Inside The Line: The Catskill Mountains Podcast

Welcome to episode 236! This week, Kristi Confortin from Trail Sisters Catskills joins me for a great conversation about her amazing organization and the community it’s building by connecting women with the outdoors. We chat about how Trail Sisters Catskills helps women get more comfortable and confident in the outdoor world, how the group has grown, and what makes the women’s outdoor community so incredibly supportive&...

Welcome to episode 235! This week, Tad and I are joined by Kumi and Glenn Redpath for one hell of a conversation! Back in May, Kumi set the Fastest Known Time (FKT) on the Long Path, and she joins us to tell the story behind the record—from the tough moments and unexpected challenges to the fun, the laughs, and everything in between. And of course, no record-setting effort happens alone, so Glenn joins us to talk about what i...

Welcome to episode 234! This week, Tad and I go live from the Climb it from Climate Trail Run from Belleayre Mountain. We have interviews with Aimee from the Running Kind, 25k first place finisher Maeve Thistle, 8k first place winner Jeremy and many others. We also chat about several rescues and another solar project in the Catskills. Make sure to subscribe on your favorite platform, share the show, donate if you feel like it&helli...

Welcome to episode 233! This week, Laurie Rankin from the Forest Fire Lookout Association joins us to chat about new updates for the fire towers. Updates like the Balsam Lake Mountain Cabin (which is not good), new towers coming into play and also what we can do to help. We also chat about the live show on Belleayre Mountain and our vanishing viewpoints. Make sure to subscribe on your favorite platform, share the show, donate if yo...

Welcome to episode 232! This week, Haley Heinrich, the female winner of the legendary Escarpment Run, joins me to break down one of the toughest trail races in the Northeast! We dive into her race day strategy, how she battled the relentless climbs and descents, overcame the inevitable highs and lows (literally!), and what it took to cross the finish line in 1st place. Plus, we catch up on recent search and rescue incidents, the fl...

Welcome to episode 231! This week, Stash confesses to the ultimate Catskills betrayal... ditching his home mountains for Vermont to celebrate his 44th birthday. He breaks down the entire adventure, from the hike itinerary and jaw-dropping summit views to his favorite recommendations for anyone planning a trip to the Green Mountains. He also shares why he decided to bail on one of his planned hikes—and why sometimes turning ar...

Welcome to episode 230! This week, David Perez joins us to talk about the rapidly growing NYDownstate28 Challenge. We dive into how the idea came to life, what hikers can expect, and why tackling a brand-new challenge can be such a rewarding way to explore some incredible trails. We also break down the viral (and completely fake) mountain lion attack story from the Devil's Path, recap several recent search-and-rescue incidents, and...

Welcome to episode 229! This week, we’re joined by Alex Raimo, who set out to conquer all 35 Catskill High Peaks in a single push. After months of preparation and an ambitious game plan, Mother Nature had other ideas. Alex shares how he trained, what he encountered on the trail, the tough decisions he had to make, and why he ultimately had to call it quits. We also dive into an influencer catching heat for bashing the town of...

Welcome to episode 228! This week, we’re joined by author and Appalachian Trail thru-hiker Jeff “Bluey” Lewis to talk about his upcoming book, MidLifeHikeThis. Jeff shares stories from his journey on the AT, gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the book, and discusses what inspired him to trade everyday life for an unforgettable adventure on the trail. We also dive into several recent search and rescue incidents a...

Welcome to episode 227! This week’s episode hands the mic over to a listener favorite: Scott Ouimet, better known as Catskillmountainbrew. Fresh off an Adirondack mission, Scott breaks down a monster effort—16 peaks, 94+ miles, and five days of pushing through terrain that doesn’t exactly hand out participation trophies. We get into the prep, the grind, and the moments that make a long push like that stick with yo...

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...