The view from Pine Orchard made famous by the Catskill Mountain House has, in recent years, been increasingly obscured by brush growing at the brink and trees growing at the base of the cliff known as the Wall of Manitou. Throughout the 19th Century the view had been featured in paintings, engravings and photographs and praised in poetry and literature.

Above - Pine Orchard Looking North December 24, 2017.     ----      Below - Looking South from the same point.

When asked what could be seen from the ledge, Natty Bumpo, James Fenimore Cooper’s hero of the Leather-Stocking tales, replied :

"Creation," said Natty, dropping the end of his rod into the water, and sweeping one hand around him in a circle, "all creation, lad. I was on that hill when Vaughan burned ‘Sopus in the last war; and I saw the vessels come out of the Highlands as plain as I can see that lime- scow rowing into the Susquehanna, though one was twenty times farther from me than the other. The river was in sight for seventy miles, looking like a curled shaving under my feet, though it was eight long miles to its banks. I saw the hills in the Hampshire grants, the highlands of the river, and all that God had done, or man could do, far as eye could reach-you know that the Indians named me for my sight, lad ; and from the flat on the top of that mountain, I have often found the place where Albany stands. And as for ‘Sopus, the day the royal troops burnt the town, the smoke seemed so nigh, that I thought I could hear the screeches of the women."

Thanks to the efforts of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the work of the Operations Field Crew: Brett Byrne, Brendan O'Brien, Robert Aslaskon and Tyler Proper, that view of Creation has been cleared to an extent not seen in years. Once again the view up and down the Hudson Valley from Albany to the Shawangunks and into Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut is open and clear. It is now available as a beautiful place to stop during a walk for lunch, to pause for quiet contemplation, to bring students for an inspiring class visit or for an Easter morning Sunrise Service.