Catskills - Catskills

Die Catskills van New York is 'n "gedissekteerde plato", 'n hoogland wat deur erosie deur berge en valleie verslyt word. Die Catskills is grotendeels landelik en wild, en is 'n gewilde vakansiebestemming vir New Yorkers, maar hulle het ook baie om aan die reisiger van buite die staat te bied. Die Catskills is aangrensend aan die Poconos streek van Pennsylvania.

Streke

Stede

• 41.925-741 Kingston - Die eerste hoofstad van New York is net daar waar die Catskills die Hudson ontmoet, wat dit 'n ideale vertrekpunt vir verkenning van die streek maak.
• 41.6536-74.69062 Monticello - Die sitplek in Sullivan County, sentraal in die Borschtgordel, behou die klein dorpie
• 42.307222222222-74.2522222222223 Windham - 'n Skidorp aan die noordekant van die berge met die New England-bekoring van sy naamgenote in daardie streek.
• 42.042778-74.11754 Woodstock - Die fees is nêrens hier gehou nie, maar hierdie stad voldoen nietemin aan die hippie-reputasie wat sy naam noem.

Ander bestemmings

• 41.703888888889-74.3447222222221 Shawangunk Ridge

Verstaan

Die Catskills beteken verskillende dinge vir verskillende groepe mense. Aan die meeste inwoners van die Metro New York in die suide, roep hulle somerkampe, naweekhuise en die groot reservoirs op wat skoon, suiwer water aan die stad New York verskaf. Vir geskiedkundiges van die Amerikaanse populêre kultuur is hulle die tuiste van die meerderheid van die "Borscht Belt" -oorde, waar baie legendariese kunstenaars hul vaardighede voor hoofsaaklik Joodse gehore verskerp het, en waar 'n latere generasie "drie dae van vrede, liefde na 'n melkplaas toe gedrink het en musiek "die Woodstock Music and Art Festival genoem. Vir kunshistorici is dit die landskappe wat Thomas Cole, Frederick Church en die ander skilders van die Hudson River School, die eerste tuisgemaakte kunsbeweging van Amerika, betower het. Om vissermanne te vlieg, is dit die strome waar die eerste droë vlieë in Amerikaanse waters gegooi en vasgebind is, getoets deur Theodore Gordon en ander legendes van die sport. Vir wandelaars en natuurkundiges is die 1.150 km² 'ewige wilde' land in die Forestskerm van die Catskill Park 'n omgewingskat, die land waar die invloedryke Amerikaanse natuurskrywer John Burroughs grootgeword het en wat hom geïnspireer het om van sy mees beroemde opstelle.

Tog, vir al hierdie veelvuldige betekenisse, is niemand heeltemal seker waarna "Catskill" oorspronklik verwys het nie. Miskien was dit die bemanning van Henry Hudson, toe hy bobbejane gesien het rondom die spruit waarby hulle stilgehou het, en dit toe 'Catskill' genoem het, wat na die verre berge uitgebrei is. Of die talle Iroquois-kepe langs die rivieroewer, waarna die Nederlanders "kats ". Of digter Jacob Kats, vermoedelik 'n skerpsinnige landspekulant. Of die Iroquois-lakrosstokkies, 'n klein Hollandse skip of 'n Mohican-opperhoof wat in die omgewing gewoon het. Dit is des te verbasender omdat daar gewoonlik na die reeks verwys word as die Blue Mountains tot in die vroeë 19de eeu, toe die werke van Washington Irving die langveragtende Nederlandse naam gewild het.

Selfs met algemene instemming oor die naam, is dit ook moeilik om te sê waar die Catskills begin en eindig, verder as die baie skielike grens wat deur die Catskill Escarpment geskep word, in die noordoostelike hoek van die reeks, waar berge skielik tot meer as 3000 voet (900 m) styg. bo seevlak vanaf die vallei se vloer. Gemeenskappe ver buite die Blue Line van die Catskill Park, tot by die oewer van die Delaware- en Susquehanna-riviere, beweer dat hulle in die Catskills is of word beskou. Miskien is die enigste ware aanwyser wat 'n jarelange inwoner ooit aan historikus Alf Evers gesê het: dat, solank 'daar twee rotse vir elke vuiligheid' in die grond is, u in die Catskills is.

Geskiedenis

Die Catskills het 350 miljoen jaar gelede begin as 'n rivierdelta, wat die afloop van die Taconic-gebergte na die noordooste absorbeer, wat toe die hoogste op die planeet was, terwyl water in 'n vlak binnelandse see afgevloei het. Op 'n sekere tydstip tref 'n meteoriet van 1 kilometer breed die delta van die rivier; die gevolglike impakkrater vorm uiteindelik Panther Mountain in die westelike Ulster County, een van die hoogste pieke van die reeks, deur middel van 'n proses wat bekend staan ​​as 'omgekeerde verligting'. Uiteindelik verweer die Taconics na wat hulle nou is, en die riviere en die see verdroog. Die vloere was die skalies, sandstene en ander sedimentêre gesteentes wat die rots van die reeks vorm.

Kontinentale drywing en plaattektoniek het die Appalachiese berge gevorm. In plaas daarvan om in kleiner berge en heuwels op te breek, het die Catskills opgestaan ​​as 'n enkele landvorm, 'n proses wat sigbaar is in die dramatiese opkoms van die Catskill Escarpment vanaf die Hudson Valley-vloer in Greene County. Oor die volgende eeue het strome wat opgeligte rots uitloop, diep gapings uitgekerf. Die Catskills is dus, in geologiese terme, 'n "plat gesnyde plato", eerder as ware berge, hoewel u vergewe sou word as die onderskeid verlore sou gaan as u daar rondry.

Die afgelope miljoen jaar het die verskillende ysperiodes die berge verder gevorm. Die gletsers self was dik genoeg om al die berge te bedek, behalwe 1,277 m (glybaan) in die stad Shandaken, Ulster County, die hoogste piek van die reeks. Die skuur onder eeue se ys het 'n paar gevolge gehad, waarvan die belangrikste die verwydering van steenkool was wat moontlik daar gesak het. Maar dit was die mere wat agtergebly het toe die gletsers gesmelt het, wat ons met die reeks laat, soos ons dit vandag ken, die stormagtige smeltwater wat die dramatiese gapings soos Stony Clove Notch en Kaaterskill Clove uitsny.

Die eerste mense wat gekom het, het aangehou. Terwyl die Iroquois wat hulle in Suid-New York gevestig het, roetes deur die berge na die res van hul land gevind het en daar gejag het, het hulle die Hudsonvallei 'n meer aangename plek gevind om te vestig vanweë die vrugbaarder grond en milder klimaat. Daar ontmoet hulle Henry Hudson en die bemanning van die Halve Maen, met die rivier op wat in 1609 na hom vernoem sou word.

Oorloë tussen Nederlanders en Engelse het die meeste setlaars gehou om die res van die eeu die berge in te waag. Eers in 1708, goed nadat die Engelse bewind ingestel is, verleen Lord Cornbury, die koloniale goewerneur, die Hardenbergh-patent, wat die meeste van die hedendaagse Catskills dek. Die onderverdeling en verkoop van die grond was egter moeilik. Die Iroquois, sowel as die enkele plakkers in die streek, het die opname onderbreek tot onbetroubaar, en in die loop van die eeu was daar toenemende vrae oor die geldigheid van die ooreenkoms, gegewe Cornbury se welverdiende reputasie vir korrupsie en die patente bereidwilligheid om hulself te verryk deur aandele te verkoop ondanks al hierdie kwessies. Dit het tot in die middel van die eeu geneem voordat al die grond onderverdeel is en die nedersetting begin het.

Nietemin het die Catskills onder die breë publiek se aandag gekom, al was dit net deur wetenskaplike navorsing. Die Sweedse plantkundige Peter Kalm het deur die streek getrek op sy reise na die Niagara-waterval en let op sommige van die spesies wat hy gevind het. Die een was 'balsem van Gilead-sipres', vandag bekend as balsemspar en word meestal slegs op hoër berge in die reeks aangetref. John Botram, plantkundige van Philadelphia, is saam met sy seun na die Noord-Suidmeergebied om 'n paar sade van die boom vir korrespondente in Londen te versamel. Sy 1753-verslag van die reis, 'N Reis na Ye Cat Skill Mountains met Billy, is in die kolonies en Engeland wyd gelees.

Die meeste vroeë setlaars was huurders, wat hul lande onder 'n kwasi-feodale reëling gehou het, bekend as die 'drie-jarige huurkontrak', waardeur 'n vader, seun en dan kleinseun teoreties die titel op hul land kon neem as die drie geslagte dit sou kon regkry. betaal daarvoor. In die praktyk het dit selde gebeur, en selfs nadat 'n pro-Britse huurderopstand teen hul onafhanklikheidsbewaarders aan die begin van die rewolusie-oorlog neergesit is, het die vele anti-huuroorloë voortgeduur totdat 'n nuwe staatsgrondwet daardie huurooreenkomste in 1840 afgeskaf het.

Toe die politiek in die streek uiteindelik gevestig is, het die ekonomie begin skud. Dit is gebou rondom twee bedrywe - toerisme en tanbarking - wat dit tot die 20ste eeu sou vorm. Die eerste begin met die Catskill Mountain House-hotel, naby die Noord-Suidmeer in die stad Hunter in Greene County. Hotelier Charles Beach het die skouspelagtige uitsig oor die vallei vanaf die platorand bemark nadat hy die enigste beheer in die 1820's oorgeneem het, en deur die burgeroorlogpresidente, kunstenaars en ander besoekende hooggeplaastes en bekendes 'America's First Wilderness' besoek, waar ander hotelle, sommige op bergtoppe, is ook gebou.

Dieper in die berge het blafskille na die oorvloedige woude gegaan op soek na die vele groot bosse van die Oosterse hemlock. Hulle het nie die hout self gesoek nie, nuttig vir sommige meubelstukke, maar min, maar die rooierige bas. As dit van 'n voldoende volwasse boom gestroop en gekook is, het dit kwaliteit tannien opgelewer vir die looiproses wat noodsaaklik is vir die vervaardiging van leer. Die bosse het genoeg bas opgelewer dat die meeste leerhulsters wat tydens die burgeroorlog aan die offisiere van die Unie-leër uitgereik is, in die Catskills gelooi is. Behalwe vir die gebruik van sypaadjies, was dit die enigste benutbare bron wat die berge opgelewer het.

