Ridgelines # 216

There’s a Distance for Everyone at Rock The Ridge!

As daylight hours increase, it reminds us that spring is just around the corner. That means it’s time for the Preserve’s largest annual fundraising event, Rock The Ridge! Now in its 12th year, Rock The Ridge continues to grow by word of mouth from past Ridge Rockers who just can’t say enough great things about the event. With a generous 18-hour cutoff time and frequently situated aid stations, Rock The Ridge appeals to both experienced ultra runners and first-time ultra marathoners.

“Putting on a large-scale event such as Rock The Ridge is a real team effort from staff and volunteers,” said Special Events Manager and Race Director Tom Leader. “Our Stewardship team works hard leading up to event day to make sure the carriage roads are in top shape and our Ranger team not only marks the 50-mile course but is on duty race day to assist with any safety issues that arise,” Tom added. “Our over 130 dedicated volunteers help with sign in, aid stations, course marshalling and all the amazing photos capturing the event. I love to watch this team operate on event day and really showcase to first time Ridge Rockers why Mohonk Preserve is so special to so many people.”

This year Ridge Rockers can experience a new marathon distance option (26.2 miles), attracting another group of runners and hikers who may not be quite ready to go the full 50-miles, but who still want to challenge themselves and help raise money for the Preserve. “It’s a trail marathon that’s done on our beautifully groomed carriage roads following the same course as legs one and two of Rock The Ridge,” Tom said. “Registrations for the first ever marathon at the Preserve are pacing well and we expect to fill all 100 marathon slots this first year.”

“If the full 50-miles or marathon distances are too ambitious, there’s always the relay option,” Tom noted. “Grab three friends and create a team with each person running or hiking between 10–13 miles of the course. It’s a fantastic day on the ridge whether you’re doing the full 50, marathon or one relay leg. Last year’s Rock The Ridge welcomed a record 87 relay teams!”

Rock The Ridge also features a fantastic finish line experience in the Event Village, with great food from Frank’s Fresh Pickling Co. in New Paltz, beverages from Arrowood Farms and Brooklyn Cider House, music, Rock The Ridge merchandise and enthusiastic spectators with an abundance of cowbells to cheer on participants as they cross the finish line under the Testimonial Gateway Arch.

Since 2013, Ridge Rockers have helped raise more than $2.4 million to support the Preserve’s programs which introduce kids to nature, monitor and mitigate the effects of invasive species on the land, repair and resurface the network of carriage roads, and welcome more than 300,000 annual visitors to be inspired by nature.

Interested in participating in Rock The Ridge this year? Watch our event video here, and sign up today at www.mohonkpreserve.org/rock-the-ridge/. For sponsorship information please contact us at rocktheridge@mohonkpreserve.org.

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Advancing GIS for Good

As New York’s largest nonprofit nature preserve, protecting over 8,200 acres of rare and diverse ecological communities is a critical part of the organization’s conservation-first mission. For over two decades, the Preserve has been using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to help in the vital work of identifying and sharing information about species, habitats and recreation.

Heading up these efforts is Mohonk Preserve Associate Director of Land Protection and GIS Ed Pestone, who works across the organization to help implement and facilitate the use of GIS and related tools to foster collaboration for the Conservation & Community Education, Stewardship, Visitor Experience and Volunteer programs.

While GIS had long been used by the Preserve’s Conservation Science staff to conduct research projects and Land Protection staff for tracking monitoring efforts, in 2019, Ed and a multidisciplinary group of staff from across the organization embarked on the process of developing the Preserve’s first new trail maps in decades, employing GIS tools to create not only a new physical map, but also introduce a digital option. The new trail maps enhanced visitor experience and management, while minimizing environmental impact.

The Preserve’s multiple GIS databases include natural/environmental, cultural and built geographic features, and mobile data collection has facilitated databases including culverts, bridges, signage, water bars, trailheads, building and parking lots. Environmental datasets include forest types, protected lands, land management, and significant habitats and species. GIS mapping also supports grant applications, on-land projects and special events, such as course mapping, mile markers and aid stations for the Rock The Ridge trail challenge and Shawangunk Grit gravel ride.

Mohonk Preserve’s over 400 volunteers also benefit from the our GIS capabilities. Ed has been collaborating with Esri, the global market leader in GIS software, web GIS and geodatabase management applications, to highlight nonprofit GIS opportunities. Last fall, he discussed the Preserve’s use of Esri’s ArcGIS system as part of the webinar “Activate Volunteers and Enhance Community Collaboration,” hosted by Esri. Ed will also be a featured speaker at Esri’s upcoming Federal GIS Conference Session “GIS for Good: Nonprofit Patterns for Delivering Impact” on February 25, 2025, in Washington, DC. The session will explore how ArcGIS can help with donor management, volunteer engagement and impact assessment.

In May, Ed will be presenting on “Stewardship Technology and Volunteer Engagement” at the 2025 New York Land Conservation Conference in Glens Falls, New York. He and Cara Gentry from Wallkill Valley Land Trust will discuss efforts to coordinate and streamline field data collection by volunteers, give insight into experiences implementing technologies in their volunteer programs, and provide examples of how they are being used to carry out stewardship and community science projects. Ed will also be featured in an upcoming TechSoup article on Medium, “Leveraging Esri Tools to Transform Nonprofit Operations: Insights from Mohonk Preserve.”

“Mapping and GIS are integral parts of all aspects of managing the built and natural environment at Mohonk Preserve,” Ed noted. “I’m sure we will continue to see use of geospatial technologies by staff, volunteers and colleagues expanding in a wide variety of applications.”

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New Year – New Plans

The new year brings a new opportunity to plan ahead and support the people and organizations you care about the most.

Mohonk Preserve has partnered with FreeWill to offer an accessible, no-cost resource to get started on your estate plan and align your legacy with your values. It’s a straightforward process that ensures your wishes are honored, your loved ones are cared for and the causes you support are acknowledged.

Start 2025 off right by creating a lasting gift to the people and places you love with FreeWill.

P.S. If you’ve already created an estate plan and included a legacy gift to Mohonk Preserve, but haven’t let us know yet, please fill out this form.

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