Volunteer Profile Hikers’ Almanac Glenn and Sarah Collins Enjoy a hike with one of our maintain one of our region’s member clubs and organiza - busiest trail sections. tions. See the fall offerings. READ MORE ON PAGE 4 READ MORE ON PAGES 8 and 9

O UR 90TH YEAR September/October 2010 - Trail Conference — Connecting People with Nature since 1920 www.nynjtc.org Completed Bare Rock Trail Leads Ben Frankel to Great View at Sterling Forest Passes the See page 12 for a description of a hike on Rock, Raven Rock, and Indian Rock Taconics Torch this trail, or go to www.nynjtc.org/hike/ Shelter. The Rocks Trail was created by bare-rock-trail-greenwood-lake-overlook combining several existing trails with three For more than two decades, Ben Frankel for a more detailed write-up of the hike. newly built trail sections. has been supporting trail maintenance and The Rocks Trail is 4.8 miles long; how - volunteer enthusiasm as supervisor of the t 2:20pm on Friday, June 23, Peter ever, from the Michigan Road parking lot, South Taconics trails. One truism of trail Tilgner and Suzan Gordon painted the complete hike is more than 7 miles, volunteering is that each of us brings our Athe last blaze and thereby finished with a total 1,300-foot elevation gain. It is own personality and style to the job and work on the 3.8-mile Bare Rock Trail in considered strenuous by park standards. has a lot of room to shape and build com - Sterling Forest . The trail runs The trail is blazed with white metal mark - munity. Ben brought his knowledge, O T O

between the Sterling Lake Trail and the Fire ers overlaid with an “RT” decal. The Rocks compassion, wit, and energy to the job, H P

Y

Tower Trail and leads to a great, 180-degree Trail has not yet been added to the official solving problems in his own quiet, S E T R

viewpoint overlooking Greenwood Lake. park map, which is available at several loca - methodical, and humble way. U O The trail was several years in the works, tions in the park. It will be added in the Ben loves the trails and has made a point C Long-time Taconics Trail Supervisor from inspiration to completion. Peter and near future. It is shown on a kiosk near the to get to know all of the volunteers, even Ben Frankel has worked on the trails for Suzan, trail supervisors for Sterling Forest, Michigan Road parking area. having everyone to his house for an annual four decades. dinner. He is still going strong, but decid - ed that upon turning 80, it was time to pass ing up the Trail Conference’s South Tacon - the torch. He has left such a deep impres - ic Trail Crew for years. I rapidly discovered sion on his friends and volunteers that we how special the is and wanted to compile this tribute to thank how important the Trail Conference’s work him for so many years of leadership, stew - is to . Ben Frankel, ardship, and friendship! Thank you, Ben! through his leadership, has been a guiding — Josie Gray, East Hudson Trails Chair force in the stewardship of what is surely one of the northeast’s premier desti - I met Ben by coming across his sweater nations.” hanging on a tree on the South Taconic — Ray Doherty, trails. Being a New Yorker, I wondered who Taconic State Park Manager would leave such a nice sweater hanging on a tree for anyone to take? Later, I came upon “If you talk to Ben very long, you soon real - Ben, dressed in khaki pants and a long- ize how much he loves hiking and being sleeved, collared shirt, working on the trails. outdoors. Thank you, Ben, for all that you He was the most elegant trail maintainer I have done for the trails in the South Tacon -

R ever met. Ben got hot and left the sweater on ics and the maintainers who care for them.” I E W

a tree to retrieve it on the way down. That’s — Jane Daniels, Chair, Trails Council E T T

E Ben—trusting, elegant, charming, and G R

O inspiring. His dedication to maintaining the When I first met, Ben, I quickly realized E A Trail Conference crew including Peter Tilgner, Suzan Gordon, Richard Summer (sitting) G trails inspires you to do as much as possible. that I was in the presence of an exception - admires the view of Greenwood Lake from Bare Rock in Sterling Forest. Ben called me this year and told me that al individual. He was a patient, thorough, he decided long ago that when he turned 80, competent instructor of this particular report that 17 different individuals helped Building the trail took nearly a year of he would hand over the supervisor job to novice trail maintainer. He knew his South during eight work trips. The volunteers planning followed by about a year of trail somebody else, and that somebody is me. Taconic trail network just about to the cen - included members of the North Jersey building and re-blazing. To mark its open - How could anybody say no to a man who timeter, and kept copious notes on various Ramapo Chapter of ADK as well as Trail ing, guests gathered for a continental has maintained trails for more than 40 years? features along the different trails. He was Conference members: Chris Connolly, breakfast and congenial talk before heading — Claudia Farb, Supervisor for South full of sternly worded instructions, fatherly Sheila Rizzo, Andrew Katzmann, Chuck out to walk the new trail. Geof Connor Taconics (newly appointed) advice, and all kinds of trail lore and natu - Holmes, Richard Lynch, Irene Logan, Ed presented a short history of the park that ral history of the area. Goodell, Georgette Weir, Cliff West, included the history and lore associated Upon my arrival at Taconic State Park in continued on page 2 Richard Sumner, Alan Nolan, Fred Hodde, with each of the six rock features. 2001, Ben Frankel had already been head - Siman Gooden, John Mack, Noel Schulz, Jeff Main, park manager, thanked the Mark Liss, and Jack Driller. volunteers for their work in the park. Dur - The newly completed section of the Bare continued on page 4 Going Trail-less in Putnam County Rock Trail is not on the 2008 Trail Confer - ence Sterling Forest map, but is indicated Help Needed to Develop form a hiking trail across the northern part in the map detail on page 12. Orienteering Style Map for of Putnam include half a dozen parcels Section of the Highlands Trail owned by the Dept. of New 4.8-mile Rocks Trail Links Environmental Protection (DEP). The Historic Spots at Ward Pound Ridge By Gary Haugland, agency owns buffer lands there to protect I B

On July 17, Ward Pound Ridge Reserva - A HT East of Hudson Chair the water quality in their numerous reser - R I E tion trail crew members, Trail Conference H voirs in the Croton system. They permit, K

Z representatives, park personnel, and friends O A portion of the Highlands Trail in even encourage, people to hike on these M R celebrated the opening of a new trail at the O Putnam County will become a trail-less reservoir lands, but—and it’s a big one— H park called the Rocks Trail (RT). Left to right on the new Rocks Trail: David trail. What? they do not want any marked trails. What The trail connects six prominent and Margulis, Connie Stern, Fred Howley, The idea of a trail-less trail was first pro - to do? historic rocks in the park: Dancing Rock, Danielle Fitch, Fred Stern, Leili Kheirabi, posed for the in the 1930s: This fall, we will begin exploring these Bear Rock Petroglyph, Spy Rock, Kurt Himpel, Geof Connor, and Jim Fitch locate an endpoint and identify some lands to identify viewpoints, scenic out - major waypoints and then leave it up to the croppings, and, most important, stream VOLUME XXXVII, N UMBER 5 ISSN 0749-1352 Non-Profit adventurous hiker to find his or her own crossings, and situate them on existing US Postage Paid way. Over the years, the Trail Conference maps. In the end we will have a set of ori - Permit No. 1239 Bellmawr, N.J. has conscientiously moved away from this enteering-like maps for those who wish to concept to create a network of cleared and hike this portion of the Highlands Trail. marked trails. Even the Long Path is not Orienteering maps are specifically designed following the original strategy. for special competitions that involve fol - But it looks like a portion of the High - lowing maps and looking for specific lands Trail in Putnam County will have to. features to reach a series of checkpoints, The open spaces we have identified to continued on page 11 Page 2 September/October 2010 Why Trail Maintenance Reports?

VOLUME XXXVII, NO.5 SEPTEMBER /O CTOBER 2010 Twice a year maintainers are asked to sub - GEORGETTE WEIR EDITOR mit a report of what they have done on the LOUIS LEONARDIS GRAPHIC DESIGNER section of trail they maintain. The Trail The TRAIL WALKER (USPS Permit #1239) How Many Steps at Bear Mountain? Conference does want to know that a trail (ISSN 0749-1352) is published bi-monthly by the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference as a Editor’s Note: Several hikers have chal - is being cared for, but there are big-picture benefit of membership. Subscriptions are lenged the published count of 800 steps reasons for this reporting as well. available to libraries only at $15.00 a year. on the stretch of the • Trail reports alert the supervisor and Periodical postage paid at Mahwah, N.J., and that opened June 5 on Bear Mountain. trails chair if there are any problems. additional offices. Postmaster: Send address One group of three say they counted 705 • We use the numbers of volunteers, changes to the address below. Opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily represent the policy steps. Another hiker reported counting hours worked, and trail miles maintained or position of the Conference. Contributions of 719. Asked about the step count, con - when applying for grants and to indicate typed manuscripts, photos, and drawings are struction manager Eddie Walsh reports the value of our volunteer service in our welcome. Manuscripts may be edited for style the number 800 came from the design annual audit. and length. Send SASE for writers’ guidelines. specifications for the project, “720 below • Most important, we use the informa - Submission deadlines for the TRAIL WALKER are January 15 (Mar./Apr. issue), March 15 the Pine Flats and 76 above. When we tion in these reports to let our partners, (May/June issue), May 15 (July/Aug. issue), created the work logs, we assumed an such as park managers and government July 15 (Sept./Oct. issue), September 15 average rise of 7 inches. In reality, I think Thank You, Trail Conference officials, know that we are taking care of (Nov./Dec. issue), November 15 (Jan./Feb. most of the steps were about 8 inches, The Tenafly Nature Center would like to the trails and that we take that responsibil - issue). Unsolicited contributions cannot be acknowledged unless accompanied by SASE. which would reduce the number of extend a sincere thank you to Trail Walker ity seriously. For information on advertising rates, please write installed steps by 100.” He confessed that for further acknowledging the hard work So thank you, trail volunteers, not only or call. in the rush to have the trail ready for its of Jack Driller and Mark Liss, Trail Con - for doing the maintenance, but also for Copyright 2010 by: scheduled public opening on June 5, he ference volunteers, in the July/August doing the paperwork and attending meet - New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, Inc. did not count the final number of steps. 2010 issue [p. 4, “Volunteer Profile”]. ings that are part of keeping 1700-plus 156 Ramapo Valley Road (Rt. 202) Mahwah, NJ 07430 “I focused my energy on the goals of hav - In addition to lending a hand with miles of trails open to the public for hiking. 201-512-9348 ing a beautiful, functional, and solid trail unexpected events such as this, volunteers e-mail: [email protected] built by June 5.” The new official number of the NY-NJ Trail Conference also hike, — Jane Daniels, Trails Council Chair editorial e-mail: [email protected] of steps: “700+.” monitor, and reblaze our trails year World Wide Web: www.nynjtc.org round—a huge task for which we cannot Bravo, Bear Mountain Team thank them enough. BEN FRANKEL I had been aware of this project almost continued from page 1 from its inception, but, sadly, even as a — Jennifer Kleinbaum long-time AT maintainer, never lifted a Executive Director, Tenafly Nature Center Ben was very supportive of my idea to finger to move a one-ton rock in the four bring summer campers out to help main - years it was a work-in-progress. As I Thanks for the Maps tain the section, and took the trouble to walked the trail (after the official open - I’d like to thank the generous folks who come out with us on the day we showed up Mission Statement ing), I truly regretted missing the responded to my recent request with campers. Instead of waiting for us at The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is a opportunity. I had had no idea of the (July/August Trail Walker ) for copies of the access road parking lot, he went in ear - federation of member clubs and individuals magnitude of this project. In my mind's the old map series, Hikers News , original - ly to prepare. I remember vividly how dedicated to providing recreational hiking eye, I envisioned some stone steps weav - ly designed by William Hoeferlin, then when the group reached the work site we opportunities in the region, and representing the ing up the mountain a couple of hundred continued and updated by Leon Green - found ourselves fogged in as we walked interests and concerns of the hiking community. The Conference is a volunteer-directed public yards or so. Not so, not by a long shot. man of the Walking News during the along the open ridge. Suddenly a voice service organization committed to: When I hiked onto the relo, my first 1960s. Along with this series of maps, I ahead of us said “Hello!” and there stood • Developing, building, and maintaining impression was how inviting it was. This was also fortunate to receive other maps Ben (he disliked it intensely when I called hiking trails. very quickly turned to downright awe. As and guidebooks relating to hiking in the him Mr. Frankel), emerging out of the • Protecting hiking trail lands through support and advocacy. a long-time hiker, two-time AT thru-hik - New York metro area. My hope is to have mists like a legendary figure out of some • Educating the public in the responsible er, and long-time AT maintainer, I was all of this information eventually archived old myth. use of trails and the natural environment. bowled over not only by the quality of the at our new headquarters at the Darlington Ben has been doggedly loyal over the work itself—reminiscent to me of the Schoolhouse when we move in. years to this spectacular and under-appreci - Board of Directors Robert Boysen Chair Inca/Mayan stonework I’ve seen in Cen - Thanks to: Bruce Applebaum, Fred ated hiking treasure on the New Chris Connolly Vice Chair tral America and Mexico—but also by the Kies, Harry J. Smith, Bob Randhare, York-- border. I James Gregoire Treasurer quality of the chosen route. Magnificent. Eileen West for her donation of maps dare hope that we can up the good Daniel Chazin Secretary The good old “lurch, trip and stumble” from the collection of Dick Redfield, Neil work that he has begun so well and so Directors AT is never going to be quite the same, Zimmerman, and another generous humbly, and I hope that I will soon see Ben Jane Daniels Hans Khimm Bill Gannet Seth McKee once you walk this walk. donor who prefers to remain anonymous. out there on the ridge again, perhaps Josie Gray Edward Saiff — Ralph Ferrusi, — Bob Jonas emerging mysteriously out of a low cloud. Ann Gruhn Mary Smart Stormville, NY West Milford, NJ Thank You, Ben!” Gaylord Holmes Daniel Van Engel Peter Kennard — Nicolas Franceschelli, Trail Conference member Ralph Ferrusi writes Trail Maintainer Staff Send Us a Letter Edward Goodell Executive Director a weekly Hike column for the Poughkeepsie Email it to [email protected]; in the subject Joshua Howard Deputy Executive Journal , from which this letter was adapted. line, put “letter to TW editor”; or send it Director You can find a link to the article on our web - to Trail Walker Letters, NY-NJ Trail Hedy Abad Membership site. Go to www.nynjtc.org/news/news-items Program Manager Conference, 156 Ramapo Valley Rd., and scroll to find “New Bear Mountain path Mahwah, NJ 07430. Jeremy Apgar Cartographer redefines hiking trails.” Leigh Draper East Hudson Regional Representative Catherine Gemmell Database and Volunteer Administrator Chris Ingui Special Projects Give the gift that makes a difference and start Manager 50% Kevin Melchionne Director of crossing those names off your holiday gift list! Development OF * Larry Wheelock West Hudson Special gift membership deal during the months of September through December. F Regional Representative Gary Willick Fulfillment Coordinator Individual “Supporter” Membership Regular Price $30 Now $15!! The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is a Purchase a Gift Membership for someone volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. It is special at 50% off our regular price!* a federation of 103 hiking and outdoor groups, Family “Supporter” Membership and 10,000 individuals. Regular Price $40 Now $20!!

