilities. Using her newly acquired mail merge skills, Goodie has been welcoming new members and following up with members who may be a little tardy in renewing. We love to greet new members, and would hate to lose you if you didn’t renew. Either way, you’ll hear from Goodie sooner or later. There are many more of you out there organizing and running events. We thank all of you for your time, effort and creativity that make ADK-LI run so smoothly. We are grateful for your hard work and proud of your accomplish-ments. We support you in your continuing efforts.

A New Year – and Some Changes

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www.adkli.org L.I. MOUNTAINEER — SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2008

Adirondack Mountain Club Long Island Chapter

2007-2008 Executive Committee

President

Micheline Kagan mfkagan@gmail.com

Vice President Bill Schneider

offsetbill4@optonline.net Treasurer

Nancy Hodson (516) 692 5754 Secretary

Christine Gillen (516) 671 3542 Director

Carol McHugh 718 423 4083 Alternate Director

Richard Maemone (516) 496 9127

Board of Directors Betty Horstmann (631) 472 9677

Bud Kazdan 631 549 5015 Steve Lander (516) 599 1092

Eric Markowitz (516) 364 5563 Eunsil Recksiek

eunsil.r@gmail.com Janine Schwartz (516) 560 7371

Committee Chairs

Conservation Position Open

Education Position Open

Hospitality Arlene Scholer (516) 354 0231

Mountaineer Micheline Kagan

mfkagan@gmail.com Orrie Frutkin

ofrutkin@yahoo.com Membership

Goodie Frutkin goodies2boots@yahoo.com

Outings Sue Kenyon

snowsusie88@yahoo.com Programs

Jeanne Millspaugh (516) 674 4897 Publicity

Sue Stricker (631) 470 2197 Publicity Flyers

Claudia Schellenberg cschelss@gmail.com

NYNJ Trail Conference Diane Grunthal

dgrunthal@yahoo.com Trail Maintenance

Pat Wachter (631) 893 0597 WebSite

Mike Vetrano webmaster@adkli.org

Young Members Group Janine Schwartz (516) 650-7371

People and Perspectives….

Arlene Scholer

Catskill Peak Experiences, Mountain-eering Tales of Endurance, Survival, Exploration and Adventure… This new book with 101 entries can now be yours from Amazon or Barnes & Noble! Amazon lists used and new copies from $13 to $15. The book compiles personal accounts of experiences in the Catskills under these chapter head-ings: Marathon Hikes, Misadventures, Wildlife Encounters, Wild Weather, Winter Adventuring, Lost in the Wilder-ness, Navigating the Wilderness, Reminiscences, Catskill Mountain Highs, and Catskill Mysteries (including the ADK-LI plaque quest.) ADK-LI members Tom Farre, Jerry Licht, Kathy Mario and I submitted entries for you to enjoy!

Perhaps you’ll laugh as I did when the adventures, predicaments and mishaps of others are similar to your own. These stories by hikers of all abilities cover several decades. At one time, it was common for private homes to pro-vide food and a place to stay. One writer was a recipient of the Becker family’s hospitality. In 1922, he went to the mountains by rail as far as Palen-ville. Then, as he continued walking to his destination, he came to “the home of the Becker family. Mr. Becker and his younger son worked the farm; the older son was the firewatcher on Hunter Mountain. He would walk to work by the trail named after his family and that went straight up to the summit fire tower.” You can still enjoy the Becker Hollow trail on the east side of Hunter from Rt. 114.

One story from 1912 relates the hospi-tality available in the area south of Peekamoose. Sundown, Vernoy Falls and the Red Hill Fire Tower are well known to Vera Allen and her late hus-band Dick, who plotted the trail over Bangle Mountain there. I recall being on trail maintenance trips over Bangle Hill 30 years ago and learning of Dick’s historic role. Red Hill has long been the summer turf for Helen & George Elias who were instrumental in saving the

Red Hill Fire Tower. ADK-LI has been active in the Catskills for many decades.

Oysters Aren’t Just for Eating…According to an article in the New York Times (February 24, 2008), scientists now know that as an adult oyster feeds, it can filter five to 50 gallons of water a day, depending on its size and the water temperature. The shellfish absorb nitro-gen, algae and bacteria, and deposit them in the water’s bottom sediment. Next spring, oysters will be introduced to Hendrix Creek in Jamaica Bay, Brooklyn to stay in place for three years. The creek is small enough for a modest number of oysters and ribbed mussels to have a measurable effect. The NYC DEC says any reduction in nitrogen will be considered an accomplishment, as will the creation of a self-sustaining habitat in the Bay for oysters and other species.

Save a Tree, Save ADK-LI Postage and Save Waiting Time…Sign up for the e-Mountaineer and receive the newsletter via e-mail in full color before the print version is out. Just send Mich-eline an e-mail at mfkagan@gmail.com. Include your name and postal zip code.

Almost for free! Eric Jaklitsch has moved to Florida and left some hiking gear for me to sell for him. He says the items were used once or not at all. Ex-amine them at an ADK -LI meeting. Lowe Alpine pack with features to carry snowshoes or crampons; LL Bean Sorel-type boots (men’s 10 medium); and Tubbs snowshoes (new in ’06) with crampons. Take advantage of a unique financial offering!!

Adirondack musings! These are quotes taken from “No Place I’d Rather Be…Wit and Wisdom from Adirondack Lean-to Journals”…Different opinions: “Brought my sister, her first time in the park. Didn’t like it. Imagine that! My heaven, her hell. Go figure!” And this cooking tip: ”Boil spaghetti water; add spaghetti; let boil till soft; strain water off through crack in lid; dump spaghetti on ground; rinse & serve.” Hunger helps us ignore so much!

