A Long Island Visit

Here are some moments when visiting Long Island. Enjoy!

TheChristyBel

Gia Flirting with Marc

Gia Sleeping with Grandpa Barry

Beachtime with Liz
(yes it was 70+ degree weather that weekend)

Marc Hanging with his Raptor Crew on our way to Montauk

In Search of Short-Eared Owls

After the successful SMAN DSRC Tour program I had this morning, I decided to treat myself to a sunset hike over at the Shawangunk Grasslands. I have heard that during the winter months, you are able to see Short-eared Owls around dusk and dawn. So I grabbed my binoculars and headed on over. When I arrived, there were already a bunch of other birders there. I walked over to the birding platform and waited. Sure enough, as you look over the grasslands, I saw two very large birds gliding just above the grass line. The profile of the birds had flat-faces and I immediately knew what they were, Short-eared Owls! Oh it was super cool to see them. They were definitely too fast and too far away for me to photograph (as I was already using my binoculars). But it was a pretty magical moment. While watching the owls come and out of view, I also stumbled upon some Northern Harriers (mostly juveniles) flying around and perching on the posts in the fields. I got some photographs of them, but I apologize for the blurriness. Maybe one day I'll save enough money for some better camera-action. Also, the sunset was spectacular too! If you ever visit New Paltz, the Shawangunk Grasslands is a great place to visit, whether its winter time or not!

TheChristyBel

The Shawangunk Grasslands Sunset

Beautiful

Field Studies: SMAN DSRC Tour

Today I was able to teach a program I developed for the San Miguel Academy's 8th Grade, Junior Rangers. The program is called, A Day in the Life of a Conservation Scientist, and it taught once a year in the winter time to the SMAN gentlemen. I was able to teach this last year and after some tweaking from how it went last winter, I was able to restructure it and teach it again this year.

This program was modeled off of the Murie Museum programs that the graduate students would teach over at Teton Science Schools. The 8th graders rotate through stations that reflect tasks, jobs, and duties that our staff of the Conservation Science department do on a daily basis.

The students also get a tour of the Daniel Smiley Research Center's archive room where many of Daniel Smiley's specimens and historical data of the Shawangunk Ridge is housed. I am super proud of this program. The students get to examine skulls, herbarium specimens, archaeological specimens, taxidermy birds and mammals, collect weather data, and much more.

From what I hear, the boys really like this program as you do a variety of things inside while the weather is super cold. Also, seeing the specimens up close and hearing the stories behind many of them is super fun. If there is time, we take the boys up to Mohonk Lake (always a special treat) and they assist with collecting lake data.

I think this year's program went super well - got a lot of great feedback from the other educators, the SMAN teachers and students, and from the Conservation Science department. I cannot wait to revisit this program and make it even better for next year!

It's been really nice to actually create new programs for the Preserve (than just teaching pre-made ones). I feel that when I get to make new programs, I am actually using my degree to its fullest. I was super proud to definitely develop, implement, tweak, and re-teach this program for the second year in a row.

TheChristyBel

A Skull Study - Examining Mammals of the Ridge

Getting the DSRC Tour from legendary, Paul Huth

Studying Birds

Examining Native American Artifacts

Identifying Different Avian Adaptations

Winter Storm Niko

Finally, a winter storm hit the Hudson Valley. After living here for about 2-years, we had not been blessed with a legit snow day. Winter Storm Niko closed the Preserve for about 2-days and graced us with 11-inches of snow. I had to postpone and reschedule a Pond Keepers program, but had a great time staying warm in my pajamas and watching Netflix all day. Also, Ted was a great cuddly company too!

TheChristyBel

Post-Plowing

Bertha Covered!

