Bastion Falls

After a very hot July in the Northeast- It has finally cooled. There has been a lot of rain in the Catskill Region this past week bringing many of the creeks and waterfalls alive.

Bastion Falls is located on Route 23A and is at the start of the trail-head for Kaaterskill Falls. This week Bastion Falls brought many cars to a stop on Route 23A because of the recent wet weather as they drove on the hairpin curve (View image) that passes this roadside waterfall.

The top image of Bastion Falls was taken from Route23A on a bridge that crosses Spruce Creek.

The next image was taken near the trail register for the Kaaterskill Falls Trail.

Bushnellsville Creek Falls

After visiting Kaaterskill Falls and observing the strong flow, CatskillSearch made a quick trip to a roadside waterfall.

Bushnellsville Creek Falls is located south of Lexington, New York on Route 42. It is approximately 7 miles south of Route 23A.

Surprisingly the water flow has appeared to remain steady during the dry weather and wet weather of the summer season of 2010.

For photo enthusiasts this exposure was taken at 15 seconds at f22.

Kaaterskill Falls

Kaaterskill Falls in late August of 2010 has strong water flow because of the recent weather pattern of rain over the Catskills. On this particular day the entire area and trail to Kaaterskill Falls was wet.

Kaaterskill Falls Information: Kaaterskill Falls is a two-drop waterfall located  in the eastern Catskill Mountains of New York (on the north side of Kaaterskill Clove). The dual cascades of Kaaterskill Falls total 260 feet (79 m) in height, making it one of the higher waterfalls in New York.

Link: Retired Hamburg teacher hikes Appalachian Trail

Michael Ranck of Deer Lake, a retired school teacher, has just finished hiking the 2,179 mile Appalachian Trail.

HAMBURG – After spending 114 days hiking the Appalachian Trail, Michael Ranck, Deer Lake, just wanted to go home and take off his shoes.

On Wednesday, the 59-year-old emerged from the trail near the Hamburg Reservoir and was greeted by about 30 family members and friends, many of whom walked the last mile of the trail with the retired Hamburg Area Earth science teacher.

“This is something I wanted to do for years. I live by the trail and have hiked parts of it. I like a challenge,” Ranck said.

http://republicanherald.com/news/retired-hamburg-teacher-hikes-appalachian-trail-1.958190

New Updates to CatskillSearch

Some new updates to CatskillSearch in case you may have missed them.

1- CatskillSearch.com has implemented an email newsletter to alert subscribers to CatskillSearch Gallery (photography) updates. This newsletter is sent out every 2 weeks only if updates have been posted. All email addresses are confidential and anyone may unsubscribe at any time. The link is found on the main navigation menu above.

2- A photo gallery for a hike to the former Hotel Kaaterskill has been posted. HOTEL KAATERSKILL PHOTO GALLERY

3- Three new pages have been created to better condense CatskillSearch’s photography regarding the railroads that once ran strong through Catskills.

Ulster and Delaware Railroad (with a GPS Google Map)

Catskill and Tannersville Railway (with a GPS Google Map)

C&T Railway and U&D Railroad- A comparison of the track location in the Kaaterskill Clove/ North South Lake Campground Area

4- Some minor changes have been made to main menu for better navigation

Eagles Nest (Stamford NY)

The Eagles Nest is the former home of Ned Buntline. The New York Times on June 8, 1902 (Sunday) wrote a fine article covering many of Stamford’s hotels of that day.

Link:  http://query.nytimes.com (PDF) and main page of the article http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html

In the article The Times wrote:

Eagles Nest is a spacious cottage ten minutes from the depot, with fine shade, and vegetables from the farm of the manager.

A photograph analysis of similar photos taken at the same location many years apart. The top photo was taken in 2010 by CatskillSearch. The bottom photo is currently an unknown date.

There are several notable differences between the photographs. In the newer photo the porch has been enlarged to cover more of the front of the house. A door has been added where there was a window on the sunroom type addition. There is currently no stonewall along the roadway and no appearance of a driveway.

