Fracking in the Native Forests at Risk Catskills? Emerald Ash Borer found at Trail Conference sees threat state campground in Catskills. to trails and votes ‘No.’ Poses widespread threat. READ MORE ON PAGE 3 READ MORE ON PAGE 3

Fall 2012 New York-New Jersey Trail Conference — Connecting People with Nature since 1920 www.nynjtc.org Trail Conference Southern Gunks Greenway Grows Honors Basha Kill Area Association’s as 435 Acres are Protected 40 Years of he Trail Conference, in partnership Stewardship with the Open Space Institute T(OSI) and Orange County Land Trust (OCLT), has purchased and protect - ed 435 forested acres on the southern Shawangunk Ridge. The parcel, known as the Ridgeview property, includes meadows and four small ponds and is to be preserved as open space. It is located in the Orange County, New York, towns of Deerpark and Greenville, close to the state’s border with New Jersey. The purchase was completed July 17

R with $1.7 million in private funds, includ - I E W

ing $450,000 from the Trail Conference’s E E K T T N E

donor-supported Land Acquisition and A G R R F

O

Stewardship Fund (LASF). The partner - B E O G K

ship anticipates the funds will be returned A Jakob Franke presented the Trail Conference’s J prestigious Leo Rothschild Conservation when the property is sold to the New York The large ridgetop parcel in Orange County includes four ponds, meadows, woodland, and Award to BKAA President Paula Medley. Dept. of Environmental Conservation views, now protected as open space and public access. (DEC) as an addition to Huckleberry The Rothschild Conservation Award is pre - Ridge State Forest. habitat for wildlife, and a tourist attraction The partners hope to see the state sented to a person or organization that has The acquisition of the Ridgeview proper - that brings business to local communities. acquire the property as soon as its finances made a significant contribution to the protec - ty is another big step toward the Trail The DEC had long targeted the property permit. All three organizations are active tion of our trails and/or the natural lands that Conference goal of working with partners for protection, but did not have the money members of the Friends of New York’s surround them. It is named for a long-time to preserve a Gunks Greenway from Port when the land went up for sale. Environment, a coalition working to conservation chair of the Trail Conference. Jervis to the Catskills as a recreational “The Open Space Institute, New York- restore funding to the Environmental Pro - resource for residents and visitors, a valuable New Jersey Trail Conference, and Orange tection Fund, the state’s principal source of For 40 years, the Basha Kill Area Associa - County Land Trust are to be commended land conservation funding. tion (BKAA) has been steadfast in for completing this important conservation “Preserving this land has been important protecting the natural resources and scenic Our Land Acquisition and project,” said Kathy Moser, DEC Assistant for many years to Greenville area resi - viewsheds along the Shawangunk Ridge. Commissioner for Natural Resources. dents,” said New York State Senator John The organization has been a crucial partner Stewardship Fund has now “This acquisition protects the landscape Bonacic, who represents the 42nd District, to the Trail Conference in protecting land features and natural communities of the which includes part of Orange County. “It along the Shawangunk Ridge, mitigating helped to preserve nearly southern Shawangunks and provides is my hope the land can ultimately be or stopping unwise development plans, 5,000 acres as open space. opportunities for an enhanced recreational transferred to the state to ensure its preser - and educating area residents and visitors trail system, including an improved route vation forever. I want to applaud [former about the natural benefits and economic for the Shawangunk Ridge Trail.” continued on page 2 potential of a Gunks Greenway. Founded in 1972, the BKAA’s mission is to protect the Basha Kill wetlands and sur - rounding area from ecological degradation, Volunteers Tackle a Crumbling A.T. at to promote education and respect for the environment in general, and to preserve Fitzgerald Falls in Greenwood Lake the beauty of the area. BKAA representatives are avid local An ambitious and technically difficult trail complication is the extreme narrowness of watchdogs and advocates, working effec - reconstruction project at Fitzgerald Falls on the gorge in which they are working. tively with—sometimes at odds the Appalachian Trail in Greenwood Lake, The project requires more than 50 stone with—local and state officials to protect NY, is more than halfway to completion, steps, each 300 pounds and 2 feet long; the 2000-acre Basha Kill Wildlife Manage - thanks to the Jolly Rovers Trail Crew and several sections of 4-foot-high stone retain - ment Area (BKWMA) since it was the Orange and Rockland Long Distance ing walls; and three long step-stone I U

purchased by New York State in 1972. The Trail Crew (ORLD). crossings on the approach to the bottom of G N I

S Shawangunk Ridge Trail traverses the The Falls is an easy walk and popular the Falls. All three step-stone crossings are I R H BKWMA along a protected rail trail. destination for local residents and avid A.T. constructed and in use. The staircase will C Crew members maneuver rocks into place in BKAA cultivates active and informed hikers, but the project itself has been far take hikers up a narrow gorge to the top of a narrow gorge. citizens by offering guided outings and from easy for these Trail Conference volun - the Falls, with several overlooks and view - talks, and publishing a newsletter, website teer crews. Quarries where stone is ing platforms along the way. Because many promoted a plan for improvements, but (thebashakill.org), and The Basha Kill Wet - hand-split for steps are 200 to 300 feet families and novice hikers visit the area, needed technical expertise was unavailable. lands Field Guide . away from where the steps are being special attention is being paid to making A solution was devised in winter 2011, The Trail Conference honors the long, placed. To move the 300-pound blocks, the the currently unstable scramble up the Falls when the Jolly Rovers and ORLD met to accomplished history of the BKAA and crew must install an extensive network of safely accessible for the general public, review the problem. ORLD, led by Chris looks forward to a continuing partnership overhead highlines and rigging systems while staying true to a rustic aesthetic. Reyling, takes on a variety of projects but in protecting the Shawangunk Ridge. each time they are on the project. A further “The Fitzgerald Falls project is scheduled generally not technical rockwork. The to be completed in April 2013. In the Rovers—who are alumni of the Bear VOLUME XXXIX, N UMBER 4 ISSN 0749-1352 meantime, hikers are welcome to check out Mountain Trails Project—focus on techni - the accomplishments thus far. Though still cal stonework projects on heavily trafficked a work in progress, the trail is hikeable and and eroded trails in all Trail Conference very impressive,” says Jolly Rovers Crew regions. The Fitzgerald Falls staircase is the Chief Chris Ingui. Rovers’ most ambitious undertaking since The Falls trail had been heavily eroded the crew launched in March 2011. Many and in need of major repair for more than crew members come equipped with their a decade. Rich Taylor of our local A.T. own stone-working tools; others have Management Committee envisioned and continued on page 9 Page 2 Fall 2012

Feedback Are You Sure About That? Thank You Latest Trail Walker , summer 2012, says on To be honest I’d never seen any trail work - VOLUME XXXIX, NO.4 FALL 2012 RE new AT Boardwalk in Pawling page 3 in Conservation News that Min - ers until [mid August]. An experience I’ll GEORGETTE WEIR EDITOR I want to thank all the contributors who newaska’s latest additions to a new total of never forget. I was hiking up on Crow’s LOUIS LEONARDIS GRAPHIC DESIGNER made the July 1 grand opening celebration 22,000 acres makes it “the largest park pre - Nest in Storm King State Park, and after a TRAIL WALKER (USPS Permit #970-100) such a success. serve in New York State.” There is life west very tiring climb, I rested at the top. My (ISSN 0749-1352) is published quarterly by the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference as a • speakers David Kelly, Pam Underhill, of the Catskills: Allegany State Park legs were covered in overgrowth. I said to benefit of membership. Subscriptions are Karen Lutz, Ed Goodell, Mark encompasses something like 65,000 acres. myself, wow, it must be a hassle to clean up available to libraries only at $15.00 a year. Wenger, and Willie Janeway, thank —Irene Szabo, Life Member this trail. Just as I said that a man appeared Periodical postage paid at Mahwah, N.J., and additional offices. Postmaster: Send address you for kind words; over the hill, weed whacking the trail to changes to the address below. Opinions expressed • all the people who helped spruce up Editor’s note: Thanks for your note and perfection. I chatted with this man and by authors do not necessarily represent the policy the area and set up: Bob Haas, Frank close reading of Trail Walker . The distinc - learned that he did this twice a week! or position of the Conference. Contributions of Dogil, Steve Klauck, Metro-North; tion between Minnewaska and Allegany is Thanks for all you do Trail Conference. typed manuscripts, photos, and drawings are welcome. Manuscripts may be edited for style • the Town of Pawling Highway Depart - that Minnewaska is classified as a state Park You really make my hiking experience an and length. Send SASE for writers’ guidelines. ment (John Daley) and Buildings and Preserve, while Allegany is not categorized adventure every weekend. Submission deadlines for the TRAIL WALKER Grounds (Wendell Weber) for parking as a preserve (“just” state park). Preserve —Robert Schablik, August 31 are January 15 (Spring issue), May 15 (Summer lot improvements and the loan of traf - status confers added levels of protection for issue), August 15 (Fall issue), November 15 On Our Website (Winter issue). Unsolicited contributions cannot fic barriers, chairs, and podium; the natural resources. According to the be acknowledged unless accompanied by SASE. • Peter Cris for use of his sound system; state, Minnewaska is the largest park pre - On the Forum: For information on advertising rates, please write • Mid-Hudson ADK hike leaders serve in the OPRHP system. Mapmaking Gods or call. Salley Decker, Sue Mackson, and If I were the king of Tuxedo, NY, it would Copyright 2012 by: On Facebook New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, Inc. Lalita Malik; be the hiking capital of New York. There’d 156 Ramapo Valley Road (Rt. 202) • the Pawling Girl Scouts; Great Maps! be an outfitter right near the train station Mahwah, NJ 07430 • Leigh Draper and Bob Sickley 25-year veteran Harriman hiker, tore my where the R-D comes in. It would be what 201-512-9348 for displays; house apart looking for my Southern Har - Rosco, NY, is to fly-fishing. The people email: [email protected] editorial email: [email protected] • Ron Rosen, Mike Fraatz, and Frank riman trails map, couldn’t find it. Bought a who make these maps would be gods. I World Wide Web: www.nynjtc.org Dogil for all their pre-event planning; new set—the 2012 version—at Campmor, think Harriman State Park is just amazing - • Pete Muroski for opening his facilities and, what a beauty! Thanks to the publica - ly beautiful and the NYNJTC mapmakers and parking area at Native Land - tions/map team from a happy hiker. are the best at it—that’s all. scapes Garden Center for our use; —Shelly Freierman, July 14 —Suzy, August 11 • Charlie Dennis for help with installing the bulletin board and fence. Kudos for LP Reroute My apologies to anyone I might have “Recently hiked the newly relocated Long neglected to mention. Path in Minnewaska Park. The trail pro - Again, my sincere appreciation to all. vides the opportunity to take in several Send Us a Letter —Jim Haggett, Chair Dutchess-Putnam varying ecosystems as the hiker ascends the Email it to [email protected]; in the subject Mission Statement AT Management Committee trail from Foordmore Rd. Kudos to the the line, put “letter to TW editor”; or send it to The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is a Trail Conference for a great job construct - Trail Walker Letters, NY-NJ Trail Confer - federation of member clubs and individuals DEC Reply: Jim, you and the volunteers ing the new trail!” ence, 156 Ramapo Valley Rd., Mahwah, dedicated to providing recreational hiking did a great job and make all the partners —Steve Aaron, August 17 opportunities in the region, and representing the NJ 07430. interests and concerns of the hiking community. look good. More importantly, the trail is Editor’s note: For more about the relo, see The Conference is a volunteer-directed public better than ever. Thank you. Summer 2012 Trail Walker , page 1. service organization committed to: —William C. Janeway, • Developing, building, and maintaining hiking trails. Regional Director, NYS Department of • Protecting hiking trail lands through Environmental Conservation, Region 3 support and advocacy. • Educating the public in the responsible use of trails and the natural environment.

