Catskill 3500 Club
Lean-to Work Days & Shelter Caretaking Workshop updated 6/11 | New Club T-Shirts for Sale
Diamond Notch Lean-to
This years project was to refurbish the Diamond Notch lean-to. The lean-to listed heavily, the leaky roof was more moss than shingles, the floor boards had long since been porcupine food, the outhouse – we won’t mention. After much behind the scenes work by the NYSDEC, the NYNJTC Senterman crew, and funds from the Catskill 3500 Club, the volunteers began to gather.
On Saturday we had: Rick, Pete, Doug, Jeff, Moe, Harry, Cindy, Brian, David, Joe, Kevin, Eric, Ed, Connie, Peggy and Ed’s neice. On Sunday we had: Rick, Pete, Doug, Moe, Eric, George, Dave, Carol, Veronica, Cathy, Bill, Tom and myself.
Saturday’s crew were described as animals that had to be held back. Following a bit of breakfast food and the walk to the lean-to with tools in hand, they set to work. They stripped that old mossy roof off, put on a new cedar shake roof (except the cap, saving that for the next day), dug a hole and put up a new outhouse, took care of the old outhouse, put on the new floor boards (bothering some resident mice in the process), carried out old shingles, and from the reports I heard, generally had a grand time, no mishaps and a few refreshments to end the day. Tools and materials were left behind for the next day under the watchful eye of Eric who spent a quiet night on site.
Sunday’s crew did not have to carry in tools, just empty packs and garbage bags for hauling out old shingles, leftover supplies and tools. Following a bit of breakfast and the walk to the lean-to, this work horse crew quickly dispersed with paint brushes, roof capping tools, and what ever else was necessary. The cap was put on, the old shingles were carried out, the entire structure stained, the stone patio installed, and the entire site was raked, tidied, all tools carried out, any left over materials were carried out and once again, everyone had a grand time, no mishaps and a few refreshments to end the day.
What an amazing amount of work these crews did! We cannot thank them enough for driving so many miles, giving up family time and precious hiking time, knowing they would leave with sore backs and tired shoulders to help out with this project. All who visit this lean-to for the next 30 years will benefit from their tremendous efforts! We are immensely grateful to each of them for all that they did.