Even though I grew up in Ulster County & live & work in the Catskill Mountains today, the Catskills were something I peered over at from another set of "mountains" growing up. The Shawangunk Ridge was really where I learned to love the woods first. This ridge will always be special to me, and no doubt it is. It was good to get back & see that white rock again with all its unique--but pyrogenic--vegetation atop. It was also nice to see the Catskills across from the Rondout Valley stretched out wide.

On this week's show, we'll discuss some observations from this short trip on the ridge.