Board of Directors SOUTHERN GUNKS bringing together the people and organiza - ecosystems and wildlife habitat found Chris Connolly Chair Gaylord Holmes Vice Chair continued from page 1 tions who could make it happen.” along this ridge will provide lasting benefits James Gregoire Treasurer The Shawangunk Ridge stretches for 50 for the people of Orange County. We look Daniel Chazin Secretary owner] Peter Carr for agreeing to this sale miles from Kingston, NY to the New Jersey forward to stewarding this amazing proper - Directors and the Open Space Institute and New border. OSI has focused its efforts there ty, with its scenic beauty and natural Robert Boysen Richard Levine Skip Card Anne Todd Osborn York-New Jersey Trail Conference for pur - since its inception, protecting more than wonders, until such time as the land can be Walter Daniels Edward Saiff chasing it.” 27,000 acres along the ridge over the last transferred and permanently protected by Charlotte Fahn Dave Stuhr Daniel Hoberman Daniel Van Engel Gaylord Holmes, vice chair of the Trail quarter-century. However, the area that the New York Department of Environ - Richard Katzive Conference’s Board of Directors, said, “We includes the Ridgeview parcel—an approx - mental Conservation.” Staff are pleased to once again work with our imately 9-mile stretch of ridgetop from Edward Goodell Executive Director partners OSI, OCLT, and DEC on an Otisville south to Port Jervis—is the least Trail Conference work on the Gunks Green - Joshua Howard Deputy Executive Director important land protection project. This protected stretch of the Kittatinny-Shawan - way is supported by a donor-supported Land Don Weise Development purchase adds to the 4,400 acres the Trail gunk Ridge in New York and New Jersey. Acquisition and Stewardship Fund (LASF) Director Conference has preserved with its Land The Orange County Land Trust will and by grants from the Conservation Joanne Reinhardt Membership Acquisition and Stewardship Fund, either manage the Ridgeview property until it is Alliance—a national group of outdoor recre - Program Manager by outright purchase or in partnership with transferred to the DEC. ation companies—and the Conservation Jennis Watson Membership & Development the DEC and other agencies. Andy Garri - “We are delighted to be part of this Partnership Program of New York, adminis - Associate son, our very dedicated volunteer in the important conservation effort with OSI tered by the DEC and Land Trust Alliance. Jeremy Apgar Cartographer area, and Ed Goodell, executive director, and the NY-NJ Trail Conference," said Jim Leigh Draper East Hudson Program were very effective in keeping track of Delaune, executive director of the Orange Coordinator opportunities to preserve this land and County Land Trust. “Protecting important Jonathan Martin New Jersey Program Coordinator Larry Wheelock West Hudson Program 50 Coordinator Give the gift that makes a difference! % Jeff Senterman Catskill Program O * Coordinator FF Gary Willick Fulfillment Special Gift Membership Deal Through December at 50% Off! Coordinator Georgette Weir Communications Individual Membership Add to your gift by selecting one of the following: Manager Melissa Bean Operations & Regular Price $30 Now $15!! Finance Assistant Jennifer Easterbook Darlington Joint Membership Schoolhouse Regular Price $40 Now $20!! Campaign Assistant The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is a volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. It is Gift-giver: a federation of 103 hiking and outdoor groups, and 10,000 individuals. Name ______printed on recycled content paper Membership # if available ______Gift Package #1 Gift Package #2 Gift Package #3 Address ______PLEASE RECYCLE TRAIL WALKER Individual membership gift package $30 City ______State ______Zip ______Joint membership gift package $35 Phone ______Recipient: Individual Joint Follow NYNJTC! E-mail ______Name ______Check or money order enclosed Address ______Please bill my credit card Visa Mastercard Amex City ______facebook.com/nynjtc Card # ______Exp. Date ___/___ State ______Zip ______Make check or money order payable to the NY-NJ Trail Conference, *Gift membership offer valid through December 31, 2012 and twitter.com/NYNJTrailConf and mail to: NY-NJ Trail Conference, 50% OFF Gift Membership, for New Memberships only. This offer is not available online. 156 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430. Fall 2012 Page 3

From the Executive Director more jobs than there are lawyers— tem services to society. The value of ecosys - Governor Cuomo 728,200—in the U.S). Astonishingly, tem services provided by natural habitat in Restore the Environmental Projection Nature-based Americans’ spend far more on bicycling gear the continental United States is estimated to Fund budget for land acquisition back and trips ($81 billion) than they do on air - be more than 10% of the total U.S. GDP. to, at least, 2009 levels ($60 million) Recreation Is plane tickets and fees ($51 billion). The best local example of this is New York from the current $17 million; These are nationwide numbers, but City watershed lands, estimated to cost $1- Make sure that there is no gas drilling an Economic there are local studies that demonstrate the 1.5 billion to protect compared to $6-8 within the Catskill Park (i.e. inside the importance of nature-based recreation for billion to build a filtration plant plus $300 Blue Line). Powerhouse the New York-New Jersey region, too. A million annually to operate. The outdoor Governor Christie Outdoor recreation and 2010 economic impact study of Min - recreation economy is both sustainable and Introduce legislation that provides a access to nature is fun - newaska State Park, Mohonk Preserve, and robust, growing at “approximately 5% long-term funding mechanism for the damental not only to a healthy lifestyle but Sam’s Point Preserve showed a $12 million during the recession when many other Garden State Preservation Trust and to a prosperous one as well. economic impact and 358 jobs. A 2010 sectors contracted.” New Jersey parks, forests, and wildlife Trail Walker readers probably don’t need report of the Delaware Water Gap Nation - management areas. convincing that protecting open space and al Recreation Area showed that the The outdoor recreation President Obama maintaining parks are important quality of approximately 5 million annual visitors Don’t let U.S. Interior Secretary Ken life issues, but with major deficit reduction spent more than $150 million and sup - economy is both sustainable Salazar and the Dept. of Interior overrule debates occurring at all levels of govern - ported approximately 2,500 jobs. The 4.4 and robust, growing the Environmental Impact Statement ment, it is important to remember just how million visitors to New York State parks in finding that the PSE&G transmission important outdoor recreation is as a very the Palisades Region are estimated to have at “approximately line across the Delaware Water Gap and efficient, very sustainable, and very BIG a $94 million impact. 5% during the recession Appalachian National Scenic Trail should economic engine. Of course, we know that the personal fit - be stopped in its tracks. A recent study by the Outdoor Industry ness that accompanies outdoor recreation when many other Association, The Outdoor Recreation Econo - leads to health benefits and reduced obesi - sectors contracted.” When we enjoy our parks today, we are my *, shows that despite the effects of the ty. Conversely, the lack of exercise and benefiting from the active advocacy of pri - Great Recession, almost 50% of Americans access to outdoor recreation contributes to or decades. We need to do our part now to take part in outdoor recreation, spending the obesity epidemic. Fifty percent more It is about time our elected officials recog - ensure that nature-based recreation contin - $646 billion and directly supporting Americans are obese today than 20 years nize how important nature-based recreation ues to benefit our region and its people. 6.1 million jobs nationwide. Outdoor ago and 33% more are predicted to be is to our well-being—economic, physical recreation is defined as resource-based, obese 20 years from now. The U.S. cost of and emotional—and stop treating it as an human-powered sports, with running, fish - obesity has been estimated at almost $150 afterthought. In this political season and in ing, biking, camping, and hiking being the billion annually, or about 9% of total med - the budget battles ahead, it is up to Trail five most popular. ical expenditures. Outdoor recreation can’t Conference members to make the case that — Edward Goodell These are really big numbers. The eco - solve this epidemic alone but it highlights this is a MUST HAVE policy rather than a Executive Director nomic output is twice that of the the need to bring access to open space clos - Nice-to-Have one. [email protected] pharmaceutical sector and involves more jobs er to those who need it most (a focus of the Here are some things our political lead - than insurance and financial services com - Trail Conference). ers need do to reinforce this quiet * Find this article and links to the studies bined. Citing U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, Furthermore, nature-based recreation economic giant: mentioned in it on our website: the study reports that 768,000 American depends primarily on open space, which nynjtc.org/news/nature-based-economy jobs depend on trail sports (for comparison, independently supplies a wealth of ecosys - Proposed Hydrofracking Rule Emerald Ash Borer Found Threatens Catskill for the First Time in a Park Wilderness New York State-Owned Campground “Don’t frack with the Catskill Park!” That is the message of a resolution passed by the An Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) infestation Forest Preserve Advisory Committee was found in the Catskill Forest Preserve at (FPAC) and sent to Governor Cuomo, a state-owned campground, New York members of the New York State Legisla - State Dept. of Environmental Conserva - ture, and the Commissioner of the NYS tion (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens Dept. of Environmental Conservation announced August 10. The discovery was (DEC) in August. confirmed after a DEC employee recovered The resolution urged DEC to exclude all a single EAB beetle from a purple prism lands—not just state-owned and New York trap that was placed in DEC’s Kenneth L. City watershed lands—within the Catskill Wilson campground in the Town of Views in the Catskills may be in for big changes with threats posed by Park Blue Line from the Final Generic Woodstock, Ulster County. hydro-fracking and the emerald ash borer. Environmental Impact Statement (FGEIS) Since it was first discovered in Michigan it is developing to allow hydraulic fracturing in 2002, EAB has destroyed 70 million trees tine, which restricts the movement of ash of these trees, and conducting a thorough in the state. Further, the committee urged in the United States. New York has more products and firewood out of the quaran - visual inspection for potential EAB infesta - that if fracking within the Blue Line bound - than 900 million ash trees, representing tined area. Although the newest infestation tion. Dying or hazardous ash trees will be ary is not prohibited outright (by excluding about 7% of all trees in the state, and all are exists within the quarantined county, it lies removed from high-use areas such as camp - all lands within the Blue Line from the at risk from EAB. Hikers and trail volun - about 4 miles west of the previously defined sites, roads, and paths, which is consistent FGEIS), then DEC should require site-spe - teers are encouraged to be aware of signs of area and is the first EAB found in a DEC with DEC’s protocol to continuously iden - cific environmental impact reviews as EAB and to be alert to its presence (see web - campground. The discovery highlights the tify and remove hazard trees. DEC also prescribed by the State Environmental site link at end for more information.) threat EAB poses to New York camp - may girdle select ash trees outside high-use Quality Review Act (SEQRA) for every Shortly after the EAB was first detected grounds and the Catskill Forest Preserve. areas. A tree with a section of bark removed application for a gas drilling permit on in New York, Troy Weldy, Director of Eco - “Campers should not bring untreated may become more attractive to the beetle, lands inside the park. Drillers would have to logical Management for The Nature firewood to any of the Catskill camp - making EAB easier to detect and control demonstrate no adverse impact to the Park Conservancy-New York, reported in these grounds,” said Commissioner Martens. from spreading outward to new areas. and its resources with each application. pages (July/August 2009 Trail Walker ), “Untreated ash firewood that is brought Damage from EAB is caused by the lar - The Trail Conference is a member of “New York and New Jersey have four into these campgrounds from as little as 5 vae, which feed in tunnels just under the FPAC and voted with the majority (16 yeas, native species of ash: green, white, black, miles away can greatly accelerate the spread ash tree's bark. The tunnels disrupt water 3 abstentions) in favor of the resolution. and pumpkin. Ash trees are prevalent along of this insect and the death of the cherished and nutrient transport, causing branches The resolution was prompted by con - streams and wetlands, as well as backyards ash trees in the Catskill Preserve. Heat- and eventually the entire tree to die. Adult cerns that DEC’s proposed regulations that and city streets, and the impact of the treated firewood is the only firewood that is beetles leave distinctive D-shaped exit holes would effectively prohibit hydrofracking emerald ash borer—it is considered to be safe to transport because the heat elimi - in the outer bark of the branches and on state owned and New York City water - unstoppable—is likely to severely alter nates any pests living inside the wood.” trunk. Other signs of infestation include shed lands within the Blue Line would not important wildlife and human habitats.” DEC has adopted a strategy, Slow Ash Mortality (SLAM), to slow the spread of continued on page 7 continued on page 6 DEC Background on Emerald Ash Borer EAB within the state and its devastating After EAB was first discovered in Ulster economic and environmental impacts. Join Us at Our Annual Meeting County near Kingston in 2010, state and SLAM includes removing infested trees, federal agencies initiated an EAB quaran - defining and monitoring infestation and Awards Presentations boundaries, and researching insecticides and organisms that kill pests. The purple detection trap that was placed in Kenneth With pancakes and followed by hikes. L. Wilson campground is part of a SLAM When: Saturday, October 20 initiative that enables DEC to detect new EAB infestations in high-risk locations, Where: West Milford, NJ (The Lodge at Ocawasin, such as campgrounds. 625 Macopin Road, West Milford, NJ) DEC’s response plan for the Kenneth L. Wilson campground includes taking For details and to register, visit our website Emerald Ash Borer larvae destroy trees inventory of all ash trees there and in near - (nynjtc.org/event/annual-meeting-2012) or call 201-512-9348 from under the tree’s bark. by DEC campgrounds, assessing the health Page 4 Fall 2012

project, which would involve construct - Regional Field Notes ing a bridge over Lake Creek to connect the rail trail to the Escarpment Trail, cre - ating a direct connection to the North Catskills entire Catskill Mountain region. This and South Lake Campground. Jeff Senterman, summer, 4 individuals enrolled in Trail U: Woodland Valley/Romer Mountain Long Catskills Program Coordinator Introduction to Lean-to Maintenance and, Path Relocation— Our biggest project this [email protected] after some classroom training, hiked to the summer was to start relocating the Long Trout Pond lean-tos to put their training to Path off its last remaining, long road walk Come out and enjoy the use. The day was supported by our partner, in the Catskills. Volunteers have been dili - Carving a new route for the Long Path. Catskills this fall—take a Morgan Outdoors in Livingston Manor. gently clearing the route and constructing hike during October’s This fall we hope to replace the roofs and new trail on the first 2.5 miles, which Irene. They also worked to stabilize por - Lark in the Park (see page floors of the Devil’s Acre Lean-to and ascend Romer Mountain. A Tread and tions of the future Kaaterskill Rail Trail 9), take a Trail U course Mink Hollow Lean-to. Drainage workshop at the project and began to build the parking lot that (nynjtc.org/view/work - brought in new volunteers and taught us will serve the new Long Path section on shops), or get your hands Trail Updates useful skills. As work on this first section Romer Mountain. dirty working on the Long Path on Kaaterskill Rail Trail— Work continued winds down, we expect to begin the final Romer Mountain (nynjtc.org/view/trail- on this joint effort to open the 1.5-mile layout and construction of the remaining Catskill Trail Maintenance Crew crew-outings)! section of the abandoned Ulster & 8 to 9 miles of trail this fall. It will traverse We are working to develop a roving Trail Delaware Railroad between the Moun - the ridge on Cross Mountain and Mount Maintenance Trail Crew for the Catskill Lean-to Rehabilitation tain Top Historical Society property in Pleasant. We hope to open the trail by the Mountain region. If you are interested in and Reconstruction Haines Falls and Forest Preserve land at end of 2013. joining this crew, which would tackle We continue to work with DEC to identi - the end of Laurel House Road. We have Thanks to DEC Trail Crews! DEC trail basic trail maintenance throughout the fy lean-tos that can be reconstructed, been working to secure funding to com - crews have rebuilt a number of trail region, please send me an email or give moved, or rehabilitated throughout the plete this section and Phase II of the bridges that were lost during Hurricane me a call.

