Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast

25/07/2025

Welcome to Episode 181 of Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast! Tonight, Tad and I sit down with “The Bald Eagle Guy” himself—Scott Van Arsdale. From climbing trees to rescue eaglets to helping bring America’s national symbol back from the brink, Scott’s done it all. We dive into his remarkable career, his new book, and the untold stories behind decades of eagle conservation in the Northeast. We also chat about recent rescues and some hiking news. Make sure to subscribe on your favorite platform, share the show, donate if you feel like it… or just keep tuning in. I'm just grateful you're here. And as always... VOLUNTEER!!!!

Links for the Podcast: https://linktr.ee/ISLCatskillsPodcast, Donate a coffee to support the show! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ITLCatskills, Like to be a sponsor or monthly supporter of the show? Go here! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ITLCatskills/membership

Thanks to the sponsors of the show: Outdoor chronicles photography - https://www.outdoorchroniclesphotography.com/, Trailbound Project - https://www.trailboundproject.com/, Camp Catskill - https://campcatskill.co/, Another Summit - https://www.guardianrevival.org/programs/another-summit

Links: The Bald Eagle Guy by Scott Van Arsdale, Jackson Petition, Friends of the Feathered and Furry, National Bald Eagle Guidlines

Volunteer Opportunities: Trailhead stewards for 3500 Club -https://www.catskill3500club.org/trailhead-stewardship, Catskills Trail Crew - https://www.nynjtc.org/trailcrew/catskills-trail-crew, NYNJTC Volunteering - https://www.nynjtc.org/catskills, Catskill Center - https://catskillcenter.org/, Catskill Mountain Club - https://catskillmountainclub.org/about-us/, Catskill Mountainkeeper - https://www.catskillmountainkeeper.org/, Bramley Mountain Fire Tower - https://bramleymountainfiretower.org/

Post Hike Brews and Bites - Ommegang

#3500

25/07/2025

Get out there and check it out!

Great night to view the International Space Station.
Will start at 922pm and last about 6min.

Highest in the sky at at 9:25:49pm.

23/07/2025

Ozzy signed into the canisters only for the sake of the show. A true legend. RIP Ozzy 🤘

20/07/2025

Everytime. I'm not the only one right?

19/07/2025

Thanks John for the hard ciders! This will hopefully go towards the that we are working on doing. You rock!

18/07/2025

Welcome to Episode 180 of Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast! Tonight Tad and I take a deep dive into the new DEC management plan for the trailless peaks—yeah, we go there…and it's good! We also chat about recent rescues and previous hikes. Make sure to subscribe on your favorite platform, share the show, donate if you feel like it… or just keep tuning in. I'm just grateful you're here. And as always... VOLUNTEER!!!!

Links for the Podcast: https://linktr.ee/ISLCatskillsPodcast, Donate a coffee to support the show! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ITLCatskills, Like to be a sponsor or monthly supporter of the show? Go here! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ITLCatskills/membership

Thanks to the sponsors of the show: Outdoor chronicles photography - https://www.outdoorchroniclesphotography.com/, Trailbound Project - https://www.trailboundproject.com/, Camp Catskill - https://campcatskill.co/, Another Summit - https://www.guardianrevival.org/programs/another-summit

Links: Leave DEC Public Comment, DEC VUMP Plan, Virtual Public Meeting,

Volunteer Opportunities: Trailhead stewards for 3500 Club -https://www.catskill3500club.org/trailhead-stewardship, Catskills Trail Crew - https://www.nynjtc.org/trailcrew/catskills-trail-crew, NYNJTC Volunteering - https://www.nynjtc.org/catskills, Catskill Center - https://catskillcenter.org/, Catskill Mountain Club - https://catskillmountainclub.org/about-us/, Catskill Mountainkeeper - https://www.catskillmountainkeeper.org/, Bramley Mountain Fire Tower - https://bramleymountainfiretower.org/

Post Hike Brews and Bites - Catskill Brewery, 1911 Hard Cider

# #3500

17/07/2025

Nettles taking over the trail and making summer hikes miserable? Don’t stress—you’re not destroying nature by taking them out. You’re saving legs and helping stop trail widening.

Trail crews do it all the time. So go ahead, clear that path. You’re basically a volunteer with zero paperwork. A true hero.

