JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2004 Rock Clinic Volunteers Build Editing + Hiking: Nancy Tollefson 33-Ton Staircase at Twin Forts by Anne De Sutter

RAIL ALKER TNEW YORK-NEW JERSEY TRAIL CONFERENCE...MAINTAININGW OVER 1500 MILES OF FOOT TRAILS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2004 Rock Clinic Volunteers Build Editing + Hiking: Nancy Tollefson 33-Ton Staircase at Twin Forts By Anne De Sutter

By Ed Walsh funding provided by the Fort Montgom- Living in New York City and hiking in ery Battlesite Association, I worked with its environs is, according to Nancy The construction of a stone staircase a TC crew of 16 volunteers to move and Tollefson, a good balance between city over an eroded or unstable section of trail maneuver one-ton rocks into position on and country. Another good balance, and is usually quite simple. Trail workers walk a steeply graded slope. one that benefits the Trail Conference, in- off the trail—ideally uphill—and quarry Several aspects made this project un- volves combining her love of the outdoors rocks from the surrounding forest. Pick usual: the semi-industrial location and the with her love for writing and editing. An mattocks are used to uncover the rocks lack of sufficient rock supplies near the Ohio na- and then steel bars are used to pry them site—36 pieces of stone, each weighing a tive who out. The rocks are then transported to the ton, were purchased from a quarry in studied En- trail by rolling, sliding, or flipping them Kerhonkson and delivered to a location glish at Mi- from their previous home by hand and/or above the trail. ami Uni- with the help of the steel bars. In the Twin Forts case, the rocks were versity of The September/October issue of Trail above the trail, but the slope was so in- Ohio, Walker reported on the ambitious Trail credibly steep that rolling the rocks would Nancy has Conference rock-work project then under- have meant many runaway rocks. In this become an way on the Twin Forts Trail, which con- case there was too much at stake to risk indispens- nects Forts Clinton and Montgomery, pass- letting a one-ton rock careen down the able asset ing under the Bear Mountain Bridge. With mountainside: the steel railing below the of the Trail Conference, and other organizations, as an editor. Elegant stairs built of one-ton rocks. Nancy is a good example of why Trail Counting Hawks from a TC maintenance garage, the concrete bridge Conference volunteers are so valuable. She piers, the railroad bed and trains, and fi- started volunteering in the TC office when nally boaters and fishermen along and in it was still located on Madison Avenue in Site on the Shawangunk Ridge the river. A system had to be devised that Manhattan. Next, she began to do trail When you climb the fire tower stairs at oriented ridge systems, such as the Gunks, could be used to transport the rocks with- maintenance, and received training in the 151-acre Stutzman property atop the are favored flyways because they offer out losing any of them. building waterbars and steps and moving Shawangunk Ridge, acquired in 2003 by energy saving updrafts. The forests and Occasionally, trail workers need to get large stones. She recounted an instance of the Trail Conference, you leave behind the diverse natural habitats of the ridge pro- rocks to the trail from a “quarry” that is her painstaking efforts helping to construct warmth and security of familiar terra vide foraging and roosting opportunities downhill from the trail or an excessively a waterbar. For hours her team carefully firma and enter the realm of birds. Even for raptors as well. Trail Conference ef- long distance from the trail. In these cases constructed the bar to exact specifications. on relatively mild fall days, the slightest forts to protect the Shawangunk Ridge crews often opt to use a rigging system When completed and put to the test, the breeze at the bottom of the tower trans- Trail corridor are preserving this impor- adapted from logging and sailing prac- bar functioned perfectly in diverting wa- lates into steady bone-chilling winds tant migration route for raptors and other tices called a “highline.” ter from the trail, for a few feet, that is, above. species. In this system, a wire rope is connected until the water took a sharp turn and ran Why then would a crew of volunteers At the urging of the Trail Conference, via a nylon sling to the base of a tree called back across the trail just below where it make 20 visits to the tower in October volunteers from Sullivan County Audubon an anchor. The wire rope then runs up to had been diverted by the bar. Not one to and November and spend 87 visitor hours ran a pilot study at the fire tower this past a steel pulley—called a block—high in a be disheartened, however, Nancy contin- under such conditions? Aside from the fall, to assess its potential as an annual different tree—called the spar tree. Next, ued to assume new tasks for the Trail Con- breathtaking view, the answer is raptors hawk watch site. The tower is ideally situ- the wire rope runs horizontally, passing ference. (hawks, eagles, falcons)—more specifi- ated along a narrow stretch of the Gunks, both the woods “quarry” site and the trail Currently, those tasks are taking a more cally, 321 of them representing 13 spe- offering views of birds moving along both before going back up to a block in an- literary turn, as reflects her background. cies. These included 150 red-tailed hawks, sides of the ridge, but was unproven as a other spar tree, then down to be anchored Nancy edits the Hikers’ Almanac, which 71 sharp-shinned hawks, 27 Cooper’s hawk watch site. to a final tree through a hand-operated involves selecting and preparing submis- hawks, 15 northern harriers, 9 ospreys, 6 Although the project started midway winch. sions for inclusion in the schedule of hik- peregrine falcons, 6 merlins, 5 kestrels, 3 through the migration and after the ex- Operation of the highline is as follows: ing events listed in the Trail Walker. Many bald eagles, 3 red-shouldered hawks, 2 tremely abundant broad-winged hawk had rocks are wrapped in chain, the chain is hikers, from novice to expert, regularly rough-legged hawks, 2 northern goshawks, already passed, the diversity (13 species) attached to the wire rope via a third block, rely on the Hikers’ Almanac for its accu- 2 golden eagles, and 20 unidentified rap- and sighting rate (7.1 per/hour) of raptors then the hand-operated winch tightens the rate and informative entries. tors. One hundred and ninety-one turkey promises for good hawk watching in the wire rope thereby actually making the Nancy also volunteers on the Trail vultures and 27 ravens round out the future. Trail Conference members inter- rock airborne. Without the friction of the Conference’s publications committee and sightings. ested in visiting the fire tower hawk watch ground to contend with, the rocks are eas- has recently become the project manager Each fall, North American raptors mi- should mark their calendars for next Sep- ily transported along the wire rope to the of a revised edition of Day Walker, a guide grate southward ahead of winter follow- tember and remember to pack a wind- trail where the winch can then slacken the to hikes close to New York City. She in- ing age-old migration routes. North-south breaker. continued on page 6 continued on page 10 TRAIL WALKER FROM THE CHAIR Volume XXXI, No. 1 Jan./Feb. 2004

Georgette Weir Editor Nora Porter Managing Editor The TRAIL WALKER (USPS Permit #970- 100) (ISSN 0749-1352) is published bi-monthly by the New York-New Jersey Trail Confer- Catskills Preservation Celebrates 100 Years ence as a benefit of membership. Subscriptions are available to libraries only at $15.00 a year. Periodical postage paid at Mahwah, N.J., and Hikers know the Catskills to be a spe- hoops. But that industry too was short lived Park to rededicate ourselves to getting to additional offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to the address below. Opinions ex- cial place. Hiking trails and opportunities as steel hoops soon replaced hand hewn know these mountains and to protecting pressed by authors do not necessarily repre- to bushwhack abound. There are great ones. Old farmsteads and woods roads them. sent the policy or position of the Conference. summit views, impenetrable fir forests, wil- attest to attempts to farm the mountains, Think imaginatively of a way to cel- Contributions of typed manuscripts, photos, and drawings are welcome. Manuscripts may derness havens, and old woods roads suit- sometimes not too successfully. ebrate this event. Join the ranks of Tho- be edited for style and length. Send SASE for able for snow-shoeing or cross country Tourism arrived in the Catskills in 1824 mas Cole and the painters of the Hudson writers’ guidelines. Submission deadlines for the TRAIL WALKER are January 15 (Mar./ skiing. It was 100 years ago this January, when the Catskill Mountain House River School and preserve the scenery Apr. issue), March 15 (May/June issue), May that the Catskill Park was established, opened. First steamships up the Hudson through photography or painting. Con- 15 (July/Aug. issue), July 15 (Sept./Oct. issue), eventually growing to preserve forever River and later trains, then cars brought sider the Catskill tradition of inspiring and September 15 (Nov./Dec. issue), November 15 (Jan./Feb. issue). Unsolicited contributions can- some 1,100 square miles of land. vacationers to the mountains. A former funding the arts. Consider the possibility not be acknowledged unless accompanied by Geologically, the Catskill region is an tanning town (Edwardsville) has become of taking a long nap, after all Rip Van SASE. For information on advertising rates, eroded plateau, a once flat land that has a ski resort (Hunter Mountain). A hun- Winkle found the Catskills a suitable place please write or call. Copyright 2003 by: been worn into mountains. Historically, dred years after the demise of farming as for a long sleep. New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, Inc. the Catskills have been the scene of great an industry in the mountains, many Or better yet join the ranks of Catskill 156 Ramapo Valley Road (Rt. 202) activity. In 1816, there were 75 tanneries mountaintop farms have become vacation trail maintainers. Contact Josh Erdsneker, Mahwah, NJ 07430 201-512-9348 in the mountains, with more built until homes. Volunteer Projects Director e-mail: [email protected] the industry collapsed when the supply of The Catskills continue to be a magnet, ([email protected] or 201-512-9348) or Pete editorial e-mail: [email protected] hemlock bark was exhausted during the for hikers, skiers, enthusiasts of motorized Senterman, Catskill Trails Chair, c/o the World Wide Web: http://www.nynjtc.org/ Civil War. Tannersville and the names of recreation, and those building new vaca- Trail Conference Office, and be assigned the local tanners remind us of an industry tion homes. TC members know from read- a special place to maintain. Although you

