Mohonk Lake: Winter Style

Mohonk Lake, Frozen Over!

So Pretty!

Shouldn't You be Hibernating?

It's November 29 and It's Been Really Cold Lately
And This Evening, Found This Little One on Our Driveway
Shouldn't You Be Hibernating?

Taste of Rock the Ridge

Well, I have been convinced to join a team with three other co-workers and participate in the Preserve's annual "Rock the Ridge." This event is a 50-mile race up and down and around the Shawangunks Ridge! I know...what was I thinking! We are signing up as hikers and each solo racer or group are given up to 24-hours to complete this event. This morning, Marc and I participated in a "Taste of Rock the Ridge" where we joined other racers and hiked or ran on the carriage roads that make up the route of the race. It was super nice to get out on the land and be with some great people. TBD on more information on the race! Join me in wishing me luck (which I'll need) and hearing more about it!

TheChristyBel

Starting Out at West Trapps on Undercliff Road

Getting Out Near Glory Hill

Group Shot of the Fellow Hikers!

The Gem of the Gunks

Autumn Peak Was On Point.

The Colors of Autumn

Favorite Part of Being Back East - The Colorful Autumns!
(Photo Credit: Elizabeth Long, Director of Conservation Science)

Parental Visit

My parents came to visit for the week. While they stayed up here, they did a bunch of site-seeing on their own, but when we were together, we visited the Sheep & Wool Festival in Rhinebeck (mom had a blast!), took them up to Sky Top at the Mohonk Mountain House, and got them a private tour of the Daniel Smiley Research Center's Archive Room with the legendary-Paul Huth! They seemed to have enjoyed their stay and hang with Ted!

On Top of Sky Top

Leaving Footprints

"Footprints" Found at the Reservoir
You Can Learn A Lot About What You Observe & See
Can You Guess Who's They Are?

This is Why We Can't Have Nice Things

Ranger Smiley Dave Extinguishing the Fire
Photo Credit: Ranger Bob Elsinger

This morning, I hiked up the Millbrook Ridge Trail to get up to Hawk Watch to help with the daily count. When I got up to the Viewing Area, I looked toward the south as the trail continues towards Millbrook Mountain and I saw three teenage to college-aged kids (2 males and 1 female) trying to head down the Millbrook Ridge Trail back down to Trapps Road. But not only were they just trying to bushwhack and not using the actual trail (clue #1), but they were carrying large backpacks with an exposed tent bag and large rolled up sleeping bags (clue #2). When they were slipping and sliding down on the "Not the trail" path they were going, I mentioned to them to stop and follow the blue blazes so they could safely get down to the Trapps Road. The girl replied, they were fine and that they went this way yesterday. After hearing that, I asked them, "Oh so did you camp up here YESTERDAY, cause you know camping is NOT allowed on the Preserve." And clearly said, no. Then I stated, "Oh, so carrying around a tent and sleeping bag on all your day hikes is a thing..well that's bold. No camping is allowed." Then she gave me a dirty look and continued down the trail with the two males. 

Bahh, seeing people like that and interacting with people like that really makes me so aggravated with how people do not follow rules and really do not respect wild places and the outdoors where other people also recreate. After they headed down the trail, I texted a ranger letting them know what had just happened and went about my HawkWatching til noon. When I left, I got a text from the ranger I alerted earlier asking more about the three hikers I had seen that morning. Confused, I responded asking why. And their response was that there was smoke being observed on the Ridge and was called in from people in town (in the Foothills). When the rangers responded to the call, they discovered that a fire was made 300-yards south of the Hawk Watch and it was still smoldering (not properly put out) and whoever made it used green wood (which made it so smokey). Bahhhh, hearing that made me even more aggravated and I was totally kicking myself to not have acted more on this situation. Not that I could have done more than try and hold them in the spot I saw them in or follow them down to the parking lot and call a ranger, but how was I supposed to know a fire was also made?! I did not see or smell smoke from Hawk Watch. People like that are the reason why we have some fires on the Ridge that are not natural and why we cannot have nice things. I wish people would learn and respect the outdoors the way most of us outdoor enthusiasts and recreationalists do.

