Keep Your Toes Warm Trails to Great Photos While Winter Hiking Robert Rodriguez Jr. reveals Why they get cold and how to some of his favorite places for avoid problems on the trail. photography in our region. READ MORE ON PAGE 11 READ MORE ON PAGE 7

Winter 2012 New York-New Jersey Trail Conference — Connecting People with Nature since 1920 www.nynjtc.org Awards Celebrate Cleaning Up Our Volunteers the Messes Trail Conference Awards are deter - The email from Sterling Forest mined by the Board of Directors, Trail Supervisors Peter Tilgner except for Distinguished Service and Suzan Gordon was dated Awards, which are determined by the October 31, 2011: Volunteer Committee. The following awards were announced at the Dear Sterling Forest Trail Maintainers, October 15, 2011 Annual Meeting in Today I was at the Tenafly Nature Center where I cleared, with hand tools, Ossining, NY. 0.4 mile of trail in about 4.5 hours. You all have your work cut out for you. I suggest RAYMOND H. TORREY AWARD you get to it pronto. Please note and let us Given for significant and lasting know the position of all blow-downs for contributions that protect hiking trails future chainsaw work. and the land upon which they rest. Thank you in advance for your effort doing this herculean task. We know you are All-around Volunteer JANE DANIELS, up to it. R I

Mohegan Lake, NY E W

E

Jane Daniels, a well T Two days after the storm dubbed Snow - T E G

known leader in the R tober tracked along much the same O E

local, regional, and G route previously blazed by Tropical state trails community Storms Irene and Lee, Trail Conference for at least three Training & Recruitment volunteers were once again cleaning up decades, received the after Mother Nature. “Not in my 10 highest volunteer years of volunteering with theTrail Con - award given by the Trail Conference. The Boost Trail Crew Rosters ference have I seen such havoc on Raymond H. Torrey Award, named for a Bergen County trails,” commented founder of the Trail Conference, was pre - Chris Connolly, trail volunteer and Trail sented to Jane at the Annual Meeting. hen last seen (by this reporter) than 1,800 miles of trails in our region Conference board president, after a day’s Jane has served on the Trail Conference Monica Day, of Highland Park, would not exist or would be impassable— work at Tenafly. (He worked with main - board of directors for more than 20 years, WNJ, was scrunched under the especially after a season of storms such as tainers Suzan Gordon, Peter Tilgner, and including six as board chair. She is co- Appalachian Trail boardwalk in Vernon, we experienced in 2011. (Monica and the the chainsaw team of Jack Driller, Mark author with her husband, Walter, of NJ, perched on a precarious stack of boards rest of the West Jersey Crew were putting Liss, and Adam Jacobs). Walkable Westchester , a best-selling guide to that was sinking slowly but steadily into the the Pochuck boardwalk back into place hundreds of miles of trails in Westchester muck of the Pochuck Swamp (photo after it had been floated off alignment by County that has led countless residents and above). She was working out, with help the floodwaters that followed Tropical visitors to discover trails in the county. from crew-mate Lee Mott, the correct Storms Irene and Lee.) Jane represents hikers on the New York alignment of a metal fixture that would With the growth of trail miles, increasing State Trails Council and serves on the hold the platform aloft. For something like knowledge about trail-building best prac - board of the Hudson Valley Greenway two decades, this has been Monica’s idea of tices, and the simultaneous shrinking of Council. She is supervising the building of weekend fun. public funding for parks and trails, the Trail a new community trails network in York - Thankfully, Monica isn’t alone in her Conference recognized the need to recruit town, where she lives, working with town choice of outdoor sport. new crew members and leaders for our officials, mountain bike groups, Trail Con - existing crews, offer more skill-develop -

ference volunteers, and others to create this ment workshops for volunteers, and add R I E

We launched four new W new community resource. Jane fosters sim - new crews, some with specialized skills. E T T

ilar collaborative trail work between hikers Thus was born, in 2006, Trail U; its first, E

crews in 2011 and see G R

and other user groups throughout the state and for a while only, campus was the Bear O E potential for more. G and the region. Mountain Trails Project. Steve Zubarik of the West Hudson South Above all, in all her roles, Jane has been This year the Trail Conference, with chainsaw crew clears a tree from the for a generation a Voice for the Volunteers, financial support from REI, and working Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail in November. working tirelessly to recruit, encourage, Building bridges, moving heavy rocks, with Trail U alumni and experienced vol - The crew cleared 171 trees in the region mentor, and reward the ever-growing cadre clearing new trail routes, constructing ero - unteers, launched four new trail crews. The in the month following the October 29 of Trail Conference volunteers. The Trail sion controls—people who enjoy being Jolly Rovers, a roving trail crew specializing snowstorm, and 455 trees from July 1 Conference today fields more than 1,200 outside, working with others, putting “old- in technical stonework, hit the trails in through November 30. active volunteers who maintain more than fashioned” tools such as hammers and drills March (see their report on page 5). Their 1,800 miles of trails in the New York-New to work, and seeing the results of their projects often double as training Yet within days, many trails were Jersey region and produce trail maps and labor at the end of the day—these are the grounds—satellite Trail U sites—for stu - cleared and reopened to the public. John books used by hikers and others. pleasures often cited by trail crew volun - dents of stone work. Mack, trails chair of the West Hudson The award presented to Jane Daniels by teers. “It’s a great change after a week in the The Invasives Strike Force, which removes South region, reports that the region’s the Trail Conference honors her countless office,” is an often heard sentiment. targeted invasive plants from selected trail - chain sawyers and their support teams contributions to these achievements. The Trail Conference is working to sides, made its first work trips this fall (see cleared 171 trees from trails in Harri - continued on page 6 attract and train more skilled volunteers page 7), as did the Bear Claw Crew, which man-Bear Mountain and the Tenafly like Monica. brings Natural Design principles and rock- Nature Center in just the one month Trail crews and maintainers are the back - work training (courtesy of the Jolly Rovers) immediately after the storm. The bone and muscle of the Trail Conference. to trail projects in north Jersey (page 5). sawyers were still at work as of Decem - Without these volunteers most of the more In November, the new Orange-Rockland ber 1, but trails in the region were, for Long Distance Trails Crew, which will focus the most part, cleared. VOLUME XXXIX, N UMBER 1 ISSN 0749-1352 on Appalachian Trail, Highlands Trail, and Trails Council Chair Pete Heckler was Long Path projects in the West Hudson out hiking many miles of trails Thanks - region, debuted by clearing a route for an giving weekend and afterward had AT relocation on West Mountain in Harri - nothing but praise for the crews and man-Bear Mountain State Park (see West maintainers. “Hundreds of people were Hudson Field Notes, page 4). out enjoying the trails at Harriman. The success of the multi-level training That they were able to do so is thanks to continued on page 3 the hard work of our volunteers.” Page 2 Winter 2012 Join the Gunzlers in ATC to Highlight Town of Warwick VOLUME XXXIX, NO.1 WINTER 2012 Building a Legacy for Trails GEORGETTE WEIR EDITOR Acting on an application prepared by Gene LOUIS LEONARDIS GRAPHIC DESIGNER Giordano, chair of our New Jersey TRAIL WALKER (USPS Permit #970-100) Appalachian Trail Committee and a War - (ISSN 0749-1352) is published quarterly by the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference as a wick resident, the Appalachian Trail benefit of membership. Subscriptions are Conservancy has designated the Town of available to libraries only at $15.00 a year. Warwick as an Appalachian Trail Commu - Periodical postage paid at Mahwah, N.J., and additional offices. Postmaster: Send address nity. The town is the first in the New changes to the address below. Opinions expressed York-New Jersey region to be granted this by authors do not necessarily represent the policy designation, and one of just a dozen com - or position of the Conference. Contributions of munities so designated along the length of typed manuscripts, photos, and drawings are welcome. Manuscripts may be edited for style the AT. Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt and length. Send SASE for writers’ guidelines. supported the application. Submission deadlines for the TRAIL WALKER “Appalachian Trail Communities help are January 15 (Spring issue), May 15 (Summer conserve the landscape of the trail, but also issue), August 15 (Fall issue), November 15 (Winter issue). Unsolicited contributions cannot reap the rewards of eco-tourism and out - be acknowledged unless accompanied by SASE. door recreation,” said the assemblywoman. For information on advertising rates, please write “This is truly an example of how one per - or call. Copyright 2012 by: son can make a real difference for the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, Inc. community around them.” 156 Ramapo Valley Road (Rt. 202) The Appalachian Trail Community pro - Mahwah, NJ 07430 gram partners designated towns with 201-512-9348 economic development assistance through e-mail: [email protected] editorial e-mail: [email protected] the ATC. In addition to helping attract World Wide Web: www.nynjtc.org tourists and hikers, the conservancy helps Life-long hikers John and Marianne Gunzler invite others to help preserve the future of the Trail Conference. In 2011, John and Marianne Gunzler of should be concerned for its long-term Park Ridge, NJ, inaugurated the Trail future. It’s a small, often hand-to-mouth Conference’s new Legacy Fund, an endow - operation that is vulnerable to changing ment-like fund created by the board of circumstances. The Legacy Fund is intend - N O

directors in June, with their very generous ed to build the financial resources that will S U G

Mission Statement R

gift of $100,000. The Legacy Fund is lessen that vulnerability.” E F The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is a S

intended to be a reservoir of support for the John notes that even though the work of E federation of member clubs and individuals L dedicated to providing recreational hiking core programs of the Trail Conference year the Trail Conference is accomplished large - opportunities in the region, and representing the after year, decade after decade. The Gunzlers ly by volunteers, “those volunteers still need designated towns with conservation plan - interests and concerns of the hiking community. look forward to other donors adding to the staff support and an organization to be sus - ning, municipal and regional financial aid, The Conference is a volunteer-directed public service organization committed to: fund so that it grows substantially over time. tained over time.” And as he looks at trends and acts as a catalyst for enhancing eco - • Developing, building, and maintaining Trails are a life-long passion for John and in public financing of parks, “there is going nomic development projects. hiking trails. Marianne. Fifty-two years ago the couple to be more and more work for the Trail ATC also works with local educators to • Protecting hiking trail lands through support and advocacy. met for the first time while on a hike in Conference to do.” help promote trail and environmental • Educating the public in the responsible Harriman State Park. The Legacy Fund principal will be stewardship, as well as with local organiza - use of trails and the natural environment. They have been generous in giving back invested and the annual revenues used to tions and volunteers, land agencies and to the trails they love through volunteer support the Trail Conference’s mission. public trusts. As a designated Appalachian Board of Directors Chris Connolly Chair service and financial gifts to the Trail Con - Donations can be made while the donor is Trail Community, the town of Warwick Gaylord Holmes Vice Chair ference. John has been a very active still living and may take the form of cash, will be eligible for all of these benefits, in James Gregoire Treasurer Daniel Chazin Secretary member of the board of directors, serving stocks, bonds or property. However, unlike addition to getting national and global Directors from 1999 to 2008, and continuing to be a a true endowment, the principal of the exposure through the conservancy’s pro - Robert Boysen Richard Levine leading member of the membership and fund may be used with board approval. motional materials and web site. Skip Card Anne Todd Osborn Walter Daniels Edward Saiff development, nominating, and Darlington Donors may elect the Legacy Fund as the The NJAT Committee will work with Charlotte Fahn Dave Stuhr Schoolhouse steering committees. On his destination of their gift to the Trail Confer - ATC and local partners to schedule and Daniel Hoberman Daniel Van Engel almost daily hikes, he sees first-hand the ence. For more information, contact plan a public announcement event early in Richard Katsive positive impact Trail Conference volunteers Development Manager Don Weise, 2012. Congratulations to Gene and the Staff Edward Goodell Executive Director make on trails. [email protected] or 201.512.9348, ext. 13. committee on winning this designation for Joshua Howard Deputy Executive “If you think, as I do,” says John, “that the Town of Warwick. Director the Trail Conference has meaning, you Don Weise Development Manager Joanne Reinhardt Membership Program Manager A Sampling of Comments bring any deet. The trail seemed unpopu- Jeremy Apgar Cartographer From Our Website lar so the tall grass on the trail made a great Leigh Draper East Hudson jumping off point for the little buggers. Program Coordinator Re Year-End Trails Report Our clothes were covered and I had to pull Chris Ingui New Jersey November 22, 2011, Lowell says: four out from my legs with tweezers. Not Program …outstanding work in a very difficult fun. Moral of the story, be prepared. Coordinator Feedback Larry Wheelock West Hudson year. Lots of trees and limbs down from Program the October snow storm. Great work and Hiking the AT/Lemon Squeezer Coordinator Thanks for the Hikes continued good luck. On November 30, 2011 sph001 says: Jeff Senterman Catskill Program Coordinator Editor’s note: This letter was directed to Instead of the mall on Black Friday, I took Gary Willick Fulfillment volunteer Daniel Chazin, author of most of Great Hike at Silas Condict the AT/Lemon Squeezer loop...a good Coordinator the several hundred hike descriptions on our County Park! hike. The only caution was the slippery Georgette Weir Communications website, Find a Hike at nynjtc.org. On November 22, 2011 nancyzl says: leaves on the trail... the views and scenery Manager Melissa Bean Program Assistant We did this hike on 11/20/11 & really ... excellent. I can imagine this is best in We are two women who hike together and enjoyed it! Fabulous view of a farm/ the Fall at peak!... This hike has it all— The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is a volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. It is wanted to express our appreciation to you home with a white fence encircling it, forests, steep climbs, rock formations, a federation of 103 hiking and outdoor groups, for your trail directions. which looked like a postcard. Great job of Island Pond, Dismal Swamp... recom - and 10,000 individuals. This past summer we hiked in New blazing too. mended. York and New Jersey, using your directions printed on recycled content paper for seven different hikes, including trails in Great Mix of Terrain on Great Reroute of the TMI Manaticut Point Trail PLEASE RECYCLE TRAIL WALKER Harriman, Black Rock Forest, Norvin On November 30, 2011 banjolady says: Green, Abram Hewitt, and Storm King. On November 27, 2011 kingm60 says: [T]he southern Harriman trail crew has Thanks to your hard work, we were able Great hike, moderate difficulty sounds done a great job rerouting the TMI near to follow the trails and enjoy the beauty of about right, has secluded Lake Sonoma, Ladentown up an alternative route and Get the “Hike of the Week” the outdoors. We occasionally got lost, but great views from different points through - extending the red arrow to meet it. This this was usually because we were talking out the hike with the best being Overlook, was previously a cairn-blazed route, which www.NYNJTC.org too much and missed the blazes that indi - several rock scrambles, swamp land, stream was far superior to the rocky stream bed cate turns in the trail. Your directions were crossings, it was a great mix of terrain in a route of the former TMI. Thanks to the excellent, and we thank you! not-so-long hike. While it was almost trail crew for all their great maintenance December it was unseasonably warm so and rerouting. Follow NYNJTC! — Thea Landesberg & Amy Quartuccio the ticks were out in force, and we didn’t

