Outdoor adventures, climate solutions, local history, and even recipes — the 50-plus stories Viewfinder offered this year spanned a wide range. Guides to mountain biking, kayaking, wild swimming, and of course hiking were especially popular. A new recipe series, #HomecookedHudsonValley,” showcasing local produce proved to be a big hit. Readers seemed to love everything from tips on cutting food waste to a look at how Mohican and other Indigenous peoples have used healing plants. A preview of how solar power may soon be coming to valley apple orchards was a fan fave, too. The common thread among all these different topics? Finding new ways to appreciate, enjoy, and connect with the Hudson Valley’s stunning natural world.
Easy Ways + Accessible Places to Start Hiking in the Hudson Valley
“Hiking” can sound intimidating — but taking a stroll outside? That’s doable, and that’s really what hiking boils down to. Time in nature benefits everyone, including people at different mobility levels. Community contributor Sara Foss broke down the basics for what a person should bring and know on a hike. Then she suggested the most approachable Scenic Hudson parks for those just looking for a casual walk or wheel along a trail.
How the Mid-Hudson Bridge Was Almost Too Hard to Build
Crossing the Hudson River between Poughkeepsie and Lloyd by car may feel like a given today, but it was nearly an engineering disaster. The bridge took 10 years to build, local historian Libby Werlau explained — and almost failed entirely. Along the way, one of the caissons (watertight retaining structures used for working on bridge piers) tipped and almost took 20,000 tons of steel and concrete to the river bottom. The story generated lots of comments about everything that building a bridge we take for granted actually took.
What It’s Like to Give Mountain Biking a Go
Mountain biking doesn’t have to be just for adrenaline junkies who love rocketing downhill. As writer Joni Sweet discovered, downhill is just one type of the sport — there’s also cross-country, which is done on flatter terrain. Sweet tried out both for herself and described even her diciest moments in thrilling first-person detail. Ultimately, she shared how mountain biking made her feel both fully present in the moment and more in touch with nature in the Hudson Valley in this hit post.
Clever Ways to Cut Food Waste
There’s an abundance of food out there — but not everyone has enough, and still huge percentages go to waste. After the government’s October shutdown stopped SNAP benefits, food access was at the top of everyone’s mind, along with ways to feel in control during an age of uncertainty. Reducing food waste could help with all these issues, as regional journalist Melissa Esposito shared. She polled Hudson Valley experts to get next-level tips, like rinsing berries and storing them in glass jars to help them last longer.
Exploring Traditional Uses of Native New York Plants
Chamomile didn’t just show up in tea caddies out of the blue — Indigenous peoples long ago discovered and shared the benefits of plants like this. Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans member Misty Cook recently offered a sold-out workshop at Soul Fire Farm on healing plants found in what is now New York State. Community contributor Dalvin Aboagye gathered many of her tips and shared specifics with receptive readers.
Discovering Solar’s Shading Potential on Valley Farms
It’s not every day that just studying something creates big excitement — but a new solar trial at the Hudson Valley Research Laboratory in Highland is generating major buzz, as well as full-on power. Shading has been set up over apple trees to shade them the way PV panels could, all to assess the potential of placing solar in orchards. Sara Foss shared what’s been done elsewhere, too, as she broke down the double-benefit potential of crop-shading solar here in the Hudson Valley.
Who’s Cold-Water Swimming in the Valley
Do people really swim wild in the Hudson River year-round, including when it’s half-iced over? They sure do! Contributor Elyse Fernandez found folks from Beacon Endurance, the Kingston Point Winter Splash Squad, and Peekskill’s annual New Year’s polar plunge, among others. She chatted with them about the benefits they feel they get from cold plunging in this photogenic, convo-sparking story.
Taste the Region: Italian Sub Panzanella
When local author and food influencer Daniel Freeman launched his latest cookbook, he did it on Good Morning America — and since he’s based right in Beacon, he also shared a recipe with Viewfinder. Freeman’s Italian Sub Panzanella from the new cookbook Italianish offered a tangy way to meld together late-summer flavors of Hudson Valley produce — especially juicy tomatoes, but also cucumbers, onions, and basil. And it looked bright and delish along the way, prompting lots of social media users to want to try it.
How Kayaking Can Be the Perfect Activity for All Ages
Running is an age-old activity, but not necessarily an old-age one. For his money, New York kayaking guide and endurance athlete Chevaughn Dixon argued that paddling makes for a perfect sport for everyone from kids to elders. Dixon broke down the different types of kayaking, including sea, whitewater, Greenland-style, and recreational kayaking for beginners in this love letter to the ancient Indigenous-developed activity.
Regional Guide to a Winter Hiking Treat: Frozen Waterfalls
When people prep themselves to get outside in winter, the rewards can be big. Seeing a whole different side of waterfalls is one of them. Frozen falls are among the season’s biggest treats, photographer and community contributor Diana Richards has found. In this much-shared post, Richards highlighted some of her favorite icy falls across the region. She rounded it out with guidance on the trails leading to them and the planning needed in order to stay safe seeing them.
