Cat o' mountain

In the crag‑filled bowl of the Shawangunk range, a scarred landscape once ruled by wolves, bears and panthers became a contested frontier where Native hunters, Dutch trappers and later white settlers clashed. Over centuries the area earned the grim nickname “The Traps,” a maze of gorges and hidden passes where blood‑shed and survival were daily wagers. Today, the once‑rugged homesteads have faded, replaced by summer hotels, yet the echo of that wild past still lingers in the pine‑scented air.

From two weathered elders who lived their whole lives within those cliffs comes a collection of stories that capture the region’s raw spirit. One follows a lone panther prowling the midnight woods, another tells of a young trapper’s forbidden love, and a third plunges into a tense night of smoke and powder as rival factions vie for control. Together they paint a vivid portrait of a world where nature and human ambition collide, inviting listeners to step back into a forgotten, untamed America.