Send Us a Letter facebook.com/nynjtc Email it to [email protected]; in the subject line, put “letter to TW editor”; or send it to Trail Walker Letters, NY-NJ Trail Conference, 156 Ramapo Valley Rd., Mahwah, NJ 07430. twitter.com/NYNJTrailConf Winter 2012 Page 3

From the Executive Director and good leadership are the key ingredients Trail Maintenance: The current, well- Leadership and Management: This for a productive and sustainable trail crew. developed Trail Maintenance 101 workshop will cover the skills necessary to successful - Since we have plenty of good projects in will be expanded to include additional ly lead others, manage projects, and work Coming 1,800 miles of trails and plenty of good emphasis on creating drainage, monitoring with trail and park system managers. This leaders among 1,200 volunteers, we are developing trail issues, and maintaining for training will be geared toward senior vol - in 2012: focusing on upgrading the skills training appropriate desired experiences. unteers and staff. available to our volunteers. A Bigger, The current Trail U curriculum consists Trail Design & Assessment: This is the These “new, improved” Trail U courses of basic trail construction and maintenance basic design, layout, and assessment course. will be great opportunities for dedicated Better Trail U how-to workshops, plus occasional more Students will learn about trail planning, volunteers to develop additional skills and technical construction workshops offered soils, grades, hydrological relationships and enjoy more satisfaction in their volunteer - As 2012 begins, the Trail Conference is busy through special projects. Updating existing trail alignments. Students will also under - ing. Most important, it will allow the Trail with a major upgrade of our Trail University courses and adding bigger picture concepts stand the humanity in a trail: what makes Conference to improve the quality and curriculum. We believe that improving the that relate to trail design, assessment and one trail more enjoyable and satisfying than quantity of its trail stewardship efforts for trail-related knowledge and skills of our vol - management are areas where we plan to another. Trail experience concepts (user all to enjoy. So, as we roll out these cours - unteers, staff, and partners is the best way to upgrade the Trail U workshops. expectations, gateways, anchors, trail flow, es and work trips in the coming year, we improve the overall quality of the trails. We Of course, significant training occurs in etc.) will be introduced and analyzed in hope many existing and new volunteers expect you and the millions of others who impromptu and less formal circumstances existing trails, and implemented in new will be eager to join in the fun. take a hike in the future will be the ultimate such as when a supervisor walks a trail with designs. Assessment will use the same con - beneficiaries of this initiative. a maintainer or when a new crew member cepts to focus on how to evaluate trails for The approximately 1,800 miles of trails works alongside veterans on a trail crew. physical sustainability, suitability for the we maintain are getting older each year. This is a highly effective means of educa - desired users, and for human experience. Many of them have withstood increasingly tion, which we will continue to emphasize. — Edward Goodell heavy use for a half-century or more. Most The new Trail U curriculum will be Trail Construction: Using the same core Executive Director were not designed for such traffic, and divided into core entry-level courses, and foundation concepts focused on in the [email protected] eroded or poorly-drained treadways are the advanced training in specialized topics. It Design & Assessment workshops, a core set unfortunate and all-to-common result. A will use the accumulated knowledge of Trail of techniques will be offered relating to classic case of being loved to death. Conference volunteers and the foundation basic tread and drainage, working with The demand for trail crews, those hardy level concepts as put forth by Troy Scott stone, and tool safety. Topics will be cov - Enhanced training will better souls who come together on weekends to Parker in Natural Surface Trails by Design ered that include sidehill trail construction, address the more challenging projects, has and further elaborated by Jeff Schoenbauer grade reversals, the rolling grade dip, as well prepare us to take on new outstripped the capacity of our existing in Trail Planning, Design, and Development as how to properly retrofit drainage into stewardship responsibilities crews, even though new crews have started Guidelines . The core curriculum is still existing trails with dips, swales, and water - just this year. (See articles pages 1, 5.) under development, but we expect it to bars. Constructed trail features will be at our region’s parks. In our work with existing trail crews and include the following categories. covered, with additional emphasis on how the new crews coming out of the Bear each structure must fit appropriately into Mountain based Trail University, we have its location and how trail structure archi - found that good projects, good training, tecture affects trail experience.

TRAINING BOOSTS TRAIL CREW ROSTERS Trailhead Relocated continued from page 1 at Ramapo Reservation program that was explored at Bear Mountain, and the lessons learned from it, will help The trailhead for the Yellow-Silver Trail in determine the content and structure of an expansion of our Trail U program that is the Ramapo Valley County Reservation has planned for 2012. To learn more about these plans, please read the executive director’s col - Trail News been relocated to the southeastern end of umn above. MacMillan Reservoir. It still can be found by following either the Silver or Schuber Trail to the reservoir. Harriman & Minnewaska New Crew Relocates AT Bridges Update on West Mountain Thirteen trail bridges in Harriman/Bear Enthusiastic volunteers combined with Mountain State Park, and all four trail good weather resulted in early completion of bridges at Minnewaska State Park that were a long-awaited relocation of an Appalachian destroyed by flood waters in late summer Trail section on West Mountain in Harri - are still out. They are not expected to be man State Park. The new route follows a replaced soon. Trail Conference volunteers more gradual climb up (or down) West and staff continue to work with park man - Mountain, replacing a steep section that was agers in the hopes of expediting subject to severe erosion and was often mud - decision-making and approval of bridge dy. It also incorporates a short section of the replacements. We will post updates on the 1777W and truncates a section of the Fawn respective park info pages on our website: Trail. The area is just south of the AT’s cross - nynjtc.org/view/parks. R I E ing of Seven Lakes Drive, between West and W

E

T Road Closures in Delaware Water Gap

T Bear Mountains, and involved 0.85-mile of E G

R newly built and blazed trail. Flooding and saturated ground conditions O E G The trail clearing and rock work was from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm David Day, right, works with West Jersey Crew member Pete Zukoff on Pochuck boardwalk. spearheaded by Chris Reyling, crew chief of Lee caused significant damage to roads Why We Love the new Orange-Rockland Long Distance throughout the Delaware Water Gap There’s a whole other side to the story, as Trail Crew, and Larry Wheelock, West National Recreation Area. A number of Trail Crewing well. It’s not just about the work—it’s also Hudson Program Coordinator, over three primary and secondary roads, including a By Dave and Monica Day, the people you do the work with. Trail weekends, with great support from new 7.5-mile segment of U.S. Route 209 in maintainers are, generally, solitary acts. crew volunteers. New blazes were quickly Pennsylvania and parts of Old Mine Road West Jersey Crew Chiefs Trail crews are, however, very much a social applied and old blazes eradicated by Gail and NPS 615 in New Jersey, remain closed The easy, short, and utterly insufficient event. A large part of the draw for us is to Neffinger and volunteers of the Orange- pending repairs as of the deadline for this answer is that it is something that we enjoy have the chance to spend a day in the Rockland AT Management Committee. issue. For updated information about the doing. Being hikers, I guess it stemmed woods, working on the trails we love, with George Perkinson, AT Trail Overseer from status of the roadways, call 570-426-2492 from wanting to “give back” something in a group of like-minded people. It is a Rt. 17 to the Bear Mountain Bridge, com - for a recorded message. support of the trails that we enjoyed using. shared experience that can only happen in mended all the volunteers for their quick Each of us came to do trail work by a dif - that kind of situation. It’s a lot of fun to go work on this project. Details about the relo - ferent path, but we ended up in the same out and work, sweat, get filthy and bug-bit cation can be found on our website: See place (literally—we met in 1996 on a work when you are doing it with friends who are Harriman State Park. trip in New Jersey). also dedicated to the activity. It is work that has a tangible result, and We’ve been lucky to have had a chance to Manaticut Point Trail Section at which we have become reasonably profi - work with a lot of good people, many of Relocated cient. The challenges of new situations whom have become friends. The park staff This fall, the new North Jersey trail crew keep it from getting dull. It’s really satisfy - that we’ve worked with here in New Jersey known as the Bear Claw Crew relocated ing to put effort on a project; and then at has been great—we really try to develop a about one mile of the Manaticut Point Trail the end of the effort, to have a new or fixed warm, working relationship with them, in Norvin Green State Forest. The reloca - trail, a new bridge, stone wall, stone steps, which has been very much win-win for tion moved the trail off of an uneven whatever. It feels really good to build or everybody. Feeling appreciated and under - woods road and into the woods along a New Trail Blaze for SRT repair a trail that will give other hikers (and stood by them is also a real boost. route that hike writer Daniel Chazin called Keep an eye on the Shawangunk Ridge us) a nice hiking experience. Knowing that So, why? It’s fun, the people are great, the “beautiful” when he first visited it in Trail. A new blaze has been designed and what we do enables people (many for woods are beautiful, and we can’t think of a November. It also provides improved approved, and volunteers will start putting whom this is their only chance) to get out more enjoyable hobby. stream crossings. The improvements them up along the ridge this winter. The into the woods, streams, and fields safely include shifting the trailhead to a new loca - new blaze was inspired by the Long Path and comfortably is very satisfying. We take tion on Crescent Drive, adjacent to a huge logo and was designed by Trail Conference pride in what we accomplish, knowing it boulder. The trailhead is no longer oppo - member and graphic design consultant will benefit others in such a direct way. site a house and the roadwalk at the end of Lou Leonardis (Enzo Creative). a loop hike on the trail is now shorter. Page 4 Winter 2012

group of about 80 people attending the DEC (see last issue), we have formally Regional Field Notes Ulster County Trails Conference. I asked the DEC to allow us to adopt new focused on our Community Trails Pro - trail miles and a new lean-to within gram and how we could use that program Region 3. We currently have volunteers Catskills Storm Lee was another story, however, to help communities capitalize on their and a club ready to adopt these resources. Jeff Senterman, and these were the topics of extensive dis - recreational trail resources and improve We are working on identifying new trail Catskills Program Coordinator cussion at a meeting of the state Forest them. It was a great event and we were networks for adoption throughout the [email protected] Preserve Advisory Committee meeting I able to introduce ourselves to many new region and making sure we have the vol - attended in October. The meeting was an potential partners. unteer and member club strength to While our early winter opportunity to talk about the Dept. of I also attended a planning conference properly maintain those trails. storm at the end of Octo - Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) put on by the Delaware County Tourism This winter I look forward to a round - ber did provide a response to the storms and how it differed Department, which hopes to forge a table discussion with the Trails Chairs and Halloween surprise, in the Catskills and the Adirondacks. The regional identity for the western Catskills Supervisors from the Catskills and the thankfully many of the Trail Conference received recognition and for the Catskills as a whole. It was Long Path North. I am also looking for - trails throughout the from the DEC staff of Regions 3 and 4 exciting to see so many different groups ward to the start of the spring season as we Catskill region suffered for the work that we did managing and and organizations working toward this have a number of exciting trail construc - little, if any, damage. We got about 18 disseminating trail and roadway informa - common goal. tion projects, workshops and training inches of powder snow instead of the tion following the storms. opportunities coming up. 2012 is going to heavy wet snow others received. Seek More Trails to Adopt be an exciting year in the Catskills and Trail and regional infrastructure dam - Networking Following the signing of our Adopt-a- along the northern Long Path. age from Hurricane Irene and Tropical In November, I gave a presentation to a Natural-Resource Agreement with the

