Hiker’s Holiday: April

Mohonk Preserve

In 1963 the Smiley Family helped create what is now known as the Mohonk Preserve, the largest non-profit private nature preserve in New York State. The mission of the Mohonk Preserve is to provide ongoing land protection and stewardship of the outlying lands to “preserve the beauty of the landscape and the integrity of the flora and fauna—with appropriate human use and enjoyment” as well as provide a continuation of conservation science and environmental education.

In partnership with members, supporters, and volunteers, the Preserve protects and manages over 8,000 acres of mountain ridges, forests, fields, streams, ponds, and other unique and beautiful places and welcomes over 200,000 visitors annually.

At the Preserve, you can enjoy scenic beauty, outdoor activities, and peace and quiet, all just 90 miles from New York City. Carriage roads and trails are perfect for hiking, running, mountain biking, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing. Proudly the home of “Gunks” climbing and bouldering, one of the most visited climbing destinations in North America. Learn more, become a member, or make a donation at www.mohonkpreserve.org.

Catskill 3500 Club

The Catskill 3500 Club was founded in 1962, and is a peak bagging organization for hikers in the Catskill Mountains of New York. Membership is open to all persons who have climbed on foot each of the 33 Catskill peaks above 3500 feet in elevation. The club educates both members and the general public in outdoor recreational skills; engages in public service and stewardship; and encourages responsible recreational use of the region’s natural resources. The Club traces its origins to the early 1950s, when Dan Smiley, a descendant of the founders of Mohonk Mountain House and his fellow birders were trying to track down the elusive Bicknell’s thrush, then considered an unimportant subspecies of the gray-cheeked thrush. Since it prefers to mate and spend its summers in cool, shady places like the boreal forests found on the summits of higher mountains in the Northeast, Smiley and his fellow birders drew up a list of the peaks in the Catskills over 3,500 feet and thus likely to have such forestation.

Adirondack Forty Sixers

Also known as, “the 46ers”, these non-profit organization club members have completed scaling the 46 major peaks of New York’s Adirondack Mountains. Volunteers are dedicated to environmental protection, education for proper usage of wilderness areas, participation in New York State Department of Environmental Conservation-approved trail projects, and the support of initiatives within the Adirondack High Peaks region by organizations with similar goals that enhance their shared objectives. The history of the 46ers dates back to 1918 when brothers Robert and George Marshall, and their friend Herbert Clark, climbed Whiteface Mountain. This was their first high peak, and from there, the trio began their journey to climb all 46 peaks. What ended up as an eight-year hiking adventure (1918-1925) for the three hikers would inspire many others in the future. Today, over 7,000 people have summited the same 46 peaks

Roger Ennis

Roger grew up in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia where he eventually made his way to the Hudson Valley in 1995 where he has lived ever since.  He found his passion in rock climbing, which afforded him the opportunity to receive a degree from the State University of New York at Cortland in Outdoor Recreation. Roger is New York State Certified in Rock and Ice Climbing, Hiking, and Camping Guide as well as a Ranger-Program Specialist with the Mohonk Preserve. When he is not working, you can catch him (usually with his wife and son) out rock climbing or doing the many other activities he enjoys.  The Shawangunk Ridge has given him the opportunity to explore and nurture his love for the outdoors and he will forever have a place in his heart for the ridge.

Jonathan Zaharek

Whether you follow him on Instagram, YouTube, or just discovered his work, one might be able to tell that Jonathan Zaharek love the Adirondacks! Originally, from Ohio, his great-grandmother vacationed here in the 1920’s, which eventually lead, through tradition, his family returning to the Adirondacks every summer. Soon after discovering his love for photography and the outdoors in 2013, he knew the high peaks were the perfect subjects. Throughout the years, his passion and love manifested exponentially for this place, displaying the beauty of creation. Jonathan is currently an eight-time ‘46er’, two time ‘winter 46er’, and a professional guide in the Adirondack High Peaks. His photography can be viewed and purchased at the Main Street LPCA Gallery, Gallery46.