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www.adkli.org L.I. MOUNTAINEER — SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2008

Important News from NY/NJ Trail Conference:

Diane Grunthal, our representative to the NY/NJ Trail Conference, relayed this information about some of the popular trails in Bear Mountain Park .

Hikers planning outings in Bear Mountain State Park in the fall are advised that the Popolopen Gorge Trail, including the co-aligned trails (Timp Torne, 1777W & 1779) on the south side of the Popolopen Brook and along both sides of Queensboro Creek, will be closed for approximately six months. The closures will likely begin in October as the parks department replaces the water main between the water filtration plant at Queensboro Lake and the storage tank at Bear Mountain State Park. This water main supplies all of the Bear Mountain complex, the NYS Bridge Authority, and park resi-dences at the bridge circle and in Fort Montgomery. The water main generally follows the route of the Popolopen Gorge Trail. There will be disturbance to the trail from the construction, and the trail will be closed while the project is going on. The project’s plan includes restora-tion of the trail and extensive landscape plantings to replace trees and shrubs removed during construction. A start date for construction is not yet firm, but officials anticipate that the majority of the work will be completed between October 2008 and April 2009. Because the project’s start date is still unknown, park officials suggest that hike leaders who plan to hike along the Popolopen Gorge Trail, as well as the Timp Torne, 1777W or 1779 Trails, have an alternate hike plan in place as of October. Be sure to check for updates in advance of your hike at the Trail Conference website (www.nynjtc.org) or call Bear Mountain State Park at (845) 786-2701.

Education Chairperson

Needed Micheline’s President’s Message cites the ADK-LI members who have recently stepped up to volunteer in key roles that keep our club going. One more important position remains open:

• E d u c a t i o n C h a i r p e r s o n Help members increase their knowledge, skills and enjoyment of outdoor activities. Present and/or coordinate workshops, programs, demos and other events. Some examples: teaching map and compass skills; backpacking for beginners; how to select and maintain a bicycle; etc. The Education Chairperson should also help inform members of ADK’s education activities and opportunities. If you are interested in the position of Education Chairperson, or any other

volunteer activity, please contact Micheline Kagan, mfkagan@gmail.com or

(718) 746-4753

Michelle Abbondondelo, Albertson

Beverley Bell, Glen Head James & Anne Gallagher,

Garden City Catherine Krueger, East Northport Wanjae & Jungja Lee, Huntington Paula Lillie & Thomas McDarby,

Rockville Centre George Martin, East Meadow

Rosemary Meierdiercks, Oyster Bay Jean & Walter Melnick, Flushing

Matthew & Judy Novet, Massapequa James & Marianne Nuss, North Bellmore

Laura & Efren Vaca, Great River Dora Valves, Freeport Diane Weber, Seaford

Diane White & Tod Orosz, Valley Stream John & Maureen White, Blue Point

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

Popolopen Gorge Trail to Close in Fall 2008

Six Month Closure for Water Main Replacement Project Includes Timp Torne, 1777W and 1779 Trails As Well.

Bear Sightings in Harriman The following message was circulated on August 10th by a member of the group that does weekday “dog-friendly” hikes in and near Harriman/Bear Moun-tain. It sounds like the bears were in the same trail area that will soon be closed:

I had two bear sightings today...one, a large adult, on the Timp-Torne (blue) trail coming down from the Timp going toward the Timp Pass Road. This bear was not deterred by banging or whistle-blowing and was start-ing to move in our direction when we went off trail and bushwacked around it. We surmised that it was more interested in all the blueberries, and so we moved to an area devoid of them.

The second sighting was an hour later at the West Mountain shelter. This time it was a younger bear – not a cub, but more an adolescent bear. It also was not deterred by noise. At that point, we gave up and went back down to the Timp Pass Road and out on the 1777 trails. A little unnerving to see bears who aren't afraid of us! Art Almeida

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www.adkli.org L.I. MOUNTAINEER — SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2008

OUTING RULES AND PROCEDURES REGISTRATION FOR ALL OUTINGS IS REQUIRED. Call several days in advance if you have any questions. Leaders accept reservations on a first-come, first-served basis after the outing is officially listed in the Mountaineer or on the Outings page at www.adkli.org.

Leaders may refuse to take anyone not registered or prepared. Registered participants are expected to show up or call the leader to cancel. Simply sending or leaving a message does not constitute registration. If you do not receive a reply to your message, it is your responsibility to follow up and contact with the leader prior to the deadline for registration.

Guests are welcome on all outings. Where space is limited, member of the ADK Long Island chapter will have priority. If you go on two or more outings, please help sup-port the Adirondack Mountain Club and the Long Island chapter by becoming a member.

GROUND RULES

Minors (younger than 18 years) must have the signed permission of a parent or guardian. All participants are responsible for their own safety and comfort. Food, snacks, water and extra clothing/raingear must be carried by the participant. Check with hike leader to learn of any special requirements for the hike. Hiking boots are recom-mended for all ADK hikes.

UPDATED CARPOOL RATES A $5 surcharge will be added to the following suggested guidelines whenever gasoline prices are more than $4 per gallon. Carpool rates shown are for roundtrip per rider: East End $10, Harriman $18, Shawangunks $25, Catskills $35, Adirondacks $60 (all rates for roundtrip.) For upstate rides: If 2 riders, deduct $2 each; 3 riders de-duct $3 each; 4 riders deduct $4 each from these rates. Drivers set the final rate. Leaders should try to equalize number of riders in each car.

HIKE CLASSIFICATIONS

(Hike classifications are subjective. If you are uncertain if you are up to the hike, consult the leader.) A: Strenuous, long distances over rugged terrain with lots of climbing or more than 35 miles on bike. B: Moderate, shorter distances with less climbing or 10-30 miles on bike. Moderate hikes may have some steep climbing and/or rugged terrain, but are less demanding than strenuous hikes. C: Easy, short distance over flat terrain at a leisurely pace or 10 miles or less on bike. Suitable for beginners .