printed on recycled content paper Gift-giver: Giftee #1: Individual Family PLEASE RECYCLE TRAIL WALKER Name ______Name ______Membership # if available ______Address ______Visit our website today! Address ______City ______www.NYNJTC.org City ______State ______Zip ______State ______Zip ______Phone ______Giftee #2: Individual Family E-mail ______Name ______Check or money order enclosed Address ______Please bill my credit card Visa Mastercard Amex City ______Card # ______Exp. Date ___/___ State ______Zip ______Make check or money order payable to the NY-NJ Trail Conference, *Applies to purchase of gift membership for new members only. Gift and mail to: NY-NJ Trail Conference, 50% OFF Gift Membership, memberships purchased now are valid through December 31, 2011. This 156 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430. offer is not available online. Tax-deductible. Dues are not refundable. September/October 2010 Page 3

From the Executive Director In July, MEVO stepped up to volunteer to organize our 3rd Annual Hike-a-thon. Young We are letting them at it, providing men - Volunteers toring and support so these young people enjoy a great learning experience in event Working management. with the Trail Eric’s level of enthusiasm, energy, and self-starting, can-do spirit is unusual. But Conference Trail Conference members should take In 2008, Eric Fuchs-Stengler, then a junior heart in his story. Eric found his passion on at Mahwah High School, took himself on a Trail Conference maintained trail. He a hike—his first ever—at nearby Ramapo found opportunity in our volunteer pro - Valley County Reservation. In late August gram. He found mentors among our trail of this year, Eric was set to head to Clark staff and volunteers at Bear Mountain, University in Wooster, Massachusetts, where he has worked hands-on as an where he plans to study global environ - AmeriCorps intern this summer. mental studies and environmental science. Other young people have found similar The two events are connected. benefits through involvement with the “Before I went to the reservation I had Trail Conference. never realized how big the world is, how beautiful,” Eric says, confessing that until Just this year (and not all-inclusive): eighth grade he did little besides play video • 15 Boy Scouts from a troop in Mon - Eric Fuchs-Stengler, young trail volunteer par excellence games. “I discovered nature at the reserva - roe, NY, carried in (and up) the timber tion. I brought my best friend out and we decking needed for the trail bridge on the • Also from Montclair High School, Even this incomplete accounting shows a kept hiking.” AT at Bear Mountain. Emily Gold and Jamie Fanous GPSed all pretty good record for a small organization Eric immediately felt “an urge to help the • 15 teens from Groundwork USA, a occurrences of several invasive species at that has no formal youth program (though environment.” He joined the Trail Confer - nonprofit that aims to improve local com - High Mountain Reservation. we do have a modest endowment fund— ence in order to become a maintainer. munities, spent August 5 and 6 helping to • Alex Ciocci, a Boy Scout from the Lever Fund—that can provide money Because of his age, then 17, he needed his remove obsolete sections of the Major Mahwah, NJ, built a beautiful and solidly for youth trail projects). parents’ written permission. He was assigned Welch and Appalachian Trails and restore constructed new footbridge on the Halifax Our 90-year-old organization faces the Yellow-Silver Trail at the reservation. them back to the forest at Bear Mountain Trail at Scarlet Oak Pond in Ramapo never-ending trail obligations and younger Not content with that, Eric then set State Park. Reservation as his Eagle Scout project. volunteers will be the life blood that about founding a new youth group, • Rockland County AmeriCorps • 12 Boy and Cub Scouts from Wayne trails open for new generations. If you have Mahwah Environmental Volunteers brought 40 young people to help restore NJ, completed a trail clean-up at High ideas about how we can better engage with Organization (www.mahwahevo.org). Its the obsolete AT on Bear Mountain back Mountain Preserve. youth, please let me know. membership, he says, includes 360 high to the forest under Trail Conference • We welcomed West Point BSA Troop And watch for details about our Hike-a- school and college students who volunteer supervision. 23, as a new member group. They will be thon this fall. Let’s give our young MEVO for local and regional environmental proj - • Three full-time Rockland County maintaining the stretch of the AT between volunteers a response they can be proud of. ects and enjoy monthly hikes. This spring AmeriCorps interns, all college students, the and the Bridge, and summer, the group made two work are each serving 300 hours at Bear Moun - including the reroute around the Bear trips to Bear Mountain, one to help clean tain. Mountain Zoo. up the Lower East Face Appalachian Trail • Ian Vanderklein, a June graduate of • New Jersey AT Management Committee (AT) prior to its opening on June 5, and Montclair High School, GPSed the entire Chair Gene Giordano reserves two sections — Edward Goodell one to help remove the obsolete AT and Lenape Trail in Essex County, in both of the AT in the Delaware Water Gap Executive Director restore it back to the forest. Each trip had directions, providing basic info that will National Recreation Area for outreach pro - [email protected] 15 young volunteers. be used for a future trail project here. grams with Scout and school youth groups. Celebrate 90 Years of Trails in New York and New Jersey on Saturday, October 16, 2010

Join us for the 90th Anniversary Brunch and Membership Meeting of the Trail Conference at the Senator Frank R. Lautenberg Visitor Center, Sterling Forest State Park, Tuxedo, NY. This annual pancake event is a long-time favorite for Trail Conference members. Have a hearty breakfast (seating is limited; reserve your place –see below), take care of a little Trail Conference business, then follow in the footsteps of the Sterling Ridge Wanderbirds (pictured at right) in what is now Sterling Forest State Park in the company of Trail Conference volunteers and supporters.

Brunch Reservation Options I’d like to reserve my seat for the 90th Anniversary Brunch and make a donation to help offset the costs of the event. Go to Donate Now, indicate your dona - tion, and in the Special Instructions box, type, “Please reserve __ places at the 90th Anniversary Brunch.”

O I would like to reserve my place now for the brunch. UR 90TH YEAR Contact Hedy Abad at [email protected] or 201-512- 9348, ext. 26 to reserve your place. I cannot attend brunch, but I wish to honor the Trail Conference’s 90th Anniversary with a gift. Go to Donate Now, indicate your donation and in the Special Instructions box, type, “I cannot attend the event, but I wish to honor the Trail Conference’s 90th Anniversary with a special gift.” $250 and above: Presenting Sponsor of the 90th Anniversary Brunch $90—$249: 90th Anniversary Circle $45—$89: Maintainers’ Circle I am interested in making a special gift in honor of the Trail Conference’s 90th Anniversary. Please contact me.

Name(s) ______Address ______Presenting Sponsors and Anniversary Circle members are recognized on the event program. City ______State ______Zip ______Maintainers’ Circle and all gifts over $25 are recognized in Trail Walker. Phone ______Email ______

Learn more at www.nynjtc.org/content/90th-anniversary-brunch-and-membership-meeting Page 4 September/October 2010

Volunteer Profile Mountain Bridge to Perkins Tower on Bear opened with much fanfare on National TRAIL NEWS Mountain. (Recently, they handed over the Trails Day, Sarah and Glenn were rewarded Trail Maintainers Sarah trail piece that covers the bridge to the inn with “some nice comments from users and continued from page 1 and Glenn Collins: to West Point Boy Scout Troop 23.) They other maintainers.” Among them was trail refresh blazes, pick up trash, remove fire maintainer (and Trail Walker editor) “Stewarding the pits, and notify certified chain-sawyers to Georgette Weir. She reports that while hik - Outdoor Experience clear away blow-downs when handsaws ing the trail that day with Gary Haugland, prove to be inadequate. They savor the sec - former Trail Conference president and cur - Trail News for Thousands and tion’s historical significance as one of the rent chair of the East oldest segments of the AT and its role, in Trail committee, the sparkling white, Thousands” Glenn’s words, as the “point of the spear in sharp-edged rectangular blazes drew their By Lenny Bussanich the introduction of urban American people admiration. “We jokingly worried that a to the outdoor experience and nature.” new standard for blazing was being set and Long-time hikers and trail maintainers So they were honored when the request that we would be held to it,” Weir says. ing his remarks he said, “The Rocks Trail Sarah and Glenn Collins have an unmis - came for help in reblazing the new trail sec - “Then we met the Collinses on the trail was not only a great opportunity for the takable exuberance for the outdoors. It tion in time for its grand opening. As the and had the opportunity to praise their Trail Conference volunteers to see a project comes across the phone line as they talk trail crew raced to complete the heavy rock work in person. It was great that, even as come together from start to finish, it places about their recent accomplishment of and surfacing work of the first phase of the we admired the extraordinary work of the renewed interest on features tied to the reblazing the new section of Appalachian relocation, the Collinses got acquainted trail builders, we had with us the maintain - local history, which helps reinforce a sense Trail on Bear Mountain in time for its with the new route and methodically devel - ers who not only had helped get the trail of place here at the reservation.” Jane grand opening on National Trails Day, oped a blazing plan. Sarah emphasizes that ready, but who would carry on, protecting Daniels, chair of the Trail Conference Trails June 5th. Glenn proudly states, “It was just their focus throughout the spring was on and maintaining the trail in the future.” Council, added her congratulations. a thrill to have that responsibility.” “getting the blazes correct.” Asked what kinds of challenges they have Ward Pound Ridge Reservation is the For almost 10 years, starting as volun - Glenn notes they “did not want to have encountered during their years of service largest Westchester County park. It con - teers with the Woodland Trail Walkers club too many” of the AT’s signature 2 inch-by- on the AT, Sarah quickly says, “The main tains more than 40 miles of hiking trails (now disbanded), this couple from Mont - 6 inch white blazes, “yet enough to issue is the sheer volume of people” on the that are maintained by Trail Conference clair, NJ—she is reference librarian at the minimize confusion.” He reports that he trail. The park puts the minimum number volunteers. Foundation Center in New York and vol - and Sarah “lived on the trail for a week,” at 200,000. But, Sarah adds, those num - — Fred Stern, trail volunteer unteer coordinator for the Paper Mill asking hikers and other users for recom - bers also bring advantages. “We get to meet Playhouse, he is a reporter for the Dining mendations, and that they are “still so many people enjoying the trail.” The New Fitzgerald Falls Section of AT section at the New York Times —has main - studying” the trail in order to maximize its two take great pride in their “opportunity Avoids Flood Zone tained the 3.2-mile stretch of the “directionality.” to be stewards of the outdoor experience Traveling northbound on the Appalachian Appalachian Trail that runs from the Bear Their diligence paid off. When the trail for thousands and thousands of people.” Trail as it passes north of Greenwood Lake, one traverses and follows a stream called Trout Brook and the 25-foot Fitzgerald Falls. This trail section has been prone to The AT is “the point flooding and is under water much of the winter and spring. After much preparation, of the spear in the planning, and all of the necessary approvals, relocation of the AT here has introduction of urban been completed. The new trail sections American people to opened July 11, 2010. There are three new segments: the outdoor experience • The major relocation was of a section from the wooden bridge crossing Trout and nature.” Brook to the bottom of Fitzgerald Falls. The old path was under water most of the year. The new trail stays on the west side of Trout Brook and approaches the Sarah and Glenn have hiked in faraway falls from the northwest. New stone places such as Hong Kong, Martinique, steps were constructed at the bottom of and Banff National Park, where they cele - the falls to cross Trout Brook. brated their 40th wedding anniversary. • The second relocation was made at the But they also enjoy their weekends hiking top of the falls after the AT crosses Trout and volunteering on the trails of the New Brook. The old trail crossed a tributary York-New Jersey metropolitan area. of Trout Brook, traveled along its west When asked for words to encourage bank, and crossed it again. The new trail potential volunteers, Glenn answers that stays on the west side of this stream, taking care of a trail “gives you much more avoiding two crossings. back than you give to the trail.” Sarah states • In inclement weather (rain or ice) the her belief that volunteering is “part of the stone steps up the side of Fitzgerald Falls core of American history,” it “speaks to the can be quite treacherous. A new Fitzger - need for a balancing force against fierce ald Falls Bypass Trail starts at the AT individualism,” and is an opportunity to before the bottom of the falls, traverses “give back to a group larger than yourself.” northwest around the falls, and meets Thanks to the Collins’ extraordinary the AT after it crosses Trout Brook. This dedication and cherished ideals, present avoids two stream crossings and the N I Z

