Move-in Day Nears! Our Annual Awards Construction on schedule We shine the light back for our new headquarters. onto some of our stars. READ MORE ON PAGE 2 READ MORE ON PAGES 4 –5

Winter 2015 New York-New Jersey Trail Conference — Connecting People with Nature since 1920 www.nynjtc.org Trail University Cited in New Jersey PEOPLE FOR TRAILS Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award to Trail Conference

he Trail Conference was named minimize user impacts by promoting trail- winner of the 2014 New Jersey building skills and projects such as TGovernor’s Environmental Sustainable Layout and Design. Excellence Award in the Environmental Trail University workshops often focus N A L O

Education (Adult-led) category for its on improving existing trails by reducing D

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Trail University program. The award was erosion, keeping sediment out of sensitive T E presented by the New Jersey Dept. of watersheds and reservoirs, and keeping hik - P Ramapo College students attend Trail U. Environmental Protection. ers and recreationalists on a well-defined Trail University classes work to benefit path to minimize damage caused by wan - Though the numbers for 2014 have not yet the environment in New Jersey and New dering off-trail. been processed, in 2013 Trail Conference York in several ways. They draw new vol - In the 12 months from September 2013 volunteers donated a combined total of unteers to the field of outdoor work, to September 2014 (most recent updated 16,979 hours to benefiting New Jersey’s support park staff in executing important period), 263 Trail University attendees con - public lands. Volunteers recruited through projects, improve and create access to beau - tributed 1,132 hours of service in the state Trail University help maintain more than Knox Osborn (in backpack tiful natural areas in the states, and serve to of New Jersey, over the course of 32 classes. 678 miles of hiking trails in New Jersey. with parents Hank and Alexis) Beacon, NY

Cowboy Creek Land Preservation How old were you when you took your first hike? I was two months old. My parents walked Invigorates Highlands Trail Volunteers me around the Dennings Point By Glenn Oleksak, Trail Chair, Loop Trail in Beacon, NY. I rode Highlands Trail in a Baby Bjorn front pack worn by my father. In 2008, the cards started falling for the What is your favorite trail? Highlands Trail in the Byram area of Sussex Fishkill Ridge because it’s right County, NJ. There, the original HT route in Beacon, where I live, yet it is weaved over a ridge, through Hudson Farm never crowded and it feels far property, and into the woods, all punctuat - away. ed by road walks on Route 605, Roseville Road, and Route 206. What is your favorite trail food? The first hurdle came when Hudson I love Annie’s Organic Bunnyfruit Farms cleared woods on a ridge, necessitat - Snacks! ing a reroute that extended the already What is the most interesting lengthy road walk along Route 605. Short - thing you have seen while ly afterwards, we lost the trail through hiking with your parents? private lands near Lake Lackawanna. We When now had a long road walk north to a long I was riding in a backpack worn ridge walk south… to nowhere! by my father, the top of the We’d already lost the HT in two areas in backpack jostled a small branch New York, resulting in long road walks, of a tree and knocked a snake and things were looking bleak for the feasi - out. The 3-foot garter snake fell bility of the HT remaining a continuous through the air and landed at my long-distance trail. Highlands Trail Super - mother’s feet. She doesn’t like it visor Adam Rosenberg and I started doing when snakes fall from the sky. initial scouting and feasibility studies to go What do you like best about around the Byram area completely. This trails? All the great things that reroute would be a daunting task that you can find along them—leaves would require years of work. Highlands Trail and I can’t take too many around. But this time, I came as close as I’ve and sticks and rocks and dirt! Late one afternoon, Adam and I were more hits,” I said. Since taking on the trail, I’d ever come to giving up entirely on the HT. Every time my parents put me returning from one of these scouting trips. I never let setbacks slow me down—instead, I “Why don’t we look into routing the trail on a trail, I toddle over to see sat in the passenger seat, brooding. “The immediately pushed ahead with a work- down the ridge to our right?” Adam sug - what I can find off on the side. gested as we drove north on Route 605. I don’t know why they want to In February 2014, 305 acres around Cowboy Creek in Sussex County, NJ Adam’s idea led to the largest and even - keep walking so fast. You can’t were preserved by the state’s Green Acres Program in a deal that had been tually the most successful reroute ever on find anything that way. long promoted by our partner, The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, and the HT. After getting permission from Do you understand your Dad’s endorsed by the Trail Conference. The Trail Conference’s interest in the land Hudson Farm and Hopatcong Township, we moved the trail from one ridge to job? My father supports stemmed primarily for the off-road route it offered in the western part of another ridge on the opposite side of the volunteers to help protect the the state for a section of the long-distance Highlands Trail (HT). valley. But at the south end of the new woods and improve trails so ridge, two large parcels were slated for more people—people like me!— development. Although we had our ridge will be able to enjoy nature. VOLUME XLII, N UMBER 1 ISSN 0749-1352 walk partway down Route 605, we still had We received help in translating a 1.4-mile road walk along Route 605 to Knox’s answers from his father the Byram Bike Trail. Hank, East Hudson Program Our big break came in 2014, when Trail Coordinator for the Trail Conference Executive Director Ed Goodell Conference. arranged a meeting between The Land Conservancy (TLC) of New Jersey’s Land Preservation Director Sandy Urgo and continued on page 10 Page 2 Winter 2015

VOLUME XLII, NO.1 WINTER 2015 AMBER RAY EDITOR GEORGETTE WEIR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR LOU LEONARDIS GRAPHIC DESIGNER TRAIL WALKER (USPS Permit #970-100) (ISSN 0749-1352) is published quarterly by the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference as a benefit of membership. Subscriptions are available to libraries only at $15.00 a year. Periodical postage paid at Mahwah, N.J., and additional offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to the address below. Opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily represent the policy or position of the Conference. Contributions of typed manuscripts, photos, and drawings are welcome. Manuscripts may be edited for style and length. Send SASE for writers’ guidelines. Submission deadlines for the TRAIL WALKER are January 15 (Spring issue), May 15 (Summer issue), August 15 (Fall issue), November 15 (Winter issue). Unsolicited contributions cannot be acknowledged unless accompanied by SASE. For information on advertising rates, please write or call. Copyright 2014 by: New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, Inc. 156 Ramapo Valley Road (Rt. 202) Mahwah, NJ 07430 R

201-512-9348 A G P A

email: [email protected] Y

editorial email: [email protected] M E R

World Wide Web: www.nynjtc.org E Darlington Schoolhouse HQ Update J Our Move-in Day Approaches!

Mission Statement By the time you receive the Spring edition of Trail Walker , we The event is set for Sunday, May 17, from 7:30am to 12 noon; The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is a expect to be operating out of our new headquarters at the online registration will be available in January 2015. Event federation of member clubs and individuals Darlington Schoolhouse! The address will be 600 Ramapo sponsors may register at http://www.mahwah.com. dedicated to providing recreational hiking opportunities in the region, and representing the Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430 (but don’t use it quite yet!). As our move-in date and related events approach, watch interests and concerns of the hiking community. Phone and all other contact information will remain the same. for details on our website and in E-Walker , our electronic The Conference is a volunteer-directed public As this edition goes to press, we are developing plans for newsletter. Click “Get Our E-newsletter” button on our service organization committed to: a ribbon-cutting this Winter (let’s keep our fingers crossed!) website if you are not already a subscriber. • Developing, building, and maintaining hiking trails. and a Grand Opening later in the year to welcome our We look forward to welcoming and supporting our • Protecting hiking trail lands through friends and supporters. extended trails community at our soon-to-be new home at support and advocacy. Plans are also in the works for a celebratory 5K Hike/Run in the heart of the New Jersey-New York Highlands! • Educating the public in the responsible use of trails and the natural environment. partnership with the Mahwah Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Board of Directors Chris Connolly Chair Gaylord Holmes Vice Chair New Parking Future Communications Richard Levine Treasurer about Harriman State Park Daniel Chazin Secretary This workshop session marked the conclu - Directors Lot Coming to Walter Daniels Richard Katzive sion of the work of the Harriman Trails Christine DeBoer Edward Saiff Access Committee. However it does not Charlotte Fahn Dave Stuhr Reeves Meadow Suzan Gordon Daniel Van Engel mark the end of collaboration between the James Gregoire Ned Whitney at Harriman Trail Conference and the Park. In addition Daniel Hoberman Patsy Wooters to continuing our 95 years of on-trail work, Staff we look forward to supporting the park Edward Goodell Executive Director State Park? Joshua Howard Deputy Executive with improved communications about trail Director That was the “big news” reported by David updates and park news. Watch our website Don Weise Development Barone, PIPC General Park Manager, at at nynjtc.org/content/trail-alerts-harriman - Director the October Trail Conference Members & bear-mountain for regular updates as they Melissa McCutcheon Operations & Friends meeting in Ossining. relate to trails in the park. Finance Director The park has added safety signage along Linda Rohleder Land Stewardship The question mark hanging on the news Route 106. —Georgette Weir Director reflects the fact that environmental studies For a full list of staff visit of a new lot’s impact were not yet com - He noted that park staff has installed Find the full Fall Report of the www.nynjtc.org/content/staff plete. But Barone sounded optimistic that Hiker Crossing signs at three different loca - Harriman-Trails Access Committee at The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is a PIPC would be creating a new 50-car, per - tions near trailheads for the White Bar and nynjtc.org/news/news volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. It is meable lot in what is now a meadow Victory Trails along Route 106; that the a federation of 103 hiking and outdoor groups, and 10,000 individuals. opposite the visitors center, across Seven Sebago Boat Launch parking area has been Lakes Drive. The construction timetable cleaned up, repaired, redesigned, and printed on recycled content paper was uncertain, as was the future of roadside reopened, and that portable toilets are PLEASE RECYCLE parking in what PIPC Chief Ranger being provided at the site on a test basis. TRAIL WALKER Michael Cahill, also at the meeting, called They may lead to more permanent bath - the busiest hiker trailhead in Harriman room facilities in the future. SAVE THE DATE: State Park. He also announced that at the request of Winter Meeting Statement of Ownership, Barone and Cahill attended the Trail the committee, the south end of the Management, and Circulation Conference meeting as part of their Anthony Wayne parking will be kept open Trail Walker is a quarterly paper published by the involvement with our Harriman Trails in winter, though it may not always be New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, 156 Ramapo Access Committee. The committee was plowed (there is just one plow available for SATURDAY, Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430. The editor and created after last year’s winter closing of the entire region he said). FEBRUARY 28 managing editor is Georgette Weir, at the same Route 106 led to complaints from many MANHATTAN COLLEGE address. The annual subscription price is $15; hikers that access to many trails in the park Route 106 and the WATCH FOR DETAILS contact person is Georgette Weir; telephone number was being reduced. The committee, Sterling Forest Casino is 201-512-9348. The tax status of the organization chaired by Trail Conference volunteer Bob Barone also addressed PIPC’s response to has not changed during the preceding 12 months. Fuller and including Trail Conference staff the casino proposed by the Genting Corp. As of the filing date of September 30, 2014, the and volunteers, collected and documented for the middle of Sterling Forest. The pro - average number of copies of each issue during the complaints, made field trips, compiled posal calls for using Route 106, which is an the preceding 12 months was 14,200; the actual Notice: suggestions and requests for improvements, east-west corridor through the park, con - At the Trail Conference Winter Meeting, number of copies of the single issue published and met with PIPC officials. necting the Palisades Parkway and Route the delegates will discuss and vote on a nearest to the filing date was 15,000. The paper “We’re listening to you,” Barone told his 17, as a primary access road to the casino. proposal to increase basic membership dues. The Trail Conference has not has a total paid and/or requested circulation of audience of 50+ hikers who attended the PIPC commissioners voted against conces - 6,407 (average) and 6,392 (actual, most recent adjusted its membership rates for inflation workshop session at our meeting. He sions that would allow the road to be used or cost of living increases for eight years issue). The average free distribution for the 12 reported on recent park improvements to in this way. and proposes to implement the following months preceding the filing date was 6,313 rates during the second half of 2015. (average) and 6,392 (actual, most recent issue). several trailhead pull-offs, such as leveling Barone told his audience that you can Current Proposed The total average distribution was 12,720; the and stabilizing along Route 106. Expan - “thank your lucky stars that we don’t keep sion of some of these pull-offs is not the road open in winter, and that we’re not Membership Rates Membership Rates actual distribution of the single issue published Individual/Joint Individual/Joint nearest to the filing date was 12,667. possible, he explained, owing to safety con - going to give it back to [Orange] County,” cerns prompted by inadequate sight lines which has been asking for it. The assem - Regular $30/40 Regular $40/50 This information is reported on U. S. Postal Service Senior (65+) $25/30 Senior (65+) $35/40 Form 3526 and here as required by 39 USC 3685. along the road. bled hikers responded with cheers. Winter 2015 Page 3