TheChristyBel

International Hawk Week

This upcoming week is International Hawk Migration Week. While we have volunteers stationed at Hawk Watch identifying and counting raptors that fly over the Ridge, the Preserve is hosting a few programs for the public and supplying our visitor center with some cool bird props. This morning, I put together some raptor feathers in Riker Mounts and properly display some falconry hoods. Falconry hoods and raptor feathers were supplied by my Director of Conservation Science to let us borrow for the week. If you stop by the Preserve, you should attend one of the programs or go visit the Hawk Watch on top of the Millbrook Ridge Trail. On Saturday, September 17, I'll be hosting a Children & Family Raptor Biology program. As part of International Hawk Migration Week, the program will explore the hawks that migrate over the Shawngunk Ridge. Meet at the Visitor Center and take a short walk to the Hawk Watch site. If you want something a little more adult-level, you can attend an evening program on Thursday, September 22. As part of International Hawk Migration Week, raptor biologist Zach Smith will give a presentation on the tips and techniques on spotting raptors on the wing at the Mohonk Preserve Visitor Center. This program is aimed at advanced-beginner and intermediate birders. If you cannot attend either program, you can always come up to the Hawk Watch. Anyone can join Hawk Watch volunteers and ecologists from the Preserve’s Daniel Smiley Research Center at our Hawk Watch site on top of the Near Trapps (accessible via the Millbrook Ridge Trail). Visitors are welcome to drop by the site (10am-12pm daily from Saturday September 17th through Sunday September 25th) to learn more about Hawk Watch, raptor biology, and our research programs.

TheChristyBel

Prepping Some Exhibits for International Hawk Week

Biking to Awosting

Lake Awosting
Look at that clear, blue water!

Today, I decided to bike at Minnewaska State Park. I really love this park, for many reasons, but one because of the great views, and two because you can swim. I remember when I first visited this place back in 2012, the Toman's took me to Minnewaska State Park where we biked to Lake Awosting. From Minnewaska State Park, it's about a 3.1-mile trek to Awosting down the Upper Awosting Carriage Road. Most of my weekends, I am running solo as Marc guides climbing on those days. So, today, I decided to entertain and occupy myself with a bike ride and a swim. It was a gorgeous and hot day for both. A choice I am very glad I made today, not to mention, there were not that many people at the swimming area. That's one nice thing about Lake Awosting and swimming, since it's a trek for most people (well, not the hiking type people), the swimming hole is never really packed. Yea, it's 3.1-miles, but its a lot of uphill and uneven terrain. It's a great hike/bike and worth it once you get into that crystal clear, blue water! After the swim, I continued the bike loop around the Shawangunk Ridge towards Hamilton Point. Hamilton Point has great views of the valley pretty much during the entire bike ride back to the Minnewaska Lake parking lot. Enjoy!

TheChristyBel

Catching Some Rays After My Bike Ride

The View Back to Minnewaska Lake Parking Lot

My View From Hamilton Point

A Lake Brain Break

It's really nice working up at the Daniel Smiley Research Center on really hot days during the summer. If I need a brain break or I head into work early, I can walk up to the Mountain House and show my staff ID to go swim on the list! I really love Mohonk Lake. It is one of the most amazing lakes to swim in - great temperatures, clear and clean water, and just an amazing lake! If you're ever in the area, you definitely need to check out this lake!

TheChristyBel

A 15-Minute Walk From My Office & I Am Soaking Up Rays

Sometimes You Need to Just Jump Right In

Photo Credit to Marc Sweet
For grabbing the GoPro and capturing some water time moments at Mohonk Lake this afternoon.