NEW YORK - NEW JERSEY long gone. ing these pages that the destiny of the cannot call it your own, it is pretty close TRAIL CONFERENCE When the large hemlocks and oaks were Catskills continues to be a hot topic (see to heaven. Mission Statement cut down, the opened land allowed hard- story below). The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, woods to grow and gave way to another Let us take the occasion of this 100th —Jane Daniels founded in 1920, is a federation of member industry—the manufacture of barrel anniversary of the founding of the Catskill clubs and individuals dedicated to providing Chair, Board of Directors recreational hiking opportunities in the region, and representing the interests and concerns of the hiking community. The Conference is a volunteer-directed public service organization committed to: • Developing, building, and maintaining hiking trails. AT Management • Protecting hiking trail lands through sup- Update on Catskill Master Plan port and advocacy. • Educating the public in the responsible Sparks use of trails and the natural environment. Board of Directors Improvements Jane Daniels Chair The New York–New Jersey Trail Con- ship is currently discussing with moun- Tom Humbach Vice Chair ference—Adirondack Mountain Club tain bike advocates proposals that might The Appalachian Trail Conference Daniel Chazin Secretary (ADK) Partnership recently submitted its create specific exceptions for mountain (ATC), the collective of clubs and indi- Herb Hochberg Treasurer final comments to the New York State bike use on designated and signed old viduals that, with the National Park Ser- Directors vice, is responsible for maintaining and Mary Vance Duggan Art Lebofsky Department of Environmental Conserva- roads and horse trails in Wilderness ar- John Gunzler Robert Newton tion (DEC) on the revised Catskill Park eas while prohibiting mountain biking on protecting the Appalachian Trail, is re- Gary Haugland Anne Osborn State Land Master Plan (CPSLMP). As hiking trails in these areas. tooling for the long haul. In November Peter Heckler Mary Smart 2003 the ATC board of directors adopted Robert Jonas Malcolm Spector previously reported (November/December The Trail Conference-ADK Partnership Trail Walker), the partnership strongly sup- has made it clear to DEC that if the new a strategic plan that aims to raise ATC’s Staff ports the creation of the 18,000-acre Wilderness designations, positive signage profile with hikers and the general pub- Edward Goodell Executive Director Windham-Blackhead Range Wilderness rule for mountain bikes, and the 3100- lic, better connect it to the volunteers in Maureen Walsh Administrative the affiliated clubs who handle most of Director and the 27,000-acre Hunter-West Kill Wil- foot rule for snowmobiles (they would be the day-to-day, on-the-ground trail work, Larry Wheelock Trails Director derness and continues to do so despite some prohibited in Wild Forest areas above that Joshua Erdsneker Volunteer Projects local opposition. elevation) are abandoned, we will no and increase stable sources of future in- Director The partnership also continues to sup- longer support the draft plan. The part- come to support its mission. The New Jim Davis Development port the draft plan’s positive signage rule nership supported the elimination of the York-New Jersey Trail Conference is a Director member organization of ATC. One hun- Edwin McGowan Science Director for mountain bikes (biking prohibited ex- 2700-foot rule, which requires all lands dred forty-two TC members are active in Nayarid Barahona Product Manager cept where signs say it is permitted). The above 2700 feet to be managed as Wil- AT management. More than 600 TC Ramon McMillan Administrative mountain biking community is vigorously derness, only because of these important Assistant opposing this rule. The Trail Conference components of the plan. Were DEC to members are also members of ATC. Part-time Staff and ADK have met with representatives abandon these components, the Trail Con- ATC’s plan calls for a major change in Amy Little Coordinator, of the mountain biking community and ference and ADK have taken the position the governing structure of the organiza- Shawangunk Ridge tion, changes in the staffing structure, sub- Coalition decided to support allowing mountain bike that the CPSLMP would have to be re- stantial expansion of the organization’s re- John Myers Land Acquisition use to continue on Wild Forest trails pend- issued with new public hearings and a new Director ing completion of a trail evaluation and opportunity for public comment. gional presence, raising ATC’s public profile, and new emphasis on environmen- Neil Woodworth Counsel, Trail designation process on a five-year time- —Neil Woodworth Conference/ADK table. The draft plan proposes to ban tal-quality issues. Most of the changes de- Partnership Counsel, TC-ADK Partnership scribed in the plan will be implemented The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is a volun- mountain biking in Wilderness areas and teer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. It is a federa- we strongly support DEC on this position. over the next two years. Detailed infor- tion of 85 hiking and outdoor groups, and 10,000 mation about the stategic plan is avail- individuals. Mountain bikers have expressed concerns For the latest on the Catskills and other able at www.appalachiantrail.org/strate- about losing access to popular routes lo- trail lands, visit www.nynjtc.org cated in Wilderness areas. The partner- gic/index.html.

2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2004 TRAIL WALKER Delegates’ and Membership from the Executive Director Meeting February 12 All Trail Conference An Ambitious Agenda Suits a Dynamic TC members invited

All Trail Conference members are in- As we transition from 2003 into 2004, additional areas as protected wilderness. convert our maps to a digital format. We vited to attend the next meeting of hiking the Trail Conference must continue to Working with the Adirondack Mountain made great strides in coming out with the club delegates on Thursday, February 12, adapt to changing conditions in pursuit of Club, we were also able to secure a second digital edition of the Sterling For- 2003, at the Seafarers and International its overarching mission of connecting $750,000 increase in state funds for trail est map and the first digital edition of the House, 123 East 15th Street, in Manhat- people to nature. Last year saw the Trail planning and stewardship in parks East Hudson map set. Digital maps, while tan (corner of 15th Street and Irving Place, Conference securing foundation funding throughout the state. The Shawangunk much easier to keep up to date and allow one block east of Union Square). to start a science program aimed at sup- Ridge Coalition, a Trail Conference for printing in a variety of formats, do The meeting starts at 7 pm. Please join porting our traditional trail program and project, fought the Awosting Preserve de- require new skill sets to produce. On the us for a social hour, beginning at 6 pm, extending our stewardship to the conser- velopment proposal to a standstill. Full- book front, Bob Boysen’s completely new for a chance to share refreshments and chat vation lands surrounding our trails. We scale development in the Ramapo Torne Kittatinny hiking book is expected out by with hiking club representatives. also received a foundation grant to Valley was averted. Cooperative efforts midyear. Meetings provide wonderful opportu- jumpstart fundraising efforts needed to resulted in the apprehension of illegal ORV In addition, we’ve renovated the office nities to share hiking and conservation acquire priority tracts in threatened trail and dirt bike traffic in Norvin Green State so that it better serves volunteers and hired news, discuss issues, and help guide the corridors. In 2004, Trail Conference vol- Forest, NJ. The Trail Conference helped someone for the front desk (Ramon TC's future work and activities. Club del- unteers, staff, and board members will pass a $50 million increase for the NJ McMillan) who can answer detailed hik- egates are also encouraged to bring gen- juggle these new and growing efforts with Green Acres fund and was part of the ing questions. We are also planning del- eral and specific issues of concern to the traditional programs of trail building, con- Highlands Coalition that helped push the egates’ meetings that can truly act as a meeting. servation advocacy, and publishing. Highlands Conservation Act through the forum for member clubs to interact and House of Representatives. collaborate on projects of mutual interest. Public transportation to the Seafarers Trails But even as we struggle to adapt to new House: subway lines 4, 5, 6, N, R and L Publications In 2003, volunteers fully reopened threats and opportunities, the purpose of to 14th Street/Union Square. Or bus lines Storm King State Park by renovating the The Publications Committee has re- it all remains to get more people outdoors 6 and 7 (Broadway); lines 1, 2 and 3 (Park trails in the remaining unopened “Sector cruited experienced project managers, but by creating an interconnected network of Avenue); and lines 102 and 103 (Third trails that is built, maintained, monitored, B,” began a new initiative in the five bor- is still seeking additional volunteers, es- Avenue). oughs of New York by adopting Alley pecially cartographers and GPSers. The and mapped by the people who use it. Pond Park in Queens, and constructed a big news from ’03 and ’04 is the drive to —Ed Goodell trail that will eventually provide full access to Stony Kill Falls in Minnewaska State Park. In High Point State Park in New Jersey, the Jersey trail crews replaced the Flat Brook Bridge on the Howell Trail A D V O C A C Y with help from a horse team that hauled C O N S E R V A T I O N the heavy timbers to the construction site. & The major trail projects in 2004 will include planning for trails on Bear Moun- Highlands Preservation Advances in vember gave final approval of $4.9 mil- viewsheds from the valley and tain, extending the Long Path north to- Congress lion to conserve land in the Upper Dela- Shawangunk Ridge, and, according to ward the Adirondacks, and working with The U.S. House of Representatives ap- ware River Watershed of the NJ High- estimates by the company, will draw the NYC Dept. of Environmental Protec- proved the Highlands Conservation Act lands, the second largest Forest Legacy 621,000 gallons of water per day from tion to make their watershed lands more Nov. 21. The bill authorizes $100 million project approved in the nation. Several the aquifer. In a recent meeting, a water accessible to hikers. Beyond the major in federal matching funds over 10 years properties that are being targeted for pres- expert from the US Geological Survey’s projects will be more than 1,000 volun- to assist the states of Connecticut, New ervation on Scotts Mountain in Warren Troy office told representatives of the teers working alone and together to make Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania in County, on the Musconetcong Ridge in Basha Kill Area Association that a with- a direct experience of nature more acces- conserving priority open spaces in the more Morris and Hunterdon Counties, and drawal of this amount would inevitably sible to the public. than two million acre Highlands region. along Lubber’s Run in Sussex County, are lower water levels in the Basha Kill, a The legislation is sponsored by Rep. eligible for these funds. DEC Wildlife Management Area, possi- Conservation & Advocacy Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) and has bi- bly drying up some of the smaller wet- partisan support from 31 cosponsors in the Industrial Plant Threatens Basha lands bordering it. Several ongoing land protection Kill and DH Canal Park projects came to fruition in 2003. Most House, including every member of the NJ delegation. Senator Jon Corzine (D-NJ) has The Basha Kill watershed and historic NJ Voters OK Open Space notable of these was an 820-acre tract and Spending fire tower on the Shawangunk Ridge, sponsored identical legislation in the Sen- D&H Canal Linear Park in the which is in the process of being acquired ate. The legislation is modeled after the Shawangunk Ridge town of Mamakating In November, New Jersey voters okayed by the New York Dept. of Environmental successful state and federal partnership that could be detrimentally affected if an in- a constitutional amendment that will in- Conservation. The Trail Conference also was employed to protect over 15,000 acres dustrial mushroom production and pro- crease the bonding capacity of the Gar- acquired another 84 acres on the of Sterling Forest. The Trail Conference is cessing plant is developed. Yukiguni den State Preservation Trust to $1.15 bil- Shawangunk Ridge in Greenville, NY. In a founding member of the Highlands Coa- Maitake Corp. proposes to build an lion, an increase of $150 million from the 2004, we expect to acquire over 500 acres lition, which has long advocated passage 825,000+ square-foot facility on a 47-acre $1 billion voters approved in 1998. The on the Shawangunk Ridge and another of this legislation. lot at the intersection of Rt. 209 and increased capacity will place no additional 100 where the Long Path crosses Ginseng McDonald Road. The property adjoins tax burden on New Jersey taxpayers. The Ridge north of the Catskills. Delaware Watershed to Get both the upper reaches of the Basha Kill sales tax dedicated in 1998 to pay off Several years of hard work paid off Protection with Federal Help and the historic D& H Canal Linear Park. Garden State Preservation Trust bonds will If developed, the plant will disrupt when the Catskill master plan identified The U.S. House and Senate in early No- continued on page 6

