Alan Via
By Alan Via on Friday, Aug. 19, 2016 - 6:11 pm
Few hikers think about the Catskills’ four ski areas during warm weather, but these lightly-used mountains have some great foot trails for summertime adventurers.
Windham Mountain in Greene County, Belleayre Mountain Ski Center in Ulster County and... Read more
By Alan Via on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015 - 4:56 pm
Most people have never heard of Catskills trails with names like Venus' Bath, Countryman Kill Falls, Moonshine Ridge, Lover's Loop, Yankee Smith and Rip's Ledge.
All of them are seldom-hiked unofficial trails that begin on private land owned by the Winter... Read more
By Alan Via on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015 - 12:22 pm
Above: Hiking near the the Moonhaw on the Friday and Balsam Cap range in shoulder season conditions in 2012. Photo by Shirley LaPlante.
As October shoulders its way into November, the cool sunny days can easily lull us into a sense of comfortable... Read more
By Alan Via on Monday, Aug. 3, 2015 - 12:17 pm
Overlook Mountain, located just outside of the Ulster County town of Woodstock, is a magnet for hikers of all ages, abilities, and interests. The five-mile round-trip hike begins on the Meads Road trailhead and follows a trail up 1,400 feet to the summit... Read more
By Alan Via on Tuesday, May. 26, 2015 - 12:00 pm
A great Catskills trail is hiding in plain sight in the Pine Hill Wild Forest of Shandaken, just off of Route 28. Turn onto Matyas Road and follow it to its end to get to Rochester Hollow, a treat for hikers, snowshoers, skiers, birders, photographers,... Read more
