New York State Licensed Guide Moe Lemire will be leading a series of outdoor events this winter. These fundraiser events will include a hike, a snowshoe walk and a cross-country ski excursion. The $10 requested donation for each event will benefit the Mountain Top Historical Society.

 

Friday December 15

9 am - 2 pm (End time based on speed of hikers)

Distance: roughly 8 miles round trip -- longer if side excursions are taken

Level of difficulty: Easy to Moderate (slight inclines near campground road and terrain around lake)

Fee: $10.00 Donation

 

Come explore North/South Lake Campground in the off-season. Experience the solace of the Lake without the crowds.
This hike will begin at the parking area for the Mountain Top Historical Society in Haines Falls. We will walk the KRT trail to the new bridge crossing over the creek. We will then follow the yellow horse trail to the North/South Lake Road crossing over the dam and joining up with the yellow trail. We will follow the yellow trail around North/South Lake through the campground. We then will cross the road taking the horse trail back to the KRT and ending back at the Mountain Top Historical Society.

 

What to bring with you.
- Water - Snacks or a light lunch
- Warm clothes
- Dress in layers (Hat + Gloves too)
- Backpack - Hand and Foot warmers
- Yaktrax or microspikes in case of patches of ice
- Boots if snow cover is on ground
- Second pair of dry socks
- Tissues
- Chapstick

 

Snowshoe Hike to Kaaterskill Falls Viewing Platform
Saturday January 13

12 pm - 3 pm (End time based on speed of snowshoeing) 

Distance: Roughly 3 miles round trip

Level of difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Fee $10.00 

Come see Kaaterskill Falls in all her glory from the winter perspective. See how the waterfall and surrounding land become a winter spectacular. This snowshoe will depart from the MTHS campus and proceed along the KRT 1.5 miles to the Laurel House Road parking area. From there, we will follow the path down to the Kaaterskill Falls viewing platform. Once folks are ready to depart we will retrace our footsteps back up the trail to the parking area. Then we will follow the KRT back to the Mountain Top Historical Society.
Folks wishing to participate on this walk need to bring their own snowshoes. At this time we do not have the ability to rent snowshoes but if this proves to be a popular walk we can look into snowshoe rental.
If folks wish to come on this walk without snowshoes a pair of microspikes would be highly recommended for possibility of ice on trail.

 

Eight participants joined Moe Lemire for the afternoon trek along the KRT to the new viewing platform above the falls. On the way they were able to get a glimpse of both tiers of the falls enhanced by the ice from our long deep freeze and the brief warm spell of the past two days. (Photo by Moe.)

What to bring with you.
- Water
- Snacks or a light lunch
- Dress in layers (Hat + Gloves too)
- Backpack
- Hand and Foot warmers
What to bring with you.
- Water
- Snacks or a light lunch
- Dress in layers (Hat + Gloves too)
- Backpack
- Hand and Foot warmers
- Chapstick

 

All of these outdoor events will take place during the winter season. Winter activity can require different planning than that for spring, summer and fall. All of these activities are on easy to moderate terrain, but in winter conditions ice and snow can be slippery even on flat terrain. Having proper items with you is imperative. Dress in warm layered clothes which can be removed or added back as the body warms and cools. Bring plenty of water and snacks to keep energy levels up. You burn more calories in winter conditions which keeps the body warm. Carrying a backpack to hold items will make carrying what you need much easier. These events can happen during light snow. Any major storm or rain will postpone the event  and a new date determined. Moe Lemire is a trained and licensed guide. He is CPR and first aid certified. Exploring the outdoors during the winter can be a rewarding experience.