• B Informal weekday hikes throughout the year on a more-or-less regular basis. Dates and destinations to be determined a few days before each hike. Call to let us know you’re interested, and we’ll notify you of plans. Sheila Lipshie, (516) 349-7910 day

or evening before 9 p.m.

• B+ September 6 Saturday. Hilburn Torne Sebago (HTS) Trail in Harriman Park. Tenth in a series of end-to-end hikes. 10 miles starting at Reeves Brook Visitor Center. We take the Pine Meadow trail, switch to the 7 Hills Trail and hike the 5.6 mile HTS Trail from end to end, switch to the Stony Brook Trail and return to the Visitors Center on the Pine Meadow Trail. Three terrific climbs and great views throughout the day. Con-tact Stu Levy at (516) 759-9388 or sroli@aol.com by Friday September 5 before 10 p.m.

• A- September 6 Saturday. Twin Mountain in the Catskills. Strenuous 4.4 miles with elevation gain of 1,740’. We’ll start our hike with a dabble at Dibble’s

Quarry on the Pecoy Notch Trail and continue on to the outstanding views from the summits of

Twin Mountain via the famous Devil’s Path. Be ready for some steep climbing and linger-

ing on the summit to celebrate the leader’s completion of his 39th peak for membership in the Catskill 3500 Club. Leave room in your pack for some of the cele-bratory beer & pretzels! Contact leader Bill Schneider, offsetbill4@optonline.net or (516) 378-3043, 7-10 p.m.

• C September 7 Sunday afternoon. Sands Point Preserve (north of Manhasset, part of Port Washing-ton.) The woodland and waterfront are cool options. Great for families and new hikers. Contact Arlene Scholer, (516 )354-0231 only by phone before 9 p.m. and no later than midday Saturday, September 6.

• C September 13 Saturday. Kayak Cold Spring Har-bor. We will paddle in the harbor from the boat launch on Route 25A, with lunch on West Neck Beach in Lloyd Harbor. Equipment rentals available from Ken Fink of Kayaken Outfitters, $35 for a single kayak. Co-leaders Pat Tauber, (516) 248-1236, and Tom Farre, (631) 427-4795 after 6 p.m. or tom@tomfarre.com.

LONG ISLAND ADK OUTING SCHEDULE FOR SEPTEMBER—OCTOBER 2008 HIKE LEADERS: To list a hike, contact Sue Kenyon at snowsusie88@yahoo.com. Following the outing, be sure to send the “Release of Liability Form” to: Sue Kenyon 25 Foxwood Drive, Huntington Station, NY 11746 . Also send “Trip Report” to Ron Engasser at usron@juno.com or 73 Matsunaye Drive, Medford, NY 11763

Forms for leaders can be downloaded from www.adkli.org. Click on “For Leaders.”

HIKERS: Be sure to check www.adkli.org for additional outings, which may be added from time to time!

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www.adkli.org L.I. MOUNTAINEER — SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2008

About 5 miles depending upon the group. Contact leader Nancy Hodson, (516) 692-5754 or email nancyhodson64@yahoo.com by Saturday, Sept. 27.

• B September 28 Sunday. Pie Ride. The legen-dary Joan Gossner "Pie Ride." Since some of us missed Joan’s unique, enjoyable, and challenging (for some, like me) "pie ride" the last few times she did it, we need our "fix." I’ll lead us on Joan’s route to sample homemade pies at the Briermere Farms fruit and pie stand. Ap-proximately 24 miles with some hills on the North Fork with the option for an additional 10 miles to swim in the Sound, lounge under the trees, sleep, read, or eat more pie. For start time and location contact Joanne Malecki (516) 810-5318 by Friday, September 26.

• B October 4 Saturday. Pine Meadow Trail in Har-riman Park. Twelfth in a series of end-to-end hikes. 7.5 miles starting at Reeves Brook Visitor Center and backtracking 0.9 of a mile to the start of the trail by the Thruway, then hiking the complete Pine Meadow Trail and finishing by the Ramapo Eques-trian Center near Route 202. We'll have a pleasant stop by Pine Meadow Lake and get a chance to view the horses at the Center. Contact Stu Levy (516) 759-9388 or sroli@aol.com by Friday October 4 before 10 p.m.

• B+ October 4 Saturday. Anthony's Nose, Hud-son Highlands. Take in the views of the Hudson River as we step out of our cars and start the climb right behind the Bear Mountain Bridge. From there, a trip on the Appalachian Trail will bring us near the old mine. This is a joint ADK-LI and Mid-Hudson Young Members Groups hike open to all. Contact leader (Long Island) Janine Schwartz littlemancraig@yahoo.com or (Mid-Hudson) David Koehler mh.adk.ymg@gmail.com

• C+ October 5 Sunday afternoon. Greenbelt Trail. Start in Cold Spring Harbor. Great for families and energetic new hikers. We'll do a circular trip as far as the group desires. Contact Arlene Scholer, (516) 354-0231 only by phone before 9 p.m. and no later than midday Sat-urday, October 4.

• October 10-13 Friday-Monday. 30th Annual ADK-LI Columbus Day Weekend at Adirondak Loj. Full. Contact Betty Horstmann for possible last minute openings: (631) 472 9677

• A October 18 Saturday. To the Big Apple by Bike. Approximately 45 miles. Starting at the Cold Spring Harbor train station we will cycle west follow-

• A- September 13-14 Saturday and Sunday. Fir and Big Indian Mountains. Moderately paced Catskill trail hike and short bushwhack. Fir on Saturday, elevation 3620 ft.; Big Indian on Sunday, elevation 3700 ft. Come for one or come for the weekend. Contact leader June Fait, june.-.herb@att.net or (718) 634-5463 by September 11.