New Jersey County. Federico, a recent graduate of into two more manageable areas. Don Slippery Rock University with a degree in continues as West Jersey Chair. The posi - Jonathan Martin, Parks and Recreation Management, has tion involves overseeing trail maintainers New Jersey Program Coordinator been volunteering with Lenape Trail on the nearly 150 miles of trails in the [email protected] Chair Steve Marano since the spring. It region and helping as liaison between N I

T would be hard to find a person who is a maintainers, Trail Conference staff, and R A

REI in Ringwood M

better match for this position. Read more park managers. If you would like to learn N

State Forest A H about Federico and get an update on the more, please contact me. T A N

On July 14 our Bear Claw O Lenape Trail on page 6. J More Volunteer Opportunities crew, along with volun - Staff and customers from REI worked a day teers provided by REI’s with our Bear Claw crew in Ringwood. Help Wanted in Northwest Jersey We have quite a few openings for main - East Hanover store, spent If you love the trails at High Point State tainers throughout New Jersey. If you’re the day creating a new lol - should be opened soon. Thanks to every - Park, Wawayanda State Park, Stokes State interested in volunteering, please visit our lipop trail off of the Manaticut Point Trail one involved. Forest, and a few other places in north - website. You can find on-trail opportuni - in Norvin Green State Park. At the end of west Jersey, we have a great volunteer ties at nynjtc.org/vol-trail-vacancies. Most a hard day’s work clearing brush, approx - Lenape Trail position for you: Northwest Region Trails of the trails you know and love are main - imately 1 mile of trail was defined. The We’re extremely pleased to welcome new Chair. This new position was created as a tained by folks just like you. We’ll provide section still needed some finishing touch - recruit Federico Nealon as the first Trail result of a recommendation by West Jer - the training and help find a trail that’s es at the end of their work day, but it Supervisor of the Lenape Trail in Essex sey Chair Don Tripp to divide the region right for you.

East Hudson along the Hudson River. In the Metro Region , the Friends of Leigh Draper, Van Cortlandt Park (FVCP) held a trail East Hudson Program Coordinator work day the first Saturday of each [email protected] month. Also, with the Trail Conference, FVCP hosted The Joshua Foundation, an The opening of the new international service group based in Lon - boardwalk for the don, for 2 days. The foundation provides Appalachian Trail in holidays and experiences for children Pawling was a highlight of with cancer and their families. We were the Summer season. More happy to assist with the foundation’s first-

than 100 people attended R ever “USA Experience,” which allowed E P

the July 1 ribbon-cutting A young people to engage in conservation R D

event. For more, turn to page 7. H and community service projects in Chica - G I E The Community Trails Program , a L go, New York City, and Washington, DC. R

Members of the White Plains Youth E partnership of the Trail Conference and The RPH Cabin Volunteers , which P A

Bureau completed a trail project at R D

Teatown Lake Reservation, connected meets every Saturday, spring to fall, to H G

Teatown Lake Reservation. I

eager volunteer groups to several “shovel- work on the Appalachian Trail in Putnam E L ready” trail projects this summer. and Dutchess counties, held its 13th A group of international students Members of the Greening Project from mile of new trail at Yorktown Trails. annual Work Weekend and Cookout in sponsored by the Joshua Foundation the White Plains Youth Bureau spent an The Jewish Outdoors Club, Davetrek July. Participants painted and repaired the volunteered on trails at Van Cortlandt Park. August morning improving the tread of a Adventures, and Mosaic Outdoor Moun - Seth Lyon Memorial Bridge, installed new trail at Teatown Lake Reservation by side - tain Club of Greater New York joined check dams on the trail south of Shenan - http://timtrek.mikentim.com hilling it to make walking easier and to forces for a day that combined trail main - doah Mountain, rebuilt a wooden More pictures and videos from East allow water to run off instead of pooling tenance with hiking at Mt. Gulian walkway, replaced several water bars, and Hudson projects are posted at on the trail. Twenty-five Service Corps Historic Site in Beacon. The clubs restored a 40-foot section of trail near the flickr.com/photos/ehnynjtc. members from Camp Combe worked 3 worked with local volunteers to restore I-84 overpass. The Jolly Rovers Stone days to clean up FDR State Park after the almost 1 mile of trail that will become a Crew joined the fun to continue a stone July 4th weekend and built almost half a section of the Fishkill Greenway Trail step project. See pictures and learn more at

West Hudson that brought together The day’s offerings included a short Volunteers Wanted on Gunks AT supporters, local hike to a current Trail worksite. At We continue to seek volunteer maintain - Larry Wheelock, government, and area Fitzgerald Falls, which has long been in ers for trails that include some of the most West Hudson Program Coordinator businesspeople and need of major trail work to control ero - beautiful in our region: Shawangunk [email protected] residents to prepare a sion, the Jolly Rovers have been working Ridge and Neversink Gorge Unique Area. successful nomina - with high-lines, drills, and hammers to Andy Garrison, our Shawangunk guru, is F F

Congratulations O

N tion and a day-long create stone stream crossings and a com - also looking for someone to help him I M go to volunteer A celebration. Events plex staircase up the cliff adjacent to the supervise maintainers on the Shawan - E R

Gene Giordano D started with a pan - falls. Their well-planned demonstrations gunk Ridge. He would like to split the job N A for organizing a great day Volunteer Gene cake breakfast and impressed a crowd of about 30 who hiked in two—you choose which part of the of events June 30 to cele - Giordano ended with music in to see the project. (See page 1 story.) SRT you’d like to focus on. Go to brate the Appalachian and fireworks, with At other locations on the A.T., the nynjtc.org/vol-trail-vacancies and look for Trail and the Town of hikes in between. Hikers came from as far Orange and Rockland Long-Distance Trail Supervisor Shawangunk Ridge. Warwick’s designation as an official Trail away as Long Island to participate in Trail Crew led by Chris Reyling rehabilitat - Andy knows more about the Ridge than Community by the Appalachian Trail activities and explore the town. The day ed the trail at Agony Grind, in the Green just about anyone and is a great person to Conservancy. Gene, who lives in War - brought attention to the recreational and Pond Mountain area of Harriman State work with and learn from. wick and chairs our New Jersey AT economic benefits trails can bring to Park, and on the Long Path near Wood - Management Committee, led the effort communities. bury Creek at Schunemunk Mountain. Fall 2012 Page 5

Selections from the Trail Conference Calendar

See complete and updated calendar at nynjtc.org/calendar

TRAIL UNIVERSITY TRAIL CREW Ward Pound Ridge Trail TRAIL EVENTS nynjtc.org/view/workshops SERVICE PROJECTS Maintenance Crew nynjtc.org/view/events Register for Trail U workshops online or nynjtc.org/view/trail-crew-outings Also maintains trails at call 201-512-9348. Mountain Lakes Park. September 29-October 8 Orange-Rockland Long Distance Contact: Fred Stern, Annual Lark in the [Catskill] Park Trails Crew [email protected] for info Explore and celebrate the Catskill Mountains. We thank REI Contact: [email protected] or and to get on email list. Full schedule: catskillslark.org for its support of 914-428-9878 Meets most Fridays Join Trail Conference Larks (see below) Trail University! Fall trail rehabilitation projects. Bear Claw Crew (North Jersey) Saturday, September 29; 10am-3pm INTRODUCTORY WORKSHOPS Sunday, October 7 Contact: [email protected] or Lark: Hike with Trail Maintenance Open to all; membership not Long Path at Woodbury Creek/ 646-294-7732 Frick & Hodge Pond Trails, Livingston required. No prerequisites. No fee. Route 32 crossing Saturday & Sunday, September 29 & 30 Manor (see Trail Crew Outings for details) Advanced workshops may require Schuber Trail, Ramapos membership and a fee or Sunday, October 21 Wednesday, October 3; 6pm recommendation. Contact workshop A.T. - Green Pond Mountain, Harriman S.P. West Jersey Crew Lark: History of the Catskill Park and liaison for details. Contact: [email protected] Its Trails with Catskill Program Saturday, November 3 or 732-937-9098. All trips meet/start at Coordinator Jeff Senterman Saturday, September 29 Long Path at Woodbury Creek/ 9am. Contact leaders for carpooling or Location: Morgan Outdoors, A.T. Natural Heritage Monitoring Route 32 crossing meet location. 46 Main Street, Livingston Manor Workshop #595 Location: Trail Conference office, Long Path & Catskills Saturday, September 29 Saturday, October 20 Mahwah, NJ Contact: Andy Garrison, Howell Trail, Stokes State Forest Our Annual Meeting & Presentation 10am-4pm [email protected] or 845-866-7201 We will continue work restoring a bridge of Awards Volunteers are trained to monitor on the Howell Trail. West Milford, NJ threatened or endangered plants along the Saturday, September 29 Find details and register online. Appalachian Trail. Open to members. Sunday, September 30 Saturday, October 6 Long Path relocation over Romer Mountain Appalachian Trail, High Point State Park Thursday, October 4 We will continue installing rock steps and Intro to Trail Maintenance Catskills Mountain Crew drainage on a steep and eroded section of Workshop #603 A roving maintenance crew the Appalachian Trail (continued from Location: Mountain Top Historical spring 2012). Society, Haines Falls, NY (Catskills) Saturday, September 29 9am-3pm Frick & Hodge Pond trails, Saturday, October 13 Open to all. Livingston Manor, NY Appalachian Trail, High Point State Park 10am-3pm See October 6 Saturday & Sunday, November 3 & 4 Trail maintenance on Quick Lake Trail, Trail Layout and Design Flynn Trail and others in the area. Saturday, October 27 Workshop #593 Contact: Leigh Draper, Duck Pond Trail, Swartswood State Park Location: Patterson, NY [email protected] or 201-512-9348 We will construct a high water route for 9am-4pm the Duck Pond Trail. Fee or free with recommendation. Thursday, October 4 Kaaterskill Rail Trail, Haines Falls Saturday, November 3 Check our online calendar for the many 9am-4pm Appalachian Trail, Pochuck Boardwalk courses and trail work outings added to Cleanup We will continue installing tie-down the schedule after this issue’s deadline. Contact: Jeff Senterman, anchors on critical sections of the [email protected] or 518-703-1196 boardwalk.

Westchester Trails Tramps Saturday, November 17 PHOTO AT TOP Maintenance Crew Rain Date/TBD Girl Scouts from local troops 10064 and Contact: Mary Dodds at This will either be a make-up trip from a 10066 cut the ribbon July 1 and officially PHOTO AT TOP [email protected] or 914-261- rained-out work date or work at a location opening the new Appalachian Trail boardwalk The Trout Pond lean-to in the western 7082 for info and to get on email list. to be determined. in Pawling. The Girl Scouts are celebrating Catskills received some attention this Meets most Wednesdays. their 100th anniversary this year, and troops spring as part of our workshop Intro to all along the East Coast have been hiking the Shelter/Lean-to Maintenance. Our retail PHOTO AT TOP A.T. as part of their activities. More than 100 partner in the area, Morgan Outdoors, Volunteer crews throughout our area welcome new members. New projects and work outings people attended the opening. See more co-hosted the day. are added to the schedule posted on our website. about the project on page 7.