A and future users of the Appalachian Trail steep steps along the falls. H C

L will better enjoy the outdoor experience for E I N

A many years to come. D Glenn and Sarah Collins on their freshly blazed section of the AT What’s Next at Bear Mountain? R O L

Now that work on Phase 1 of the Bear new Appalachian Trail on the south side trail” now emerges and bringing the AT to Y A T

Mountain Trails Project—centered on the does, however, incorporate the views of the the summit via a new route. H C I lower east face of Bear Mountain and the closed section of the Major Welch Trail. A new series of Trail University work - Volunteer Marge Taylor on new stone R building of the rock “staircase trail”—has shops at Bear Mountain will take place in stream crossing at Fitzgerald Falls. been wrapped up and the trail opened to Coming This Fall: September. (See page 5.) Attendees can the public, what’s next? Build an ‘All-Persons’ Trail expect to learn skills in stone splitting, The enormous effort to plan and con - Over the summer construction crews The upcoming fall season will bring even stone shaping, rock moving and mecha - struct this new section could not have been moved to the south side of the mountain, more changes to Bear Mountain and nized trail building (using tracked crawler possible without the assistance of both the where the focus has been on relocating the opportunities for volunteers to learn and carriers to help to help transport materials). North Jersey and the West Hudson trail Appalachian Trail off of Perkins Memorial share their skills. Volunteers are needed in particular for the crews. We thank them for their contribu - Drive and into the woods, providing a A new handicapped accessible all-per - all-persons trail, and there is always work tion to make the trails better for all hikers more “backcountry style” of trail. Trail sons trail at the summit is in the works and available through November. If interested, and outdoor enthusiasts. workers aimed to complete this project by will be completed by the end of the fall sea - contact Chris Ingui at [email protected]. the beginning of September and open it to son. Work on this project will consist — Richard Taylor, AT Section Supervisor the public soon after. mostly of building crib wall and transport - Since the beginning of the work season in In addition, the south side portion of the ing materials with tracked crawler carriers. April until mid July, volunteers at Bear Major Welch Trail has been closed. The This is a great opportunity for volunteers to Mountain have donated more than 2,000 Find Trail News on our website at trail now begins at the base of Bear Moun - get involved. hours of work. www.nynjtc.org/news/trail-news. tain at Hessian Lake and continues along Also, construction will begin on the — Paige Trubatch its current route up the east face where it upper east face of the mountain, starting ends at the summit of the mountain. The from the cul de sac where the “staircase September/October 2010 Page 5

determined. Check our webpage or EAST HUDSON CREWS Saturday, October 16 www.nynjtc.org/content/trail-crew-schedules Dutchess-Putnam Appalachian Trail TBD Trail Crew for additional details. Most Saturdays Leader: Claudia Ganz Contact: Tim Messerich, Saturday, September 11 [email protected] or 845-297-9573 Thursday, October 28 Project and location TBD Schedules Join RPH Volunteers (TC member club) on AT at Queensboro Lake maintenance outings. Leader: Bob Marshall Saturday, September 18 Project and location TBD September — October 2010 Ward Pound Ridge Reservation Saturday, October 30 Weekly Trail Maintenance Trips TBD Saturday, October 2 Check our website for possible Contact: [email protected] Leader: Claudia Ganz Project and location TBD additions or changes to schedules. Contact WPRR at the email address above or Go to www.nynjtc.org and click on view the East Hudson Trail Crew webpage at Thursday, November 4 Saturday, October 9 www.nynjtc.org/content/trail-crew-schedules for TBD Trail Crews in the Get Involved tab. Project and location TBD more information and the schedule. Leader: Bob Marshall Saturday, October 23 EAST HUDSON COMMUNITY TRAILS PROJECTS Saturday, November 13 Project and location TBD Contact: Leigh Draper, at [email protected] for TBD more information or check the East Hudson Trail Leader: TBD Saturday, October 30 Crews page at www.nynjtc.org. Project and location TBD WEST HUDSON NORTH CREW Trail Project Leaders: Denise Vitale, Crew Chief: 845-738-2126, Saturday, November 6 With Fahnestock State Park [email protected] Project and location TBD In Putnam County Dave Webber, H: 845-452-7238, [email protected] HIGHLANDS TRAIL CREW Teatown to Kitchawan Trail Project Leaders: Adam Rosenberg, HT Co-Supervisor: With Look for fall trail work schedule at [email protected] or 973-570-0853 Westchester County www.nynjtc.org/content/trail-crew-schedules. TBD = To Be Determined Sunday, September 19 Trail Project LONG PATH/ TRAIL CREW Sunday, October 17 For all trips bring work gloves, water, With Somers Land Trust Leaders: Andy Garrison, [email protected] We tackle various jobs building new sections or lunch, insect repellent. In some cases, Westchester County or 845-888-0602 reworking existing sections of the Highlands Trail tools are provided. Contact leaders in Contact: [email protected] Jakob Franke, [email protected] or 201-768-3612 throughout New Jersey as well as in New York advance for meeting times and places. Changes in schedule due to inclement weather will west of the . All are welcome, experi - be announced via the Friends of Angle Fly Preserve Look for fall trail work schedule at ence is not necessary. Contact leader for details of mailing list. www.nynjtc.org/content/trail-crew-schedules. CENTRAL JERSEY CREW the trips and what tools to bring. Leaders: Bob Jonas & Estelle Anderson WEST HUDSON SOUTH BEAR MOUNTAIN TRAILS PROJECT Phone: 973-697-5326 Cell: 908-803-3883 METRO TRAIL CREW Leaders: Chris Ezzo (crew chief): 516-431-1148, Through November 28 Email: [email protected] Leaders: Joe Gindoff, 718-614-2219, [email protected] Thursday-Monday [email protected]; Linda Sullivan, crew chief, Brian Buchbinder: 718-218-7563, 8:30am-4:30pm 347-721-6123, [email protected]; Please check the Trail Crew Schedules on [email protected] Work trips involve a variety of tasks, such as: Liz Gonzalez, [email protected] www.nynjtc.org/content/trail-crew-schedules Claudia Ganz: 212-633-1324, [email protected] corridor clearing, prepping work sites, restoration, for work trips, or feel free to call us for more Bob Marshall: 914-737-4792, [email protected] quarrying stone, using an overhead highline to We work in various parks throughout New York information. Monica Day: 732-937-9098, Cell: 908-307-5049, transport stone, creating crushed stone (with City, generally the third Saturday of each month, [email protected] mash and sledge hammers), building crib walls, NORTH JERSEY WEEKEND CREW May through October, with additional work dates setting rock steps, and splitting stone. Leader: Sandy Parr, 732-469-5109 as needed. No experience necessary. We provide Thursday, September 23 gloves, tools, training. Popolopen Gorge at Queensboro Lake While training is provided every day, individuals who Second Sunday of each month Leader: Bob Marshall have no trail building experience are REQUIRED to Trips start at 9:30 am; call for location and Please contact Linda Sullivan, in order to receive attend one Trail U course on Bear Mountain or a details during the week before the scheduled trip email notices of work outings, or check the Metro Saturday, October 2 Trail Building 101 course at another location. If you day. Tackle a variety of projects ranging from trail Trail Crew page at www.nynjtc.org/content/ TBD cannot meet these requirements but still wish to repair to bridge building in northern New Jersey. trail-crew-schedules. Leader: Chris Ezzo volunteer, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at [email protected]. WEST JERSEY CREW Saturday, September 18 Thursday, October 14 Leaders: Monica and David Day Staten Island Greenbelt Popolopen Gorge at Queensboro Lake Phone: 732-937-9098 Cell: 908-307-5049 Bloodroot Valley area Leader: Bob Marshall Email: [email protected] Work: TBD Website: www.trailstobuild.com Meet: 9am at Greenbelt Nature Center, 700 Rockland Avenue As of the Trail Walker deadline, work dates but not work locations for the fall season have been

Teaching Practical Skills to Trail Maintenance 101 Rock Moving for Trail Construction Sunday, September 19 Saturday, September 25 Trails Volunteers at Locations 9am-3pm 9am-5pm Location: Trail Conference Camp at Lower Twin Location: Throughout the NY-NJ Area Lakes, Harriman State Park Don’t underestimate the importance of this work - This one-day training session covers the skills neces - shop! Moving large rocks without the proper September/October 2010 sary to maintain a hiking trail so it is easily passable technique can cost a lot of time and potentially a lot and harmonious with its surroundings. Students will of damage to your back and hands. Topics covered Forest Pest Identification learn assessment of trail conditions, clearing, blazing, include: mechanical advantage using rock bars and Most workshops can be registered online at Sunday, September 12 proper use of tools, and how to report any trail prob - picks, safety considerations, proper body mechan - www.nynjtc.org/view/workshops. Once 10am-11:30am lems. No previous experience is necessary and ics, and methods of reducing natural resource registered, you will receive additional Location: Trail Conference Office, Mahwah, NJ beginners are welcome. Students will spend the impacts. Prerequisites: Bear Mountain Orientation details one week prior to the actual work - The Trail Conference is collaborating with the New morning in a classroom environment and then head or at least one year of Trail Conference trail con - shop date. Please pay attention to any Jersey Department of Agriculture in hosting a work - out into woods for hands-on learning. struction experience. prerequisites that may apply to certain shop focusing on the Forest Pest Outreach Survey courses. If you have any questions, please Project. The workshop’s main focus is to teach peo - ple interested in the outdoors about invasive insects contact Chris Ingui at [email protected] and how to help protect the forests of New Jersey by becoming aware of signs and symptoms of a Additional courses will be added through - possible infestation. The workshop will include a out September and October. Be sure PowerPoint presentation highlighting four invasive to check the Trail University webpage insects that pose a serious health threat to the at www.nynjtc.org/view/workshops for forests of New Jersey as well as neighboring states. updates. Biological samples of the insects and their damage will be on display to complement the information in Orientation: The Bear Mountain Trails Project the presentation and aid as a learning tool. Sunday, September 12 Stone Splitting and Shaping 9am-3pm Location: Bear Mountain State Park Saturday and Sunday, September 18-19 Join us for an on-site review of the Bear Mountain 9am-5pm Trails Project and a walk-through of the new Location: Bear Mountain State Park Appalachian Trail routes on the mountain. The day This is a one- to two-day course designed to edu - begins with a slide show, but most of the day will cate students on how to split and shape stone to be devoted to a challenging walk up the newly desired dimensions. Topics covered will include opened 700+ step section as well as the current proper use and maintenance of tools (i.e. portable worksites on the south side and summit of the generators, rotary hammer drills, carbide tipped mountain. Explanations of the techniques and shaping hammers, and chisels) as well as how to methods used in building the trail thus far as well “read” a rock so that it splits properly. Only one day as the possible volunteer opportunities for the is necessary but students are welcome to attend both days for more detailed instruction. Prerequi - upcoming Fall season will be covered in detail. Mechanized Construction: Using Crawler Carriers for Material Transport NOTE: This orientation is mandatory for all follow - sites: Bear Mountain Orientation or at least one year Sunday, September 26; 9am-5pm ing courses at Bear Mountain. of Trail Conference trail construction experience. Location: Bear Mountain State Park Tracked dumpers are used to transport trail building materials over rough terrain and up slopes on which regular wheel barrows are not practical. This workshop introduces participants to the walk-behind tracked motorized crawler carrier. Topics covered include care and maintenance, job hazard analysis, and safe loading and operation. The Canycom BFP 602 carrier will be available for training. NOTE: By taking this course there is the expectation that you will volunteer a couple of days to operate the Canycom on the Bear Mountain Trails Project. Prerequisites: Bear Mountain Orientation or at least one year of Trail Conference trail construction experience. Page 6 September/October 2010 Trail Conference members can take Volunteer Classifieds: Get Involved! advantage of exclusive discounts To apply or for more information about these or other volunteer opportunities, and benefits with participating go to our Volunteer Web Page at: www.nynjtc.org/volunteer or contact us at retailers and businesses! [email protected] OFF-TRAIL OPPORTUNITIES OUTDOOR OPPORTUNITIES You can recoup the cost of your Find more by clicking the link “Off-trail Find more by clicking the link “On-trail membership in one visit! vacancy” on the Volunteer Web Page vacancy” on the Volunteer Web Page Darlington Schoolhouse Become a Trail Maintainer!* Restoration Grant Manager Adopt a section of a trail to keep clear and Are you interested in historic preserva - adequately blazed two or more times a tion? Would you like to see a community year, and help to keep our region’s landmark like the Darlington School - footpaths accessible, pristine and protect - house preserved and open to the public? ed. We have vacancies on trail sections in This is your chance to play a central role almost all regions our trail network in making this dream come true. The covers, particularly: New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Long Path North: Maintain a section of has received grants to restore the School - the famous Long Path. We need three house but can’t get started without a new maintainers to take care of relocated volunteer to help manage the grants and sections of the LP in the Huntersfield meet their requirements. The Grant Man - State Forest and Ashland Pinnacle State ager will be responsible for insuring that Forest area just north of the Catskills. the terms of grant agreements are adhered The Trail Conference is proud to offer a Membership to, reconciling invoices with grant budg - Neversink Unique Area: Maintainers