New Jersey Keep It Green Chris Ingui, In November, the Trail Conference joined New Jersey Program Coordinator with its more than 140 partners in the [email protected] Keep It Green Coalition to celebrate 50 years of land preservation through the Crew Landmarks state’s Green Acres program. Over the A milestone was reached past 50 years, Green Acres has preserved in November when long- more than 650,000 acres of open space time North Jersey Trail and provided many new parks and out - Crew Chief Sandy Parr door recreational facilities in every led his last work outing county, made possible in part through for the Trail Conference. partnerships with other government and Sandy announced this fall nonprofit entities. Green Acres has not that he was retiring as a Trail Conference only preserved critical lands and waters volunteer and moving to Vermont. Sandy for future generations, but has increased has been a stand-out among our volun - access to green spaces for urban and rural

teers, dedicated and reliable over several R residents alike. E P

decades. See page 6 for more about Sandy. A Outreach R D

Our new Bear Claw Crew, co-led by H The Trail Conference helped LL Bean cel - G I E Rich Raschdorf and Frank Schoof, L ebrate the grand opening of its new retail launched this fall with several successful Trail Conference shared info with 500 visitors at opening of new LL Bean store in Paramus. outlet in Paramus by setting up a table to trail work outings in North Jersey. The distribute information about our maps, crew completed a significant reroute of ther work in the Reservation is planned, The crew can expect a new supply of books, and volunteer opportunities. the Manaticut Point Trail (yellow) in including work on both the Schuber and tools when they are ready for work in the Thanks go to volunteer Patty Kwan, who northern Norvin Green State Forest (see Silver Trails, with funding for puncheon spring of 2012. Thanks to a grant from stayed busy responding to the more than Trail News, page 3, for more). and a and timber steps being provided by REI for North Jersey Trail Crew develop - 500 people who stopped by the table. reroute of the Yellow Silver Trail in the Bergen County Parks Department. ment, the tools are scheduled to arrive Ramapo Valley County Reservation. Fur - this winter.

East Hudson ducting trail maintenance projects to tion, including bridges, shelters, and, still repair damage to the footway, and ongoing, the boardwalk over the Great Leigh Draper, upgrade the trail with steps and bridges. Swamp in Pawling, NY. East Hudson Program Coordinator Another LL Bean award provided [email protected] materials to allow Trail Supervisor David Other Projects Kinosky to refurbish the hikers’ privy near Sea Scout Joseph Quartucio of Cortlandt LL Bean Awards the Telephone Pioneers Shelter, on the AT Manor recently completed a new kiosk Help AT in Pawling. The former supervisor for the on the Camp Smith Trail for his Eagle Projects along the section, Ollie Simpson, and members of Scout project. Joseph attends Hendrick Appalachian Trail in the Pawling Hiking Club helped trans - Hudson High School and worked with Dutchess and Putnam port the pieces to the site. East Hudson trail volunteer Fred Stern on (DP) counties got a boost the project. thanks to two LL Bean AT Volunteers Honored Yorktown Community Trails and the grants. The RPH Cabin Volunteers, a Jim Haggett of Poughkeepsie, chair of our Trail Conference were awarded $4,000 member club that supports our Dutchess- Dutchess-Putnam AT Management from IBM for the purchase of tools, equip - Putnam AT Management Committee by Committee, in November received the ment, and materials to complete bridges focusing on AT projects in Fahnestock President’s Call to Service Award in recog - Scout Joseph Quartucio built a new kiosk and trail improvements in the region. The State Park, earned an award for the pur - nition of more than 4,000 hours of at trailhead for Camp Smith Trail grant acknowledged Trail Conference par - chase of tools to be used on trail projects. volunteer service. (See page 10.) Trail ticipation in the IBM Day of Service in The club’s mission is to service the Conference member Robert Haas, of Trail Conservancy cap as recognition. July, which marked the company’s 100th Appalachian Trail and support AT thru- Wappingers Falls, NY, surpassed 500 Over the course of more than 25 years, anniversary. More than 100 employees vol - hikers by teaching and training members hours in volunteer time with the DP AT Bob has been instrumental in successfully unteered that day on trail projects in skills related to trail maintenance, con - committee and received an Appalachian bringing many AT projects to comple - throughout the East Hudson region.

West Hudson We aim to create core groups who may page 5) Chris notes that the crew’s work specialize in rock work, timber work, trail was “heavy on rock work this year as Larry Wheelock, design, erosion and water control, and water seems to get the better of us.” West Hudson Program Coordinator assessing a trail for condition deficiencies. Recruiting new members for Chris and [email protected] If you think you may be interested, you his crew is also high on our 2012 agenda. can indicate that on our website by com - Building Up Our Crews pleting the short Volunteer Interest form What’s New at Bear Mountain Building our trail crews (find it at nynjtc.org/volunteer) or con - Once the All Persons section of the AT and in the West of Hudson tact me directly via email or phone. loop was opened on top of the mountain area will be a primary We took a big first step in this crew on June 11, crews there moved to the bot - focus during 2012. The building effort on November 13, when tom of the mountain near the Inn and next Y

parks in this region are we launched the new Long Distance Trail to Hessian Lake to work on the first phase E N N I K

among the most popular Crew for Orange and Rockland counties. of an interpretive trail and plaza. Most of a N N

with hikers—Harriman/Bear Mountain, See the year-end crew reports for more Demonstration Trail was complete. It rep - A Schunemunk, Storm King, Minnewaska, about this new group (page 5). resents most of the techniques needed to Members of the new Orange-Rockland and Black Rock Forest among them— Meanwhile, our West Hudson South build a good trail and comes with station Long Distance Trail Crew relocated a and we hope to draw new and Crew, under the leadership of Crew Chief sites which eventually will have interpretive nearly one-mile section of the Appalachian experienced trail builders to the ranks of Chris Ezzo, continues its magnificent panels explaining that site’s work. Design Trail on West Mountain in Harriman State our crews. There are great opportunities work on nearly 200 miles of trails in Har - work on the interpretive component of the Park in late fall. for alumni of Trail U. riman/Bear Mountain. In his report (see trail is nearly complete. Winter 2012 Page 5 Trail Crew Reports for 2011

Jolly Rovers Stonework Crew Catskill Trail Crew This roving trail crew, specializing in tech - Our efforts in the Catskills got off to a good nical stonework, was launched this past start this year by collaborating with staff March as part of an effort to address the from the Catskill Center to improve the Trail Conference’s pressing need for the Long Path through the Catskill Center’s rehabilitation of severely eroded and other - Platte Clove Preserve. The trail crew, with wise damaged trails. lots of help from the Rip Van Winkle Hik - After its first season in the field, the crew ers, also spent a good part of the summer can proudly report that a total of 18 crew working on the Pine Hill West Branch Trail, members, all recruited and trained at the clearing out years of accumulated growth spring 2011 workshop series on Bear and blow-downs. This work was done Mountain, volunteered over 1,800 hours under a special agreement with the DEC. to install 120 stone steps, 115 feet of stone We are working on adopting the trail under turnpiking, and 125 square feet of stone our new Adopt-a-Natural-Resource Agree -

paving in New York and New Jersey parks R ment with the DEC. Smaller crews led by E D E

east and west of the Hudson River. L trail supervisors and maintainers also helped H O R

Membership in this crew required volun - tackle some of the post-Irene blow-downs A D N

teers to take five mandatory Trail U I on Catskill trails. L workshops in trail construction. A diverse Members of the Invasives Strike Force on one of two fall work trips in Norvin Green State Forest. —Jeff Senterman, Catskills group of individuals took up the challenge: Program Coordinator ironworkers, landscapers, software engi - West Jersey Crew Many people put in a lot of miles to neers, real estate agents, and rock climbers In 2011, the crew worked in parks come out and help on various projects. All Invasives Strike Force Trail Crew were all drawn to the idea of roving from throughout West Jersey: Worthington State told, 28 people came out this year and Two ISF trail crew work days were held in region to region, camping out, and work - Forest, Jenny Jump State Forest, High donated over 350 hours of time to the New Jersey’s Norvin Green State Forest in Point State Park, Stokes State Park, and cause of safe trails. A big thank-you to all the fall to try to remove targeted invasive Wawayanda State Park. the generous volunteers listed: Roland plants along specific trail sections. One of In Jenny Jump, the crew completed and Breault, Gail Brown, Jim Brown, Brian the big problems there was burning bush opened the new 7-mile-long Jenny Jump Buchbinder, Chris Connolly, Lucas (winged euonymous), and volunteers Trail. In Stokes, stepping stone pathways Deaver, Chris Ezzo, Bob Fuller, Joyce Gal - cleared out a few dozen very large individ - were installed in several constantly-wet lagher, Claudia Ganz, Mary Hilley, Bill ual specimens. areas of the Swensen Trail. On High Point’s Horowitz, Joan James, Frank Keech, Rich Our goal with the ISF Trail Crew is not Iris Trail, drainage was added in several Kopsco, Richard Lynch, John Mack, Bob to remove every invasive everywhere along O

K places that are prone to flooding, and water Marshall, Gay Mayer, Lori Maynard, the trails, but rather to concentrate our N E H

C bars were installed in other steep and erod - Trudy Pojman, Trudy Schneider, Charles efforts on protecting the intact native com - B U L

ing trail sections. Silver-Frankel, Lisa Talme, Elizabeth munities and pushing back the E K I

M In Worthington, a section of the Dunn - Zeldin, Steve Zubarik, and Giacomo (last encroachment of invasives in these areas. The dirtier, the better for Jolly Rovers. field Creek Trail was rebuilt after the floods name not known). Plans for the 2012 season involve from Hurricane Irene washed away the I would also like to offer a special thank- increasing the number of volunteers on our ing on some of the most physically existing tread, and the stream was cleared you to Terri and Steve Zubarik for hosting monitoring force with the goal of doubling demanding projects trail work has to offer. of the tangle of blow-downs that con - our end of the season BBQ. It was a splen - the miles of trail surveyed, and ramping up The goal of this crew also has been to tributed to the original damage. Downed did affair! the number of ISF trail crew work days train other Trail Conference volunteers in —Chris Ezzo, Crew Chief across the region. We are looking for many all regions at every trip they hold. Tim more new volunteers for both efforts. Messerich, Appalachian Trail Crew Chief Long Path/Shawangunk Ridge Training sessions for new monitoring vol - for the Ralph’s Peak Hikers Cabin Volun - Trail Crew unteers will be held in late spring; trail crew teers, reports: “During our camp-out this Our main achievement this year was the volunteers are not required to attend train - past July, the Jolly Rovers did top-notch start and near completion of the Mine ing. See the ISF program report on page 7 trail work installing numerous stone steps Hole Trail, part of a major relocation of the for more info. on Shenandoah Mountain [Putnam Coun - Long Path between the Shawangunks and —Linda Rohleder, Project Manager ty, NY]. Our club was most impressed with the Catskills. the quality of their work. Not only was the In addition, we accomplished a minor Long Distance Trail Crew trail vastly improved, but our club was relocation of the Long Path along the Pal - This brand-new crew is intended to con - taught invaluable techniques, which in isades, did some trail restoration in the centrate on work needed for the turn increased our capacity to take on more West Jersey crew members clear a Neversink Gorge, and of course there was a Appalachian Trail, the Long Path, and the difficult projects.” log-jam on Dunnfield Creek. lot of chainsaw work. Highlands Trail in Orange and Rockland —Chris Ingui, Co-Crew Chief Several of our work crew came out mul - Counties. Experienced trail volunteer trees from Hurricane Irene were cleared on tiple times, including Paul Labounty, Joan Chris Reyling is Crew Chief. His long his - the Appalachian Trail and Dunnfield Creek James, Dave Booth, Lalita Malik, Melissa tory of working with the other crews has Trail in Worthington, as well as from the Bean, John Bradley, Kevin McGuinness, prepared him well for running his own. Jenny Jump Trail in Jenny Jump. And in and Thom Patton. Thirteen volunteers came out on Wawayanda, the crew repaired the November 13 to help on the crew’s first Pochuck boardwalk, damaged when the project—clearing the path of a reroute for floodwaters from Hurricane Irene caused the Appalachian Trail on West Mountain boardwalk sections to float and move. in Harriman State Park. The relocation was Thank you to everyone who was part of completed in December and will be the West Jersey Crew in 2011: Jesse Bard - included on the next edition of the Harri - well, Pam Barnhard, Amy Battaglia, Ian man-Bear Mountain Trails map (set for Blundell, Gordon Campbell, Joan Camp - publication in early 2012). S

