Thunderstorms on the Ridge

A very huge storm rolled through and ruined our chance for a hike today...Amanda and I were just past the Uber Fall when the entire sky got really dark and bellowed some loud thunder! So we had to skadoosh back to the car. But before that, we totally stopped for pictures of course. SAFETY FIRST...? Or Pictures First...

Don't worry, we made it back safe and had dinner together at her silo and watched the storm pass through inside safe quarters.

TheChristyBel

You Could See the Downpour from the Scenic Lookout on Rt. 44/55

Large Storm Clouds

Angry Skies

Program Finds: Forest & Field

A snake's most vulnerable moment in time is when it's about to shed. Snakes will shed their skin in one piece, including eye caps. They do this monthly. Skin becomes dull, their eyes become cloudy or "bluish," and they become more nervous (since they cannot see well). When you see a snake about to shed, please give it space to make it feel comfortable.

Lauren & Neil's Wedding

This past weekend, I visited Long Island to attend a wedding of one of Marc's high school friends. The wedding was super beautiful and super fun. We were able to sit at the high school friends table. This was a super great way for me to meet more of his high school friends. Even though I rarely, talk to any of the people I was friends with in my high school group, it was super cool to see how close-knit his friends from Commack High still are. I had a blast at this wedding. Lauren (one of the girls from their core-group), the Bride, was absolutely beautiful. And Neil, the Groom, was super nice. The food was pretty awesome and the rest of the night was just dancing away and taking over a Polaroid camera and taking lots of pictures. Lauren and Neil, your wedding was amazing and CONGRATULATIONS!!! Enjoy!

Our Table Name Cards

TheChristyBel

Nicole and Her Mom

Me, Amanda, and Nicole

Kisses Caught on Film

Hiker's Holiday: A Day of Fire

Every year, the Mohonk Preserve partners with the Mohonk Mountain House to help with the hotel's event, Hikers Holiday. For over 80 years, this program allows people from all over the country come to the Mountain House for a specific week in the spring and participate in organized, guided hiking all over the Shawangunk Ridge. This year's theme was: Earth, Wind, Fire. The Preserve will usually allow several staff to help lead/co-lead these organized hikes. I was asked to co-lead a hike out at Sam's Point Preserve. This hike was held on the 'Fire' day as the participants were able to see remnants of the fire that had come through last year. The participants were all very interesting and fun to be around. As we hiked around Lake Maratanza, I was able to get to know a bunch of them. Many of the participants had been participating in Hikers Holiday for over 10+ years. Crazy! It was a super hot day, so our hike only lasted half the day. But all in all, it was a great day to get out on the land!

TheChristyBel

Fire Scar on Right, Unburned Land on Left

Burned Area Rejuvenation

Epicormic Sprouting
Pitch Pines will grow needles directly from the trunk to encourage rapid growth

View of Lake Maratanza

Summit Pose at Sam's Point with my co-leader, Michael Rider, Mohonk Mountain House Resident Naturalist

Program Finds: Forest & Stream (Lenape Elementary)

My Students Found the Tiniest Slimy Salamander of All Time Today!

Phenology: Pink Lady Slippers

Columbine in Full Bloom on Cedar Drive

Spring means flowers blooming and everything waking up. Mid-May around the Shawangunk Ridge means Pink Lady Slippers coming into bloom. I had such a wonderful time searching for these pretties last year, that I definitely wanted to search for the first bloom again this year. So up the Northeast Trail I went at Spring Farm. As I hiked northeast, I started to see the leaves but no flowers. I was getting a little discouraged as the weather has been super nice and would have totally began to wake them up. As I continued farther down the trail, I did find some that were opening, but not at all pink. As I was determined to search more, I continued down the trail and even stopped in certain places where I had seen them last year and looked harder. And sure enough, found some PINK lovelies in full bloom! May 15 - First Pink Lady Slipper in bloom, according to the DSRC, who still did not have them down on the First Emergence 2017 Calendar. Boom! I just absolutely love these orchids, they are just super pretty! Enjoy some pictures below!

TheChristyBel

Pink Lady Slipper Still Lacking the PINK

First Pink Lady Slipper of the Season!

This Year's Flower and Last Year's Seed Pod!

Ted & the Mint

So I have heard that certain herbs can really have an effect on cats. Some herbs will cause craziness, some cause comfort, some help with fatigue, some help with digestion, and some help to calm them down. We discovered one that makes OUR cat sleepy and calm - MINT.

Oh, Ted...