From the Executive Director laid the groundwork and gave us the confi - Strike Force gave us the confidence to descriptions and information about 300+ dence that we could train and put move ahead. parks with trails, and it attracts more than AmeriCorps members to good work on Take on management of all outdoor vol - 300,000 returning visitors annually. That’s a behalf of our trail system. We train them, unteer efforts in the Catskills? When DEC lot of interest in hiking, and we feel good that My head and they train more of us. Together we asked us to partner with them to start the we are meeting the needs of so many. It’s an build more and better trails. And our park Catskill Conservation Corps, we said Yes to indication of the value we offer to the quali - is spinning. partners get additional public resources. that too. Volunteers are us. ty of life in our region. If only those 300,000 But in a Win-win-win. Preserve open space for public access and visitors would acknowledge our value with a good way. Meet hikers (and potential hikers) at the to protect existing trails? The only real donation or, better, their membership. What foot of the busiest trailhead in our region, question here is how far can we stretch our a game changer that would be. if not the country—Breakneck Ridge— dollars? Working with our partners, we People ask me, What are the benefits of I’m just looking around at all that is hap - and help them make good choices and stretch them quite a bit, as stories in this membership in the Trail Conference? To be pening at, by, and through the Trail enjoy their outdoor experience with educa - issue about Cowboy Creek in New Jersey honest, if you don’t enjoy getting out in Conference today. This is an organization tion, maps, and water? All we need to get (page 1) and a newly protected parcel on nature, if you never visit a park, or take your where caring, enthusiastic people gather to family on a walk on a trail, if you are not a do great things, and do them Now! hiker, if you don’t enjoy wildlife, if you don’t Take on major corporations to preserve This is an organization want to protect the natural world we are the landscape of the Palisades, Sterling For - where caring, enthusiastic people gather to given, then the benefits are few to none. est, or Harriman State Park? Over and over, Because parks and trails and opportuni - our Davids and Davidas have challenged do great things, and do them Now! ties to enjoy and enhance the outdoor Goliath, Inc. And won. We’re optimistic we experience in our region are the benefits of will win again in facing up to LG Electron - supporting the Trail Conference with your ics, Genting Casino Resorts, and Caesars. started is a roadside pull-off and funds to the Shawangunk Ridge (below) attest. membership. Your investment in us helps Create an education program—Trail train and pay a few good trail stewards. Acquire, restore, and renovate a historic us invest in our people and services that U—that trains and recruits hundreds of (We hope for shelter soon.) Not only are schoolhouse in the heart of the Highlands preserve and enhance things that you love. hikers to give back as trail maintainers, trail hikers appreciative, but so are the area’s first as our headquarters? The project was Please join us. builders, trail leaders, and citizen scientists? responders, who have had to make many intimidating. But as I write this, our move- Yes! And we are very proud that New Jersey fewer rescue hikes up the mountain. in date approaches and we’re getting Dept. of Environmental Protection has just Another win-win. excited. Staff and volunteers look forward this month honored our program with an When New York’s Dept. of Environ - to an end to the musical chairs approach to Award for excellence (see page 1). mental Conservation (DEC) asked us to a seat in the office. Expand our trail building and education administer the Lower Hudson Partnership Build and maintain an online headquar - — Edward Goodell efforts by inaugurating our own Ameri - for Invasive Species Management, we said ters—a website that is the go-to place for Executive Director Corps conservation program? Yes! Yes. Again, our experience in launching hiking and trail information in our region? [email protected] Ninety-five years of volunteer experience and running the trail-oriented Invasives Of course. Our site now offers 350 hike

Conservation & Advocacy Conference-owned parcels on the Ridge New Jersey Votes for Permanent Highlands. The easement on 3,777 acres of have been purchased by the state’s Dept. of Open Space Funding mountainous, undeveloped land in the OUTCOMES Environmental Conservation and managed On Nov. 4, New Jersey voters said “Yes” to western Hudson Highlands, known as as state forest. The expectation is the same Question 2, a measure that dedicates a per - Black Rock Forest Preserve, was purchased We Protect Shawangunk Ridge Trail will happen with this and other of our centage of existing corporate business tax by OSI from the Preserve and is to be Section in Orange County holdings on the Ridge when the land revenues on a long-term basis to ensure donated to the Palisades Interstate Park The Trail Conference has helped to secure acquisition portion of the Environmental reliable funding for land and water protec - Commission. protection of 67 acres along the Shawan - Protection Fund is restored to appropriate tion efforts. The Trail Conference gunk Ridge Trail (SRT) in the towns of levels (see Our View). A more detailed sto - supported this measure. Though the refer - Greenville and Deerpark in Orange Coun - ry is posted at nynjtc.org/news/news endum is not perfect, it presented the only ty, NY. The land, adjacent to the opportunity to secure permanent funds for Permanent protection of 1,500-acre Huckleberry Ridge State Forest Casino Proposals at Sterling Forest, land acquisition and parks improvement, Black Rock Forest Preserve and traversed by the SRT, was purchased Harriman-Woodbury as well as for stewardship of parks. We must jointly with the Open Space Institute and The Trail Conference continued to work now ensure that the enabling legislation includes protection of facilitated by the Orange County Land with partners to oppose massive casino allocates a significant portion of the funds 23 miles of trails. Trust (OCLT). The land will be held and resort proposals for the middle of Sterling for parks improvement. Furthermore, we managed by OCLT. The purchase was Forest State Park and adjacent to Harriman will need to continue working to ensure finalized November 3, 2014. State Park. New York State’s Gaming Com - parks receive adequate annual budgets. The 70-mile Shawangunk Ridge Trail mission was tasked with selecting up to The easement will assure the permanent extends from High Point State Park in New four casino locations. Their decision was Public Access to Black Rock Forest protection of Black Rock’s prominent open Jersey nearly to Rosendale in New York, expected to be announced on December Protected space, significant mature forest, and at least and links with the Appalachian Trail and 17, after this issue went to press. If either of In October, The Open Space Institute 23 miles of trails, most maintained by Trail Long Path. these sites is selected, we will continue to (OSI) joined with New York Governor Conference volunteers for the benefit of The entire Shawangunk Ridge is listed in oppose these developments or, at a mini - Andrew Cuomo, Parks Commissioner hikers and walkers, who have long been the New York State’s 2010 and Revised mum, mitigate their negative impacts on Rose Harvey, and the Black Rock Forest welcome to explore the Preserve. Black Draft 2014 Open Space Plan as a Regional the surrounding parklands. Find the latest Preserve (BRFP) in announcing the largest Priority Conservation Project. Other Trail news via nynjtc.org/panel/protectourtrails ever conservation easement in the Hudson continued on page 10

OUR VIEW open space protection for many years, worked with us in the past to add land to New York State’s Draft 2014 ridge top state forests, and is currently Revised Open Space Plan funding our efforts to promote a Gunks The Draft 2014 Revised Open Space Plan Greenway on the Shawangunk Ridge, in for the State of New York was released in recent years it has consistently failed to September, and the Trail Conference is back up its efforts with funds for additional very pleased with the recommendations it land acquisition. We ask DEC and the includes for our region. The next and cru - Governor to make this area a land acqui - cial step is to persuade lawmakers to sition funding priority in 2015. budget sufficient funds for land acquisi - tion in next year’s Environmental Hudson Highlands Protection Fund to support the plan. We also endorse recommendations to Advocacy work for that will begin in expand protection of lands in the Hudson F

earnest in January. Highlands, both east and west of the F A T S

Trail Conference Regional Programs Hudson River . G A W

Manager Jeff Senterman was a member of A L E Long Distance Trail Corridors & Links I

the committees that drafted recommenda - N A tions for DEC Regions 3 & 4 in the plan, We strongly support this expanded section D and, he reports, most of our suggestions and the new trails and trail types that have • How are these recommendations their swearing-in in January), and ask were adopted. These include: been included in the 2014 draft. We look for - going to be achieved? them to restore meaningful land acqui - ward to working with New York on long • Are there plans to restore meaningful sition funds to the environmental Shawangunk Ridge distance trails where we have management funding for land acquisition in next year’s protection fund in 2015 . Specifically, we Continued high priority for protecting trail responsibility, including the Appalachian EPF? are asking for restoration to the 2008 level linkages along the Shawangunk Ridge and Trail, Long Path, and the Highlands Trail. • If not, what new sources of funding of $66 million. associated Basha Kill Wildlife Management While we have nothing but praise for are proposed? Plan Now to Attend March 9, 2015 Area. The Trail Conference has put its own the goals and recommendations in this EPF Lobby Day in Albany. money into protecting key parcels along plan, the realities of NYS budget decisions We urge our members and friends in Find our full comments and keep the Shawangunk Ridge pending state pur - in recent years that have essentially wiped New York to contact the Governor’s office up with this issue; find it via chase. Despite the fact that the state has out funds for land acquisition by the state, and their state representatives in the nynjtc.org/panel/protectourtrails identified the Ridge as a priority area for require us to ask: Assembly and State Senate (especially after Page 4 Winter 2015 2014 Trail Conference Awards H

