The Big Sleep: Black Bears in Winter

As temperatures drop in the Catskills, our local black bears are wrapping up their most intense feeding period of the year. During this pre-winter feast, known as hyperphagia (trivia answer from last week!), bears pack on the pounds by consuming up to 20,000 calories daily - that's roughly the equivalent of 40 large pizzas, a challenge I’m most certainly up for.

Unlike what many folks think, bears don't actually enter a true, deep hibernation. Instead, they go into what biologists call a torpor - a lighter version of hibernation where their heart rate slows from 50 beats per minute to about 10. They can still wake up and even venture out on unusually warm days.

Female bears, especially those expecting cubs, take this winter downtime particularly seriously. They'll give birth during torpor to cubs weighing less than a pound, who nurse and grow while mom continues her winter rest until spring.

Come March or April, as the mountain snow begins to melt, our drowsy neighbors will emerge, having lost up to 40% of their body weight. So this winter, as you're hiking through the quiet woods or skiing down our slopes, remember that somewhere nearby, tucked away in a cozy den, a bear is taking the ultimate winter nap - one we might all be a little jealous of during the cold dark mountain months.

Night Sky: The Geminids

Our December night skies are about to get a lot more sparkly, my dear friends - we’re in for a cosmic treat. The Geminids meteor shower is rolling in, peaking on December 13-14th, and while our nearly full moon is determined to play celestial spotlight this year, these space rocks aren't letting that stop their show. For the best views, set your alarm for 1am (I know, I know - but trust me). With the moon’s glow, we’ll catch about 12 meteors per hour instead of the usual 120, but thats still 12 chances to fire off a few wishes.

Trivia

Adopt Pets!

This week, we have… drumroll please… Art and Tootsie! Our doggie friend is a 1 year old Great Dane, clocking in at 140 pounds! Learn more about adopting him. And our feline friend is a 10 year old fur angel. Learn more about adopting her.

New York-New Jersey Trail Conference

The incredible folks at the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference (NYNJTC) are the unsung heroes keeping our 2,100+ miles of trails accessible, including gnarly routes like the Devil's Path and sections of the Long Path. Their volunteer crews are out there doing the real work - maintaining trails, restoring habitats, and teaching newcomers how to recreate responsibly in our beloved mountains. If you want to help keep our trails wild and wonderful for future generations of hikers, climbers, and wanderers, throw some support their way by donating here.

Moment in Time

A Holiday Party
🔎 Catskill Crew teamed up with Glen Falls House to put on A Holiday Party. We got cocktails, a special menu at Trotwood, live music in the Tavern, and 20% off rooms with the code “CATSKILLCREW”. The party will be open to the public until we hit capacity.
📆 December 14th at 6pm.
📍 Glen Falls House, Round Top

Trivia Night?!
🔎 Mondays are too quiet, so we joined forces with Foxfire Mountain House for trivia night… and yours truly will be asking the questions and drinking the cold beers. Dinner service will be running from 5-8pm and the veranda will be open with drinks and a snacks menu. There are 3 rounds with 3 prizes. So pop in for one or stay for them all. It’ll certainly be a wonderful jolly ol’ time.
⌛️ Monday December 16th at 6pm
📍Foxfire Mountain House, Mt. Tremper

Upward Brewing, Livingston Manor - Fly tying and beers at 5:30pm

Tubby’s, Kingston - Kingston Echo Club: an evening of ambient music featuring For Furniture, Larry Legend, and Francesca Hoffman at 7pm tix

Camp Kingston, Kingston - Queer Open Mic hosted by Colton from 6-10pm sing it

Colony, Woodstock - La Lom with The National Reserve 7-11pm low ticket alert

The Pines,  Mt. Tremper - Broken Hearts Arts Club presented Neil Young Night from 7-9pm go get a smash burger

West Kill Supply, Kingston - Unhinged Speed Dating Night find love or at the very least cold beers

Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock - Love tunes with Bob Schneider and Steve Poltz at 8pm get those tix

Avalon Lounge, Catskill - Music night with Noah Meyer and Rixey from 8-10pm details