e Benefit Program, which was created to provide our ets, attending meetings with granting are needed for this beautiful and popular members with money-saving discounts at area retailers

c agencies and architects, preparing reports fishing area, centered around the and service providers — benefits only available to S and various paperwork associated with the Neversink River in Sullivan County, just n Trail Conference members. grants, etc. You will be working with a south of the Catskills.

e great team of professionals. A couple of As part of your Trail Conference membership, you are

r hours per week, sometimes more, is all West Hudson North T issued a card identifying you as a Trail Conference that is needed. • Minnewaska area e member, making you eligible for all program discounts. • Sections of the Shawangunk f I To receive your member discounts, you must present Member Relations Volunteers Ridge Trail

n your valid membership card at the time of purchase. Help sustain the vitality of one of the met - • The Catskills Some stores offer the discount only on select items,

o ropolitan area’s largest membership and so be sure to ask.

F volunteer outdoor organizations! We need West Jersey

C volunteers to help us engage with our • State Park

We encourage our members to take advantage of this membership in our mission of providing • Stokes State Forest l incredible opportunity that comes with a Trail Conference i membership. New discounts and offers are continually access to open space in our region. We will • Wawayanda State Park West E match your skills, qualifications, and • Jenny Jump State Park. a being added so be sure to visit our website’s membership interests to the projects on hand. r benefits area at www.nynjtc.org/content/retail-partners New to Trail Work? Join a Trail Crew… for current offers. T Trailworker Editor …and learn on the job! Our Trail Crews

N Ever wanted to be an editor? Here is your welcome both new and experienced vol - 25% Discount on Trail Conference publications and

J chance! The Trail Conference needs a trail unteers. Participation is flexible; most clothing when purchased directly from the Trail Conference. maintainer-savvy volunteer to edit a semi - crews spend from 3 to 8 hours—weekdays

N FREE Subscription to the Trail Walker , the Trail annual electronic newsletter for trail or weekends—working at a specific site. E - Conference’s bi-monthly newsletter filled with timely articles maintainers and managers. Use your writ - We have crews working on trails in West and columns that will enhance your hiking experiences. ing and investigative skills to supply copy Hudson, East Hudson, Northern New Y and ferret out other writers to produce arti - Jersey, and Western New Jersey. For crew Money-Saving Discounts at participating retailers cles about trail maintenance, tools, schedules and contact information, click N B and businesses. interesting projects, and problems solved. ‘Trail Crew Schedules’ under the ‘Get Work from home and then find an excuse Involved’ menu tab on our website. Workshops and Seminars on trail maintenance to visit completed trail projects. Must be and construction, leadership training, wilderness first aid, computer-savvy and willing to learn some AT Corridor Monitors* chainsaw operation, environmental monitoring and layout and design. A great opportunity to Are you looking to hike off trail in some - GPS operation. provide information to other trail workers. times rugged conditions? Then you may Volunteer Opportunities to “learn by doing” in For a 6-page newsletter, this position is have found your volunteer calling. As a areas as varied as trail maintenance, construction, likely to require approximately 30-40 Corridor Monitor, you would monitor, publications, environmental monitoring, and cartography. hours to write and layout; less if you solicit maintain, and report on the boundaries of a articles from others. section of the Appalachian National Scenic Access to the Hoeferlin Library at the Trail Trail corridor. We need four monitors in Conference office that includes more than 1,000 books CRM Database Lead Orange County, NY, and five in Sussex on hiking worldwide, along with maps, guides and a If you have experience using a CRM data - County, NJ. More details about these historical archive. base, particularly in migration to CRM vacancies can be found on our website. software, and want to keep your skills up Some of Our Discount Partners to date and help the Trail Conference at Hike Field-checkers* the same time, then take advantage of this Help verify information in a planned Trail unique opportunity by working with our Conference Hike of the Week book. You volunteers and staff in developing and will be sent a hike write-up and asked to executing a CRM migration. follow its directions and note any needed updates or corrections. Probable start: mid-fall. To indicate your interest, go to our Volunteer Web Page and click “Sign- up for Field-checking”. Please indicate

*select locations your preferred geographic area and difficulty level, if any.

*These positions are available to Trail Conference members only. To join, you can complete the form on page 12, or sign up online at: www.nynjtc.org/membership

VISIT WWW.NYNJTC.ORG/CONTENT/RETAIL-PARTNERS FOR COMPLETE LIST OF MONEY-SAVING DISCOUNTS! September/October 2010 Page 7

Science & Ecology butterflies spend in a cocoon. Once in the Culex species are typically more prolific in quently on humans in late summer than adult stage, males and females both feed urban areas than other species due to this their non-urban counterparts. Country Mosquitoes, primarily on plant nectars or other sugar preference for containers, which are In any case, the fact is that WNV peaks sources. Only females bite and take blood, omnipresent in urban landscapes. Breeding in mid to late summer and that if you are City Mosquitoes which they use for egg development. in containers also allows them to survive planning on enjoying the outdoors you By Brian Johnson A mosquito group of particular interest periods of drought in which other sources should protect yourself by wearing insect in the Northeast is the Culex genus; these of water would dry up. Their numbers repellent, pants, and long-sleeved shirts. At Summer is a great time to get out and enjoy transmit West Nile Virus (WNV). WNV is peak in mid to late summer, and this is home you can do your part by emptying the outdoors, but the familiar high-pitched maintained in nature between birds and when WNV infection rates are the highest. and removing buckets or other containers whine and subsequent bite of mosquitoes is ornithophilic (bird-biting) mosquitoes The reason why WNV peaks in late sum - that might hold water, covering wading to many people a big deterrent to enjoying with Culex pipiens , Culex restuans , and mer is still being debated, but there are a pools when not in use, and changing the an outdoor experience. Culex salinarius being implicated as the few hypotheses. One is that Culex species water in your birdbaths every week. Mosquitoes are more varied than you main animal vectors. The vector is the shift their feeding from their preferred avian What a great excuse to get out of the city may think. New Jersey alone has roughly 60 insect that transfers the virus from its orig - hosts to more mammalian hosts, including or your back yard with its threat of Culex mosquito species, with each one preferring inal host, in this case birds, to its secondary humans, when bird species start to migrate mosquitoes and go enjoy the deep woods different breeding habitats and blood host, in this case people. in late summer. Another hypothesis is that on your favorite trail! sources. The common denominator among In the Northeast, the main vector of late summer is when the bird and mosquito all species is that they need water for their WNV is Culex pipiens . Most Culex species populations have their highest infection Brian Johnson is a graduate student in the development. Each species goes through are container-breeders. This means that rates following a whole summer of virus Department of Ecology, Evolution, and four stages of development: they start as they breed in stagnant water in all sorts of propagation and spread in the bird and vec - Natural Resources at Rutgers University. eggs, develop into larvae, turn into pupae, containers, such as buckets, tires, wading tor communities. There’s even evidence that and finally emerge from the water as adults. pools, clogged rain gutters, and birdbaths. hybrid urban Culex species feed more fre - Eggs are usually laid on the surface of standing water or on damp soil near water that is subject to flooding. Eggs usually hatch in a day or two, though some species’ eggs can sit dormant for years without water. For example, Aedes vexans , New Jersey’s most prolific pest mosquito, is one. It is a flood - water species common in most woodland areas. It lays its eggs along the water’s edge. Another example is Aedes trivittatus , which lays its eggs in floodwater pools in meadows, R R E swamps, and woodlands. E T T N N E E C Mosquitoes’ larval stage lasts from 4-14 C

H H T T L days depending on climatic conditions and L A A E E H H

the species. In this stage the larvae feed on E E F F I I L microorganisms and organic matter in the L D D L L I I W W

water. Most breathe from the surface of the L L A A N water through siphon tubes on their tails. N O O I I T T A The pupal stage is a non-feeding stage of A N N

S S G development that lasts from one to four G S S U U days and is similar to the period of time Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus mosquito Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus mosquito

The witch of the zig-zag branching pattern. Its leaves are 2 to reveal another fascinating feature of this strategy is that the cold temperatures of 6 inches long, broadly oval, with wavy shrub, for this also is the time of year when October and November mean that there autumn woodlands edges. Look for the uneven leaf bases as an witch hazel disperses the seeds formed from are far fewer pollinators out and about. By Edna Greig easy way to identify witch hazel during the the previous year’s flowers in a most unusu - This is one of the reasons why witch hazel In mid autumn, most deciduous trees and growing season. al way. The woody, urn-shaped seed pods produces only a relatively small number of shrubs have long finished flowering and The autumn flowers of witch hazel are are about 1/2 long and are sparsely scat - those seed popping pods. instead don the brightly colored foliage arranged in clusters of two to four along its tered along the twigs. Each seed pod that marks their entry into winter dorman - slender twigs. Each flower has four ribbon- contains two shiny black seeds. When the cy. But there is one native woodland shrub like petals that are about 1/8 inch wide and time is right, the seed pods will explosively Also called snapping that defies what seems to be the sensible 3/4 inch long. The overall appearance is release the seeds with a loud pop. This alder, witch hazel pops its thing to do at this time of year, and that is that of yellow spiders clinging to the twigs. explosive release can send the seeds flying witch hazel ( Hamamelis virginiana ). At the When the flowers first open, they mingle up to 30 feet away and ideally deposits seeds up to 30 feet away. same time that the leaves of witch hazel with the golden foliage and often go unno - them where they can germinate free from turn a golden yellow during the shorter ticed. But the flowers usually remain on the competition with the parent shrub. This days of autumn, it also bursts into bloom twigs for a week or more after the leaves seed popping habit of witch hazel has giv - Although witch hazel blooms around with a multitude of lightly fragrant, lemon fall. This is when the flowers are most con - en rise to another common name, Halloween, the witch in its common name yellow flowers. spicuous, especially when they are lit by the snapping alder. is probably not related to a broom-riding Witch hazel is a common shrub or small sunshine that passes through the newly Witch hazel is the latest flowering of our sorceress. Instead, witch is derived from the tree of dry or moist deciduous woodlands open canopy. A good time to seek out the native shrubs and may have evolved this Old English word wych meaning pliable, in eastern North America and is often spidery flowers of this witch of the wood - strategy as a way to avoid competition with referring to the branches. The pliable, found along trails. It usually grows to about lands is right around Halloween. other flowering plants for pollinators like crooked branches of witch hazel were used 8 to 10 feet tall in our area and has an open, A Halloween witch hazel hunt may also bees and flies. But the down side to this by early settlers as divining rods to seek out underground water. The other half of its common name, hazel, comes from the fact that its leaves resemble those of the Ameri - can hazelnut, another shrub native to eastern North America. Native Americans used witch hazel for a variety of medicinal purposes. Today, distil - late of witch hazel is produced commercially and sold in pharmacies as a soothing and cleansing astringent. It also is an important ingredient in many cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. The witch hazel used commercially is harvested by cutting its E

