Core and Botanize Bog #370 With Michael Kudish

Michael Kudish, Forest Historian

Sunday, July 28th 10:00am – 4:00pm

Join Dr. Michael Kudish for an exploration of Young’s Hollow Bog (Bog #370) in the Beaver Kill watershed, one of the wildest places in the Catskills.  Dr. Kudish will be collecting a deep peat sample to help determine the age of the peatland which is dominated by large eastern hemlock and yellow birch.  Participants can take part in the coring operation and will botanize this large peatland as well as the surrounding forest. Remarkably, the forest around the peatland contains the only living population of red spruce in the Beaverkill watershed, except for a few local spot populations high up along the divide with Dry Brook.  Also, #370 has tough fibrous peat to core through; it is composed of mainly Calliergonella cuspidata, which at up to 13700 years old is so undecomposed that the cell structure is almost as clear as fresh moss.  In addition, previous cores identified wood ashes dating back 7880 years ago.

Mike Kudish received his PhD under Dr. Ed Ketchledge at SUNY ESF (then the NYS College of Forestry).  He taught for over 30 years at Paul Smith’s College.  While at PSC he studied the flora of the Adirondacks as well as the railroad system and its effects on contemporary forest composition.  His desire to learn more about the evolution of our forests has led him to relocate to the Catskills after retirement and focus his efforts on carbon-14 dating of peatland organic deposits.

The hike is about 4 miles round trip, along the Neversink-Hardenbergh Trail from Balsam Lake, then along a hunting camp road, then a bushwhack. The peatland is at 2670 feet elevation.

Be prepared with stout hiking footwear, rain gear, lunch, and adequate water. Assume there are ticks and other biting insects so be prepared to repel them.

More details about the trip and the meeting place will be sent after completing registration. If you have any questions feel free to contact us at bog370@nyflora.org.

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