A bell, Chris Filchak, Irene Foster, Jim N O J Harvey, Mike Lakner, Joan Theresa Lyons, T R E

B Liz Marshall, Bill Martin, Gay Mayer, Will O Sandy Parr starting out on his last crew trip. R McNulty, Lee Mott, Joe Pomesi, Steve Reiss, Chuck Rood, Bill Taggart, Linda North Jersey Trail Crew Taggart, Lory Wolf, Pete Zukoff. The big news from this long-serving crew is Thank you also to the people who vol - the retirement of its leader, Crew Chief unteered for the crew but weren’t able to Long Path North Hiking Club bridge builders Sandy Parr, bridge builder extraordinaire. work because the work days that they repair crossing at Tubbs Pond. Read more about Sandy in the awards sto - signed up for were rained or snowed(!) out. ry on page 6. Before departing, Sandy led And finally, thank you also to our The LP North Hiking Club built a nice his crew on several trips to complete a long NJDEP partners at the state parks, who bridge at White Birch Pond and repaired a needed reroute on the Stonetown Circular consistently support our work. couple of bridges following Irene. Trail in Ringwood, NJ. —Monica Day & David Day, Crew Chiefs In addition we organized a trailhead cleanup in Deerpark, Orange County, to Bear Claw Crew West Hudson South Crew host announcement of the transfer of Trail (northern New Jersey) The West Hudson South trail crew enjoyed Conference protected land to New York This new crew co-led by Rich Raschdorf another year of great trail work. We worked State DEC, held a Trail Maintenance 101 and Frank Schoof, launched this fall and on several different projects across the Har - workshop in Wurtsboro, and staffed two took on two projects in northern New Jer - riman Park region, including the installation tabling events in Wurtsboro and Ellenville. sey. The crew completed a significant of stepping stones accross a swampy area on We also got permission from Orange reroute of the Manaticut Point Trail (yel - the Appalachian Trail and building a retain - County to use the Heritage Trail for a low) in northern Norvin Green State Forest ing wall on the Timp/Torne Trail near planned major relocation of the Long Path (see Trail News on this page for more), and Dunderberg Mountain. This season was off its longest road walk. a reroute of the Yellow Silver Trail in the heavy on rock work as it seems water is get - —Jakob Franke, Co-Crew Chief Ramapo Valley County Reservation. ting the better of us lately. Page 6 Winter 2012

Trail Conference Awards 2011 continued from page 1

MAJOR WILLIAM WELCH monitoring program, and was a Trail Con - Assistant webmaster BILL ROEHRIG, DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD TRAIL PARTNER AWARD ference delegate-at-large. Gerard did an Phillipsburg, NJ Awarded by the Volunteer Committee Presented to those outside the Trail excellent job of keeping the trail network Bill has been a valued upon review of recommendations by Conference, (state, federal, local up to Trail Conference standards and his member of the web committee chairs. agency partner officials) who have maintainers on their toes. team handling many of given long and/or significant assis - the highly technical Web content editor PHIL MCLEWIN, tance to the local hiking community. PAUL LEIKIN EXTRA MILE AWARD updates, fixes, and oth - Mahwah, NJ Recognizes those volunteers who er changes to the Trail Phil McLewin proves WILLIE JANEWAY, NYS DEC have demonstrated exceptional Conference web pages. that volunteering for Director of Region 3 commitment to projects. Without his work, the important and nec - the Trail Conference “Willie Janeway is the essary upgrade accomplished this year from can be done from just modern embodiment Trail volunteer LEE MOTT, Milford, PA an early version of our website software about anywhere. of Major Welch’s drive Lee is a frequent trail (Drupal 5 to Drupal 6 for those in the Though Phil often may to fuse volunteers and volunteer, especially on know) would have taken much longer and be spotted on trails in public agencies for the the Appalachian Trail cost a significant amount of money for our region—especially at Ramapo Valley public good,” Executive in both New York and consultants. His responses have been aston - County Reservation—he has contributed Director Ed Goodell New Jersey. In 2010, ishingly instantaneous, and he makes so hundreds of hours helping to write and edit said in making the award announcement. Lee went above and much possible for the Trail Conference as the information about parks and hikes that “Willie’s expertise is especially valuable in beyond the call of we continue to keep up with the latest in the website delivers to the public at no cost. these tough budgetary times where his duty; in response to a call for help from communications technologies. Phil does most of his volunteering from ‘cooperative management’ approach sup - Trail Conference’s New Jersey Appalachian the comfort of his home in Mahwah. But, ports nature-based tourism and economic Trail Management Committee, he KEN LLOYD AWARD sensibly spending winter days in southern development at no additional cost to the repaired, with help from other volunteers, Recognizes members of Member California, Phil also logs in as a volunteer taxpayers. five trailside privies, and in 2011, one Clubs who have demonstrated from his perch near the beach, regularly “In October 2011, Janeway signed an more, all of them ADA compliant, as exemplary service to trail making needed updates to web informa - Adopt-A-Natural-Resource agreement required by federal regulations. Along with maintenance, management, and/or tion, adding new parks to our collection, with the Trail Conference for the mainte - this work, Lee continues as a stalwart mem - trail land protection. and working with writers who submit hike nance of over 200 miles of Catskill trails ber of the West Jersey Crew. He also descriptions to be included in our online and 26 lean-tos. With his support, Trail contributed significant work on the AT as Trail volunteer JOHN GRAHAM, collection. Phil’s work has contributed Conference volunteers will be taking on part of the Bear Mountain Trails Project. Mount Kisco, NY greatly to our project of transposing to the more trail responsibilities in the Catskills, For more than two web information distributed in the past helping to maintain these important desti - Project manager on new map, CRAIG decades, John Graham through the New York and New Jersey Walk nations for visitors and residents. NUNN, Rutherford, NJ of Mount Kisco, NY, Books . Government needs more volunteer savvy Craig, a Trail Conference Life Member and has given enthusiastic managers like Willie.” trails volunteer wearing many hats, per - service as volunteer on North Jersey Crew Chief formed outstanding service as project trails in the East Hud - SANDY PARR, Bound Brook, NJ WILLIAM HOEFERLIN AWARD manager of our newly published first edi - son region, for much of Sandy Parr has This award recognizes Trail tion of the Jersey Highlands Trails: Central that time as a volunteer with the embodied the Trail Conference volunteers who have North Region map set. This project was a Appalachian Mountain Club, New York- Conference tradition demonstrated exemplary service large undertaking that required extensive North Jersey Chapter (AMC). The club, a of volunteer leadership to trail maintenance, management, field-checking of trails, making connec - founding member group of the Trail Con - for too many years to and/or trail land protection. tions with trail volunteers, parks partners ference, has long maintained trails in the count, including more and other trail-savvy individuals to produce region. than two decades as Trail Volunteer GENE GIORDANO, a very high-quality map. Craig was instru - Trail Conference records mark 1984 as North Jersey Crew Chief. He was given our Warwick, NY mental in coordinating the GPS data the year John first got involved with a Trail Hoeferlin Award in 1990, and never Gene can’t seem to get collection, reviewing and revising the maps Conference project, helping to build the stopped volunteering, until December enough of trails, and with staff cartographer Jeremy Apgar, put - Appalachian Trail across a new route in 2011, when he stepped down as North Jer - his enthusiasm for trail ting together the materials for the map Putnam County. “Not only did he have a sey Crew Chief. Whether repairing trail work is contagious. A backs, and generally ensuring the maps and good eye for laying out a trail, but he also treads or designing and building bridges, trail maintainer since at associated information were as comprehen - was an excellent teacher,” recalls Jane Sandy has left a legacy for us to build upon. least 1993, Gene has sive and accurate as possible. He actively Daniels, herself a long-time active volun - Sandy will also be missed for his unfailing taken on various vol - field-checks for other Trail Conference teer in the East Hudson region. John served attendance and thoughtful contributions at unteer assignments in Ringwood State Park publications. as the AMC East Hudson Trails Supervisor Trail Council meetings. Sandy led his last in New Jersey and on the Appalachian Trail from 1986 to 1989, continuing as main - North Jersey Crew work trip on November (AT), both on the ground and in supervi - Web Designer DOUG CLEEK, tainer of the Breakneck Ridge Trail for the 13, relocating a section of the Stonetown sory positions. Mahwah, NJ AMC from 1989 to 2006. Circular Trail in Ringwood. He plans to Currently, Gene chairs the New Jersey Doug’s volunteer efforts Wearing his Trail Conference hat, John relocate himself to Vermont. The award AT Management Committee for the Trail for the Trail Conference helped design the Wiccopee Trail in Fahne - was presented to Sandy at the October Conference, a position he has held since have helped keep our stock State Park and has maintained it since meeting of Trails Council. All who walk 2004. He also is a Trail Supervisor in Ring - organization at the 1995. He helped refurbish trails at Westch - New Jersey trails owe Sandy many thanks wood State Park, since 1999; and AT forefront in the com - ester County’s Merestead historic site in for long and loyal service and lasting Supervisor for New Jersey since 2010. He munications revolution spring 2010. Whether sporting the logo of accomplishments. continues as a trail maintainer at Ring - and raised our visibility the Trail Conference, AMC, or both, John wood State Park. to the trail-using public. His professional has given many years of continuous, dedi - Gene, who teaches music to children, is expertise is in designing and supporting cated service to the trails community, very dedicated to working with young peo - websites, and he donates his considerable always with a big smile and appearing to be ple and getting them involved in trail work. design and technical skills to the Trail Con - having the time of his life. Get the NEW For many years he has involved Boy Scouts ference by helping to provide an attractive, in projects and, thanks to his ongoing cul - useful source of trail and hike information Trail volunteer CLARENCE PUTMAN, Trail Conference tivation, Ringwood Boy Scout Troop 96 for the public. The website includes detailed South Kortright, NY received the Next Generation Award from information on hundreds of hikes and parks Even before, but espe - Long-Sleeve the Trail Conference in 2005. in the region as well as opportunities for the cially since his public to easily support and volunteer for retirement from NYS T-Shirt Today! Trail Volunteer GERARD HOEKSTRA trails and parks. Dept. of Environmen - Jr., late of Jewett, NY, and Oakland, NJ Doug also manages and contributes to tal Conservation, Gerard passed away June 15, 2011 and his many of our social media projects, such as long-time Trail Con - award was accepted by his son Gordon. our Twitter account, and contributes to our ference member Gerard was a long-time Trail Conference Facebook pages (now closing in on 3,000 Clarence Putman has been a very active volunteer in both North Jersey and the fans). Doug can often be seen on trails in supporter of the development of the Long Catskills. He volunteered as Trail Supervi - our region in the company of his son, Path, especially north of the Catskills. sor at Ramapo Valley County Reservation Justin, wife Linda, and dog, Buddy, or with Clarence has been a trail maintainer on the in North Jersey, was a trail maintainer at his son’s Boy Scout troop. LP since 1994, and in 2011 became Super - Morris County High Mountain from visor of LP North. A member and officer of 1992-2003, served stints as Trail Supervisor the Long Path North Hiking Club, in the Hunter Mountain and Westkill Clarence recently was instrumental in fill - regions of the Catskills, and as a shelter Thank you, ing a significant gap in the LP route just caretaker in the Catskills from 1992-2010. north of the Catskills. Clarence leads hikes He earned USFS (U.S. Forest Service) volunteers! and writes articles about the LP and hiking chainsaw certification, participated in the for local publications, including the Gilboa Show Your Support for Trails USDA (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture) Rut - Historical Society Newsletter. with this great 50/50 heavy gers-Trail Conference Invasive Species weight cotton/poly blend) Order online at nynjtc.org/ product/longsleeved-tshirt Winter 2012 Page 7

