Catskills Fire Tower Challenge back in ’23

The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation’s Catskills Fire Tower Challenge will be back in 2023.

The event encourages experienced hikers to visit all remaining six fire towers in 2023.

According to the DEC, experienced hikers are encouraged to visit fire towers at Balsam Lake Mountain in Hardenburgh, Overlook Mountain in Woodstock, Red Hill Mountain in Denning, Tremper Mountain in Shandaken, Hunter Mountain in Hunter in Greene County and the Upper Esopus Fire Tower at the Catskills Visitor Center on state Route 28 in Mount Tremper. DEC officials said the Upper Esopus Fire Tower gives visitors who may not be able to undertake the challenging miles-long hikes to experience a fire tower on the high peaks the opportunity to see one via a halfmile loop.

To participate in the challenge, hikers must hike to all six-DEC-owned fire towers in the Catskills between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2023. Once they finish the challenge, participants can submit a log of their completed hikes along with a favorite photo or selfie via a web form or to a designated email inbox at CatskillsChallenge@ dec.ny.gov. Entries must be postmarked by Jan. 7, 2024.

All participants who complete the challenge will receive a letter and a commemorative 2023 Catskills Fire Tower Challenge patch. The first 1,000 finishers will receive a oneyear subscription to DEC’s Conservationist magazine. Finishers will also be able to download a customizable certificate and will be eligible to win prizes after the challenge period is closed.

The DEC said entries have been received from every region of New York, 12 other states, Canada and the United Kingdom.

“The annual Fire Tower Challenge is a great way to keep the history and traditions of our Catskills fire towers alive for future generations to appreciate and enjoy,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said in a statement.

For nearly a century, observers used more than

100 fire towers perched on high peaks to watch forests across New York state, including in the Catskill and Adirondack parks.

Today, stewardship of the historic fire tower structures is managed in partnership with the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development under a Volunteer Stewardship Agreement with DEC, the agency said. A group of dedicated volunteers helps maintain and staff each of the fire towers on weekends and holidays during the summer and fall, according to DEC.

The DEC it will offer a bonus prize entry to finishers who submit a photo of themselves picking up litter, carrying out, planning and preparing for their hikes and staying on the trail.

For more information about the fire towers and challenge rules, visit https://on.ny. gov/3vkSl4x.