In 1879 neem 'n gas in die Mountain House, professor in geologie, Princeton Arnold Henri Guyot, kennis van die talle berge in die weste en suidweste wat vanaf die pieke naby die hotel sigbaar is. Dit was reeds bekend dat, in teenstelling met Beach se publisiteitsmateriaal, die nabygeleë Kaaterskill High Peak, wat soveel skilderye van die Hudson River School pryk, nie die hoogste piek van die reeks was nie. Guyot het gewonder wat dit was, en in sy vrye tyd met 'n opnamespan na die Catskills teruggekeer. Hulle was die eerste wat die bestygings van baie van die hoogste topberge van die reeks aangeteken het, en in 1885 was die Escarpment-hoteliers verstom met die openbaring dat die hoogste piek in die reeks in werklikheid Slide Mountain was, 20 km suidwes in die Ulster County. stad Shandaken.

In dieselfde jaar het die politici in die provinsie die moeite gekry om 'n duur probleem die hoof te bied, wat deels te wyte was aan blaf. Nadat hulle die goeie bome gestroop het, het die basskille die land dikwels agtergelaat; terwyl hulle die winste gepluk het, het die land die land in gebreke gebly, en volgens wet was hulle verantwoordelik vir eiendomsbelasting wat aan die staat verskuldig was. Die toenemende koste wat aangegaan is, het die provinsie se geldkas begin krap, en toe hulle nie uitstel kon kry nie, het hul verteenwoordigers in die staatswetgewer 'n beter oplossing gevind. Vroeër daardie jaar het die wetgewer sekere staatsgronde in die Verenigde State aangewys Adirondacks om die staatsbosreservaat te wees, "vir ewig bewaar as wilde boslande." Hulle het die lande met die belastingmisdade aan die staat oorgedra as betaling ten volle van die uitstaande skuld ... en niks in die Catskills sou daarna dieselfde wees nie.

Stadig word die steengroef- en blafafleweringsbedryf toegegooi deur die ontwikkeling van goedkoper sintetiese materiale en prosesse. Ook die hotelle rondom die Noord-Suidmeer het agteruitgegaan namate hul stigters dood is. In hul plek kom diegene wat na die nuut beskermde land getrek is, veral nadat die wetgewer in 1902 die "Blue Line" getrek het, wat die Catskill Park geskep het. John Burroughs, 'n boorling van Delaware County, wat een van die voorste natuurskrywers van die era geword het, het van sy mees onvergeetlike opstelle gewy aan sy reise na die Catskill-wildernis, insluitend een van die vroegste verslae van 'n styging van Slide.

'N Ander skrywer was Theodore Gordon, wat gedurende die 1890's in die berge gaan woon het om sy tuberkulose-infeksie te beveg. Om die tyd te verwyl, het hy begin visvang en geld verdien om te skryf oor sy ervarings vir Veld en stroom. Die afgeleë stroom van strome soos die Beaver Kill was jare lank buite die streek stil bekend as forel en die boere leef al jare van die visserye. Gordon het hulle nie net populêr gemaak nie, maar ook 'n rewolusie in die Amerikaanse hengel toe hy die droëvlieg, wat in Brittanje ontwikkel is om 'n oppervlakinsek na te boots, as lokmiddel bekendstel. Later het hengelaars tegnieke verfyn en nuwe vlieë ontwikkel, en duisende volg jaarliks ​​in hul voetspore en waai in die koel, helder spruite en riviere wat 'n forel wil land.

Die waters het ook belanggestel in die stad New York, wat aan die einde van die 20ste eeu sy vestigingsnetwerk in Westchester begin ontgroei het. Die stad het tot by die Catskills gekyk, waar die 'ewig wilde' taal, toegevoeg tot die staatsgrondwet van 1894 as artikel XIV, die waterskeiding van strome soos die Esopus- en Schoharie-spruite beskerm. 'N Langdurige regs- en politieke stryd oor die lande wat veroordeel moes word, het gelei tot die opening van Ashokan-reservoir in Sentraal-Ulster in 1915, die eerste van wat nou ses bedien die stad.

Die stad was die tuiste van 'n ander groep mense wat die Catskills sou herdefinieer. Joodse immigrante in die stad, destyds verban uit die meeste gevestigde oorde, het somers in koshuise begin deurbring op die plase van hul medegelowiges in die laer Catskills, waar hulle ten minste kosjer kon hou. Daardie koshuise en bungalowkolonies het geleidelik gegroei tot oorde van hul eie soos Grossinger's en die Concord, die kern van die "Borscht Belt", waar tientalle entertainers hul vaardighede sou slyp en loopbane sou begin wat hulle na veel groter hoogtes sou neem. Daardie era het verbygegaan toe wette 'n einde aan godsdienstige diskriminasie gemaak het, hoewel baie ultra-Ortodokse Hasidim nog vir die somer na die streek verhuis. Vandag is die groot oorde gesluit, en die meeste kleiner geboue is weg, maar die herinneringe is vasgevang in films soos Vuil dans, Meneer Saturday Night en 'N Wandeling op die maan.

Toe die Borscht Belt-era eindig, het die gebeurtenis wat die Catskills vir die huidige geslag sou herdefinieer, in 1969 plaasgevind. Laat in die somer het duisende hippies van die era op 'n melkplaas naby die stad Bethel in Sullivan County bymekaargekom vir 'drie dae van vrede, liefde en musiek' van sommige van die top-aktes soos Crosby, Stills, Nash en Young; The Who, Jefferson Airplane en Jimi Hendrix. Terwyl die fees eintlik tot rampgebied verklaar is, en talle regsgedinge geloods is, en baie van die optredes minder was, het die Woodstock-fees die baba-boom-generasie jare daarna 'n naam en 'n geestelike toetssteen gegee, soos baie beweer dat hulle daar was nie gewees nie.

En dit gaan voort om die streek vandag te omring. Dit is die duidelikste in die stad Woodstock, kilometers van die feesterrein af, maar dwarsdeur die moderne Catskills vind u 'n fokus op die kunstige en geestelike, met retraites wat fokus op Oosterse godsdiens en New Age-mistiek wat buitestaanders na die streek in die streek lok. somer. Ouer gemeenskappe hou ook vas, selfs na die ernstige oorstromings wat deur die orkaan Irene in 2011 veroorsaak is, wat skade nog steeds op baie plekke gesien kan word, veral in die dorpie Prattsville in Greene County. En die stappers en vissermanne stroom steeds na die paadjies en strome, ryk aan die geskiedenis van hul sportsoorte, nie net in die somer nie, maar ook die grootste deel van die jaar.

Klimaat

Die stad New York haal die grootste deel van die water uit die Catskills om 'n baie goeie rede: die streek, veral die gebied rondom Slide Mountain, is die reënigste in die staat. Maar dit is nie die enigste ding wat opval nie.

As 'n verhoogde bergagtige plato verskil die Catskill-klimaat van sy omliggende, onderste streke. Somers is oor die algemeen aangenaam en koeler as elders (waarom sou so baie inwoners van die metropolitaanse gebied gedurende die seisoen vir lang tydperke na die berge kom?) Alhoewel die ervaring van Irene 'n ontnugterende herinnering was dat die streek nie een of ander geïsoleerde bergidille is nie buite die bereik van die woede van die natuur.

Nadat die somer plek gemaak het vir die korter dae en feestelike kleure van die herfs en sy blaarluipende hoogtepunte, kom die winter. En dit is 'n ander storie. Daar is bekend dat die eerste sneeu vroeg in November op hoër spitspunte ophoop, voordat die jagseisoen selfs begin. Met 'n groot deel van die streek wat minstens 600 meter bo seespieël is, is daar gewoonlik baie sneeu en in 'n tipiese winter minstens 'n paar nagte met 'n temperatuur van -17 ° C. Die skigebiede het nogtans oorgenoeg sneeumakerye.

Soos Februarie na Maart draai en bome aan mekaar vaslyn, begin daar gapings in die sneeubedekking verskyn. Terwyl sommige wit gebiede vroeg in Mei in skaduryke gebiede van die kruine vertoef het, is dit in die valleie verby met die opening van die forelseisoen op 1 April. Van toe tot Gedenkdag kruip die lente geleidelik teen die hange in, net betyds vir nog 'n glorieryke Catskill-somer.

Lees

• The Catskills: Van Wildernis tot Woodstock, (Alf Evers, 1982). Daar kan gesê word dat daar van enkele streke 'n enkele, gesaghebbende geskiedenis hieroor geskryf is magnum opus. In wese die lang (en op 700 bladsye) is lang) weergawe van die geskiedenis hierbo, dit dek alles belangrik wat in die streek gebeur het vanaf die koloniale tyd tot die era van sy skryfwerk. Evers, 'n volkskundige wat opgelei is en op 'n plaas in Ulster County grootgeword het, gee veral aandag aan die legendes van die streek en die standpunte van die gewone mense. Die resultaat is 'n multi-generasie-epos wat teen enige wetenskapfiksie of fantasie-franchise meeding.
• Die Catskill Mountain House (Roland van Zandt, 1966). Hierdie geskiedenis van die streek se kenmerkende oord is effens verbygesteek deur die omvang van die latere werk van Evers en was een van die vroegste pogings om die ryk geskiedenis van die Catskills te herontdek. Dit bevat enkele van die laaste foto's wat die skrywer van die verwoeste gebou geneem het voordat die staat dit in 1965 gelykgemaak het.
• Dit het in die Catskills gebeur: 'n mondelinge geskiedenis in die woorde van Busboys, Bellhops, gaste, eienaars, komediante, agente en ander wat dit geleef het, (Myrna Katz en Harvey Frommer, 2009). Daar was baie boeke en memoires oor die somer in die Borscht-gordel geskryf, maar tot hiertoe was daar geen werklike poging om die hele verhaal te vertel nie. Miskien is dit nie, maar die baie stemme vertel 'n groot genoeg verhaal soos dit is.
• Die Catskills: sy geskiedenis en hoe dit Amerika verander het, (Stephen M. Silverman en Raphael Silver, 2015). So 'n meer verkorte, 21ste-eeuse opdatering van Evers se werk, op glanspapier met baie illustrasies.
• Berge maak: New York City en die Catskills, (David Stradlin, 2007) 'n Geskiedenis van die Catskills wat fokus op die manier waarop die streek oor twee eeue bedink en verander is om die belange van New York te dien.

Kyk

• Die films Vuil dans (1987), Meneer Saturday Night (1992) en 'N Wandeling op die maan (1999), is meestal buite die streek verfilm, maar beeld verskillende aspekte van die Borschtgordeltydperk effektief uit.
• Die oor die hoof gesien komediedrama uit 1996 Manny & Lo, met Scarlett Johansson in die hoofrol, is die moeite werd om te kyk as 'n filminleiding in die streek. Dit is nie net in die wilder gebiede van die Ulster- en Greene-provinsies geleë nie, maar ook op herkenbare plekke soos die Devil's Tombstone-kampeerterrein.