Lisa Gizzarelli-Drago

Lisa Gizzarelli-Drago currently sits as the President of the Catskill 3500 Club.  Lisa’s love of the Catskills started when she was a camper at Frost Valley YMCA, where she hiked her first Catskill peak, Doubletop in 1989. Her years as a camper and counselor at Frost Valley taught her to love and respect the environment and led her to major in environmental science. During her teaching of environmental protection at Frost Valley, she learned about the Catskill 3500 Club and hiked most of the peaks, finishing in 2001. She gradually then got into cycling and rode across the country in 2007. Lisa spent years riding up (and down!) the many mountain road passes of the Catskills on bicycle instead of hiking its mountains. Living between the Gunks and the Catskills, Lisa loves to explore both of these beautiful places, with her two dogs or with her husband (who are all 3500 Club members). Lisa has been a hike leader for the Catskill 3500 Club, a member of the CMSAR team, and recently received the Wilderness First Responder training through SAR. As a middle school biology teacher, she tries to get kids to love and appreciate the outdoors.

Michael Bongar

Michael Bongar currently sits as the Vice President of the Catskill 3500 Club. After attending Antioch College and majoring in theatre, Michael ran off to join Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Clown College. Michael has been a clown, actor, producer in theater, television, and film, and owner (along with his wife Tina Volz Bongar) of his own live entertainment company BONGARBIZ. Traveling with his family to National Parks during his youth, Michael always wanted to get as far as he could on any trail, before being called back to the family for dinner. Michael and Tina have hiked and backpacked on the East Coast and in the Sierras. Even though Michael’s been hiking and climbing in the Catskills since the 1970s, it wasn’t until he climbed Mt. Marcy, with his son Brad on his 60th birthday, that he decided to complete the 3500. The Club’s winter requirements inspired Michael and Brad to climb Mt. Rainier in 2017. Michael is a dedicated Hike Leader and loves meeting aspirants and club members along the way.

Paul Huth

Paul Huth brings nearly 50 years of natural and cultural history research on the Shawangunk Ridge, mostly concentrated at Mohonk and the surrounding Mohonk Preserve. He worked for 15 years with the Preserve’s first Director of Research, Daniel Smiley and his brother Keith Smiley, two founders of the Mohonk Trust in 1963. Paul followed Dan as the Preserve’s second Director of Research and served for over 20 years. Paul authored and co-authored over 100 Research Reports and published papers on a diversity of subjects, including the century old Mohonk Lake Cooperative Weather Station, where Dan and Paul both served as long-term Cooperative Observers for the National Weather Service. Paul’s decades of service insured the future of Dan’s science legacy, now being digitized, for future generations.

Michael Ridolfo

Michael Ridolfo is the Naturalist at Mohonk Mountain House. After 20 years of rock climbing, ice climbing, mountain biking, skiing, winter mountaineering, nature photography, writing, and music, he began practicing the art of tracking, wilderness survival, and the native mentoring model. This journey has evolved into teaching children and adults how to deepen their relationship with the natural world. In 1999, he founded Wilderness Mind (now The Earthtime Project), a school dedicated to preserving the ancient arts of tracking and nature awareness.

Dylan Doyle

​Touring nationally since age 15, Dylan became a seasoned professional at a very young age.  He has played with such notable musicians Rob Stoner (Bob Dylan, Don Mclean), John Platania (Van Morrison, Natalie Merchant), Ben Cauley (Otis Redding) and Bill Payne (Little Feat).  Stoner called Dylan one of the most prodigious players he has known with abundant natural talent.  John Platania has referred to Dylan as “The Future.”  Ben Cauley, after playing with Dylan in Memphis said, “Dylan Doyle sounds like a young Jimi Hendrix.”  In the words of Bill Payne upon sharing the stage, “Music is a conversation.  Dylan spoke beautifully and was listening to the musicians around him.  His play was imaginative and original.” Attesting to Dylan’s versatility, Dylan has played the King Biscuit Blues Festival three consecutive years as well headlining the Grateful Garcia Gathering, the largest Grateful Dead festival in the Midwest.

Wired Gallery

Wired Gallery was established in May 2012 with the mission to show works by Mid-Hudson Valley artists. Located at 11 Mohonk Road in High Falls, New York, and open Saturdays and Sundays 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Wired Gallery was named “one of Ulster County’s most high-profile, prolific sources of quality art exhibitions” by Almanac Weekly.