Long Path Relocation 75 volunteers contributed 600 hours of service on the trail during these months. in Catskills Makes This was on top of additional hours of scouting and planning. When the entire Great Progress relocation—the next stages that await approval from DEC will continue the trail The Long Path-Catskills Trail Crew led by over Cross Mountain and Mount Pleas - Jakob Franke and Andy Garrison conduct - ant—and another one planned through ed 11 work trips at Romer Mountain in the Vernooy Kill area, are complete, the June, July, and August. The crew is relocat - Long Path will extend approximately 100 E K ing the trail off of its longest remaining road miles, from Wawarsing to Windham, N A R F walk in the Catskills—7 miles on Wood - without a road walk. B O K

land Valley Road—and into the woods. A The first stage of the project is creating new J Making way for the Long Path on Romer Mountain are volunteers Joshua Fratti, Chris trail to the top of Romer Mountain. Reyling, and Andy Garrison. Page 6 Fall 2012 Lenape Trail News Trails to The Lenape Trail is a 34-mile trail that connects parks and open space in Essex County, NJ. The trail was

adopted by the Trail Conference in 2011. ) 8 Great Photography E G A P

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Lenape Trail Chair Steve Marano welcomes our first Trail O

O T

Supervisor for the Lenape Trail (LT). Federico Nealon is a O H P

recent graduate of Slippery Rock University with a degree in L L U F (

Parks and Recreation Management. A resident of Hudson K N I

County, Federico has had a significant amount of experience Z

Y R

working with municipal and county organizations in both R A Essex and Hudson Counties. “It would be hard to find a per - L son who is a better match for this position,” says Steve. Check Out Our New Photo raphy, implies not only the trails that cur - This spring and summer, Federico worked with Steve to get a Blog: blog-photo.nynjtc.org rently exists for you to explore but also “behind the scenes” feel for the unique aspects of the trail. In addi - By Larry Zink historically what has been blazed before tion to overseeing a group of 10 trail maintainers, Federico will be you by artists, and also what creative chal - working closely with Steve on a number of revitalization projects, It’s easy to take what we have for granted, lenges lay ahead. including installation of signposts in all of the Essex County parks through which the Lenape but today our ecosystems are changing or Take a look at our new Trails to Great Trail runs. “My goal is to build a career in natural resource and park management,” Federico under attack. Mountaintop removals in the Photography blog (there are also links to it says. “I’m excited about the chance to work with the Trail Conference and look forward to Appalachians, oil spills that threaten our from the Trail Conference website) and let getting the chance to meet and work with members of this great organization.” waterways, and unprecedented droughts us know how you feel about the site. We that currently affect many areas around the hope that you will be inspired to venture PSE&G Work Closes 3 Miles of LT globe. Amidst all of those issues and the out and create your own vision, and that Extensive work being conducted by PSE&G to replace transmission towers along the normal daily grind in our own area, there you might share it through us with other powerline right-of-way in West Orange and Livingston has closed the westernmost three still are plenty of opportunities to get out lovers of trails and nature. Enjoy. miles of the Lenape Trail for up to two years. Signs have been posted. and enjoy the protected lands in the New While this is disappointing, Steve reports that, in working with the company to coordi - York/New Jersey region. Larry Zink is a professional photographer nate the temporary closure of the LT, the Trail Conference and PSE&G have established Perhaps photography can provide the and vice president of creative services for a much stronger working relationship. Steve states that the company has offered to work impetus to walk to the top of a mountain, Macy’s. He is planning to offer an autumn with the Trail Conference to accommodate the needs of hikers, including the possibility stand in a clear mountain stream, or wit - photo workshop for Trail Conference mem - of correcting some long standing trail erosion problems. ness a beautiful sunset over a lake. The bers, location to be determined. Watch your name of this blog, Trails to Great Photog - email or our website for an announcement. Big Extension through South Mountain Reservation South Mountain Reservation Conservancy and Essex County Dept of Parks and Recre - ation have completed a major extension of the Lenape Trail through the reservation. This HYDROFRACKING RULE lands and who don’t want to participate in beautiful new trail is a huge step forward in finally establishing a continuous link between continued from page 3 the industry. the main Lenape Trail and the Reservation, the county’s largest (2,000 acres) and best • Drilling infrastructure, uncapped known park. apply to privately owned land there. These wells, hazardous and toxic wastes may thousands of acres are largely in the south - be abandoned by drilling companies. east and northeast parts of the Catskill Park • Large quantities of highly contaminat - DONORS TO THE ANNUAL FUND and would be open to drilling under the ed fracking waste or production water May 24, 2012 – August 28, 2012 DEC’s proposed regulations. may not be cleansed sufficiently for safe GIFTS “Drilling rigs, pipelines, access roads, addi - return to Catskill rivers and streams. Robert Amitrano, Estelle Anderson, Anonymous Donor, Patrick J. Applegate, Ken Bald, Walter J. & Elizabeth Barrett, tional truck traffic, and all the impacts that • Methane released from the wellheads, Dr. George L. Becker Jr., Sheree & Fred Bennett, Miloslav Besta, Gail A. & Clarence H. Biggs, John B. Blenninger, come with this industrial-scale process are pipelines, and compressor stations may Norman Blumenstein, Ian Blundell, Corinne & Dennis D. Brown, Howard Brown, Nancy A. Houghton-Brown, incompatible with the wilderness experience have large, cumulative impacts on people Christopher Bruno, Matthew Burd, John & Heather Caldwell, Skip Card, George D. Cartamil, Janet M. Saylor & Evan Colgan, James A. Conklin, Chris Connolly, Philip D. Cristantiello, Andrea J. Damato, Jane & Walt Daniels, Mary many people enjoy in the Forest Preserve, and the environment. DeBiasio, John P. Denkowski, Brigitte Dessauer, Wilfredo L. Diaz, Joseph DiSaverio, Allyn Dodd, Nancy Ebeling, Donald and this is a primary focus for the Trail Con - The FPAC resolution also asked the & Ruellen Eisen, David T. & Elisabeth S. Eliason, David Emero, Laura Enos & Greg McAlpin, Charles Evans, Jr., ference,” explains Jeff Senterman, Catskill DEC to affirm that the New York State Christopher Ezzo, Charlotte Fahn & Stanley Fahn MD, Greg & Joan Freeman, Neil & Caren Loebel-Fried, Thomas & Region Program Coordinator and Trail Con - Constitution prohibits leasing of natural Susan Gallo, Sam Gellens, John J. & Wanda C. Giuffrida, John Glynn, Scott Goldthwaite, I. Michael Goodman, Josie Gray, Peter Franaszek, John M. Hanrahan,Maria Butrico, Marty Hart, Wilhelmina A. Haruk, Daniel Hoberman, ference representative to the FPAC. gas/oil extraction rights or permitting for Gaylord C .& Anne J. Holmes, William S. Houck, Samuel G. Huber, Carol D. & Kane Jessen, Edwin L. Joba, Shari M. The FPAC stated that any hydrofrack - the exploitation of gas/oil rights on or below & Raymond B. Johnson, Denis J. Kaminski Jr., Norman & Myrna Kasser; Margaret C. Freifeld & Stephen Klepner, ing-related activities within the Catskill state-owned lands of the Catskill Forest Pre - Devin Larkin, Colin A. Lauder, Richard R. Levine, Diane Levine, Mark Linehan, Karen La Bonte, David & Debbie State Park will adversely affect Forest Pre - serve and State Forests located in Sullivan, Livingstone, John H. Magerlein, Karen A. Magerlein, Mr. Bryant D. & Joan Malcolm, Carmella R. Mantello, Mary Anne & Charlie Massey, Joyce Mayeresky, Robert W. Messerschmidt, Charles H. Milligan, Ken G. Morgan, Elke & Gregg Noll, serve and State Forest lands. The Delaware, Ulster, and Greene counties. Glenn C. & Linda Y. Ostrander, Doug Ott, John B. & Patricia N. Pegram, Brian J. & Irene Penney, Eric & Maria committee cited seven specific concerns: According to Jeff Senterman, “The Banuelos, John A. & Tina T. Pershing, Robert & Janis Polastre, Earl J. Pursell, Louis W. Rissland, Ruth B. M. Robinson, • The technology’s use of enormous potential for fracking to damage the Roger Roloff, Barbara Petersen, Weiland A. Ross, Valerie Rossi, Holly & Louis Ruggiero, Andrea Schechter, Charles & Xiomara Scheidt, Joshua Schickman, Michael Schleifer, Trudy Schneider, Edward R. Schreiber, Paul E. Scraggs, amounts of clean water will likely be detri - Catskill Park and its hundreds of miles of Patrice & Charles M. Scully, Shelby Sickles, Anne M. & Marleigh M Siebecker, Sara & Christian Sonne, David Spiwak, mental to the normal hydrology and hiking trails is very real. Our FPAC vote in Margaret J. Starmer, William Stoltzfus Jr., Jesse Stramiello, Victoria Halfpenny, J. Bruce Taylor, Jerry D. Tersoff, ecology of Catskills lakes, rivers, and favor of stringent environmental review of Deborah Franzblau, Carl E. & Victoria A.D. Thune, Fred H. & Anne Todd Osborn, Andrew Tokash, Howard Tokosh, streams and the quality of New York all drilling proposals within the Catskill Barbara J. Traver, Daniel R. & Lynne H. Van Engel, Ed & Eudora Walsh, Lori L. Wasserman, Scott & Jennis Watson, Larry A. Wehr, Ken & Marilyn Weissman, Robert A. & Muriel E. Went, Edward B. Whitney, Martha Howell, Patsy & Roy City’s water supply. Park is prompted by the Trail Conference’s Wooters, Catheryn Yun, Albert Zimmerman, Ivan Zinn, Paul Zofnass • The increased infrastructure required mission ‘to protect hiking trails and the by the industry—roads, bridges, pipelines, lands they cross’.” TRIBUTES CORPORATE, FOUNDATION & OTHER DONORS well pads, closed-loop fracking water stor - In memory of Fred Caiocca What Is FPAC? Annice M. Alt AIG Matching Grants Program, Avon Products Inc., age facilities, and compressor stations— In memory of Joan Ehrenfeld Benjamin Moore Paints, EarthShare New Jersey, Fats in will industrialize the natural character and The Forest Preserve Advisory Committee David Ehrenfeld the Cats Bicycle Club, Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, appearance of the Catskill State Park. (FPAC) advises New York State’s Dept. of GE Foundation, Golden Family Foundation, Goldman, In honor of Belle Chen Sachs & Co Matching Gift Program, Google Matching Gifts • Drilling and associated increased local Environmental Conservation (DEC) on David & Naomi Sutter Program, Gravity Vault, Hi-Camp Outdoor Activity Club, traffic, including heavy truck traffic, will issues unique to the Forest Preserve, the In honor of Eric Fuchs-Stengel IBM Corporation Matching Grants Program, JPMorgan degrade the park’s natural beauty and constitutionally protected land within the Diane Fuchs Chase Foundation Matching Gift & Volunteer Grant severely change the character of the many Adirondack and Catskill Parks. The Trail Programs, K. Hovnanian Homes, Kinder Morgan, Merck Partnership For Giving, Network For Good, Pfizer rural towns that are working to develop Conference has had a seat on the commit - Foundation Matching Gifts Program, Readers Digest sustainable, tourism-based economies. tee for more than a decade. When Pete Foundation, REI, Tent and Trails, The New York • The leasing of state-owned gas rights Senterman was the Trail Conference’s rep - Community Trust, Truist, Unilever United States Foundation, Inc., Verizon Foundation, might result in the compulsory integration resentative, the former Trails Chair for the Tributes are only printed for donations of $25 or more. WithumSmith+Brown, PC of neighbors whose land adjoins state Catskill region earned a reputation as a fair but strong defender of the Forest Preserve. Pete is now an individual member of the REI Doubles Its Support for Trail U FPAC, and his son, Jeff, is the Trail Confer - ence’s representative. The Trail Conference is pleased to • purchasing tools and supplies to courses—Trail Assessment, Trail Layout The FPAC’s role has grown in impor - announce that REI, the national outdoor be used by Trail U participants and Design, Trail Structures, and Trail Tread tance as the DEC tries to manage increased gear co-operative, is doubling its support and instructors; and Drainage—were launched this year. public use of the Forest Preserve with a for our Trail University program in 2012- • and coordinating with more REI stores These new courses are helping to meet shrinking work force. The FPAC works to 2013. REI is awarding the Trail (SoHo and Yonkers in New York, and the increasing demand from our park part - ensure that the Forest Preserve’s core values Conference $20,000 so we can expand Paramus and East Hanover in New ners for help from our growing volunteer are not lost through reorganizations, Trail U by: Jersey) to connect REI’s members with force. We are pleased to report that the changes in management, or new uses. • increasing the number of course volunteer opportunities and outdoor number of Trail U courses increased by If you are interested in learning more offerings and the number of trained experiences on our region’s trails. 26% from the 2010-2011 to the 2011- about the FPAC or attending a meeting with participants; With a $10,000 grant from REI in 2011- 2012 program year. From July 1, 2011 to Jeff, contact him at [email protected]. • offering a new, intensive training 12, the Trail Conference worked with June 30, 2012, we offered 69 courses, most series for our “Invasives Strike Force” expert trail builders and experienced volun - in the field on actual trail projects. (nynjtc.org/invasives); teers to reassess and overhaul the trail Since Trail U’s start in 2006, more than • rolling out a new course series building and maintenance courses available 3,000 participants in New York and New designed to fast-track the process through Trail U. The resulting four-part Jersey have trained in various aspects of of forming new trail crews; course series provides advanced training on trail work. tools, equipment, and techniques. The Fall 2012 Page 7 Trailside Nature Day-Long Celebration Recognizes Warwick,