Praat

• The Gunks: Omgangsterm vir die Shawangunk Ridge (sien hieronder), veral die gewilde klimkranse in die ooste naby New Paltz.
• Die bergtop: Plaaslike term vir die Tannersville-Haines-waterval in Greene County, nie omdat dit op 'n werklike bergtop is nie, maar eerder as een van die hoogste nedersettings in die staat (Tannersville is die munisipaliteit wat die hoogste opgeneem is in New York; Haineswaterval is die tweede- hoogste gehuggie na die Southern Tier-gemeenskap van Knapp Creek).
• Snelweg: Ouer term vir roete 17, van oorspronklike naam in beplanningsfase. Begin om van gebruik te val selfs voor omskakeling na I-86.
• Shawangunk: Die rif, die stad en die stroom word uitgespreek soos gespel deur besoekers, maar SHONG-tandvleis deur plaaslike inwoners.
• Die Catskills: 'N Streek van die staat New York tussen die Hudsonvallei in die suide en ooste, die Leatherstocking-gebied in die noorde, die Southern Tier in die weste en Pennsylvania in die suidweste. Sien kaart vir meer inligting.
• Die waterskeiding: (spesifiek die Catskills / Delaware waterskeiding) die gebied van die staat New York waarvan die riviere en strome in die Cannonsville-, Pepacton-, Neversink-, Schoharie- en Ashokan-reservoir afloop. Sien kaart^{[dooie skakel]} vir meer inligting.
• Die Blou Lyn: die openbare en private lande wat bestaan ​​uit die Catskill Forest Preserve. Alhoewel privaat grond binne die grense van hierdie gebied aan streng omgewingsregulasies onderhewig is, kan dieselfde gesê word van die waterskeidingsgrond wat nie binne die grense is nie. Openbare grond binne die Blou Lyn word volgens die staatsgrondwet as 'ewig wild' aangewys. Sien kaart vir meer inligting.
• Die spoorweg: amptelik bekend as die Catskill Scenic Trail, volg die voormalige regterweg van die Delaware- en Ulster-spoorweg vir 26 kilometer deur 'n pragtige natuurskoon in Delaware County.
• DES: uitgespreek 'Dee Eee See', die departement van omgewingsbewaring in New York, wat twee polisiemagte ter beskerming van die omgewing in diens neem, die Forest Rangers en die DEC-polisie. Sommige kan oor die DEC brom, omdat hulle 'n regeringsagentskap is. Die meeste inwoners en besoekers aan New York waardeer egter die werk wat hulle doen.
• DEP: uitgespreek 'Dee Eee Pee'. Die derde agentskap vir omgewingswetgewing in die streek is die DEP-polisie (nie dieselfde as die DEC nie) deurdat hulle eintlik vir die Stad New York werk en die reservoirs patrolleer.

Gaan in

Lugvrag

Daar is geen groot lughawens in die Catskills self nie. Die twee wat die streek die beste dien, is suidoos en noordoos.

• Stewart Internasionale Lughawe1180 First St, New Windsor, 1 845 564-2100. Die lughawe van Newburgh is goed geleë naby die New York State Thruway en Interstate 84. Dit is 'n uitstekende plek om aan te kom as u bestemming binne die Catskills in die suide is, soos Sullivan of Ulster County.
• Albany Internasionale Lughawe, 737 Albany-Shaker Rd, Albany, 1 518 242-2200. Die lughawe om in te vlieg as u op pad is na die noordelike Catskills, veral Greene County.
• Vir privaat vliegtuie (vliegtuie ingesluit) is die beste opsie in die streek Sullivan County Internasionale Lughawe, in Bethel, 'n entjie van die graafskap in Monticello.

Met die trein

Daar is geen passasierspoordiens direk na die Catskills nie. Die Rhinecliff en Hudson stasies aan Amtrak s’n Empire Service-lyn langs die Hudsonrivier stem ooreen met die rivierkruisings wat die naaste aan die Catskills is, en busverbindings kan gemaak word. Amtrak bedien ook Poughkeepsie, met die meeste busverbindings, maar as u na die stasie in die omgewing van New York kom, moet u dit gebruik. Metro-Noord^{[voorheen dooie skakel]} om eerder daar te kom.

Met die bus

Adirondack-roetes bied twee roetes regoor die streek vanaf sy wes-van-Hudson-lyn. Een volg Roete 28 wes na Pine Hill, Belleayre Mountain en verder vanaf Kingston. Die ander een, van Saugerties, volg roetes 23A en 23 oor Greene County, met tussenstop in Tannersville, Hunter en Stamford. Albei lyne bereik uiteindelik Oneonta, waar vervoer ook beskikbaar is vanaf Trailways se diens langs die Interstate 88-gang.

Met die motor

Die New York State Thruway (Interstate 87), 'n verdeelde tolpad, is die primêre roete na die Catskill-streek vir besoekers wat uit die suide en suidooste kom (dws New York City en sy voorstede).

• Catskills-streek uitgaan 16 tot 21: Soos u met borde langs die snelweg weet, is die afrit 16–21, ongeveer 72–185 km van die stad af, die Catskills bedien. Die tol vir daardie afstand wissel van $ 2,50-5,20, met afslag beskikbaar vir gebruikers van die EZPass elektroniese betaalstelsel. Welke uitgang u wil neem, hang af van waarheen u in die Catskills is.
• Afrit 16 - Harriman - Amerikaanse roete 6 - NY roete 17 (Future I-86): reisigers van die Catskills moet goed voor die Harriman-afrit besluit of hulle op hierdie stadium die Thruway wil verlaat of nie. Dit is 'n baie besige gebied, en soos u sal sien, is NY Route 17 (I-86) omring deur megasentrums van hier tot Middletown NY. Nie 'n plek om reisbesluite te neem nie. Reisigers na Sullivan County en die westelike Delaware County (Roscoe, Hancock, Deposito) moet die Thruway om 16 verlaat.
• Afrit 18 - New Paltz - Poughkeepsie - NY Route 299: sien onder.
• Afrit 19 - Kingston - Roete 28 - Rhinecliff Bridge: Die maklikste snelweg na die sentrale Catskills, New York State Route 28, begin by Kingston. Nadat u by die afrit 19 by Thruway afgeklim het, loop u regs in die verkeersirkel en sien die Catskill Park-verwelkomingsbord voordat u die Thruway oorsteek. Moenie toelaat dat die motorhandelaars en restaurante net buite die baan jou teleurstel nie.

Vooruit lê 'n rit van 50 km op die Esopus Creek-vallei, wat net al hoe skilderagtiger word, en u verby Ashokan-reservoir in New York neem na die gehuggie Fenicië, die grootste nedersetting in die gang, mooi herstel van die oorstromings wat dit ná Irene geteister het. Nadat u verby Shandaken en Big Indian gaan, klim die pad byna 600 meter (3 km) verby Pine Hill tot by die skeiding tussen die Hudson- en Delaware-waterskeidings (ook die Ulster – Delaware-provinsie) ), en die ingang na Belleayre Ski Centre. Daarvandaan gaan dit verder na Margaretville, Delhi en die stad Oneonta by Interstate 88 voordat dit noordwaarts na Cooperstown en die Adirondacks gaan.

• Afrit 20 - Saugerties - Woodstock - Roete 32: Volg vanaf afrit 20 in Saugerties New York-staatsroete 32 'n paar kilometer noord, hou dan links op die kort New York State Route 32A na Palenville, waar dit eindig New York State Route 23A. Onmiddellik nadat u weswaarts is, begin u die skilderagtige klim van Kaaterskill Clove. Onderaan is die Kaaterskill Creek met sy vele watervalle en kranse, waar dit maklik sal wees om gewilde swemgate op lekker somernaweke te vind. Aan weerskante is die hoë kranse in die Catskill-platorand. Naby die top van die klim is die kort staptog na die Kaaterskill-waterval, gewild ondanks die gevaarlike wandeling langs die snelweg wat nodig is om die roete te bereik. Nadat u gelyk is, is u op pad na Haines Falls, Tannersville en Hunter, met die skouspelagtige Devil's Path-reeks in die suide.
• Afrit 21 - Catskill - Cairo - NY Route 23: Uitgang 21 is nie net die laaste Catskills-afrit nie, dit is die Catskill-afrit — letterlik. Die platorand en die hoë pieke van die Swartkopreeks, die Catskills se derde, vierde en vyfde hoogste berge, trek af na die kant van die Thruway. Hier New York-staatsroete 23 klim stadig op die noordkant van die platorand, verby die Five State Lookout (wat op helder genoeg dae sy fakture nakom), na Windham, die tuiste van nog 'n gewilde skigebied met dieselfde naam. In die weste gaan dit langs Schoharie Creek tot by Prattsville wat deur die vloed beskadig is, dan na die afgeleë Delaware County-gemeenskappe Grand Gorge en Stamford voordat hy Roete 28 buite Oneonta ontmoet.
• Afrit 18 - New Paltz - Poughkeepsie - NY Route 299: Die New Paltz-afrit word om 'n rede buite numeriese volgorde gelys: dit kom met waarskuwing. Die meeste reisigers na die Catskills word die beste aangeraai om nog een afrit (19) noord van die Thruway te gaan en Roete 28 te gebruik vir toegang tot die streek. Onversagde reisigers wil dit egter probeer Die agterste roete via Rondout Reservior - Claryville - Frost Valley - Skyfberg - Groot Indiër. By Big Indian kan 'n mens weer by Roete 28 aansluit.

Daar is twee afdelings van hierdie reis:

Eerstens is die rit vanaf Thruway by afrit 18 / New Paltz na die dorpie Napanoch (op Amerikaanse roete 209, 3 km noord van Ellenville) via Minnewaska State Park.

Die tweede helfte van die reis begin in die dorpie Napanoch by die kruising van Amerikaanse roete 209 en Ulster County-roete 55. Uiteindelik lei dit deur Claryville, verby Slide Mountain en verder na Big Indian in Ulster County, NY en State Route 28.

Hierdie roete kan op sigself 'n bestemming wees. Daar is baie wonderlike Catskill-staproetes langs hierdie roete. Die oostelike eindpunt van die FLT is in die nie-eens-meer-dorp-plek, genaamd Dennning. Die FLT begin (eindig?) By die Long Path, en net noord van Claryville op Ulster County Route 47 is Frost Valley en net noord daarvan is Slide Mountain, die voorste trofee-piek van die Catskills.

Raadpleeg 'n kaart - en bring dit saam - vir meer inligting oor hierdie roete. Terwyl u in Claryville is, maak 'n draai by die Country Deli, wat skoon, modern is en uitstekende kos bedien. Hierdie reis dek 'n afgeleë gebied, dus maak seker dat u brandstoftenk ten minste 'n 3/4 tenk het.

New York State Route 17: is 'n snelweg in die proses van omskakeling na Interstaat 86.