John Munroe Boot & Shoe Maker

CatskillSearch compares current new and old.

In this particular comparison photograph it was difficult for CatskillSearch to get an image as there were vehicles parked in front of the now abandoned building.

Also it appears the angle of the porch/ overhang may have changed.

In the former picture there are two commercial signs advertising the Munroe business of shoe making.

The sign in the older photo above the main floor of the building states (on each line):

John Munroe

Boot & Shoe Maker

The secondary sign in the older photo to the right of the building states:

Munroe’s

Shoe Maker

Delaware Inn

Just another snapshot of the ongoing restoration work of the former Delaware Inn. It has been rumored this current project may have exceeded 1 million dollars.

If you have information regarding the restoration of the Delaware Inn please contact CatskillSearch or comment below. CatskillSearch would like to know more about this ongoing restoration of the Delaware Inn of Stamford, NY.

The Belvedere (Stamford NY)

A photograph analysis of similar photos taken at the same location many years apart. The top photo was taken in 2010 by CatskillSearch.

The Belvedere is open and located on 10 Academy Street Stamford NY. It’s website is located at: http://www.belvederecountryinn.com/

From the Belvedere website:

The Belvedere was dormant for many years until 1967 when the Gibbons family purchased the hotel. Now with a continuous program of renovations and updates, the Belvedere Country Inn & Restaurant offers country inn hospitality, ambiance and that “welcome home again” friendship and camaraderie of a by gone era.

Mountain View House (Stamford NY)

A photograph analysis of similar photos taken at the same location many years apart. The top photo was taken in 2010 by CatskillSearch.

The Mountain View House is currently for sale. The older picture that is located below of the Mountain View House could not replicated because of the current vegetation growth. This building has obviously been in use during recent times because of the satellite dishes that are located on the building.

Information from ‘A Post Card Portrait’:

Its higher elevation gave its guests a beautiful view of Mt Utsayantha and the Delaware Valley. It was close to all stores, churches and amusements, but yet, far enough away from the business section of the village, to assure the guests a quiet rest.

Cottage Hotel

A photograph analysis of similar photos taken at the same location many years apart. The top photo was taken in 2010 by CatskillSearch. The bottom photo is currently an unknown date. The Cottage Hotel was opened in 1892.

The newer photo shows more of the roadway that expands to the east (right side). The houses on the east side of the road appear to be newer than the Cottage House and the Mountain View House (the weather vane can be seen) . In the newer photo the power lines are on the opposite side.

Stamford Main Street

A photograph analysis of similar photos taken at the same location many years apart. The top photo was taken in 2010 by CatskillSearch. The bottom photo in 1950 (circa).

The ‘Diner’ location as photographed in the 1950s was later called Leo’s (diner) and was  a very popular spot in in early 1990s.

The bakery that was photographed in the 1950s was also a deli and coffee local in the first decade of the 21 first century (which is over 50 years later).

As of 2010 the diner and the bakery are no longer in business.

The diner that was open for many years is now a real estate office with many offerings throughout the area. The bakery that still holds the same arm-bar for a sign is currently for sale and not in business. There is a motel that now stands between the two buildings which currently appears to be out of business.

The newer photo has 11 trees gone.

Giant Ledge

Read more information about Giant Ledge and view the GPS track of Giant Ledge on this CatskillSearch page.

The photo gallery is in approx reverse order from the top of Giant Ledge to the trail register at the beginning of the hike.

This Giant Ledge hike is over 3 miles. It is a bit more difficult than several others have stated via print and web.

Mount Tremper

Located on Route 40 south of Phoenicia is the Mount Tremper trailhead parking area. It is a 3 mile hike to the Mount Tremper Fire Tower (about 6 miles all together). Expect the hike to the fire tower to take about 2 hours (maybe more depending on your conditioning). The trail is especially rocky and can be difficult in areas.

The top of the Fire Tower is only open on the weekends and mostly only during the summer months.

Please add any information below in the comment section for updated trail conditions and current hours for the fire tower.

Mount Tremper Firetower 360VR (top)

Read more

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