Trail Conference Annual Awards are LEIKIN EXTRA MILE AWARD in 2013, and spends many hours in the NEXT GENERATION AWARD determined by the Board of Directors This award recognizes those Trail Conference office processing ISF data. Given to those under age 21 who are upon recommendation by the Volun - volunteers who have demonstrated making significant contributions of teer Committee. The following award exceptional commitment to projects time and energy to trail building or announcements were made October such as a book, map or advocacy. protection. An awardee may be an 18, 2014 at the Annual Meeting in individual or a group. Ossining, NY. HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP Conveys life member status and the right to vote at Delegate’s meetings. Usually given after long (greater than 20) years of extraordinary service to the Trail Conference. Pete Tilgner, Tenafly, NJ Committed to the trails in our region, Pete Tilgner also volunteers with the Trail Con - Chris Reyling & the Long Distance ference office operations. Since 2001, Pete Trails Crew has been coming to the office weekly to Matt Whittle, Oakland, NJ The Long Distance Trails Crew spent mail membership cards and free maps. His Matt was a junior in high school when he many weekends during the last two work reliability in this role is matched by his first volunteered as an Invasives Strike Force seasons on the Long Path in the Catskills. impeccable manners, sense of humor, and intern and fell in love with invasives. For his They were the backbone of the multiple appreciation of the hiking opportunities in Eagle project he organized a team to remove weeklong service vacations that were spent the region. invasives and plant native species. He on the mountains. The entire crew deserves became a certified pesticide applicator and recognition for the work that they did. Fol - Eugene Reyes, Passaic, NJ has encouraged adults to volunteer. During Ron Rosen, Poughkeepsie, NY lowing are the core members of the group: Highly experienced with both print and the summer of 2014, he served as an Ameri - Ron has been involved with the Appalachi - Crew Chief Chris Reyling; Crew Leader digital publication, Eugene Reyes helped Corps member on the Invasive Strike Force an Trail since 1976 and was chair of the Erik Garnjost; Crew members David pave the way for our e-book publications. team. In the fall of 2014, Matt matriculat - Dutchess Putnam AT Management Com - Booth, Marty Costello, Russ Dooman, He informed the Publications Committee ed at William Paterson University. mittee from its inception until 2009. Ron Bob Fuller, Charlie Morgan. about the production process, then guided fostered cooperation among maintainers, it through its first e-book publication, monitors, and partners, and recruited and including additional guidance to the book retained volunteers. He kept records of designer so that when a book was laid out, hours of service so that “his” volunteers it could be more easily converted to the were eligible for the National Park Service’s new format. service awards. When corridor monitors needed to be trained, he developed a work - Steve Weissman, New Brunswick, NJ shop that became a model for training for Steve puts the "pro" in pro bono. Over the the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. With past 10 years, Steve has provided the Trail three AT committees in New York and Conference with countless hours of his New Jersey, there was a need to coordinate professional legal services free of charge. Erika Schneider-Smith, Shrewsbury, NJ activities. Ron was the obvious choice to Gely and Jakob Franke, Northvale, NJ Steve has long been a trusted advisor to the Erika signed up to be a member of our head the coordinating committee. He also The Long Path is Jakob Franke’s “baby” and Trail Conference on personnel and legal Invasives Strike Force in September 2012, became the NY-NJ Trail Conference dele - his wife, Gely, is right there helping behind issues, always available to offer his calm when she was 15 and a sophomore at Bio- gate to the Mid Atlantic ATC Regional the scenes. Jakob’s septuagenarian ways fill counsel, prompt and objective in his Technology High School in Monmouth Partnership Committee. ATC conferred his aura with smiles and good will and he response, and always maintaining confi - County, NJ. She was one of the top survey - Honorary Membership to Ron in 2011. demonstrates by doing. Gely not only did dentiality to the utmost. ors that year and returned the following trail work, but for the Phoenician reroute summer, bringing along a friend for most she volunteered to be the camp cook, KEN LLOYD AWARD of the miles. Now a senior, she has contin - preparing home-cooked meals that were This award recognizes members of ued to survey. ready when the crew returned to camp. Trail Conference member clubs or member clubs who have demon - strated exemplary service to trail maintenance, management, and/or trail land protection. It is usually given after more than seven years of service.

Pete & Jo-Ann Senterman, Elka Park, NY In 1989, starting with the Dutchess-Put - nam Appalachian Trail Management Committee (DPATMC), Pete Senterman Emma Chilton, Suffern, NY began his long history of volunteering. He John Moran, Glen Rock, NJ Emma volunteered as a trail builder for shifted his focus to the Catskills, eventually John has served as North Jersey Trails Chair more than 100 hours in 2013, first at Ster - stepping up to be the chair of the Catskill since 2004, during which time which he ling Forest and then at Bear Mountain. An Trails Committee and serving for 17 years. has expanded our trail network in the environmental engineer major in her jun - Pete recruited hundreds of volunteers, Ramapos dramatically and also helped with ior year at Cornell University in 2014, offered training and appreciation events, the North Jersey map set. John has also Emma continues to volunteer at the office and developed a deep working relationship developed connections with the park man - Ralph’s Peak Hikers Cabin and do trail work on her days off from with the NYS Dept. of Environmental agers, nurtured countless people to take on Volunteers Club another internship. Conservation. His efforts ensured the con - additional responsibilities, and worked For 15 years, the Ralph’s Peak Hikers tinued presence of the Trail Conference in with Eagle Scout candidates to complete (RPH) Cabin Volunteers Club, an AT Trail WILLIAM HOEFERLIN AWARD the Catskills. Even after retiring as a Trail their projects. Crew in Dutchess and Putnam Counties, Recognizes Trail Conference volun - Chair, Pete continues to represent the Trail has worked on heavy duty trail projects teers who have demonstrated Conference. He leads a special projects trail that are beyond the capacity of the main - exemplary service to trail mainte - crew, attends public meetings and informa - tainers. In addition to maintaining the nance, management, and/or trail tional sessions, and serves on the Catskill RPH Cabin Shelter, their projects have land protection. Park and Forest Preserve Advisory Com - included puncheon, turnpiking, bridges, mittee. Pete is truly Mr. Catskill. and steps. In addition, for 15 years they While Pete has been busy with projects have organized a three-day work weekend in the Catskills, his wife, Jo-Ann, has been with a multi-day BBQ and trail projects busy behind the scenes. She has managed suited to all skill levels. This weekend proj - the many trainings, workshops, meetings, ect has attracted local volunteers as well as and picnics that took place in the Catskills those coming from a distance. over the years that Pete was the Trails Chair. Cliff Berchtold, Monroe, NY At many events she made sure dozens of Volunteering in multiple ways, Cliff Berch - people knew where they were going and told believes in paying back for the decades We give so much thanks were properly fed throughout the day. Even he has spent enjoying trails. After main - today Jo-Ann remains Mrs. Catskill, Cater - taining a section of the Scenic Trail (Long to so many people Andy Garrison, Wurtsboro, NY er in Chief. She continues to volunteer in Path) in Minnewaska State Park Preserve Dedicated describes Andy Garrison for the background, attending outreach events for 18 years, he now maintains the doing so much both his land acquisition efforts for the and helping with the logistics, planning, Townsend Trail in Sterling Forest. Cliff for the public good. Shawangunk Ridge Trail (SRT) as well as and catering of many of our most recent helps with Trail U workshops, was the top his work building and managing the trail. activities. surveyor for the Invasives Strike Force (ISF) Andy also has led the effort to reroute the Winter 2015 Page 5 onor Our Volunteers & Partners

Long Path in the Catskills to eliminate a supporters of the Darlington Schoolhouse LEO ROTHSCHILD contributions to trails soon became greater road walk. When he leads a work trip, he project and has continued to be a driving CONSERVATION AWARD and broader. She became a trail maintain - arrives earlier than the crew members and force behind our successful fundraising Presented to a person or organiza - er, a swamper assisting sawyers, and a trail makes at least one extra trip to bring equip - campaign. As a longstanding member of tion that has made a significant crew member. Marci also assists in field ment to the work site. He invited other the Darlington Schoolhouse Stakeholder contribution to the protection of our checking maps and guidebooks in Harri - trail crews to join him and established Action Team, he played a significant role in trails and/or the natural lands that man State Park. week-long backcountry work trips dis - helping the Trail Conference raise public surround them. guised as camping trips. The preparation awareness for the Schoolhouse, the cam - and detail in planning has made these trips paign, and our organization as a whole. a success. Under Andy’s leadership the new trail was built and opened to the public in MAJOR WILLIAM A. WELCH TRAIL only two years. PARTNER AWARD Presented to those outside the Trail Conference (for example, state, fed - eral or local agency partner officials) who have given long and/or signifi - cant assistance to the local hiking community. It is usually given after Mark Nordyke, North Butler, NJ more than seven years of service. Friends of the Shawangunks Since 2012, Mark Nordyke has been an For more than 50 years, the Friends of the active invasive plant surveyor and member Shawangunks (Friends) has exercised vigi - of the removal crew of the Invasives Strike lance and vigor in preserving the Force. He has been the crew member with Shawangunk Ridge. The Friends was the most number of hours. In 2014, he has Salley Decker, Poughkeepsie, NY founded to “marshal public opposition to a surveyed more than 130 miles of trails. It is Salley has a multiple decade volunteer his - proposed ‘Skyline Drive’ along the top of said that Mark generates data on invasives tory with the Conference that includes the ridge.” That battle was won as have almost faster than it can be recorded by ISF being an AT maintainer for over 25 years, many since. Friends was a leader of the office volunteers. active participant in the Dutchess/Putnam coalitions that fought to protect Lake Min - AT Management Committee, helping with newaska, establish Minnewaska State Park Bob Paine, Pleasantville, NY the 2007 ATC biennial meeting hosted by Preserve, and add the Awosting Reserve to Trail maintainer on the 1777E Trail in the Trail Conference, and, in 2014, spear - Todd Cochran the park. Friends has successfully challenged Harriman State Park for more than 20 heading the local efforts to establish a trail Superintendent of the Bergen County many ridge development proposals, pro - years, Bob has also helped to clear blow- crew for the historic Stone Church Preserve Dept. of Parks, Todd has been always at the tecting the natural environment for us all. down after blow-down, especially after the in Dover, NY. ready to support Trail Conference volun - late fall snowstorms and tropical storms teers and staff, whether it is a crew, tools, DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS and hurricanes of recent years. Chet Morris, Branchville, NJ materials, a place to store tools or trans - This award is given by the Volunteer Chet has been volunteer trail supervisor in portation when and where it is needed Committee to recognize significant Peter Schwartz, Brooklyn, NY Stokes State Forest and Swartswood State within Ramapo Reservation, Camp Glen service or a special achievement by On his own initiative, Peter developed and Park since 2003. He is more than just a Gray, and Campgaw. He has assisted with Trail Conference volunteers. gave to the Trail Conference “Hike Finder”. supervisor; as a certified sawyer, he puts his the Darlington Schoolhouse, hosted chain - This addition to our website is a searchable heart and soul into making sure that saw courses, and helped with approvals for map that pinpoints the locations of the downed trees are removed immediately. projects. Todd has made time for several hikes listed on our website; results can be When a call comes in, he grabs his chain - meeting to prioritize projects and lend sup - filtered by location, difficulty, and other saw and heads out to the trails to help port and input for our outreach efforts with criteria. wherever he is needed. Ramapo College. DON DERR AWARD Recognizes Trail Conference volun - teers who have demonstrated exemplary off-trail service such as publications, advocacy, land conser - Howard “Pete” France, Lake Katrine, NY vation, development, membership, Pete has been the Northern Catskills Chair and office work. It is usually given since 2009, tirelessly working to ensure after more than seven years of out - that volunteer supervisors and maintainers standing service. have the tools and information they need in order to tackle trail maintenance in the Staff at Minnewaska State Park Preserve Catskill Park. He’s always been a good team Park Manager Eric Humphrey (pictured), player, excellent with paperwork and fol - Assistant Park Manager Jorge Gomez, low-up, and has managed to keep trail Educator Laura Connor, and Nick Martin maintainer vacancies to a minimum are always helpful with trail projects, trans - throughout his region. porting materials and tools and in many instances crew members, saving them valu - Trail Conference able time to work on projects. They are a pleasure to work with. Volunteer Stats July 1, 2013 — June 30, 2014 George Petty, Clinton Corners, NY CORPORATE PARTNER AWARD George, a poet, writer, editor, and retired Given to businesses or their college professor, has served on the Trail employees for outstanding service 2,684 volunteer positions Conference Publications Committee, for a to the hiking community. time as chair, since 2001. In addition to (not including crews) being the author of Hiking the Jersey High - lands , George served as project manager and Rich Weiler, Irvington, NY 1,287 volunteers editor of several editions of Hiking Long Trail maintainer on the Timp-Torne Trail Island . George’s words of wisdom, dedica - and Appalachian Trail in Harriman State tion, and exceptional commitment to the Park for more than 20 years, Rich has also 76,839 volunteer hours Publications Committee exemplify the best helped to clear countless blow-downs after characteristics of an off trail volunteer. snowstorms and tropical storms and hurri - 223 work crew trips canes of recent years. 354 crew members Morgan Outdoors (owner Lisa Lyons) A small business owner, Lisa Lyons has, 278 new volunteers since 2011, volunteered her time and her space at Morgan Outdoors in Livingston Manor to promote the Trail Conference 1,023 participants in Trail U and host our workshops and events since 2011. She has recruited volunteers for hikes and trail work and is now the crew 760 unique people George Becker, Franklin Lakes, NJ chief of the Willowemoc Trail Crew, which participated in Trail U George’s actions, commitments, and lead - is improving the trails in the southwestern Marci Layton, Brooklyn, NY 151 classes ership have made significant, positive Catskills. Lisa’s efforts have given the Trail Pitching in to help is a way of life for Mar - impacts on the Trail Conference. He was Conference a presence in a region where we ci Layton. In 2009, she began volunteering one of the earliest volunteer leaders and traditionally did not adopt trails. by assisting with trail maintenance; her Page 6 Winter 2015 People for Trails. Trails for People. A quarterly look at some of what we have been doing to improve public access to nature. F F O N N O I S M A