• NY State Route 17 vanaf die suidooste: Roete 17 begin sy weswaartse reis by Thruway Exit 16 in Harriman. In sy vroeë jare is dit die genoem Snelweg, vir die vinnige reis wat dit aangebied het na die vele oorde in Sullivan County en die visvangplekke van die Beaver Kill en die boonste Delaware-stelsel.
• NY State Route 17 vanuit die noordweste: is ook die enigste snelweg wat vanuit hul weste na die Catskills lei; die uiters skilderagtige roete vanaf daardie rigting begin vanaf Interstate 81 net suid van Binghamton en neem u langs die boonste takke van Delaware en dan Beaver Kill, almal meestal goed gevis in die seisoen, op pad na Sullivan County.
• NY State Route 17 in Delaware County: Ongeveer 'n uur en vyftien minute noord van die Thruway / Route 17-wisselaar in Woodbury, (en net meer as twee uur vanaf die Bronx), is die dorp Roscoe, NY. Op hierdie punt, en vir die volgende 35 kilometer noordwaarts, bied die snelweg nie net 'n suidelike toegang tot die Catskills (soos dit sedertdien die Shawangunk Ridge oorgesteek het nie), maar dit is nou werklik binne die Catskills, met al sy natuurskoon .
• Die dorpie Roscoe, in Delaware County, is die tuiste van die Roscoe Diner, wat op sy eie 'n baken is. Roete 206 begin in Roscoe, en gaan oor die algemeen noordwes, deur Delaware County, en verder na Greene, NY en dan na Whitney Point, NY by Interstate 81. Route 206 is die toegangsroete na die stilste dorpe (Downsville, Walton, Masonville, Franklin. ) van die stilste graafskap (Delaware County) wat die Catskills bied.
• Vrydagaande: As u op 'n Vrydag na die Catskills neem, kan u dit oorweeg om nader aan die aand te vertrek, want baie van diegene wat op pad is na die berge is Ortodokse Jode wat die stad vroeg verlaat om voor sononder aan te kom en die Sabbat te onderhou; die paaie is miskien 'n bietjie duideliker na donker. Route 17 can be crowded on Fridays and Sundays during the summer months, especially around the junction with the NYS Thruway, due to the proximity of the neighboring Woodbury Commons outlet mall.

Interstate 88: spans the 140 mile distance form Albany NY to Binghamton NY, with Oneonta NY roughly the half-way point between these two cities. This modern, limited access, divided, non-toll road does not enter the Catskills at any point, but it is worth listing this road as an important contributor to access by car into the Catskills.

• Exit 23 (Schoharie): New York State Route 30 (actually 30A for 1 mile) proceeds south from Interstate 88 for 35 miles until the village of Stamford, and the midpoint of the Catskill Rail Tail.
• Exit 15 (Oneonta): New York State Route 28 proceeds south from Interstate 88 for 21 miles until the village of Delhi, the county seat of Delaware County, the westernmost county of the Catskills.
• Exit 10 (Sidney) Delaware County Route 8 proceeds south from Interstate 88 for 6 miles until the crossroads of Masonville, NY. Within a mile or two of the blinking light at Masonville are several access points to the Finger Lakes Trail and four state forest areas: Beals Pond, Arctic China, Steam Mill and Barbour Brook State Forests. These lands are the absolute westernmost hiking and hunting lands of the Catskills region, and seem like an 'undiscovered land' to the few visitors to the area.

Kry rond

By bicycle

Some of the state routes through and within the region are also designated as bike routes. In addition, the state Department of Environmental Conservation is considering formally allowing mountain bikers to use some unpaved roads within the Forest Preserve areas, which would make some shortcuts possible.

• Catskill Scenic Trail: AKA 'The Rail Trail' is a 26 mile multi-use trail (hiking, jogging, biking, horseback riding, skiing and snowshoeing) that follows along the former Ulster and Delaware Railroad right of way in Delaware County. The trail runs alongside NYS routes 10, 23 and 30, through the hamlets of Bloomville, South Kortright, Hobart, Stamford, Grand Gorge and Roxbury. Access points which include dedicated parking are available at Bloomville and Stamford. The trail does cross roads at various points, caution should be exercised at these crossings.
• See the To Do section below for more biking information.

Met die bus

• While Ulster County Area Transit (UCAT) serves primarily the more populous eastern half of the county, it has lines to Ellenville and Belleayre.
• Greene County's Rip van Winkle Express Bus service^{[dooie skakel]} mainly connects outlying areas, including some in the mountains, with Catskill, the county seat. Service is limited.

Met die motor

Several ways to enter the Catskills, as alternatives to the main routes include:

• New York State Route 213 is a roundabout back road from Kingston to the Ashokan Reservoir. If you've got more time than you need get between them along Route 28, consider following Route 213 down Rondout Creek, past the bed of the old Delaware and Hudson Canal, through the picturesque hamlets of Rosendale, High Falls and Stone Ridge. From there Route 213 plunges through dense woods to drop you off just in front of the reservoir's main spillway, now closed to cars but not pedestrians.
• Ulster County Route 47 is described in the section above (see Thruway Exit 18/New Paltz) as part of a 'back route' that originates in New Paltz and winds its way to Big Indian on Route 28 in Ulster County. This route is not a casual drive or for people who get lost easily.

Roads that traverse the more mountainous area of the Catskills include:

• New York State Route 42: the northern segment of this road goes through the dramatic Deep Notch between Halcott and Sherrill mountains, both major peaks of the range, shortly after leaving Route 28 at Big Indian. It then descends past West Kill, following the creek of that name to Schoharie Creek at Lexington, where it connects to Route 23A.
• New York State Route 214: probably the most-used Catskills interior route, New York State Route 214 follows Stony Clove Creek up from Route 28 at Phoenicia through Stony Clove Notch, the pass between Plateau and Hunter mountains pictured at the top of this page. North of there it connects to Route 23A between Hunter and Tannersville.
• New York State Route 296: just west of Hunter, New York State Route 296 climbs north from 23A, offering some beautiful views of Hunter and Rusk mountains in the rear view mirror. It continues to Route 23 at Hensonville.

In Delaware County, try exploring the roads surrounding the two main reservoirs, the Cannonsville and the Pepacton. These roads are actually owned and maintained by the City of New York, and travel through the pristine landscape responsible for supplying NYC with drinking water.

• New York State Route 10 is a beautiful drive, beginning just north of Deposit, heading west past the Cannonsville, it continues on through the villages of Walton, Delhi and Stamford, before heading north and out of the county. Along the way is provides access to the Catskill Rail Trail at Bloomville, Hobart and Stamford.
• New York State Route 30 begins at the interchange with NY Route 17 (Future I-86) in the Town of Hancock, and follows the East Branch Delaware River to Downsville. East of Downsville, NY 30 runs along the south side of the Pepacton Reservoir and briefly overlaps NY 28 in Margaretville. Fom Margaretville, it heads north east to Roxbury, where the tracks of the Delaware and Ulster can be seen at several places near the river. From Roxbury, NY 30 travels up to the headwaters area of the East Branch, and crosses a narrow gap in the hills, into the hamlet of Grand Gorge, where it intersects NY 23. From there, it heads north out of the region and on to Interstate 88 in Schoharie.

Te voet

As with most large mountainous regions, there have been efforts to link hiking trails into a long-distance network. So far, there have been two that allow long-distance multi-day hikes in the Catskills:

• The 558-mile (897 km) Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) begins its trip to that region at a trail junction in the Slide Mountain Wilderness Area, near the headwaters of the Neversink River. From there it heads west, following white blazes past the Balsam Lake Mountain firetower and Pepacton Reservoir, through Sullivan and Delaware counties.
• The eastern terminus of the Finger Lakes Trail is the junction with the Long Path, a 347-mile (560 km) trail from the George Washington Bridge to the Schenectady area. Most of the trail in the Catskills has been taken off the road; the one section where a road walk is still required passes close by the hamlet of Phoenicia. Highlights include Slide Mountain, much of the challenging Devil's Path range, and the North-South Lake area. Generally it follows existing trails on state land; when on roads or private property it follows the same aqua blazes as the rest of its route.

By rail

Although it is primarily a tourist heritage line, the Catskill Mountain Railroad, serves some short-range transportation needs along the Route 28 corridor, most notably for tubers on the stretch of Esopus Creek below Phoenicia. It has recovered from severe damage inflicted by Hurricane Irene; there have been plans to connect its Kingston segment with that one using the old Ulster and Delaware tracks although those have faced strong local opposition from proponents of a rail trail.

Sien

• 42.2015-74.05731 North-South Lake, County Route 18, Haines Falls (NE of Haines Falls along North Lake Road), ☏ 1 518 589-5058, ✉[email protected]. 24. An excellent all-around introduction to the Catskills for either day or overnight. Fish, boat and swim in the lakes, or hike the extensive trail system to the ruins of the Catskill Mountain House and the views it made famous. $22 for camping permits; less for day use. 
• 42.0502-74.03152 Opus 40, 50 Fite Road, Saugerties (Off Glasco Turnpike between Mt. Marion and NY 212), ☏ 1 845 246-3400. Thursdays through Sundays and holiday Mondays 11AM-5:30PM. A splendid sculpture garden listed on the National Register of Historic Places, carved out of an old quarry, with spectacular views complementing the art $10 adult, $7 students and seniors, $3 children 6-12, under 6 free, no dogs. 
• Franklin Stage Company: on Institute Street, Village of Franklin (northwestern Delaware County) Founded in 1996, the Franklin Stage Company is dedicated to the production of classic and new plays that unsettle, provoke, and entertain. Franklin Stage Company’s joint mission is to produce admission-free world class theatre in our rural area of the western Catskills while preserving our magnificent home, Chapel Hall. There is a restaurant on Main Street in Franklin that is usually open on show nights.

Doen

Visvang

Rivers like the Willowemoc and the Beaverkill are famous for their brown trout, particularly in the spring and fall when the weather is cool. Three streams in Sullivan and Delaware Counties — the Neversink, the West Branch of the Delaware and the East Branch — are tailwaters (released from reservoir impoundments) whose temperatures stay cool and fish-favorable all summer.

• Trout Town, USA: also occasionally known as Roscoe, N.Y. This village, located directly on Route 17 (exit 94) has more fishing-themed business than can be mentioned here.
• Al's: just downstream of the Pepacton Reservior dam in Downsville, NY at the junction of New York State Route 30 and New York State Route 206, Al has a motel, sporting goods shop and canoe rental.
• 41.92684-74.842261 Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum, 1031 Old Route 17, Livingston Manor, NY (2 mi west on Old Route 17 from Exit 96 on NY 17), ☏ 1 845-439-4810, faks: 1 845-439-3387, ✉[email protected]. Apr-Oct: daily 10AM–4PM; Nov-Mar: Tu-Sa 10AM–4PM. Located on the banks of Willowemoc Creek, this is an excellent introduction to the region's historic trout streams for both the experienced angler and the novice who'd like to give it a try. Childrens environmental education classes $90 once a summer. 
• Living off the land: If you or a friend have been fly-fishing and have caught a trout large enough to consider actually keeping it instead of releasing it as is the custom (and indeed the law in some areas), nothing tastes better than eating it fresh around a campfire, prepared by someone who knows how to cook it.

