HOOK

Whether an adult or a child, treasure is al- ways an enticing prize. Hunting for swimming holes has been an aspect of O'- Toole's life since the ages between 10 and 12 growing up in Westchester. His father would take him upstate to enjoy swimming during the summer months, finding holes his father knew from growing up in the area. Since then, it's been a priority to search for swimming gems in the Hudson Valley and beyond. "It can get pretty hot here in the summer," he says, "and we have tons of rivers and waterways that hold these swimming holes. Tons of communities hold them near and dear to their heart because they're a big part of their summer." When O'Toole began posting his finds, and vague tips to find them, to social media, he kept the specifics unsaid to honor the sanctity of the spots. For good reason, too. Places like Peekamoose Blue Hole in the Catskill Forest Preserve presently have tighter regulations in order to manage overcrowding and minimize environmental impact (Peekamoose Blue Hole requires a $10.00 permit to access). Still, he faces some backlash online from those looking for absolute secrecy for their local swimming holes. "When I post things, I try to make it a mystery," he says. "I'm trying to make people inspired to do the research, put in the time, and find these places and keep them special. It's less about providing a location, and more about providing motivation," an experience. His own approach tends to include online research and discus- sion threads, consulting a map, and asking Hudson Valley locals for their own tips. On top of his alluring social media posts, O'Toole makes sure to promote proper Leave No Trace ethics, a set of principles that aim towards preserving the natural beauty of the outdoors. Disposing of waste properly, being considerate of others, and respecting wildlife are only a few of the principles that help lend towards a clean swimming hole worthy of finding. He says. "A lot of these places require traversing wet rock ledges, just to get to a point to access the water," but it is well worth the experience and feeling of the outdoors to go swimming. Other times, knowing where to find a specific landmark in the woods is the only hint that a swimming hole is close by. He recently com- pleted the search for a spot he couldn't locate last year, unable to find a telephone pole in the forest — a sure needle in a haystack — that would point him in the right direction. He de- scribes the finding of an untouched swimming hole as part of the lure, like follow- ing a shot in the dark, but sometimes the best things are in finding some place special. Ultimately, O'Toole talks favorably about outdoor recreation, and having such wonderous opportunities in NYS, and while he loves a long hike, it isn't always about trekking up high peaks to find something satisfying. He delights in the re- ward of a nice, cool swim on a summer day, ideally dipping in a sparkling hole, with a mix of shallow and deep waters, surrounded by lush greenery. "That's the beauty of living in a place where so many of these spots are hard to find," he says. "When you do finally find them, you can be an hour and a half away from a beauti- ful city, and be sitting in the middle of the forest with crystal clear water, no one around, no sounds, no traffic. Put the cell phone down and be there alone, it makes it all worth it." HOOK 41

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