TRAIL WALKER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2004 3 passes by and through stone walls, rock outcroppings, and a stand of pine as it turns west to join a main north/south woods road. The trail follows the woods road, Trail Crew Reports RAIL crosses a stream, and continues to where T the woods road turns right. It follows the woods road as it gains elevation. Sections Park. Both projects are now completed, EWS of this piece of the woods road are eroded, and hikers can enjoy dry-foot crossings in N so the trail is relocated off the road, fol- both areas. lowing the base of a rock outcropping for Thanks to all who volunteered with the several hundreds of feet. Rejoining the West Jersey Crew in 2003: Rob Anglin, road, the trail again crosses a stream as it Jack Baccaglini, Ian Blundell, Bob Boyle, New Sapphire Trail Links continues to follow the woods road. The Bob Boysen, Roland Breault, Gordon Harriman with Sterling Forest trail passes through a wet area and then Campbell, Joan Campbell Valerie Chiang, The new 2.68-mile Sapphire Trail ex- joins an existing, blue-blazed, footpath Marc Cohen, Bill Darling, Arturo Diaz, tends from Harriman State Park in the leading to (and through) the Appalachian Paul Dutton, Ann Festa, Dick Gerien, Don north to the Appalachian Trail in Sterling Trail (AT) just northwest of Indian Hill. Griffin, Bob Jonas, Tom Kirchofer, Jerry Losowyj, Gay Mayer, Marshall Forest State Park in the south. From the TC’s roving crews rocked and rolled. north: begin by following a short entry New Parking Area at Split Rock McKnight, Sarah McKnight, Bob road, opposite the Harriman rail station Reservoir Messerschmidt, Hien Nguyen, Sandy Parr, parking lot entrance, on Route 17. Here, New Jersey’s Dept. of Environmental WEST JERSEY CREW Jody Reischer, Norm Reischer, Paul Robertson, Bob Sickley, Shawn Viggiano, the dark-blue-blazed trail enters a wooded, Protection has opened a new parking area The West Jersey Crew certainly saw Larry Wheelock, Harry Bohlman and old farm area as it heads south, away from at Split Rock Reservoir in Rockaway West Jersey in 2003: High Point State Helen Hopkins of 4H Timber Harvest- a gas pipe line and a housing develop- Township, Morris County. The parking Park, Worthington State Forest, ers, and (our largest volunteers) Tom and ment. Following an old farm road, it area is located on Split Rock Road at the Wawayanda State Park, Stokes State Toby. southern end of the reservoir, and was Forest…we got around! Thanks also to our NJ Dept. of Envi- opened for public use on Friday, Nov. 21. The spring season began on the Appa- ronmental Protection partners: Supt. Ernie The parking area provides a trailhead lachian Trail in High Point State Park, Kabert at Worthington, who arranged to for hiking the 13.8-mile loop trail and also where the crew rehabilitated an eroded have our tools transported the two miles a launch site for people with cartop boats section of the AT, installing water bars, to and from the Dunnfield Creek crossing for fishing, kayaking, or canoeing. The check dams, and rock steps. work site, and Supt. John Keator at High 625-acre reservoir and surrounding 1,500 Then we moved on to Stokes State For- Point, who arranged for our tools’ trans- acres are owned by Jersey City, but are est, to replace a 32-foot-long bridge over portation to and from the Appalachian protected by the DEP’s Division of Fish Big Flat Brook on the Howell Trail, with- Trail stepping stone project this fall, and and Wildlife under a conservation ease- out getting our feet wet (the old bridge who assigned a staff member and vehicle ment purchased by the DEP’s Green Acres was useful to the end). The crew received to the spring’s Howell Trail bridge project. Program. a special assist from Harry Bohlman and Stay on the trail as you hike around Helen Hopkins of 4H Timber Harvesters —David Day and Monica Resor the reservoir. Access to areas off the trail and their draft horses Tom and Toby, who West Jersey Crew Chiefs is prohibited. Horseback riding, mountain donated their time to transport the bridge’s biking and ATV use is not permitted on three stringers—telephone poles—more Split Rock Reservoir property. than a mile from the road to the work site WEST HUDSON CREW (they made it look easy). The West of Hudson trail crew has just The crew finished the spring season on finished a successful 2003 season. Together the Appalachian Trail in Worthington we put in approximately 1,000 volunteer TC PHOTO ALBUM State Forest, with yet more erosion con- hours on several projects throughout trol and restoration work on the section Harriman State Park. We couldn’t have between the Dunnfield Creek Parking Lot done it without the generous help of: Vic- CHAINSAW SCHOOLING and Sunfish Pond. tor Alfieri, Roz Barnes, John Blenninger, On November 8 and 9, a chainsaw certification class was held at High Point State Park in Fall was, by coincidence, ‘Stepping northern New Jersey. Our seasoned and very capable instructors were Jack Shuart, New Mary-Nell Bockman, Jane Bonnell, Juliet Stone’ season, and wet feet were the rule. Jersey State Forester, and Peter Jensen, of Open Space Management. In attendance were Bonnell, Roland Breault, Jim Brown, Gail 12 trail maintainers, supervisors, We began with a collaborative weekend Brown, Brian Buchbinder, George and chairs from the Trail Confer- project with the North Jersey Crew, in- Cartamil, Douglas Clarke, David Day, ence, as well as a state ranger. stalling stepping-stones across Dunnfield Rich DeCoursey, Tom Dunn, Chris Ezzo, These two days of intense class- Creek on the Dunnfield Creek Trail. (Add- room and field instruction covered Rich Forman, Charles Silver Frankel, the gamut of chainsaw instruction, ing to the soggy theme, it rained that week- Joyce Gallagher, Claudia Ganz, Victor from basic safety to advanced felling end.) Green, Dana Havas, Mary Hilley, Bill techniques. Even the most experi- After juggling the schedule to avoid Horowitz, Joan James, Andy Jay, Jared enced students there for recertifica- starting the next stepping stone project Jay, Russell Jay, Lisa Kontente, Brian tion were able to hone their skills immediately after Hurricane Isabel had and gained new respect for this very Krall, Jeff Lintz, Richard Lynch, Bob serious endeavor. —Bob Jonas made the wet areas wetter, the crew ar- Marshall, Gay Mayer, Lori Maynard, rived at the Appalachian Trail in Doug McBride, Glen Nelson, Maureen Worthington State Forest to find that ANNUAL MEETING AWARD WINNERS Pearce, Tommy Pearce, Jason Rangel, Bob Isabel had left numerous blowdowns Reardon, Monica Resor, Kevin Riley, The Ken Lloyd Award was presented to across the trail. Out came the chainsaws. Nalani Ritchie, Melissa Schumer, Trudy Ilse Dunham, (left) for her tireless work Once the blowdowns were removed, we Schneider, Yulani Shafranyuk, Bruce with the Interstate Hiking Club. The did manage to do some of the originally award honors individuals who have Shriver, Matt Smyth, Donna Beth Stewart, intended work, installing a water diver- given exemplary service to their club Denise Vitale, Thomas Woehlke, Hanson and is named in honor of the late Ken sion to prevent a major washout from Wong, and last but not least Steve Lloyd, a dedicated member of the Trail happening. Zubarick. Conference. Then it was back to stepping stones, —Chris Ezzo The Hoeferlin Award went to Jim first on the Terrace Pond North Trail in Ross.Jim was the first Project Supervi- West of Hudson Crew Chief sor (now called Trails Chair) for the Long Wawayanda State Park, and then on the Path for the Trail Conference. Appalachian Trail in High Point State