Nature to Art

Caddisfly Earrings

So, I've been trying out a new hobby - caddisfly earrings! I collected a whole bunch of these little homes made of natural materials of the caddisfly while prepping for Pond Keepers. Through predation, the caddisfly larvae don't survive and leave behind these homes. The homes are extraordinary and beautiful. I do not really like throwing them out, so I decided to coat them in mod-podge to preserve them. After I had preserved them, I was unsure what to do, so I thought about making a bunch of them into pairs of earrings. A bunch of friends would totally wear them, so I added some rings to them and attached some fish hook earrings to them. And well, I made myself some pretty cool earrings to wear while teaching pond studies! I have not started an etsy or anything, but if you want a pair, or just one for a necklace, feel free to message me!

TheChristyBel

Squirrel!

During some field work, Paul, Bryan, and I were in the field and totally stumbled upon a really cool find - we observed a melanistic Gray Squirrel. Melanistic, meaning all black, is a development of dark-colored pigment in the skin or appendages of an animal. It is the opposite of albinism. This was definitely a rare sighting on the Ridge!

TheChristyBel

A Really Cool Find in the Field Today!

Species Spotlight: Trumpet Vine

Trumpet Vine or Trumpet Creeper

Looks Like:            An aggressive climbing wood vine that 4 to 6 pairs of leaflets in its compound leaves. Leaves are ovate and serrated. Vines can grow up to 35 feet. Flowers are bright orange to red, waxy, and broadly trumpet shaped. Flowers can be 3 ½ inches long.

Lives In:                  Trumpet Vine are fairly drought tolerant, however, can be found on trees of moist woods, along fences, in residential gardens and along house sides.

Niche:                      The large, bright orange and red flowers attract a wide array of pollinators. The Ruby Throated Hummingbird is a common visitor to its flowers.

Threats:                  It is an aggressive growing plant; its rapid colonization is caused by its aerial roots that are able to cling onto any surface. It can grow dense and be a nuisance in gardens and out compete other plants.

Frequency:          Trumpet Vine is a common plant in the Shawangunks near residential areas, fences, and roadsides.

Reproduction:   Flowers will bloom in early summer through September. By fall, fruit develops in the form of pods that reach up to 6 inches in length.

Fun Fact:                Another name for Trumpet vine is Devil’s Shoestring, as this plant has invasive qualities and can be a nuisance at trying to remove.

Morning Limnology

A Moment From This Morning's Lake Sampling of Lake Mohonk
It's 8AM and I am Already Doing Science!

Collecting Water Samples from the Lake's profile at the surface, 20', and 40' down. We test the temperatures and pH levels of each depth. It's pretty cool; as we can tell when the lake begins to experience seasonal changes like lake turnover and summer thermoclines. We can also add this data to a 120-year history of lake data and determine if climate change is really affecting our lake and changing the normal temperatures and water quality levels.

Scouting Rock Rift

Bryan Squeezing Through!

About to start my first season of summer camp with the Mohonk Preserve. It is very different from other summer camps I have taught in the past. With summer day camps from Delaware Nature Society, each age group and week of camp would revolve around a theme (i.e. Fish Scales and Snake Tails, Wizards & Lizards, Shell Sleuths, etc.), or at Teton Science Schools, you and a teaching team would design series of days of camp around an inquiry question or topic. At the Mohonk Preserve, the summer camp model is very different. They have three age-groups you can teach camp in (similar to what I am used to): 3-5, 6-10, and 11-13. However, these three age groups get a series of weeks, but most campers do not do all of the series of weeks. Within those series of weeks, different instructors will lead those weeks in a variety of diverse activities. I thought this was vey interesting. Since I would be leading a few weeks of camp, I found it odd that I really did not communicate with the other instructors of other weeks to see what they were doing so we did not replicate or copy something that was done in a previous week and bore any returning camper. But I had an open mind to be ready to tackle this summer camp and see how it planned out over the course of the summer. For the summer I was assigned to teach 2 weeks of Camp Peregrine, our ages 6-10 summer camp. I ended up being assigned week 1 and week 4 of this age groups summer camp schedule.

