Friends of Mount Arab Summit STEWARDS

Friends of Mount Arab have had a number of summit stewards since the beginning. You may note from our FOMA Newsletters (see the 'NEWSLETTERS' tab) some of our 'early years' summit stewards. Our list of available newsletters does not go back to the beginning of FOMA because much of that early history is not in digital form.

Starting in mid-summer of 2011 FOMA hired Thomas Cullen as our summit steward. Thomas has served from that time forward, more recently supplemented by Colin Tuggle.

NEWS FROM THE TOP (Stewards Reports For 2017)
        Thomas P. Cullen, Summit Steward

It was a pleasure once again to serve as Summit Steward atop Mt. Arab this year. Five months went by so fast! I have come to view the Tower and Summit Museum as my "home away from home' and I take pride in maintaining our mountain top complex (tower, museum, new outhouse) in great condition.

Once again I was graced with the company of my Newfoundland Dog family (Toby and Apollo) on top of the mountain greeting many thousands of visitors and being the subjects of countless photos. Our Hummingbird Sanctuary and Bat Education Programs were well received by the general public, as well as numerous queries on the hundreds of hill topping Blue Mosaic Darner Dragonflies gracefully flitting atop the summit feeding voraciously on the abundant biting fly populations up there.

The Fire Tower Challenge, sponsored by the Adirondack Mountain Club, continues its meteoric rise in popularity and I provided valuable information to our climbers about it, as well as the classic Fire Tower History Books by Marty Podskoch. I provide an educational table in the museum where these programs are showcased and they provide an impetus to our climbers to attempt even more mountain ascents in the future. I eagerly look forward to returning next year for my seventh year as Mt Arab Summit Steward.

Colin Tuggle, Summit Steward (part time)

It’s been a privilege to serve as one of our summit stewards for the last few years. This past summer, I was able to go up only a few times due to other commitments and I really missed it. Rain or shine, we are blessed with an amazing resource at Mt. Arab. We arguably have the most family-friendly Adirondack summit hike with ample parking and a well-maintained, moderate trail leading up to spectacular views. And our work that has been done to restore the tower and observer's cabin really shows. My family has owned property at Mt. Arab for more than 50 years, and I began hiking the trail up Mount Arab as a child. Since the start of FOMA there have been dramatic improvements to the trail, tower, and cabin, plus a dramatic reduction in litter. When people see that something is well cared for, they tend to be more careful and respectful in turn.

All that FOMA has done has been made possible by contributions from our supporters. From my viewpoint as the executive director of another area nonprofit, I have seen that organizations like FOMA cannot make it without the generosity of their supporters. This continuing support has enabled FOMA to accomplish some critically important work over the last few years: from repairs to the tower and summit cabin to a world-class summit outhouse!

It's no wonder that many guide books list Mt. Arab prominently on their lists of suggested hikes in the Adirondacks. We are stewards of a very special resource, a mountain that people of all ages and abilities can enjoy. And whether that hiker’s age is 3 or 83, hiking Mt. Arab plants the desire to hike more, and to invest more time and resources enjoying our region. Mt. Arab has become a priceless educational resource and economic catalyst for our region. When we contribute to FOMA, we are advancing the Adirondacks as a whole. I have no doubt that our work on Mt. Arab is well worth it, and I look forward to many years of helping to preserve this amazing resource.

Sheila Young, Summit Steward (part time)

Sheila Young has been an outstanding asset to the FOMA Board, and an equally fine Summit Steward. However it has been harder than pulling rusty nails to get her to puff herself up for this brief introduction on the FOMA website.

Sheila has for many years been a licensed guide, her primary job, and fits in performing her duties as a FOMA part-time summit steward around her guiding schedule. She is also a wildlife rehabilitator, and is an Adirondack 46'er.

Needless to say, Sheila is an enthusiastic Adirondacker, and in her own words as she sits on the steps of the summit observer's cabin, "Loving the mountains!"