S stems to the ground, and most of it is A B

A obtained by contract from landowners in T A D

S Connecticut. Since witch hazel vigorously T N

A resprouts after its stems are cut, a new har - L P

S vest is possible every few years. C R N - A D S

U Trail Conference member Edna Greig writes

@

G occasional columns on natural history topics U A H

for Trail Walker . E N I A L E Hamamelis virginiana L.; American witchhazel Page 8 September/October 2010 HHII KERSKERS’’ ALMANACALMANAC A Sampling of Upcoming Hikes Sponsored by Member Clubs

Find more hikes at www.nynjtc.org. Click on Scheduled Hikes under Go Hiking! September Sunday, September 12 Wednesday, September 22 Saturday, October 9 NYR. Sandy Hook, NJ. Leader: Kay Cynamon, 212-865-3245. PM. Family Autumnal Equinox Hike, NJ. Leader: call 973-334- AMC-NYNJ. Diamond and Panther Mountains, Harriman State Thursday, September 2 Meet: 7:45am at Port Authority Bus Terminal for 8am Academy 3130 to register. Meet: 5:30pm; directions upon registration Park, NY. Leader: Jane Levenson, 212-534-7806; call before UCHC. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans bus to Sandy Hook one-way; will return via Seastreak Ferry ($23 ($5 fee). Join this moderate hike to welcome in the fall season 10pm. Meet: contact leader for meeting time and location. Brisk Ferry, PA. Leader: Chuck Pollack, 973-584-5913. Meet: 10am at fare). Explore the peninsula, various historic sites, Hudson Trail, and learn some interesting facts about the equinox. For ages paced, moderate hike up classic Diamond, then up the more Visitors Center. 7.5 miles; for experienced hikers. Easy out and Twin Lights Lighthouse in Highlands. 7 and up. Out by 8pm. elusive Panther, a gem less often climbed. Steady rain cancels, available. We’ll have views of the Delaware Valley and call if in doubt. Kittatinny mountains. IHC. Highlands Trail: Tunnel Road to Spruce Run State Park, Thursday, September 23 NJ. Leaders: Guy and Jen Percival, 973-590-7437, UCHC. Mt. Tammany, Delaware Water Gap, NJ. Leader: Dave GS. Wild Edibles, NJ. Leader: call 973-635-6629 to register. Saturday, September 4 [email protected]. Meet: 9am at Spruce Run State Park, Hogenauer, 973-762-1475. Meet: 10am at Dunnfield Creek/AT park - Meet: 10am; directions upon registration ($5 fee). Walk the trails AMC-NYNJ. Two Lakes in Harriman State Park, NY. Leader: 68 Van Syckels Rd., Clinton, NJ. Moderately strenuous 8 miles; ing. Moderately strenuous 9.5 miles; for experienced hikers. Hike with a naturalist and explore the world of wild edible plants and Carol Ann Benton, [email protected] or 914-762-7347; shuttle required. Hike across Jugtown Mountain with lots of up steep Mt. Tammany for fantastic view of the Gap and Delaware maybe taste a few treats. For ages 12 and up. call before 9:30pm. Meet: contact leader for meeting time and pretty views, old dirt roads and farms. Continuous rain cancels. River, then along ridge to Sunfish Pond, returning on the AT. PM. Multi-Sensory Family Hike, NJ. Leader: call 973-334-3130 location. Beautiful hike on Seven Hills Trail (Diamond Mountain), ADK-MH. Sketchbook and Camera Hike, Minnewaska State to register. Meet: 1pm; directions upon registration (free). Take a woods roads and several other trails, passing Pine Meadow Lake Saturday, September 25 Park Preserve, NY. Leaders: Kathy and Barry Skura, walk in Mendham’s Dismal Harmony Park and be prepared to and Lake Wanoksink. Rain cancels. Limited to 12 people. SW. NYC Marathon Walk, NY. Leader: Ian Hochstead, bskura@optonline, 914-779-0936. Meet: contact leader for meet [email protected]. Meet: 8:30am at Fort Hamilton Memorial experience nature with all your senses. Suitable for the visually WEC. Wildflowers of Pyramid Mountain, NJ. Leader: associate time and place. Introduction to sketching and photo composition Triangle, bounded by 4th Ave., 5th Ave., and 94th St. in Brooklyn impaired. For ages 5 and up. naturalist George Petty from NJ ’s Weis Ecology Center; during 8-mile, moderately paced hike from Lake Minnewaska (R train to 95th St.). Walk most of the nearly 24-mile route of the FOCA. Old , Westchester County, NY. Leader: call 973-835-2160 to register. Meet: 10am; directions will be sent to Lake Awosting. Stops at scenic points to learn and practice NYC Marathon, starting in Brooklyn and ending in Central Park. Tom Tarnowsky at [email protected]. Meet: 11am in upon registration. Observe late-blooming summer wildflowers; basic techniques. Bring camera or sketchpad with colored pencils Includes four boroughs and four bridges. Brisk pace; countless Croton Gorge Park parking lot. 2 mile walk on the northernmost possible climb to top of the mountain to enjoy the view. Out by or crayons. drop-off points. Bad weather may shorten but will not cancel. section of the Old Croton Aqueduct in northern Westchester 12:30pm, limited to 12. Heavy, soaking rain postpones to next day. PM. Singles Hike, Pyramid Mountain, NJ. Leader: call 973-334- County. Trail is easy and level after brief switchback hill. See $8 non-members. UCHC. Watchung Reservation, Mountainside, NJ. Leader: Eck 3130 to register. Meet: 10am; directions upon registration (free). Khoon Goh, 908-790-0939. Meet: 10am at Trailside Nature Cen - stonework of 1905 Croton Dam and spillway. Site specific art instal - PM. Fabulous Fungus Hike, Pyramid Mountain, NJ. Leader: call Moderate hike for singles; all adults are welcome. Find someone ter parking. Brisk 4-5 miles with some rocky trails. Rain cancels. lation at same site on this day in conjunction with other Aquefest 973-334-3130 to register. Meet: 10am; directions upon registration new to hike with! celebration events of Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct ($1 fee). Moderate family outing to discover the wonderful fungi Monday, September 13 found along the trails at Pyramid Mountain. For ages 7 and up. AMC-NYNJ. Dog Friendly Anthony Wayne Hike, Harriman Sunday, September 5 State Park, NY. Leader: Harold Marciari, 516-652-6243, IHC. Bearfort Ridge, Hewitt, NJ. Leader: Howard Litwack, [email protected]. Meet: contact leader for meeting time 732-571-9608. Meet: 9:30am at A&P shopping center/Hewitt and location. Challenging hike with lots of hills at moderate pace, Post Office on Greenwood Lake Tpk. (Rt. 511). Strenuous 9 miles but with great views. Dogs must be under owner’s control at all on this really pretty ridge. times, owners must have adequate food and water for their dog, UCHC. Watchung Reservation, Mountainside, NJ. Leader: Eck and park leash rules must be obeyed. If weather is questionable, Khoon Goh, 908-790-0939. Meet: 10am at Trailside Nature Cen - call after 7am morning of hike. ter parking. Brisk 4-5 miles with some rocky trails. Rain cancels. Tuesday, September 14 GS. Laurel Trail, Great Swamp, NJ. Leader: call 973-635-6629 PM. Evening Bat Walk and Program, Pyramid Mountain, NJ. to register. Meet: 9:30am; directions upon registration (free). Walk Leader: Dr. Lance Risley of Paterson University Biology Depart - the Laurel Trail in the National Wildlife Refuge and discover the ment; call 973-334-3130 to register. Meet: 6pm; directions upon wildlife that calls the Great Swamp home. For ages 18+. registration ($5 for ages 8-12, $10 for ages 13 and older). Discus - sion on the bats of North America, including problems with White Monday, September 6 (Labor Day) Nose Syndrome, followed by walk on the trails to search for bats ADK-MH. Wappingers Creek Greenway Trail, NY. Leader: using an echolocation device. For ages 8 and up. Georgette Weir, [email protected], 845-462-0142. Meet: con - tact leader for morning meet time and place. 4 moderate but Friday, September 17

AMC-NYNJ. Pine Meadow Lake, Harriman State Park, NY. Y aerobic miles, with several good ups and downs, on this trail right L L I in the village of Wappingers Falls. Leader: Ellen Blumenkrantz, [email protected]. Meet: E R

contact leader for meeting time and location. Moderately paced Y H

UCHC. Grace Lord Park, Boonton, NJ. Leader: Susan Jacobs, T

hike with several steep ups and downs. Great views; visit Pine O 973-402-2555. Meet: 10am at park, call for directions. Easy hike R O

