An exhibit of photographs and journal entries documenting a 200-mile "Mountaintop to Tap" trek opens at 3 p.m. Saturday at Catskill Center's Erpf Gallery in Arkville.
In July, 12 high school students from Sidney High School and the New York Harbor School in Brooklyn traveled the route New York City's drinking water supply follows from the Catskill Mountains to New York City.
During the more-than 200-mile journey, the students measured the water quality of streams, rivers and reservoirs, talked to public officials and shared with the public what they learned.
The purpose of the three-week "Mountaintop to Tap" trek was to educate New Yorkers about the source of their water through the students' work.
The exhibit features photographic work by the students involved in the trek, Inverna Lockpez, gallery curator, said Friday.
"It was an incredible thing," Lockpez said. "They hiked from Slide Mountain, the highest peak in the Catskills, rowed 80 miles down the Hudson River and completed the trek in Central Park."
The exhibit, which is open to the public, runs through April 26. The opening reception is from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, Route 28, Arkville.
Lockpez said in addition to the photographs and journal entries, which are mounted on the walls, she filled the gallery with items from the journey.
"There is a tent in the middle with sleeping bags, rocks, leaves and branches," Lockpez said. "I included the water testing kits they used, nets and even the huge backpacks they carried.
To enhance the feel of the outdoors, Lockpez said, she painted the walls of the gallery to reflect the colors of the Catskills.
There will also be a continuous slide show documenting the entire trip and a large map, Lockpez said.
Lockpez said several of the Sidney students will be at the opening reception.
Aaron Bennett, Catskill Center educator, said there are at least two photos taken by each student and journal entries that complement the photos.
Bennett provided an excerpt of a journal entry written on July 13 by Sarah Pate: "We have each been given a spot along the trail to observe our surroundings. It is a beautiful sunny day, clear blue sky is visible just beyond the rustling leaves in a nice summer breeze. Spots of sunlight shimmers on the rocky trail ahead and each side is covered in the most vivid shades of green. As I sit here on a rock writing in my journal I feel smaller and smaller. No sounds but the leaves, birds and occasional scratching of my pen."
At 10 a.m. April 19, there will be a public showing of the 35-minute "Mountaintop to Tap" documentary at the Erpf Center. A film crew from Delhi Stories LLC recorded the trekkers. The filmmakers will appear and answer questions.
Stroud Water Research Center organized the "Mountaintop to Tap" trek with The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, Catskill Mountainkeeper, New York Harbor School, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and Riverkeeper.
For more information about the trek and the students, visit www.stroudcenter.org/nytrek2007/index.htm
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Patricia Breakey can be reached at 746-2894 or at stardelhi@stny.rr.com.
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