(Cucullia asteroids ), and the yellow and NY as Appalachian Trail Community Autumn Gold black caterpillar of the goldenrod flower By Andrea Minoff Don’t blame this beauty moth ( Schinia nundina ) feed on goldenrod flowers. The caterpillars are valuable food One of the key goals for the Appalachian for your seasonal for resident and migrating birds. Trail is to “connect communities” along the The larvae of the goldenrod gall moth East Coast of the United States. On June sniffles and sneezes (Gnorimoschema gallaesolidaginis ) feed and 30, the Town of Warwick, NY was recog - By Edna Greig develop unseen during summer, protected nized as an official trail town. A day-long R

within goldenrod stems. Stem tissue thick - event, jointly organized by the town and I E W

In late summer and autumn, the yellow ens around the larvae, forming volunteers of the New York-New Jersey E T T E

flowers of goldenrods (genus Solidago ) spindle-shaped galls. After pupating, adults Trail Conference and the Appalachian Trail G R O brighten fields, woodlands, wetlands, and emerge in early autumn, and females lay Conservancy (ATC), celebrated ATC’s des - E G sandy beaches. About 50 species of golden - eggs that overwinter. ignation of Warwick as an “Appalachian Trail Conference Executive Director Ed rod are native to northeastern North Trail Community.” Goodell served as master of ceremonies, America. Many species can be difficult to Just off the 2,181-mile long trail, at the with remarks delivered by Pamela Underhill, distinguish, even for experts. Most of the crest of Bellvale Mountain in the Town of National Park Service Park Manager for the more common species have large, curved Warwick, the Bellvale Creamery hosted Appalachian Trail; Mark Wenger, ATC clusters of densely packed, small, bright the formal designation ceremony. Elected Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer; yellow flowers. One species with spikes of officials and other dignitaries spoke to Congresswoman Nan Hayworth; State whitish flowers is aptly named silverrod more than 100 outdoor enthusiasts from Senator John Bonacic; Warwick Town (Solidago bicolor ) and is common in thin near and far, including several Appalachian Supervisor Mike Sweenton; ATC Mid-Atlantic woods or dry, open soil in our area. Trail thru-hikers. Mike Sweeton, Warwick Director Karen Lutz; Orange County Park Some people mistakenly think that gold - Town Supervisor, and Karen Lutz, Direc - Commissioner Rich Rose; and Barbara enrods aggravate pollen allergies and avoid tor, Mid-Atlantic Region for ATC, read a Moore, Mike Newhard, and Jim Pawliczek, going near them. In fact, it’s the green- Goldenrod flowers are busy places. proclamation and proudly displayed a sign mayors of the villages of Greenwood Lake, flowered ragweed (genus Ambrosia ) that announcing the designation. Warwick, and Florida, respectively. launches the airborne pollen that makes us Other gall-making insects also use gold - Trail Conference volunteer Gene Gior - sniffle and sneeze. Instead of avoiding gold - enrods as their host plants. The most well dano, chair of the New Jersey AT dedication ceremony. Thanks to hike lead - enrods, it’s fascinating to approach them known is a species of fruit fly, Eurosta sol - Management Committee and a Warwick ers Don Weise, Jesse Dwyer, Les Ferguson, and observe the bountiful faunal activity idaginis . Its larvae make goldenrod ball resident, got the designation process rolling Gene Giordano, Alan Breach, Jill Arbuckle that goes on around them during autumn galls in the stems of the abundant Canadi - almost two years ago by approaching (AMC), and Aaron Schoenberg (North and into winter. an goldenrod ( Solidago canadensis ). The Supervisor Sweeton with the idea and get - Jersey/Ramapo ADK). Goldenrod flowers produce pollen and round galls are about ¾-inch in diameter ting an enthusiastic reception. Giordano Volunteers and staff from the Trail Con - nectar that attract a myriad of insects. Bees, and usually are in the upper half of the led a team of residents and volunteers who ference, ATC, Sustainable Warwick, and wasps, butterflies, beetles, and flies congre - stem. About 20% of Canadian goldenrod completed the application and organized employees of event sponsors Ramsey Out - gate to feed on the flowers’ offerings. stems have one or more ball galls. The ¼- the event. doors, Campmor, and REI staffed booths, Monarchs are especially fond of the seaside inch larvae overwinter within the The ATC program, now in its third year, dispensed maps and information, and chat - goldenrod ( Solidago sempervirens ) along thick-walled galls on dried goldenrod aims to highlight the trail, including its ted with event participants. their migration routes. stems, protected from the cold. potential economic benefits, to local resi - The fruit fly larvae, snug in their golden - dents, elected officials, Chambers of Andrea Minoff is a Trail Conference member rod ball galls, aren’t entirely protected from Commerce, students, and teachers. and volunteers as a writer and photographer. predators during late autumn and winter. Nine hikes, ranging from easy to diffi - Downy woodpeckers, the smallest of our cult, were held both before and after the woodpeckers, drill neat, conical holes in the ball galls and extract the larvae. The wood - peckers prefer to stay near the cover of trees, Volunteers Finish Boardwalk so feed most heavily on ball gall larvae near the woods’ edge. Chickadees also occasion - over Great Swamp in Pawling ally feed on ball gall larvae—the holes they make have ragged, irregular edges. PROJECT: Build a 1,600-foot long boardwalk and 34-foot bridge for the Field of gold(enrod) There’s one other wintertime predator Appalachian Trail over the Swamp River and associated wetlands in Pawling, NY. of ball gall larvae—the ice fisherman. The large assemblage of insects on gold - Before bait was readily available for pur - TIME FRAME: 2.5 years, start to finish enrod flowers is a smorgasbord for a chase, fishermen often would gather predator—the goldenrod crab spider ( Mis - buckets of goldenrod ball galls, carefully OPENED: July 1, 2012 with more than umena vatia ). This bright yellow spider slice the galls open with a sharp knife and 100 local and state officials, residents, lurks motionless, undetectable among extract the larvae to use as bait. hikers, volunteers, and agency goldenrod flowers. If an unsuspecting During autumn and winter, goldenrods representatives in attendance. insect gets close, the spider quickly snares provide enjoyable, close-to-home opportu - it, injects it with venom, and sucks its body nities to observe interrelationships in nature. VOLUNTEERS: Some 75, including fluids dry. Although the crab spider is most members of Appalachian Trail often found on goldenrod flowers, it also Edna Greig is a Trail Conference member Conservancy Mid-Atlantic Trail Crews. sometimes awaits its prey on white flowers, and regular contributor to Trail Walker . She Dutchess-Putnam A.T. Management where it will turn white for camouflage. writes the blog Eye on Nature: Committee Chair and project leader

Goldenrods also are host plants for the eyeonnature.wordpress.com. R

Jim Haggett of Poughkeepsie E P

larval stage of many moth species and sev - A R

reports that more than 5,000 D

eral butterfly species. The shiny, H G I

volunteer hours went into the E brightly-colored caterpillar of the brown- L hooded owlet moth ( Cucullia work. A big thank-you to all who Carpentry work was a major part of convexipennis ), the usually bright green, contributed their time and skills! this big project. striped caterpillar of the asteroid moth

OUR NATIVE FORESTS AT RISK trees and the subsequent costs to communi - continued from page 3 ties for their removal and replacement. In 2008, New York adopted regulations R T E T P E tree canopy dieback, yellowing, and exten - that ban untreated firewood from entering A G R G D

A H sive sprouting from roots and trunk. the state and restrict intrastate movement H

G I M I E L Infested trees may also exhibit woodpecker of untreated firewood to no more than a J damage from larvae extraction. 50-mile radius from its source. This was Rising waters of the Great Swamp in Volunteers learned to drill pilings down as The first detection of EAB in New York done as a precaution against the introduc - Pawling created problems for the A.T. far as 40 feet into the muck. was in the town of Randolph, Cattaraugus tion and spread of EAB and other invasive County, in June 2009. Since then, infesta - species because of the documented risk of tions have been discovered in seven other transmission by moving firewood. After counties in western New York and five in more than 3 years of outreach and educa - the Hudson Valley. Nineteen counties in tion, DEC is increasing its enforcement A volunteer project that “takes New York are under state and federal efforts to prevent the movement of untreat - my breath away,” in the words EAB quarantines. ed firewood into and around New York. of National Park Service Communities face economic risk because DEC urges residents to watch for signs Appalachian National Scenic Trail ash is a common street and park tree. Green of infestation in ash trees. To learn more ash, in particular, has been widely planted as about EAB and the firewood regulations, Superintendent Pam Underhill. R an ornamental tree in residential yards. or to report suspected EAB damage, call I E W

Recent research papers have reported that DEC's EAB hotline at 1-866-640-0652 or E T T potential costs to municipalities from EAB submit an EAB report on DEC’s website: E G R O could exceed $12 billion over the next 10 dec.ny.gov/animals/72136.html E years. Efforts such as DEC’s SLAM initia - G Since opening, the boardwalk has become an even more popular destination for walkers, tive can significantly delay the loss of ash birders, and area residents. Page 8 Fall 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!

October Saturday, October 27 Sunday, October 28 Sunday, November 18 ADK-NJR. Apshawa Preserve, West Milford, NJ. Leader: Pat NYR. Long Path to Torrey Memorial, Harriman-Bear Mountain AMC-NYNJ. Arden, Harriman State Park, NY. Leaders: Nancy Saturday, October 6 Marcotullio, 845-729-4046, [email protected]. Meet: State Park, NY. Leader: Lee Ruelle, [email protected]. Meet: and Art Tollefson, [email protected], 212-727-8961, call before UOC. Princeton Nursery Lands Trust, NJ. Leader: Nona Hen - 9am at Stop and Shop parking off exit 55 on Rt. 287. Moderate Contact leader for meeting time and place. From Arden, hike the 9:30pm. Meet: 9:25am at Arden parking lot, Arden Valley Rd. off derson, [email protected]. Meet: contact leader for time 7 miles in this 570-acre preserve with wonderful trails and Appalachian Trail to Long Path for a reading in honor of Trail Rt. 17, 2 miles north of Southfields, NY. Take 8:30am Shortline bus and meeting place to carpool. Walk the trails of this public open Butler Reservoir. Steady rain cancels. Conference and Long Path visionary, Raymond Torrey. Out via from Port Authority to Arden (leaders take bus). 9 miles at mod - space, with historic buildings, natural areas, and wildlife. UOC. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, Morris County, NJ. Popolopen Gorge to Bear Mountain Inn. erate-plus pace, with hills. Join us in one of our favorite parts of RLC. Fall Foliage Hike, Sparta Mountain Preserve area, Leader: Coleen Zdziarski, [email protected]. Meet: contact leader SW. Rockefeller Preserve. Leader: Bill Wrublewski, 646-369- Harriman park. Rain cancels; call eve before if in doubt. Sussex, NJ. Leader: For more info go to www.rocklodge.com. for meeting time, place and carpool info. This moderate hike 0279. Meet: 9am at Grand Central Terminal information booth for UOC. Delaware & Raritan Canal Walk, NJ. Leaders: Howard Meet: 10am at Rock Lodge Club (nudist/family and kid-friendly), features scenic streams and panoramic viewpoints. 9:20 train to Philipse Manor (RT). 12-13 miles at a moderate pace. Wright, [email protected] and John Clyde, [email protected], with its beautiful lake, historic Stone House, and recreational 732-846-9013. Meet: contact leaders to register. This 5-mile stretch facilities. Short, easy hike along pleasant woodland paths to of the canal path between Griggstown Causeway and Kingston will Indian Cave to roast hotdogs/sausages for lunch. After lunch be an easy, enjoyable walk. return to lodge or continue for another 2 miles along rocky ridges and streams. After the hike, all are welcome to enjoy the lodge’s NYR. Manaticut Point Trail, Norvin Green State Forest, NJ. facilities, including swimming lake, small boating, tennis, sauna, Leader: Basia Baranski, 973-661-0637. Meet: Contact leader for and children’s play area. meeting time and place, and hike details. From Monksville Dam, hike on various trails including the new Manaticut Point Trail. Out to Rt. NYHC. Hastings to Tarrytown, Westchester County, NY. 511 via West Brook Rd. Full day hike with climbs; bring headlamp. Leader: Ray Krant, call 718-435-4994.Take 4/5/6 train to 42nd Street. Meet at 10am Grand Central Terminal, Upper Level Infor - NYHC. Tarrytown Reservoir, Westchester County, NY. Leader: mation Booth at 10am. Mostly easy terrain. Bring lunch and water. Ray Krant, call 718-435-4994. Take 4/5/6 train to 42nd Street. Meet at 9:15am at Grand Central Terminal, upper level Sunday, October 7 information booth. Easy to moderate. Bring lunch and water. AFW. Sterling Forest State Park, NY. For info and to register, Saturday, November 24 contact www.adventuresforwomen.org or 973-644-3592. Meet: 9:30am. Moderate hike; out by 2pm. SW. Walk Off The Turkey, NY. Leaders: Cy Adler and friends, call hotline at 212-330-7686 for more info. Meet: 10am at entrance of IHC. Coppermines and Mt. Mohican, Delaware Water Gap, NJ. Staten Island Ferry terminal at South Ferry, Manhattan. Join our Leader: Al MacLennan, 732-412-7092, [email protected]. annual post-Thanksgiving walk from Battery to the Little Red Meet: 9am at Coppermine Trail parking, Rt. 606, Hardwick, NJ. Lighthouse under the George Washington Bridge; about 12 miles Moderately strenuous 9 miles up the Appalachian Trail and over and 5 hours. Socialize as you enjoy the Hudson River shoreline, to Mt. Mohican, with excellent views of the Delaware River and walk off those pesky holiday calories. Suggested donation for and Poconos. non-members is $3. Saturday, October 13 Sunday, November 25 SW. Bridges & Waterways of Central Park, NY. Leader: Matthey WEC. Sylvan Glen & Granite Knolls, Westchester County, NY. Brozyna, 917-912-9533. Meet: 9am at atrium entrance to Time Leader: Don Weise, [email protected]. Meet: 9:30am; Warner complex, 59th St. at Columbus Circle. Moderately paced contact leader for meeting place. Moderately challenging 8 miles; 5 hours. See all the amazing architectural wonders 8-9 miles. Come see what great natural and unnatural features throughout the park. Bring lunch or snack. Rain or shine. result when a forest grows up around an old granite quarry. Bird’s Suggested donation for non-members is $3. eye views, rock walls, hand-cut stone steps, and a massive oak tree. UCHC. Long Pond Iron Works State Park, NJ. Leader: Gregg PM. Turkey Mountain, Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Hudis, [email protected], 973-584-0135. Meet: 10am at Area, NY. Leader: For more info and to register, call 973-334-3130 museum parking lot, just after Monksville Reservoir. Moderate or go to morrisparks.net. Meet: 1pm at Pyramid Mountain Natural 3-hour hike. Explore ruins, walk up to Paterson Mine, back on Historic Area, 472A Boonton Ave., Boonton, NJ. Moderately Highlands Trail. Visit museum afterwards. strenuous hike up and over Turkey Mountain to burn off those Sunday, October 14 extra holiday calories. K