Meadow Lake and return along the brook. Limited to 12 people. D of about 3 miles in 1.5 hour. See Boonton Falls, a treat for the eyes in low water and spectacular in high water. Saturday, September 18 Walker Pond in the Staten Island Greenway ADK-MH. Minnewaska State Park Preserve, NY. Leader: David Tuesday, September 7 GS. Mushroom Meandering, NJ. Leader: call 973-635-6629 to Sunday, October 10 Koehler, 917-613-2043, [email protected]. Meet: contact AFW. Bald Rocks, Harriman State Park, NY. Leader: call register. Meet: 10am; directions upon registration ($3 fee). Take a WEC. Foliage Hike for Families, Norvin Green State Forest, NJ. leader for meet time and place. Fourth hike in the Waterfalls 973-644-3592 for info and registration or visit short walk in the forest to identify various mushrooms. For ages Leader: naturalist from NJ Audubon’s Weis Ecology Center, call series will have us going to Rainbow Falls and Awosting Falls, a www.adventuresforwomen.org. Meet: 10am. Moderate-plus hike 16 and up. 973-835-2160 to register. Meet: 1pm; directions will be sent upon 60-foot plunge into a broad pool. The strenuous 8-mile loop will at a moderate pace; out by 2pm. registration. Easy 2-3 mile hike at a slow pace, out by 3pm; for Sunday, September 26 use carriageways, the Long Path, and Mossy Glen Trail. families with pre-teens. See the Highlands in all their fall glory; GS. Baby and Me Hikes in Morris County, NJ. Leader: Great WEC. Morning Women’s Hikes, NJ. Leaders: naturalists from NJ IHC. Wawayanda State Park, NJ. Leader: Steve Rikon, 973-962- stop at Roomy Iron Mine and possible side-trip to a waterfall. Swamp naturalist; call 973-635-6629 to register. Meet: 9:30am; Audubon’s Weis Ecology Center, call 973-835-2160 to register. 4149, [email protected]. Meet: 9am at Wawayanda ranger $8 non-members. directions upon registration. Put your infant in a pack and join a Meet: 8am; directions will be sent upon registration. Moderate station in Hewitt, NJ. Moderate 7 miles. Climb the “Stairway to naturalist out on various Morris County trails. Out by 11am; $1 fee. WEC. Where It’s “A.T.” for Hawks, NJ. Leaders: associate 2-3 miles to some of our favorite scenic spots; carpool may be Heaven” on the AT to viewpoint, then eastward through the park. Repeats all Tuesdays in September and October. Shuttle required. naturalists Philip De Rea and Ray Fowlie from NJ Audubon’s Weis needed. Out by 10am. Cost $5. Ecology Center, call 973-835-2160 to register. Meet: 9:30am; Thursday, September 9 Sunday, September 19 AFW. Mt. Defiance, Ringwood State Park, NJ. Leader: call directions will be sent upon registration. The Appalachian Trail is UCHC. Late Summer on the , Alpine, NJ. Leader: 973-644-3592 for info and registration or visit UCHC. Watchung Reservation, Mountainside, NJ. Leader: Pat “where it’s at,” especially during hawk migration. Beginner Margo Moss, 201-568-5325. Meet: 10am at State Line Lookout. www.adventuresforwomen.org. Meet: 9:30am. Moderate-plus Curley, 908-868-7510. Meet: 10am at Trailside Nature Center friendly hawk watch on Sunrise Mountain. Out by 12:30pm; About 7 miles of wildflowers, butterflies, and Hudson River views hike at a moderate pace; out by 2pm. parking. 4-5 miles at a brisk pace. Steady rain cancels. handouts included. $10 non-members. on this special loop along the Palisades. Bring flower ID book and GS. Fall into Fall, NJ. Leader: call 973-635-6629 to register. we’ll try to identify them all. GS. Trees of the Great Swamp, NJ. Leader: call 973-635-6629 UCHC. Watchung Reservation, Mountainside, NJ. Leader: Pat Meet: 1pm; directions upon registration ($3 fee). Get ready for to register. Meet: 10am; directions upon registration ($3 fee). Curley, 908-868-7510. Meet: 10am at Trailside Nature Center Saturday, September 11 autumn and explore the swamp searching for the first signs of the Become familiar with our native trees and learn interesting parking. 4-5 miles at a brisk pace. Steady rain cancels. AFW. Stokes State Forest, NJ. Leader: call 973-644-3592 for changing season. For ages 5 and up. facts about how they are used by humans and wildlife. For ages PM. Nutty Family Hike, NJ. Leader: call 973-334-3130 to register. info and registration or visit www.adventuresforwomen.org. 12 and up. Monday, September 27 Meet: 1pm; directions upon registration (free). “Go nuts” as you Meet: 9am. Moderate to strenuous hike at a moderate pace; out UCHC. Duke Island Park, Raritan, NJ. Leader: Clotilde Lanig, hike with a naturalist and learn to identify the acorns and oaks by 5pm. Monday, September 20 732-549-4977. Meet: 10am at visitors center. Easy ramble along along the trail. For ages 7 and up. AMC-NYNJ. Dog Friendly from Reeves Meadow, Harriman AMC-NYNJ. Hudson Highlands, Beacon, NY. Leader: Nancy Hull, the D&R Canal and the Raritan River. Steady rain cancels. State Park, NY. Leader: Susan Sterngold, 845-519-4890, Tuesday, October 12 845-831-3856, [email protected]. Meet: contact leader for meet - [email protected]. Meet: contact leader for meeting Thursday, September 30 ing time and location. Hike up Fishkill Ridge and on to Lamb’s Hill AFW. Norvin Green State Forest, NJ. Leader: call 973-644-3592 time and location. Climbs and views, lunch at the lake, moderate and a variety of trails in Hudson Highlands State Park; steep initial AFW. Claudius Smith Rock, Harriman State Park, NY. Leader: for info and registration or visit www.adventuresforwomen.org. pace. Dogs must be under owner’s control at all times, owners climb rewarded by great views. Bad weather may cancel. call 973-644-3592 for info and registration or visit Meet: 10am. Moderate-plus hike at a moderate pace; out by 2pm. must have adequate food and water for their dog, and park leash www.adventuresforwomen.org. Meet: 10am. Moderate-plus hike Thursday, October 14 UCHC. Cooper Mill to Kay Environmental Center, Chester, NJ. rules must be obeyed. at a moderate pace; out by 2pm. Leader: John Gilris, 973-386-1168. Meet: 10am at Cooper Mill. 4-5 UCHC. High Point State Park, Sussex, NJ. Leader: Joyce miles with some uphill; suitable for beginners. Optional 2-mile October Breach, 973-875-4376. Meet: 10am at visitor center on Rt. 23. Moderately strenuous 7-8 miles on the AT and Monument Trail; extension. Take a snack break at Kay. Rain cancels. Saturday, October 2 good views and autumn colors. The activities listed are sponsored by member clubs of the NY-NJ Trail Conference. All hikers are welcome subject to club regula - AFW. Four Birds Trail, Wildcat Ridge, Farney Highlands NJ. tions and rules of the trail. You are responsible for your own safety. Wear hiking boots or strong, low-heeled shoes. Bring food, water, Leader: call 973-644-3592 for info and registration or visit Saturday, October 16 rain gear, first aid kit, and a flashlight in a backpack. Leaders have the right and responsibility to refuse anyone whom they believe www.adventuresforwomen.org. Meet: 9am. Moderate to AMC-NYNJ. Gertrude’s Nose Bill’s Way, Minnewaska State cannot complete the hike or is not adequately equipped. Easy, moderate, or strenuous hikes are relative terms; call leader if in doubt. strenuous hike at a moderate pace; out by 5pm. Park Preserve, NY. Leader: Bill Hladky, [email protected] or 914-410-4385; call before 9pm. Meet: contact leader for meeting More than 100 clubs belong to the Trail Conference, and many of our affiliate groups sponsor hikes not listed in the Hikers’ Almanac. UCHC. Lewis Morris Park, Morristown, NJ. Leader: Gail time and location. Stride, bend, reach, under and over rocks all For a descriptive list of Conference clubs, consult our website or send a SASE with your request to NY-NJ Trail Conference. Waimon, 973-467-4761. Meet: 10am at last parking lot on left. the way. Club Codes Lovely hike with some nice climbs, at a brisk pace. Bad weather cancels. UCHC. Cedar Grove/Verona Hilltop Reservation, NJ. Leaders: Only those clubs with hikes offered in this issue are listed below. Please call numbers listed to confirm. Ted and Ginny Sendler, 862-219-3011. Meet: 10am at Cedar Grove Sunday, October 3 ADK-MH ADK Mid-Hudson Chapter NYR New York Ramblers Community Park parking. Brisk 4-5 miles in about 2.5 hours. IHC. Lake Skannatati, Harriman State Park, NY. Leader: Roy Explore the recently completed trails in Cedar Grove, Verona and AFW Adventures for Women PM Pyramid Mountain Natural Williams, 570-828-6207, [email protected]. Meet: 9am at Lake AMC-NYNJ New York-North Jersey Chapter, Historic Area North Caldwell. Wooded trails, then up moderate paths to Hilltop Skannatati parking on Seven Lakes Dr. Moderately strenuous hike Reservation, and along ridge to Verona White Rock, an area used Appalachian Mountain Club SW Shorewalkers on various trails; stops at the Little Cemetery, Hasenclever Mine, by 1800’s settlers as a religious meeting place. FOCA Friends of Old Croton Aqueduct UCHC Union County Hiking Club and Lakes Askoti and Skannatati. Bad weather cancels. GS Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center WEC Weis Ecology Center Tuesday, October 5 IHC Interstate Hiking Club UCHC. Nyack, NY. Leader: Ron Kuhns, 201-836-5256. Meet: 10am; call for directions. 6 miles with a fair amount of climbing, but the Clubs wishing to have hikes listed in Hikers’ Almanac should send their schedules to [email protected] or to the Trail Conference Office. Hudson River views make it all worthwhile. Steady rain cancels. The deadline for the November/December issue is September 15. September/October 2010 Page 9

Sunday, October 17 FOCA. Old Croton Aqueduct, Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow, IHC. and Mt. Taurus, Hudson Highlands NY. Leader: contact [email protected], 914-478-3961. Meet: Volunteers at Work State Park, NY. Leader: Roy Williams, 570-828-6207, 11am at Neperan Rd. and Grove St. (two blocks east – uphill - from [email protected]. Meet: 8:30am at Anthony Wayne parking Route 9), Tarrytown. Guided walk north to the Pocantico weir and area in Harriman State Park; shuttle required (or meet 9am at back includes a detour to several interesting sites in Sleepy Breakneck Ridge parking on Rt. 9D). Strenuous. We’ll climb both Hollow Cemetery. About 5.5 to 6 miles. Bring lunch and water. of these striking peaks, with breathtaking views of the Hudson No registration required. River Valley. Bad weather cancels. Sunday, October 24 AFW. Island Pond, Harriman State Park, NY. Leader: call IHC. Trail Maintenance on , NY. Leader: 973-644-3592 for info and registration or visit Jim Canfield, 973-728-9774. Meet: 9am at Taylor Rd. parking, www.adventuresforwomen.org. Meet: 9:30am. Moderate-plus Mountainville, NY. Moderately strenuous. Help us maintain this hike at a moderate pace; out by 2:30pm. section of the Long Path and the Lower Jessup Trail. Bring lunch, NYR. Anthony’s Nose to Cold Spring, NY. Leader: Ludwig water, clippers (if you have them), and good work gloves. Rain Hendel, 718-626-3983. Meet: 7:30am at Grand Central Terminal postpones to Saturday, October 30. for 7:47am Hudson Line train to Manitou one-way; will return AMC-NYNJ. Mines! Mines! Mines!, Bear Mountain State Park, from Cold Spring. Strenuous. From Manitou we’ll walk south to NY. Leader: Tom Parliament, [email protected] or base of bridge and ascend old blue trail to Anthony’s Nose, then 845-634-4116; call before 10:30pm. Meet: contact leader for

Camp Smith Trail and AT over South Mountain Pass and Canada meeting time and location. Scenic hike to find and explore at least S A N

Hill. Continue on Osborn Loop past Lake Elizabeth. We’ll then five of the best mines in the Bear Mountain area. Rain cancels. O J

cross Rt. 403, climb Fort Hill and North , then local routes T UCHC. South Mountain Reservation, West Orange, NJ. Leader: R E to Indian Brook Falls. Then Constitution Marsh trails past B Louise White, 973-746-4319. Meet: 10am at Turtle Back rock O R Boscobel and local road to Foundry Cove Trail in Cold Spring. parking. Moderate 4-5 miles. Rain cancels. As part of Pepsi Gives Back, 16 Pepsico employees spent a volunteer day clearing barberry GS. Nature Scavenger Hunt for Families, NJ. Leader: call GS. Laurel Trail, Great Swamp, NJ. Leader: call 973-635-6629 on the Teatown-Kitchawan Trail in Westchester. The trail will be maintained by Trail Conference 973-635-6629 to register. Meet: 1pm; directions upon registration to register. Meet: 9am; directions upon registration ($1 fee). Join volunteers and is part of the Hudson Hills and Highlands Community Trails program. ($3 fee); event ends at 3pm. Calling all adventurous families! Work a naturalist to explore the swamp in its full bloom of autumn together to solve our nature riddles as you hunt for answers color on this moderate nature hike. For ages 18+. along the trails. Great for all ages. Tuesday, October 26 Tuesday, October 19 UCHC. Weis Ecology Center, Wanaque, NJ. Leaders: Carolyn UCHC. Wawayanda to Pochuck Boardwalk, NJ. Leader: Carol and Jim Canfield, 973-728-9774. Meet: 10am at Weis parking lot. O’Keefe, 973-328-7599. Meet: 9:30am at Pochuck Boardwalk in 6 miles at moderate pace to mines and waterfalls; rocky trail with Glenwood, NJ. Pleasant 8 miles, last half mostly on completely elevation gain of about 900 feet. level boardwalk with its astounding suspension bridge. Shuttle required. AT from Warwick Turnpike to Wawayanda Mountain and Thursday, October 28 R E

down to the boardwalk. AFW. Campgaw Mountain Reservation, NJ. Leader: call P A

973-644-3592 for info and registration or visit R D Thursday, October 21 H

www.adventuresforwomen.org. Meet: 10am. Moderate hike at a G I

UCHC. Sterling Ridge, Rt. 17A to Hewitt, NJ. Leaders: Carolyn E moderate pace; out by 2pm. L and Jim Canfield, 973-728-9774. Meet: 9:30am at Jennings Eight participants attended a Trail Hollow in Hewitt, Greenwood Lake Turnpike opposite East Shore Saturday, October 30 Maintenance 101 course sponsored by the Dr. Moderately strenuous 8 miles through Sterling Forest State UCHC. DeKorte Park, Meadowlands, NJ. Leader: Lynn Gale, Friends of Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx, NY. Park. Shuttle required. 973-763-7230. Meet: 10am at lot near visitors center, 2 DeKorte

In the afternoon the group provided a trail N

Park Plaza, Lyndhurst, NJ. 4 miles of salt marsh and upland trails A Saturday, October 23 M

with views beautiful and wild; lots of birds and some floating restoration project on the 1.7 mile John Muir R E

WEC. Morning Women’s Hikes, NJ. Leaders: naturalists from NJ T boardwalk. Heavy rain cancels. Trail. The Friends group hopes to recruit N E S

Audubon’s Weis Ecology Center, call 973-835-2160 to register. F

Sunday, October 31 volunteers to assist a full-time park crew F

Meet: 8am; directions will be sent upon registration. Moderate E slated to start work this fall. The crews will J 2-3 miles to some of our favorite scenic spots; carpool may be IHC. Round Valley Recreation Area, NJ. Leader: Chris Davis, Catskill 3500 Club volunteers restore the needed. Out by 10am. Cost $5. 609-924-2563. Meet: 9am at Round Valley Recreation Area implement a trail plan designed by the (south lot), 1220 Lebanon Stanton Rd. (Rt. 629), Lebanon, NJ. shelter at Diamond Notch. See story below. UCHC. Tourne Park, Boonton, NJ. Leader: Susan Jacobs, NY-NJ Trail Conference. Moderately strenuous hike on the rugged Cushetunk Trail nearly 973-627-4046. Meet: 10am at the park. Climb to the top of the around the reservoir. Bad weather cancels. Tourne at moderate pace. Steady rain cancels. UCHC. South Mountain Reservation, Millburn, NJ. Leader: Lee Fanger, 973-376-3160. Meet: 10am at Locust Grove parking, across from RR station. Moderate 5 miles with some rocky sections. Rain cancels. A bit of underwater history emerges in Harriman

By Susan Sterngold On June 29, 2010, while walking on the north

side of Pine Meadow Lake in Harriman State R E P A

Park, I happened to notice a pile of rocks in R D

H

the water with a rectangular stone sticking out G I E E

of the top. The season’s dry spell had resulted L Volunteers with the Appalachian Trail Dutchess-Putnam Committee continued work this D

in a low water level that revealed a gravestone, L O

G spring and summer on the big boardwalk project over the Great Swamp in Pawling, NY.

