Mosaic Outdoor Mountain Club of Greater New York

Trip Reports - January - June 2002

 

Reports January through June 2002

Reports July through December 2001

Reports January through June 2001

Reports 2000

Reports 1999

Sunday June 30, 2002 Leader: Lanny Wexler    (see Photo Album)          

Location: Westkill Mt el. 3,880 ft. Catskill Mts                                   
Route: Diamond Notch Trail to Westkill Mt Trail - 10 miles
Weather: Partly sunny, hazy , warm & humid 85 degrees

Attendees: Aaron Cohen, Ed Goldman, Ariel Kohane,  Randi Schlesinger, David Abrams of Tallahassee Chapter,  and George Form (NM)

The group of hikers was to meet for breakfast in Sweet Sues in the Catskill hamlet of Phoenicia. Unfortunately, Sweet Sues was a bit to busy for us with a 45 minute wait, so we had to forgo the challah french toast and 22 varieties of nut filled and fruit filled pancakes and opted for breakfast at the the Phoenicia Hotel. Due to our late start we did not finish breakfast (or should I say brunch) until after 12 pm and we did not arrive at the Westkill Mt Trailhead until nearly 1 pm. As we drove to the trailhead our four cars had to negotiate a very narrow, rough, rutted dirt track, through dense woods. We gritted our teeth as we inched our way slowly and hopefully towards the parking lot that we knew had to lie at the end of the road as their was no place to turn around.

The hike began at an elevation of 1,700 feet and followed the trail approximately two miles into Diamond Notch (diamonds we did not find!) At Diamond Notch we stopped for a rest break and photo op at beautiful Diamond Notch Falls. At Diamond Notch Falls, Randy and David decided to turn around. George Form turned around shortly afterwards to hike back to the parking area.

Lanny, Aaron, Ariel and Ed followed the trail up steeply up Westkill Mt, passing a small cave on the wya up. After climbing steeply, the trail levels off and stays level with occasional up and down dips until one last climb to the summit at 3,880 feet, making Westkill the sixth highest peak in the Catskills. We reached the summit about 5 pm and enjoyed the beautiful but hazy views of other Catskill peaks from Buck Ridge Lookout. We could clealy see Slide Mt to the south, the highest peak in the Catskills at 4,180 feet and the imposing Blackhead Range to the northeast. We had a late lunch but did not linger long as we were harassed by black flies.

Ariel had a penchant for the walkie talkies we carried and tried to "pick up some women" over the radio. They would change channels but he carefully scanned the radio and was soon engaging playfully in conversation with them, where ever they were some couple of miles from our location.

After our lunch stop we continued on a few minutes to the actual summit at Westkill Mt. We returned to the cars at 8:30 pm, just before darkness, tired from our adventure but filled with a sense of accomplishment. We stopped for dinner at McDonalds at the rest area on the Thruway, not reaching the city until after midnight.

Wed June 26, 2002 - Alley Pond Park, Queens

Leader: Lanny Wexler

Location: Alley Pond Park

Weather: Cloudy, muggy, threatening 80s

People who attended: Lanny Wexler (L), Ezra Aboodi, Michael Kalman

On a muggy and threatening June evening June evening Lanny Wexler (L) met Ezra Aboodi and Michael Kalman at the Douglaston LIRR station to do a walk to Alley Pond Park. A thunderstorm had just rolled through to the east when Lanny met Ezra and Michael at about 6:30pm, yet skies still looked dark and threatening, so Lanny drove Ezra and Michael to the nearby Seville Diner on Northern Boulevard for dinner. By 8 pm with the rain still not having arrived; Lanny, Ezra and Michael walked about 100 yards from the diner to the entrance of Alley Pond Park. They followed a half mile trail through marsh and woodland to a boardwalk viewing platform that overlooked the marshes of Little Neck Bay. The humidity and lush vegetation made it feel like a tropical rain forest. Despite the nearby cars rushing along on Northern Boulevard and the Cross Island Parkway, Alley Pond was a world unto its own with abundant bird life and bug life (swat, swat - the mosquito!) After a half hour of exploring Queens hidden gem the group called it an evening and returned to the cars.

