WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST?
Here’s an example of “old growth” in the Catskills. The photo doesn’t do it too much justice, but this is a small stand–less than 3 acres–of old hemlock and red spruce at around 3,000 feet in elevation. Just below this area are some remnants of a stone foundation with metal parts of a stove, along with “bark roads” to and from. Most likely, this foundation could be the remnants of a bark shanty used to house bark peelers during the mid 1800s. Bark peelers would peel the bark of hemlock, used to make tannins in the leathermaking process. This small upper elevation stand of hemlock was probably just outside their reach back in the day. I couldn’t find any remnants of bark roads near it.
May the Forest Be with You,
Ryan Trapani
Director of Forest Services
Catskill Forest Association