Steel vs. Mountain: The U&D's Ascent

The Catskills are laced with forgotten train tracks — some hiding in riverside forests, others cutting through sleepy towns. But nothing tells the story of human determination quite like the Ulster & Delaware Railroad's audacious climb from Pine Hill to Highmount. This wasn't just building a railroad: this was picking a fight with Belleayre Mountain herself.

By the 1860s, railroad fever had America in its grip. Thomas Cornell, a businessman with vision, chartered the Rondout & Oswego Railroad in 1866 (later renamed the Ulster & Delaware) to funnel goods from central New York to his port in Rondout. The Catskills, with their timber, bluestone, and untapped tourism potential, stood in the middle of his dream — quite literally.

The problem? A punishing 3.2% grade between Pine Hill and Highmount that had engineers scratching their heads. You simply couldn't run a conventional train straight up that slope without courting disaster.

The solution emerged in one of the most elegant feats of 19th-century engineering: a double horseshoe curve that zigzagged up the mountainside like a steel snake. The train would navigate two sweeping curves that doubled back across the mountain face, gradually gaining altitude with each turn. Even with this clever design, physics demanded respect. In Big Indian, helper engines were often coupled to trains providing the extra muscle needed for the push upward. At the top stood the Grand Hotel Station at Highmount, where travelers stepped into the mountain air, bound for the luxurious Grand Hotel with its panoramic vistas.

This engineering triumph didn't just conquer a mountain — it transformed the Catskills. A region once deemed too remote suddenly became a pipeline for industry and a gateway for tourism.

Though the passenger trains stopped running in the mid-20th century, the route still winds through the mountains, with stories of the workers who hammered spikes, the engineers who drew impossible curves, and the dreamers who saw a railroad where nature said none should exist.

The Results: Puzzles

Last week's Crew Member vote passed with a 91% approval - turns out I'm not the only one who enjoys losing an entire weekend hunting for that one elusive puzzle piece! The project is officially in the works and I’m hoping to have a sample in hand within a few weeks to make sure it properly tests the limits of your sanity. Already looking forward to the photos I get with completed masterpieces, or just an empty wine bottle with the puzzle box dumped upside down and looks of utter defeat. Either way, it'll be fun and bring us all together in collective frustration!

Night Sky: New Moon

The moon is about to complete another orbit around Earth, with its waning crescent phase growing thinner until it vanishes in the Sun's glare on February 27th. After this new moon phase, it'll retreat about 12° from its previous position each night, setting roughly an hour later. Perfect time to catch some stars without lunar interference while the cycle resets.

Adopt Pets: Moose, Rochester & Tom

Meet Moose, a lovebug pit bull pup who's rolling with big energy and a passion for peanut butter (I get that). Then there's Rochester, a senior tabby who's all about the quiet life - and his own company. And this week's wild card is Tom, a 5-year-old guinea pig who's... well, living his best guinea pig life.

Games: Trivia & Scramble

Notes: Last week the trivia question was Which reservoir in the Catskills supplies the most drinking water to New York City? I started looking into this a bit more. According to the Catskill Watershed Corporation the largest reservoir by volume in the NYC water supply system is the Pepacton Reservoir with 140 billion gallons. It provides approximately 50% of the NYC daily water but this is specific to the Delaware system - while the Ashokan Reservoir, which is part of the Catskill system provides up to 40% of the city's daily needs. You will probably find some widely varying data like I have.

Visit Foxfire Mountain House for an immersive and memorable dining experience celebrating Spring, with a special menu & curated drink offerings, set in a lush interior forestscape created by floral designer Paloma Mele.

Department of Environmental Conservation, Virtual - Trout Management Plan within the Delaware River Tailwaters at 6pm fishy

Camp Kingston, Kingston - Debi Tirar Más Fotos album listening party at 8:30pm info

Tinker Street Cinema, Woodstock - Misery (1990) at 8pm movie night

Tubby's, Kingston - DJ Night from 7-11pm you spin me round

The Rosendale Theatre, Rosendale - Music Fan Series: Summer of Soul at 7pm tix

Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock - The Disco Biscuits at 8pm sweet

The Junkyard, Kingston - Honky Tonk, dance lessons, and karaoke with Michael from Hawk’s Nest get down

