A Mythic Catskills Weekend
A superb opportunity to dive deep into the streams and forests of the Catskills, its evocative stories, and its extraordinary cuisine, with lodging at the historic Spillian estate.
SOLD OUT!
Featuring:
Friday
An evening of Catskills flavors.
- A robust farm-to-table charcuterie, including local meats, dairy and vegan cheeses, spring greens, hummus, relishes, chutneys, and more from Burnett Farms, Two Stones Farm, Harpersfield Dairy, Cheezehound, Catskill Chef’s Collective, Peekamoose, Bebert’s Condiments, Dirty Girl Farm, Bread Alone, Lucky Dog Farm, From the Ground Farm, and more.
- A flight of the Catskills finest ciders, beers, and spirits, including Awestruck Ciders, Wayside Ciders, Catskill Brewery, Roscoe Brewery, and Union Grove Distillery, and Delaware Phoenix Distillery
- An introduction to some of the evocative lore of the Catskills, its landscape and the people who have called it home for thousands of years in front of the blazing fire
Saturday
A Day of Exploration and Story
- Begin your day with a gentle guided moving meditation inviting you to savor a sense of place in the Catskills
- A Catskills Breakfast: Spillian’s own farm-fresh eggs, local buttermilk pancakes, locally cured bacon, bagels made that morning down the road, fresh berries, housemade granola, fresh yogurt, and Tree Juice maple syrup
- A wander with Will Soter, co-founder of Upstate Adventure Guides, up the path along Emery Creek, one of the most spectacular creeks in the region, with waterfalls, moss covered banks, and Hemlock Groves, and discussion of the history, flora, and fauna along the way
- A lunch in the woods from Spillian’s chefs
- Foraging for early spring herbs and wildflowers to spice up your dinner, including ramps or garlic mustard if they’re up!
- A chance to laze by the fire or on the porch for a bit before dinner, watching the sky change down the valley
- A trout feast, featuring local trout, your foraged sauce or garnish, roasted late winter vegetables, local greens, and Spillian’s famous white pine and bee pollen chocolate bark
- Storytelling of myths and legends of the Catskills and our yearning for wildness
Sunday
Discover the poetics of angling
- A Spillian ‘Savory and Sweet’ breakfast featuring a breakfast salad made with farm-to-table greens, bacon, eggs, and more, along with a spectacular bread pudding with berries, fresh fruit, house made granola, yogurt, and local breads
- A wander into the magic of angling on the Esopus with Catskill Mountain Angler, Mark Loete to try your hand at fly fishing
- A gathering back at Spillian for a farewell Catskills Cider Mimosa toast
Pricing
Fee includes all sessions including guided hiking, foraging, and fly fishing; all chef-made meals; Catskills ciders, beers and spirits tasting; and lodging at Spillian for one person. Evening cash bar, tax, and gratuities not included. Click here to learn more about our splendid guest rooms!
For One: $795
Per person, single room occupancy.
For a Couple: $1270.00
For the couple, double room occupancy.
This weekend is a part of Catskills Trout Tales, an innovative regional campaign celebrating the streams, forests, and wildlife of the Catskill mountains.
About Catskill Mountain Angler
From Mark Loete: In 2002, I moved my home and photography business from New York City to the Catskill Mountains in the mistaken belief that trout are more amenable to being caught by a local. I now make my home in Chichester, NY, on the banks of the Stony Clove Creek, an aggressive double-haul from the historic Esopus Creek.
Living, working, and fly fishing in the “Cradle of American Fly Fishing” has sharpened my game, taught me a bit of humility, and given me an intimate knowledge of the region’s legendary rivers — Esopus, Schoharie and the East and West Branches of the Delaware — and their tributaries. Exploring the rich fly fishing history and traditions of the Catskills — where it all began in America, after all — has added another layer of enjoyment to the sport I love.
I’ve heard it said that if you can find a way to make money doing something you love, you’ll never have to work another day in your life. Sharing the excitement of fly fishing with others — young or old, new or experienced — and maybe helping another individual catch the bug is my reward. That’s why I started Catskill Mountain Angler.
About Upstate Adventure Guides
Upstate Adventure Guides have emerged as a preeminent licensed guide service in the Catskills and beyond. Co-founder Will Soter is the Vice President of the New York State Outdoor Guide Association, hosts a weekly radio show on exploring the Catskills, and is a regular contributor to various regional publications on the delights and challenges of hiking.
Upstate Adventure Guides offers a range of options from interpretive nature walks, to multi-day backpacking trips. We have programs for all ages, and can custom tailor an experience for you, or your group.
About Leigh Melander, PhD
Along with being Spillian’s co-founder, Leigh is a cultural mythologist, presenter, coach, and creative artist. She offers workshops and organizational consulting on imagination and story nationally and at Spillian. She hosts a popular radio show (podcast coming soon!) called Myth America, has appeared on national media as a mythology expert, and is the Vice President of the Joseph Campbell Foundation. Her doctorate is in mythology and psychology, and her first book, Just That Side of Crazy, is due out in early 2019.
Our thanks to Esopus Creel for the gorgeous image for this event!