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E A R N D O N S A Hiking to Know the Places We Save Long Distance Trail Crew Celebrates West Mountain Exactly how wilderness areas are preserved is likely a bit of a mystery to the average person. The ongoing efforts to conserve and set aside wild Appalachian Trail Relocation lands for perpetuity is mainly the behind-the-scenes work of volunteers and partner organizations such as the New York-New Jersey Trail Con - Saturday, Oct. 18, was a big day for the Long Distance Trails Crew ference, land trusts and land conservation organizations, and government (LDTC). The morning began at the Trail Conference Annual Meeting organizations such as the state and federal parks departments. held in Ossining, NY, where the entire crew received the Paul Leiken But projects like the ongoing preservation of the Shawangunk Ridge Extra Mile Award for its members’ efforts during the last two work sea - deserve greater recognition. The ridge has been an active area for the sons on the Long Path relocation in the Catskills. Trail Conference’s Conservation Committee, as two of our longest Following the awards portion of the meeting, the crew headed out to trails, the Long Path and the Shawangunk Ridge Trail, depend on safe Harriman State Park to put the final touches on the new Appalachian access through the wilderness along this corridor. This requires secur - Trail (AT) relocation. This included closing off the old section of the Ground Broken on Lon ing trail access on private, undeveloped land, as well as acquiring land trail, scraping out and painting over the old blazes, and painting the parcels along the ridge. The Land Trust Alliance recently granted fund - final new blazes at each end of the relocation. The crew also raked the A crowd of about 100 attend the September ing to purchase more land parcels in this area, with the stipulation that new trail to make it clearly stand out in the leaf covered terrain for the in Mount Tremper, in the central Catskills. T local communities and municipalities be made aware of the recreation - subsequent trail work hike and ribbon-cutting ceremony. ter for decades, starting from his time as th al opportunities available to them as a result of this conservation work. In the afternoon, the crew led a hike to the north (uphill) end of the building began this past fall with a grand ope In cooperation with Trail Conference partners, several hikes were set up relocation, first passing by and highlighting previous work by the West The CIC will provide information to visito at key places along the ridge to showcase the area and its ecological and Hudson South and Long Distance Trails Crews. The group traveled up ing watershed, and ways to recreate and enjoy public value. the old, eroded trail so everyone could see why the path was being $500,000 from New York Works III, $420, The season started off with a much-needed trail-clipping hike at replaced, and arrived at the ribbon-cutting site. Development grant. Graham Fire Tower along the ridge, where the Ravine Trail offers an LDTC member Bob Fuller introduced the crew and our distin - The Friends of the Catskill Interpretive C additional cool and verdant rock scramble alongside a stream. Later in guished guests: Ed Goodell, Trail Conference Executive Director; Chris operate the center once constructed. The New the season, a group picked blueberries and cooled off under the Rain - Connolly, Trail Conference Board Chair; Ed McGowan, Palisades the first five years toward operating expenses bow Kill Falls at Minnewaska State Park Preserve and enjoyed the long Interstate Park Commission Science Director; Sona Mason, West Hud - NJ Trail Conference, Catskill Mountain Club view across the entire stretch of the ridge, all the way back to New Jer - son Program Coordinator; and John Mack, Harriman/Bear Mountain sey. Other hikes explored the newest addition to the ridge, Ridgeview Trails Chair. We talked briefly about the relocation work, which took Preserve, and climbed up the Shawangunk Ridge Trail at Wurtsboro 10 months to complete with over 35 individuals putting in around Ridge State Forest to views of the Catskills and the Basha Kill—the 1,800 hours of volunteer time. The new relocation is .4 miles long and largest wetland in southeastern New York. is exactly .123 miles longer than the section of trail that it replaces. This A hearty thanks to volunteer Trails Chair Jakob Franke, Laura Con - is no doubt due to the extensive planning by Crew Chief Chris Reyling, ner of Minnewaska State Park, Andy Mills of the Orange County Land who holds the Long Path End to End certificate number 123, which is Trust, and Mike Medley of the Basha Kill Area Association for co-lead - a very special number to him. ing these hikes and enriching all with their specialized knowledge of the With the entire LDTC crew behind them, Chris Reyling and Crew lands along the Shawangunk Ridge! And stay tuned on our website for Leader Erik Garnjost cut the ribbon using a giant pair of scissors creat - future events. ed just for this occasion. The hike down the relocation began with crew —Sona Mason, West Hudson Program Coordinator members pointing out many of the sustainable features of the new trail, as well as major rock work including steps, massive crib walls, and giant stepping stones. We Take On the Then crew and guests enjoyed a celebratory BBQ . Wilderness of NJ —Bob Fuller, LDTC member The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, only 26 miles west of Times Square in New York City, is 12 square Hudson Nor’Westers an miles of largely undisturbed nature strad - Hudson North Clippers dling the border between Morris and Somerset counties. Its 10 miles of hiking The newly formed West Hudson North Clip trails vary from primitive cleared walking Nor'Westers crews, both operating under th paths to elaborate boardwalks that span tion of crew chief Sandy Cascio, hit the grou wildlife management and wilderness areas. In July, the Nor’Westers began refurbishing As one of more than 560 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge across Sanders Kill in Minnewaska State Park R System (and the very first to receive Wilderness designation), the Great I bridging over slick and sloping trail tread on E W

Swamp just helped celebrate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the E trail. Next, they tackled trail and stream block T T E

Wilderness Act. The Trail Conference is proud to be invited to help G Park, where a blowdown across a stream on the R O with stewardship of the hiking trails in this Wilderness area on the heels E King—along with a little residual damage from G of this historic occasion. had caused the stream to overflow its ban Federally designated Wilderness areas are chosen from existing feder - A Better Breakneck substantial ice dam across the trail at the foot al lands of at least 5,000 acres which have minimal human imprint, By-pass Coming? Future plans include rehabilitating a shortc opportunities for unconfined recreation, and educational, scientific, or relocation, and drainage mitigation in West historical value. Motorized and mechanized devices aren’t allowed On October 28, Trail Conference staff and volunteers met up with trail which include Minnewaska, Schunnemunk, unless deemed absolutely necessary. The result is an area minimally planners from the New York State Office of Parks Recreation and Rock Forest. Technical trail skills taught on impacted by people, and perfect for hiking and exploring. Historic Preservation (OPRHP) at the foot of the Wilkinson Trail in mitigation, stone steps installation, and bog-br Like many Wilderness areas, the Great Swamp had its brush with the Breakneck Ridge area of Hudson Highlands State Park. Their The Clippers, meanwhile, have made them annihilation–the refuge was established in 1960 after a year-long legal purpose was to field check possibilities for rerouting a severely eroded unteers in their region. They offer a hand t battle in which local residents fought to keep the land from being section of the popular Breakneck Bypass Trail (red blaze). The group section that has fast vegetation regrowth, w turned into a major regional airport. Today on these 7,768 acres, included, left to right: Fred Barnes, volunteer Trail Supervisor for the who has been unable to get to their trail in a w instead of jet airplanes, more than 244 species of birds fill the sky. In area; Erik Mickelson, Trail Builder; Evan Thompson, Fahnestock & trail sections. addition, 39 mammal species and 42 species of reptiles and amphibians HH State Parks, Jesse Jaycox, OPRHP Biologist; and Mary Dodds, The Clippers go out every second Saturda variously crawl, run, and slither across the refuge. Beautiful vernal pools volunteer Trail Crew leader and all-around trail worker. and clear a challenging trail section. They inv and ponds dot the woods to be appreciated by animals and hikers alike. ing maintainers and supervisors, to join them We look forward to helping the Great Swamp maintain their trails by bringing in workshops, training, and volunteers over the coming years. Hope to see you out there! —Peter Dolan, New Jersey Program Coordinator Winter 2015 Page 7 HIGHLIGHTS FROM NEW PROGRAMS Breakneck Trail Stewards The Trail Conference stewards at Breakneck Ridge were on duty weekends and holidays from Memorial Day Weekend through Columbus Day (45 days total). East Hudson Program Coordinator Hank Osborn reports the stewards counted exactly 26,743 hikers ascending the Breakneck Ridge Trail during that time. (They did not count hikers descending or hikers at the other two nearby trailheads.) The most hikers counted in one day was 1,426, on Oct. 12, the stewards’ last day of the season. The fewest: 60 on a “terribly” windy and rainy day. The stewards evaluated hikers’ preparedness and recommended various hiking opportunities and routes. In the course of the season, they sold over 2,000 maps, rescued 99 lost hikers, persuaded almost 400 unprepared people to turn away from the trailhead, referred almost 1,000 hikers to Cold Spring, and nearly 500 hikers to Beacon for food, drink, and other entertainment. They also treated 25 people and one dog for various injuries. An anonymous donor has made a generous, multi-year Challenge Grant to support the Trail Conference’s work on the trails east of the Hudson River, including at Breakneck Ridge. You can help us meet this challenge—and increase the impact of your own gift by 50 percent—by making a donation to our East Hudson-Breakneck Ridge fund. Here’s how it works: If we succeed in raising $20,000 in the next 12 months, the anonymous donor will match it with an additional $10,000 gift! To make your gift qualify for the match, please make your donation to the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference and designate it to the “East Hudson-Breakneck Challenge.” R I

E Thanks to Mountain Tops, our retail partner store in Beacon, for donating all of the W

E

T uniforms and footwear for the five stewards. Beacon Bagel donated water to fill T E

G bottles. The Cold Spring Fire Department donated a first aid kit and resupplies R O E throughout the season, and commended the stewards’ efforts in reducing the number G ng-awaited Catskill Interpretive Center of rescues that needed to be performed by fire fighters.