Belvedere Inn, Stamford - WIOX Holiday Party with DJs, pizza, cocktails, and good vibes at 6pm be merry

Levon Helm Studios, Woodstock - Epic concert night with Andrew Marlin Stringband at 8pm it’ll be a good one

The Falcon, Marlboro - The Mahavishnu Project | Love Devotion Surrender at 7pm check it out

The Open Eye Theater, Margaretville - It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play at 7pm grab a ticket

The Lemon Squeeze, New Paltz - Live tunes with Rae Simone and the five-piece ensemble from 6-8pm details

Park Theatre, Hudson - Open Mic and Open Jam, hosted by Mike Billera from 6-10pm get there

North Branch Cider Mill, North Branch - Festive Evening Shopping with mulled cider and wine from 4-7pm shop local

Cherries, Stone Ridge - Phoenicia Flea Holiday Market running all weekend long from 12-6pm buy local

Andes Hotel, Andes - Karaoke with DJ Tito from 8-11pm sing it

Angry Orchard, Walden - Trivia Night: Taylor Swift from 6-8pm who is this taylor?

Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock - Marky Ramones Holiday Blitzkrieg Playing The Ramones Classics at 8pm grab a tix

Gardiner Brewing Company - Holiday Party from 5-9pm be merry drink more beer

RMV Cellars, West Park - Paynes Grey Sky from 5-8pm have fun

Muddy River Taphouse, Oneonta - Vinyl night with 3 DJs from 6-10pm

Shipwrecked, Coxsackie - Long Story Short: a storytelling open mic night at 4pm take a seat

Levon Helm Studios, Woodstock - Willie Watson Tour at 8pm tix

🦅 Glen Falls House, Round Top - Catskill Crew Holiday Party RSVP

Catskill Animal Sanctuary, Saugerties - Carols with the Cows at 10am incredible

Athens Cultural Center, Athens - Victorian Stroll from 1-5pm gather round

Two Farms Brewing, Bloomingburg - Catskill Logger Lager Lighting and Release Party from 12-7pm fun fun fun

Artport Kingston, Kingston - Artist and Makers Holiday Market 12-5pm (running through the weekend) shop local

Fuller Market, Kingston - 2 day holiday market kicks off from 10am-5pm shop local

Catskill Brewery, Livingston Manor - Holiday Market (Sunday as well) shop local

Dette Flies, Livingston Manor - Beginner Fly Tying Classes tight lines

Orpheum, Tannersville - Ballet: The Nutcracker at 2pm tix

Hunter Mountain, Hunter - Tunes on the slopes with DJ Dookz from 12-4pm shred

Belvedere Inn, Stamford - Comedy Open Mic details

Lost Book Shop,  Delhi - Anna Moschovakis in Conversation with Iris Cushing from 6-7:30pm read more books

Phoenicia Playhouse, Phoenicia - Interactive storytelling and cabaret at 7pm have fun

Return Brewing, Hudson - 2024 Holiday Soirée from 7:30-10:30pm cheers to that

The Half Moon, Hudson - A Very Formal Christmas with The Creek from 8pm-12am tips fedora

Wylder, Windham - Pizza Party with Wild Honey Pie at 7pm piZzZza

Germantown - The Annual Winter Glow with ginger bread houses, caroling, tree lightings, Santa, and more details

Bovina Farm & Fermentory -  Holiday Feast yes plz

Harana Market, Accord - Paskong Pinoy Night Market 4:30-9pm check it out

Sunshine Colony, Livingston Manor - 3rd Annual Cookie Swap from 5-7pm yes plz

Common Good, Ellenville - Live tunes with the Americana outfit High Falls from 1:30-3:30pm

The Falcon, Marlboro -  Jeremy Baum Trio: Charlie "Baum" Christmas at 7pm tix

Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock - Rubblebucket at 8pm grab a ticket

🦅 Foxfire Mountain House, Mt. Tremper - Dinner and Trivia night with Catskill Crew this will be good (3 rounds 3 prizes!)

Blue Fox Motel, Narrowsburg - Joyous Wine Dinner check it out

Mirador Kingston, Kingston - Sherry & Songs Vinyl Set have fun