17-year Cicadas What’s Big about Uniquely American native November 1? insects rebound with our Help us make the move eastern woodlands. to a trailhead location. READ MORE ON PAGE 4 READ MORE ON PAGES 11 & 12 Summer 2013 New York-New Jersey Trail Conference — Connecting People with Nature since 1920 www.nynjtc.org Two Storms Lead to One New Bridge at Minnewaska State Park Preserve Hurricane Irene made this trail project necessary; Hurricane Sandy provided the material for the solution. n 2011, flood waters brought by Hurri- newaska in March, where Trail Conference cane Irene resulted in the destruction of volunteers went to work stripping the tree Ithree much-used trail bridges over the of its bark. It was then transported by truck Peters Kill at Minnewaska State Park by park staff along the Lower Awosting Preserve as well as one carriage road cross- Carriage Road to the trailhead. From there, ing. Replacement of these bridges was put Walsh and volunteers guided it with cables on hold pending completion of disaster and winches downhill to the stream. reporting and relief funding by state and New abutments and steps were needed federal officials. for the new bridge. Volunteers, including In May, the Blueberry Run Trail bridge those from our Jolly Rovers technical rock over the Peters Kill was the first of the crew, built these using stone on site. bridges to be replaced. The one-log crafted The project was co-funded by the Palisades crossing is an innovation in our area that Interstate Park Commission and the Trail was proposed by trail consultant and Trail Conference, with funds donated for post- Conference alumnus Eddie Walsh, princi- Irene bridge and trail repairs in our region. pal of Tahawus Trails. But it required just Thanks go to PIPC staff, Tahawus Trails the right log. and Trail Conference volunteers Dave That was unexpectedly provided when Webber, Jim Gebhart, Chris Ingui, Roch Hurricane Sandy downed a black locust at Boucher, Doug Comeau, Les Jesberger, Rockland Lake State Park last October. Georgette Weir, Patty Lee Parmalee, Mike Black locust, says Walsh, is the first choice Garrison, and Joan James. in our area for trail structures. It is a native tree whose heartwood is very long-lasting. Updates on Other “Some people say it lasts one day longer Minnewaska Trail Bridges than rock,” Walsh jokes. The 30-foot trunk, weighing an estimat- High Peters Kill Trail Bridge ed 3,000 pounds, was transported by park With the Blueberry Run Bridge complete, WALSH EDDIE Sarah Heidenreich guides daughter Lucy Walsh across the new trail bridge at Minnewaska. officials from Rockland Lake S.P. to Min- continued on page 6 1991. A hiker, he quickly discovered that tors and immediately became its “point Volunteer Spotlight: the Trail Conference was a great resource. person” on conservation and advocacy “As newbies to the area, my wife and I matters. In 2009, looking to support a Seth McKee, began hiking in the Hudson Valley, in the “fantastic group of volunteers who had Shawangunks and the Catskills. We got all been doing really good work in isolation Preserving Land the maps. We got our kids out on the trails. with each other,” he became first chair of I became aware of the Trail Conference as a the Conservation & Advocacy Committee to Preserve Trails real power in this region for making natu- (now simply the Conservation Commit- ral areas accessible in a low-impact way.” tee). “That was one of the most rewarding People tend to think of Trail Conference Seth’s work at Scenic Hudson brought things in my experience, working with volunteers as “out there with a mattock him into professional relationship with the these incredibly passionate and knowledge- building trails.” And of course, we are. Trail Conference on land protection efforts able people—people like Andy Garrison, But we are also people like Seth McKee, in the East Hudson and Sterling Forest Jakob Franke, Dick Katzive—really great a land protection professional who has vol- areas. “That’s when I first met Jane and hands-on people who are the engines of unteered with the Trail Conference since Walt Daniels, and JoAnn Dolan, and I was direct conservation work.” 2005, putting his expertise and extraordi- tremendously impressed by their passion, During Seth’s tenure, multiple proper- nary organizational skills to work protecting expertise, and incredible commitment to ties—particularly along the Shawangunk the lands on which our trails run. mission. That is really one of the Trail Con- Ridge Trail and Long Path, where conserva- Seth, Land Conservation Director for ference’s great strengths—that commitment tion volunteers have been especially Seth atop Noonmark Mtn. in the Adirondacks. Scenic Hudson, Inc., based in Poughkeep- to mission.” active—were protected; hundreds of acres sie, NY, moved to the Hudson Valley