23 groundbreaking for the Maurice D. Hinchey Catskill Interpretive Center (CIC) along Route 28 The CIC is named in honor of retired Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey, who championed the cen - he region’s representative in the New York State Assembly. Construction on the 1,700-square foot ening anticipated for early 2015. ors about the 700,000-acre Catskill Park, New York City's one million-acre Catskill/Delaware drink - y these natural resources. The $1.3 million DEC-managed project will be funded with approximately ,000 from the State's Environmental Protection Fund, and $380,000 federal Housing and Urban

enter, working under the umbrella of the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, will w York City Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) has agreed to contribute $20,000 per year for of the CIC. The center will be staffed through a partnership including the Catskill Center, the NY- b, Ulster County Tourism, and Catskill Mountainkeeper.

Breakneck Ridge Trail Stewards (blue shirts) welcome AmeriCorps members of our Taconics Crew at the trailhead. AmeriCorps In 2014, 17 AmeriCorps members engaged by the Trail Conference to learn and do trail building east and west of the Hudson River in New York or serve with our Invasives Strike Force, leveraged 408 volunteers who contributed 7,758 hours to our trails from May to October. The AmeriCorps members contributed approximately 13,000 hours of effort towards our mission during that time, and formed the nucleus of three trail-building crews—the Palisades and Taconics Crews, who worked on state park trail projects in Sterling Forest, Fahnestock, and Hudson Highlands State Parks, R I E W N and the Bear Mountain Trails Project crew, working on the Appalachian Trail E O T S T A relocation. Four members also contributed to the monitoring and removal work of our E M

G A R O N Invasives Strike Force. E O G S nd West Better Trails to History s crews In Hudson Highlands State Park Our new programs aim to extend our reach to hikers and potential volunteers and to expand the ppers and revived Hudson In October, nine acres, a new parking lot, and short trail extension built he leadership and inspira - by the Trail Conference’s Taconics Crew were added to Hudson High - opportunities and skill development available for them. und running this year. lands State Park historic North/South Redoubt section along Snake g stepping stone crossings Hill Road in Garrison. Land preservationists and state park and Dept. Preserve and building bog of Environmental Conservation officials celebrated the occasion with a Catskill Conservation Corps n the verdant Mossy Glen brief ribbon-cutting ceremony before sitting down to a meeting about Regional Program Coordinator Jeff kages in Storm King State other conservation priorities. Senterman was quick to get the word e Highlands Trail at Storm The land was donated to the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic out: The Catskill Conservation Corps m Tropical Storm Irene— Preservation (OPRHP) by Winter Hill LLC, which also built the new (CCC), a new partnership between the nks in winter, creating a parking area. OPRHP Deputy Commissioner Carol Clark and Winter Trail Conference and the New York State of the mountain. Hill’s Chris Buck signed the transfer papers and cut the ribbon (above) Dept. of Environmental Conservation cut, stream crossings, trail at the event. (DEC) that seeks to increase and support of Hudson North Parks, With a short and quick climb on a red-blazed trail to the North nature-oriented volunteers and volunteer , Storm King, and Black Redoubt, hikers can get a nice view north over the Hudson River— opportunities in the Catskills, is in the job include drainage especially with the leaves off the trees. A longer, but still relatively short, business. A new website and presence ridging with rock footings. hike to the higher South Redoubt winds through bits of Garrison on Facebook and Twitter were quickly mselves available to all vol - School Forest. established to help spread the word, to any maintainer with a These trails to the South Redoubt are in the process of being and press releases have been promoting will help out a maintainer reworked and reblazed by the Garrison School, which maintains all the CCC activities since its first workshop, while, and clear unassigned trails in this area of the park. Already, there are differences in blaze col - on volunteer leadership training, in June. ors between the latest 2014 edition of East Hudson map #101 and Work trips tackled trail building at the ay of each month to clip what you will find on site. The South Redoubt features a kiosk with future site of the Catskill Interpretive Center and litter cleanup at Kaaterskill Falls and vite all volunteers, includ - information about the Revolution-era history of the redoubts, fortifica - along Route 23A in Kaaterskill Clove. An appreciation picnic was held for all Catskill m. They have a blast! tions built in 1779 with the intent of delaying or stopping British volunteers in October; at the event, we were able to thank many people for their advances on West Point. At both North and South Redoubt, evidence service to trails, lean-tos, and the natural and recreational resources of the Catskill Mountains. Visit the CCC website to learn more and get involved. We will be in touch of the now buried fortifications is obvious. shortly afterwards with the info you request and will add you to the electronic mailing list for CCC updates. catskillconservationcorps.org Page 8 Winter 2015

Hikers’ These clubs and organizations support the Trail Conference. Visit their websites to Directory learn about their activities, or find them at www.nynjtc.org/content/member-clubs.

ADK Long Island Fox Hill School New Haven Hiking Club SUNY Oneonta Outing Club www.adkli.org www.bruderhof.com/en/international- www.NHHC.info www.oneonta.edu/outdoors directory/united-states/fox-hill ADK Mid-Hudson Chapter New Jersey Search & Rescue Inc. Teatown Lake Reservation www.midhudsonadk.org Friends of Garret Mountain www.njsar.org www.teatown.org http://friendsofgarretmountain. ADK Mohican Chapter blogspot.com New York Alpine Club Tenafly Nature Center Association www.adkmohican.org www.nyalpine.com www.tenaflynaturecenter.org Friends of Pelham Bay Park ADK New York Chapter www.pelhambaypark.org/ New York City Audubon Society, Inc. The Catskill Center for Conservation & Dev. www.adkny.org www.nycaudobon.org www.catskillcenter.org Friends of the Hackensack River ADK North Jersey Ramapo Chapter Greenway in Teaneck New York Hiking Club The Highlands Natural Pool www.hudsonhikers.org www.teaneckgreenway.org http://nyh.nynjtc.org www.highlandsnaturalpool.org

Adventures for Women Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct, Inc. New York Ramblers The Nature Place Day Camp www.AdventuresforWomen.org http://aqueduct.org www.nyramblers.org http://thenatureplace.com

Alley Pond Environmental Center Friends of The Shawangunks Outdoor Promise The Outdoor Club, Inc. www.alleypond.com http://shawangunks.org www.outdoorpromise.org www.outdoorsclub.info

AMC Delaware Valley Chapter Friends of Van Cortlandt Park Palisades Nature Association Thendara Mountain Club www.amcdv.org http://vancortlandt.org www.njpalisades.org/greenbrook.htm www.thendaramountainclub.org

AMC Mohawk Hudson Chapter German-American Hiking Club Protect Our Wetlands, Water & Woods Torne Valley Preservation Association www.amcmohawkhudson.org http://gah.nynjtc.org (POW) http://box292.bluehost.com/~powwworg Town of Lewisboro AMC New York North Jersey Chapter Greenburgh Nature Center www.lewisborogov.com/parksrec www.amc-ny.org www.greenburghnaturecenter.org Protectors of Pine Oak Woods www.siprotectors.org Trail WhippAss Bellvale School Hike for Mental Health www.trailwhippass.com/ www.bruderhof.com/en/international- www.hikeformentalhealth.org Rip Van Winkle Hikers trail-whippass-home directory/united-states/bellvale http://newyorkheritage.com/rvw Hilltop Conservancy, Inc. Tri State Ramblers Black Rock Forest Consortium Inc. www.hilltopconservancy.org Rock Lodge Club http://tsr.nynjtc.org www.blackrockforest.org www.rocklodge.com Hudson Highlands Gateway Task Force Union County Department of Parks & Boy Scout Troop 121-Hudson Valley Council www.TownofCortlandt.com RPHC Volunteers Community Renewal timtrek.mikentim.com http://ucnj.org/community/parks- Boy Scout Troop 50 Mahwah Hunterdon Hiking Club community-renewal/parks-facilities MAHWAHtroop50.scoutlander.com www.hunterdonhikingclub.org SAJ - Society for the Advancement of Judaism University Outing Club Boy Scout Troop 8, Brooklyn Interstate Hiking Club http://www.thesaj.org www.universityoutingclub.org www.interstatehikingclub.org Boy Scouts of America, Troop 21 Salt Shakers Trail Running Club Urban Trail Conference, Inc. Jolly Rovers www.saltshakersrun.com www.urbantrail.org Boy Scouts of America- http://jollyrovers.org Northern NJ Council Shorewalkers Inc. Valley Stream Hiking Club www.nnjbsa.org Little Stony Point Citizens Association www.shorewalkers.org www.meetup.com/vshclub www.littlestonypoint.org Byram Township Environmental Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter Outings Wappingers Greenway Trail Committee Commission Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference Committee www.byramtwp.org www.ligreenbelt.org www.newyork.sierraclub.org/outings Warren County Morris Canal Committee www.morriscanal.org Catskill 3500 Club Long Path North Hiking Club Sierra Club Lower Hudson Group www.catskill-3500-club.org www.schoharie-conservation.org http://www.newyork.sierraclub.org/lhg West Milford 13ers http://www.weishike.com Catskill Mountain Club Mohonk Preserve Sierra Club Mid-Hudson Group www.catskillmountainclub.org www.mohonkpreserve.org www.newyork.sierraclub.org/midhudson Westchester Trails Association www.nynjtc.org/clubpages/wta.html Chinese Mountain Club of New York Monmouth County Park System South Mountain Conservancy Inc. www.cmcny.org www.monmouthcountyparks.com www.somocon.org Women About www.womenabout.org Church Communities Foundation Morris County Park Commission Southampton Trails Preservation Society www.bruderhof.com www.morrisparks.net http://southamptontrails.org WWW www.weishike.com Closter Nature Center Association Mosaic Outdoor Mountain Club St. Benedicts Prep Backpacking Project www.closternaturecenter.org www.mosaic-gny.org/joomla http://www.sbp.org

East Coast Greenway Alliance Musconetcong Mountain Conservancy Storm King Adventure Tours To add your organization www.greenwaynj.org http://mmc.nynjtc.org www.stormkingadventures.com to the list, contact East Hampton Trails Preservation Society Nassau Hiking and Outdoor Club Sullivan County Audubon Society Jennis Watson, www.ehtps.org www.nassauhiking.org www.sullivanaudubon.org [email protected]. Flat Rock Brook Nature Association Nelsonville Greenway Committee Sundance Outdoor Adventure Society www.flatrockbrook.org VillageofNelsonville.org www.sundanceoutdoor.org