WEC. Seven Hills Trail and Pine Meadow Lake, Harriman State N I

Z December

Park, NY. Leader: Don Weise, [email protected]. Meet: Y R

9:30am; contact leader for meeting place. Fast-paced 9 miles R Saturday, December 1 A over very steep terrain; cardiovascular fitness required. Superb L View from Pinwheel’s Vista on Wawayanda Mountain in New Jersey. Photographer SW. Heckscher State Park, Long Island, NY. Leader: Ludwig views and a lakeside lunch. Hendel, 718-626-3983; call only evening before hike. Meet: 9am at Larry Zink is editing a Trail Conference blog on nature photography. See story on page 6. AFW. Glenclyffe, Garrison, NY. For info and to register, contact Pennsylvania Station, NY, LIRR ticket windows for train to Great www.adventuresforwomen.org or 973-644-3592. Meet: 9:30am. River (RT). 8-10 miles at moderate pace, flat terrain. LI Greenbelt FOCA/WTA. Old Croton Aqueduct Weir Tour and Hike, NY. Lead - Walk along former carriage roads, through Sleepy Hollow Easy to moderate hike; out by 2pm. Cemetery, and along the Pocantico River. Rain cancels. Trail along Great South Bay, with possible extension to Bayard ers: Herb Hochberg, 914-723-6566, [email protected], Cutting Arboretum. Suggested donation for non-members is $3. IHC. Breakneck Ridge and Mt. Taurus, Hudson Highlands and Sara Kelsey, 646-303-1448, [email protected]. Meet: Suggested donation for non-members is $3. State Park, NY. Leader: Roy Williams, [email protected]. Meet: For 7-mile hike, meet 9am at main parking lot, Croton Gorge Park UCHC. Tulip Springs, South Mountain Reservation, Millburn, AFW. Long Path from Lake Skannatati, Harriman State Park, 9am at Breakneck Ridge parking lot, just past train tunnel on off Rt. 129, Croton-on-Hudson, NY. For 3-mile hike, meet 9:45am at NJ. Leader: Louise White, 973-746-4319. Meet: 10am at Tulip NY. Leader: For info and to register, contact us at adventuresfor - Rt. 9D north of Cold Spring, NY. Or, meet 8:30am at Anthony Caputo Community Center, 95 Broadway, Ossining, NY (shuttle Springs parking. Moderate 4 miles; about 2 hours. women.org or 973-644-3592. Meet: 9:30am. Easy to moderate Wayne parking in Harriman for shuttle. Bad weather cancels. required). Morning for both groups of hikers features short film hike at a leisurely pace; out by 2pm. November Saturday, October 20 about Old Croton Aqueduct and walk to Weir, where we’ll descend ADK-NJR. Lunch on the Bottle Cap, Harriman State Park, NY. into the original 1842 water tunnel to learn its history. Then explore Leaders: P. Tilgner and S. Gordon, [email protected], UOC. Tammany Blue Trail, Delaware Water Gap, NJ. Leader: Saturday, November 3 trails of Crawbuckie Nature Preserve, with lunch overlooking 201-546-0509. Meet: 9:30am; please register for location. John Clyde, [email protected], 732-846-9013. Meet: contact UCHC. Watchung Reservation, Mountainside, NJ. Leader: Gail Hudson River. Those hiking 3 miles will then return to starting Moderate 7 miles in northern Harriman. Severe weather cancels. leader for meeting time and place. This challenging trail ascends Waimon, 973-467-4761. Meet: 10am at Trailside Nature Center point. Those hiking the full 7 miles will continue north along the 1,200 feet in just 1.5 miles, but the view is worth the tired muscles. parking lot on Coles Ave. 4 miles at a brisk pace. Rain cancels. Saturday, December 8 aqueduct to the dam. AFW. Appalachian Trail in NJ. Leader: For info and to register, Sunday, November 4 SW. Rockland Lake to Nyack, NY. Leader: Marvin Malater, GS. Evening Trail Tales, Great Swamp Outdoor Education contact www.adventuresforwomen.org or 973-644-3592. Meet: AFW. Pine Meadow Lake, Harriman State Park, NY. Leader: 718-376-3608; call to confirm hike is still on. Meet: 8:45am at Port Center, (Chatham) NJ. Leader: For info and to register, contact 9am. Moderate to strenuous hike at a moderate pace; out by 5pm. For info and to register, contactadventuresforwomen.org or Authority bus terminal, south wing by white commuter statues, 973-635-6629 or morrisparks.net. Meet: Hour-long walks 5:30- 973-644-3592. Meet: 9:30am. Moderate hike; out by 2pm. for 9:15 bus to Rockland Lake (one-way). 7 miles at moderate Sunday, October 21 8:30pm; register for time slot and meeting place. Hear slightly pace, several climbs. Hike the Long Path with many Hudson PM. Autumn Colors at Pyramid Mountain, NJ. Leader: For more spooky, silly, and nature-themed tales told along the nighttime WEC. Mount Minsi, Delaware Water Gap, PA. Leader: Don River vistas along Hook Mountain ridge. Optional dinner/gallery in info and to register, call 973-334-3130 or go to morrisparks.net. trails of the Great Swamp. Appropriate for ages 4+; $5 fee. Weise, [email protected]. Meet: 9:30am; contact leader for Nyack. Suggested donation for non-members is $3. meeting place. Moderately challenging 8-10 miles. See the Meet: 1pm at Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area, 472A IHC. Lake Minnewaska to Gertrude’s Nose, NY. Leaders: Delaware Water Gap from the quieter Pennsylvania side of the Sunday, December 9 Boonton Ave., Boonton, NJ. Bring a camera and be prepared to Charlie Kientzler, 973-835-1060, and Carolyn & Jim Canfield, 973- climb to spectacular vistas. Appropriate for ages 7 and up. Appalachian Trail. AFW. Black Mountain, Harriman State Park, NY. Leader: 728-9774. Meet: 9:30am at Minnewaska State Park parking For info and to register, contact us at adventuresforwomen.org or Saturday, November 10 UCHC. South Mountain Reservation, Millburn, NJ. Leader: Lee (upper lot by the lake); parking fee $8/car. Or, meet 8am at Harri - 973-644-3592. Meet: 9:30am. Moderate to strenuous hike at a Fanger, 973-376-3160. Meet: 10am at Locust Grove parking, across man RR station, Rt. 17 in Arden, NY, for shuttle. Moderately AFW. Sunrise Mountain, Stokes State Forest, NJ. Leader: For moderate pace; out by 2:30pm. from Millburn RR station. Moderate 4 miles with hills; about strenuous 8 miles from Lake Minnewaska up and around info and to register, contact us at adventuresforwomen.org or 2 hours. Rain cancels. Gertrude’s Nose, then return via Millbrook Mountain Trail for the 973-644-3592. Meet: 10am. Moderate to strenuous hike at a UCHC. Merrill Creek Reservoir, NJ. Leader: Pat Horsch, 908- view and almost vertical cliffs. moderate pace; out by 4pm. 693-8331. Meet: 10am at visitors center parking lot. Easy but scenic 5.5 miles around the reservoir, with a few small hills; suit - The activities listed are sponsored by member clubs of the NY-NJ Trail Conference. All hikers are welcome subject to club regula - Sunday, November 11 able for beginners. Bring binoculars if you’d like to view some of tions and rules of the trail. You are responsible for your own safety. Wear hiking boots or strong, low-heeled shoes. Bring food, water, UCHC. South Mountain Reservation, Millburn, NJ. Leader: Lee the resident birds. rain gear, first aid kit, and a flashlight in a backpack. Leaders have the right and responsibility to refuse anyone whom they believe Fanger, 973-376-3160. Meet: 10am at Tulip Springs parking. Sunday, December 16 cannot complete the hike or is not adequately equipped. Easy, moderate, or strenuous hikes are relative terms; call leader if in doubt. Moderate 4+ miles with hills; 2+ hours. Rain cancels. WEC. Monster Mines Hike, Harriman State Park, NY. Leader: More than 100 clubs belong to the Trail Conference, and many of our affiliate groups sponsor hikes not listed in the Hikers’ Almanac. Saturday, November 17 Don Weise, [email protected]. Meet: 9:30am; contact For a descriptive list of Conference clubs, consult our website or send a SASE with your request to NY-NJ Trail Conference. AFW. Merrill Creek Reservoir, NJ. Leader: For info and to leader for meeting place. Fast-paced 9-10 miles. Back by popular Club Codes register, contact us at www.adventuresforwomen.org or 973-644- demand, hike through beautiful northern Harriman scenery and Only those clubs with hikes offered in this issue are listed below. Please call numbers listed to confirm. 3592. Meet: 10am. Moderate hike; out by 3pm. past several large mines. ADK-NJR ADK, North Jersey Ramapo IHC Interstate Hiking Club RVW. Saugerties Light House, NY. Leader: For more info call AFW. Pyramid Mountain, NJ. Leader: For info and to register, AFW Adventures for Women NYHC New York Hiking Club 845-246-9284. Meet: 9am. Easy walk/hike. contact us at adventuresforwomen.org or 973-644-3592. Meet: 9am. Moderate hike; out by 2pm. AMC-NYNJ Appalachian Mountain Club, SW Shorewalkers SW. Sunken Meadow State Park, Long Island, NY. Leader: New York-North Jersey Chapter NYR New York Ramblers Ludwig Hendel, 718-626-3983; call only evening before hike. Meet: 10am at Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan, LIRR ticket FOCA/WTA Friends of Old Croton Aqueduct PM Pyramid Mountain Natural windows, for train to Kings Park (RT). 8-9 miles at moderate pace and Westchester Trails Association Historic Area with some hills. Hike on trails and boardwalk along Long Island Find many more hikes on our website: GS Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center UCHC Union County Hiking Club Sound. Suggested donation for non-members is $3. nynjtc.org//content/scheduled-hikes RLC Rock Lodge Club UOC University Outing Club PM. Tripod Rock at Pyramid Mountain. Leader: For more info RVW Rip Van Winkle Hiking Club WEC Weis Ecology Center and to register, call 973-334-3130 or go to www.morrisparks.net. Clubs wishing to have hikes listed in Hikers’ Almanac should send their schedules to [email protected] or to the Trail Conference Office. Meet: 1pm at Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area, 472A The deadline for the Winter issue is November 15. Boonton Ave., Boonton, NJ. Join us for a moderate hike to visit our famous “rock star.” Appropriate for ages 7 and up. Fall 2012 Page 9

At Minnewaska State Park Preserve All four trail bridges that were washed away VOLUNTEERS AT WORK by last year’s hurricane are still out as of the deadline for this issue—Mossy Glen, Blue - Trail News berry Run, and two over the Peterskill. Also at Minnewaska, some trail color changes that bear repeating : Scenic Trail is now blazed purple; Rainbow Falls is orange; Jenny Lane is light blue; Old Min - Delaware Water Gap: Limited Access newaska Trail is pink. All were previously to Blue Mountain Lakes Area blazed Long Path aqua, but have been Last year’s storm damage to Blue Mountain reblazed following the reroute of the LP Lakes Road and Skyline Drive has resulted through Mine Hollow. In addition, these in the closure of Blue Mountain Lakes trails will be co-aligned with the Shawan -