Science & Ecology response to favorable environmental condi - I have visited and photographed many of tions, especially to weather conditions World Class the same locations for years, yet never tire Acorn Booms & Busts during April, when trees are flowering and Landscapes for of finding new ways to interpret the land - Variability in annual being pollinated. scape. Winter creates a whole different The trees exhaust themselves by produc - Photography in perspective, so my snowshoes get lots of use acorn production ing so many acorns in a mast year and (and abuse) during the snow season. typically produce few acorns over the fol - the Hudson Valley has an important lowing one to three years. Each species of By Robert Rodriguez Jr. Here are a few locations to get you started: oak follows its own annual pattern of acorn • Breakneck Ridge: open summits, effect on forest production–an acorn boom year for black Find full article and more of Robert spectacular views, and many photo - oak might coincide with an acorn bust year Rodriguez’s photos at nynjtc.org/photography graphic options. ecosystems for white oak. If each species is at a low • Storm King Mountain: great location By Edna Greig point in its acorn production cycle in a giv - World class landscapes, art and culture, and for panoramas, changing light, and en year, there will be virtually no acorn history all make the Hudson Valley an often covered in fog. 2011 was a bust year for acorns. The oak crop, as happened in 2011. attractive destination for nature and land - • Mount Beacon: climb to the south trees in our area produced few nuts. In con - What can happen to a forest ecosystem scape photographers. But for me the real firetower and enjoy a 360-degree view trast, 2010 was a boom year, and a thick following an acorn bust year? Larger ani - treasure is found in the huge network of all the way to NYC on a clear day. layer of acorns covered both forest floors mals like deer and bears often can find hiking trails that cover both sides of the Sunsets can be magical. and suburban yards. Year-to-year variation alternative food sources and may not be Hudson River, especially in the Hudson Thank you to the Trail Conference for in acorn production is common, but why severely affected. But mice and chipmunks Highlands region. keeping these trails in such great condition. did such an extreme variation occur in rely upon acorns for their winter caches This region provides some of the most 2010 and 2011? How does this affect for - and will likely suffer dramatic population dramatic viewpoints along the Hudson, Robert Rodriguez Jr., is a professional est ecosystems? declines. The following spring and sum - and a well established trail network attracts landscape photographer specializing in First, a little background on oaks. The mer, populations of insects and other hikers in large numbers, especially from landscapes of the Hudson Valley four most common oak species in our area invertebrates may increase because there New York City and surrounding areas. (www.robertrodriguezjr.com). are split into two groups. The red oak are far fewer mice and chipmunks eating group, which includes red ( Quercus rubra ) them. Mice and chipmunks also eat the and black ( Q. velutina ) oaks, has leaves eggs of ground-nesting birds like juncos, so with pointed and bristled lobes. The white these birds might increase in number. The oak group, which includes white ( Q. alba ) raptors, snakes, and mammals that prey and chestnut ( Q. prinus ) oaks, has leaves primarily upon rodents may face food with rounded lobes. The red oak group shortages and population declines. takes two years to mature its acorns, while Mice also harbor the bacterium that the white oak group takes one year. Acorns causes Lyme disease, which they can trans - mature in late summer and early fall and mit to black-legged ticks that obtain their are an important food for mammals, birds, first blood meal from them. Fewer mice and insects. following an acorn bust year means fewer At irregular intervals of about three to ticks being infected with the bacterium. five years, individuals of an oak species over These ticks get their second blood meal the a wide geographical area produce a summer thereafter, often from a larger bumper, or mast, crop of acorns. One mammal or human. If the ticks were not hypothesis is that the trees evolved masting infected with the bacterium the previous as a strategy to improve reproductive suc - year, they cannot transmit Lyme disease.

cess. In most years, animals consume 80 to Studies by Dr. Richard Ostfeld and others Z E U G 100% of the acorn crop, leaving few acorns at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies I R D

to germinate into new tree seedlings. In a in Millbrook, NY, have shown that the size O R

T R

mast year, trees produce so many acorns of an acorn crop is a valuable predictor of E B O

that animals cannot possibly eat them all. R Another hypothesis is that masting is a continued on page 11 Atop Mount Beacon in the Hudson Highlands.

Our goal with the ISF Trail Crew is not Early Results: to remove every invasive everywhere along the trails, but rather to concentrate our The Top Five efforts on protecting the native communi - ties that are relatively intact and pushing Invasive Plants back the encroachment of invasives in these areas. The work crew enjoyed sights of a Along Our few native trailing arbutus and pink lady’s slipper orchid plants as they worked to Trails Are... clear the invaders. Our plans for the 2012 season involve By Linda Rohleder increasing our volunteer monitoring force with the goal of doubling the miles of trail The Trail Conference’s Invasives Strike surveyed, and ramping up the number of Force (ISF) got off to a great start in 2011, ISF trail crew work days across the region. its inaugural season of monitoring invasive We are looking for many more new volun - plant species along trails: 100 volunteers teers for both efforts. Training sessions for trained and 163 miles of trails in New Jer - new monitoring volunteers will be held in sey and the lower Hudson Valley region of late spring; trail crew volunteers are not New York surveyed for 14 invasive species. required to attend training. This mileage represents 12% of the 1,430 You can find more about the program, trail miles in the focus areas. We are start - on our web site (www.nynjtc.org/invasives) ing to tabulate initial results. or contact me at [email protected]. Our most common invaders will likely Thanks to all of our volunteers for their not surprise anyone. Japanese barberry tops participation, and a special thanks to the the list, followed by Japanese stiltgrass following ISF volunteers who surveyed (a.k.a. Nepalese browntop), multi-flora more than five miles of trail: Sona Mason, rose, and garlic mustard. Our fifth most Stephen Zubarik, Therese Zubarik, Bill common species might be unexpected, Males, Nancy Males, Schuyler Jenks, Ryan however: burning bush (a.k.a. winged Hasko, Mary Dodds, AeLin Compton, euonymus), a commonly planted shrub in and Michael Bellaus. residential and commercial landscapes. The following are some quotes from our ISF members also documented sightings ISF volunteers summing up their thoughts of many of the species on our Phase 2 list about the program: of 11 emerging invasives. The most com - “I see so much more now when I hike! mon of these was Japanese angelica tree The training has broadened my interaction (a.k.a. Japanese Hercules’ club, or devil’s with the environment when I’m in the walking stick). We also had quite a few woods or just driving down the street records of linden viburnum, another land - (ailanthus is everywhere!).” scape shrub, which is only just beginning “[The single best thing about participat - to be recognized as invasive. ing was the] sense of satisfaction at Using our initial data we were able to contributing to a very worthwhile project.” identify some areas that were only lightly invaded in Norvin Green State Forest, and Trail Conference member Linda Rohleder is a two ISF Trail Crew work days were held PhD candidate at Rutgers University in the there in the fall to try to remove some of the Dept. of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural invaders. One of the big problems there was Resources. She volunteers as ISF project man - These maps show the trails surveyed for invasives in New York and New Jersey in 2011. burning bush, and volunteers cleared out a ager and is among the ISF members who The program achieved broad coverage across the region and across many parks. Additional few dozen very large individual specimens. have surveyed more than five miles of trails. details will be posted on our web site at www.nynjtc.org/invasives as they become available. Page 8 Winter 2012 HHII KERSKERS’’ ALMANACALMANAC A Sampling of Upcoming Hikes Sponsored by Member Clubs

Find many more hikes at www.nynjtc.org. Click on Scheduled Hikes under Go Hiking!