Greenburgh Nature Center Outdoor Promise Trail WhippAss Welcome http://greenburghnaturecenter.org www.outdoorpromise.org www.trailwhippass.com The Greenburgh Nature Center (GNC) in Using the world as their classroom, Out - Approximately 90 members comprise Trail to Our Scarsdale, NY, is a 33-acre nature preserve door Promise helps disadvantaged NYC WhippAss, a trail-running club based in with trails, a pond and gardens. More than youth discover the wonder and joy of the New York and New Jersey area. Mem - New Member 70,000 visitors come to the GNC each learning by doing. Through hands-on, bers are encouraged to give back by year. The property is a significant wildlife project-based outdoor education pro - volunteering on the trails; recently, they’ve Clubs habitat refuge, both for indigenous species grams, Outdoor Promise aims to prepare worked with our Palisades, Bear Moun - Three organizations joined and for the hundreds of species of migra - the natural leaders of tomorrow. tain, and South Mountain Reservation tory birds that use it as a resting place on crews. The club is in the process of adopt - the Trail Conference ranks their spring and fall travels. The property ing a trail to maintain. this fall. includes 30 acres of woodland, two signif - icant wetland sites, and a wildflower meadow, which is used as a nesting area for Eastern box turtles. Winter 2015 Page 9 New York PEOPLE FOR TRAILS Restricts Sale G R O . D O O

& Transport of W G U B

, Q P P

Some Invasive S I H P A

A D

Species S U

, R E L L

New York State Enacts I M

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E Regina Willis

Much-Needed Support R U

H Coxsackie, NY T R for Invasive Species A Control Efforts Barberry branch For six peak weekends this past fall, Regina Willis enjoyed what By Linda Rohleder see in our forests will no longer be able to identifying it as invasive and providing she called “the best ‘office’ view” be sold in New York. information on how to prevent the species of anyone in the DEC (Dept. of Many of us know the problems invasive Many of the most common invasive from becoming introduced into a free-liv - Environmental Conservation). plants cause in our forests and along hiking species found along our hiking trails will be ing state in our natural areas. These trails—shrubs like barberry crowding in on prohibited—including barberry (prohibit - regulated species include some well-known Hired as a temporary Backcountry the path, vines like oriental bittersweet ed starting Sept. 10, 2015), oriental landscaping plants, such as Norway maple, Steward and assigned to the helping to pull down trees, invasive plants bittersweet, Japanese stiltgrass, Japanese burning bush, and Chinese silver grass Kaaterskill Falls area in the smothering an area that used to have won - honeysuckle, garlic mustard, and (Miscanthus sinensis ), and popular aquatic Catskills, Regina was on duty derful spring wildflowers. knotweed. Yellow iris, water chestnut, and pets such as red-eared slider (a turtle) and Thursdays through Mondays, early The Trail Conference’s Invasives Strike mosquito fish—commonly sold for water goldfish. September through Columbus Day, Force has been working to combat invasive gardens and ponds—will also be prohibit - To see the complete regulations along sharing information about the plants along our trails since 2011. We, ed, as will border privet, one of the shrubs with a full list of prohibited and regulated history of this iconic landmark and along with many other park managers and frequently used for hedges. Two species of species, go to http://www.dec.ny.gov/ its natural environment, and giving natural resource professionals across the bamboo were also placed on the list due to regulations/93848.html novice trail users tips for hiking country, work tirelessly to protect our the problems they cause when they spread Now that New York has passed these reg - safely at the falls and elsewhere. native biodiversity in parks and natural between neighboring yards. ulations, we hope that it will inspire similar (Tip No. 1: Hiking in flip-flops can areas, but we often feel unsupported by You will still be allowed to transport pro - efforts in New Jersey. Now that there is leg - be hazardous to your wellbeing.) many facets of society. We go to nurseries hibited species for the purpose of islation backing our efforts, we hope to see and see the very plants we have been identification or disposal. For example, if a big difference in the invasive species con - Regina is a master’s student at you catch a strange fish in the stream, you trol work in New York. the State University of New York A

I College of Environmental Science G are allowed to transport it to an expert to R

O & Forestry (Syracuse). The E

G have it identified without fear of having Linda Rohleder is Trail Conference Director

F temporary job as a trail steward O violated the regulations. If you are involved of Land Stewardship and Coordinator of the Y T I was a great excuse to break away S

R in an invasive plant removal effort, you are Lower Hudson Partnership for Regional E

V from her computer-focused I

N allowed to transport and dispose of the Invasive Species Management (PRISM). U

, scholarly task of completing her

N removed plants in the trash. In addition, a The Trail Conference is contracted by the O

R thesis (statistical analysis of E permit process will be in place to allow use state of New York to lead the Lower Hudson G

R stream data), and get outdoors. A

B of prohibited species for educational and PRISM, which brings together individuals,

K Visitors were very receptive to C

U research purposes. organizations and agencies working on H C Some species were deemed too impor - invasive species to coordinate efforts and her help, she reports, as were Bamboo tant economically to prohibit outright. strategies in the Lower Hudson Valley. See local people, who were happy to removing being sold to unsuspecting These species have been placed on the reg - http://LHprism.org for more information. see the official presence on site. homeowners. We go to pet stores and see ulated list. A regulated species may still be Posting a trail steward at the invasive aquatic organisms that are dec - sold, but must be accompanied by labeling Kaaterskill Falls was advocated imating our native aquatic habitats being by the Trail Conference as a step sold for aquariums. We see lists of recom - toward improved public safety mended street trees promoted by the and protection of the Falls regional shade tree organization that environment. We expect to

include species that are popping up as inva - G work with the department R O .

sive in our forests. We watch garden D through our joint Catskill O O

programs that enthuse over ornamental W Conservation Corps (CCC) G U B

plants that we know have become invasive

, program to support volunteers Y C

in nearby states. N

A and potentially seasonal part- V

This past September, New York State R E time staff in a Catskills steward S N

gave invasives fighters some much-needed O

C program next year.

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legal support for our efforts. The NYS R U T

A For Regina, whose last day on

Dept. of Environmental Conservation N

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H the job was Columbus Day, it was

(DEC) issued regulations defining a list of T

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Part 575) that, starting March 10, 2015, A R

Learn more about the CCC

. at M

will be illegal to sell, introduce, purchase,

N CatskillConservationCorps.org. H

import, or transport. This means that, as of O J this spring, many of the invasive plants we Chinese silver grass

Run/Hike, an event meant to honor and no stranger to tough situations in the adventurer who has already ticked most Thru-hiking the promote this extraordinary path. wilderness—he’s a member of the New Jer - peak-bagging lists and many long-trail The trail itself, initiated by the Trail Con - sey Search and Rescue team, which is a hikes in the Northeast off his list, Grzyb Shawangunk ference in 1989, is a work in progress. The Trail Conference affiliate and through says the demanding SRT Run/Hike rates Trail Conference and its Shawangunk which he maintains a section of trail by the close to the top of the difficult trails and Ridge Trail— Ridge Greenway Preservation partners con - Bearfort Fire Tower in the Pequannock events he’s taken on. tinue to acquire land in the Gunks for Watershed Area. “The one thing I really, really like about in less than permanent protection while maintaining Still, Grzyb was “definitely not expecting this race is that it wasn’t overbuilt,” says the ridge-length corridor and its connec - [the SRT] to be as rugged as it was.” An Grzyb, who identifies himself as an “insane two days tions to other trails along the way. The trail long-distance hiker” rather than a trail run - took center stage Sept. 19-21 during the ner. “It wasn’t like, 10 sponsors and aid By Amber Ray inaugural SRT Run/Hike, which saw 76 stations left and right—it was actually a It takes preparation and perseverance to hike participants competing in three divisions: low-key, down-to-earth trail run,” he the Shawangunk Ridge Trail (SRT), a 74-mile, 32-mile, and 20-mile races. Five explains. “You better know what the hell rugged 71-mile trek that starts on the hearty souls attempted the 74-mile journey you’re doing, you better know how to Appalachian Trail in High Point State Park from New Jersey’s High Point to Rosendale, hydrate yourself, how to take care of your - in New Jersey and runs northward along the NY, where the event ended at a restored self, or you’re gonna drop out of the race.” dramatic Shawangunk Ridge to Mohonk railroad trestle high above Rondout Creek. So how does someone not only prepare Preserve in New York. But it takes a special Only one completed the entire trek. to thru-hike the SRT, but do the whole kind of dedication to tackle the entirety of George Grzyb was the sole 74-miler to thing in 30 hours, 23 minutes, like Grzyb? the SRT in 31 hours or less, nonstop. receive the SRT Tomahawk from race “It’s a lot of preparation,” he says. “As long Ultra-runner Kenneth Posner became the director Posner, an award symbolizing “the as you’re well-planned, for me, it’s just a first known person to thru-run the SRT in personal strength and connectedness with matter of getting it done.” May 2014. (His time: 29 hours.) Inspired the land necessary to complete a challenge by this wild track that weaves past wetlands of this magnitude.” A 31-year-old electrical The SRT Run/Hike was sponsored by and waterfalls, climbs over cliffs and rock and computer engineer who does IT secu - Bee’s Fund, Rock and Snow, and Aroma piles, and traverses abandoned rail beds, rity consulting during the day and “crazy George Grzyb, seen here in the Catskills, Thyme Bistro. Posner created the Shawangunk Ridge Trail outdoors stuff” in his downtime, Grzyb is completed the 74-mile SRT in under 31 hours. Page 10 Winter 2015

CONSERVATION & ADVOCACY tion easement provides the long-sought TRAIL CONFERENCE SUPPORTERS continued from page 3 permanent protection. Rock Forest is adjacent to Storm King State He noted that the agreement specifically Park and the United States Military Acade - requires that a minimum of 23 miles of DONORS TO THE ANNUAL FUND my at West Point (see West Hudson Trails trails—the current number—be provided August 20, 2014 – November 5, 2014 map 113). for public use in the future, though the con - Dr. William Schuster, executive director figuration of trails may be subject to change. Erik & Jennifer Aase-Remedios, Charles Allison, Timothy Arata, Dr. George L. Becker Jr., Karl Berwer, Ian Blundell, John of the Black Rock Forest Consortium, In addition to securing long-term pro - A. Boehning, Brian & Jody Bol &, Stuart D. Braman & Nancy Braman, Robert Brantl, David Burch, James W. & Carolyn M. Canfield, Laurence M. Cassar, Russell Charest, Nina Charnoff, William Chiappane, Douglas & Linda Cleek, Stephen which leases and manages the Preserve for tection of the Preserve, Schuster reports Clifton, Chris Connolly, John Connolly, Foy R. Cooley, Paul Cornett, Mark Crames, Peter Cruikshank, John Dalenberg, research, education, and recreation pur - that OSI will create a conservation fund, to Andrea J. Damato, Jon-Eric Dentz & Monika Mate, Deborah M. Derby, Peter Dilullo, Christopher & Caroline Dionisio, poses, explained that while most of the be co-managed by BRFP, with the goal of Delight W. Dodyk, Michael E. Doehring, Dennis Driscoll, Yehuda & Judith Eliezri, Charlotte & Stanley Fahn MD, Michael G. Faust, Thomas Faust, Peter Feniello, Thomas R. & Karen Finan, Douglas Fisher, William & Janice Forsyth, land had been somewhat protected by protecting additional adjacent parcels that Christopher & Dorothy Freeman, Ronald Furia, Matthew Garamone & Adrienne Booth, Jane Geisler, William H. Gelles, deed restrictions, permanent protection will extend the corridor of protected land Dan & Ann Gladding, Dr. G. Nigel Godson, Ronald Good, Lisa L. Gordon, Coralyn & Abraham Gorlicki, Richard G. was not guaranteed and several areas had toward Schunemunk Mountain State Park. Gramlich, Judith Green, Glenn Gross, Richard Grossmann, John & Marianne Gunzler, Addie Haas, James W. & Margaret no protection at all. Perhaps most signifi - A “public access” fund will also be estab - Harbison, Dennis & Wania Hardy, Richard Harris, Richard Hartley & Jaquelyn Hartley, Peter & Rita Heckler, Beth Hershenhart, Frederick Hodde, Halsey Hunt, Joseph Jastrzembski, Jeffrey Katz, Laurie Katzmann, Nicole A. Kawachi, cantly, the unprotected land included the lished to support the Preserve’s James F. Kenny & Viola Ortiz, Timothy King, Janet C. Kohler, Richard Kopsco, Robert Krumm, Theresa A. Lahr, Irene extensive parcels that border Route 9W, maintenance of parking areas and trails. Lang, Russell M. Layne & Maripat Barlow-Layne, Adam & Melinda Leone, Kathryn Lieberthal, Howard & Rosemarie where there is a trail head for the popular Liebmann, David A. & Judith Lloyd, Ann G. Loeb, H. Max Lopp II & Irene H. Reichert, William G. & Betty Ann Lott, Black Rock Hollow Trail. The conserva - Christine Loyacano & Michael May, Robert G. Mackay, John C. Mahle Jr., Kenneth H. & Linda Z. Malkin, Pasquale Marcotullio, Matt Martin, Frederic Mauhs, Michael McGuire, W. Barnabas McHenry, Esq., James R. & Theresa A. McKay, T Philip & Lynne McLewin, Gloria & David Meade, Jim M. Melius, Christian & Peter Meyer, Mary Miller, Lucia D. Molaro,