Super Glad I am Skinny!

Like all programs I end up preparing to teach, scouting out teaching spots, hikes, and places is a must for me. By scouting out places before I teach, allows me to plan what I may be in for when I take my camp or class out to that place. It's great to  see how long it would take me (then guess-timating how long it would take a class), what types of materials I would want to bring, anticipate the challenge areas of a hike, areas to stop and have snack, games, lessons, and water/rest stops, etc. During week 1, my co-leader and I decided to take our class on a rock scramble that bordered the Mohonk Preserve and Mountain House boundaries. My co-leader Kim had done this hike before and suggested she would feel comfortable leading it. I was more than okay with that as I love observing others before I try it, but I also wanted to scout it on my own just so I had an idea for myself how I should prepare myself. Another co-leader, Bryan, was going to join us on this hike, and since he had never done the hike before either, we decided to scout it together. So glad we did, this hike/scramble was awesome and we felt that our campers would enjoy it too, but we also discovered areas where we knew we were gonna need to definitely help/support our campers on some cruxes on the scramble. There were definitely areas of slippery, slick crevices and tight squeezes that we would need to keep careful eyes on out kiddos.

But definitely taking time to do it ourselves beforehand made me feel better on not just observing it and hiking it with my campers, but to co-lead it and support my fellow staff as well. Check out some photos of us squeezing through some tight areas!

TheChristyBel

Invasion of the Milkweed Beetles

Red Milkweed Beetle

Looks Like:  A member of the Cerambycidae family (the Longhorn Beetle family), the Tetraopes tetrophthamlus is a vibrant reddish-orange beetle. While its head, thorax shell, and abdomen outer shell are vibrant reddish-orange, its legs and undersides are dark brown to black. Its outer shell can be slightly speckled with little black spots and splotches. It also has very dark brown to black long curled antennae on the top of its head.

These beetles have taken over and eaten many of the Common Milkweed plants,
which has prevented them from blooming their flowers.
I am curious to see if we get any Milkweed seed pods this fall.

Lives In:  They can be found in any habitat where their host (the Milkweed plant) will grow – in gardens, grasslands, fields, meadows, and along roadsides.

Niche:  Red Milkweed Beetles will eat all parts of milkweed and dogbane plants – the leaves, the buds, and the flowers.

Threats:  As these beetles show off their aposematic (warning) colors, they warn predators that they are inedible with their red and black colors. It is thought that these beetles are inedible as they incorporate the milkweed toxins that the plant emits into their bodies.

Frequency:  This is a very common beetle species as long as its host plant is present.

Reproduction:  In early summer, females will lay her eggs at the base of or in milkweed stems. When the larvae hatch, they will migrate to the roots by tunneling their way down just under the surface of the stem or burrowing down through the soil. They may remain at the roots over winter, feed in the spring, then pupate. About a month later, the larvae will emerge from their pupa as an adult.

Fun Fact:  Red Milkweed Beetles vocalizes a squeaking shrill by rubbing surfaces of its segments on its thorax (middle part of its body).

Good Morning from the Gateway

Waking up really early for a phenology observation and this was my view this morning of the Testimonial Gateway.

My Favorite Sky Lake

Went to Mohonk Lake with Amanda today. As we chatted, sunbathed, and tanned, I took a closer look at the sand and discovered the true colors of this place I have come to love. Mohonk Lake is just beautiful. They call Mohonk Lake a sky lake. It was created by a glacier and was filled with the melt. The water is clear, clean, and wonderful to swim in. There is so much wildlife in this lake too. Even though the lake is fully sky fed (rain and snowmelt), there is so much wildlife. Fish, newts, frogs, snakes, insects, beaver! And the colors....can you paint with all the colors of Mohonk Lake?!? hehe.

TheChristyBel

The Colors of Mohonk Lake

This time of year, the male Sunfish, will excavate a bowl in the sand to attract a female.

He's Looking for a Lady,
He's Looking for some Love.