fire towers
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 Lisa Lyons on Saturday, May. 24, 2014 - 10:40 am
Once upon a time, 23 steel fire towers dotted the high peaks of the Catskills. They were staffed by fire tower observers, who scanned the horizon for smoke and filled their downtime with shimmying up the steep steel struts, taming bears and sharing space... Read more
By Julia Reischel on Friday, Oct. 11, 2013 - 12:55 pm
Columbus Day weekend is the traditional end of the high season in the Catskills, and it's the end of our Catskill Fire Towers badge season as well. So get outside, enjoy the glorious weather, and earn your badge. If you need a few ideas for outdoor... Read more
By Julia Reischel on Monday, Jul. 22, 2013 - 4:41 pm
Above: Mike Pietrantoni and daughter Payton Pietrantoni next to the alidade map in the Balsam Lake Mountain Fire Tower. Photo via Laurie Rankin, the volunteer coordinator for the fire tower.
This weekend, the volunteers who staff the system of historic... Read more
By Lissa Harris on Monday, Jul. 30, 2012 - 12:40 pm
On a clear day, you can see for miles. Christopher Mooney took this shot from atop the fire tower on Mt. Utsayantha in Stamford, looking out over the northwestern edge of the Catskills.
In the early twentieth century, Utsayantha's spectacular view -- and... Read more