Stap

The following organizations are worth taking a look into as prep for hiking in the Catskills:

• 3500 Club: The Catskill Mountain 3500 Club, a group of hikers who have climbed all 35 peaks in the range above that elevation, whether trailed or trail-less, as well as a select group of four peaks in winter (and many have climbed all 35 in winter, as well), is the hiking club with the most specific focus on the Catskills. It schedules regular weekend hikes, most but not all on those 35 peaks.
• NY/NJ Trail Conference: If you'd prefer to explore the mountains and trails on your own, the New York–New Jersey Trail Conference produces the standard maps of the region. These maps are a printed on a highly durable, waterproof material and are impeccably detailed. They are a must-have for any hike in the Catskills.
• Finger Lakes Trail Conference: produces excellent paper maps of the entire FLT trail system and has an on-line interactive map on its website.
• Other outdoors organizations that organize group hikes in the Catskills are the North Jersey-New York chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club and several chapters of the Adirondack Mountain Club.

Some of the most popular – and more demanding – hikes worth mentioning here:

• Slide Mountain: at 4,200 ft, it is the highest peak in the Catskills, located in the Town of Shandaken, Ulster County, NY. Trailhead parking on Ulster County Route 47, approximately 9.5 miles south of New York State Route 28 in Big Indian, NY. Not a particularly risky hike on its own, due to the fact that much of the route is an old access road for the (no longer extant) fire tower, however it is physically demanding nonetheless. The risker portion of the trail begins after the summit, on the down-slope towards Cornell Mountain. Wooden ladders have been installed on the rocky slopes, and if one looks out from these ladders, they can feel as if they are nearly hanging in mid-air. Combining the climb to Slide Mountain with the Cornell/Wittenberg route to Woodland Valley (or the reverse) is an impressive, two-car, multi-day undertaking.
  

  Trail to Slide Mountain
• Escarpment Trail: 24 miles of rugged, rocky and at several points dangerous terrain, running generally north/south along the Catskill Escarpment – the huge wall of a mountain overlooking the Hudson Valley of the northeast Catskills. A sample section of the trail can be experienced at the North-South Lake area, accessed via County Route 18, Haines Falls, NY. The entire trail requires three days and two cars.
• Devil's Path: 25 miles of hell. One of the most popular trails in the Catskills, featuring 18,000 feet of elevation change over its length. Consistently featured in hiking magazine articles entitled 'The Five (or Ten) Most Dangerous Hiking Trails in the (State, United States, World, Solar System, etc.) This trail is laid out so that there are quite a number of day trip loops that utilize this trail as part of the loop, but return the hiker to the same parking area at the end. Dogs and children should be left at home for the eastern section (Jimmy Dolan area to Route 214) however the western (Route 214 to Spruceton) section is not much more risky than other trails in the area.
• Hunter Mountain: at 4,040 feet, the second highest peak in the Catskills, with the western approach trailhead located at the east end of Spruceton Road, Spruceton, NY. Hunter Mountain is similar to Slide Mountain in that the trails (the western approach from from Spruceton) utilize old roads to create a scenic, quite physically demanding but not particularly dangerous hike. There is a firetower at the top of Hunter, and during the summer, there may be an interpretive guide – who spends nights in the nearby cabin – to welcome you to the top of the mountain. An interesting – and otherworldly – experience is to take the Colonel's Chair side trail down to the tops of the Hunter Mountain ski area, which is virtually abandoned during the summer. Be careful navigating as you approach the main ski slopes, there is a network of side trails up here that are not well marked.

Less demanding – and possibly kid-friendly – hiking ideas:

• Shavertown Trail: Located in the town of Andes, the Shavertown trail offers families and novice hikers a unique opportunity in the Catskills – a spectacular view after only one moderately strenuous mile, followed by a fairly level mile and a half through beautiful rock ledges and wonderful forest to explore. The trailhead is on County Route 1, about a tenth of a mile north of the intersection of Route 30 and County Route 1 in Andes. Park at the parking lot by the bridge.
• North/South Lake: check with the Forest Rangers so you can avoid the challenging adult-only trails that begin in this area, and otherwise you will have a kid friendly vacation, including gentle hiking trails, a swimming area and a campground.
• Catskill Scenic Trail: see the Getting Around (Bicycle) section above. With children, take extra caution at the several road crossings along the route. Take a break along the trail in the Villages of Hobart and Stamford particularly.
• Balsam Lake Mountain and Fire Tower Trail: is a moderately demanding, and relatively safe trail, in that it follows a wide footpath that is actually still listed as a non-maintained road in the Town of Hardenburg in Ulster County. Begin at Dry Brook Road and State Route 28 the Village of Arkville, Delaware County. Take Dry Brook Road south for 6 miles, make a right (heading west) onto Mill Brook Road, (there is a barn sitting in the middle of the intersection) and then after 2 miles on (a very winding) Mill Brook Road, the trailhead parking will be on your right. The actual trail is across the road from the parking area. The fire tower is attended on summer weekends, there is a nice DEC cabin nearby in which a husband-and-wife team lives for a day or two at a time giving tours of the tower.
• Kelly Hollow: an idyllic setting, including waterfalls, a beaver pond, foot bridges, and two campsites, Kelly Hollow is also located on Mill Brook Road, 6 miles west of the intersection with Dry Brook Road. Stay on the trail when hiking on the hills above the river. A very brief road walk completes a lovely loop hike.
• Western Catskills (Cherry Ridge Wild Forest): For hikers who would prefer to explore the woods in relative solitude, while much less spectacular than the eastern or northern Catskills, the 17 trails in the area south of the Pepacton Reservior (in the towns of Colchester and Andes) are the 'road less traveled.' Wonderful hikes for the family in the western Catskills include:
  • Trout Pond/Mud Pond: in the far southwest corner of the Catskills, near the intersection of Morton Hill Road and Russell Brook Road in the Town of Colchester. Take New York State Route 17 to State Route 206 north at exit 94 (Roscoe) Proceed north on 206 for 2½ miles, take a left onto Morton Hill Road and go another 2½ miles to the seasonal and rugged Russell Brook Road. There are loop trails, two lakes, and several campsites. This place fills up on busy weekends.
  • Huggins Lake: on Holliday and Berry Brook Road in the town of Andes, roughly half way between the Beaverkill Campground in Sullivan County, and State Route 30 at the Pepacton Reservoir in Andes. This gentle, less than 2 mile hike ends at a lovely, very remote lake, that has an old canoe laying around, left there by the DEC for your use. They did not leave any life vests around, so an adult should accompany children on any boat rides.

The western Catskills (Cherry Ridge area) is easily accessed from NY Route 17 (Future 86) Seasonal homes are located on the many north/south roads that run from Route 17 north to the Pepacton Reseroir).

Skiing

There are several ski areas in the region.

• Hunter Mountain. On the range's second-highest peak in the eponymous Greene County community, is the best-known and most popular. It programs events year-round, and operates its chairlift in the summer for those who'd like to get a high-level view without the hike. 
• Belleayre Ski Center: Outside Pine Hill, in Ulster County, is state-owned Belleayre Mountain, where slopes are less challenging but prices are cheaper.
• Windham Mountain:Windham Mountain, formerly a private club near the north end of the range, comes in third. Delaware County's sole ski area is small but interesting Ski Plattekill, outside Roxbury. In Sullivan County, the very small Holiday Mountain just off NY 17 near Monticello is ideal for families on day trips.
• Platekill Mountain: located near Roxbury, NY in Delaware County, this privately-owned ski facility has ski packages during the winter months.

Mountain biking

• Catskill Scenic Trail: see details in the Getting Around section above.
• Bear Spring Mountain Wildlife Management Area: consists of over 7,000 acres of upland habitat in Delaware County acquired by the State in 1961. It is located in the Towns of Colchester and Walton along Route 206. This multi-use area is open to hiking, biking, horseback riding, and many other outdoor recreation pursuits. Restrictions include swimming and camping only at designated areas, and a prohibition of building any structures, such as the jumps built to enhance the biking experience. Ample parking (and trail maps at the kiosk) in a spacious lot off of Route 206 on the mountaintop between Walton and Downsville villages.

Trails for beginner and experienced mountain bike riders are available and well marked. Cautions include sharing trails with horseback riders, and the fact that the roads in the park are open to traffic using the park as a short-cut to remote communities.

• Homer Folks State Forest: located just north of the City of Oneonta, while not in the Catskills region per se, this network of trails is the premier location in a town that is becoming a mountain biking destination. The trailhead kiosk is located at the upper parking lot of the Homer Folks State Facility, which was a state hospital in the 1930s through 1970s. Take West Street past the State University, make a left onto Homer Folks Avenue, past Job Corps, and make another left onto Hill Street. Park as far from the Hill Building at the end of the road as you can, this one-lane parking lot is busier that it seems. The trail are off to your right as you approach the Hill Building.

On these trails, you will pass the City of Oneonta water tanks, and eventually approach Hartwick College property. Call the number on the signs and speak to security if you wish to continue onto Hartwick property. The cliffs at Table Rock are worth the extra effort.

While in Oneonta, there are sporting goods stores both large and small, and a four-block-long urban pub/restaurant scene on Main Street.

• Platekill Mountain: near Roxbury, NY in Delaware County, this privately-owned ski facility has mountain biking packages during the summer months.

River riding

• Upper Esopus Creek: the river experience of the Esopus Creek begins at the small path behind the cemetery in the hamlet of Shandaken, NY which is located on State Route 28, approximately 30 miles northwest of the New York State Thruway at Kingston.

River adventurers riding in inflatable boats should be aware that there are large chucks of either conglomerate rock or actual concrete that can rip open the bottom of the boat. These hazards are located just past the put-in point.

There have been many naturally occurring changes in the river, including tree-falls and washed-out riverbanks that have made river-riding dangerous. Fortunately, they have been repaired, but since history is an indicator of future events, it could happen again. Most dramatically, sections of track from the former Delaware and Ulster Rail Road, which closely parallels the river (as does Route 28) have draped into the river as a result of wash-outs of the track bed. Again, these have been repaired, but the lesson is that rivers are ever-changing creatures.

Do not put-in at the Shandaken Tunnel, also known as the Portal, or the Chute. The water in the Chute is exiting the 18 mile-long tunnel, coming from the Schoharie Reservoir, on its way to the Ashokan Reservoir. It exits the tunnel with furious force. Fatalities occur here at a distressingly frequent rate.