Sat Jun 22, 2002 - Harriman State Park

Leader: Marvin Pasternak

Location: Harriman State Park
People Who Attended: Alan Cohen (M) Harold Sarapin joined as a new member.
Mileage: Approx. 8 miles
Weather:  Sunny in the mid 80's


Outings Description:

Alan Cohen and new member Harold Sarapin joined me on this interesting Harriman hike in Arden. We started our uphill climb on the AT. As I looked down on the ground, I spotted a toad. As it turned out, we would spot 3 more toads on the hike.

The woods looked beautiful as we spotted a small tree with beautiful mountain laurel, and throughout the shady wooded areas, we would be surrounded by more white and pink mountain laurel.   

Unfortunately, we evidenced some of the destruction from last year's forest fires and saw many burned down trees. The scent of smoke was still in the air.

As we left the woods and started hiking over open rock, the views were magnificent. We heard the beautiful songs of birds mimicking other birds. Harold quickly identified them as mockingbirds.

The woods were alive as I hadn't experienced them in a long time. This June hike was a day to remember.
 

Sunday June 16, 2002 - Flushing Chinatown and Botanical Gardens Walk

LEADER:  Sarina Meones     

WEATHER: Partly Sunny 80s & Thundershower

On June 16, 2002, Fathers Day, 18 Caucasian people met in Flushing, Queens at 12:30P.M. and we walked along Main Street through American Hong Kong to the Botanical Gardens where we had a mini Yoga and Stretch Class on the lawn between the Rosebushes given by Sarina and Moty. It was beautiful and sunny most of the day and the flowers and trees and herbal plants were very aromatic. After relaxing and breathing in some fresh air we went to a Dim Sum lunch at a Large Chinese Restaurant where the staff was very accommodating to our many requests for small dishes like fish balls covered with almonds, vegetarian dumplings and other exotic foods. A number of people were delighted with this new culinary experience. During lunch we missed a major thundershower while a few of our group skipped lunch and visited a Hindu Temple. After lunch we all returned to the Sunny Botanical Gardens where we continued our stroll through winding, tree-shaded paths, through arches and small hidden cul-de-sacs, and observed more flowers and birds. We then went back to the busy Honk Kong streets, but not before stopping for some home-made Kulchi Ice cream. We then visited a few Oriental Supermarkets and tea houses and learned more about this exotic culture. We returned to the subway at Main Street about 7 P.M. and everyone had a really nice time. A Very Pleasant, Relaxing Day, and we didn't even have to walk in between the raindrops.

 

SATURDAY JUNE 15, 2002

 

LEADER: Don Pachner

 

LOCATION: Minnewaska State Park  Photo Op Hike

 

WEATHER: Light Rain 60s

 

ATTENDEES:

Don Pachner, Michael Kalman, Iris Yarav (NM)            

 

Route Taken: Millbrook Mtn Path to Gertrude’s Nose Footpath & Return to Lake Minnewaska   Outings Description Three brave hikers started out from misty  Lake Minnewaska in a light rain.  Though our view of the lake was obscured by mysterious mists and low-hanging clouds, a cheerful bluebird crossed our path as we embarked, a small bright blue bird with rust colored breast…a good omen for the beauty to unfold during our rainy day. 

The start of our journey took us though a steep streambed that could have been a road for brook trout, and the mountain laurel growing over and onto the trail showered us with water each time we brushed by them.  I had handed out plastic bags at the start of our hike to use as vapor barriers (put around your socks, inside your boots to keep your feet dry in wet weather) and we had extra pairs of socks packed in our knapsacks at the top of this wet trail, so we all hiked with dry feet the rest of the way (always remove the bags from your feet after you’ve passed through the wet terrain, or your friends will run from the odor when you remove your socks at the end of the day!).