January TLR. Family Walk, Tracks in the Snow, Westchester County, Sunday, January 29 UCHC. Round Valley Recreation Area, Lebanon, NJ. Leader: NY. Leader: call 914-762-2912 ext. 110 to register. Meet: 1pm; call for WTA. George’s Island Park and Montrose State Forest, NY. Pat Horsch, 908-693-8331. Meet: 10am at south parking area. Sunday, January 1 location. Easy walk for families with children ages 5 and over. Leaders: Jane and Walt Daniels, 914-245-1250, Moderate 4-5 miles on Cushetunk Trail, with views of the reser - AMC-NYNJ. Bare Rock, Sterling Ridge Trail, NY. Leader: Many animals are out looking for food and leave tracks in the [email protected]. Meet: 1pm at parking lot by Hudson River; voir. Some level terrain, some hills, one substantial hill. Traction Christine Benton, 347-464-6367, call before 8:30pm; snow. We’ll follow tracks and other signs to see what animals are contact leaders for directions. Possible pick-up at train in aids may be needed. [email protected]. Meet: contact leader for time and doing. Non-members $5 per person. Out by 2:30pm. Cortlandt with advance notice. Easy 5 miles. Hike will end at Sunday, February 12 location. 8 miles at moderate pace. Celebrate the New Year Saturday, January 21 about the time that eagles fly in to roost (but no guarantees). with a hike to Bare Rock with scenic overlook of Greenwood WTA. Appalachian Trail in Fahnestock State Park, NY. Leader: Lake. Rocky uneven terrain with many ups and downs. Traction AFW. Sourland Mountain, NJ. Leader: call 973-644-3592 or IHC. Sourland Mountain Preserve, NJ. Leader: Udi Cohen, Carol Harting, 845-669-6731. Meet: call to register for time and aids required; bring snowshoes if sufficient snow. Not an visit www.adventuresforwomen.org for info and to register. Meet: [email protected]. Meet: 9am at Sourland, East Mountain location. Moderate 7.5 miles. Hike scenic woods and hills on the early-out hike. Shuttle required. 10am; register for location. Easy to moderate hike; out by 2pm. Rd., Hillsborough, NJ. Strenuous 8.5 miles. Scale the valley of AT from Dennytown Rd. to Canopus Hill Rd. and back. rocks and see the Devil’s Half Acre. Lovely view of the surround - WTA. Marshlands Conservancy, Rye, NY. Leader: Leslie Millman, Saturday, February 18 SW. New Year’s Day Hike in Upper Manhattan, NY. Leader: Cy ing farms. Bad weather or driving conditions cancel. Adler, 212-663-2167. Meet: noon at 178th St. and Broadway, [email protected]. Meet: 10:30am at Conservancy parking lot, AMC-NYNJ. Skannatati Skedaddle, Harriman State Park, NY. George Washington Bridge bus station information booth. 220 Boston Post Rd. near Rye Golf Course. Easy 3-4 miles. Enjoy Leader: Art Almeida, 914-271-8659, [email protected]. Explore Manhattan’s north end, Inwood Hill and Highbridge parks, a 2-hour hike in this preserve on trails through fields, forest, and Meet: contact leader for time and location. 9 very hilly miles at a shoreline of the Harlem River. Some hills. Non-members $3. a salt marsh. moderate pace. Steep initial climb; traction aids required if icy or snowy conditions. Snowshoes if appropriate. Saturday, January 7 AMC-NYNJ. Intro to Winter Hiking, Southern Harriman Y THE TURNING POINT Z Sunday, February 19 State Park, NY. Leader: Stuart Kurtz, 732-469-5344, UCHC. South Mountain Reservation, South Orange, NJ. [email protected]. Meet: contact leader for time and Leader: Jim Schlegel, 973-731-4339. Meet: 10am at Tulip Springs location. 7 hilly miles at a moderate pace. Novice and experienced parking. 4 miles at a moderate pace; about 2 hours. Snowshoes winter hikers welcome on this opportunity to learn more. if warranted. Appropriate gear and clothing required; loan of limited number of Saturday, February 25 crampons and snowshoes available. All weather hike, providing AFW. Glenclyffe, Garrison, NY. Leader: call 973-644-3592 or vis - road conditions are acceptable. eep into unfamiliar mountains. That’s when I sit on a cold rock, it www.adventuresforwomen.org for info and to register. Meet: PM. Family Walk, Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area, NJ. 9:30am; register for location. Easy to moderate hike; out by 2pm. Leader: call 973-334-3130 or visit www.morrisparks.net to I take a map, pack full of gear, shed my pack in the calm forest UCHC. South Mountain Reservation, Millburn, NJ. Leader: register. Meet: 1pm at Pyramid Mountain parking lot, 472A Angela Coble, 908-420-7915; call morning of hike after 8am. Boonton Ave., Boonton, NJ. Families with children of all ages are D and try to see how far I can go softly busy with seeds, saplings and death, Meet: 10am at Tulip Springs parking. 2-hour hike at a moderate to invited to stroll the trails as our naturalist helps them discover brisk pace. Heavy rain, ice cancels. winter animals and plants. Out by 2:30pm. $2 fee per person (age without using any of it, and think about not going back. 2 and up). Program repeats on Saturday, February 25. Sunday, February 26 Sunday, January 8 choose trails I think I’ve seen before, UOC. Manasquan Reservoir, NJ. Leader: Coralyn Gorlicki, 732- Of course I soon get up, 548-2315. Meet: contact leader for time, location, and carpool WTA. Rockwood Hall State Park, Old Croton Aqueduct, and information. The 5-mile perimeter of the reservoir is easy walking Rockefeller Preserve, NY. Leader: Carolyn Hoffman, 914-948- that seem to lead to viewpoints, pleasing shoulder the pack, get out my compass, with much wildlife to see. Visit the Environmental Center and 0608, [email protected]; register by Friday night. Meet: Visitor Center with fireplace for lunch spot. 9:30am at North White Plains train station; ask leader about my climbing heart, though the aged body alternative meeting place. Easy 7 miles; 3-mile option available. and find my way back into memory. WTA. Palisades Shore Path, NJ. Leader: Herb Hochberg, 914- If enough snow, we’ll cross-country ski. balks, stumbles on slick roots and cobbles, 723-6566, [email protected]. Meet: 9am at North White Plains train station; contact leader for alternate meeting place. AFW. Bear Swamp Lake, Ramapo County Reservation, NJ. But on each return some part of me Moderate 7 miles. North from the George Washington Bridge at Leader: call 973-644-3592 or visit www.adventuresforwomen.org gasps on the steeps, trembles on scarps, the base of the Palisades, with great views of Manhattan and the for info and to register. Meet: 9:30am; register for location. stays behind on that crucial rock, Bronx. Return on Long Path atop the cliff. Moderate hike; out by 2:30pm. and I’m so far into the woods TLR. Finding Your Way: Basic Map and Compass Workshop, IHC. Ringwood State Park, NJ. Leader: Steve Rikon, 973-962- searching up slope through slanting light NY. Leader: call 914-762-2912 ext. 110 to register. Meet: 10am; call 4149, [email protected]. Meet: 9am at Skylands Manor I can’t recall the names of flowers for location. Learn the basics of compass and map reading skills parking lot A. Moderate climb to viewpoint. See the manor and for the highest, longest lookout, to help you better navigate in the woods. Indoor and outdoor grounds in winter. Heavy snow or ice cancels. or recognize the trees. activities; bring lunch and water. Concludes at 2pm. This program TLR. Hike in the New Year at Teatown Lake, NY. Leader: call far uphill beyond the whispering leaves. is for adults only. Non-members $15. 914-762-2912 ext. 110, to register. Meet: 1pm; call for location. Moderate hike to Vernay Lake, looking for ice formations along March the Waterfall Trail and winter wildlife as we circle Teatown Lake. Saturday, March 3 On our return we’ll toast the New Year with a hot drink. Out by UCHC. Garret Mountain Reservation, West Paterson, NJ. 3pm. For adults only; non-members $5 per person. — GEORGE PETTY Leader: Angela Coble, 908-420-7915; call morning of hike after Saturday, January 14 8am. Meet: 10am at Lambert Castle. Moderate 2-3 hour hike. Bring traction aids in case needed. Bad weather cancels. WTA. East Hudson Highlands, Hudson Highlands State Park, Sunday, January 22 February NY. Leader: Carol Harting, 845-669-6731. Meet: contact leader to NYR. Wawayanda State Park and Greenwood Lake, NJ. Leader: Sunday, March 4 register and for location. 7-8 moderate miles. From Manitoga, Saturday, February 4 Ludwig Hendel, 718-626-3983. Meet: 7:10am at Port Authority AFW. Schooley’s Mountain County Park, NJ. Leader: call 973- we’ll hike the Osborn Loop, Curry Pond Trail, and Appalachian Bus Terminal for 7:30 NJ Transit bus to Mountain Creek (Vernon, AFW. Hacklebarney State Park, NJ. Leader: call 973-644-3592 644-3592 or visit www.adventuresforwomen.org for info and to Trail, with a climb to Sugarloaf South for views of the Hudson one-way). Strenuous hike; proper winter gear including traction or visit www.adventuresforwomen.org for info and to register. register. Meet: 10am; register for location. Easy to moderate hike River. Snowshoe if conditions warrant. aids and flashlight required. Meet: 10am; register for location. Easy to moderate hike; out at a leisurely pace; out by 2pm. UCHC. Watchung Reservation, Mountainside, NJ. Leader: by 2pm. IHC. Lost Village, Watchung Reservation, NJ. Leader: Jim IHC. Silas Condict County Park, Morris County, NJ. Leaders: Angela Coble, 908-420-7915; call morning of hike after 8am. Schlenker, 908-561-0228, [email protected] Meet: 9am at UOC. Sandy Hook Gateway National Recreation Area, NJ. Guy and Jennifer Percival, 973-590-7437, [email protected]. Meet: 10am at trailside parking lot. Moderate, hilly hike of about Watchung Reservation’s Trailside Museum on Coles Ave., Leader: John Horvath, 732-249-4257. Meet: contact leader for Meet: 9am at the park, Kinnelon Rd., Butler, NJ. Moderate 7 miles. 2 hours. Bad weather cancels. Mountainside, NJ. Moderately strenuous 8 miles. Explore most of time, location, and carpool information. A brisk winter walk on Come see the new trails and enjoy the last of winter. There’s even Sunday, January 15 the reservation, including the Lost Village, a former quarry and the beach and the Old Dune Trail, followed by lunch at a local a casino! Bad weather or driving conditions cancel. an old industrial area. Bad weather or driving conditions cancel. seafood café. AMC-NYNJ. Palisades Beginner Friendly Hike, NY. Leader: Saturday, March 10 Soham Aso, [email protected]. Meet: contact leader for Saturday, January 28 UCHC. Tallman Mountain State Park, Piermont, NY. Leader: UCHC. Garret Mountain Reservation, West Paterson, NJ. location. 7 miles at a moderate pace. Mostly level hike along the John Jurasek, 845-519-4247, call before 10pm; must register by RVW. Flagler Arboretum, Dutchess County, NY. Leader: for Leader: Walter Koenig, 973-684-5528. Meet: 10am at second Hudson River. evening before the hike. Meet: 10am at 450 Piermont Ave. in more information, please call 845-758-6143. Meet: 10am; call for paved parking lot on left, on one-way loop reservation road. Easy Piermont, NY; park across the street in lot D. Moderate 5 miles. IHC. Ghost Lake, Jenny Jump State Forest, NJ. Leaders: location. Moderate 4 miles, about 5 hours. Inclement weather 2 hours on mostly gravel paths; great views of Paterson and NYC. Long Path and other trails to view the berms and salt marsh. We’ll Ursula and Patirck Davis, 973-786-7087. Meet: 9:30am at Ghost date is following Saturday. Eat at Libby’s Lunch afterward, then visit the Great Falls. then walk the mile-long Piermont pier halfway across the Hudson Lake parking, Great Meadows, NJ. Moderately strenuous UOC. Byrne State Forest, Burlington County, NJ. Leader: River! Adverse conditions will alter route. Sunday, March 11 6-7 miles with elevation gain of 450 feet. Bad weather or driving Coleen Tighe, 732-568-9241. Meet: contact leader for time, IHC. Spruce Run Reservoir to Voorhees State Park, NJ. conditions cancel. location, and carpool information. Wooded trail on mostly WTA. Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, NY. Leader: Mike Kaplan, Leaders: Guy and Jennifer Percival, 973-590-7437, sandy or stone surfaces. This is part of the Pine Barrens and the [email protected]. Meet: 9:30am at North White Plains [email protected]. Meet: 9am at NJ Observatory parking lot, Batsto Trail. train station; contact leader for alternate meeting place. Easy to moderate 6-7 miles. Explore southern end of the park, Overlook, Voorhees State Park, Glen Gardner, NJ. Moderately strenuous 8 Leatherman’s Cave area, and Trailside Nature Museum. Bad miles; shuttle required. weather cancels. Saturday, March 17 The activities listed are sponsored by member clubs of the NY-NJ Trail Conference. All hikers are welcome subject to club regula - PM. Rock and Ridge Hike, Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic UCHC. Pine Meadow Lake, Harriman State Park, NY. Leader: tions and rules of the trail. You are responsible for your own safety. Wear hiking boots or strong, low-heeled shoes. Bring food, water, Area, NJ. Leader: call 973-334-3130 or visit www.morrisparks.net Dave Hogenauer, 973-762-1475. Meet: 10am at Reeves Meadow rain gear, first aid kit, and a flashlight in a backpack. Leaders have the right and responsibility to refuse anyone whom they believe to register. Meet: 1pm at Pyramid Mountain parking lot, 472A visitor center on Seven Lakes Dr. Moderate 6-7 miles; out by cannot complete the hike or is not adequately equipped. Easy, moderate, or strenuous hikes are relative terms; call leader if in doubt. Boonton Ave., Boonton, NJ. Moderate hike, great for ages 7 and about 1:30pm. More than 100 clubs belong to the Trail Conference, and many of our affiliate groups sponsor hikes not listed in the Hikers’ Almanac. up. Hike to Tripod Rock and Bear Rock and learn about the Sunday, March 18 For a descriptive list of Conference clubs, consult our website or send a SASE with your request to NY-NJ Trail Conference. geology of the area. NYR. Nine Bridges on the Passaic River, NJ. Leader: Craig Club Codes Sunday, February 5 Nunn, 551-206-6823, [email protected]. Meet: 7:55am at Penn Station NJ Transit ticket windows for 8:14 train to Broad - Only those clubs with hikes offered in this issue are listed below. Please call numbers listed to confirm. NYR. Great River to Smithtown, LI, NY. Leader: Clive Morrick, 212-242-0931, [email protected]. Meet: 6:55am at Penn Station way-Fair Lawn (Northeast Corridor, one-way; change at Secaucus AFW Adventures for Women RVW Rip Van Winkle Hiking Club LIRR ticket windows for 7:10 train to Great River (one-way). Follow to Bergen Line). We’ll cross the river 10 times on different bridges, AMC-NYNJ Appalachian Mountain Club, SW Shorewalkers LI Greenbelt Trail all day to Smithtown, passing through connecting old factories and other interesting sites between New York-North Jersey Chapter TLR Teatown Lake Reservation Connetquot River State Preserve and several ponds. Fairlawn and Rutherford, NJ. Dangerously bad weather cancels. GS Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center UCHC Union County Hiking Club Saturday, February 11 Saturday, March 24 IHC Interstate Hiking Club UOC University Outing Club TLR. Family Snowshoeing, Westchester County, NY. Leader: UOC. D&R Canal New Connection, Trenton, NJ. Leaders: Bob & NYR New York Ramblers WTA Westchester Trails Association call 914-762-2912 ext. 110 to register. Meet: 1pm; call for location. Linda Barth, 201-401-3121, [email protected]. Meet: contact leader PM Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area Learn the basics of snowshoeing and join us for an hour-long for time and location. Hike along the canal path, including the walk in the woods. For families with children ages 7 and over. new connection to the main canal, while learning about many Clubs wishing to have hikes listed in Hikers’ Almanac should send their schedules to [email protected] or to the Trail Conference Office. Non-members $5 per person. historical sites and canal features. The deadline for the Spring issue is February 15. Winter 2012 Page 9 Member Club News W Find links to all Trail Conference member groups online under the Community tab at Fall in Love with Trails INN ER! www.nynjtc.org. Member groups: submit your news and photos for Trail Walker and the PHOTO CONTEST website via email: [email protected]. Chinese Mountain Club Clears Shore Trail Representative of the public service performed by our trail maintaining clubs and indi - viduals was the cleanup of three miles of the Shore Trail in Palisades Interstate Park by the Chinese Mountain Club. In October, club members put in 200 hours cleaning up debris deposited by Hudson River floodwater along the stretch they maintain. They hauled away eight 40-gallon bags of trash, 11 tires with rims, one plastic dome, a 55- gallon plastic drum, a plastic “A” frame traffic barrier, yards and yards of marine rope, and other assorted trash. Too big to handle were the remains of boat docks. They also did maintenance work on the Giant Stairs. It was a challenging season for trail volun - teers. Thank you all for your dedication.