Eet

The eastern Catskills have as their lifeblood the dollars brought into the region by skiers, hunters, anglers and other tourists. Therefore, in the villages of Hunter, Windham, Woodstock and Tannersville, there is an ample supply of excellent restaurants. A walk down Main Street in each of these villages will yield the opportunity to dine in a different location each night, and yield no disappointments.

The same cannot be said as you travel west, however.

As it turns out, the western Catskills, while arguably even more picturesque than the east, have lower mountains – they are hills, really – and between those hills are valleys of rich soil and gentle rivers. And that means farming. Lots of it.

People make their homes in the western Catskills. Delaware County may have the lowest population of any county in New York south of the Adiraondacks, but these are real, hardworking people. At best, you may get a slight wave from them on a quiet county road.

But you are not going to get them to open a restaurant, not just for you.

Take a ride west, into farm country, and take a village by village look at where you may want to stop in to eat:

• Shokan: Still in the eastern part of the Catskills, many tourists and residents alike utilize Route 28 as an entryway to the Catskills area. Purely a utilitarian stop, Olive's County Store in Shokan on State Route 28, 12 miles from the Thruway, is a decent place to refuel your vehicle and yourself. A country store with some basic camping supplies is attached to the deli area. Just down the road (Route 28, west) is the Reservoir Delicatessen. Update February 2020: Olive's General Store has hired new cooks, the food (at least the deli sandwiches) are downstate New York quality, and huge.
• Phoenecia: Heading west on Route 28, Phoenecia seems to be an epicenter of something called the 'Hipster Treatment.' To a local, that sounds like a hot bath for a sore upper leg. There are a number of great places here, but they are all a bit pricey and seem to take advantage of the tourist crowd. There are few local food specialties, but one you may want to try to is fresh maple syrup, after the sap season in late February. You can easily buy some to take home with you, although it costs more than it would at a supermarket. Die Phoenicia Diner seems to always be packed, but just east of there is a small strip-mall with a few excellent and less-traveled restaurants.
• Claryville: Another entry route into the Castkills, Ulster County Route 47, will take you through through some impressively rugged terrain. Most people have no idea where Claryville is, but if you find yourself near Claryville (this is a beautiful wilderness area with spectacular hiking on the FLT, Long Path and Slide Mountain, to name a few), you will be wondering if there is any place out here to get food – other than trail mix – in the middle of nowhere. Yes, the Claryville Country Store and Deli is an excellent, clean place. Be warned: there is no gas station anywhere around.
• Roscoe: people who collect bumper stickers to commemorate their travel experiences used to consider a 'Meet Me at the Roscoe Diner' bumper sticker a must-have. There have not been bumper stickers in a while, but the diner is surely there, serving as a stalwart landmark along a Catkills (and Finger Lakes Region) adventure. Roscoe is located at exit 94 on State Highway 17 (AKA Future Interstate 86).
• Downsville: because fishermen eat fish (one would suppose) and Downsville is a fishing town, there are only a few options here, but they are quite good. Located on Route 206 in Downsville (which is between Roscoe and Walton) the Downsville Diner (excellent breakfast) seems like a perfect location to film a movie that takes place in a diner, and the Old Schoolhouse Inn, besides being in a beautiful building, has juicy steaks and burgers.
• Margaretville: is a solid half-hour past Phoenecia on State Route 28. Margaretville is well within Delaware County, but is not immune from tourist-dollar lust. The village has recovered from the devastating floods of 2011 and has remade itself into an upscale village serving as kind of an entrance way to Delaware County. There are two restaurants on Main Street open until 9PM, and then there's the Bun-N-Cone... oh, the Bun-N-Cone. Children will insist on eating here at least once each trip. Avoid anything with faux Italian sauce on it, unless you have several bottles of antacids with you.
• Delhi: the county seat of Delaware County, home to a state technical college. There are some very good dinner options here, despite its small-town appearance. Some of the places close early (Delhi Diner, 7:30 am to 1:30PM), some are open until 9PM and the Shire Pub is open until midnight. Just down the road (west on Main Street, past the entrance to the college, turn left after Pizza Hut) is a strip mall with a full size drugstore, huge supermarket and Cugino's Pizzeria.
• Andes: was not much more than a crossroads and a blinking light until a few years ago, now some want to crown it the Brooklyn of the North. Whatever. Being home to dozens of antique stores (you can't eat old furniture) the Andes Hotel is pretty much your only option. Luckily it is a busy, fun place, with a restaurant, bar, motel out back, and an occasional live act entertainment now and then.
• Bovina: used to be a village that was not even on the map. And that was a map of Bovina. Today they have a whopping one general store, a restaurant/café, and a rustic hotel that serves gourmet food one night a week (Saturday). The real estate in Bovina sells for Long Island or Westchester County prices, so they must be doing something right over there.

In the village of Bovina Center (Delaware County Route 6 – two miles east of State Route 28) is Russell's General Store^{[dooie skakel]}, which has been there since before any of us were born. The Mountain Brook Inn three miles down County Route 6 is the rustic hotel with gourmet food. Oh, and Russell's is available as a movie location. It's also a must-see country place that pretty much defines rural Delaware County in one building.

• Franklin: if Norman Rockwell were still around, he would have moved to Franklin. A two-block by four-block village as small town America as it gets. Franklin is a dry town (for alcohol, not humor) but the Quickway gas station sells beer. The Tulip and The Rose has Middle Eastern food with the ingredients raised on a nearby farm. Open weekends only (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays).
• Walton: is a distinctly down-market dining experience, unless eating in gas stations with tables is your thing. However, there is one really good down-home type diner on Main Street (T A's Place, 249 Delaware Street) near the cheese factory (that's not an attraction, it's a real cheese factory) and one across Main Street (Gramma D's, 192 Delaware Street) that serves Italian food. But hey, you can always see the Region's Largest Walk-in Beer Cooler (seriously) to make up for the otherwise lack of culture in this town.
• Hambletville: is not a town, village, or even a crossroads. Located very roughly halfway between Deposit and Masonville on County Route 8 in Delaware County, right off to the side of the road, is a huge ice cream cone about the size of an SUV. After a small gravel parking lot, there is a small building with pictures of all kinds of delicious treats above the little window. And the nearest place name on the map to there is Hambletville. Everyone calls it 'The Ice Cream Cone.' Wherever it actually is, there is nothing else around for miles but forest and farms, and in summer, the parking lot is always packed. Presumably, they sell ice cream there. Worth a try.
• Oneonta: While they're not in the Castkills, and somewhat out of the way from the area, visitors may want to stop by any of the various excellent restaurants in the City of Oneonta, in southern Otsego County. Try Nina's, Alfresco's, Fiesta Mexican, Simply Thai, or the Jambalaya place, all on Main Street.

Oneonta is also home to a number of those places where you point to the picture of the food you want, and the lady shouts something to the guy in the back. If you are pulling an all-nighter or live in a university dorm, go for it. However for a decent sit-down meal in a clean place, China 19 is located in the strip mall behind the Recruiting station (across from the Fire Department).

Oneonta is also roughly a half-way point on a day trip from the Catskills to Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall-of-Fame.

• Oneonta/Meredith - While the address is Oneonta, the location is actually on a very rural Route 28 equidistant from Oneonta, Delhi and Franklin. The Polar Bear Homemade Ice Cream and More Restaurant is a mecca of 1950s-style American food and ice cream, the scene with McFly and Biff could have been filmed here.
• Sullivan County: During summer, there are many kosher restaurants open, particularly in the areas of Sullivan County that have a high seasonal Orthodox Jewish population, but they are usually quite expensive. Year round, there are plenty of restaurants selling basic food items, such as pizza, burgers, and fries.

One last piece of advice: never assume you can roll into the western Catskills late at night and find anything open, including gas or food.

Koop

• Oneonta (again, not really in the Catskills) is one of the few places in the region with a large selection of 'real' stores. Southside (Route 23) has a shopping mall (Southside Mall) and all the usual big box stores, plus Losie's Gun Shop on the far west end of the strip.
• Delhi has a Tractor Supply right on Main Street in the middle of town, and a strip mall west on Main Street (Route 10) with a huge grocery store.
• Margaretville has a sporting goods store on Main Street, and a nice grocery store on Bridge Street.
• Andes has an entire Main Street lined with antique stores.
• Hobart is known as a village filled with book stores.
• Arkville has an on-again, off-again military surplus store which sells whatever they may have in at the time.
• Between Arkville and Fleischmanns on Route 28, there is a huge home improvement store (Wadler Bros.) which also sells items (flashlights, batteries) of use to the traveler.
• In Grand Gorge, there is a surplus store with army tanks and troop transports outside, if you want to help defend against a Soviet invasion. Seriously, he also may have surplus gear and clothing that may be of interest to a hiker.

Drink

Water:

If you are deep enough in the woods and come across a running stream or a spring, consider using a hand-pumped water filter to drink the water. However, one should avoid drinking any unfiltered water from any source in the wild except possibly from springs that come directly from underground. These will be marked 'spring' with DEC signs (brown signs/yellow lettering).

Alcohol:

Oneonta has a decent pub scene. But please, have a designated driver, as these mountain roads are dangerous even for those who don’t partake. The State Police and the Oneonta City Police will be watching you drive out of the city.

Better yet, try the various liquor stores on Southside in Oneonta (near Hannaford's), or Main Street in Walton (across from the bank), and take the booze back to your cabin.