normally underwater. I knew there was a Con - N R E T

klin family cemetery across the lake, and I had S

N Catskill 3500 Club Refits Diamond Notch Lean-to A

heard there were some buried graves in the S U S lake. I consulted Dan Chazin and Dave Sutter, Low water at Pine Meadow Lake in Diamond Notch Lean-to in the Catskills is once again habitable. In June, the Catskill two guys who have forgotten more about Har - Harriman State Park reveals a 3500 Club completed a weekend-long refurbishment of the decaying shelter. (See photo riman State Park than I will ever be lucky piece of history. above, middle at right.) enough to know. Before the project, the lean-to listed heavily, the leaky roof was more moss than shin - It turns out there are two slightly different stories accounting for this curious site, gles, the floor boards had long since been porcupine food, the outhouse – we won’t but they both have the same ending. Dan reported that according to Bill Myles mention. After much behind the scenes work by NYS Dept. of Environmental Conserva - (author of the original Harriman Trails ): tion and Trail Conference shelter supervisor Doug Senterman, and with funds for supplies “In 1934, when the dam had been built and the lake began to fill, Ramsey Con - contributed by the Catskill 3500 Club, rebuilding took place on June 26 and 27. klin protested that the water would cover the 19 graves there, including those of his More than 20 volunteers over two days removed the old mossy roof, put on a new mother and father. So John Tamsen, the Superintendent of the New York Division cedar shake roof, put in new floor boards (bothering some resident mice in the process), of the Park, built a pyramid of earth above the grave site, covered the sides of the stained the entire structure, installed a stone patio, dug a hole and put up a new out - mound with stone rip-rap, and planted some laurels on the top ( N.Y. Post , 6/9/37). house, took care of the old outhouse, raked and tided the entire site, and carried out old When the lake had filled with water, the little graveyard island could still be seen. or left over materials. Wind and water, however, have since lowered it to the lake level.” This was the second Catskill lean-to project in as many years for the club, which in both Dave Sutter, who has saved many historical and out-of-print references regarding cases worked with the Trail Conference and DEC. We are very pleased with how they have the history of Harriman State Park and the people who once lived on its land, cited gone and are currently planning the next one! an article in a 1935 Whispering Pines newsletter by Marjorie Stevenot. In “Old Bur - — Laurie Rankin ial Grounds of Harriman,” Ms. Stevenot reported that when the dam was being built Secretary, Catskill 3500 Club in 1933, young men in from a nearby CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) camp decided to honor the “early pioneers” whose graves would soon be covered with water, by building a stone pyramid topped by ivy and 19 wooden crosses. Third Annual Hike -a-thon Today, the rock pyramid remains, now topped by a memorial plaque naming Matthew Conklin (1792-1880), son of Ezekial Conklin and Catherine Johnson, and To Benefit Programs of the Phebe Jane Hand (1787-1867), wife of Matthew Conklin. NY-NJ Trail Conference See it for yourself when the water is low. Explore the north side of Pine Meadow Lake and look for the grave marker. It is easy to see from the Conklin’s cabin area. Bring binoculars. Happy hiking everyone! This year’s event is being SUPPORT organized for the Trail Conference Trail Conference member Susan Sterngold hikes regularly in Harriman State Park. by Mahwah Environmental TRAILS! Volunteers Organization, an independent student-run group Save the Date comprising high school and Saturday, October 30 college students. Watch www.nynjtc.org for location and other details. Page 10 September/October 2010 Donor Profile Trail Project in Yorktown Heights Robert and Rose Marie Boysen Will Be a Boon to Local Residents By Jane Daniels, Chair, Trails Council S L E I N A D

T L A W This pedestrian ridge over the , connects the Yorktown Trailway with Legacy Fields/Woodlands Park and is a crucial link in a planned new community trail network.

A project in New York’s Westchester County aims to create a 12-mile, multiuse Robert and Rose Marie Boysen, hiking in Denali National Park, Alaska. trail network comprising three existing local parks, to be-purchased open When making their estate plans a few years The Boysens are only one of several space, and linear connections provided by the Yorktown Trailway and an ago, outgoing board chair Robert Boysen dozen longtime supporters of the Trail underground gas pipeline. Called Yorktown Trails, it emerged when my and his wife, Rose Marie, included the Trail Conference who have indicated that they husband Walt and I, residents of Yorktown, saw opportunity in a pending Conference in their will. It was, he says, “a have included the organization in a will, natural progression” for this outdoor- trust, or other estate plan. proposal for the town to purchase 200 acres of open space adjacent to an loving couple. Planning a gift to the Trail Conference existing multiuse trail and would connect with one of the existing parks. Bob’s involvement in the Trail Confer - may mean funding a charitable gift annuity ence began in 1998, when he started or remainder trust with the Trail Confer - Walt, co-chair of the Town’s Advisory nell, president of WMBA applied for and working with Sandy Parr’s North Jersey ence as the beneficiary. Whether it is Committee on Open Space and active received grants from the International Trail Crew. “Eighteen months later, Larry simply a line in your will or something locally for almost 10 years, learned of the Mountain Bike Association and Special - Wheelock asked me if I’d be interested in more complicated like the bequest of real proposed purchase. Knowing who to call ized. He said, “This funding has given the maintaining a trail. This was always my estate, there are planned giving opportuni - and what procedures to follow, he and I project a solid start and will be leveraged first interest, so of course, I said yes.” Oth - ties to address these concerns. Planned approached Yorktown’s Parks and Recre - when applying for future grants.” er Trail Conference assignments followed. giving can help you realize a tax savings, ation Commission with a request to build a On June 22, the Trail Conference and Bob adopted a second trail, became Trail provide for a reliable flow of income, and trail system beginning with the six miles of the Town of Yorktown signed a formal Supervisor in several New Jersey regions, memorialize a loved one. But most of all, existing trails. With that approval in hand, agreement to start constructing the new including the Delaware Water Gap planned giving can help you design a gift in April, we made a presentation to the trail system. The agreement calls for Trail National Recreation Area, then West Jersey that has the impact you desire. Trail Conference’s Trails Council, which Conference volunteers to take responsibili - Trails Chair, member of the Trail Confer - “I love the Trail Conference because of its approved the concept. The Westchester ty for maintaining existing trails and to ence Board of Directors, then board chair. focus on volunteers simply doing a job that Mountain Bike Association (WMBA) take the lead on designing and developing Along the way he authored Kittatinny needs doing without a lot of fanfare,” Bob heard about the project and asked if they new trails. Even with the proposed open Trails , published by the Trail Conference in says. “Given this, and the fact that we are could help. Much, though not all, of the space purchase on hold, work is underway 2004. “Rosy,” he says, “hiked most of the financially capable of significant contribu - planned trail network is or will be designat - to connect Deer Hollow Park, Sylvan Glen trails in the Kittatinny range with me for tions to efforts we favor, adding the Trail ed non-motorized multiuse, with one park Preserve, Woodlands Park, and the York - the book input. She also did a lot of the Conference to our will was a natural restricted to hiking only. WMBA assistance town Trailway. original typing.” progression.” in the project adds additional volunteer Plans for the project include signs indi - power as well as their expertise on building cating permitted uses at all neighborhood multiuse trails and securing funding. entrances and kiosks with a map and inter - Part of the Trail Conference’s East Hud - pretive material at parking areas. Both DONORS TO THE ANNUAL FUND son Community Trails Initiative, this Sylvan Glen Preserve and a yet to be pur - March 27, 2010 – May 26, 2010 project is envisioned to encourage positive chased piece have remnants of quarrying GIFTS uses of the parks as well as involving the operations. Other parts of the project will Peter & Rita Heckler, Estelle Anderson, Tom Bessoir, Lisa Brenskelle, Elmer Ledesma, Alice M. Broquist, Kareen & Rob community in the building phase. Jen involve outreach to neighbors, youth Canora, Tom & Heather Carr, Herbert J. Coles & June Fait, John Dalenberg, Jane & Walt Daniels, James M. & Roseline Fava, Superintendent of Parks and Recre - groups, and schools. Their involvement S. Flynn, Roland & Mary Ann Folter, Joseph A. & Mary A. Giordmaine, Nancy Good, Edward K. Goodell & Lynne S. ation for the Town of Yorktown, stated, “It will help build community pride and pro - Katzmann, Peter Tilgner & Suzan Gordon, Josie Gray, Gaylord C. & Anne J. Holmes, Edwin L. Joba, Maia Josebachvilli, Peter R. & Cynthia K. Kellogg, Albert Kent Jr., Margaret Kulp, Marlena Lange, Leonard Lauder, Bonnie H. Marsh, Mary is exciting to have people and organizations vide a venue for low-cost exercise. It is also & Gay Mayer, Lawrence & Doris Merson, Walter A. & Diane Metzger, Andrew Mollica, Dennis R. Morgan, Maria Ortiz, working together to enhance the opportu - hoped that contact with neighbors will George P. Perkinson, Trudy Pojman, Jeffrey S. Raskin, Mona & Gibson Reynolds, Charles L. Rood, Rick Rosenthal, nities for our residents to enjoy the open opportunities so that corporations Weiland A. Ross, David C. Saalfrank Sr., Eddie & Robbie Saiff, Ellen B. & Jason Seidl, Beatrice Stern, David & Naomi Sutter, J. Bruce Taylor, Alice L. Tufel, Sherri Urowsky, Constantine G. Vasiliadis, Ellen Stewart, Ernest Wagner, outdoors. We look forward being able to will use the project for their volunteer days Robert A. & Muriel E. Went, Paul & Patricia White, Scott Wolfel take advantage of parkland that normally and provide some additional funding. would not be utilized.” A web page has been set up to inform TRIBUTES MEMBER GROUP DONORS The town initially expressed concerns the public, as well as allowing the In memory of Anita Kientzler ADK New York Chapter, ADK North Jersey Ramapo Chapter, about expenses for the project and was reas - committee to post a work trip schedule and David & Naomi Sutter, Peter & Rita Heckler Byram Township Environmental Commission sured that not only were volunteers photos of progress as it is made. See In honor of Jim Gregoire’s cross country hike IN SUPPORT OF THEIR building the trails, Yorktown Trails was also www.nynjtc.org/node/3157/yorktown- Bob Andre, David & Nicole Chang, Bill & Ann Charrier, FAVORITE TRAIL REGIONS: Peter Engelmann, Peter Gensicke, Edward K. Goodell & looking for outside funding. Tim O’Con - community-trails. Lynne S. Katzmann, Josie Gray, James & Jane Gregoire, Catskills Ann M. Gruhn & Peter Franaszek, Ana Hazard, Peter & Andrew Moroz, David P. Stuhr Biddy Irwin, Seva Kramer, David N. Lawrence, Serge Lilov, Dutchess County and East Hudson Highlands Anne-Marie Maman, Carl Mehciz, Kevin Melchionne, Bill Jack & Susan P. Bolnick & Julienne Pape, Mason & Marcia Passavant, Jim & Judy Harriman-Bear Mountain Shopping Online? Ringer, Garrett Rioux, Chet Safian, Ron Singer, Don Fred K. & Joan Ellis, James M. & Roseline S. Flynn, Treloar, James Wright Patrice & Charles M. Scully, Mike & Peggy Sormani, Start your shopping trip from the Trail Conference website and your In celebration of Herb and Judith Ennis’s Nicholas J. Viggiano purchases may help support our programs. 50 years of marriage Kittatinnies and Appalachian Trail Jakob & Gely M. Franke Jeanne V. & Malcolm Campbell It’s easy: In honor of Eric Fuchs-Stengel’s graduation Shawangunk Ridge from high school Roger Roloff, Barbara Petersen 1. Click on the “Go Shopping” tab. Diane Fuchs In honor of Joann and Paul Dolan CORPORATE 2. Click on “Affiliate Program” John J. & Wanda C. Giuffrida AIG Matching Grants Program, BP Matching Fund In honor of John Gunzler’s passion for protecting Programs, Earth Share, GE Foundation Matching Gits 3. Click on the merchant you want (for example, Amazon, and enjoying open space Program, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Save the Ridge, Inc., Barnes and Noble, Sierra Trading Post, and others) Barbara Appelbaum, Ron & Eileen Curwin, John & Stout Risius Ross, Inc., Truist, Verizon Foundation Rosemarie Flanagan, Janet Sandler, Donald & Joann 4. Shop Schwamb, Daniel R. & Lynne H. Van Engel In honor of Eck Khoon Goh The Trail Conference gets a rebate from the listed merchants David & Naomi Sutter whenever shoppers connect to them through our website. In memory of Daisy Catherine Gemmell, Edward K. Goodell, Anonymous Tributes are only printed for donations of $25 or more. September/October 2010 Page 11 New 13th Edition of Book Review Harriman-Bear Peaceful Places: Walks, Parks & Gardens, Scenic Vistas, New York City Historic Sites, and Urban Surprises. As a Mountain Trails Map Set bonus, Kanter adds a section that directs 129 Tranquil Sites in the reader to Peaceful Day Trips–Beyond Now Available New York City. , Brooklyn, For each Peaceful Place there is a list of The Trail Conference is pleased to Queens, the Bronx and “essentials” that includes street announce the publication of the 13th address/location, phone number, website, edition of our most popular map set, Staten Island admission/cost (if any), hours, and travel Harriman-Bear Mountain Trails . This two- information–including public transporta - By Evelyn Kanter tion. There is also a “Serenity Rating” of map set shows trails throughout Harriman one to three stars. One star: tranquil if vis - and Bear Mountain State Parks, including ited as described in the guide (and possibly the Appalachian Trail and Long Path, as avoided at others); two stars: almost always well as other surrounding parklands. sublime; three stars: heavenly anytime. Trail Conference volunteers help to This revised edition features an improved maintain trails that are in close proximity and enlarged inset map of Bear Mountain to many of the sites in the guide and those that shows the new configuration of the trails can be part of your trek through The Appalachian Trail on the mountain. Several City. In the Bronx we assist Friends of Pel - updates, minor changes such as increased ham Bay Park, where you can visit Twin Islands (#119, two stars) and Orchard labeling of contour lines, and corrections to the previous edition have also Beach (#85, one star). been incorporated into this edition on both the map faces and backs. The Staten Island Greenbelt Crew main - Menasha Ridge Press, 2010 tains nearly 30 miles of trails with access to At a cost of $9.95 ($7.46 for members), this map set is a must-have for Reviewed by Joe Gindoff, Metro Trails three Peaceful Places: the Greenbelt Nature outdoor enthusiasts interested in exploring the rich network of trails in Chair, with an assist from Lucille Center (#54, two stars) Moses Mountain Harriman and Bear Mountain State Parks. To obtain the revised map set, Gionet, Metro Trails Crew Member (#78, two stars), and the Jacques Marchais see the Hikers’ Marketplace on page 12, shop online at www.nynjtc.org, Museum of Tibetan Art (#66, three stars). call 201-512-9348, or stop in at the Trail Conference office. I have been to the Greenbelt Nature Cen - The title of this book, in some ways, says it ter and Moses Mountain, and I would give This 13th edition of this map set also makes a great companion to the revised all. Yes, there are peaceful places in New each of them a higher rating than two stars; and fully updated Harriman Trails guidebook by William Myles and Daniel York City. It’s hard to imagine peace and see for yourself if you agree with me or with Chazin that will be available soon. Visit http://harriman.nynjtc.org for more tranquility while you are commuting to or Ms. Kanter. information or to sign up for email notification upon publication. from work on the subway or express bus, Manhattan and Peaceful are not a natu - but Evelyn Kanter not only tells us where ral combination, but you can manage to Harriman-Bear Mountain Trails was produced with support from Campmor, they are, she tells us a lot about them. achieve this concept, if you know where to The author goes out of her way to make go. Bryant Park (#23, two stars) is my day - an outdoor store and retail partner of the Trail Conference. this guide very user-friendly. For easy refer - time turf and it would also be my pick for ence, she lists the Peaceful Places visitors to The City looking to add some alphabetically and assigns a number to tranquility to their urban quest. GOING TRAIL-LESS each. They are also listed by area: Manhat - In my 50 years as a New York City resi - lights of these low-lying wetlands and hilly tan is broken down into four dent I have been lucky enough to have continued from page 1 surrounding forests. sections—Northern, Upper, Midtown, visited 38 of the 129 sites identified by Ms. sometimes running through the fields and If this kind of a trail project sounds and Lower. The other boroughs are not Kanter; reading her review brought back forests. It is a world-recognized sport, and intriguing, I invite you to participate. broken down, but there are maps of each fond memories of those experiences. I’ve one of its great advantages is the use of There are some rules. You must register area for those readers who enjoy a visual added five new ones since reviewing this symbols that make them useful regardless with the DEP and carry a current access overview. book and am a more peaceful New Yorker of one’s own language. permit with you when you hike on these There are 11 different categories of as a result. We don’t intend to generate such super- watershed lands. And if you intend to park Peaceful Places, including: Enchanting detailed topographic maps. Our focus will your car nearby, you must have a parking be on delineating the wet areas, identifying tag visibly displayed. These are available by preferred stream crossing sites, and pin - registering with the NYC DEP online or pointing views that increase the positive by mail. The DEP website is www.nyc.gov/ Follow NYNJTC! hiking experience. html/dep/html/watershed_protection/ These parcels are not large—only a few access.shtml. square miles at most—and most can easily If you are interested and are willing to be hiked sequentially. Located between share your data and descriptions with the Clarence Fahnestock State Park and Won - Trail Conference, please contact me to der Lake State Park, they are linked by obtain the base maps so I can keep track of short road walk sections and in some places who is working on this project. Other than other state and county open space lands. that, you will be on your own. My email Armed with topographic base maps and a address is [email protected]. GPS (or, if you are old fashioned like me, a compass) it will become possible to piece together a hike that incorporates the high -