4 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2004 TRAIL WALKER Owen Peacock, Maureen Pearce, Thomas Pearce, David Peck, Donna Perch, George Thanks! Perkinson, Vincent Pernice, Peter Perricci, Hank Perrine, Betty Perry, Charles Perry, Jack Persely, Larry Peternith, Mark Peterson, . . . to the People Who Bring You Clear Trails Snapper Petta, Joseph Petti, George Petty, Sean Pidgeon, Mathew Pilkington, Jeannine A big THANK YOU to our 689 trail vol- mas Friesema, Douglas Furman, Joyce Robert Koshinskie, Susan Krafve, Peter Pinto, Albert Poelzl, Trudy Pojman, Fred unteers. This list includes trail chairs, trail Gallagher, Clark Galloway, David Galvin, Kraus, Richard Kriska, David Kunz, Rich- Policastri, Alfred Polvere, Jennifer Pregon, supervisors, trail overseers, trail corridor Charles Gamble, Diane Gamgochian, ard Kurland, Tildy La Farge, Peter LaBelle, George Preoteasa, Arnold Projansky, managers, trail corridor monitors, trail shel- Claudia Ganz, Eduardo Garcia, James Marguerite LaCorte, Sabrina Lafave, Kevin Michael Puder, Susan Puretz, Bob Purnell, ter maintainers, and trail maintainers. If you Gardineer, John Gebhards, Jane Geisler, Lane, Fred Langevin, David Lankford, Rob- Clarence Putman, Cathy Quay, Philip Quick, are interested in joining this distinguished Sam Gellens, Douglas Gerritsen, Gerald ert Laskowski, Tibor Latincsics, Peter Laue, Joe Raiola, Robert Randhare, Thomas group, contact Josh Erdsneker, volunteer Gervais, Ramon Gil, James Gilmore, Ed Caroline Lavanhar, Art Lebofsky, Alfred Raylock, Michael Rea, Natalie Rea, Robert projects director, at the Trail Conference Gilroy, Joseph Gindoff, Gene Giordano, Leigh, Jeffery LeJava, Phyllis Lennert, Jane Reardon, Richard Redfield, Norman Reicher, office, [email protected] or 201-512-9348. John Giuffrida, Andrew Gliganic, Jack Levenson, John Levin, Lung Li, John Chris Reyling, Mona Reynolds, Mike Goldwasser, Lizabeth Gonzalez, Edward Lipsett, Mark Liss, Larry Litchfield, Larry Litt, Ribnicki, Gareth Richardsen, Gerald Alan Abramowitz, Bill Abramson, Valerie Goodell, Mark Goodwin, Suzan Gordon, Alfred Lockwood, Rick Loggia, Gene Richardson, Kevin Riley, Edward Ripley- Acerra, Bryan Alter, Neil Altman, Tom Coralyn Gorlicki, Louise Gosnell, Conrad Lomoriello, William Lopez, Max Lopp II, Duggan, Jim Robbins, Stanley Roberts, Amisson, Douglas Anderson, Estelle Ander- Gosset, Stacy Gould, Kathryn Grader, John Jeffrey Luick, Richard Lutringer, Dean Clem Robertshaw, Paul Robertson, Brian son, Rick Anderson, Julie Angle, Rob Graham, George Gray, Josie Gray, Gordon MacGeorge, David Mack, John Mack, Rogers, Doug Rokaw, Constancia Romilly, Anglin, Richard Antonick, Jill Arbuckle, Greacen, Marnie Greenberg, James Walter Madsen, Philip Magasich, John Ronald Rosen, Rich Rosencrans, Avery Michael Arthur, Jack Baccaglini, Brian Gregoire, Lalla Grimes, Ralph Grinnell, John Magerlein, Karen Magerlein, Henry Rosenfeld, Daniel Rosenstein, Mike Bacher, Kevin Bannen, Kendall Barnes, Grob, Martin Grossman, Susan Grossman, Mangione, Peter Manning, J. Matthew Rosenthal, Ruth Rosenthal, Bruce Ross, Rosslyn Barnes, William Barnett, Bernard Allen Grunthal, Harold Guest, Dana Gumb, Mannix, Susanna Margolis, Barry Mark, John Runyon, James Ryo Kiyan, Lynn Baron, Robert Bartlett, Henry Bartosik, Laura Thomas Haas, Bruce Habegger, Robert Christine Marko, Robert Marshall, Karen Saldajeno, Nathan Saltzburg, Doug Saum, Battelani, James Becker, Mindy Becker, Alan Hagedorn, Jim Haggett, Robert Hagon, Marshon, Robert Martie, Adrianne Joseph Schachtele, Bill Schafer, Kristen Beebe, William Beehler, Paul Bell, Hanna Warren Hale, Gary Hamm, Gary Haugland, Marusinec, Joe Mason, MaryAnn Massey, Schara, Glenn Scherer, Keith Scherer, Benesch, Irwin Benjamin, Clifford Berchtold, Edward Hayes, Matt Hazel, Donald Hecht, Stewart Maurer, Sean Mayer, Chris Mazza, James Schlenker, Helmut Schneider, Trudy Robert Berlin, Fred Bernstein, Kenneth Peter Heckler, Ted Heider, Joseph James McArdle, Denise McCabe, Thomas Schneider, Thomas Schofield, Marypat Bernstein, Larry Bernstein, Susan Bernstein, Henderson, Donald Hendrickson, Gregory McCarthy, James McCoy, Wayne Schreibman, Fred Schroeder, Stephen Amy Bianco, Elie Bijou, Adam Bird, Carter Hennen, Pat Hennesey, Tom Hennigan, Joe McDaniel, Peter McGinnis, Leslie McGlynn, Schuckman, Robert Schultz, Noel Schulz, Bland, John Blenninger, Michael Bongar, Herrod, Jan Hesbon, William Hickerson, Donald McGregor, Christopher McIntosh, Hans Schumacher, Alan Schwartz, Norman Kerry Borchardt, Chris Bosco, Harry Bott, Mary Hilley, Amy Hillick, Julia Hobart, Pe- Kevin McLaughlin, Donald McLellan, Jeane Schwartz, Steve Schwinn, Connie Sciutto, Mary Bowdoin, Douglas Bowers, Bob ter Hobday, Daniel Hoberman, Gary McLellan, Ramon McMillan, Loren Steve Sconfienza, Thomas Scuccimarra, Boyle, Joy Boysen, Robert Boysen, John Hoekstra, Gordon Hoekstra, Robert Mendelsohn, Sam Mendelsohn, Peter Warren Seamans, Robert Segal, Robert Bracco, Linda Brandt, Philip Brandt, Larry Hoffman, Malcolm Holderness, Eric Meskin, Jeff Messina, Eric Meyer, William Segal, John Seirup, Michael Selender, Braun, Sol Braun, Alan Breach, Roland Hollman, Michael Holman, William Meyer, Walter Millman, Elizabeth Mills, Wil- Doug Senterman, Peter Senterman, Noralee Breault, Marian Britten, Roger Bromfield, Horowitz, Walter Houck, Alfred Howes, liam Mishler, Hans Moeller, Barbara Mo- Septoff, Robert Serkey, Alfred Seymour- Edward Brophy, Peter Brown, Brian Leon Howorth, Joseph Hrouda, Mark naco, John Monchak, Laurie Moore, Peter Jones, Fred Shaw, George Sheedy, Jenni- Buchbinder, Jeffrey Buck, Mary Burke, Hudson, Michael Hume, Nancy Hunt, Moore, Richard Moore, John Moran, Don fer Sheeran, Steve Sheikin, Scott Shepherd, William Burns, Robert Busha, Steve Patrick Hynes, Walter Ilchuk, Robert Inglis, Morgan, Chester Morris, Edmund Morrison, Stanley Sherr, Elizabeth Sherry, Deborah Butfilowski, Sandra Byard, George Byrne, Chuck Irwin, Walter Jahrling, Joan James, David Moskowitz, Robert Moss, Donald Sherward, Isidore Shiffman, Vi Shipley, H. Raymond Byrnes, Anne Cade, Frank Cain, Jeffrey Janso, Bernard Japy, Henry Mueller, James Muhaw, George Muller, Gus Claude Shostal, Jack Shuart, Mike Sibilia, Eric Calder, Carolyn Canfield, James Jenkins, Robert Jennings, Mona Jimenez, Muller, Henry Muller, Warren Mumford, Bob Sickley, Norman Sigler, Manny Canfield, Russ Cannizzaro, Kenneth Card, Johanna-Karen Johannson, Calvin George Munger, Robert Munschauer, Joan Silberberg, Frank Silkowski, Bob Simansky, Paul Carment, Priscilla Carmona, Elizabeth Johnson, Peter Johnson, Trish Johnston, Munster, Thomas Murasso, Terry Murphy, Melanie Simmerman, Kent Simon de Carroll, William Carroll, George Cartamil, Robert Jonas, Greg Jones, Lore Jungster, Ron Mutone, Donald Myers, Michael Montfort, Ollie Simpson, Robert Simpson, Janet Carter, Daniel Case, Joseph Castine, John Jurasek, Shirley Kainey, Raymond Needleman, Gail Neffinger, Laura Newgard, Serena Sims, Irving Sinai, Isaac Siskind, Nancy Caulfield, Marilyn Chema, Belle Kane, Debra Kantor, Harold Kaplan, Nadine Glen Nison, James Nolan, Resch Nunn, Marilyn Siskind, Robert Sklar, Albert Chen, Tom Christensen, James Christie, Kaprelian, Henry Kassell, Mark Kassop, Edward O’Brien, Michael O’Brien, Gary Slaninka, Frederick Smith, Mitchell Smith, David Church, Carol Ciancia, Ray Cimera, Frank Keech, Judy Keith, Ellen Kelly, Rob- Olman, Martha Olsen, James Olson, Patricia William Smith, Brian Sniatkowski, Bettye Ray Cimera, Mark Cirillo, Pamela Cissik, Ken ert Kelsey, David Kientzler, William Kikillus, O’Malley, Noreen O’Rourke, Fred Ost, Soffer, Steve Soffer, Douglas Sohn, George Clair, Cherie Clapper, Karl Clauss, Vincent Michael Killeen, Chong Kim, Judith King, David Ovejero, Mathew Owens, Elizabeth Solovay, Richard Sparrow, William Spear- Clephas, Kathleen Clines, Roger Coco, Katie Kingsbury, Donna Kirchner, Harry Pace, Don Pachner, John Padover, Bob ing, Malcolm Spector, Salvatore Sposito, Martin Cohen, Richard Cohn, Pat Colella, Kissileff, Stephen Klauck, Robert Klein, Pe- Paine, Laurie Palasz, John Palczynski, Walt Carl Spreen, Gary Standard, Robert Peter Coleman, Herbert Coles, Glenn Collins, ter Kohlberger, Alice Kohnert, Richard Palmer, Margo Pantalone, Jack Papirio, Patty Stanton, Victor Starshinin, Anna Bill Consiglio, Theron Cook, James Kondzielaski, Eileen Korona, Larry Korona, Parmalee, Russell Patera, Mark Payne, Starshinina, Steven Stehwein, Donald Cornelius, Susan Corriere, Jacqueline Steig, Sarah Sternick, Shane Steward, Corrieri, James Cowell, Ellen Cronan, Kevin Donna Stewart, Bill Stoltzfus, Larry Straus, Cwalina, James Daley, Jane Daniels, Walter Trail-tending: Bernard Stringer, Michael Stuart, Brian Daniels, Dorothy Dantico, Barbara Darling, Sullivan, Robby Sussman, Naomi Sutter, Susan Data-Samtak, Wanda Davenport, Minnewaska Trail Opportunity Lynn Swanson, Terence Sweeney, Cathie Patrick Dechon, Salley Decker, Paul Swyka, Sallie Sypher, Larry Tardif, Paul DeCoste, Richard DeCoursey, Duke Hemlocks, ries crowd the Tarlowe, Paul Taubman, Chris Tausch, DeGroat, John Delesky, Peter Delman, Michael Taylor, Herbert Then, Bruce David Dembo, Jon-Eric Dentz, Jerry pitch pine, white footpath. Shaw-angunk con- Volunteer Thomson, Peter Tilgner, Eileen Torrey, Larry DeVos, Luis Diaz, Mark Diekmann, Donato Trachtenberg, Mark Traver, Brett Treible, Digiacopo, Peter Dilullo, Robert Dinse, glomerate: If you maintainers must John Uhle, Mike Uhrie, Shelby Umland, Christopher Dionisio, Christian Dobol, Bar- enjoy the unique be members of the Joseph Valuntas, Wallace VanHouton, bara Docktor, Robert Dodd, Andrew experience of hik- Conference. You’ll Dave Vars, Robert Verdon, David Vernooy, Dodsworth, Michael Doehring, John ing at Minnewaska get one-on-one Marc Veuhoff, Eric Victorin, Luis Vieira, Doellinger, Frank Dogil, Timothy Donovan, Shawn Viggiano, Debbie Vigneri, Richard State Park, and training or may Chris Doolittle, Duncan Douglas, Margaret Vislocky, Karl Volk, Triston Von Haug, Douglas, Scott Downing, Jack Driller, Daniel passing through wish to attend the Donald Wade, Lance Wagner, Rosemary Dubofsky, Ken Dukes, Jerry Duma, Arnold and scrambling Conference’s Walmsley, Edward Walsh, Robert Ward, Joe Dunham, Ilse Dunham, Thomas Dunn, over its magnifi- Maintenance 101 Warner, Richard Warner, Tim Warner, Leon Ronald Dupont, Tom Dupont, Bruce Duty, cent scenery, then 2004 could be the year workshop, usually held each spring. Wasserman, David Webber, Richard Weiler, Robin Duty, Tom Dwyer, Albert Eckler, Julia Wein, Dava Weinstein, Georgette for you to become a volunteer trail main- For more information or to volunteer Chuck Elbert, Marc Elfenbein, Don Elliott, Weir, Donald Weise, Steven Weissman, Robert Else, Michael Engel, Donald Erbe, tainer at the park. This is a wonderful at Minnewaska, contact Shawangunk Lanny Wexler, Timothy Whalen, Larry Joshua Erdsneker, Gregg Everett, Bud Fair, opportunity to really get to know a sec- Trails Supervisor, Dave Webber, 845-452- Wheelock, Malcolm White, John Williams, June Fait, Martin Feldman, Ralph Ferrusi, tion of trail. Your efforts are rewarded 7238, [email protected]. Michael Williams, Mike Willsey, Edmund Jesse Figueroa, John Fila, Frank Fischer, by the knowledge that you are provid- For information on volunteering as a Wilson, Edward Wilson, Daniel Wise, Lee William Fisher, Harvey Fishman, Al Fitch, Ann Wolak, Peter Wolff, James Wolford, ing a much needed service for the hik- maintainer in other areas of the New Edmund Fitzgerald, Jean Fletcher, James Robert Woodin, Herb Young, Herman Florance, Peter Ford, Dennis Fordham, ing community. Without volunteer York-New Jersey region, contact Josh Zaage, Ewa Zalewska, Nancy Zimmerman, George Form, Charles Forman, Richard maintainers, blazes disappear, Erdsneker, volunteer projects director, Richard Zinn, and Steve Zubarik Forman, Tom Fox, Nancy France, Jennifer blowdowns block the trail, and blueber- [email protected], 202-512-9348. Francisco, Jakob Franke, Ben Frankel, Tho-