Bly veilig

Drive carefully:

• General precautions: drive cautiously on all roads in the area if you are unfamiliar with them, particularly those that are unpaved. Many of the roads in the Catskills were built to serve local farms, not visitors, so they take steep slopes and sharp turns. Should you have an accident, assistance is some distance away and will take time to arrive. Be patient: one of the most dangerous mistakes in the area is passing a slow-moving vehicle.
• Electronic devices: cellular phone coverage is not available in much of the region, except for within some (not all) of the villages (and on some of the mountaintops!). If you navigate via GPS, always second guess its ability to deliver you to your destination via the safest and most direct route. Both GPS and online mapping programs have been known to send travelers onto seasonal roads that are barely passable under the best of conditions, across bridges that were washed out in the most recent storm, and along roads that have similar names of other roads in the area.
• Winter driving: All advice contained in this section goes doubly or triply for travel in adverse weather conditions. Some dirt roads have signs noting that they are not maintained (seasonal roads) in wintertime. If your vehicle is not equipped with four-wheel drive it would be wise to consider an alternate route. Even the best highways are not immune to winter hazards; Interstate 88 has been known to get very windy and icy during the winter. In adverse winter conditions, it is best to avoid driving at all. If you absolutely cannot avoid driving, be sure to test your traction frequently by gently tapping your brakes. If you are having difficulty stopping on a level road surface, the next down-hill section of road (this is a mountainous area) will potentially be deadly.
• Summer driving: During summer, many people go into the Catskills from New York City. Some of them drive like they're still in the city, so be careful when driving. Locals from the area, familiar with the roads, have been known to tailgate slower drivers on occasion. It is usually best to pull over, if it can be done so safely, for these people.
• Heavy rainfall: Rain can also turn some of those roads into quagmires. Paved roads are by no means immune, especially if they travel alongside rivers or if they travel through narrow gaps between mountains. NY 268 (Hancock to Cannonsville) has been closed for months at a time in the wake of major storms due to flooding and landslides, for instance. The rivers of the Catskills have been known to over-top their banks suddenly after a rainfall, even several days after heavy rain. Do not attempt to drive through standing water of any depth; several inches of water will cause your car to hydroplane, more than that may cause your car to literally float away.
• Sudden turns and curves: There are many locations throughout the Catskills in which a two-lane, paved, well-marked state and county routes can suddenly enter a very curvy section. Examples would include State Route 28 between Margaretville and Andes, and another, very heavily travelled section coming off Franklin Mountain just south of Oneonta. Many of the roads coming up the escarpment from the Hudson Valley (northeast of Woodstock) have very curvy sections. Be especially careful on Route 47 between Claryville and Slide Mountain, it is very narrow here and subject to flooding. There is a very sharp hairpin turn at the trailhead to Giant Ledge on this road as well.
• Animals: Collisions with animals, mostly deer, are quite common in the area. Most locals have someone in the family who has hit a deer with their car. Deer are usually out in the early morning and evening, but the caution should apply at all times. Honking or flashing lights will be of no use, and may serve to 'freeze' the deer right on the roadway. Better to watch one's speed, and remember that stopping distance increases exponentially with increased vehicle speed. Hitting a deer can be very dangerous; the damage can break the windshield, the deer can get caught under the vehicle, and the damage can be extensive enough that the vehicle's doors may not open. Let the tailgater behind you pass you and hit the deer instead.

Hiking:

• General precautions: Be sure to equip yourself with the proper equipment while hiking. As a general rule and at minimum, wear sturdy, waterproof hiking boots, carry plenty of water, avoid cotton garments except during the hottest months, leave plenty of time to return to the trailhead, and expect sudden changes of weather – much more so than in coastal climates. Many hikers wear trousers (not shorts) at all times in the Catskills, there is an increasing concern over ticks, and a walk through a field of stinging nettles (a plant about knee-high with tiny stinging hairs on the leaves and stems) is an unforgettable experience.
• Rugged terrain: In contrast to the conventional wisdom of the Catskills being relatively tame and safe (they are!) there are a small number of exceedingly challenging hikes (climbs, really) in the Catskills. Devil's Path is consistently listed as one of the most dangerous hikes in the nation, if not the world. What really should be said of this or any outdoor adventure is that it is potentially dangerous, in that it may be rugged and comprised of many difficult obstacles, but the hikers who travel this trail are well-educated about its hazards and prepare accordingly. Nevertheless, there are one or two fatalities a year in the Catskills, usually fall-related.
• Choose clothing wisely: Always expect, and equip for, a sudden change in weather – concerning temperature, precipitation and wind – in all seasons. A mid-weight fleece jacket, known to be water resistant (not just advertised as such) in a bright color, is the quintessential 'I'd rather have it and not need it' item that may just save your life, or at least eliminate the adjective 'miserable' from a day turned cold and rainy. Wear socks (year 'round) with a wool content as high as you can find in the store, and do not accept substitute materials other than wool. A knit cap for cold/wind and a brimmed 'boonie' hat for a light rain (or very sunny day) completes the list of must-have garments.
• Avoid wearing: Avoid non-breathing garments such as raincoats or nylon windbreakers, except for the most drenching downpour. They are much less comfortable than fleece. Beware of cotton except for the hottest days of summer; despite the resurgence of cotton flannel shirts and blue jeans among the fashion forward, no garments could be more useless on a cold rainy day, as cotton absorbs rainfall and pulls the heat away from your body.
• Planning your hike: There are excellent guide books to the Catskills that are a must-have for the frequent visitor. Interactive online maps such as those provided by the DEC are highly valuable. The New York/New Jersey Trail Conference publishes an excellent set of must-have maps.
• Other equipment: Carry enough water for the hike-in, the hike-out, and a reserve supply. Parents should carry extra water for their children, as little ones usually need more water than they are happy carrying. In mid-summer, dogs need to be accounted for as well, due to the streams drying up in July and August. Also carry a first aid kit, a small flashlight, a compass, a pocket knife, and have up-to-date maps of the trails you are hiking. A hydration backpack with a modest load carrying capacity will serve a hiker much better than a walk-to-school type of book bag. Equipment for winter hiking will not be addressed here, that is a topic unto itself.

Hunting:

• Hunting seasons: Be aware of the various hunting seasons in the Catskills, primarily deer/rifle season, which generally extends from roughly a week before Thanksgiving to several weeks after Thanksgiving. Check the DEC website for exact details. The Catskills are in the 'southern zone' according to DEC hunting season maps. Hiking during hunting season is generally not recommended, but it is not impossible, either, if one takes the proper precautions.
• Clothing for hunters and non-hunters alike: It never hurts to have an outer layer (a fleece jacket, see above) of a bright color with you in any season. During hunting season, it is mandatory for hunters, and strongly suggested for anyone in the woods at this time to wear at least one garment colored 'blaze orange.'

Animal hazards:

• Rattlesnakes in a small number of locations in the Catskills (primarily near Hancock and north of Woodstock). These snakes are not much of a hazard for adults with a fair amount of situational awareness, but they could become a problem for curious children and dogs.
• Skunks and porcupines can wreak havoc for curious dogs who have not been told to keep their noses out of rock piles, caves, old logs, etc. These little but well-armed animals are defensive fighters only, and if a dog gets 'skunked' or 'porcupined', it's probably their human's fault. While a 'skunking' is extremely annoying and unpleasant, getting 'porcupined' can be deadly for a dog; the dog may not be able to drink water, and may even drool so much that it will die of hydration before the quills can be removed.

Diere wat onverdiend 'n vreesaanjaende reputasie onder oningeligtes kan hê, is swartbeer en coyote.

• Swart beer, in teenstelling met hul grootte (net 'n bietjie groter - maar baie sterker - as die grootste sokkerspeler) en hul voorkoms, is swartbere die 'skaam kindertjies' van die bos, en dit sal moontlik 'n ontmoeting met mense vermy. As die versekering nie voldoende is om u gemaklik te maak nie, sal die bere gewaarsku word as u sleutels dra of bloot 'n gesprek voer terwyl u stap. Geen van die grootte vergelykings, dieet, wreedheid, territorialiteit, niks jy al gehoor het van 'n grys of bruin beer is van toepassing op swartbeer. Die enigste gevaarlike tyd kan wees as u tussen Momma en haar kleintjies inkom. Enige gesonde verstand en bewustheid van u kant sal voorkom dat dit gebeur.
• Coyotes (wat volgroeid is, is ongeveer so groot soos 'n klein hondjie van die Duitse herder), sal pak-om-pak kommunikeer rondom sononder via huil, blaf of 'n klinkende geluid. Om op die oomblik in die bos te wees, is 'n opwindende ervaring, veral as mens gepaardgaande voetstappe uit die naaste pak hoor. Wat lyk soos 'n hele bos vol diere, is gewoonlik 'n gesin van 'n halfdosyn coyotes vir elke pak, die pakke is baie versprei oor die bos en verskeie coyotes in elke pak is dikwels jeugdige coyotes. Coyote se diëte bestaan ​​byna uitsluitlik uit klein knaagdiere, beslis nie toeriste nie.
• Bergleeus bestaan ​​nie in die Catskills nie, volgens amptelik gepubliseerde Departement van Omgewingsbewaringsgidse vir stap en ander buitelugrekreasie in die staat New York. U mag egter verhale hoor wat as sodanig begin: "my vriend van my buurman sê hy het een naby gesien ..."

Misdaad in die Catskills-streek neem verskillende vorme aan:

• Straatmisdaad is gewoonlik gekonsentreer in die stede en dorpe in Sullivan County langs Route 17, veral Monticello, wat veral snags redelik moeilik kan word. Laatreisigers na die gebied wat via roete 17 opdaag, moet wag totdat hulle na Delaware County is, voordat hulle stop met gas en voorrade.
• Geweldsmisdaad in Delaware County, volgens die NYS, is die DCJS gemiddeld laer as een voorval per jaar per kategorie vir die afgelope vyf jaar, behalwe vir ernstige aanranding, wat byna uitsluitlik gevegte is tussen persone wat aan mekaar bekend is. In Ulster County sou die statistieke baie dieselfde wees as dit nie vir die stad Kingston was nie. Die dorpie New Paltz is ook in Ulster County verantwoordelik vir verskeie voorvalle per jaar, aangesien dit 'n partytjie-georiënteerde universiteitsdorp is.
• DWI is 'n tragedie op die punt om plaas te vind oral waar dit voorkom, maar in die Catskills is daar 'n altyd bestaande risiko om in 'n kronkelende gedeelte van 'n pad af te hardloop of 'n botsing op 'n tweespoor pad. DWI maak die situasies net erger. Let altyd op u spoed en let op die gedrag van aankomende motoriste.
• Eiendomsmisdaad is die algemeenste soort misdaad, hoofsaaklik as gevolg van onbewaakte tweede huise.

Reis met vuurwapens:

Baie besoekers uit meer bevolkte gebiede is dikwels verbaas oor die voorkoms van vuurwapens wat openlik gedra word. Daar is verskillende soorte kleinwild wat die DEC as 'oopseisoen' aangewys het. Let dus daarop dat daar op enige gegewe tydstip van die jaar 'n bietjie jag kan wees. Persone wat huise of seisoenale hutte in afgeleë gebiede besit, kan op hul eie grond teikenpraktyke doen, enigiemand kan dit op openbare lande doen. As u senuweeagtig raak deur skote naby 'n staproete te hoor, is dit baie redelik om die individue te vra om op te hou skiet totdat u verby is. Neem nie die volgende inligting as regsadvies nie, maar dit is die moeite werd om 'n oorsig van die wette en gebruike rakende hierdie onderwerp te ken:

• Gewere en haelgewere: Die staat New York (behalwe die stad New York) het wette met betrekking tot lang kanonne (behalwe sogenaamde 'aanvalswapens') wat soortgelyk is aan pro-gun-state soos Pennsylvania en Vermont. Vuurwapensverwante sportsoorte bring 'n aansienlike hupstoot in die ekonomie in die staat, en word aktief en amptelik aangemoedig. Die vuurwapen (langpistool) moet in die voertuig se kattebak met die ammunisie in 'n aparte geval, terwyl dit vervoer word, omhul word. Skyfskiet is beskikbaar op baie klein reekse regdeur die staat, of in 'n bosgebied met 'n veilige agterstop. Nie-inwonende jaglisensies is beskikbaar. Daar is streng veiligheidsreëls by die vervoer van 'n lang geweer, en dit word op die jagterveiligheidskursusse geleer.
• Handwapens: Moenie 'n pistool na die staat New York vervoer sonder 'n New York-pistoollisensie nie. Handwapens in New York moet geregistreer word en op die individu se pistoollisensie gelys word. Daarom is geen ongeregistreerde wapens in die staat New York toegelaat nie (selfs nie deur 'n lisensiehouer nie), en geen individu kan 'n pistool in die staat New York besit sonder 'n lisensie nie. Die staat New York erken geen lisensies uit die staat nie, hoewel die lisensie van New York in verskeie state erken word. Die beperkings op handwapenlisensies vir reisigers van Downstate (Long Island en Westchester) bly by u terwyl u reis.
• Lugreisigers wat in die naburige Vermont woon en die Albany Internasionale Lughawe as die naaste lughawe van hul huis gebruik gearresteer is deur die balju se kantoor in Albany County by die inklok by die lugdiens as hulle 'n pistool (en geen NY State Handgun Licence) in hul ingecheckte bagasie het nie.