Hudson Lee Mott & Barbara Simmons, Hugh H. D. Murray, Peter A. Ochsner, Michael & Linda Oldano, Janet G. Orr, Michael Cornwall-on-Hudson ! Highlands HIGHLANDS TRAIL State Park Oscar, John Pao, Anthony V. Paterno, William F. & Mary H. Penny, Hank Perrine, Jeanne Petta, William & Georgann " Pettenger, Steve Pinterich, Laurence W. Pittis & Karen Haight, Jonathan Policke, Kenneth Posner, Jeffrey & Susan Pribor, John A. Pritchard, Dan Pupel, Vicki & Charles Raeburn, Dr. Tom & Carol Rakowski, Daniel Raleigh, Dale L. Ramsey &

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d UV9W James Sutherland, Juris M. & Nancy R. Svarcbergs, Sallie & Wylie Sypher, Carl E. & Victoria A.D. Thune, John D. Titman, s

o Howard Tokosh, Charles W. Ulrich, Ernest V. Valera, Daniel R. & Lynne H. Van Engel, John Walz & Kathleen Strakosch,

Schunnemunk n State Park Black Rock IL William C. Ward Jr., Larry A. Wehr, Robert & Virginia Weismantel, Les & Nancy Weiss, Ken & Marilyn Weissman, Michael A R TR Forest S i v D e N r J. White, Martha Howell & Edward Whitney, Marty & Nancy Willick, Thomas Winner, Hanson Wong, Patsy & Roy Preserved LA H ll Land IG wa H orn ds Wooters, Michelle Yost, Paul Zofnass, & Julie Zuckerbraun C lan IL igh A H R T ¤£87 S D N LA H TRIBUTES CORPORATE, FOUNDATION IG H C ! W or Garrison o nw od a b ll In memory of David Sivel & OTHER DONORS u sRensselaer r Otsego Albany n y Schoharie d n w a o l t ¨¦§87h s John B. Blenninger, Marilyn Siskind Avon Products, Inc, Catskill 3500 Club, Clark Companies, p g i i l MA iHudson L Greene ! O H h N Delaware P Columbia Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, Jewish Communal Fund, G In memory of Dr. Robert L. Nutt P A T H Kingston ! Mary W. Harriman Foundation, Mountain Top Historical US Military Ulster George & Lucy M. Heller Preserved Dutchess Land Academy CT Society, Nassau Hiking & Outdoor Club, Network For Sullivan !Poughkeepsie West Point ! In memory of Samuel F. Pryor III Highland Falls UV9D Good, Novartis, Paragon Sports, The Estate of Harry W. PA §¨¦87 Putnam y Robert J. Jonas Orange r s u d Blumenthal, The Friends of Long Pond Ironworks, Inc., b n d a l Westchester o h o g Rockland In memory of Richard Miller i The New York Community Trust, The UPS Foundation, W NJ H George M. Yocher Inc., Truist, Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program, Suffolk Nassau New In memory of George & Kimiko Yuzawa Zone4 Landscapes Ltd. October 10, 2014 James & Gene Yuzawa 0120.5 Miles In honor of Kenneth Malkin Kenneth Mayer In honor of Frank Lockwood HIGHLANDS TRAIL Robert Sherrill “The deal to acquire property around In honor of Dan & Ann Gladding continued from page 1 Dena M. Steele Cowboy Creek in Sussex County—an In honor of Dick Katzive’s 75th birthday myself at the TLC offices. The three of us important tract of land for the Highlands Bill & Marlene Wertheim Tributes are only printed for donations of $25 or more. were able to work through a number of Trail—demonstrates the important roles maps of potential properties for acquisi - played by dedicated members of both tion. A number of those acquisitions are in organizations working together. We look DONORS TO THE process. Best line when we again began to forward to continuing this work for many focus on Cowboy Creek: “I reckon we can years in the future.” DARLINGTON SCHOOLHOUSE FUND rustle up some fixings next week to discuss Sandy Urgo, Land Preservation Director August 20, 2014 – November 5, 2014 Cowboy Creek, partner!” of TLC, notes that the project was in the works for many years. “The Cowboy Creek Jeremy Apgar, Robert L. & Rose Marie Boysen, James W. & Carolyn M. Canfield, Richard Cantor & Alice Luddington- land deal includes 305 acres of New Jersey Cantor, Skip & Jean Margaret Card, Chris Connolly, Kate & Douglas D’Angelo, Connie Dean-Taylor, Jennifer Easterbrook, David Emero, Robert E. Fuller, Dan & Ann Gladding, Robert J. Glynn, Josie Gray, Kelly Keenan, Keith Kral, Constance E. Highlands forest, with the namesake creek Lee, John K. Leigh IV, Gwen Marquardt, Marc S. & Nancy C. Melamed, Kori & William Phillips, Patrice & Charles M. traversing the middle of the property. Scully, Jeffrey P. Senterman & Maurice Lemire, Mark & Mindy Sotsky, Kathy Sullivan, Daniel & Victoria Sullivan, Donald There are vernal pools, extensive granite Tripp & Denise Jarvis, Daniel R. & Lynne H. Van Engel, Constantine G. Vasiliadis & Ellen Stewart, Matthew & Lisa Visco, outcrops, and glacial erratics. Donald L. Weise, Janice S. Wells, Evan & Maria Williams, Gary Willick, George M. Yocher, Hugh N. Zimmerman “The Land Conservancy of New Jersey began negotiating with the owners of this very large, forested tract in Hopatcong Bor - ough in 2009 and was finally able to assist Rosenberg, Supervisor of the Highlands HOUSE FOR SALE, RINGWOOD, NJ 07456 the landowner with an offering to the New Trail, in moving the HT onto the parcel,” 1st flr: 950 s.f.; 3-season deck: 250 s.f.; Adam Rosenberg (left), HT supervisor, and Jersey Green Acres program in 2010. It Urgo adds. “The relocation eliminated a 2nd flr: 250 s.f. 3 Bedrooms, one bath, living room, dining room, kitchen, den/office, Glenn Oleksak, HT chair. took some time, but Green Acres was even - long road walk along County 605 and allows full basement. New windows, newer roof & tually able to contract to acquire the hikers to enjoy this beautiful forest. furnace, oak floors, new paint, wood stove. As soon as Sandy closed the deal on property and closed on the acquisition in “Finally, the property is important Lake Views; built in 1951, Cowboy Creek, we made the all-woods February 2014.” because it achieved TLC’s long held goal of oak frame, oak siding, Cape Cod style. connection, thereby eliminating the TLC President David Epstein said, preserving 20,000 acres!” Located in a small lake community off Stonetown Rd. surrounded by State Forests. remaining 1.4-mile Route 605 road walk. “This is stunning conservation land, and For the Trail Conference’s Highlands Trail NJ at its most pristine. Clean water, clear skies Blacking out blazes on utility poles and we are thrilled to have preserved it after all volunteers Glenn Oleksak, Trail Chair, and and no traffic. State forest abutting property. putting the blazes back in the woods where of this time, and are very grateful to our Adam Rosenberg, Trail Supervisor, the new - Hiking trails, boating, fishing and hunting they belong is so much more satisfying! partners at Green Acres.” ly preserved land around Cowboy Creek nearby. Perennial gardens. Bird-watcher heaven. One-hour commute to NYC. Call now. The property sits at the southern end of a gave them the woods route they needed to Glenn Oleksak has been a trail volunteer major project area for TLC and is a critically eliminate a 1.4-mile road walk in Byram. since at least 2003. His passion is the High - important link for the Highlands Trail (HT). Glenn reports that the deal helped turn lands Trail, which highlights the natural “The TLC was delighted to work with Trail around what had begun to be a discourag - beauty of the New Jersey and New York High - Conference volunteers Glenn Oleksak, Trail ing saga of disappointments for the lands region from the Delaware River to the Chair of the Highlands Trail, and Adam Highlands Trail. Connecticut border and draws public atten - tion to this endangered resource. Cooperating for Lands and Trails in New Jersey Frank Capozzi III, Sales Associate McBride Agency Realtors, Trail Conference Executive Director Ed off. 201-891-8900 ext. 25 Goodell notes the Cowboy Creek deal is the latest success story in a two-year tale of cooperation between the two organiza - tions. “In our partnership,” Goodell explains, “TLC is primarily responsible for Keep up with Trail acquiring land interests, while the Trail C

L Walker on our blog.