• B September 13-14 Saturday and Sunday. Harriman Appalachian Trail weekend. Backpack trip, Elk Pen in Arden to the Bear Mountain Bridge (19.9 miles), spending Saturday night at the William Brien Memorial Shelter. Option to park a car at Silvermine parking area (1.5 mile hike out on the Memonime trail) for those staying at a local motel or hiking for just the day. Sun-day morning hike back to the shelter to rejoin the group. Contact leader Mike Vaughan mi-chael.vaughan@sunysb.edu, (631) 689-5435 (home), (631) 632-8030 (work) or (631) 495-6888 (cell, leave message) by September 12.

• September 17 Wednesday. Monthly Meeting. Note the new day for ADK-LI meetings: third Wednesday of the month; 8 p.m., socializing and refreshments from 7:30.

• A September 20 Saturday. Timp-Torne Trail from End-To End. Eleventh in a series of end-to-end hikes. 11.15 miles starting on Route 9W near Jones Point and ending at Fort Montgomery. The climbs to the Timp, West Mountain and the Torne are challenging but worth the effort with magnificent views. An option at the end of the hike is to do a self-guided walking tour of historical Fort Montgomery. Contact Stu Levy (516) 759-9388 or sroli@aol.com by Friday September 19 before 10 p.m.

• B Sunday Sept 21. Storm King State Park. A short (3 miles or so) but hilly hike to view points over the Hudson. Rain cancels. Leader Micheline Kagan (718) 746 4753 call before 10 p.m. by Friday, 9/19

• A- September 27 Saturday. Graham. Moderately paced Catskill trail hike and short bushwhack. Ascent 1360 ft; Elevation 3868 ft. Contact Jeff Ritter (718) 279-3431 by Thursday, September 25 before 10 pm.

• C September 27 Saturday Blydenburgh Park. Enjoy the crisp fall air with this 5.7 mile easy and mostly flat hike around Stump Pond in Blydenburgh Park

in Smithtown. Ideal for new members/new hikers. Contact Joan Gossner, (631) 689-3070, by Friday, September 26 before 9 p.m.

• C September 28 Sunday. Caumsett State Park. Enjoy a leisurely walk in one of Long Island's most scenic spots. Woodlands, marsh, beach, mead-ows, a fresh water lake overlooking LI Sound. The for-mer Marshall Field II estate has it all on 1750 acres.

Beginners/ New Members

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Beginners/ New Members

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out for some fall fun and hot cider. Bring a child or the child within! For details, contact LI Leader Janine Schwartz at littleman-craig@yahoo.com or Mid-Hudson Leader Dave Koehler mh.adk.ymg@gmail.com

• B Saturday November 1. Fahnestock State Park. Per-kins Trail goes though private farm lands where we may encounter sheep, cows, and horses. The last time I came here, I thought I was in England with just enough of a sprinkle to make it realistic. Hope it doesn’t rain this time. A lovely easy hike. Leader Micheline Kagan. Call (718) 746 4753 before 10 p.m. by Friday 10/31.

• C November 2 Sunday. Annual Jack Gebel Memorial Hike. Connetquot and Heckscher State Parks, distance and starting point to be determined, depending on number and skill level of participants. Will observe a demonstra-tion/presentation at the Connetquot Fish Hatchery, as part of the hike. Use tick repellent and sun screen; bring lunch, snacks, water, and camera. Register by October 31 with Joanne Malecki, (516) 810-5318. Start at 10 a.m. EST. Don't forget the time change. It's the end of "Give Wildlife a Brake Week," which is especially important if you’re planning to cruise Heckscher State Park for sunset views after the hike!. Come to honor Jack's memory, and enjoy a beautiful day!

• November 19, Wednesday, Monthly Meeting. Program: “Sailing Around the World” Bob Bennett will tell us about his two-year voyage around the world that started from Long Island

www.adkli.org L.I. MOUNTAINEER — SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2008

ing the back roads of the North Shore’s Gold Coast. In western Nassau, we will come close to the route of the old Motor Parkway, and finally as we enter Queens, we will ride the “green emerald,” a necklace of park-land across the borough including the Vanderbilt Park-way and through the old World Fair Grounds. Then it’s on through the neighborhoods of western Queens on exclusive bike lanes. Huff and puff across the spec-tacular Queensboro Bridge, take a brief spin into Cen-tral Park and down the Hudson River bike path to Penn Station. Return to Cold Spring Harbor by LIRR. $5 bike permit required, http://www.mta.info/lirr/pubs/bicyclep.htm. Contact leader Lanny Wexler: (516) 644-5867 7-10 p.m. or highpt40@optonline.net. Rain date: Sunday, October 19. Limited to 8 riders. Helmet re-quired.

• B October 18 Saturday. Victory Trail/Parker Cabin Hollow Trail in Harriman Park. Thirteenth in a series of end-to-end hikes. 9.35 miles starting on Rte 106 on the Victory Trail from end-to-end, switching to the R-D, Triangle Trail, back to the Victory Trail, switch to the White Cross Trail, back to the R-D Trail, over to the White Bar Trail and finish with the Parker Cabin Hol-low Trail from end-to-end. There is a nice stop by Lake Skenonto and a few great views along the way. Con-tact Stu Levy 516-759-9388 or sroli@aol.com by Fri-day October 4 before 10 pm.

• A October 19 Sunday. Sherrill and North Dome in Catskills. 6.5 mile strenuous bushwhack and through- hike from Route 42. Car shuttle required. Ascent 2500 feet, elevations 3540, 3610, respectively. Wear bush-whack gear and bring extra water as there is no water on the route. Contact leader Elie Bijou (718) 377-2990, 3-9 p.m., Fridays, noon-6 p.m. Or by e-mail to adirondacks@verizon.net by October 17.