TRAIL WALKER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2004 5 thing in protecting this large regional eco- Protecting the EPF tion knot on the nylon rope, while a final ADVOCACY & system that is so important for wildlife and The Trail Conference and ADK have person waited down below. That bottom CONSERVATION birds, and also people.” been working with other environmental worker gave most of the commands as she kept a sharp eye on the tripod and un- continued from page 3 groups to plan a strategy for ensuring the Westchester Plans RiverWalk Trail passage of a 2004 budget in New York wrapped the rocks after they landed at the cover these additional bonds by taking System State with a fully funded ($125 million) bottom of the proposed steps. Once the advantage of today’s lower interest rates. system was set up, one rock would make Westchester County recently released a Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). The The Trail Conference supported this pro- it down about every 40 minutes. report detailing its plans to develop a con- EPF is a dedicated fund that has been criti- posal. Gov. McGreevey has indicated that From here, the rocks then had to be tinuous trail system for bicyclists and pe- cal in achieving New York’s open space, at least $50 million will be used to create moved uphill to their final resting places. destrians that would wind its way along parks, and stewardship goals. In 2003, and improve parks in cities and suburbs Some were dragged into place with a hand- the county’s nearly 47 miles of Hudson more than $100 million in EPF projects and a minimum of $50 million will be operated winch; others required setting up River shoreline. The Journal News re- were not funded due to budget constraints. spent on open space purchases and farm- another highline system to lift them into ported that the route, called RiverWalk, Over the last two years, some $400 mil- land preservation in the Highlands. Vot- place. in many places utilizes existing trail sys- lion have been diverted from the EPF to ers also approved 32 out of 38 local open The project is now substantially com- tems, such as the Old Croton Aqueduct help balance the state budget. The part- space ballot questions, including the two plete: 33 rock steps, each weighing a ton, and Croton Point and Kingsland Point nership will also lobby for repayment of county questions in Bergen and Hudson were installed on the steepest section of parks. Other sections wind through areas the diverted EPF funds to enable $50 mil- and 30 out of 36 local questions. the trail that was the most prone to ero- with restricted access, such as Metro-North lion to be spent from the EPF for land ac- sion, poor traction, and where the highest Railroad property and Camp Smith in quisition in 2004. Gift Will Preserve Westchester safety hazard existed. A complete set of Cortlandt. It also passes through the down- Open Space retaining walls, including built-in benches, towns of waterfront communities and were built during the project’s final week. A $4.7 million gift from environmental planned riverfront development sites at During the summer’s work, heavy rains activist (and Trail Conference member) Harbor Square in Ossining, the General created an unsightly and treacherous gully Lucy Waletzky has resulted in the addi- Motors site in Sleepy Hollow, and Yon- TWIN FORTS in the center of the tread of the trail below tion of 181 acres to Rockefeller State Park kers’ developments at Hudson Park and continued from page 1 the staircase. By mid-autumn, a plastic Preserve in Westchester County and a con- Alexander Street. Some components of the culvert had been installed to divert the tiguous 10 acres to the county for parking plan already exist, others are in various wire rope and lower the rock back to the water into a drainage that passes under and access to its North County Trailway. stages of implementation. ground. Waletzky made the gift to the Stone Barns At Twin Forts, where trees adequate for the trail. In early November, the crew began to gather native stones and set addi- Restoration Corp., a nonprofit group that NY Town OKs Stiff ATV Fines spar and anchor purposes are in short sup- owned the land and planned to sell it to a ply, this system employed a crew-built tional steps to stabilize the gullied trail. TC member Ed Walsh, who maintains the developer in order to raise funds for an wooden tripod and an I-beam of the bridge Similar erosion and trail stabilization section of the Long Path that passes education project. as the spars and a bulldozer as the anchor measures will likely be needed on the Fort through Cheesecote Park in the New York Park Manager Dr. Alix Schnee noted (proper permissions were obtained for all). Montgomery side of the Popolopen Gorge. Town of Haverstraw has, like many that Waletzky’s gift brings the park to Rocks were moved to the edge, below And, although our crew did do some ero- maintainers, long been frustrated with the 1,096 acres. “This is an extraordinary gift the cable, using a massive hand-operated sion control work and tread enhancements devastation wrought by illegal ATV use to the state,” she said. “Lucy is extremely root ball dolly. They were wrapped in on the bail-out trail—aka “after-hours in the park. In November, Ed had some generous.” Carriage roads on the site that chains, attached to the moving pulley, then trail”—a significant number of steps will satisfaction. The Haverstraw town board have been closed to the public are now hoisted into the air. In order to control their eventually be needed on this section. voted to increase fines for illegal use of open, Schnee said in December; they link descent, a line of nylon rope was affixed Thanks go to the Twin Forts volunteer ATVs on town property. The previous fine via an underpass under Route 448 to those to the wrapped rock and anchored through crew: Gay Mayer, Denise Vitale, Larry was up to $1000, but it left the amount up elsewhere in the park. She said the newly a belay knot to the bulldozer. In this way, Wheelock, Karen Blersch, David Day, to the judge’s discretion. Now the fine is added land includes pristine plateaus and rock after rock was lowered safely down Monica Resor, Josh Erdsneker, Chris Ezzo, set at $1000 for a first offense, $2500 for wetlands that host a variety of birds, and to the trail as a well-synchronized crew Chris Reyling, Jack Baccaglini, Roland repeat offenders with an option of 60 days that nature trails will be developed with worked the system. Two to three people Breault, Joyce Gallagher, Edward Goodell, in jail. “No one spoke against the new the particular aim of enhancing bird watch- managed the dolly and wrapped the rocks David Dam, Dan Hausner, and Marilyn fines and I was the only one besides the ing. as a solo person operated the winch—low- Gross. board members who spoke in favor,” Ed A local paper reported Waltezky as ering and raising the cable as needed; an- Eddie Walsh is NYNJTC Twin Forts Spe- reports. “I pointed out that this change had saying, “I’m glad to be doing my little other person belayed the rock with the fric- cial Project Manager. no effect on law-abiding ATV riders.” GET INVOLVED VOLUNTEER CLASSIFIEDS GET INVOLVED

Nancy Tollefson has experienced it (see crack staff is priceless. coordination and distribution of volunteer page 1), and you can too. Volunteering As the days get shorter and the nights Volunteer Committee awards and expansion and enhancement for the Trail Conference is a great way to grow colder, why not stay warm at the Trail Last year more than 1,100 volunteers of our volunteer recognition program. meet new friends, support an activity that Conference office? Our office will be stay- donated over 37,000 hours to Trail Con- Recruiting specialists: increase the is important to you, and do things you ing open late for those volunteers who want ference endeavors. In order to increase the number of active volunteers. love to do. Become an active part of the to lend a hand, but cannot get here until support for our volunteers, a Volunteer No prior experience is necessary to join Trail Conference family and volunteer. after work. Please contact Naya Barahona: Committee is being established. This com- this committee. All that is needed is a posi- Check the listings below for current posi- [email protected] or 201-512-9348. mittee will focus its energies on the three tive attitude and a desire to help the Trail tions. For these, or other opportunities, Rs of volunteerism: recruiting, retaining, and Conference. contact the volunteer projects director, Membership Committee recognizing volunteers. The committee will The committee’s first meeting will be Joshua Erdsneker, and he will find a way The strength of the Trail Conference work with Josh Erdsneker, volunteer held on Wednesday, January 21, 2004, to get you involved: [email protected] or comes from its members. As we face new projects director, to expand and improve the at 6:30 pm at the Mahwah office. Direct 201-512-9348. challenges protecting the hiking trails and programs currently in place. The committee your RSVPs and questions to Josh. trail lands we love, we need to be stronger is looking for volunteers with experience Office Volunteers… than ever. If you are a motivated go-getter, and/or an interest in the following opportu- Photo Archivist Five NEW reasons to lend a hand at the then this is the committee for you. With nities: We are looking for volunteers to scan, Trail Conference office: more than 2 million hikers in our region, Human resource specialists: to create sort, label, and organize our cherished 1) Free snacks for volunteers. the potential to grow our membership is a volunteer handbook. keepsakes. Come see our newly reorga- 2) Open in the evenings and conve- boundless. Interested persons should be Trail volunteer assignment coordina- nized office and take a stroll down TC niently located in Mahwah, NJ. creative, able to work in a team/group envi- tor: process and confirm trail maintainer as- memory lane. 3) Make new friends and get reac- ronment, and be dedicated to the Trail Con- signments. quainted with old ones. ference. Membership Committee will focus Event planners: coordinate volunteer File Meister 4) You’ll leave feeling good about vol- on new member acquisition, membership orientation and recognition events. Help executive director create filing sys- unteering for a worthy cause. retention, and reviewing and enhancing ben- Recognition specialists: assist with the tem to handle burgeoning projects/paper. 5) The camaraderie and humor of our efits of membership in the Trail Conference.