in In 2005, Seth joined our board of direc- were transferred to the NY Dept. of Environ- Seth, now vice-chair of the Land Trust mental Conservation for permanent Alliance’s New York Advisory Board, is protection; our partnerships with other agen- stepping down from his Trail Conference “What is unique about the Trail Conference’s cies—Open Space Institute, Orange County position after more than seven years of land protection work is its laser focus on trail connections.” Land Trust, and NY DEC—flourish. service. Board Chair Chris Connolly says, “I work with a lot of land trusts in the “As board member and committee chair, Hudson Valley,” Seth says, “and what is Seth has been that rare wise counselor unique about the Trail Conference’s land respected for his sound judgment, sure VOLUME XL, NUMBER 3 ISSN 0749-1352 protection work is its laser focus on trail grasp, and steady hand.” connections. It’s the only one that focuses Executive Director Ed Goodell says, “We on making sure those linkages are there, as are sorry to see Seth move on, but are very well as the scenic views and public access— grateful for the extensive knowledge and and it does it without land protection staff. extraordinary organizational skills he has The committee has filled that void, and contributed to protecting our trail net- volunteers deserve a lot of kudos for the work. We expect to continue working with work they have done. We are always look- continued on page 9 ing for volunteers.” Page 2 Summer 2013 Feedback REI Supports Our Catskills VOLUME XL, NO.3 SUMMER 2013 From a Wheelchair Trail User GEORGETTE WEIR EDITOR April 25, 2013, Dear Trail Conference: LOUIS LEONARDIS GRAPHIC DESIGNER Lean-to Program Yesterday my chief enabler took me on my TRAIL WALKER (USPS Permit #970-100) wheelchair to the top of Bear Mountain In May, outdoor gear retailer REI (ISSN 0749-1352) is published quarterly by the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference as a along the beautiful crushed stone, handi- announced a $10,000 grant to our benefit of membership. Subscriptions are cap access trail. I felt like I was on top of Catskills Lean-to Repair, Rehabilitation, available to libraries only at $15.00 a year. the world. I greatly admired and appreci- and Reconstruction Program. Periodical postage paid at Mahwah, N.J., and This grant will allow us to expand our additional offices. Postmaster: Send address ated all the planning and manicured changes to the address below. Opinions expressed execution that went into making this trail program of improving, repairing, and by authors do not necessarily represent the policy a reality for disabled people like myself. It Jane Daniels, NY Trail Worker of 2013 rebuilding 29 lean-tos and their privies or position of the Conference. Contributions of stinks to be in a wheelchair. … I was even along the 200 miles of Trail Conference- typed manuscripts, photos, and drawings are welcome. Manuscripts may be edited for style inspired to get out of my wheelchair a cou- consistent support for trail planning, maintained trails in the Catskill Park. and length. Send SASE for writers’ guidelines. ple of times, taking a few careful steps into development, or maintenance. They rec- Solidly built lean-tos and privies provide Submission deadlines for the TRAIL WALKER the woods. The seamless, blended-natural- ognize the commitment and efforts of backpackers and day hikers with safe on- are January 15 (Spring issue), May 15 (Summer ly-into-the-surroundings trail gave me the private or public sector individuals work- trail shelter while minimizing distress to issue), August 15 (Fall issue), November 15 (Winter issue). Unsolicited contributions cannot feeling that I was on a hike in the woods. ing for enhanced trail recreation in their the surrounding environment. be acknowledged unless accompanied by SASE. No doubt what the designers had in mind. local area/state. The Trail Conference currently main- For information on advertising rates, please write I just wanted to let everyone know how Jane Daniels, in addition to being a tains 29 of the 32 lean-tos in the Catskill or call. Park. Our top project areas in the next year Copyright 2013 by: successful a job was done. member and volunteer of the Trail Confer- New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, Inc. One comment: It took us a while to ence since 1979, including serving as chair are the German Hollow Lean-to, the Dev- 156 Ramapo Valley Road (Rt. 202) find the trailhead. Then while on the trail, of the board of directors from 2001-2007, il’s Acre Lean-to, and a new lean-to Mahwah, NJ 07430 without having a map, my enabler, more has been involved with trails from the local between Mount Tremper and Plateau 201-512-9348 than once locked my wheelchair, going to regional and state level over the past Mountain.