17/07/2025

Went up to Balsam Mountain yesterday. I got word that one of my favorite viewpoints is almost gone. I walked past the "viewpoint" several times, second guessing that I wasn't in the right spot, although I was. To me, it was obvious where the viewpoint is. Not anymore. Back in 2015, this was my first hike in the Catskills. My first hike for the 3500 club. This mountain, and its viewpoint, blew my mind away and it started my passion for hiking and of course, the Catskills. The good thing is, the Catskill State Park Master Plan says that "Existing vistas may be maintained where only an immaterial amount of tree cutting is
necessary on an occasional basis."

Unfortunately, a lot of the viewpoints in the Catskills are diminishing. To me, these viewpoints are what draws people back to the mountains. Balsam isn't the only one. My goal is to visit all the viewpoints that are marked on the map, but have not been maintained in years and to take pictures to show how much has grown. Here's what I've got so far and let me know if you have any more:

Near Peekamoose summit
Lower View on Table
Lower Thomas Cole towards Camels Hump
Near summit on Blackdome
Chin of Indian Head
Balsam
Geiger Point
FRICKEN MT TREMPER FIRE TOWER. WTF

Let me know what else you've got. I greatly appreciate it!

15/07/2025

Kaaterskill Falls is always providing. Especially on these crazy hot days.

15/07/2025

The viewpoint on Balsam Mountain is almost gone. The Catskill state park Master plan calls for marked viewpoints to be maintained. Let's hope they do it soon because this is a magical spot.

This was the mountain that started my love for the Catskills. The view blew my mind, so it's special to me. It's also one of the easier 3500 hikes, so it might be a good spot where it sparks that love for someone else as well. Let's hope it gets maintained soon!

15/07/2025

New Landslide on Mount Colden — Avalanche Pass Trail Closed
Adirondack Mountain News –
July 14, 2025

A new landslide has been confirmed on Mount Colden, adjacent to the 1999 slide path in Avalanche Pass. According to the Adirondack Mountain Club, multiple mud and rock slides have made the hiking trail through Avalanche Pass impassable. The Avalanche Pass Trail is now closed until further notice due to hazardous conditions.

This closure impacts key routes through the High Peaks Wilderness. Access to Lake Colden from the ADK Loj via Avalanche Pass is currently blocked, as are popular loop hikes over Algonquin Peak, Mount Colden, and Mount Marcy that return via Avalanche Pass.

An alternate route via Lake Arnold remains open, but conditions are extremely wet and muddy. Hikers are strongly advised to plan accordingly and use caution.

This latest slide adds to Mount Colden’s long history of slope failures, including major slides in 1990 and 1999.

Trail users should monitor updates from the Adirondack Mountain Club and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for revised conditions and alternate route guidance.

11/07/2025

Welcome to Episode 179 of Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast! Tonight, Tad and I are joined by the one and only Diana—better known as ! We dive into her passion for photography, her love for the trails, and her epic adventures with her trail buddy, Roxy the pup. But that’s not all—we’re also breaking down the 2024 Catskill 3500 Club canister stats and comparing them to previous years. Make sure to subscribe on your favorite platform, share the show, donate if you feel like it… or just keep tuning in. I'm just grateful you're here. And as always... VOLUNTEER!!!!

Links for the Podcast: https://linktr.ee/ISLCatskillsPodcast, Donate a coffee to support the show! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ITLCatskills, Like to be a sponsor or monthly supporter of the show? Go here! - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ITLCatskills/membership

Thanks to the sponsors of the show: Outdoor chronicles photography - https://www.outdoorchroniclesphotography.com/, Trailbound Project - https://www.trailboundproject.com/, Camp Catskill - https://campcatskill.co/, Another Summit - https://www.guardianrevival.org/programs/another-summit

Links: Nature Addict Lady Photography, Diana’s Instagram, One Mile Challenge, Fire Tower Lighting, Hike for the Catskills

Volunteer Opportunities: Trailhead stewards for 3500 Club -https://www.catskill3500club.org/trailhead-stewardship, Catskills Trail Crew - https://www.nynjtc.org/trailcrew/catskills-trail-crew, NYNJTC Volunteering - https://www.nynjtc.org/catskills, Catskill Center - https://catskillcenter.org/, Catskill Mountain Club - https://catskillmountainclub.org/about-us/, Catskill Mountainkeeper - https://www.catskillmountainkeeper.org/, Bramley Mountain Fire Tower - https://bramleymountainfiretower.org/

Post Hike Brews and Bites - Cafe Mornings, Hudson North

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