The wet weather brought out a wide variety of woodland birds that would otherwise not be apparent in clear weather…among the other species we saw or we heard singing were cedar.waxwing, the rising trill of the prairie warbler, the “duete, duete, duetio “ of the hooded warbler, the soft trill of pine warblers on the ridge, the cheerrful tune of a Kentucky warbler, the beautiful, smooth song of rose breasted grosbeak (sounds like a robin that’s taken singing lessons), indigo bunting, turkey vulture, raven, swamp sparrow, chipping sparrow, rufous-sided towhee (we renamed it the English Tea Bird for it’s “drink-your-tea” song), and the beautiful flute-like medlodies of the hermit thrush and wood thrush as we passed through the spectacular broome crowberry (endangered species found nowhere else in New York) habitat along the dramatic escarpment of the Palmaghatt Ravine.

The white and pink mountain laurel bloom was near its peak in the forest understory and darker pink sheep laurel blossoms alongside them in the open spaces.  Iris’ sharp eyes caught the blue of a few ripe blueberries which we all taste-tested, though some of us with trepidation!;>)   The sweet tupelo berries found here appear to be on their way, but not yet ripe.    Don had packed sweet watermelon, fresh peach and nectarine slices for a special treat that we ate on cloud-enshrouded Gertrude’s Nose.  The usually spectacular view had turned into a beautiful, misty scene, and we could occasionally see the farmland 800 feet below us through rare breaks in the clouds.  Our rain-gear-required hike was finished with a group dinner at an interesting New Paltz restaurant, before departing for home.

 

May 9, 2002 - Activity: Vegetarian After Work Dinner

Leader: Les Judd

Location: Madras Cafe

People who attended: Gay Peress (?) NM, Joan Seittelman, Michael Stein NM, Thomas Hamori NM, David Ostreiker, Aaron Cohen, Mitchell Saltz, Steven Schechtman, Steven Geib NM, Lisa Crair NM (Guest Card), Ellen Shapiro, David Wishnevsky, Sandy Frank

Outings Description:  We met for a vegetarian and kosher Indian dinner.  Some people had never eaten Indian food before, so this was a new experience for them.  I think everyone enjoyed themselves.
 

Sunday May 5, 2002 - Forest Hills Gardens walk

Leaders:  Deva Cohen & Larry Stack

 On May 5, 2002, 3PM, 8 people met in Forest Hills Gardens for the walk.  It was a beautiful day and the flowers and trees were blooming in profusion.  We took a different route than the 2 previous walks, and walked around the Forest Hills Tennis Stadium and passed the West Side Tennis Club, which at one time had been closed to both Jews and African Americans.  We walked on winding, tree-shaded streets, through arches and traversed many little circular parks, and found a tiny path in the middle of a block that led us to the other side of the block.  We had ice cream at Eddie's Sweet Shoppe, an old-fashioned ice-cream parlor dating back to 1909 where  all the ingredients are made in the basement.  We walked back through the Gardens and sat on stone benches in a beautiful park.  We explored the courtyard of an elegant apartment building and a few more picturesque streets, and then 4 of us ended our walk with dinner at a Thai restaurant.  Great day!

Saturday May 4, 2002 - Brooklyn Bridge Brooklyn Botanical Gardens Walk


Leader: Sarina Meones

 

Weather: Clear Sunny Beautiful

 

About 25 Mosaic Members started out at the Famous Woolworth Building in Lower Manhattan at 10:30AM and walked across the Brooklyn Bridge to the picturesque Brooklyn Heights Promenade. We then walked to Atlantic Avenue where there was the Atlantic Antic, a yearly, mile long street fair where people sampled ethnic foods and saw music and dance performances. We then headed to the Botanical Gardens where we wandered through the Japanese Garden and the Cherry Blossoms. At 5PM we headed to a Peruvian Restaurant in Park Slope where we had an exotic dinner. After that, about 10 of us went back to the Brooklyn Museum for The First Saturday of the Month Party, with Irish Music and visited an exhibit on “Jewish Life in Ancient Egypt”. As one of the participants remarked, “It was an awesome day!”