Tubby's, Kingston - Natie + Allie Young from 7-11pm tix

The Pines, Mt. Tremper - Music Night with Marc Delgado from 7-9pm smash burgers

The Half Moon, Hudson - Half Moon Karaoke from 8-12am sing it

Lost Book Shop, Delhi - The Lost Writers Guild from 6-7:30pm more books

Angry Orchard, Walden - Cider Pairing Dinner from 5:30-8pm info

Belvedere Inn, Stamford - Comedy Open Mic have fun

Keegan Ales, Kingston - The Lesser Ape at 5:30pm check it out

Ommegang Brewery, Cooperstown - Trivia Thursdays from 6-8pm sweet

Park Theatre, Hudson - Synesthetic Sessions at 8pm info

The Pines, Mt. Tremper - Game Night from 7-9pm more fun

N.E.S.T, Woodstock - Hudson Valley Psychedelics Society Monthly Meetup from 7-9pm register

Tinker Street Tavern, Woodstock - Major Mayhem karaoke at 8pm enjoy

West Kill Supply, Kingston - Trivia Night from 6:30-8:30pm cheers

The Falcon, Marlboro - Charlie Hunter Duo ft. Carter McLean at 7:30pm details

Lil’ Deb’s Oasis, Hudson - Love Island UPCO Happy Hour from 5-7pm details

Ashokan Center, Olivebridge - The Youth Empowerment & Sustainability Summit (until March 2) more of this

Bearsville Theatre, Woodstock - Skeleton Krewe Trio at 8pm tix

Stamford Coffee, Stamford - Open Mic Night from 6–8pm more info

Belvedere Inn, Stamford - Karaoke Night sing it

Benji & Jake’s, Kauneonga Lake - Infused Shabbat Dinner from 7-11pm enjoy

Ommegang Brewery, Cooperstown - February Beer Pairing Dinner from 6-9pm details

Roxbury Arts Group, Stamford - Creative Spark for the kiddos (2 and under) from 10:30-12pm make stuff

The Local, Saugerties - Rebecca Martin: SHE Album Release Party at 8pm have fun

The Rosendale Theatre, Rosendale - Oscar Shorts: Live Action at 8pm (until March 1) tix

Tubby's, Kingston - Martin Courtney (Real Estate) + Andrew Cedermark from 7-11pm tix

The Falcon, Marlboro - Performance by Telepathic Moon Dance from 9-11pm info

White Feather Farm, Saugerties - Fruitful Cuts: Winter Pruning Workshop from 10am-12pm check it out

Catskill Center, Mount Tremper - Fire Towers of the Catskills from 11am-12pm get outside

Olana, Hudson - Expert’s Eye: The Art of Camping with Justin Wexler, Wild Hudson Valley very cool

Shandaken Historical Museum, Pine Hill - Skiing in the Catskills with Jay Simpson at 2pm very cool

The Local, Saugerties - Hudson Valley Next Gen Music Revue: Mona Freaka/LowLight/Rhythm Revival at 7pm have fun

American House, Coxsackie - Cabin Fever Party with The Lustre Kings and Shipwrecked from 6-10pm details

The Sketchbook Gallery, Saugerties - Boys and Girls Club of Ulster County Art opening reception from 3-6pm make more art

Belleayre, Highmount - Potter Brothers Ski & Snowboard Demo Day deets

Brunette, Kingston - Pop Up with Chambers Vintage from 2-6pm more info

Hunter Mountain, Hunter - Tunes by The Lug Nuts in the Main Bar from 2:30-6:30pm enjoy

Scribner's Lodge, Hunter - Meet the Maker: Heartsby True Cider from 1-5pm info

Tubby's, Kingston - Ivan Julian (founding member of Richard Hell and the Voidoids) + Rose Stoller from 7-11pm tix

Laugh it Up Comedy Club, Poughkeepsie - Stand Up with Rich Vos at 7pm info

Foxfire Mountain House, Mount Tremper - An immersive night of ambient lounging with the musical artist Saapato starting at 7pm

Keegan Ales, Kingston - The Return of the Annual Mac n Cheese Bake off to Benefit Angel Food East at 2pm cheese

Golden Notebook Bookstore, Woodstock - Book launch reading and discussion with Sophie Strand from 2-3pm (happening at St. Gregory’s Church) info

Tinker Street Cinema, Woodstock - The 97th Academy Awards Party at 7pm tix

The Local, Saugerties - Two Many Guitars: Cindy Cashdollar & Jack Petruzzelli at 5pm info

The Rosendale Theatre, Rosendale - The Crowd at 2pm tix

Foxfire Mountain House, Mount Tremper - Trivia Night kicks off at 6pm

Scramble Answer: Brook Trout