Hunting Seasons 2010

NEW YORK Hunting is not allowed in Bear Mountain- Regular and Archery Harriman State Parks. However it is Southern Zone allowed in parts or all of other state parks. (includes Catskills, Shawangunks, and Call parks for details. most of ) – Deer (845-534-4517) Bow: Oct. 16 – Nov. 19, Dec. 13 – Dec. 21 closes to all hikers from Nov. 20 through Regular: Nov. 20 – Dec. 12 Dec. 12. Muzzleloading: Dec. 13 – Dec. 21 For more info about deer and bear hunt - Westchester County – Deer ing seasons in New York, go to Regular (bowhunting only): www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28605.html. Oct. 16 – Dec. 31 Suffolk County – Deer NEW JERSEY Regular (bowhunting only): In New Jersey, the safest course in the Oct. 1 – Dec. 31 fall is to hike only on Sundays, when Special Firearms Season ** (special permit, hunting with firearms is generally pro - weekdays): Jan. 3 – Jan. 31, 2011 hibited throughout the state. Otherwise, West of Hudson River, including hunting seasons vary by weapon and Catskills and Shawangunk Ridge – Bear geography. Huntings seasons for deer Bow: Oct. 16 – Nov.19, Dec. 13 – Dec. 19 and bear were not yet published as of Regular: Nov. 20 – Dec. 12 the deadline for this issue. Muzzleloading: Dec. 13 – Dec. 21 Try visiting www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw, then click on Hunting, then Deer. Go to the same site for other hunting seasons and information. Page 12 September/October 2010

Turn left onto the Fire Tower Trail, a point from open rocks. The trail now woods road. In a quarter of a mile, you’ll descends to cross an intermittent stream, Featured Hike reach a junction with the green-blazed then climbs again—first gradually, then West Valley Trail, which begins to the left. more steeply. It soon reaches the Sterling By Daniel Chazin The route ahead is flooded, so you will Forest Fire Tower (open only on weekends have to bear right and bushwhack around and holidays, when a ranger is present). Completed Bare Rock Trail the flooded section. Proceed east on the white-stripe-on-red- When you return to the woods road (the blazed Fire Tower Trail, which descends route of the Fire Tower Trail), turn right steadily on a woods road. After a mile, Leads to Great Viewpoint and follow the road for half a mile to a where the Fire Tower Trail branches off to junction with the blue-on-white-blazed the right, continue ahead on the main Sterling Ridge Trail and the teal-diamond- road, now marked with red-triangle-on- blazed Highlands Trail. Turn left, onto this white blazes as the Fire Tower Connector multi-blazed trail. Trail. When the road ends at a junction After a short level stretch, the trail turns with the blue-blazed Sterling Lake Loop, sharply right and climbs very steeply over turn right and follow the blue blazes back rock ledges to reach a south-facing view - to the visitor center, where the hike began. Hikers’ Marketplace NY-NJ TC member? YES NO JOINING NOW Member #______Please order by circling price Retail Member P/H Total Maps (TC published except where noted. Discounted shipping available for orders of 8 or more.) NEW!! Catskill Trails (2010) & see combo $16.95 $12.71 +$1.75 ______NEW!! East Hudson Trails (2010) $10.95 $ 8.21 +$1.60 ______NEW!! Harriman-Bear Mountain Trails (2010) $ 9.95 $ 7.46 +$1.60 ______Trail Conference volunteers recently com - 0.5 mile to the Sterling Forest State Park Hudson Palisades Trails (2009) $ 8.95 $ 6.71 +$1.60 ______pleted the Bare Rock Trail in Sterling Forest Visitor Center. Kittatinny Trails (2009) & see combo $13.95 $10.46 +$1.75 ______State Park, which leads to a spectacular overlook of Greenwood Lake. This loop Description: North Jersey Trails (2009) $ 9.95 $ 7.46 +$1.60 ______hike takes in the Sterling Forest Fire Tower. Leave the visitor center, using the front Shawangunk Trails (2008) & see combo $10.95 $ 8.21 +$1.60 ______Length: entrance, and turn right on a dirt path, fol - South (2006) $ 4.95 $ 3.71 +$1.20 ______About 7.5 miles. lowing the blue blazes of the Sterling Lake Sterling Forest Trails (2008) $ 7.95 $ 5.96 +$1.40 ______Loop. Continue about half a mile until you Difficulty: West Hudson Trails (2009) $ 8.95 $ 6.71 +$1.60 ______see a sign along West Sterling Road mark - Strenuous. ing the start of the Bare Rock and Fire Old Croton Aqueduct (Friends of OCA, 2008) $ 4.95 $ 3.71 +$1.10 ______Time: Tower Connector Trails. Books About five hours. Turn left, then immediately turn right Walkable Westchester (2009) $24.95 $18.71 +$3.70 ______Map: and follow the orange blazes of the Bare Rock Trail. The trail will follow both Hiking the Jersey Highlands (2007) $22.95 $17.21 +$3.70 ______New York-New Jersey Trail Conference New York Walk Book (2005) & see combo $22.95 $17.21 +$3.70 ______Sterling Forest Trails Map #100. woods roads and narrow footpaths on its way to the top of a ridge, where it reaches a New Jersey Walk Book (2004) & see combo $19.95 $14.96 +$3.70 ______Dogs: junction marked by the letters “BR.” Day Walker (2002) $16.95 $12.71 +$3.20 ______Permitted on leash. Turn right and descend rather steeply on Hiking Long Island (2008) $22.95 $17.21 +$3.70 ______Difficulty: a side trail, marked with blue-stripe-on- Kittatinny Trails (2004) & see combo $18.95 $14.21 +$3.20 ______Strenuous. orange blazes. You’ll emerge onto Bare Rock—a spectacular viewpoint over Scenes & Walks in the Northern Shawangunks How to Get There: Greenwood Lake. (2006) & see combo $13.95 $10.46 +$3.20 ______Take the New York Thruway to Exit 15A. When you’re ready to continue, climb AMC Catskill Mountain Guide (2009) & see combo $23.95 $17.96 +$3.20 ______Turn left at the bottom of the ramp onto back to the main trail and turn right. The ADK Catskill Trails (2005 ed. with revisions, 2009) $19.95 $14.96 +$3.20 ______Route 17 and head north for 1.4 miles to Bare Rock Trail heads generally south along Walking Manhattan’s Rim (2003) $13.95 $10.46 +$3.20 ______the exit for Sterling Forest. Follow Sterling the ridge. In about a third of mile, the trail Mine Road (County Route 72) west for 3.0 bears left to an east-facing viewpoint, then 50 Hikes in the Lower Hudson Valley (2008) $16.95 $12.71 +$3.70 ______miles, then turn right onto Long Meadow bears right and continues to descend to end Best Hikes w/ Children in New Jersey (2005) $15.95 $11.96 +$3.20 ______Road (County Route 84). In 3.5 miles, turn at a junction with the white-stripe-on-red- Best Hikes w/ Children in the Catskills & left onto Old Forge Road and continue for blazed Fire Tower Trail. Hudson River Valley (2002) $14.95 $11.21 +$3.20 ______Hudson to Delaware: The Great Valley (2004) $75.00 $56.25 +$5.70 ______Join/Renew Membership to West Milford Baker’s Dozen (2008) $ 9.95 $ 7.46 +$2.70 ______the NY-NJ Trail Conference Combo-Packs NY & NJ Walk Books $38.60 $28.95 +$4.75 ______1,700 miles of trails; your membership helps us expand our horizons. Shawangunk (3-map set & Scenes & Walks book) $21.65 $16.24 +$3.25 ______Included with membership, Trail Walker , 10% discount on purchases at many Kittatinny (4-map set & book) $28.60 $21.45 +$3.25 ______outdoor stores, and 25% discount on all Trail Conference maps and books Catskills (6-map set & ADK Catskills Trails book) $31.73 $23.80 +$3.25 ______purchased directly from the Trail Conference. The Personal Touch Save time and a tree by joining or renewing online at www.nynjtc.org. Note Cards: TC Collection $12.00 $ 9.00 +$3.20 ______Just click on the Join/Renew Now button. 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