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MTHS presents Hikefest 2018: Hikes and History

October 6, 2018 @ 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

    On Saturday, October 6, 2018 the Mountain Top Historical Society’s Haines Falls campus will be the place to begin your Columbus Day week-end.  Starting in the KRT parking lot at 9:00 a.m. There will be a choice of three hikes spreading out to various trail heads around the area with popular experienced hike leaders.

Hike #1: Historic Highlights of North-South Lake

Before it was a campground, the area around North-South Lake was the home of many important business and recreational sites. On this hike, led by Bob Gildersleeve, we will see as many of those sites as we can fit into an easy three hour tour. From our first stop near the South Lake dam we’ll tour the remnants of the Ulster & Delaware Railroad’s turntable, the foundations of the South Lake Ice harvesting camp, and a still standing water tower. The tower and camp will require a short bushwack which can be avoided by anyone who would rather wait the 10 minutes or so that it will take. From there we will take our cars to other spots within the park to see the sites of Thomas Cole’s Lake with Dead Trees, the location of the Otis Summit Station, and a Catskill and Tannersville Railroad engine shed by North Lake, traces of Rip’s Retreat, The Catskill Mountain House site (including the foundations of one or more out-buildings, and the original location of Artist’s Rock which was a short flat walk from the North Lake Beach.

Hike #2: A Walking Tour of Elka Park

This group will accompany Nancy Allen on a 3-4 mile hike to Katerina Tower and The Colosseum (reservoir) to enjoy the views from this historic community. This is an easy tour. Additional sites may be added depending on the group and the timing.

Hike # 3: Hike to the Hotel Kaaterskill Site

Paul LaPierre and Moe Lemire will lead an exploration of the grounds of the Hotel Kaaterskill. Starting from the South Lake dam they will climb the carriage road to the site. This hike is a repeat of our July hike giving people who were unable to attend in July the opportunity to identify areas seen in the MTHS collection of newly acquired photographs. This is a moderate hike with enough time to take in the remnants of the largest hotel in the area.

All of the hikers will meet at the MTHS campus at 9:00 a.m. and car pool to the different trail heads. The hikes are designed to last about three hours and return to the MTHS for lunch.

Lunch will be hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill with all the fixings including salads, cold drinks and dessert. The cost per person for lunch is $10 and will be served beginning at noon.

Afternoon Presentation:  At around 1:00 p.m. or as soon as all hikers have returned and had their lunch, we will have a presentation by Bob Gildersleeve featuring the photographs of the Hotel Kaaterskill that were generously donated by the great great grandson of the original owner, George Harding. We have about 50 photos that were apparently taken in 1921 in preparation for the sale of the property. Bob has been making a careful study of the images which include interior views of the billiard room, bowling alley, kitchen, theater, a guest room and other surprises. We are asking for a $5 donation for this program.

We welcome hikers and those interested in hiking or just in the beauty of the Catskill Park to join us for a hike, lunch, a presentation, good company and interesting information. We expect to finish up by 3:00 p.m.

Additional info:  MTHS does not require membership for hike participation.  However, we encourage you to join as a member or to make a donation to support our work.  We do request that you register for each hike.  See below for details.

Schedule subject to change. The latest information is available on our web site http://www.mths.org.  Notification of changes, including cancellations due to weather, will be made on the web site up to the day of any given hike.

Please make reservations for the hikes, lunch and presentation by Wednesday, October 3rd.  See below.

Event Duration:  2 to 4 miles,  3 hours for hikes;  6 hours total

Level of Difficulty:  Easy-Moderate

Leader(s):  Bob Gildersleeve;  Nancy Allen;  Paul LaPierre and Moe Lemire

Bring:   something to drink,  good hiking shoes, sunscreen,

Registration required by October 3rd.  Contact MTHS at mthsdirector@mths.org  or (518) 589-6657.  Please leave your name, phone number, and the number of participants in your party.

Group size is limited to 12 so register early.

Fee:  Optional donation/membership encouraged for hike participation.

$10/person for lunch,

$5/person for presentation.

Dogs allowed:  No

Additional Information:  See detailed description of event for info on each hike, the lunch (cost $10/person) and presentation ($5/person donation for program).

Questions about this event can be directed to:  mthsdirector@mths.org  or (518) 589-6657

Driving Directions:   From the North—Exit 21, I-87, NY State Thruway. Make left onto Rt. 23B, follow signs for Route 23. Travel 5.5 miles, left at McDonalds onto Route 32. Take Route 32 seven miles to traffic light at Rt.23A. Make right, heading towards Palenville. After the light, travel 4.5 miles to reach MTHS Campus on the right.

From the South—Exit 20, I-87, NY State Thruway. Left at exit then right onto NY32 for six miles. Bear left at NY 32A (blinking light) then left onto NY32A at the light in Palenville. Travel 4.5 miles reach MTHS Campus on the right.

Details

Date:
October 6, 2018
Time:
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Event Categories:
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Organizer

MTHS
Website:
http://mths.org/

Venue

Mountain Top Historical Society
5132 NY-23A
Haines Falls, NY 12436 United States
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