Kultuur

Nabyheid tot die metropolitaanse gebied van New York is geen waarborg dat doeane wat 'up the Thruway' ingevoer word, onmiddellik in die Catskills aanvaar sal word nie. Inteendeel; die Catskills huisves algemeen konserwatiewe, hardwerkende mense wat 'n eie kultuur het. Die vlakke van verdraagsaamheid vir ander kulture en gewoontes wat 'n besoeker in hierdie streek sal ervaar en geniet, kan dit egter baie hoër wees as in baie voorstede wat baie nader aan die stad is. Die aanvaarding van kulturele verskille (en ooreenkomste) is altyd 'n tweerigtingstraat, en hoe meer 'n besoeker bewus is en aanvaar, hoe meer sal sy of haar gashere ook wees.

Godsdiens

Behalwe Sullivan County, word die Catskills-streek hoofsaaklik bewoon deur individue wat hulself as Protestantse Christene identifiseer. Daar is 'n baie sterk tradisie van godsdienstige verdraagsaamheid in die gebied, en die kulturele invloed van Katolieke, Jode, Moslems (en ander) weeg swaarder as hul relatiewe klein aantal.

Boeddhistiese toevlugsoorde kan in baie gemeenskappe gevind word, gewoonlik in baie landelike omgewings, en kan uitgeken word aan hul talle kleurvolle baniere.

Moslem-enklawes spits die landskap in die weste van Delaware County op, een in Sidney Centre maak diere groot om vars kos vir hul restaurant in Franklin te voorsien.

Die dorpie Fleischmanns, in die suidooste van Delaware County, is hoofsaaklik Ortodoks Joods.

Omgewing

Omgewingsgewys is die Catskills uniek deurdat dit die meeste drinkwater in een van die grootste stede in die mensegeskiedenis voorsien. En hulle doen dit net so deur net te laat reën. Daar was 'n kulturele, politieke en ekonomiese prys hiervoor deurdat sommige van die mees geliefde gemeenskappe in wat tans bekend staan ​​as 'die waterskeiding' nie meer bestaan ​​nie en dit nog nie vir generasies bestaan ​​nie. 'N Besoeker sal moontlik nog oudergewoonte ontmoet wat hul huise in langverwoene dorpies, wat verhuis is, en alles - ook begraafplase - na 'n hoër grond herroep om die reservoirs te bou.

Besoekers aan die gebied kan ook argumente hoor en uitgenooi word om deel te neem aan die voorgestelde opgraderings aan die energie-infrastruktuur, insluitend hidrobreking, kraglyne, elektrisiteitsproduserende windpompe en 'n natuurlike gaspypleiding. Plaaslike inwoners is heftig verdeeld oor hierdie kwessies.

Ekonomie

Toerisme is die oorheersende ekonomiese krag in die oostelike Catskills, terwyl melkboerdery die oorheersende mag in die westelike Catskills is. Suiwelboerdery vorm kultuur; dit is 'n onderneming van 7 dae per week en koeie loop baie stadig. Op baie plekke in Delaware County kan die plaasgeboue net 'n voet weg van 'n tweespoorlike snelweg wees, soos op Roete 28 oos van Delhi. Dit kan daartoe lei dat die plaaslike bevolking 'n kritiese oog hou op die rygewoontes van alle bestuurders wat verbygaan, ook toeriste.

Boere met stadig bewegende trekkers kan op alle paaie gesien word, behalwe op verdeelde snelweë, maar hul lande is nie altyd aangrensend aan die plaasgeboue nie.

Vir iemand wat wil verhuis, is huispryse in die buiteland oor die algemeen baie laer (net soos eiendomsbelasting) as in die voorstede van die NYC metropolitaanse streek, of NYC self. Afgetredenes in die omgewing word dikwels daarvan beskuldig dat hulle 'te veel geld betaal het' vir hul droomhuis, wat die pryse van vaste eiendom in die geheel verhoog het.

Streeksinvloede

In 2015 is na berig word vyftien dorpe in die provinsies Sullivan, Delaware, Broome en Tioga op soek na afstigting van die staat New York en die deelname van die staat Pennsylvania, hoewel hulle dit nie gedoen het nie.

Daar is gemeenskappe in die staat New York waarin u die wrok kan hoor wat gepaard gaan met 'n gevoel van politieke impotensie, waarop die Albany-politiek nie reageer nie (vul u wrok hier in).

Hoe dit 'n besoeker raak, is dat as 'n mens die welgestelde Hudsonvallei verlaat en die suidelike vlak en die middestad van New York nader, identifiseer inwoners in die gebied minder as lede van 'n uitgebreide metropolitaanse gebied, en meer as 'eenvoudige landelike mense' selfs moontlik Appalachian in terme van kultuur.

Jag en vuurwapens

In die laat herfs word die Catskills oranje, nie van die blare nie, maar van die hoede en baadjies wat deur jagters gedra word. Dit is 'n tyd, vier naweke bekend as 'geweerseisoen', wanneer selfs diegene wat heftig gekant is teen jag, die geveg tydelik opgee en die bos met gewere aan die mans en vroue oorgee. Soos dit wil of nie, jag en vuurwapens is baie deel van die kultuur van die staat New York.

In alle seisoene is daar ook 'n sterk tradisie van vuurwapens wat vir selfverdediging gedra word. Moenie die moeite doen om te redeneer nie - selfs al is dit waar - dat mense nie veilig is in die Catskill woude nie. Dit is nie die punt nie.

In 2015 het elk van die provinsie-balju's van die Catskills-streek ope briewe aan hul pistoollisensiehouers uitgereik en hulle aangemoedig om hul wapens te dra as afskrikmiddel vir misdaad en moontlik terrorisme.

Die moontlikheid dat dit in so 'n afgeleë gebied kan gebeur, is ook nie die punt nie. Amerikaners sal steeds reageer op 'n 'oproep tot wapen'.

As u 'n wetsgehoorsame burger sien wat 'n pistool in die Catskills dra, moet u dit nie pla nie. Daardie persoon doen net wat hy voel die regte ding is om as Amerikaner te doen. U mag nie saamstem nie, dit is ook u reg.

Jagseisoen vir nie-jagters

Die veiligheid / risiko verbonde aan die bos binne die jagseisoen sal nie hier bespreek word nie, maar om 'n frokkleurige vest 'gekleurde oranje' te dra, is 'n goeie idee om enigiemand weg gedurende jagseisoen, insluitend troeteldiere.

Verkeersvesties (vir mense) kan voor u reis by enige Home Depot of Lowes gekoop word. Tractor Supply (Oneonta, Delhi, Liberty) verkoop 'n wye verskeidenheid oranje hoede en baadjies.

Kleredrag soos 'n Lands End Dog Squall-baadjie in 'n helder kleur is ideaal vir u troeteldier. Laat honde ten minste 'n helderkleurige hondetuig hê met 'n helderkleurige bandanna vasgemaak.

Volgens die wet van die staat New York word die publiek verbied om jagters wat gelisensieer is, doelbewus te pla of te irriteer, 'n 'jagter' is iemand in besit van 'n vuurwapen of boog, 'n jaglisensie en wat nie ooglopend stroop of oortree nie. Hulle hoef nie destyds aktief besig te wees met jag om deur daardie wet beskerm te word nie. Ongewapende persone wat die jagter vergesel, word ook beskerm teen teistering.

Vermaak

Ten spyte van die ineenstorting van die Borschtgordel, is daar steeds wêreldklas-vermaaklokale in die Catskills, want daar is wêreldklas-entertainers. Die temamusiek uit die Ken Burns-dokumentêr Die burgeroorlog geregtig Ashokan Afskeid was nie outentiek vir daardie era nie. Sy aanhangers word beskou as een van die aangrypendste musiekstukke wat ooit geskryf is, en dit kom in die 1980's van New Paltz.

Die Catskills is sinoniem met Woodstock, nie die dorp nie, en regtig nie eers die naweek van vrede en liefde nie. Meer nog die feit dat die Catskills die middelpunt was van 'n jeugdige rebellie - die Haight Ashbury van die ooste, as u wil - 'n rebellie wat 'n verdeelde oorlog beëindig het en gehelp het om wetgewing oor burgerregte tot die voordeel van baie mense te gee.

Dit is daardie gees, nie net die ongelooflike musiek nie, wat 'n mens deur die platteland weerklink, amper 'n halfeeu aan.

Gaan volgende

Aan die oostekant is die Catskills aangrensend aan die Hudson Valleytot op die punt dat dit byna onmoontlik is om nie daardie streek te besoek terwyl u die Catskills besoek nie.

Die Albany metropolitaanse gebied, in die staat bekend as die hoofstad, is geleë in die noorde van die vallei, net noord van die Catskills.

Daarbuite, in die noorde, is die Adirondacks, die grootste van die twee bergagtige streke van die staat New York.

Suidoos van die vallei is die New York metropolitaanse gebied, tuis gedurende die week en buite die seisoen vir baie besoekers aan Catskills.

Reg suid is die deelstaat New Jersey, aan die noordekant tussen die voorstede verdeel Gateway gebied in die ooste en heuwelagtige, bosagtige Skylands in die weste.

In Pennsylvania is die kleiner berge oorkant die Delaware - rivier die Poconos, ook 'n gewilde oordbestemming vir inwoners van die metropolitaanse gebied in New York.

Upstate New York het verskeie streke in die weste. Roete 17 gaan oor die Suidelike vlak aan Binghamton, Elmira, Corning en Jamestown. In die noordweste lei die kruising van Interstate 88 na Sentraal New York.