Road to motor vehicles. A barrier has been gunk Ridge Trail and its blazes will be seen K C O L

erected at the beginning of the road at Old at trailheads and intersections. E E H

Mine Road, approximately one mile north W

Y

Trails at Rifle Camp Park R

of Millbrook Village. Skyline Drive, an R A L extension of Blue Mountain Lakes Road in Passaic County, NJ, have been relocated Young volunteers from Groundwork USA pulled invasives and enjoyed a rustic weekend up to Crater Lake, is also inaccessible to and extended. See the Featured Hike on in Harriman, with support from the Trail Conference. motor vehicles. Hikers planning a visit to page 12 for details. this area should use access trails via the Thank You, from Groundwork USA Appalachian Trail from Millbrook Road or TRAIL RELATED NEWS the Buttermilk Falls Trail from Mountain Recreational Trails Program Once again, thanks for helping to organize this wonderful invasive species removal event Road. Alternatively, walking up Blue reauthorized through 2014 for our youth. All indications are that the youth had a wonderful time, and many were Mountains Lakes Road is also an option. We are thrilled that the Recreational Trails truly transformed by the experience (first time camping, first time in a tent, first camp - The National Park Service reports that Program (RTP), the funding program that fire, first cooking on a campfire, first time hiking, first visit to a state park [Harriman], bids for the road repairs will be submitted has sustained state trail programs for two first time swimming in a mountain lake, etc. Could not have done it without the NY- during August 2012 with a completion decades, has been reauthorized as part of the NJ Trail Conference’s support and assistance. Looking forward to fruitful collaborations date of Fall 2012. transportation bill approved by the U.S. in the future. Congress on June 29, 2012 and signed by —Curt Collier, Groundwork USA PSE&G Work Closes 3 Miles President Barack Obama on July 6, 2012. of Lenape Trail Under the new legislation, which will fund Extensive work being conducted by transportation programs through Septem - PSE&G to replace transmission towers ber 30, 2014, the RTP will receive $85 along the powerline right-of-way in West million in annual funding for the next two Orange and Livingston has closed the west - fiscal years. The Coalition for Recreational ernmost three miles of the Lenape Trail for Trails, of which the Trail Conference is a up to two years. Signs have been posted. member, worked to ensure continued fund - ing of this user-pay/user-benefit program. Funds from the program have supported trail projects throughout our region. R E P A R D

H G I E L Student members of the Mahwah Environmental Volunteers Organization spent hours cleaning up the grounds at the Darlington Schoolhouse, future home for the Trail Conference. S R A E N P O A J

R T D

R H The ninth annual celebration of the Lark in the Park, from September 29 E G B I O E R L through October 8, will bring exciting new hiking, biking, and paddling Three Jewish groups joined forces to Ramapo College students spent ventures suitable for everyone in recently opened New York City reservoirs clear trail on the Fishkill Greenway in September 1 clearing new trails in the Dutchess County. Farny Highlands. and watershed land. And, throughout the entire region, there will be lots of other hikes, paddles, cycling, fishing, nature walks, and lectures as well as cultural and social events over the 10-day period of the Lark in the Park.

The Lark in the Park was originally created in 2004 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Catskill Park by the New York State Dept. of N R E T S

Environmental Conservation. The Lark is sponsored by the New York-New D E R Jersey Trail Conference, the Catskill Mountain Club (CMC), and Catskill F Center for Conservation and Development, with the cooperation of the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Check the Lark in the Park website: www.catskillslark.org for schedules and E K N

other important information, including pre-registration for some events. A R F N

R B E O T K S

A J D E R

F The Orange-Rockland Long Distance Trail Ralph’s Peak Hikers Cabin Volunteers (top 2 Crew had several work trips on the Long photos) at 13th A.T. work & eat weekend. Path this summer.

FITZGERALD FALLS addition, the Rovers are training the continued from page 1 ORLD crew in some technical stonework skills. They also shared their work with 30 donated grip hoists, generators, and ham - visitors on June 30, as part of the Warwick mer drills to the crew. AT Community Day celebration. Hikers The Rovers scheduled 12 workdays (8 from age 5 to 80+ were spellbound as the for construction and 4 for various rigging volunteers flew rocks through the air and E K

set-ups and quarrying operations) in the split boulders with a few well-placed N A R F

2012 season, which began in April. As of wedges and hammer slams. B O mid-August, they had tallied more than K A 900 volunteer hours on the project, with Gely Franke, Joan James, and Ed O’Brien relax after cleanup work on Schunemunk Mountain. J an average of 18 volunteers per trip. In Page 10 Fall 2012 TRAIL CONFERENCE VOLUNTEERS ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARY Program Highlights May 25 – August 20, 2012 10/1/2010-12/31/2011 Trail Conference celebrated its 90th anniversary The Volunteer Committee acknowledges these new volunteers Published who took on or completed an New edition of Harriman Trails (book) assignment during the time period New edition of Shawangunk Trails noted above. The list also includes (maps) existing volunteers who accepted New edition of North Jersey Trails additional assignments. We thank

(maps) R A

all Trail Conference volunteers! G Brand new map set: Jersey Highlands- P A

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Central North M

Invasives Strike Force Monitor: E R E Adrienne Abramowitz, Christina J Audet, Diane Alden, Bruce Barnes, Four new trail crews launched after A 2011 highlight was opening the ADA-compliant Appalachian Trail Marta Bautis, Joanne Beliveau, Ben training at Trail U section at the top of Bear Mountain. Jolly Rovers (specializing in technical Burton, Ernst Demm, Wendy Fowler, Treasurer’s Report ($1,132,174) and publications and other Matt Frye, Michael Hambouz, Anne rock work) program services ($344,068). The bal - Hunter, Phyllis Ianniello, Mary Invasives Strike Force Kissane, Susan Letcher, Michael Orange-Rockland Long Distance Trails Crew ance were expenses related to fundraising Lenhardt, Frank Libert, Susy Libert, Bear Claw Crew in northern NJ ($340,346) and management/general Kathy Marciniak, Cathy Millington, By Jim Gregoire, Treasurer ($157,552). Geoffrey Millington, Friedel Muller- New trails built and opened at: With such a large excess of revenues Landau, Daniel S. Murphy, Khan New York Due to the change in our fiscal year-end over expenses, our net income (a.k.a. Nguyen, Elisabeth Oliu, Diane Sylvan Glen Preserve in Westchester Cty. from September 30 to December 31, we “change in net assets”) for the 15 months Powers, Susan Predl, Jackson Wonder Lake State Park in Putnam Cty. have two sets of financials for 2011—one was over one million dollars. This Prouty, Martha Rabson, Virginia Angle Fly Preserve in Westchester Cty. for the year ended September 30 and one extremely favorable result is a testament to Reie, Patricia Salmon, Robert An ADA-compliant trail that includes a for the three months ended December 31. the generosity of the Trail Conference’s Schucker, Vicki Shiah, Micky Siegel, section of the Appalachian Trail on the Results for both periods have been audit - supporters, our ability to garner grants to Anne Crowe Smith, Galen Smith, summit of Bear Mountain ed and an unqualified opinion was issued support our program services and Gregory J. Smith, Hudson Smith, Mine Hole Trail at Minnewaska State by the Trail Conference’s auditors, With - Darlington Schoolhouse construction, Karl M. Soehnlein, Louis Spanier, Park Preserve, Ulster County umSmith + Brown, PC. The numbers and the wise stewardship of available Benjamin Sterman, Emily Sweet, below are for the entire 15 months ended funds. As of December 31, total net assets Gene Tadlock, Justin Tucker, New Jersey December 31, unless otherwise indicated. of the Trail Conference were $3,892,121, Sebastien Venuat, Shelley Waltz, Jenny Jump State Forest in Warren Total revenues of $3,022,656 came an increase of 37% since the end of fiscal Jeane Welch County, NJ principally from membership dues and 2010. Those assets consist principally of contributions ($1,478,588); income land and investments of the Land Publications Book Field Checker: Major trail relocations and from various grants and trail building Acquisition and Stewardship Fund Marnie Elder, Gene Wiggins improvements made: Manaticut Point Trail in Norvin Green contracts ($662,140); gains from sales of ($1,601,337); cash and investments Trail Corridor Monitor: previously purchased land ($395,129); ($1,192,912, of which $500,000 has been Bryan Blackburn State Forest, NJ Silver Trail in Ramapo Valley Cty and map and book sales ($299,722). In- designated as an operating reserve fund); Trail Crew Member: Reservation kind contributions of services accounted and receivables ($142,662). We also have Timothy St. Thomas for another $175,867 of revenues. an investment of $1,089,648 in the Conservation Our expenses totaled $1,974,140. Darlington construction project. The Trail Trail Maintainer: Trail Conference worked with partner, Major components were trail programs Conference has no debt outstanding. Frank Asaro, Chris Baker, Jay Beilis, OSI, to acquire an easement on 2.3 Eugene Carfora, Ted Clancy, acres that closed a gap in the Long Path Volunteer Report for Calendar Year 2011 Dorota Dabrowska, Kurt Fischer, on the Shawangunk Ridge. Wendel George, Timothy Harvell, We transferred two large parcels to NYS Category Work Hours Travel Hours Total Hours Value * Patricia Johnston, Mark Kern, Keith Dept. of Environmental Conservation for Kral, Nicole Lordan, Christopher permanent protection: 389 acres in Trail Work 35,919 9,838 45,756 1,173,184 Losavio, David E. Moskowitz, Greenville (Orange County) on the Off-Trail Work 8,816 1,143 9,959 $255,349 Raquel Pallak, Robert Reiss, Richard Shawangunk Ridge and 205 acres in Workshops 3,552 533 4,085 $104,739 Reynolds, Daniel Rosenstein, Brett Greene County. Both parcels offer Schollman, Richard E. Siegelman, protection to the Long Path. TOTAL 48,286 11,514 59,800 $1,533,272 Jeffrey Weintraub, Aaron Wolfe, the addition of land Martin F. Zumsteg We celebrated *The value of volunteer time presented here is $25.64, the average wage plus benefits of non-management, non- around Arrow Lake in Monroe to agricultural workers in New Jersey as determined by Independent Sector: independentsector.org/volunteer_time Trail Shelter Caretaker: Sterling Forest State Park in Orange Todd Lantz County. The land adds to the buffer for the Appalachian Trail. Trail Supervisor: Chris Connolly, Federico Nealon Advocacy To view independent assessments of the State parks were kept open in the face Web Associate: Moshe Arad, of threats to close them in New York Aaron Wolfe Trail Conference as a charitable and New Jersey thanks to public Did we miss you or someone you support generated by partnerships in organization, visit CharityNavigator.org know? Please tell us so we can which we participated. correct our records and give you and GuideStar.org and look for our profiles. the thanks you deserve. Contact Money for open space protection in New the Volunteer Administrator via York’s Environmental Protection Fund email: [email protected] was included in the state budget after proposals to eliminate it.

Other Strengthened work in Catskill Mountain Region with the addition of a Program Coordinator Broke ground on Phase 1 of the restoration of Darlington School House as our future headquarters Launched Invasives Strike Force by training more than 100 volunteers to identify and monitor 14 common invasive plants along our trails. More than 132 miles of trails in New Jersey and New York were surveyed in the first HAVEN OFF THE HUDSON year. Friendly, historic 3-season wooded Our website was the destination for community in Westchester County. Co-op 641,609 unique visitors; pageviews total offers hiking, tennis, pool, wifi café, social 3,087,660. activities, organic community garden. Our volunteers and staff responded Beautiful Hudson riverfront nearby. Studio, quickly to impacts of Hurricanes Irene one-bedroom cottages, $35,000-$129,000. and Lee on trails and communities, www.reynoldshills.org/bungalowshop. collecting and sharing information, food, Mel: 347-307-4642 or melgarfi[email protected] clothes, money, and moral support where it was needed. Fall 2012 Page 11 MAP NEWS! also available in canvas). I wanted to try well. After almost six months of heavy use these shoes because their oval shape is that included hiking, daily wear, and run - New 6th Edition of roomy around the forefoot and toes; the ning outdoors twice a week, a few of the GEAR laces extend almost the full length of the raised dots under the outer heel area were Kittatinny Trails shoe, allowing for small adjustments; and worn down (although most of the sole they include a layer of ethylene vinyl was in good shape). I sent the shoes to a Map Set Available acetate (EVA) cushioning that is neither repair shop in Plattsburgh, NY, that spe - CHECK too thick nor too thin and that is rein - cializes in resoling climbing shoes, and An occasional series that will review gear forced with a plastic arch support. they resoled them with the identical This four-map set covers trails and park - appropriate for hiking. But two features were of particular Stealth dot sole. Eight months later the lands along the Kittatinny Ridge in interest to me. shoes and soles are still in good shape, but northwestern New Jersey. 275 miles of First, I wanted to try Five Ten’s propri - with some thinning of the dots in high- marked trails, including more than 50 etary “sticky,” Stealth rubber compound, pressure areas. miles of the Appalachian Trail, are shown used for the shoes’ raised-dot sole pattern. Three cautions: While it provides within the Delaware Water Gap National Second, these shoes can be resoled. Resol - excellent traction, Stealth rubber does Recreation Area, High Point State Park, ing can delay the need to buy new shoes seem to wear down more quickly than Stokes State Forest, Worthington State For - and help keep one’s hiking shoes out of the other rubber soles; the life of the shoes est, and other nearby parklands. landfill. Usually, resoling is an option only will depend on the resilience of the EVA for heavy and expensive boots or shoes. mid-sole material; when wet, the soles My Guide Tennies have performed well leave a black dot pattern on floors. The on day hikes in northern New Jersey, spots clean up easily with a paper towel or Harriman State Park, Schunemunk sponge.

