Leave no Trace
Many
of us have taken a pine cone or rock, veered off the trail to dodge mud puddles,
gotten too close to wildlife or tossed an apple core into the woods. While these
actions may seem harmless at the time, until we learn to reduce our impact, the
quality of our outdoor experiences and the recreational resources we enjoy are
at critical risk.
Also at risk is our continued access to wildlands as land management agencies sometimes take restrictive action to protect the resources they manage. Unless, of course, education catches up with behavior, and we all learn to leave the outdoors as unchanged as possible by our presence.
Leader Training Resources:
Web sites:
Leave-no-Trace Web site - The official Leave-no-Trace Web site. Go get a t-shirt or hat.
NYSDEC Hiking and Backcountry Camping - DEC rules and regs on safe hiking and backcountry camping is a must for all who go into the woods!
Adirondack Mountain Club - They don't just do the Dacks! The local chapters get involved in the Catskills and the ADK as an organization is very involved with lobbing for Catskill preservation.
New York New Jersey Trail Conference - A major player in hiking in the NY region since the early 1900's. 100,000+ members and many member clubs. Great resource for hiking from the Catskills east and south into NJ (they have trees in NJ?).
Catskill 3500 Club - Site covers hiking the high peaks in the Catskills. Good information on all high peaks above 3500' and has resources for safety, hiking rules and camping/backpacking in the state forest preserve.
Catskill Fire Towers - Highlights all the renovated Catskill Fire Towers. They make great day hikes and can be included as part of longer backpacking trips. This is a must see. Most Scouts love to climb to the views...
Catskill Scenic Trail (rails to trail program) - The Catskill Scenic Trail lies on top of the former rail bed of the Ulster and Delaware railroad. This 26 mile trail (you can do parts or the whole enchilada!) offers a hard-packed surface that makes it perfect for hiking, biking, horseback riding and cross country skiing.
Handouts: (PDF)
3 Season Backpacking Checklist
Articles: (HTML)
