Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast

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 in the...

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’s Leap. Make sur...

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 Everest...

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 Dalton’s memory ...

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 prevention tips, and tak...

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 vaccine...

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 return of ticks, and h...

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 managed to need two rescues...

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 leaving his ...

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 Wild F...

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 handle...

Welcome to Episode 207 of Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast! This week, Catskill fly fisher Chris Gallagher joins us to talk about his lifetime obsession with fly fishing in the Catskills. He chats about the past times, competitive fly fishing and how the sport got him hooked. We also somehow end up discussing snow blindness, Shandaken’s improvements for climate change, and the woes of the Catskill Mountain Railroad. ...

Welcome to Episode 206 of Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast! This week, Tad and I chat with Kaitlyn Supa, who lost her cat Walter, for 29 days after camping in the Catskills. Kaitlyn shares how Walter escaped, what it took from her and the community and what it was like when the day he was rescued. We also chat about the recent snowstorm and a rescue on the Fisherman's path. Make sure to subscribe on your favorite pla...

Welcome to Episode 205 of Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast! This week, I chat with Aimee Kohler, fellow podcaster and owner of the running organization called The Running Kind. We chat about her organization and their race called Climb It For Climate that is happening at Belleayre Mountain. We also chat about a weird app that saved two lives. Make sure to subscribe on your favorite platform, share the show, donate if...

Welcome to Episode 204 of Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast! This week, Tad and I chat with award winning journalist and hiker Jo Giese. We chat about Jo’s upcoming book “You’ll Never Walk Alone: A Hiker’s Memoir of Adventure, Tragedy and Defying the Odds” which talks about overcoming a medical miracle and recovering back into hiking. We also chat about a dog rescue on Devils Path, a relocation of a lean to and the 5 ...

Welcome to Episode 203 of Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast! This week, Tad and I crack open the notes on 2025 and take a full look back at the year that was. We dive into the most-listened-to episodes, our personal favorites, and revisit the hot topics that kept popping up throughout the year. We also talk about the latest addition to the Fire Tower Challenge, unpack a tragic death in Harriman State Park, and reflect...

Welcome to Episode 202 of Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast! This week, it’s just Stash behind the mic with award-winning photographer Raymond Salani, chasing the Catskills one frame at a time. Tad jumps in at the top as we break down a homicide at the Croton Falls Reservoir, two rescues on Giant Ledge, and the annual tradition of New Year’s resolutions we may or may not keep. Make sure to subscribe on your favorite p...

Welcome to Episode 201 Part 2 of Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast! This week Alex Marra from Hudson Valley Weather jumps back on and joins us to chat about microclimates in the Catskills and how they can affect us while on the trail. We also chat about stocking stuffers, an unfortunate incident on Panther Mountain and a trail director in the Whites that is guilty of embezzling money. Make sure to subscribe on your fa...