Wilderness Safety
The articles below are focussed on day-hiking in the Catskills. They introduce basic concepts like navigation, basic kit, food, safety, emergencies, and so on. They are based on one person’s limited knowledge, which you should supplement with your own research — and by talking with more experienced hikers.
Wilderness Danger is Real
The Catskill Park is not enormous, but maps of the area are stamped “wilderness” for a reason. Every month in “The Cats”, people get into trouble, almost always by being under-prepared.
I regularly meet hikers who, literally, have no idea where they are: they’ve turned around before reaching their goal, or overshot their goal without realizing it. I’ve met several people who thought they were on a different mountain.
People are amazing. People should be amazing. But not that kind of amazing.
Risk of Danger
In the Catskills, cell coverage is very spotty and, even if you can get a call in, help is often many hours away. Unfortunately, people do die here. The lucky get rescued. The unlucky get recovered.
Please do not think of the Catskills as lesser than, or less dangerous than, other mountain ranges. It’s crucial you arrive fully prepared so as not to put yourself and the lives of rescue volunteers at risk. This is especially true in winter — but it’s not a whole lot less true in the other seasons.
With that in mind, please enjoy these posts, which I hope will help you stay safe.
The Best Hiking Apps for 2020
These are the best hiking apps I’ve come across to date — broken into four categories: navigation/planning, field identification, photography, and fun. Whether you enjoy easy scenic trails or challenging mountain hikes, these apps will help you plan, plot and prepare for your next adventure.
Winter Hiking Gear List
Winter mountain hiking in the Catskills is spectacular — the snow-blasted woods, the bleached landscape views, the harsh elements that test your mettle — but the days are shorter, the nights are longer, and the temperature is lethal. The stakes are way higher: a lack of preparation or a missing piece of kit could mean death in a very short time.
The Ten Essentials
The original “Ten Essentials” list was developed in the 1930’s by mountaineers. Back then it was conceived as a list of specific items. These days the list takes a systems approach, with categories of items which you fill out according to your own preferences.
The 3 Best Ways to Not Die in the Catskills
Every month, people get into trouble in the Catskills, almost always because they are under-prepared. Here are the three best things you can do to stay safe on your hike, while making sure you’re prepared in the event of an emergency.
Basic Mountain Hiking Kit
I used to leave one thing behind pretty regularly. So I started using my phone’s notes app to keep track of what I need to pack. I have the following hiking checklists in a single note so I can quickly tap off items.