Overlook Mountain Fire Tower Summer Lecture Series continues on September 7th

On Sunday, September 7th, Michael Kudish, the Catskills forest historian, will lead a walk to examine the three kinds of forests found on Overlook Mountain that reveal both human and natural history. There's an oak forest that has grown up after many burnings by the Esopus people and European settlers, a northern hardwoods forest of beech and maple that's typical of the central Catskills, and a boreal forest of spruce and fir that may never have been felled by fire or ax. In four decades of field research Michael Kudish has found more old growth forest in the Catskills than anyone would have expected.

A retired professor from Paul Smith's College in the Adirondacks, Michael Kudish has written The Catskill Forest: A History, published by Purple Mountain Press. The Catskill Center recently honored him with the Alf Evers Award of Excellence for his work, which began in the late 1960s and continues today.

The walk will begin at noon at the summit cabin, take two to three hours, and cover a mile or more. The group size is limited to 20. Reservations are required. RSVP to Will Nixon at will@willnixon.com or 845-679-5853. The Overlook Mountain Fire Tower Stewards are sponsoring this walk as part of its series of nature talks. http://www.hudsonvalleyruins.org/yasinsac/overlook/overlook.html