6 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2004 TRAIL WALKER several months. In some species, the preg- nant females gather in large groups for day roosting (maternity roosts) and remain in the group until the pups are able to fly. Pregnancy lasts about four weeks and a BB AA TT SS bat pup will fly about four weeks after birth. Depending on the species, northeast- Nongame Species Program (ENSP) orga- in flight. Bats can see quite well, but By Lance Risley ern bat females may give birth to one, nized the first annual statewide summer echolocation is their primary means of two, or as many as four pups. Nursing bat count in summer of 2003. Roosting avoiding obstacles and capturing prey at Halloween is long past, but any time females have voracious appetites and may sites were emphasized and volunteers were night. When a bat performs echolocation, is a good time to encourage you to add eat their body weight in insects in a single encouraged to count bats flying from roosts it emits high-pitched sounds, listens for flying mammals to your list of watchable night. By late July, the night sky is filled at dusk. Interested bat watchers logged echoes of the sounds, and adjusts its flight animals. Our area boasts nine to eleven with adults and juveniles. It is the juve- onto the ENSP website and received de- accordingly. species of bats. They are mostly noctur- niles that often fly into homes and create, tails about how to conduct their observa- The natural history of northeastern bats nal, and though most hibernate, there nev- shall we say, a bit of distress for the home- tions and who to contact with resulting includes a period of prolonged winter dor- ertheless may be opportunities for bat owner. Bats seem to remain faithful to hi- information. (A word of caution: before mancy (hibernation) followed by summer sightings even in winter. From November bernation and summer foraging sites dur- you hit the trail to watch bats, make sure feeding and rearing of offspring. Hiber- (and through the winter), some species of ing lifetimes that may extend to over 20 you are permitted to use that particular nation may take place in mines, caves, bats may leave their day roosts and fly years. The bats you continue to observe trail after dusk.) buildings, and trees, either locally or in a before the sun sets. Some bats, e.g., big may be considered old friends. browns, may temporarily emerge from Biologists have described approxi- distant location to which the bat migrated. mately 1,000 species of bats (there are In the early 1900s, large flocks of red bats hibernation to search for insects during a Lance Risley is associate professor of bi- 4,000 species of mammals). The United were often observed flying with flocks of mild evening in February. Regardless of ology at William Paterson University in States is home to more than 40 species of migrating birds as they passed Cape May the month, the acrobatics of foraging bats New Jersey and is on the board of direc- bats, and we have documented the regu- Bird Observatory at the southern tip of are remarkable and fun to watch. tors of the Weis Ecology Center. If you are a trail user who frequents lar occurrence of between nine and eleven New Jersey. Hibernation is a period of certain trails more than others, your re- species here in the northeastern states. The increased vulnerability, especially when peated observations of flying bats may help NY-NJ Trail Conference region is inhab- humans invade underground spaces in you define predictability in bat behavior. ited by the following species of bats: big which bats are spending the winter. Hu- For example, I know of a trailside clear- brown, little brown, red, hoary, northern man disturbance may trigger a chain of ing in a northern New Jersey forest where long-eared, eastern pipistrelle, silver- physiological events that wake hibernat- two or three bats have been observed for- haired, small-footed, and the federally ing bats. This process of waking then re- aging every muggy, calm summer evening endangered Indiana. The infamous blood turning to “sleep” may take hours, and I have visited the location. These bats prob- sucking vampire bats are restricted to Cen- precious resources (e.g., fat) are utilized. ably spend days roosting in the adjacent tral and South America, and the large fly- If a hibernating bat is awakened several HELP WITH EAGLE SURVEY forest. Because we have incomplete knowl- ing foxes with wingspans of six feet are times by disturbance, the loss of fat may The Trail Conference, working with the NY State Dept. of Environmental Con- edge of roost site selection and of specific found in northern Australia. The average cause the bat to emerge from hibernation wingspan of bats in our area is about 12 in late winter before insect prey can be servation, is initiating a volunteer-based roosting sites, your observations could be winter eagle survey on trail lands along quite useful to those of us who study bats. inches. Most species have declined in found. the lower Hudson River (Beacon to Cro- In fact, the New Jersey Department of abundance in the last several decades and Following emergence from hibernation ton Point). For more information or to vol- Environmental Protection, Endangered and are considered at risk, threatened, or en- in early spring, bats disperse to summer unteer as an eagle monitor, please con- dangered. Northeastern bats are noctur- foraging areas where they locate suitable tact Ed McGowan, TC Science Director, nal and feed on flying insects, which are roosting sites (underground spaces, build- at [email protected] or 201-512- IF YOU LOVE THE 9348. The eagle season runs from No- targeted by echolocation and then captured ings, trees, etc.) and feed on insects for vember through March. SHAWANGUNKS YOU’LL WANT TO VISIT www.shawangunkridge.org Trail Work Yields This website of the Shawangunk Ridge Coalition has been redesigned and should be your Biodiversity Discoveries one-stop source for up-to-date news about the Shawangunks. “Earlier in the year while sur- intense fire that swept through the area veying rock outcrops along the 50-100 years ago. Features southern Shawangunk Mountains “The second part of the day was spent • Regular News Updates on for potential timber rattlesnake counting A large scrub-oak bald. Development Threats habitat, Dr. McGowan came clumps • Action Alerts Trail Conference efforts to create a trail across two examples of biodiversity that of a • Recreation Resources corridor along the southern Shawangunk he thought may be of interest to the NY small (Please help us keep these items Ridge have also served to identify and Natural Heritage Program. The first was state rare up-to-date.) protect significant natural communities. an impressive 100-acre area dominated fern, the • Environmental Information Two recent dicoveries include an unusal by wind-swept scrub oak (Quercus moun- Mountain spleenwort • Media Links “scub oak bald” and New York State’s ilicifolia) with scattered pitch pine (Pinus tain • Maps largest population of the rare mountain rigida). Although this is very likely the spleenwort (Asplenium montanum). The • Planning Tools spleemwort (Asplenium montanum), a largest continuous stand of scrub oak on a locations of four ledges were accurately • Links to a host of Coalition small cliff-dwelling fern. mountain ridge in the state, it is treated as mapped using GPS and the total number In October, Greg Edinger, an ecologist members and partners an extreme variant of the more broadly of clumps counted was 333, making this with the New York Natural Heritage Pro- described pitch pine-oak-heath rocky sum- site the largest known occurrence of moun- Add it to your list of Web favorites. gram, teamed up with Ed McGowan, Trail mit community. The scrub oak bald is part tain spleenwort in the state. There are five Conference science director, to survey the of an excellent, large (1,030 acres—2nd other occurrences in the state with 50 to The Shawangunk Ridge Coalition is a site. Writing in the November New York 100 clumps each.” project of the New York-New Jersey largest in NY) occurrence of pitch pine- Natural Heritage monthly highlights, Trail Conference. oak-heath rocky summit. The scrub oak Reprinted with permission from the New York Edinger reported: bald is believed to be a result of a very Natural Heritage monthly highlights.

TRAIL WALKER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2004 7 HIKERS’ F O R & A B O U T You can also order at our MARKETPLACE web site: www.nynjtc.org O u r M e m b e r s NY-NJ TC member? YES NO JOINING NOW Please order by circling price Two Complete NE 111 all items pertaining to doing these long- Retail Member P/H Total distance walks independently. In England: Congratulations to Arlene and Ernie coast to coast, Cleveland, Cumbria, Official Conference Maps Valera, who completed the required climbs Sterling Forest Trails (2003) $7.95 $5.95 +.80 ______Cotswolds, Dales, South Downs, North for Northeast 111 recognition with a hike North Jersey Trails (2002) $7.95 $5.95 +.95 ______Downs, and Pennine Ways; in Wales: up Owl’s Head in the White Mountains. Harriman-Bear Mountain Trails (2003) $8.95 $6.75 +.95 ______Offa’s Dyke, Pembrokeshire Coast, and They report that all peaks were done as NEW!! East Hudson Trails (2003) $9.95 $7.50 +.95 ______Glyndwr’s Way; in Scotland: South Up- day hikes and that they covered 769 miles West Hudson Trails (2000) $7.95 $5.95 +.95 ______lands, St. Cutbert, West Highland, and with 239,000 feet of vertical rise. Catskill Trails (2003) & see combo $13.95 $10.45 +$1.10 ______Speyside Ways; in Ireland, Dinale and Kittatinny Trails (2000) $12.95 $9.75 +$1.10 ______Wicklow Ways. Packets are also avail- Shawangunk Trails (2000) & see combo $9.95 $7.50 +.95 ______Member Offers Hike Info for UK, able on Chilkoot, Colorado, John Muir, South Taconic Trails (1988, rev. 1998) $4.95 $3.75 +.65 ______Ireland, and More Hudson Palisades Trails (available Mar. 2004) $7.95 $5.95 +.80 ______and Wonderland Trails and Hawaii in the TC life member Richard K. Greve has U.S., plus hiking in New Zealand, Nepal, Books been compiling informational packets on and Tour de Mont Blanc.” Send $2 (three A.T. Guide for NY & NJ (2002) w/6 maps $19.95 $15.95 +$2.00 ______long-distance walks in the UK since 1985. for $5) to cover postage to Richard Greve, Long Path Guide to NY/NJ (2002) $16.95 $13.55 +$2.00 ______He is now offering his packets to TC mem- 115 Dawn Drive, Mt. Holly, NJ 08060 or Day Walker (2002) $16.95 $13.55 +$2.50 ______bers. He writes: “Information sheets cover email [email protected]. Hiking Long Island (2002) $19.95 $15.95 +$2.50 ______Circuit Hikes in Northern New Jersey (2003) $11.95 $9.55 +$2.00 ______New York Walk Book (2001) & see combo $19.95 $15.95 +$2.50 ______New Jersey Walk Book (available Feb. 2004) $19.95 $15.95 +$2.50 ______CONTRIBUTIONS Harriman Trails Guide (1999)& see combo $16.95 $13.55 +$2.50 ______Iron Mine Trails: NY-NJ Highlands (1996, rev. 1999) $8.95 $7.15 +$2.00 ______GIFTS Theodore and Elizabeth Suttmeier, Bud Therien, Health Hints for Hikers (1994) $5.95 $4.75 +$2.00 ______ADK Knickerbocker Chapter, AMC New York- Louise S. Thompson, Howard Tokosh, Alice L. Doodletown: Hiking Through History in a North Jersey Chapter, Doug and Barbara Tufel, Thomas N. and Diane Tuthill, Constantine G. Vasiliadis, Rita Warner, Robert and Virginia Vanishing Hamlet on the Hudson (1996) $12.95 $10.35 +$2.00 ______Arbesfeld, Robert P. and Joan T. Augello, Barns and Noble, Ian Blundell, Michael J. Bolotsky, Weismantel, David V. and Naola B. Woolf, Ann Catskill Trails: A Ranger’s Guide to the High Peaks William and Martha Bremer, Evangeline Yasuhara, William Zipf Book One: The Northern Catskills (2000) $14.95 $11.95 +$2.00 ______Caliandro, Adolph O. Cherot Jr., Linda M. Book Two: The Central Catskills (2000) $14.95 $11.95 +$2.00 ______Clark, Herman H. Clausen, Vincent R. Clephas, MEMORIAL GIFTS Scenes & Walks in the Northern Derek D. and Barbara Cocovinis, Neil and In memory of Samuel Marks Katherine Cohen, Polly Condit, Gary Custis, Marsha K. Weiss Shawangunks (1999) (hardcover) & see combo $10.95 $8.75 +$2.00 ______Mark J. Dallara, Andy J. Damato, Jane Daniels NEW!! Shawangunks Trail Companion (2003) $18.95 $15.15 +$2.50 ______& Walt Daniels*, Crist Dixon, Joan Ehrenfeld & In memory of Nancy Perkinson Nature Walks in New Jersey (1998) $12.95 $10.35 +$2.50 ______David Ehrenfeld, John Ellingboe & Page Peter Heckler & Rita Heckler, Peter Tilgner & 50 Hikes in the Lower Hudson Valley (2002) $16.95 $13.55 +$2.50 ______Hartwell*, David Ettenberg, Christopher Ezzo, Suzan Gordon 50 Hikes in New Jersey (1997, rev. 1999) $15.95 $12.95 +$2.00 ______Martin and Alice L. Feldman, Frank J. Fornoff, Ben Frankel and Phyllis Frankel*, Peter L. SPECIAL GIFTS Best Hikes w/ Children in the Catskills & Gabriele II, George Gentsch & JoAnn To Shawangunk Ridge Coalition in honor of Hudson River Valley (2002) $14.95 $11.95 +$2.00 ______Abbadessa, Eric Goldstein, Brian Goodman, Chris & Laurie’s wedding Best Hikes w/ Children in New Jersey (1992) $12.95 $10.35 +$2.00 ______David Graybeal, Gordon H. Greacen, John Jeffrey Apotheker, Linda Becker & John Wolcott, AMC Catskill Mountain Guide (2002) $19.95 $15.95 +$2.00 ______Grob & Anne Grob, Eileen P. Hanna, Nancy G. Jane Berkowitz, Georgina and Michael Hassanein, Edward Z. Hawkes, George and ADK Guide to Catskill Trails (1994, repr. 1998) $17.95 $14.40 +$2.00 ______Carpentieri, Nancy Delahunt, Lani Donlon, Lucy M. Heller, Joseph P. Henderson, Gregor L. Heather Flournoy, Beatrice Gernstein, Philip Palisades: 100,000 Acres in 100 Years (2001) $27.50 $22.00 +$3.00 ______and Nancy L. Hetzel, Ginny Higgins, Paul J. Gerstein, Elizabeth Godwin, Ami Hirschstein, Combo-Packs Hoffman, David E. Hogenauer & Claire S. Charles and Mary Sue Kelly, Monika Hogenauer, Daniel M. Hunt, Joan D. James, Catskill (5-map set & ADK book) $27.80 $21.60 +$2.00 ______Kretschmar, Lee Kyriacou & Elizabeth Barrett, Calvin E. Johnson & Eric Johnson, Robert J. Kitty Lerin, Adele Marcus, Regina Marrero, Harriman (2-map set & book) $22.40 $17.55 +$2.50 ______Jonas, Robert A. Jordan Jr., Dan R. Karch, Charlotte E. Moss, Elizabeth Paul, Heather NY & NJ Walk Books $32.35 $25.85 +$3.50 ______Richard H. and Galene A. Kessin, David J. Saunders, Suse Volk, Jill and Wendell Wahren, Shawangunk Combo (4-map set & book) $17.90 $13.95 +$2.00 ______Klem*, Stephen and Ann Klepner, Clifton and Robert White, Ilja Wiedijk Ann Koontz, Dennis J. Lenz, David E. Levine, The Personal Touch Lawrence H. Levine, Doris G. Lommel, Robert To Shawangunk Ridge Coalition Note Cards: TC Collection $12.00 $9.60 +$2.00 _____ F. Marshall, Malcolm J. Matthews, Robert M. Anne Bretz-Aronoff, Astrid Fitzgerald, Berenice Hiking Cap $12.90 $10.50 +$1.75 ______Mitrane, Carl Monopoli, Thomas C. Moorhead, Katzen-Cohen, Anne Kochendorfer, Rochester Betty Moran, Hugh H. D. Murray, Anne Osborn Long-sleeve Denim Shirt Circle: S M L XL $29.90 $22.90 +$4.00 ______Residents Association, Inc, Save the Ridge* & Fred Osborn*, Greg Paris & Joanne Polo Shirt (Forest Green) Circle: S M L XL $19.90 $15.50 +$4.00 ______Williamson, Jeanne Petta, Timothy M. Rankin, MATCHING GIFTS NY-NJTC T-Shirt Circle: L XL $13.95 $13.95 +$3.50 ______Laura M. Rice, Weiland A. Ross, Arlene Scholer, New York Times Co. Foundation Harriman Map Bandanna $6.95 $5.95 ++$1.50 ______Alfred A. Seymour-Jones*, Bob Sickley, Simon Conference Logo Patch $2.50 $2.50 postpaid ______and Nancy Z. Sidamon-Eristoff, Malcolm * Members of the Raymond H. Torrey Society Spector*, Ursula Springer, Jan A. Summers, Long Path Logo Patch $2.75 $2.75 postpaid ______Conference Logo Decal $ .85 $ .85 postpaid ______Subtotal Where there’s a Will, there’s a Trail Postage/handling from above, or $6.00, whichever is LESS For non-clothing items, New Jersey residents add 6% tax* When we build them, you hike them. We’ve been building and protecting trails for at least four TOTAL ENCLOSED $ generations of hikers since 1920. That’s 1,500 miles in New York and New Jersey to date. Help us