Saturday April 27, 2002 Mohonk Preserve

 

Leader: Howard Israel

 

Weather: Sunny 60 degrees

 

Attendees: Howard Israel (L), Doug Fower, Jay Schwarz, Rochelle Lancey, Rob Friedman, Marnie Levine, Cathy Veit and David Wishnevsky

 

Outings Description: On a sunny, brilliant mid spring day; Howard Israel led his group trough Mohonk's reknowned rock scrambles on the Giants Path and Humpty Dumpty. There was a spirit of cooperation and fun as people helped each other through the scrambles. At one point we had to squeeze our way through a tiny cave. The best views were enjoyed from Eagle Cliff.

Sun April 14, 2002 - Bronx Zoo

LEADER: Lanny Wexler

WEATHER: sunny, very warm (~ 75`F)
 
TRIP DESCRIPTION:  Sheri Sayles, Glenn Wiener, Kenneth King, Larry Neumann, Sharon Bernstein, Michele Bornfeld, Alan Israel, Richard Beck, Cathie Carmen and Claudia Calich met the leader , Lanny Wexler at the Bronx Parkway gate at noon, and we started our adventure. Our first stop was the World of Birds, all sorts of birds, mostly from tropical rain forests, in simulations of their natural habitats which are so realistic that the birds have no desire to leave. We made our way past the bison, past Pere David's deer, a Chinese species which exists only in zoos, and the polar bears to the Dancing Crane Cafe for lunch. After lunch a stop at the Mouse House was followed by the highlight of our trip, the Congo Gorilla Forest. Here after a film on conservation, the curtains opened on a huge picture window showing a grassy hillside filled with a large troop of Lowland Gorillas, all mothers and children, all looking very happy and doing well. After this we visited the antelopes, giraffes, zebras, and lions of the African Plains, the gibbons and proboscis monkeys of Jungle World, New World monkeys in the Monkey House, and flamingos, penguins, puffins, and cormorants in the Sea Bird Colony, before being chased out by the zoo closing at 5:30 pm.

April 11, 2002 - After Work Vegetarian Dinner

Leader: Les Judd
Location: Madras Mahal Restaurant

Attendees: Harriet Edleson,  Manny Ratafia,  Leslie Garris,  David Wishnevsky,  Meryl Mazursky
Sandy Frank, Mitchel Saltz

Outings Description:   We had originally planned to have dinner at Vege Vege, a Kosher, Chinese Vegetarian restaurant.  However, the restaurant changed its name and menu overnight.  It's no longer vegetarian and no longer Kosher.  We decided to go to Madras Mahal, a Kosher Indian Vegetarian restaurant.  I waited until 7:30 for people to arrive and then we walked over to Madras Mahal.  Everyone enjoyed the food and the company.

March 31, 2002   - Biking the Connecticut Coast- Westport,Connecticut                         

LEADER: Mark Sochard    

ATTENDEES: Mark Sochard,Linda Neiman,Ezra Aboodi,Randy Horowitz    

ROUTE TAKEN:  Saugatauk River to Southport Harbor

MILEAGE COVERED: 19

WEATHER:  50 and partly sunny

Outings Description:   From the Saugatauk River to Sherwood Island. Then onto Burying Hill beach taking in the salt air along the way. Lunch at Southport Harbor was pleasant by the yachts. Compo beach was busy. We found Long Shore Country Club in the midst of an affair. Finally back to the beginning through the golf course.                           

SATURDAY MARCH 9, 2002 - BROOKLYN HEIGHTS WALK

LEADER: Herb Gecht

ATTENDEES: Leslie Cohen, Mitchell Saltz, Joanne Goldstein, Laurie Brager, Joan Seittleman, Sybil Bannett, Scott Sheldon, Ed Goldman, Linda Neiman, Ezra Aboodi, Leslie Garris, Ken Karan, Sarina Meones, Bruce Siegell, Sol Marcus

MILEAGE COVERED: 6 to 7 miles

WEATHER: Sunny 65 degrees Beautiful!

