Monday, September 26, 2016

Northeast Autumn Events


The edible berries of Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens)
These are the days of lemony Staghorn Sumac infusions, drying bundles of sunshine-imbued Goldenrod and scanning the forest floor for the minty morsels of Wintergreen. When I peer from my morning window at the mountaintops in the distance I see a horizon of green with brushstrokes of red and yellow and copper. On my hikes I find my feet slipping and sliding over fallen leaves that cling to damp lichen covered rocks. My evening runs are no longer by the light of the setting sun but by the deepening blue of the early night and I finish in darkness. Welcome Fall...your arrival is always so bittersweet because you simply don't stick around long enough, but perhaps the awareness of your brevity is part of what makes you so beautiful.

This is largely the last harvest for us, foragers, and the last of, in my opinion, the comfortable hiking weather....so let's get out there and embrace it! I am leading a number of events during this month of October to help you do just that...I hope to see you out there!

Homegrown Festival, Milford PA
Saturday, October 1st
11 am - 7 pm at Holy Crepes
Come devour delicious savory and sweet crepes and pick up a signed copy of A Guide to the Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Finger Lakes Trail. Various local artists will be featured throughout town at local businesses, celebrating the creativity energy of Milford
Cost of festival: free
http://www.milfordmusicfest.org/2016-events.html

Milford Readers and Writers Festival
Sunday, October 2nd
11 am at Grey Towers
Pick the brains of your local nature writers at the Nature Writer's Panel located on the beautiful grounds of the Grey Towers Estate
Catskill Mountain Club Annual Dinner, Mt. Tremper NY
Sunday, October 2nd
5 pm at the Emerson Resort
Enjoy a delicious meal and the company of others who have a deep love for the Catskill Mountains. After dinner, I will be offering a presentation about my botanical hike on the Finger Lakes Trail and my further adventures in the Catskills mountains
Cost: $40 (includes raffle ticket)
http://catskillmountainclub.org/events/tickets-for-annual-dinner/

Tusten Mountain Trail Hike, Narrowsburg NY
Saturday, October 8th
10 am at the trailhead on Crawford Rd.
Join me and the Delware Highlands Conservancy in a beautiful 3 mile loop along the Tusten Mountain Trail complete with old growth Eastern Hemlock and mountaintop views. Along the way I will highlight the edible and medicinal plants that we encounter.
Cost: free
http://delawarehighlands.org/newsevents/event/24-fall_hike

Keystone Trails Association Annual Gathering, Emlenton PA
Friday - Sunday, October 14-16th
This will be a weekend of hiking and camraderie in the mountains of western Pennsylvania. I will be giving a presentation on Friday evening about my botanical hike on the Finger Lakes Trail.
Visit the website to register and for more information on cost of gathering (lodging, meals, etc)
http://www.kta-hike.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1464&Itemid=90

View from a firetower along the Shawangunk Ridge Trail