• October 23, Thursday. ADK-LI Annual Dinner. Bonwit Inn, Commack, NY, 7 p.m. (Members and their guest only.) Sit-down dinner, election of officers, and raffle. For details, see ad in Mountaineer newsletter.

• B October 25 Saturday. Leaf Peeper's De-light. Eight to 10 mile hike to an area with the most colorful foliage in the Hudson Highlands. Contact Jeff Ritter (718) 279-3431 before 10 p.m. by Thursday, October 23.

• B October 25 Saturday. Annual Fall Trail Clearing on Our Section of the Long Path at Schunemunk Mountain. About four miles with trimming and cutting along the way. Good views from the top with fall colors showing. Bring lopping or pruning shears if you have them. No go in rain. Contact leader Pat Wachter (631) 669-6450 before 9 p.m.

• C October 26 Sunday. Young Members Group Pumpkin Picking and Fall Festivities. All are wel-come. Hike or bike depending on the weather. Come

Beginners/ New Members

PLAN AHEAD

Election of ADK-LI Officers ADK-Long Island’s bylaws call for officers to be elected each year at the Annual Dinner, which will occur this year on October 23rd. The slate of officers is to be posted in the September—October issue of the Moun-taineer. Here is this year’s slate:

President: Micheline Kagan Vice President: Bill Schneider Treasurer: Nancy Hodson

Secretary: Christine Gillen Board of Directors (serve two-year term): Eric Markowitz and Janine Schwartz ( to serve

a second term) and Joan Hitz

Carol McHugh and Richard Maemone will continue as director and alternate director to the Main Club. Many thanks to Bud Kazdan, who served two terms on the Board of Directors. His contributions are very much appreciated.

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Looking Back Ron Engasser MAIL TRIP REPORTS: Ron Engasser, 73 Matsunaye Drive,

Medford, NY 11763. E-mail: usron@juno.com

www.adkli.org L.I. MOUNTAINEER — SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2008

THURSDAY to SUNDAY MAY 23 to 25 — CHICAGO WALK Leader Ron Engasser, Gaylaw Faquah and Kia Sumakah traveled on the Kentucky Cardinal train south to Washington DC and west through the mountains of Virginia and Kentucky, and then on to Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. The journey through the night was illu-minated by chemical plants spew-ing 12-foot flames of waste gas. In Chicago, the Memorial Day parade provided the day’s entertainment. Our return trip was on the Capitol City Limited train. A group of Men-nonite farmers on vacation were as entertaining as the scenery we were passing through the Pennsyl-vania mountains. Kia Somakah, who is part Mescalero Indian, also provided interesting commentary. This trip was packed with interest-ing people and sights.

JUNE 7 — WHITE BAR TRAIL END-TO-END 0n the hottest day of the year, when even the bugs needed suntan lotion, Stu Levy led Rich Fram, Wan Lee, Bill Schnei-der, Richard Golden, Dawn Sarno, Sue Kenyon, Judi Odishoo, Ron Hamilton, Ginny Armstrong, Zahra Asadi, Cathy Krueger, Eric Marko-witz and Robert Spiegel on Harri-man’s White Bar Trail from end to end. Starting at Lake Skanatati, we took the ASB trail for 2.55 miles and switched to the White Bar Trail for the next 7.4 miles to Johnsontown Circle. The day included some nice climbs to the two 1,100-ft summits of Car Pond Mountain and the sad-dle of Parker Cabin Mountain. As the day wore on, a few of the hikers were having trouble with the heat and the climbs, so we went into a survival mode. To make sure that everybody was well hydrated, we shared our water and Gatorade. We were able to get everybody slowly

to the finish. The group was great as they helped their fellow hikers.

SAT JUNE 14 — NORTH FORK BIKE RIDE and STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL On a hot and humid Saturday, Lanny Wexler, "King Strawberry," led Joy Chang, Kevin Chan, Melvin Rodriguez, Janine Schwartz, Richard Golden, Denis Stricker, Dawn Sarno, Kathleen Berger, Ceri Rice, Joan Barnes, Paul Waldvogel, Keith Cataldo, Rich Mardosa, Ken Moreire, Evan-gelia Karakatsanis and Aileen Chou on a 30-mile bike ride on the quiet back roads of the North Fork of Long Island. The group stopped at the bluffs overlooking a hazy Long Island Sound to see Horton Point's Lighthouse. After a stop at a deli, the group ate lunch at a tranquil beach. The ride continued along the peaceful rural roads of Bayview. There was one surprise along the way; when a Northern Black Racer Snake wriggled into action as the lead bikes approached and nearly ran over the snake. The heat got to the riders, and the group cut the ride a little short and headed to the Strawberry Festival. This was the 54th Annual Mattituck Strawberry Festival, run by the local Lions Club. It is one big carnival with a large midway with games, rides and vendors selling their wares. Our group breezed right by this and made a beeline to the tent where luscious strawberry shortcake with fresh strawberries and whip cream was being sold for $5 a hunk. Mm, mm good! See ya next year!

JUNE 19 — FISHKILL RIDGE CONSERVATION AREA After a peaceful 10-minute walk in the quiet woods, Sue and Denis Stricker, Sheila Lipshie, Judy Adams, Arlene Scholer and Yoshiko Takeshita

(leader) ascended the steep slope called Hell's Hollow (600-ft vertical gain in less than 1/2 mile). Once we reached the ridge at 1,100 feet, the walk on the woods road became easy with occasional mild ups and downs. The weather was beautiful. The temperature was in mid 70s, the sky was blue, and the air was dry. Mountain laurels were in full bloom in pink and white. Seven tur-key vultures circled over us then flew down in the valley below us. From the top of Lambs Hill (1,500 feet,) we enjoyed panoramic views of the Hudson and the Devils Path of the Catskills. We completed the 3-mile loop trail on the ridge, re-traced the steep downhill of Hell's Hollow, and walked back to our car.

