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September 10, 2001 |
The Devil's Path and the Principles of LNT |
Our Catskills provide some of the best hiking and camping opportunities in the country. Three hundred miles of DEC-marked trails have been created, and countless summits remain unblemished. Many outdoor enthusiasts, like us, enhance the outdoor experience by backcountry camping.
Over Labor Day weekend, our group of six (and two dogs) took to the trail, specifically the old Overlook Road leading to the Devil's Path from Platte Clove. We hiked in an 8-mile loop, traversing Twin Mt. The views were incredible from the summit as was the dive-bombing tactics of a Cooper's hawk against the backdrop of Sugarloaf Mt. Once finished, we headed back into the wilderness towards Indian Head Mt to camp at a favorite spot of ours where no marked trail leads. From here, we looked down Platte Clove, out over the Hudson Valley. We saw and heard ravens that night and a bald eagle in the early morning.
In addition to preparing for various weather conditions, you also should take steps to practice low-impact, or leave-no-trace camping in the backcountry, especially in 'wilderness' areas. Wilderness areas are defined by DEC as being greater than 10,000 acres in size, and where virtually no imprint of humans exists; where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by humans - where humans are visitors and do not remain. The four Wilderness areas (Big Indian-Beaverkill Range, Indian Head, Slide-Panther Mt, and West Kill) comprise about 41% of the state land within the blue-line.
The principles of leave-no-trace camping are common sense. Be sure to plan ahead and know the regulations/concerns in the area you are going, try to avoid times of high use, and visit in small groups. When you hike and camp, do so on durable surfaces by utilizing established trails (even if it means walking through mud or water) and campsites. Good campsites are found, not made. Avoid areas where impacts are beginning, and camp at least 200' from water.
If you pack it in, pack it out. Last Saturday I packed out ten beer cans, a radio, and a tire-iron off of Bearpen Mt! Bury solid human waste in catholes 8" deep, 200' from water. Leave plants, rocks, etc. as you found them, and avoid introducing non-native species by packing out all apple cores and peach pits, for example.
Campfires are high-impact. Minimize those impacts by using a camp stove for cooking. When fires are needed, keep them small (using dead sticks that can be broken by hand) and use established fire pits. Make sure to burn all wood and coals to ash, and extinguish completely.
Be respectful of wildlife and other people. Never feed animals and store your food and trash securely. This jeopardizes their health and changes their natural behavior. When taking breaks or camping, do so away from trails and other visitors and avoid using a loud voice. All hikers are out on the trail to get away from it all - let nature's sounds prevail.
To learn more about leave-no-trace camping and hiking, visit www.lnt.org. To learn of backcountry camping regulations in the Catskill region, contact the NYSDEC Region 3 office in New Paltz at 845-256-3000.
- Chris and Aaron
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