Conference is primarily responsible for T

, O defining trails in the best possible locations. G R

U blog-tw.nynjtc.org

There have been a number of successes, Y D N A

and an even larger number of projects in S the works. A hiking path at Cowboy Creek. Winter 2015 Page 11 PEOPLE FOR TRAILS Select when they are inserted into the insoles, you notice very little difference between e-Books the battery area and the rest of the insole. GEAR There are three heat settings for the Now Available insoles—standby, medium, and high— and there is an internal thermostat that regulates the insoles to keep them from CHECK overheating your feet. The goal of the An occasional series that reviews gear insoles is to keep your feet at your regu - appropriate for hiking. lar body temperature; the colder it is, the harder they work. On the medium set - ting the batteries last for about 5 hours, Patrick Dalton For the first time, some of the most popular but I have found that I rarely use them Staten Island, NY guidebooks from the New York-New Jersey continuously, so they last longer. Trail Conference are now available in e-book What about comfort? This is probably In May 2014, Patrick Dalton format! Long a source of reliable, up-to-date the only place I am a bit disappointed renewed his Trail Conference information about trails in the region, you with these devices. I do not find them to membership. “It had been three can now access select guidebooks on a vari - be as comfortable as a good pair of regu - months since my second lower- ety of devices, including e-book readers and lar insoles in my hiking boots, but I have back surgery, and I wanted to get many tablets and smartphones. Whether been on a couple of hikes with them now involved to keep myself active. I out on the trail, referencing on the go, or without any serious problems. They just ThermaCELL ProFLEX Heated didn’t imagine just how far that reading at home these e-books can be anoth - feel a bit more stiff (most likely due to first step would actually lead.” er helpful resource for educating yourself Insoles the heating elements inside) than a regu - about the trails. Reviewed by Jeff Senterman, Regional lar insole and take some getting used to. An Intro to Trail Maintenance Four titles are currently available as e- Programs Manager and Catskills Program They definitely keep your foot a bit workshop led to Patrick’s adoption books on our website: Coordinator higher up in the boot, so you will have to of a Long Path section in Harriman • Hiking Long Island , 4th edition 2014 adjust your lacing a bit. State Park. In June, an Intro to • Hike of the Week , 1st edition 2013 Have you ever hiked in the winter and Overall though, they do keep your feet Map & Compass/Land Navigation • Harriman Trails , 3rd edition 2010 wished your feet could just be a bit warm as advertised. And for someone workshop led him in an unexpected • Iron Mine Trails , 1999 (long out of print, warmer? I know I have, and that was the who is often chilly during winter activi - direction: to the volunteer position now available exclusively as an e-book) reason I was excited to try out the ties, I will be looking forward to having of Trails Supervisor at Clay Pit ProFLEX heated insoles from Therma - these with me this winter. Ponds State Park Preserve in Visit nynjtc.org/content/ebooks to learn CELL. Staten Island, newly adopted by more about our e-book offerings, including “Heated insoles?” I hear you asking. the Trail Conference. what they are, how to use them, which The thought conjures images of wires, ThermaCELL ProFLEX Heated Insoles are e-book format is right for you. batteries, and all sorts of uncomfortable available in sizes small to XXL and can be Patrick credits careful guidance by things in your boots. However, Therma - trimmed to properly fit your boot. They are Hank Osborn, our East Hudson CELL has done a decent job of tackling available through most outdoor retailers Program Coordinator, and Dawson these issues. The insoles are run by and sell for about $170. Smith, Metro Chair (volunteer) for rechargeable batteries that fit into the his quick progress as a trail leader. insole itself, and the temperature of the “They jointly advised me to build a insoles is regulated wirelessly by a small Trail Conference résumé that remote control that you carry. The included a number of specific Trail remote is small, light, and easy to carry. Rating: 3 boots out of 5 U workshops—and off I went. From The lithium ion batteries are located Ratings are 1-5 boots, with a 5-boot rank - learning about stone cribwall and below your heels and are padded, so ing signifying “This is very good. I like it.” stair construction at Bear Mountain to tread and drainage at Sterling Forest to leadership training in Haines Falls, I attended over 10 Trail Conference workshops between June and mid-September. I even How Many Miles conducted two Intro to Trail Maintenance workshops myself in Have You Staten Island.” Hiked? “When I departed the compass workshop that evening in late Our New June, I was shown a path, and how to traverse it, that wasn’t there for Harriman-Bear me hours earlier.” Mountain Trail Advance your leadership skills. H

G Volunteer with the Trail O L

Maps Show You A

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Improving what is already the New York- When you buy from us your Made by the People Who Build the Trails 2015 New Jersey Trail Conference’s best-selling purchase supports trail work in map set, the new, 16th edition of the Har - our region. Harriman riman-Bear Mountain Trails map set is one For printed maps, shop online at of the most significant updates since the www.nynjtc.org, call 201-512-9348, or Bear Mountain

2007 edition. On this revised edition, to be visit the Trail Conference office. Our maps Sixteenth Edition Trails Two-Map Set available in early 2015, trail mileage figures are also available in digital format on are shown next to the trails on the map Apple and Android devices through Bear Mountain State Park Harriman State Park ERPR T OO A F front and represent distances between trail Avenza’s PDF Maps app; learn more about W

T E T junctions and significant trail features. With our GPS-enhanced maps at A N R A such a large trail network and nearly unlim - www.nynjtc.org/pdfmaps. RESIST ited hike possibilities in these parks, these • Appalachian Trail mileage figures can be easily referenced for • Long Path planning or navigating on the trail. • All Marked Trails This map set features more than 230 • Woods Roads • Lakes miles of marked trails throughout Harri - • Mines man and Bear Mountain State Parks and • Fort Montgomery surrounding parklands. More than 20 • Viewpoints miles of the Appalachian Trail, along with • County and Local Parks • Parking Areas more than 27 miles of the Long Path, are shown on the maps. Along with the trail mileage figures, this www.nynjtc.org revised edition contains several recent trail $9.95 Published by the relocations, including portions of the This map set was produced with support from New York-New Jersey Appalachian Trail on West Mountain, the Campmor, an outdoor store and retail part - Trail Conference Major Welch Trail on Bear Mountain, and ner of the Trail Conference. the Arden-Surebridge Trail on Pine Swamp Mountain. Additional corrections and Coming This Spring: HISTORIC HUDSON RIVER COTTAGES adjustments to the trails and map features Affordable studio, one and two bedroom homes available in make the 16th edition the most accurate New, Expanded South Taconic Trails map featuring historic cottage cooperative in Westchester County, off the and comprehensive trail map yet for Harri - Hudson River, one hour from NYC. Dating back to 1929, more than 100 miles of trails and significant enhancements this three-season community offers swimming pool, tennis man and Bear Mountain State Parks. court, organic community garden, social hall with internet Printed map set: $9.95 ($7.46 for Trail over the previous 2006 edition. Stay Tuned. and social activities. $25,000-$100,000+. 917-880-5419. Conference members). www.reynoldshills.org. Contact melgarfi[email protected]. Page 12 Winter 2015

This view may be marred by the rooftops of the Genting Group’s proposed $1.5 bil - Featured Hike lion Sterling Forest Resort casino, if it is approved (we are doing our best to stop it). By Georgette Weir At a trail junction, follow the now co- aligned DD-Allis-Highlands Trails (DD, dark blue, HT aqua blazes) to the left to a Doris Duke Trail high point, but one that offers no view. About 0.4 mile from here, the DD trail Creates New Loop Hike will depart from the Allis Trail. Follow the DD downhill, on and off an old, often This 3.5-mile loop hike passes by interesting cliffs and eroded woods road (plans are in the works for a re-route off the road). Blazes may be a scenic marsh and climbs to a panoramic viewpoint. scarce, but just follow the woods road to return to the wooden bridge that you On a cool, crisp, sunny November after - The Loop crossed at the start of your hike and then noon, 25 people from all walks of life From the eastern end of the parking area, back to the parking area. enjoyed a guided hike on a new trail loop enter the woods at a triple blaze for the at Sterling Forest State Park made possible Doris Duke Trail (yellow “DD” logo on Information for this article was provided by by the completion of a final section of the white). The trail follows a woods road and Sona Mason, West Hudson Program Coordi - Doris Duke Trail. This trail, commissioned soon crosses a wooden footbridge over a nator, and Daniel Chazin’s written by New York State Parks in 2013 and built stream (built as an Eagle Scout project). description of the route, which can be found in by volunteers of the New York-New Jersey About 200 feet beyond the bridge, watch full on our website. Go to Find a Hike, scroll Trail Conference, now links up with two of carefully for a double blaze. Turn right at to Sterling Forest State Park, and select “Ster - the oldest trails in the region: the Allis and the double blaze, leaving the woods road, ling Forest Doris Duke Wildlife Sanctuary.” the Appalachian Trails. and head into the woods on a footpath. The day’s hike leaders were Trail Confer - ence’s West Hudson Program Coordinator Sona Mason, West Hudson South Trails Chair (volunteer) John Mack, and volun - teer Janet Setter, who combined to explain Hikers’ how trails are built and maintained, and why the land over which they cross must be Marketplace conserved and protected. Friends of Ster - ling Forest leader Doc Bayne also supplied Go Places with Trail Maps and a wealth of natural and local history along the way, creating a three-hour journey of Books from the Trail Conference. discovery for all. The area is open to all for hiking, and the loop can be followed on our Sterling Forest Get the complete set Trails, Map 100, 2013. Although the Doris Duke Wildlife Preserve is off-limits to of trail maps at one hunting, it is surrounded by hunting zones, great, low price! and hikers are advised to wear bright colors

N Our map combo offers all of our O

during hunting season S A high-quality Trail Conference maps M

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To Trailhead: O at a 5% discount (members get an Take Route 17A from junc - S tion with Route 17 in Tuxedo for 3.0 miles Wildlife-rich marsh at Sterling Forest. additional 25% discount). Save big to Benjamin Meadow Road. Turn right on shipping charges! onto Benjamin Meadow Road and, in 0.2 Follow the DD through the woods, pass - mile, just before letterbox number 52, turn ing a magnificent wall of stone and a marsh Find it on our online store under Combos. sharply left into a gravel driveway marked that is a magnet for wildlife. The route fol - by a small “Hikers’ Trailhead Parking” sign. lows a newly sidehilled, sustainable We cover your favorite hiking areas in the New York-New Jersey region, footpath, which rises gradually toward the including Harriman-Bear Mountain, the Catskills, North Jersey and Jersey The trail was commissioned Sterling Ridge. Before reaching the crest of Highlands, East and West Hudson Highlands, and more. by New York State Parks the ridge, the trail bears left across a season - Find all our publications, and select trail guides from others, on our website, al stream crossing. Along the ridgetop, the and get your 25% member discount ! and built by the trail heads southwest. You will get a Trail Conference. panoramic view from a rock outcrop along Visit www.nynjtc.org/panel/goshopping! the crest trail. Or call 201-512-9348

Support Trails, Parks and Open Join/Renew NY-NJ Trail Conference Membership Space in the New York-New Jersey 2,000 miles of trails; your membership helps us expand our horizons. Included with membership, Trail Walker , 10% discount on purchases at many region by joining the New York- outdoor stores, and 25% discount on all Trail Conference maps and books purchased directly from the Trail Conference. Save time and a tree by joining or New Jersey Trail Conference. renewing online at www.nynjtc.org. Just click on the Join/Renew Now button. MEMBERSHIP TYPE Select one: Join Renew Membership # if available______The Trail Conference maintains more than 2,000 miles e of trails, advocates for parks, protects open space, and Individual Joint/Family

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n Sponsor $60 $75 Your membership supports the trails you love and gives Benefactor $120 $150 e you these additional benefits: Go to nynjtc.org/membership

r Senior (65+) $25 $30 T Life $1,000 $1,500

e 25% Discount on Trail Conference maps, books, f I and other products. Visit nynjtc.org/panel/goshopping

n A joint membership is for two adults residing at the same address. Great Discounts at supporting outdoor retailers

o and other businesses. See our partners at For my membership of $50 or more, send me a: F Trail Conference Cap OR Harriman-Bear Mountain Map Set

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To purchase a gift membership, call 201-512-9348, extension 26. l Tuition-Free Enrollment in our Trail University i

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