The Orange County Land Trust is offering two guided hikes this year as part of the Tenth Annual Hudson River Valley Ramble in September. Nearly 300 events will take place from Saratoga County and the Capital Region to New York City on the weekends of September 5-7, September 12-13 (Heritage Weekend), September 19-20, and September 26-27, 2009. The Ramble is sponsored annually by the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, Hudson River Valley Greenway and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Hudson River Estuary Program, in conjunction with National Estuaries Day.
On Saturday, September 19, the Land Trust will lead a guided hike on the Land Trust’s 255-acre Fuller Mountain Preserve in the Town of Warwick. This moderate 3-hour hike rambles through a magnificent wooded ravine up to fantastic vistas overlooking the Warwick Valley. The preserve is home to several unusual plants, many species of mammals including black bear and the long tailed weasel, an abundance of bird life, and frogs, toads and salamanders who live in and around Fuller’s Brook. Bring a lunch and plenty of water. This hike is not suitable for small children as there are areas of rough and steep terrain. Meeting time is 9 am at Shop Rite parking lot on Route 94.
On Sunday, September 27, the Land Trust will sponsor Discover Nature in Autumn Colors on Moonbeams Preserve in the Town of Wallkill. Led by a SUNY Orange biology professor, the focus of this family friendly hike will be on the changes that take place in forests and fields through the seasons and over the years. The Land Trust’s Moonbeams Preserve is a 150-acre nature preserve with fields, forests, two ponds and wetlands located at the base of the Shawangunk Ridge. Meeting time is at 2 pm at the preserve.
The Ramble offers the opportunity for participants to enjoy guided walking, hiking, kayaking and biking experiences, estuary explorations and historic site tours that highlight the significant historical, cultural and natural resources of the Hudson River Valley. Events are offered on every ability level and many are free. This year, the Ramble will also feature Heritage Weekend, September 12-13, when many historic sites and cultural destinations will be open free of charge or at reduced rates.
Several event series offer an in-depth exploration of themes that earned the region its designation as a National Heritage Area. They include the role of the Hudson Valley in the Revolutionary War, the Hudson River School of Art, the Great Estates and the Hudson River Estuary. Nearly 200 environmental, land conservancy, trail and historic preservation organizations, New York State historic sites and parks, as well as the National Park Service participate by offering events.
“In 2008, over 130,000 people participated in Ramble events and we expect a great turnout again this year,” said Mark Castiglione, Acting Director of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area and Greenway. “If it’s September, then it’s time to Ramble. The Ramble embodies the spirit of “geotourism” and is part of a sustainable economy that embraces and celebrates our natural and cultural resources. The event provides people of all ages an opportunity to experience the cultural landscape of the Hudson River Valley by hiking a trail, visiting an historic site or paddling on the river. With nearly 300 events, this Quadricentennial-year Ramble will be the largest ever! ”
For a complete listing of events, visit www.hudsonrivervalley.com/ramble. Copies of the program guide may be downloaded and printed directly from the web site. A free program guide can also be obtained by calling (800) 453-6665, or e-mail ramble@hvc.rr.com. The Ramble brochure is one of the most comprehensive regional recreational guides and can be used as a reference throughout the year.
For more information on Orange County Land Trust events, and directions to the preserves, please visit the website at www.oclt.org or call (845) 343-0840, x12. These events are free and registration is not required.
The mission of the Orange County Land Trust is to preserve the fields, forests, wetlands, ridgelines and river corridors in and around Orange County through voluntary land conservation for the benefit of people. To date, the nonprofit Land Trust has protected nearly 3,600 acres of important wildlife habitat, scenic vistas and working farmland. To learn more about volunteer opportunities or to make a donation to the Land Trust, please contact us at (845) 343-0840 or visit the website at www.oclt.org.