JUNE 21 — SEVEN HILLS TRAIL END-TO-END Stu Levy led Dave Koehler, Bill Schneider, Christine Gillen, Eric Markowitz, Rosemary Meierdiecks, Mohinder Singh, Rich Fram, Ginny Armstrong, Ron Hamil-ton, Lenny Wetzlar, Jim Ansel, Zahra Asadi and Michael Crowell on the Seven Hills Trail from end to end. Starting for two-tenths of a mile on the Pine Meadow Trail, we switched to the Seven Hills Trail and began our quest over the seven hills with a slight detour to the Ramapo Torne. The hand-over-hand climbs and descents were amazing as the leader promised a steak dinner for anyone who could answer a simple quiz. As hard as they tried, the group could not com-plete the quiz correctly. Due to an ankle injury to one of the hikers, the hike took a little longer then normal but everybody completed the route, ending by the shore of Lake Sebago.

JUNE 28 — L. I. PIE RIDE Leader Joan Gossner led Maureen and John White, Katharine Hein, Robert

Continued on page 10

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www.adkli.org L.I. MOUNTAINEER — SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2008

Looking Back continued

Go to the Head of the line! Get the Mountaineer first — by e-mail! You’ll get it sooner. And ADK-LI will save on printing & mailing, our biggest expense! Get a head start. Send your name and zip code to Micheline: mfkagan@gmail.com

Piazza, Richard Mendosa, Jeanine Schwartz, Rich Travis, Tom Farre, Keith Cataldo, Kathleen Berger, Jeanne Millspaugh, Paul Waldvogel, Robert Waldvo-gel, Vita Pulver, Kayla Pulver, Brooke Pulver, Andria Miller, Rich Halloran and John Lewandowski as we rolled out of Mattituck and headed to Briermere Farms in Riverhead. We cycled along a quiet back road with views of Peconic Bay, creeks, marinas and farms. At Briermere, the aromas and great variety of the pies made choosing a challenge, but we decided on peach, raspberry-cherry and blackberry-apple. After indulging, we headed back past the Northville tanks with a brief stop at the Pier Avenue Beach, and then south on Manor Lane through vineyards and a horse farm. We completed the 24 mile circuit with ease.

JULY 11 — EAST HUDSON HIGHLANDS Yoshiko Takeshita led Herb Coles, Judy Odishoo, June Fait and Sheila Lipshie on an approximately 7-mile hike in the northern section of the East Hudson Highlands. We started from the trailhead on NY Route 9D in the City of Beacon, climbing a steel stairway followed by steep uphills (a 1300-ft. vertical gain in ¾ mile.) We stopped at the concrete platform where the Mount Beacon Incline Railway station had been until it ceased operation in 1978. The Railway used to carry guests to the casino at the top of the mountain. It has now been added to the National Register of Historic Places. We took the moderate woods trails up to South Beacon Mountain (at 1,610 feet, the highest point in the Hudson High-lands) where we had a relaxing lunch at the foot of the fire tower. We then continued on the Wilkinson Trail to Fishkill Ridge Trail, climbing Lambs Hill (1500 feet). The sky was hazy and the views of the Catskills and the Manhattan skyline were not as clear as we had hoped. After a short rest, we traveled two knee-jerking miles down the hills to the steel stairway and then to our cars. Although the humid and intense upper-80° heat made this moderate hike rather exhausting, we enjoyed the views of the majestic Hudson, the cities of Beacon and Newburgh, Storm King Mountain and more, as well as each other’s good company.

JULY 12 — BLUE DISC/WHITE CROSS TRAILS END-TO-END Stu Levy led Dave Koehler, Eric Markowitz, Rich Fram, Pat Tomaselli, Joan Kelly, Mike Vaughan, Lenny Wetzlar, Judi Odishoo and Rosemary Meierdiercks in Southern Harriman Park.

Starting on the Blue Disc Trail at Johnsontown Circle, we climbed to the top of Almost Perpendicular, squeezed through Elbow Brush, passed by Claudius Smith’s Den and completed the end-to-end hike of the Blue Disc Trail at Tri Corner. We then switched to the R-D Trail, climbed Black Ash Mountain and the shoul-der of Parker Cabin Mountain where we picked up the White Cross Trail. This trail was like hiking through the jungle as it was in need of grooming, but we did com-plete an end-to-end hike of this trail, too. Upon arriving back at Claudius Smith’s Den, we voted to extend the hike a bit as we switched to the TMI trail and White Bar Trail, which brought us back to Johnsontown Cir-cle. It was a warm, but beautiful day.

AUGUST 3 — PADDLING STONY BROOK HARBOR Leader Nancy Hodson, Mike Hodson, Maria Smit, Alice Peckelis, Micheline Kagan, Hope Director, Orrie and Goodie Frutkin, Sherry Buch, Gayle Strauss, Tom and Barbara Reilly, Ann Ostling, Gloria Benitez, Robert Majovski, and Ross Moore enjoyed perfect weather for a scenic paddling tour of Stony Brook Harbor. Bob’s Canoe Rental trans-ported 10 kayaks from Smithtown to a public launch spot near the Stony Brook Yacht club. We circumnavigated the harbor, stopping for lunch at a picnic area at the western end. We saw lots of egrets and swans, fishermen, and sailboats. It was not windy at first, and we enjoyed the beautiful day at a leisurely pace. On the way back, we had some wind and boat wakes to contend with. The large group stayed together and made it back tired, but happy to have had a good experience.

Micheline, our paddling Prez on Stony Brook Harbor. Photo: Maria Smit

Hilltop Acres Resort Jewett, NY

Small resort near Hunter Mountain in the Catskills. Beautiful mountain views. Private lake and woods.