Adirondacks: Avalanche Lake

First Painted Trillium of the Season

This morning, Marc and I woke up around 4am to get up, pack, and go hike up in the Adirondacks. The drive took about 3.5 hours to get up to the trailhead that we wanted to get to. Our goal for today was a day hike up to Avalanche Pass and Avalanche Lake in Keene, NY. It is just north of Mt. Marcy. The weather was pretty poopy - cloudy, cold, and potential possibilities of rain. But we still wanted to try and go and hike; at least get out of town for awhile. This was not one of my best hikes - my allergies were getting pretty bad, so breathing was not so fun on this hike. I kept having to stop, blow my nose, or shoot snot (sorry if that is too graphic). But along the way, I noticed that phenology up here is a little bit later than what we were seeing in New Paltz. Super cool to see things 'all over again.' Trilliums were out and Pink Lady Slippers were still developing their flower buds...definitely want to come back later in the season to see things in full bloom.

View From Marcy Dam

As we were approaching the Pass, there was still snow in some areas. We did not prepare for that - so I was definitely slipping and sliding from lack of microspikes. But when we got to Avalanche Lake, it seemed as if winter was still up here. Nothing was really in initial growth and everything was just cold and wet. I would definitely want to come back to see this place at its fullest. The lake was super cool; it is wedged between two huge mountains. I believe Mt. Colden and Algonquin? If you continue farther south (as the direction we were hiking), you can get to some campsites and extend your visit. This is definitely something I want to do when we decide to hike up Algonquin or Marcy at some point.

Avalanche Lake

Hike to Duck Pond

Decided to take a stroll up to Duck Pond after work today. Warmer temperatures have been causing a lot of new phenology to pop up and emerge, so going out onto the land and catching it happen is a must right now! Here are some finds I found today:

Jack in the Pulpit in Full Bloom (it was also super large)

Northern Water Snake sunning itself in the only sunny spot in the forest.

The First Adult Dragonfly I have seen this spring
(Have seen a whole bunch of nymphs throughout the early spring due to Pond Keepers).

Program Finds: Forest & Stream (Lenape Elementary)

Some nature finds from the 3rd Grade, Lenape Elementary class I had today during a Forest & Stream program:

Fringed Polygala

A Ring-necked Snake!

When curled up in a ball, it was the size of a quarter!

The largest Fishing Spider I ever saw

She was terrifying looking!

The Rockettes Rocked the Ridge

My Race Bib Number

Today, I ran/hiked 13.1-miles of 50-miles with the Rockettes at Rock the Ridge! I am beyond proud of my teammates, three other wonderful ladies from the Preserve that totally kicked ass in the rain! Yes, we hiked and ran this race in cold, cloudy, rainy conditions. Gretchen, our Director of Communications, took on the 1st leg from the Testimonial Gateway to Spring Farm; Amanda, our Social Media Associate, relieved Gretchen and rocked it through Spring Farm, up to Sky Top, and met me to the southern part of the Preserve at Lyons Road; I hiked and ran the third leg through Minnewaska State Park & Preserve up to the highest part of the race at Castle Point and back down to Lyons Road; Megan, our anchor led us back to the Testimonial Gateway. We started at 6:00 AM and came in at 7:43 PM and a finishing time of 13-hours and 34-minutes. Super proud of these ladies!

I am not going to lie, but I was a little hesitant about joining the team as I am not at all a racer of any sort. But to be on a team that is not in it to race, but to support the Preserve at any pace, was very comforting. I had trained for this race by hiking my leg in all elements (rain, snow/ice on the ground, cloudy days, and sunny days). I usually finished my leg in 4-hours just hiking. So when I got to the race, I gave myself about 5-hours to complete. To finish my leg in 3-hours was pretty awesome! And the best part: my knees felt great! I taped them and stretched them before and after the race. Super proud of them for killin' it in the race! I know this is too early to determine, but I would not mind doing this again next year...maybe even doing two legs...

I say that now...
...we'll see.

TheChristyBel

The Pass Off From Leg 2 to Leg 3

Overlooking Gertrude's Nose as I hiked to Castle Point

After Passing Castle Point - Passed Lake Awosting

Passed Lake Minnewaska for the Second Time - about 2+ miles to go!

Last Landmark Before the Switch to Leg 4, Awosting Falls

The Rockettes' Times!

Celebrating with a Hot Toddy!

Medals with the Rockettes
(From Left to Right: Me, Gretchen, Amanda, and Megan)

Nature Finds at the Mohonk Preserve

Spring is such a wonderful season here in the Gunks. It is a time of emergence, growth, blooming, and surprises! Enjoy!

TheChristyBel

Jack-in-the-Pulpit with a beautiful spathe/spadix.
Do NOT pick them when in the field - the flower part (the pulpit) takes 7-years to produce!

Quacking of the Wood Frog during breeding season!

Blooming of the purple Fringed Polygala
An understory wildflower, it must bloom and fruit before the canopy gets covered in leaves and shades out the sun.

A Northern Slimy Salamander hidden under a log.