Catskills 3500: Devil's Path (Classic Route)

Today, Marc, Alex, and I hiked up four Catskill Peaks (Indian Head, Twin, Sugarloaf (Mink), and Plateau). When hikers attempt to summit all four in a hike, they travel along the trail called Devil's Path. Devil's Path extends beyond these four mountains to three additional mountains and 23-miles. For today's hike, we only did the "Classic Route" of about 12.4-miles. I can see why they call this "Devil's Path." It is supposedly the most difficult hiking trail in the East - there is little water, difficult scrambles, and sheer cliffs. And if done in the winter, there is ice, steep ascents and descents, and lots of scary moments.

Our ascent going up Indian Head (looking back)

Lots of Climbing Up & Down Things

So many up and down-hill climbs

Alex Crushin' It!

This hike really challenged me...hard, and pretty much hurt me to almost breaking me. Actually, it did break me. There was a lot of pain - physically and emotionally with this one. I had taped my knees, used trekking poles, and took pain killers. But these four peaks still broke me.

We started at the Steenburgh Road parking lot trailhead. After hiking and ascending 2.2 miles, we summitted Indian Head (3,573 ft). When we were ascending up to Indian Head, there was this one part where the trail literally went straight up, like 90 degrees. I wish I brought some mountaineering crampons instead of just my microspikes. Even a harness with some rope should have been brought. It was scary trying to climb my way up smooth, slippery ice. But we made it and my knees were just getting tired, but not in pain (yikes, and this was the first peak). 

After summitting, you descend down into Jimmy Nolan Notch, but only for a short moment, as you begin to ascend again up to Twin Peak (3,640-ft). There were a lot more intense ups and downs getting on and off this mountain. Before getting down, we run into our car switch team (my colleague, David, and his brother). When you hike this trail, it is best to involve two cars, so you do not have to hike back to your car to get home. We switched keys, told each other which car it was, and where we would meet up when we all finished to switch our cars back. 

You then descend into Pecoy Notch and then here comes Sugarloaf Mountain. I think we had lunch before or slightly after this mountain. Sugarloaf is about 3,800-ft. The decline from this mountain really started to trigger some pain in my left knee. I was not quite sure how I was going to finish this last mountain. We descended into Mink Hollow and then began our last ascent. The last ascent was the steepest ascent of them all. That is when Devil's Path broke me. I was trying to climb over a huge boulder thing and my knees just about had it. I literally cried from so much pain. I felt such defeat and embarrassment for my weakness. After a little bit of rest, I conjured the rest of the strength I had and got to the top of Plateau Mountain (3,840-ft). The other part about Plateau that also pushed my patience, its length. Hence its name, Plateau's top is long. When we finally got to the descent, our daylight was dwindling (we were already pushing 9+ hours of hiking) and had maybe 1-2 more hours of hiking to go. The descent was painful for my knees and I think the last mile I was pretty much sledding down the trail on my behind. But around 6 and 7pm, we finally made it to the other car (after starting around 8am). 

This was a hard hike for me and I definitely pushed myself to it. I am proud that I did the most challenging hike in the East and to do it in the winter. I am definitely not discouraged of continuing my trek to accomplish all the Catskill peaks. I think that I may not try and do four-peaks in a row again.

TheChristyBel

Hiking Lake Maratanza

Today, we explored Lake Maratanza of Sam's Point Preserve. Lake Maratanza is the most southern sky lake on the Shawangunk Ridge. It is about 2,245-feet above sea level, marking it as the highest sky lake on the Ridge. I had never been to this area of the ridge - as the Sam's Point Fire occurred here last April. As we hiked around the lake and back down to the Visitor Center, we were able to see the fire scar. It was remarkable to see one side of the trail untouched by the fire and the other side of the trail was burnt to a crisp. I am very excited to see the new growth that comes from this fire in this upcoming spring.

TheChristyBel

Lake Maratanza

Burnt Trees

One Side Burned, One Side Untouched

DNS Visits New Paltz

I was super glad that Fiona and Dave texted me this morning and announced that their cross-country ski trip was heading back to Delaware and passing through New Paltz! So I totally played hookie and went to see them as they were eating lunch in town! I love when Delaware Nature Society meets the Gunks! Miss these people so much! 

Thanks for stopping by!

TheChristyBel