We visited the Brooklyn Heights Promenade with views across the lower Manhattan skyline (still beautiful after 9/11 though undoubtedly diminished with the loss of the Twin Towers). We learned that Betty Smith wrote the book "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" after the sycamore. We had lunch on Atlantic Avenue in the Bedouin Tent restaurant. We walked down Court Street and Union Street to Prospect Park. The group seemed to enjoy the many interesting shops along Court & Union Streets (antiques, food co-op). We ended the walk with a loop around Prospect Park.

SUNDAY MARCH 3, 2002 Inwood Hill Park, Manhattan

LEADER: Howard Israel

Attendees: Howard Israel, David Ostreicher, & Mark Wolfe

Mileage Covered: 5 miles

WEATHER: Mild, Misty in the early morning

 

 

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2002 - POTLUCK DINNER

LEADER: Herb Gecht

LOCATION: Manhattan Beach

WEATHER: Winter evening, 50 degrees

ATTENDEES: Cathie Carmen, Paul Lauer, Lionel Rick, Lawrence Gold, Mitchell Saltz, David Wishnevsky, Andrea Miller, Dennis Gross, Mark Grayson, Leslie Garris, Ayelet Reisman, Moty Goldstein, Al Mardenfeld, Ezra Aboodi, Rhoda Petrow, Joyce Steinman

TRIP DESCRIPTION: Potluck supper included tamale pie, rice casserole, kasha casserole, salad, Mrs. Stahl’s knishes, & Junior’s chocolate mousse cheesecake. Ezra took 20 pictures and showed them on televison.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2002

LEADER: Harvey Baumann

LOCATION: Wollman Rink

WEATHER: Clear and cool

ATTENDEES: Remy Fisher, Marlene Cooper, Harriet, Lisa

TRIP DESCRIPTION: The group met around 4 p.m. and skated until 7 p.m. The rink was a little crowded at first, but then it cleared out. Then we went to dinner at Serafina’s on 61st Street. The restaurant was equally crowded, and we had to wait 25 minutes for a table. The food was good; we schmoozed until 10 p.m. We had a very enjoyable evening!

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2002

LEADER: Howard Israel

LOCATION: Bonticou Crag (Mohonk Preserve)

WEATHER: Aout 32 degrees, sunny

ATTENDEES: Joan Seitte, Iman, Ilya Fayec, Dahe Wishnevsky, Esther Sittnim

TRIP DESCRIPTION: We went up Crag Trail to Bonticou Crag for an incredible scramble.  Then up the Crag to a place to settle down for lunch. We walked above a beautiful pond, then headed back to the Northeast Trail and Table Rock for a lovely sunset. Later on, the group went out together for dinner at the “Main Course” in New Paltz.

SUNDAY JANUARY 20, 2002

LEADER: Aaron Cohen

LOCATION: High Point Park (XC ski trails)

WEATHER: Clear, Sunny. (Sufficient snow on the ground for good skiing.)

ATTENDEES: Bruce Siegall, Barbara Rothstein, Marlene Cooper, Rochelle Lancey

TRIP DESCRIPTION: A great time XC skiing was had by all! Snowfall the day before and perfect day-of-event weather led to a memorable XC skiing experience, even for the beginner skiers. There were several requests for more XC ski events this season.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 2002

LEADER: Sarina Meones

LOCATION: Kehila Kedosha Janina Synagogue and Museum

WEATHER: Clear

TRIP DESCRIPTION: The leader, Sarina Meones, is an apt and capable guide who grew up near the Synagogue on Broome Street. The Synagogue is the only Greek Synagogue in the entire Western hemisphere. It is one of the last remnants of a unique ancient Jewish tradition. It is a tradition that was born of the fusion of Greek and Jewish civilizations following the conquests of Alexander. This group of Jewish people are known today as the Romaniote. The Synagogue is run today mostly by a small group of elderly people devoted to preserving their ancient traditions.

Later on in the day, the Mosaic group walked through Chinatown, with some trekking across the Brooklyn Bridge.

Sarina will again lead tours to the Greek Synagogue on March 17th and March 24th.