Ideal for hiking, skiing or a relaxing getaway. Central European cuisine.

Modestly priced. Open all year.

Tel: 518.734.4580 www.windham-area.com/hilltopacres.htm

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www.adkli.org L.I. MOUNTAINEER — SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2008

I n July, a dozen canoeists and kayakers from our chapter took part in ADK’s annual Summer Canoe

Outing in the Adiron-dack’s St. Regis Ca-noe Area, the largest wilderness canoe area in the northeast.

For more than 25 years, Canoe Outing has attracted ADK paddlers to the re-gion’s pristine lakes,

ponds and rivers. Participants can stay for one or two of the six-day sessions.

Our base camp was at Paul Smith’s College on the shore of Lower St. Regis Lake. We bunked in a dorm and had surprisingly good chow for breakfast and dinner in the student cafeteria, plus a brown-bag lunch of sand-wiches, snacks and drinks to take along.

E ach day, experienced leaders offered a choice

of several outings, ranging from easy to moderate with an occasional more demand-ing trip that might require multiple portages or ad-vanced paddling skills. Every outing mixed challenges and pleasures, whether it was paddling into the wind, heav-ing our boats over beaver dams and blown-down trees, or swimming at a secluded beach.

Sue & Denis Stricker’s division of labor.

The paddling was exquisite. At times, we glided in silence, the better to appreciate the beauty around us. The scope of visual delights varied from the intimate (seeing a tiny orchid on the bank) to the spectacu-lar (watching storm clouds come over the mountains.) We saw solitary loons and fami-lies, and heard their eerie call across the lakes. We spotted great blue herons, kingfishers, ospreys, hawks, and, on our last day, a magnificent bald eagle.

W hether you’re an experienced canoeist or kayaker, or a novice, watch for the announcement of the

2009 ADK Canoe Outing in Adirondac magazine or at www.adk.org toward the end of this year. Reservations are a little tricky, since your application must be received no earlier than a specified date in January, but not too late, or you may not get a place. Bring your own canoe or kayak or rent one nearby. Novices can take a basic paddling les-son at the start of each six-day session.

Day’s end at Canoe Outing. Photo: Manfred Noack

Orrie & Goodie can smile after leaders Manfred & Gisela Noack got them past huge blow-down. Photo: Manfred Noack

12 ADK-LI Paddlers Put In at ADK Summer Canoe Outing

Photo: Manfred Noack

Up and over a beaver dam - with help.

Day’s end at Canoe Outing. Photo: Manfred Noack

Sheila Lipshie on a stretch of quiet water. Other LIers at ADK Canoe Outing: Patricia Belikis, Herb Coles, June Fait, Goodie and Orrie Frutkin, Micheline Kagan, Alice Peckelis, Jim Romansky, Denis and Sue Stricker, and Bill Wallis.

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www.adkli.org L.I. MOUNTAINEER — SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2008

JOIN NOW! ADK Membership Application

Name_________________________________________

Address________________________________________

City______________________State__Zip+4__________

E-mail_________________________________________

NOTE: Your email address will not be distributed to outside or-ganizations.

X Yes, I want to join as an ADK Long Island Chapter

member. Please choose a membership level

0 Individual $50 0 Family $60 0 Individual Life $1,300 0 Student $40 * *School____________________________

For Family membership only: Spouse__________________________________

Child (under 18) __________________________

Child ___________________________________

Child____________________________________

I would like to give a tax-deductible gift in addition to my membership. $_______

___Check enclosed (U.S. funds only)

Please bill my __Visa ___MC card

Account No. ___________________Exp. Date______

Signature____________________________________

Send this form with payment to: Adirondack Mountain Club, 814 Goggins Road Lake George, NY 12845-4117 ...or bring it to a Long Island Chapter meeting.

ADK is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization. Membership fees are tax deductible as allowed by law. Please allow 6-8 weeks to receive first issue of Adirondac magazine and Mountaineer newsletter.

0 Senior (65+) $40 0 Senior Family (65+) $50 0 Family Life $1,950

It just wouldn’t be the same without you. When it’s time to renew your ADK-LI membership, please do it promptly. You don’t want to miss out on the outings, weekends, travel, discounts, Adirondac magazine, the L.I. Mountaineer, and more. And we don’t want to miss you. Send your renewal to the address in the form above.

ADK-LI Plays Jones Beach Theater

“Opens” at Pre-concert Eco-Village A trio of ADK-Long Island members put on a great show at Jones Beach Theater on July 31st before a rock concert by

Maroon 5 and Count-ing Crows. Janine Schwartz, Kathleen Ryan-Berger and Jeanne Millspaugh hosted an ADK/ADK-LI display table at the Eco-Village, the “green” space at the Theater created by Reverb, a non-profit organization

that educates and en-gages musicians and their fans to promote environmental sustain-

ability. Reverb invited local organizations, including ADK, to display where concert-goers could learn more about our goals and activities. To lure people to the display table, the parent ADK club offered a raffle for lifetime club member-ship worth $1,300. The drawing will be held in May, 2009. ADK’s Deputy Executive Director John Million, and Deb Zack, Director of Membership and Development, saw this participation as potentially a “big break” to interact with the important younger population, and possibly to attract pro-spective members. But our chapter had to act fast. “It was short notice,” says Janine, “but within a week, Deb, Micheline, Arlene and Goodie sent me bulletin boards, pic-ture displays, newsletters, membership forms and raffle tickets.” On the afternoon of the big night, Janine, Kathleen and Jeanne assembled the materials into an eye-catching presentation that attracted some inquiries as concert-goers rushed into the theater.