NAME Method of Payment: keep building for the next generation by naming the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference in ADDRESS Check or money order enclosed your will. A bequest makes a wonderful gift, and Visa Mastercard Amex CITY STATE ZIP it lasts beyond one lifetime. EMAIL TELEPHONE Card #______Exp Date: ___/___ For confidential information and legal language, Make check or money order payable to NY-NJ Trail Conference, and mail to: 156 Ramapo Valley contact the Trail Conference at 201-512-9348, or by email: Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430. For a full descriptive catalog, please write or call 201-512-9348. *Tax must be paid by NJ residents on books, maps, misc., but not on clothing. Thank you! [email protected].

8 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2004 TRAIL WALKER ters, there are sections on horsepacking, mountain biking, waterways, special en- More Backcountry Cooking: vironments (arctic and alpine tundra, Moveable Feasts from the Experts deserts, and archaeological sites) as well IKERS’ OOKSHOP Dorcas S. Miller H B as the basics for campers and walkers. The Mountaineers Books, 2002 There is an attempt on the part of the au- Reviewed by Lynn Brandon The Catskills dull, just drudgery. The pursuit of happi- thor (on the whole successful) to be T. Morris Longstreth ness means happiness in your pursuit, he encyclopadic, and there is much to be Black Dome Press, 2003 concludes. More Backcountry Cooking is a well learned here. printed from the 1918 original Whether describing a thunderstorm thought out and researched book. The first Annette McGivney’s book is a thought- part of the book contains recipes, and the provoking investigation of Leave No Trace Reviewed by Carol White from Hunter, commandeering the Winnisook caretaker’s cabin, jumping off second part deals with information that precepts. If we venture into the the north side of Slide on snow, careening all people need to know if they are going backcountry mindful of impact, we are in The Catskills by T. Morris Longstreth around Ashokan Reservoir with John to be in the backcountry. It is much more a better position to alleviate or eliminate is a delightful telling of the author’s 1917 Burroughs, bivouacking atop a snowy than a collection of recipes. the traces of our presence. Only by this trek through the Catskill Mountains; it is peak, Longstreth’s writing offers humor The book offers good advice concern- means will the vital resource of wilder- filled with observations of nature and hu- and wisdom, and conveys the ineffable: ing food in general: nutritional breakdown ness remain untrammelled as a source of man nature that stimulate both senses and “There came over me that sense of well- for every recipe, non-dairy options, and renewal for future generations. This book mind. We’re offered strenuous adventure, being it is hard to get in any other way how to dry without a dehydrator, make is good starting place to build that neces- humorous stories, Catskill landscape and than on foot.” “We sat on the roots of a conversions, enlarge recipes, plan food for sary awareness. lore, all conveyed in writing that rings true great hemlock and basked in the perfec- a long trip, and much more. and leads to deeper thought. tion of life.” “There is a spot for everyone The diverse recipes are easy to follow Longstreth’s 400-mile adventure begins more satisfying than any other, and if you and are organized into two parts: at-home with meeting Brute, whose Ford was in will show me the spot I can to some de- preparation and on-trail meal-making. The Hiking Companion need of cranking up. These very different gree tell you the man.” And woman. Miller offers recipes that can be used in Michael W. Robbins men “were but on different stages of the many situations, and they include a vari- Storey Books, 2003 same old road.” Brute had “certain things ety of portion options. They range from Reviewed by Betty Heald essential in the friend who is to walk by recipes for single backpackers, for people The Wimp’s Guide to one’s side through rough weather as well who don’t have to worry about food weight Cross-Country Skiing as fine—generosity, a sense of humor, a (i.e. canoe camping), and for large groups. This book’s subtitle says it all: Getting James B. Kobak, Jr. sense of beauty, honesty, a liking for ad- Check out the Mediterranean Polenta on the most from the trail experience through- 1st Books Library, 2003 venture.” And not least, “the ability to go page 96. It melts in your mouth! out the seasons: where to go, what to nowhere-in-particular with him and still Reviewed by Robert E. Green bring, basic navigation, and backpacking. be interested and happy.” Michael Robbins, a long-time science He needs Brute’s touch of Tom Saw- The title of this book is misleading; the and nature writer and editor, has produced yer, too, I think. In 20-mile days, they re- author does not discuss skiing techniques Leave No Trace a practical guide for novice hikers and lied on the kindness of strangers for meals. but instead provides a humorous commen- A Guide to the New Wilderness backpackers. The book is full of good After climbing from Woodstock to tary on the equipment, clothing, and cli- Etiquette ideas, and is a reminder that the simple Plattekill Clove, they were famished. No matic conditions that may be encountered Annette McGivney act of taking a hike is a wonderful way to luck at two houses, then Brute took over: while trying to make one’s way on skis The Mountaineers Books, co-published get a new perspective on the world. “ ‘Good evening, sir. Could I have a drink cross country. It is written, claims the au- with Backpacker Magazine, 2003 Each of the seven chapters covers an of water?’ ” He bade us enter. “ ‘Would it thor, “for someone who does not like be- Second edition (first published 1998) aspect of hiking. These include the where bother you to sell us a couple of pieces of ing cold and wet and having bruises all Reviewed by Edward Ripley-Duggan and how of hiking, planning, clothing, and bread?’ ” Soon the trampers had his wife, over his body.” Would people who fit this gear. The chapter titled “Navigating” dubbed the Good Dame of Plattekill Clove, profile even think of skiing as a desirable When Laura and Guy Waterman pub- gives instruction on map-reading, follow- dishing up vast quantities of delectables. winter activity? lished the second edition of their classic ing blazes, and using a compass. “Cau- If you want something big, begin with The author claims years of failure as a Backwoods Ethics in 1993, they were able tions” addresses other important factors something easy and work up. cross-country skier, but has obviously en- to report many successes. The influence to be considered such as weather, distance, They marvel atop the Wall of Manitou: joyed the exercise or surely he would not of their work, and of such books as Hamp- illness, other hikers, critters, and trail eti- “I wonder why nobody ever told me about have continued, and so, presumably, be- ton & Cole’s Soft Paths, has been exten- quette. this, Brute.” “Where was they to begin?” came a lot more proficient than he admits sive. The Leave No Trace movement has The final chapter on backpacking is a he very adequately replied. “Seeing big (at least, in this book). Experienced skiers been valuable in reducing the worst of the “must read” for the beginning backpacker. must make you think big,” Brute declares, will enjoy the somewhat exaggerated com- damage caused inadvertently in wilder- Colorful anecdotes of Mr. Robbins’ hik- as they discuss big subjects like putting plaints concerning various aspects of their ness areas. No longer does one see evi- ing adventures add authenticity. pleasure before business. “You never get sport, while recognizing that most of the dence of camping as it was practiced in Readers of this book will be inspired to ideas when you’re not enjoying yourself incidents discussed have happened to them- the 1960s and before—bough beds and the get out and try a hike. Pen and ink draw- —at least, any valuable ideas,” Morris selves at one time or another. like—with any frequency, to name one ings illustrate the text. The appendix in- contends. But it isn’t work that makes Jack One item that appealed to this reviewer minor victory. cludes a list of some of the author’s favor- was the advice to always carry a map and Still, this is not a campaign won, nor ite national parks, public lands, and wild- a compass so that you can find the way to will it ever be. While individual impact life reservations in the United States. There a hotel. The red point on the compass, the has been reduced, the number of visitors is a list of established suppliers of hiking I N M E M O R I A M author reminds us, points to the north, so to backcountry regions has increased. and backpacking equipment. Missing is a if you have doubts about your direction, There are new forms of incursion (e.g. list of some of the larger hiking organizations both national and here in the East. RUTH G. HOROWITZ be sure to go the other way. And beware kayaking) that affect regions previously of contour lines—they indicate either go- The novice hiker would be well advised Ruth G. Horowitz, who served as Trail infrequently visited: the ecologically frag- ing up or going down, both of which to begin his/her hiking with one of the lo- Conference bookkeeper for at least 15 ile islands of the Maine Coast come to present hazards to those on skis. cal clubs and under the guidance of a com- years, died October 7, 2003. She is remind. The inherent paradox is that, when In such a nice book it seems a pity that petent hike leader. membered as a faithful and dedicated of- we draw on wild areas for recreation, we the typos could not have been corrected The Hiking Companion is easy to read fice volunteer who manually closed TC too often destroy the qualities that brought before printing. and almost small enough to fit into a back books/ledgers, and tallied all the deposits us there in the first place. pocket. It is an excellent reference for the and checks received, each week—a The second edition of Annette beginning hiker or someone planning his/ daylong activity done weekly with few McGivney’s book is a useful tool in the her first backpacking trip. absences. She enjoyed painting and was a quest for ways to manage this dilemma. It member of the Appalachian Mountain is a thorough examination of Leave No Club. Trace principles. Divided into nine chap-

