July 7-9
There was a group of four women who posted that they were heading to the NorthSouth Lake Campground in the Catskills for a few days of hiking and camping so I decided to join them.
I have camped there before but in the fall and not summer.
I set up my camp and went for an ebike ride.
I biked all over and believe many of the trails were better suited for hiking…but there were not any “biking prohibited ” signs that I saw.
There were alot of rocks! And some even had teeth.
And let’s talk bears. At check-in i was made aware that I am camping in bear country and all the rules that I need to adhere to. This was even more delicate as my new friends told me that thwt learned mother bear and her cubs have been making the rounds in our area and are not afraid of people.
After dark as we five gals were gathered around our campfire we heard the neighbor’s dogs going crazy followed by shouts of “BEAR.”
Sure enough as we follow the flashlight beams we see a bear just a campsite away. She didnt seem bothered that people had whistles and were shouting. She eventually disappeared into the dark woods. It was then that we saw that her two cubs had climbed a nearby tree.
The ranger visited and told us to make sure we were following the guidelines and just leave things be. The momma bear will come back for her cubs and be on her way.
It was more unsettling to NOT know where the bear had gone. But she did come back and her and her cubs were not seen again that night.
And this is why we have bear rules!
On my way home I stopped at the Catskill visitors center. They always have great information and a little giftshop. Oh and also a fire tower you can climb.
I asked about places to bike and they recommended the Ashokan Reservoir just a few minutes away.
The flat rail trail is about 11 miles one way and the surface is crushed stone.
It was a nice ride with some shade. I saw turtles, chicken of the woods mushrooms and weed wacking goats.