“It was a unique opportunity to share information and meet new people. Thanks to all who had a part in this....and hopefully, we sparked some new interest in ADK-LI.” In return for their initiative and effort, the trio was treated to attendance at the concert. Their enthusiasm is evident in Janine’s post-concert review, “Kathleen, Jeanne and I were the first to respond to Micheline’s call for volunteers,” Janine explains excitedly, “so we were the lucky three. It truly was an awesome experience!”

ADK-LI ROCKS! Jeanne Millspaugh, Kathleen Ryan-Berger and Janine Schwartz hosting an ADK display at Jones Beach Theater rock concert.

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www.adkli.org L.I. MOUNTAINEER — SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2008

Gear Report Do you have a new piece of outdoor-related gear that might be of interest to other members? Tell us about it in a brief report – with a photo, if possible. Send your Gear Report to: ofrutkin@yahoo.com

BANANA BUNKER®

Bananas would be a tasty, nutritious delicacy on the trail, if they weren’t so darned delicate. The Banana Bunker lets you take your mellow yellow nosh without having it turn to mush in your pack. The Bunker is a semi-rigid, protective plastic case that’s pleated, so it can flex to accommodate most bananas. Openings at both ends let air circulate, so the fruit stays fresh, but does not get over-ripe quickly. I have been using a Banana Bunker for about a year, and it really does work. Plus it’s a great conversation piece at lunch breaks. The down-side: a) it looks like a sex toy; and b) it’s pretty expensive for what it is: $5.00 at the Museum of Modern Art shop (no kidding), or from www.bananabunker.com Orrie KAHTOOLA MICROspikes™ MICROspikes are a new traction aid that may give Stabilicers a run for their money. Grip on

ice, packed snow, wet rocks, etc. is provided by 3/8” stainless steel spikes connected to a flexible “dynamic” chain that is held in place by an elastomer harness that stretches over a boot or shoe. They are

very light – mine weigh about 14-oz for the pair – light enough to forget you’re wearing them. They easily fold into a pocket, and because of their soft construction, all the proctective packaging they needed was a ziplock bag. In two days of hiking on packed snow, ice, slush and rocks during our Winter Outing, my MICROspikes provided excellent traction, which seemed comparable to my trail-mates’ Stabilicers, and they did not need any adjustments at all other than knocking off some snow build-up. Pros: very good traction, very easy to use, light weight, easy to carry. Cons: durability is still an unknown; non-replaceable spikes; expensive – $59/pair. Available from www.kahtoola.com and outdoor outfitters. Orrie

ADK-LI Annual Dinner Thursday, October 23, 2008

BONWIT INN One Vanderbilt Parkway, Commack, NY

(at Commack Rd) Directions: Northern State Pkwy Exit 43S.

Or LIE Exit 52N going east, or Exit 53 N going west.

Cost: $34 per person Sit-down dinner in our own private room includes:

Greek salad, tomato & mozzarella appetizer. Main course: choice of sea bass Mediterranean, chicken boscaiola, veal marsala, or eggplant

parmesan served with seasonal vegetables and roasted potatoes.

Dessert: chocolate mousse cake, coffee or tea. Unlimited soft drinks with dinner.

Dinner: 7 p.m. Cash bar: from 6 p.m. Program: Elections. Awards. Raffle

Complete the reservation form below and return it with your check to:

Steve Lander, 165 Waverly Avenue East Rockaway, NY 11518

Deadline: October 18th Name ___________________________________

Number of people ___ Amount enclosed $ ______ (Make checks payable to LI-ADK)

Phone (day) _____________ (eve)_____________

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www.adkli.org L.I. MOUNTAINEER — SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2008

ADK-L.I. 171-08 Gladwin Avenue Fresh Meadows, NY 11365

adkli@yahoogroups.com

Join now for last-minute info on hikes, outings, gear discussions and carpooling possibilities. Don’t miss out!

Go to www.adkli.org and click

(on left side of home page)

Change your address? Don’t tell us — tell ADK headquarters.

They print our address labels.

Write: Adirondack Mountain Club Membership 814 Goggins Road Lake George, NY 12845-4117

Or call: 1-800-395-8080 Or email: ADKinfo@adk.org

NEW ADK-LI MEETING DAY: THIRD WEDNESDAY OF MONTH!

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17: “MEMORIES OF SUMMER 2008” with photos and commentary by members focusing on their ADK outings and adventures.

OCTOBER: NO REGULAR MEETING. ANNUAL MEMBER DINNER IS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23 (See page 11 for details)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19: “SAILING AROUND THE WORLD” Bob Bennett will talk about his two-year sailing trip around the world that started from Long Island.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17: HOLIDAY PARTY and MEMBERS’ PHOTO REVIEW.

MONTHLY MEETINGS, ALL ARE WELCOME WHEN: 8:00 P.M. ON THIRD WEDNESDAY OF MONTH (except for July, August and October). Come early at 7:30 p.m. to socialize and network.

WHERE: St. Elizabeth’s Church, 175 Wolf Hill Road, Melville, NY

DIRECTIONS: From Northern State Parkway: Exit 41 (Wolf Hill Road). From the west make a left, from the east make a right onto Wolf Hill Road; go straight, through the 5-corner intersection. Immediately after the school athletic field, turn right into St. Elizabeth’s driveway to rear parking lot and entrance.

From L.I.E: Exit 49N (Rte. 110 north.) On Rte. 110, go to 4th light and turn right (Old Country Rd.) Go to 2nd light and turn left on to Wolf Hill Road. After athletic field, turn right into St. Elizabeth’s driveway to rear parking.

DEADLINES FOR NOV — DEC ISSUE

OUTINGS DEADLINE: SEPT. 25 COPY DEADLINE: SEPT. 30

Send outings to: snowsusie88@yahoo.com

Send articles to: ofrutkin@yahoo.com

Send trip reports to: usron@juno.com