N Mountain, and the Catskills. Their E T E “sticky” rubber soles have provided me

V Howard E. Friedman, DPM, is an avid I F with solid traction when crossing wet, hiker, a podiatrist in Suffern, NY, and a FiveTen Guide Tennie moss-covered rocks in swollen streams frequent contributor to Trail Walker . Find A climber’s shoe good for and hiking up and down rocky sections of many of his articles on our website at all-around hiking trail. The cushioning is adequate when nynjtc.org/news/health-news. Reviewed by Howard E. Friedman DPM walking over rocks, and the flexible light - weight shoes (about 1.5 pounds for one A shoe designed for rock climbers—good pair, men’s size 10.5) allow me to feel the for climbing, hiking miles over rocky ground and react to the terrain. I replaced trails, and providing excellent traction all the sock liner with a Spenco Polysorb Rating: 4.5 boots out of 5 while carrying heavy climbing gear—is insole; there may not be room in the shoe Ratings are 1-5 boots, with a 5-boot rank - well suited for day hiking and short back - for bulkier arch supports. ing signifying “This is very good. I like it.” packing trips. I have been wearing the The outer leather upper, EVA cushion - leather Five Ten Guide Tennie, called an ing, full rubber rand (rubber on the toe “approach” shoe, for 14 months (they are box), and even the laces have held up

The Alarm was just as startling, even in a loud, traffic Among the more significant trail updates: What makes the iSafe Backpack different filled situation. In the woods, I would • a recent relocation of the Appalachian from a schoolbag or a small backpack is the imagine that the sound would be able to Trail near Sunfish Pond, fact that there is a built in audible and visu - travel a decent distance; at night, the • the newly marked Cliff Park trail al alarm system. When activated, the alarm flashing LEDs could be used to help draw system near Milford, Pennsylvania, emits a very loud (and earsplitting) alarm attention to one’s location. • and the now complete McDade sound. A series of LEDs (lights) also begin The alarm is designed to scare off Recreational Trail that stretches 32 flashing on the back of the backpack. would-be attackers, be they human or miles alongside the Delaware River. The alarm is activated by tugging a small animal. Not having run into a bear or any string on the strap that pulls out a pin other wild animals while testing, I cannot Locations of shelters and water sources located underneath a small flap on the speak to its effectiveness, but considering along the Appalachian Trail are now more shoulder strap. The alarm will continue to the reaction of our dogs, I would tend to accurately placed, and additional features S G

A sound (and flash) until the pin is put back think most wildlife will hightail it away along this National Scenic Trail in Pennsyl - B E F

A in or the batteries run out (the company from you once you activate the alarm. vania are now shown. S I says that on a fresh set of two, 9-volt batter - This new edition shows more viewpoints iSafe Backpack ies, the alarm will operate for two hours). Design & Use and points of interest, and notices of tem - Beyond Bear Bells: A Backpack I can attest to the impact of the alarm, The standard iSafe Backpack comes in a porary trail and road closures due to storm with an Alarm System even when I was testing it. I jumped at the multitude of colors and follows the general damage are included. Parking locations are Reviewed by Jeff Senterman level of the sound and so did the two dogs design of a traditional school backpack. It more accurately depicted, and updated in the house. When I tried it outside, it weighs just over two pounds with the two roads data throughout New Jersey has been 9-volt batteries installed, and is 17 inches incorporated. The maps include many high, 11 ½ inches wide, and about 9 inch - additional minor corrections and changes. Hunting Seasons 2012 es deep when fully filled. The fabric is Three inset maps provide additional rip-stop nylon; it offers a bit of water resist - detail for popular park destinations. NEW YORK Suffolk County – Deer ance, but is not completely waterproof. Along the Appalachian Trail, sources of Special Notes: Bow season starts early Regular (bowhunting only): There is a chest strap, but no waist strap. drinking water, shelters, side trails, and this year: October 1. Oct. 1 – Dec. 31 I have used the iSafe Backpack on sev - parking access areas are identified. Special Firearms Season** (special permit, Also, limited deer hunting will be per - eral different short day hikes and found it weekdays): Jan. 7 – Jan. 31, 2011 mitted at Schunemunk Mountain State equal to my other small backpacks. The Great for River Travelers As Well Park this season. The hunt periods will Bear one downside is that it is a bit heavier In addition to being great trail maps, this coincide with DEC’s bow, regular, and (most of our region, except Westchester) than most. I have often used the back - set also includes a number of features use - muzzleloading seasons, but will be Bow: Oct. 1 – Nov.16, Dec. 10 – Dec. 18 pack in book bag mode and it has held up ful for traveling along the scenic Delaware limited to 100 permits in total. Regular: Nov. 17 – Dec. 9 to carting books, laptops, and whatever River. River mileages, access points, and Muzzleloading: Dec. 10 – Dec. 18 else back and forth between the Catskills rapids are shown, and river campsite loca - Regular and Archery and the Trail Conference office in tions have been updated, with the numbers Southern Zone Bear Mountain-Harriman and Sterling Forest State Parks: Hunting is allowed Mahwah. The alarm has worked each of all campsites now shown. (includes Catskills, Shawangunks, time I have demonstrated it. As with most of our published trail and most of Hudson Valley) – Deer with a park permit in the area of Harriman west of Route 87 and into Sterling Forest Is the iSafe backpack something that I maps, these include 20-foot contour lines, Bow: Oct. 1 – Nov. 16, Dec. 10 – Dec. 18 State Park. Other areas of Harriman-Bear will likely use in the woods? Probably not, UTM gridlines, green overprint for public Regular: Nov. 17 – Dec. 9 Mountain are not open to hunting. It is but I know several people who would access lands, parking areas, viewpoints, Muzzleloading: Dec. 10 – Dec. 18 allowed in parts or all of other state parks. appreciate its features and the extra bit of camping areas, and other points of interest. Westchester County – Deer Call parks for details. security it provides. As always, the maps are printed in vibrant color on waterproof, tear-resistant Tyvek. Regular (bowhunting only): Black Rock Forest (845-534-4517) Oct. 1 – Dec. 31 At only $13.95 ($10.46 for Trail Confer - closes to all hikers from Nov. 17 through ence members), this comprehensive map Dec. 9. set is a must-have for exploring the vast For more info about hunting seasons in Rating: 3.5 boots out of 5 parklands along the Kittatinny Ridge and New York, go to www.dec.ny.gov and Ratings are 1-5 boots, with a 5-boot rank - adjacent section of the Delaware River. To follow links for hunting. ing signifying “This is very good. I like it.” obtain the revised map set, shop online at www.nynjtc.org, call 201-512-9348, or NEW JERSEY stop in at the Trail Conference office. In New Jersey the safest course in the fall/winter is to hike only on Sundays Visit trailpubs.nynjtc.org and click on when hunting with firearms is prohibited (except on private preserves). Other - “Like” NYNJTC! the Kittatinny Trails cover panel for addi - wise, hunting seasons vary by weapon and geography. Hunting season tional resources, including suggested hikes, information is found in the NJ Hunting Digest, available at license agents and at park contact information and much more! www.njfishandwildlife.com/dighnt.htm Summaries of deer and other hunting seasons can be found at This map set was produced with support www.njfishandwildlife.com/njregs.htm#hunting facebook.com/nynjtc from Campmor, an outdoor store and retail partner of the Trail Conference. Page 12 Fall 2012

an extraordinary problem—she couldn’t the park, on our website: get a deer to stay far enough away to take nynjtc.org/hike/new-york-city-skyline- Featured Hike the picture she wanted. The deer kept com - rifle-camp-park ing too close, probably used to getting By Daniel Chazin snack handouts.” The new Inner Loop Trail (red blazes) Volunteers Extend Two Trails at Rifle mainly uses existing park paths with some newly cut trail. It coincides with the Rifle Camp Trail for some of its length, and Camp Park in Passaic County, NJ picks up some of the former route of the now relocated yellow trail. The red trail was scouted by Kevin Cwalina of Passaic Coun - ty Planning Dept. and Craig Nunn. John Moran did the blazing and clearing. Other Passaic County officials who assisted with the project were Nick Roca, Director of Parks,who approved the trails, and Louis Imhof and Michael Marinello, who walked the trails with John Moran and offered suggestions and advice. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped expand and enhance hiking opportunities N I N Z I A

in a park that is close to so many New Jer - Z H A C H

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sey residents. E L I E N I A

Find a detailed description by Daniel N D A D The New York City skyline as seen from a trail at Rifle Camp Park. Chazin of a hike on the newly extended The outlet from Great Notch Reservoir feeds Rifle Camp Trail, as well as directions to this brook in the park. Loop Trail offers panoramic views of Two projects at the park this summer New York City skyline added several trail miles to the park’s net - work, which now totals about 5 miles. Hikers’ Time: 2 hours With guidance from Craig Nunn, Trail Difficulty: Easy to Moderate Conference area supervisor, and after secur - Marketplace Length: 3 miles ing permissions and approvals from Passaic Route Type: Circuit County, Eagle Scout candidate Will Gen - Dogs not permitted tilello led Boy Scout Troop 8 of Montclair, Go Places with Trail Maps and NJ, in scouting, flagging, clearing, and Rifle Camp Park in Woodland Park, NJ, blazing an extended Rifle Camp Trail (yel - Books from the Trail Conference. sits on the ridgeline and southern side of low blazes) that added 1.5 miles to the Garret Mountain in densely populated Pas - 2-mile trail. In addition, Trail Conference saic County, NJ. (Garret Mountain volunteers installed a new red-blazed Inner Complete set of our Reservation is on the north side of the Loop Trail that runs for about 1.5 miles. maps for the outdoor mountain.) It is extensively forested, and The changes to the Rifle Camp Trail large trap rock outcrops are abundant include moving portions from woods roads lover on your gift list. throughout the property. The eastern limit to more attractive footpaths and extending Price: $80.84 (discounted from $107.78) of the parkland consists of nearly vertical the trail into a long (about 0.5 mile) but (postage/handling $6.50) basalt cliffs that provide panoramic views narrow (perhaps 300 feet) “panhandle” sec - Our map combo offers all 11 high-quality of the surrounding area and of the New tion of the park that is contained by a Trail Conference maps at a 5% discount York City skyline. fence. Visible through the fence: to the (members get an additional 25% discount). west, the Great Notch Reservoir; to the Save big on shipping charges: Just $6.50 east, a former quarry that is now a housing when you buy the combo pack! development; and along the way, great Find it on our online store under Combos. views of the New York City skyline. Turning one’s gaze away from the fence, We cover your favorite hiking areas in the New York-New Jersey region, the hiker sees woods, ponds, and rock for - including Harriman-Bear Mountain, the Catskills, North Jersey and Jersey mations. The occasional soaring hawk, Highlands, East and West Hudson Highlands, and more.

N wading blue heron, and abundant wild I Find all our publications, and select trail guides from others, on our website, Z A

H turkey also are part of the hike. So are and get your 25% member discount ! C

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I abundant deer. North Jersey Trails Chair N A

D John Moran reports, “I was on the yellow Visit www.nynjtc.org/panel/goshopping! A housing development abuts the cliff of a trail and encountered a photographer with former quarry. Or call 201-512-9348

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 e of trails, advocates for parks, protects open space, and Individual Joint/Family

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n outdoors. Sponsor $60 $75 Benefactor $120 $150 e Your membership supports the trails you love and gives

r Senior (65+) $25 $30 T you these additional benefits: Life $1,000 $1,500 e f I 25% Discount on Trail Conference maps, books, and

n other products A joint membership is for two adults residing at the same address.

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

i Tuition-Free Enrollment in our Trail University E Name ______a introductory courses

r Address ______Workshops and Seminars on trail maintenance

T City ______State ______Zip ______

and construction, leadership training, wilderness first

N Day Phone ______Evening Phone ______aid, chainsaw operation, environmental monitoring and

J E-MAIL ______GPS operation Check or money order enclosed Visa Mastercard Amex N

E Access to a wide range of volunteer opportunities

- 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.