Shui-Kei Ng, president of the Chinese Mountain Club, clears debris from the Shore Trail. Friends of Shawangunks Helps Preserve Joppenbergh Mountain

K The big news from the the Gunks is the C I L

T addition of Joppenbergh Mountain to the A M

E protected open space inventory! Trails K I

M anyone? In September the Open Space Insti - tute’s land acquisition affiliate, the Open Space Conservancy, purchased Joppen - bergh Mountain, a 117-acre parcel that towers over Rosendale, NY. Friends of the L I S R I E P Shawangunks, through its land-trust affil - R 2nd F 3rd S I L E O U P W

Place Place

H iate, The Shawangunk Conservancy, E S E

C T I N T N A agreed to raise $85,000 (46%) of the sale E T A G J S R

price in order to secure the mountain’s O E Congratulations to Trail Conference member Mike Matlick, G preservation. View over Rondout Creek from a lookout the grand prize winner of our Fall in Love With Trails Photo Contest! Two years ago, the former ski-jump on Joppenbergh Mountain. property came on the market for Mike snapped the winning photo in Harriman State Park near Silvermine Lake just off $500,000. After a two-year roller-coaster course of negotiations between OSI and the the Menomine Trail, which is maintained by Trail Conference volunteer Steve Zubarik. To Town of Rosendale, which for a time was a potential partner in the protection effort, get this great fall shot, which includes dappled woods and white-tailed wildlife, Mike says Friends of the Shawangunks was approached for support. After much discussion, the he was just lucky to be in the right place at the right time. Conservancy board agreed that preservation of this site was important enough to Congratulations also go to our second- and third-place winners, Stan Shulfer and Janice justify the fundraising effort, by far our biggest ever. Pospisil. All winners will receive all of our maps, a free annual membership, and a gift Title to Joppenbergh, which looms above the adjacent Wallkill Valley Rail Trail and certificate donated by Campmor. 305 photos were submitted in the contest, which took overlooks the Rondout Creek, will be conveyed to the Wallkill Valley Land Trust, place on our Facebook page. Submissions were accepted through October, and voting took which agreed to administer and maintain the land. OSI, FOS, WVLT and others will place through November. Thank you to contest sponsor Campmor. develop a management plan for preservation and low-impact public use. Saving this mountain is a significant challenge for FOS. We absolutely need our members and friends to be generous with contributions. Hikers’ For more information, see our six-page color brochure at shawangunks.org/ joppenbergh-mtn/ or the impressive Wikipedia article at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Marketplace Joppenbergh Mountain.

— H. Neil Zimmerman, President Go Places with Trail Maps and The Shawangunk Conservancy & Friends of the Shawangunks Books from the Trail Conference. Leave No Trace: Ethics & Trail Tips By Bob Russo Plan ahead and prepare. This first Make sure that first LNT principle is especially impor - aid, navigation, and tant in winter. self rescue are part of your training. Winter is a beautiful time in the woods but it can be very dangerous, so special Snowshoes and attention should be paid to planning crampons are a ahead and preparing. must when there is snow and ice on the trail. Disregarding approaching bad weather can transform an easy hike into a risky Make sure you’re in adequate physical encounter with hypothermia. shape for the trip. Always let someone know where you Pack a small stove, pot, and food for a are going and when you plan to be back. day and a half at least, waterproof Sign register boxes at the beginning matches, a whistle, a signal mirror and a reflective piece of cloth. We cover your favorite hiking areas in the New York- and end of your hike. New Jersey region, including Harriman-Bear Mountain, Be prepared to sit tight or turn back if Dress in wool or synthetic clothes using the Catskills, North Jersey and Jersey Highlands, you sense danger or sustain an injury or layers, good insulated waterproof East and West Hudson Highlands, and more. are lost. boots, and an extra pair of socks. Find them all on our website, and get your Even if you carry a GPS, always take a If you practice all this, you can have a 25% member discount ! compass and a good map of the area, pleasurable and safe hike. even if you know it well; snow changes Visit www.nynjtc.org/panel/goshopping! the lay of the land. Bob Russo is a Trail Conference life member and volunteer and a Leave No Trace Master Or call 201-512-9348 Educator. Find more Leave No Trace principles at www.lnt.org. Page 10 Winter 2012 25 Years on the R-D TRAIL CONFERENCE VOLUNTEER LOCAL VOLUNTEERS

September 24 – November 21, 2011

The Volunteer Committee acknowledges these new volunteers who took on or completed an assignment during the time period noted above. The list also includes existing volunteers who accepted additional assignments. We thank all Trail Conference volunteers! Office Program Assistant: Marianne Ansari R I E W Publications Field Checker: E O T K T E Peter Diamond, Catherine Ray, N E G R H C O

Eileen West, Robert Willemann E B G U L

E K Trail Corridor Monitor: I

M The Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail in Harri - Donald Myers Volunteers from Camp Coombe helped out this summer on the Yorktown Trails Project. man State Park celebrated its 90th birthday Trail Crew Chief: Chris Reyling Great Scenery, Invigorating Outdoor Service, Fun & Camaraderie in 2011. According to legend, the trail was Are Available Close to Home the first built by Trail Conference volun - Trail Crew Member: Steve teers, who completed its approximately 20 Butfilowski, Paul Kienker, Ann Here’s a sampling of parks and trails where we have openings for trail maintainers: miles in just three months. Kinney, Frank March, Sona Mason, For the last 25 years, John Lipsett has Debbie Melita, Keith Mulvihill, • Highlands Trail • Shawangunk Ridge Trail maintained, under the auspices of ADK- G. Gail Neffinger, George Perkinson, • Ringwood State Park • Neversink River Unique Area NY Chapter, the 4.6-mile stretch from Allen Rochkind, Chris Reyling, • Long Path North • Minnewaska State Park Preserve Route 17 in Sloatsburg to Route 106. On Jerry Ruocco, Fred Schneider, Prefer to put your administrative skills to work? November 26, 2011, John, a lawyer who Marek Stycos, Marjorie Taylor, resides in Manhattan, led his annual fall Richard Taylor, Theresa Vela Lenape Trail (NJ) Supervisor Needed trail clearing. He got to the trail by bus Trail Maintainer: Andrew Argeski, from Port Authority, as he has four to five Peter Beck, Patti Binko, Tricia In 2012 resolve to give something back to the trails you enjoy times a year for the past 25 years. Thank Boomhower, Marty Costello, Ken year-round. Visit nynjtc.org/volunteer to learn more, apply for you, John, for your dedication! Dolsky, Ray Flavell, Robert Fuller, a position, or indicate a specific interest. Watch for our Trail U Leonard Giusti, Harold Guest Jr., schedule of spring workshops: nynjtc.org/view/workshops. Save These Dates! Rick Hibbert, Jeffrey Jones, Member/Delegates Meetings 2012 Lawrence May, Kevin McGuinness, Charles Morgan, Brian Osborne, Thursday, February 9: Kori Phillips, William Phillips, DONORS TO THE ANNUAL FUND New York City Jeffrey Roggenburg, Robert and September 29 – November 28, 2011 Saturday, June 2: Ashley Rubolotta, Robert Russo, National Trails Day, location TBD Ted Schlesinger, David Smith, GIFTS Saturday, October 20: David Sutter, John Tifft, Estelle Anderson, Anonymous Donor, Ken Bald, Melissa Bean, Dr. George L. Becker Jr., Dr. George L. Becker III & Dr. Annual Meeting, location TBD Tristan VonHaugg, Teresa Wandas, Alissa Gelmann Becker, Daniel Berman, Vartika Bhandari, Ed Blaumeiser, Jack Bloom, Norman Blumenstein, Ian Blundell, Rita Boyd, Alice M. Broquist, William J. & Carol K. Burns, Ruth Chasek, Joshua Clements, William C. Close, Joe Whalen, Edward Young Herbert J. Coles & June Fait, D.N. Connolly, Chris Connolly, John Dalenberg, Andrea J. Damato, Jane & Walt Daniels, Joseph DiSaverio, Ken Dolsky, Donald & Ruellen Eisen, Laura Enos, Greg McAlpin, Kevin & Diane Fee, Jakob & Gely Trail Supervisor: Wilfredo Diaz, M. Franke, Christopher & Dorothy Freeman, Henry & Samira Galler, William Gannett, Mark Garrahan, John A. & AT Volunteer Gets Ed Leonard John C Gaut, Peter Gensicke, James Gilligan, John J. & Wanda C. Giuffrida, Coralyn & Abraham Gorlicki, Scott Greene, Jim Grieshaber, John & Marianne Gunzler, Joseph F. Helmer & Mary Dodds, Maria Himber, Daniel Hoberman, Web Associate: William Ellis Frederick Hodde, Robert J. Jonas, George A. Kalosieh, Richard & Marion Katzive, Kathleen M. Kearns, Priscilla Kellert, US Presidential Gary & Cindy Kuhns, Richard R. Levine &, Diane Levine, Rosanne Levitt, Rosemary & John Leyden, Sheila Lipshie, Did we miss you or someone you Eileen T. Mahler, Ronald Manning, Mary Anne & Charlie Massey, Jennifer Mathews, Richard J. Menfi, G. Gail Service Award know? Please tell us so we can Neffinger, Paul Neuman, Anthony V. Paterno, William F. & Mary H. Penny, George P. Perkinson, Eric & Maria Banuelos, Harry D. Perrinm, Jeanne Petta, Mary Jean Purdy, Bob & Sandy Purnell, Marylin Raitiere, Peter Reiner, Jim Haggett was awarded the President’s correct our records and give you the Chris Reyling, Andrea Minoff, Johanna Rioux, William R. Roehrig, Linda Rohleder, Ruth Rosenthal, Matthew Rotjan, thanks you deserve. Contact the Peter M. Rowe, Lowell & Rosalie Saferstein, Alex Saunders, Robert J. & Barbara L. Sayre, Charles & Xiomara Scheidt, Call to Service Award, arranged through the Volunteer Administrator via email: Joshua Schickman, Marypat & Todd Schreibman, Seth Schwartz, Mehran M. & Penny Shirazi, Kenneth M. Shure, National Park Service, in honor of his long [email protected] Richard E. Sparrow, Lee Spencer, Margaret J. Starmer, Dean B. Talcott, Diana Trebbi, Donald Tripp, Daniel R. & Lynne and distinguished service to the Appalachian H. Van Engel, Donald E. Wade, Alfred M. Wanamaker Jr., Larry A. Wehr, Patrick G. & Winifred J Welsh, Henry Wong, Trail. This award is given to recognize volun - Don Zabransky, Carrie Odgers, Hugh N. Zimmerman teer service to the community and the TRIBUTES CORPORATE, FOUNDATION nation. It is awarded to those who have been In honor of Mary Smart’s birthday & OTHER DONORS documented as having given in excess of John & Marianne Gunzler ADK North Jersey Ramapo Chapter, Adventures For Women, 4,000 hours of service. Jim serves as Chair of American Express-JustGive, Boy Scout Troop 50, Church In honor of Evelyn H. Lauder and her love of the land the Dutchess-Putnam AT Management New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Board of Directors Communities Foundation, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, EarthShare, Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, Google, Committee of the Trail Conference, and has In memory of Dr. Joan Ehrenfeld IBM Corporation, Network For Good, Pfizer Foundation been a trail builder, trail building trip leader, The Orion Society Matching Gifts Program, Sundance Outdoor Adventure In memory of Ann Gruhn Society, Truist, Unilever United States Foundation, Inc. trail maintainer, NPS land monitor, and trail Hans Khimm supervisor since 1982. The Trail Conference In memory of William Hladik congratulations Jim on this well deserved Tom Grogean, Robert P. and Maxine Guenther, recognition. Bob Young, John Hladik, Robert E. Warren Tributes are only printed for donations of $25 or more.

Jim Haggett (left) accepts Presidential thank-you from Ron Rosen.

We welcome these new member clubs (find list of all member “Like” NYNJTC! groups on our website): BSA Troop 258

