Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast

Welcome to episode 226! This week, author Kevin Bone joins me to dive into the incredible story and engineering behind the Catskill Aqueduct—one of the greatest infrastructure projects in New York history. More than 100 years after it was built, this underground marvel still delivers over 500 million gallons of water to New York City every day, requiring remarkably few repairs along the way. I also cover a hiker's mushroom-fu...

Welcome to episode 225! This week, author Alan Via joins us to discuss his new book, The Lost Kills, a fascinating journey into the lesser-known peaks, hidden corners, and forgotten stories of the Catskills. We also discuss the recent death in New Hampshire's White Mountains and how the continuing hiker boom is affecting our country. Make sure to subscribe on your favorite platform, share the show, donate if you feel like it&hellip...

Welcome to episode 224! This week, Ulster County beekeeper Rich Kurtz joins us to talk about the fascinating world of beekeeping in the Catskills, the vital role bees play in our ecosystem, and why these tiny pollinators have such a huge impact on the natural world around us. We also dive into a recent bear attack in Greene County and chat about Mike Suidy, who somehow managed to complete all 35 Catskill High Peaks in just over two...

Welcome to episode 223! This week, Ryan Trapani, director of forest services for the Catskill Forest Association joins us to dive into the past, present, and future of Catskill forests. We cover forest health, conservation, invasive species, responsible land management, and why healthy forests matter to everyone who enjoys the outdoors. We also chat about an attempt at the FKT for the 3500 and Stash shutting people down about mount...

This week, Stash recaps his unforgettable trip out to California, featuring adventures through Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, and Yosemite National Park. From towering giant sequoias to jaw-dropping mountain views, he shares the highlights, stories, and surprises from hiking some of the most iconic landscapes in the country. We also dive into the wild story of a Brooklyn man who became trapped inside a cave, and...

Welcome to Episode 221 of Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast! this week, Hunter Town Supervisor Sean Mahoney joins us to break down the recently released Kaaterskill Clove VUM and what it could mean for the future of one of the Catskills’ most visited towns. We also dive into the tragic discovery of a missing hiker’s remains in Vermont, a terrifying grizzly attack out west, and a rescue mission on Wittenber...

Welcome to Episode 220 of Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast! This week, we sit down with Joey Vulpis from Stay Rad Climbing to talk about all things climbing—how he got into it, what keeps him hooked, and his extensive training program that he does around the globe for rock climbing. We also shift gears into the topic of New York State’s solar project and finally, Stash is gearing up for a trip out to Cali...

Welcome to Episode 219 of Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast! This week, Tad and I dive into your listener questions—covering everything from our favorite hikes to how we fell in love with the Catskills in the first place, and where both we and the podcast are headed next. We also get into some current events, including Riverkeeper taking legal action against NYCDEP, an odd incident involving a hiker and alcohol ...

Welcome to Episode 218 of Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast! This week, Emily Carrollo from Panthera joins us to dive into the possibility of restoring mountain lions to the Northeast—what it could mean, what it would take, and why it’s even being talked about. We also get into the importance of supporting conservation efforts, and touch on the recent tragic incident at the popular swimming spot, Fawn&rsqu...

Welcome to Episode 217 of Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast! This week, we’re joined by Ryan Schmidt, who is part of the Catskill Science Collaborative and he is studying the destruction done by the hemlock wooly adelgid. Ryan talks about the collaborative, the science behind battling the adelgid and what we can do to help. We also chat about a rescue on the Burroughs Range and guides poisoning people on Mount E...

Welcome to Episode 216 of Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast! This week, we’re joined by Kelsey, who shares an incredibly powerful and deeply personal story of loss, resilience, and healing. After the heartbreaking loss of her son, Dalton, to HIE shortly after birth, Kelsey turned to the Catskill Mountains as a way to navigate her grief. What began as an outlet became a journey—one that helps her honor Dalt...

Welcome to Episode 215 of Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast! This week, Mike Volpe joins the show to talk about bringing ham radios into the Catskills—and why hiking isn’t always as “off the grid” as you think. We get into the gear, the tech, and what it actually takes to become a licensed ham radio operator. We also dive into a real rescue on Blackhead Mountain, swap some brutally honest tick ...

Welcome to Episode 214 of Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast! This week, Ken Goldfarb from Catskill Climbs Patches joins us to talk about his journey creating some of the Catskills’ most recognizable hiking patches and what goes into building a brand rooted in the mountains. We also dive into recent 2025 hunting incidents, the growing debate over solar farms replacing forested land, and a promising Lyme disease v...

Welcome to Episode 213 of Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast! This week, Andy Brown from The Double Chair Podcast joins the show to dive headfirst into his full-blown obsession with skiing in the Catskills. From his days working as a liftie to time spent on ski patrol, Andy shares stories from behind the scenes on the mountain and what it really takes to keep things running when the snow starts flying. We also get into...

Welcome to Episode 212 of Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast! This week, I’m joined by Serena Lafayette, the first person to complete the Catskill Fire Tower Ultra — all eight towers in just one day! Serena shares how she mapped out the challenge, the obstacles she faced along the way, and what it takes to pull off such a wild Catskill feat. We also dive into Women’s History Month, the not-so-fun retu...

Welcome to Episode 211 of Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast! This week, Shawn Connolly — better known as thelongislandhiker — joins us to talk about taking the leap and hiking the Appalachian Trail. We dig into the full experience: the highs, the lows, the gear, and the mindset it takes to finally say “screw it” and just go. We also get into a head-scratching story about a hiker who somehow man...

Welcome to Episode 210 of Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast! This week, Joe and Scott from The Trailbound Project join us to talk about their organization and the hands-on, adventure-driven events they’re putting out into the world. We also dig into the recent blizzard that slammed the lower part of New York, the very real risks of solo winter hiking, and an update on that Austrian man who somehow thought leavin...

Welcome to Episode 209 of Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast! This week, photographer and longtime Catskill skier Steve Aaron returns to the show to talk about over 50 years of skiing in the Catskill Mountains. We bounce between past and present, debate the best of the best ski resorts, and explore one of skiing’s great unsolved mysteries: skiing in jeans. We also dig into the recent land purchase in the Sundown ...

Welcome to Episode 208 of Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast! This week, Kim Levinsky hops back on the mic to talk all things Sassquad Running—the inclusive, high-energy crew that proves running events can be super fun. We also dive into the brutally cold temps, rangers pulling off a save with folks stuck on a gondola, and a rescue mission in Vermont involving hikers who bit off a little too much that they could ...