Delaware and Hudson Canal and Gravity Railroad Conservancy Almost 3,000 fans! Join us today! Hudson Valley Hikers

facebook.com/nynjtc Society for the Advancement of Judaism Winter 2012 Page 11

bottom of the boot with a strap. Warm Toes While Winter Hiking: When Standard is Not Warm Enough Now Available: Ed Viesturs, America’s best known moun - Finding Comfort Below Freezing taineer, recently posted that he finally Tenth Edition of By Howard E. Friedman, DPM found comfort for his cold toes while climbing Mt. Vincent in the Antarctic in North Jersey Hiking on a truly frigid day should make a the feet through perspiration becoming 2011 by donning a neoprene overboot that Trails Map Set sane person nervous. We are mammals trapped, and frozen, in the socks and boots. completely encloses his plastic moun - after all, fur-less, warm-blooded, engi - taineering boots but also includes an neered to function optimally at a core body The Standard Solution integrated gaiter. Though hiking in the temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit For a moderate-to-strenuous hike in fairly Northeast does not pose the challenges of (F), more than 60 degrees above the freez - dry snow and temperatures close to the the Antarctic, Mr. Viesturs’ solution for ing point. Simply put, we are not designed freezing point, most hikers will be com - warm toes is now being used from Norway for the cold. And nothing says “cold” like fortable in an insulated, waterproof, to the Himalayas, from the Antarctic to the the gnawing pain of icy toes. over-the-ankle boot with layers of socks. A east coast of the United States. Indeed, one thin wicking sock made of polypropylene company, aptly named Forty Below—the The Body’s Design Challenge or wool under a thick insulating sock temperature at which not only human The human body is designed to preserve made primarily of wool can be a quite skin, but mercury in thermometers the temperature of the important organs in effective insulating combination. Do not freezes—specializes in creating insulating the chest and abdomen even at the expense lace the boots too tightly, to avoid con - neoprene overboots that can form-fit to of the extremities. In cold conditions, stricting circulation, and change socks any type of shoe, from a flexible running warm blood will be shunted to the body’s when wet. If wetness is anticipated, hikers shoe to a stiff mountaineering boot. A few critical core organs to maintain the right may add a waterproof sock over their insu - companies offer overboots. Products vary temperature. lating sock. One popular brand is Rocky in their weight, height, ability to accom - In all conditions, the amount of blood Gore-Tex socks. To accommodate extra modate traction devices, and other features. that can flow into the toes is limited by the layers, winter boots may need to be one size of their very small arteries; further, the size larger than usual. Non-Standard Approach toes have a large surface area relative to Waterproof, breathable, insulated boots Avid hikers have long strived to develop a their size, resulting in significant heat loss. abound. They are insulated with materials light-weight system for winter hiking and Indeed the surface temperature of the toes like Thinsulate or Primaloft, synthetic snow-shoeing. Many believe that lighter- is often 10-20 F less than that of other areas microfibers much thinner than standard weight footwear is more comfortable, and The revised 10th edition of North Jersey of the body even while indoors. Moreover polyester fibers. They are added to boots in enables one to hike further, and that unre - Trails is now available. This two-map set fea - tight laces and thick socks can further con - increments of 200 grams/square meter. stricted motion in a flexible shoe helps keep tures over 275 miles of marked trails within strict the blood flow to the toes. Manufacturers equate increased insulation the feet warmer. more than 16 parks in northern New Jersey. One such system for hiking in snowy Several new trails and many relocations of cold temperatures incorporates a liner existing trails have been incorporated into sock, an insulating sock, a non-waterproof the maps, including the new Manaticut non-insulated trail runner shoe, an insole, Point Trail and a revised configuration of a gaiter, and a waterproof Gore-Tex sock, trails near Weis Ecology Center in Norvin explains Will Reitveld, senior editor for Green State Forest, as well as the relocation gear and apparel, in the online publication of the Highlands Trail and surrounding BackpackingLight.com. This layering sys - trails near Clinton Reservoir in the Pequan - tem could be further modified by nock Watershed. In addition, the Pochuck replacing the light trail runner with an Boardwalk section of the Appalachian Trail insulated light hiking boot and a neoprene is now shown in its entirety. overboot for snowshoeing in colder tem - The maps show all trails and many woods peratures, he writes. roads in Ringwood State Park, Ramapo Val - ley County Reservation, Ramapo Mountain Toes still cold? State Forest, Norvin Green State Forest, A few more warming aids are available to the Wawayanda State Park, Abram S. Hewitt hiker suffering with chronically cold toes. State Forest and the Pequannock Watershed, Chemical warmers that become activated and a large-scale map of Campgaw Moun - when exposed to the air can be placed under tain County Reservation is also included. a sock and may add about five degrees of Nearly 15 miles of the Appalachian Trail and warmth for a few hours to the immediate 40 miles of the Highlands Trail are shown Neoprene overboot (left) by Forty Below Ltd can be used over a hiking boot area they contact. During a rest break, they on the maps. or trail shoe in freezing, wet temperatures. can be placed into a boot in advance to “pre- To obtain this map set, shop online at Another challenge to keeping toes warm with a lower temperature range of comfort. heat” the inside of the boot, suggests Joel nynjtc.org, call 201-512-9348, or stop in at while winter hiking is snow condition. Ear - LL Bean, for example, advertises winter Attaway, president of Forty Below. the Trail Conference office. ly morning’s hard-packed, firm, and boots insulated with 200 gm of Primaloft In addition, some pre-fabricated foot relatively dry snow may, by afternoon, be a that they have tested during active outdoor beds are reportedly quite helpful in provid - The map set was produced with support slushy mix that makes the feet cold and wet. activity like quick-paced hiking or snow - ing further insulation. Toasty Feet Insoles from Campmor, an outdoor store and retail Moreover, a boot and sock warm enough shoeing to be warm to minus 5 F, 400 gm are a favorite of Will Reitveld, while Mr. partner of the Trail Conference. for active winter hiking may be under-insu - of insulation tested to minus 40 F, and a Attaway recommends Spenco Polysorb, lated to keep the feet warm during a lunch 600 gm Primaloft boot that they have test - which he says is a good insulator due to its break. If the core body temperature drops, ed to minus 50 F. closed-cell flexible neoprene and shock the feet will become even colder. And if per - But determining a comfort range depends absorbing qualities. spiration is not wicked away from the feet, on many factors, and the same boots LL Overall, hikers should be actively ACORN BOOMS & BUSTS the dampness will accelerate the loss of heat; Bean says will keep feet warm during jog - engaged in thinking about and planning continued from page 7 feet may become encrusted in an icy coating. ging or snowshoeing to minus 5 F, they their winter cold weather footwear. Simply estimate will keep feet warm only to 30 F lacing up the insulated boots and hoping the risk for Lyme disease in humans two Before Thinking About Boots during regular walking. One specialty winter for the best is not sufficient, as it may very years later. Before deciding on footwear, the hiker boot company, Baffin, says its boots with a well lead to a curtailed hike or even Acorn booms and busts affect forest must dress appropriately from head to toe thick inner boot are tested to minus 100 F! extremely painful feet and toes. With a bet - ecosystems in complex ways that scientists to maximize insulation and prevent heat When hiking in several inches of snow or ter understanding of how to apply the are continuing to investigate. Given the loss throughout the entire body. A cold in situations where snow or ice could be concept of layering to footwear, hikers acorn boom crop of 2010, we should be core will lead to even colder toes. The hik - kicked up and land inside the boot or wet should be able to customize their footwear extra vigilant about Lyme disease in 2012. er must likewise be adequately hydrated the lower pants leg and slowly drip into the to their planned hike and modify it as before and during the winter hike, as dehy - boots, hikers should add a gaiter—a water- needed even during the hike. Trail Conference member Edna Greig writes dration will also lead to cold extremities. resistant fabric sleeve that covers the lower regularly for Trail Walker on natural history Keep in mind that caffeine, nicotine, and portion of the leg and the top portion of the Howard E. Friedman, DPM, is an avid hik - topics. Find previous articles by her and alcohol all are reputed to lead to constric - boot, including the opening around the er, a podiatrist in Suffern, NY, and a frequent other science/natural history contributors on tion of blood vessels, and thus to reduced ankle. The gaiter prevents snow, slush, and contributor to Trail Walker of articles relating our website: nynjtc.org/news/science warming action by blood flow. water from entering the shoe around the to hiking and health. Find his articles on our Before setting out, the hiker should ankle area. Gaiters come in different heights website at nynjtc.org/news/health-news assess the status of the terrain on the trail. and materials and methods of attaching to Walking on hard-packed snow below the the top of the boot. They are secured to the freezing point requires insulation, but not necessarily waterproofing. Hiking in deep snow above freezing requires less insulation Coming to our area in March! but waterproofing is necessary. Hiking at a New York City & Rockland County/Northern New Jersey moderate to strenuous pace without stop - ping, even in below freezing temperature, See exciting films on mountain themes from around the world. may require less insulation since the activi - Wednesday, February 29, 7pm Sunday, March 4, Monday, March 5 ty of hiking will promote warmth to the toes. But, planning a full day out with rest Suffern, NY — Lafayette Theater and Tuesday, March 6, 7:30pm stops will require extra layers for the lulls in Tickets at Ramsey Outdoor after February 1 New York City — Peter Norton activity. During the rest stops the hiker Symphony Space should change into dry socks if necessary. Programs each night are entirely different. Tickets at Paragon Sports after February 1 Up to a half-pint of fluid can be lost from Page 12 Winter 2012 Featured Hike

By Daniel Chazin Sylvan Glen Park Preserve

Length: 4.9 miles (no view) before returning to the Sylvan Difficulty: moderately easy Brook Trail. Turn left onto Sylvan Brook Features: old quarries, giant white oak Trail and continue to its end on the Turtle Map: at nynjtc.org/view/maps Pond Trail. Go left again and almost imme - No dogs or mountain bikes diately cross a gas pipeline at 0.8 mile. Driving: Take the Taconic State Parkway to Continue on the Turtle Pond Trail as it Route 202 and turn west. At the traffic light passes through white pines, crosses Sylvan at Lexington Avenue, at 1.8 miles, turn right. Brook, and passes by remains associated Drive 0.6 mile to Morris Lane. Turn right with quarrying operations. Interpretive signs and go into the parking lot at the bottom of are along the trail. When Turtle Pond Trail the hill. ends at the High Quarry Trail (blue), turn right. Abandoned quarry machinery, cables, In 2010, Trail Conference volunteers and cut stones are scattered along the trail. joined forces with the Westchester Moun - At 1.7 miles, a side trail leads to a view into tain Biking Association and the Town of the quarry pit and to the west. Be cautious. Yorktown to build a trail network on both sides of the Taconic State Parkway incorpo - rating 6 miles of existing trails. By the end Newly built trails in this of 2011, 11.5 miles of new trails had been completed. Trail-building volunteers Westchester preserve pass included the Trail Conference’s Jolly Rovers—trained in advanced rock-work abandoned quarries building techniques—Boy Scouts and Girl and related remains of Scouts, and others from the community. Portions of the network are for both moun - 19th-century activities. tain bikes and foot traffic; others are hiker-only. Trails Supervisor Jane Daniels describes a Leave the view and follow the co-aligned S L E

5-mile loop hike that includes both new High Quarry (blue) and Sylvan Glen (red) I N A

and older trail sections and passes a host of trails away from the quarry operations. D

E N

interesting natural and historical features. A When the trails split, go straight on the Syl - A detailed hike description can be found on van Glen Trail (red). At the junction with J The Quarry Oak in Sylvan Glen Park Preserve. our website (nynjtc.org/hike/turtle-pond- the Old Farm Trail (green) at 2.5 miles, trail-loop) and is the basis for this turn left. Stay on this trail through an old BEFORE AFTER introduction to the new trail network. riding ring, over a wood bridge, onto a Sylvan Glen Park Preserve protects an woods road, and to its end at the High abandoned 19th-century quarry, which in Quarry Trail at 3.1 miles. Turn left and fol - its heyday supplied honey-colored granite low the High Quarry Trail back to the for St. John the Divine Cathedral in Man - quarry area and rejoin the Sylvan Glen hattan. Quarries and remnants of Trail. When the trails split, turn left to go quarrying operations are in several loca - behind the pile of discarded rocks. tions and include foundations, polished Continue on the Sylvan Glen Trail. At blocks, partially finished carvings, old 3.9 miles descend the stone steps built by machinery, and cables. the Jolly Rovers this past summer. A “don’t From the parking lot, take the Turtle miss” feature, on a short side trail, is the 18- Pond Trail (white) past an outdoor class - foot circumference Quarry Oak. Return to room and at a woods road, turn left uphill. the Sylvan Glen Trail, which passes Turn left at the Sylvan Brook Trail (yellow), through the quarry and then ends at the then, shortly, left again onto the Grant Turtle Pond Trail. Go left to take the Turtle Lookout Trail (red). This will pass a quarry Pond Trail back to the parking lot. The Jolly Rovers Trail Crew hardened the trail to prevent erosion.

Support Trails, Parks and Open Join/Renew NY-NJ Trail Conference Membership Space in the New York-New Jersey 1,800 miles of trails; your membership helps us expand our horizons. Included with membership, Trail Walker , 10% discount on purchases at many region by joining the New York- outdoor stores, and 25% discount on all Trail Conference maps and books purchased directly from the Trail Conference. Save time and a tree by joining or New Jersey Trail Conference. renewing online at www.nynjtc.org. Just click on the Join/Renew Now button. MEMBERSHIP TYPE Select one: Join Renew Membership # if available______The Trail Conference maintains more than 1,800 miles Regular $30 Individual $40 Joint e of trails, advocates for parks, protects open space, and Sponsor $75 c provides volunteer service opportunities in the great Benefactor $150 S

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e Director’s Circle $600 Your membership supports the trails you love and gives r Life $1,000 Individual $1,500 Joint T you these additional benefits:

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o For my membership of $50 or more, send me a: F Great Discounts at supporting outdoor retailers and Trail Conference Cap OR Harriman-Bear Mountain Map Set C

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l To purchase a gift membership, call 201-512-9348, extension 26. i

E Tuition-Free Enrollment in our Trail University Name ______a

r Address ______Workshops and Seminars on trail maintenance T and construction, leadership training, wilderness first City ______State ______Zip ______

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- Card # ______Exp. Date: ____/ ____ on-trail and off-trail Make check or money order payable to the NY-NJ Trail Conference, Y and mail to: 156 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430. Find links to all these and more at nynjtc.org. N B Tax-deductible. Dues are not refundable.