TRAIL WALKER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2004 9 NANCY TOLLEFSON F A V O R I T E H I K E S continued from page 1 tends to hike all of the trails to be included in the book, not just to ensure the accu- The Frankton Trail racy and completeness of the guide, but to note the interesting flora and fauna she by Ben Frankel encounters along the way. Her goal, of course, is to make sure the guide fits the The Frankton Trail in France is an offi- needs of new hikers on these trails. Many cial long-distance footpath—in French of the routes will be new to Nancy her- parlance a grande randonnee—which com- self, and she plans to narrate her passage memorates a daring World War II com- through them into a tape recorder and, mando operation and escape. It follows later, transcribe her notes into the text of the initial route, from Blaye on the Gironde the guide. Do not be alarmed, therefore, estuary to Ruffec, of two British World if you see her in the woods pointing out War II heroes who attacked German ships the sights to no one in particular. in the Bordeaux port on the Gironde River, In addition to the Trail Conference, then escaped through occupied France, Nancy has also been long involved in the and across the Pyrenees into Spain. Their Appalachian Mountain Club. Having journey took more than two months. joined the club when she moved to Bos- These days, as three intrepid Trail Con- ton in the 1980s, she has kept up her AMC ference members recently learned, the activities here with the New York-North walk involves less time and hazard and Jersey Chapter. Nancy finds the AMC, like more pleasures. the Trail Conference, to be a good place TC members enjoyed WWII history and French farms along the Trail. to make friends who enjoy hiking and The new Frankton Trail (it was inau- which they blew up with torpedoes. hikers, average age 58, did the route re- volunteering. In fact, Nancy met her hus- gurated in 2002) in France follows the path Then they had to meet up with the cently in six days and a group of Royal band, Art Tollefson, through the AMC. of the Cockleshell Heroes, the British com- French Resistance, 100 miles away–no Marine Cadets did it in three and a half Both Nancy and Art lead hikes for the mandos who hiked 100 miles in Decem- food, terrible weather, and exhausted from days; being in training, the latter ran most club and volunteer in the management of ber 1942 through ice and rain while being four days of rowing. of the way. the local chapter. Nancy particularly en- pursued by the German Wehrmacht and A beautiful plaque has been installed A good time to do the hike is early joys leading beginner hikes, helping to police. A well known movie, The Cockle- at a farmhouse along the trail where the October, when the grapes are being har- train new leaders, and taking city kids shell Heroes, was made of this adventure commandos were aided by a family of vested. The views of the extensive fields out into the woods with the AOK program about 25 years ago. French farmers who fed, clothed, and bed- of grape vines, through which the trail (AMC Outings for Urban Kids). She has Three members of the Trail Conference, ded them overnight and probably saved passes in large part, and the aromas ema- taken many trips with the AMC, includ- Jerome Berman, Abba Tor, and myself, their lives. The family faced a strong pos- nating therefrom, can levitate the hiking! ing a weeklong hike in the Rocky Moun- recently hiked the trail. Being the first sibility that they would be caught by One is of course reminded of the his- tains and a hiking and paddling trip in Americans to do so, we were awarded the Germans, in which case they would torical 1777 and 1779 trails in Harriman Maine. As one might expect, Nancy also medals by the Frankton Society. The code be shot or sent to slave labor camps. The Park. Can any of our members call our serves as editor of Trails and Waves, the name of the commando operation was plaque was dedicated by the Duke of Kent attention to other trails of historic impor- chapter’s newsletter. “Frankton.” and Lady Patricia Mountbatten. tance maintained by the Trail Conference? Life is not all hiking and editing for The commandos, in one of the most My two companions and I have hiked If you wish more information about the Nancy, however. An accomplished ama- daring secret missions of World War II, together extensively in different parts of Frankton Trail, call Ben Frankel, 914-478- teur singer, she has sung alto with the New fashioned by Lord Louis Mountbatten, the world and rate this one as truly memo- 0375, or write directly to Monsieur York Chorale Society for eight years. The were left off by a British submarine 100 rable. Reading that plaque, in the beauty Francois Boisnier, President of the Frankton Chorale Society is a 180-voice symphonic miles from the Bordeaux harbor in spe- of the French countryside, revealing the Society, at 1 Avenue du Général de Gaulle, chorus, and it has performed in New York cially designed rowboats (cockleshells). spirit of the commandos and the courage BP 34 16 300 Barbezieux, France. They City concert venues such as Carnegie Hall They spent four days rowing at night and and decency of the French family, was one will be delighted to help you. (an annual Christmas program) and Lin- resting by day to reach two ships in the of the most poignant moments of my life. coln Center for the past 45 years. Next harbor, vital to the German war effort, The hike is not difficult. A group of summer, Nancy will perform with the group in France. Once again—no sur- prise—Nancy does more than sing with

the Chorale Society: she serves on its board of managers and edits its newsletter. It is always interesting to learn what motivates volunteers to perform so self- lessly for organizations. Nancy volunteers for groups she has belonged to and enjoyed. She cares about the organizations and their continued valuable work. In her volunteer work, she tries to identify needs and help solve problems. Her goal is to inspire others to get involved and make contributions, while doing things she loves doing. In the end, she offers a short and convincing explanation for why she volunteers so extensively for the Trail Con- ference. “It’s wonderful,” she says, “to be able to work in support of something I enjoy so much.”

Anne De Sutter is an attorney and Trail Conference member.

10 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2004 TRAIL WALKER 732-548-2315. Meet: 8am in Johnson Park, River Rd., Piscataway, NJ; meeting time and place. 11-12 mile hike. call for further information. Moderate hike along the Batona Trail. OUT. Byram River Gorge, CT. Leader: Mayer Wiesen, 516-671- UCHC. Watchung Reservation, Mountainside, NJ. Leader: Joan 2095, call before 10:30pm. Meet: 9am at Jerome & Bainbridge Aves. Lepselter, 908-273-4188. Meet: 10am at Trailside Nature & Science downstairs (#4 subway to Woodlawn, last stop in the Bronx). 7 moderate Center, Coles Ave. at New Providence Rd.; call for directions. Brisk miles. Visit a green hemlock river trail; 7:00pm return. HIKERS’ ALMANAC 4-5 mile hike with some rocky hills, often muddy. Hiking boots required. PMNHA. Stress Relief Hike, NJ. Leader: call 973-334-3130 for Suitable for a strong beginner. Steady rain cancels. information. Meet: 1pm at Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area Visitor Center, 472A Boonton Ave., Montville Township, NJ. Join us on SUNDAY, FEB. 15 an easy hike through the winter forest. IHC. Ramapo Valley Reservation, NJ. Leader: Jim Hayes, 201- UCHC. Watchung Reservation, Mountainside, NJ. Leader: continued from page 12 FEBRUARY 825-9506. Meet: 9am at Ramapo Valley Reservation, Rt. 202, Mahwah, Eck Khoon Dwyer, 908-790-0939. Meet: 10am at Trailside Nature & NJ. Strenuous, but not many major ups and downs. Circular hike using Science Center, Coles Ave. at New Providence Rd.; call for directions. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21 SUNDAY, FEB. 1 Silver Trail to Yellow Trail. Rain, heavy snow, poor driving conditions Brisk 4-5 mile hike with some rocky hills. Hiking boots required. Rain PMNHA. Morning Hike. Leader: call 973-334-3130 for information. cancel. cancels. Meet: 10am at Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area Visitor Center, IHC. Wawayanda Winter Wonderland, NJ. Leader: Ilse Dun- OUT. Old Croton Aqueduct, NY. Leader: Mike Puder, 718-743-0920; WTA. Bronx Botanical Gardens. Leader: Marcia Cohen, 914-478- 472A Boonton Ave., Montville Township, NJ. Drop the kids off at school ham, 973-838-8031. Meet: 9am at A&P/Hewitt Post Office, Warwick call beginning Thursday before hike until 9:30pm for recorded message 7074. Meet: 10am at North White Plains train station; $2 transportation and join us on this moderate hike at Pyramid Mountain (adults only). Tpk. shopping center, Hewitt. Moderate hike or snowshoe, depending on snow. Explore variety of trails; lovely hemlock forest and giant rhodo- with details. Meet: Call for time; stationmaster’s office at Grand Central contribution. 4-5 easy miles. Walk the winter woods and garden grounds. dendrons. Rain, heavy snow, poor driving conditions cancel. Terminal (buy round-trip ticket to Scarborough). 5 miles at moderate, Visit indoor conservatory exhibit. Warm indoor cafe lunch. SATURDAY, JAN. 24 OUT. Coney Island to Sheepshead Bay, NY. Leader: Lynn Albin, steady pace. Lovely flat hike, from Scarborough to Tarrytown along the OUT. Prospect Park in Winter. Leader: Marty and Judy Mahler, 718-743-0920; call beginning Thursday before hike in evening until 9:30pm aqueduct. SUNDAY, FEB. 29 718-692-2854; call 6-8 pm. Meet: Call leaders for meeting time; meet at week of hike for recorded details. Meet: Call for meeting time; Brighton PMNHA. Winter Hike, NJ. Leader: call 973-334-3130 for informa- IHC. Island Pond, Harriman State Park, NY. Leader: Ilse Dun- Parkside Ave. stop on Q subway, street level. Short walk on our own, Beach stop on Q subway, by turnstiles. 7 miles at a moderate, steady tion. Meet: 1pm at Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area Visitor ham, 973-838-8031. Meet: 9am at Tuxedo, NY, RR station, Rt. 17. Hike lunch break, then walk with a ranger on the new Audubon Bird Trail; pace. Enjoy a leisurely day walking along the Coney Island boardwalk, Center, 472A Boonton Ave., Montville Township, NJ. Moderate hike or snowshoe to and around Island Pond, enjoying an invigorating wintry possible visit to botanic gardens and museum. No go if raining or snowing then to Sheepshead Bay area; lunch at moderately priced Thai restau- with Neil. day. Rain, heavy snow, poor driving conditions cancel. heavily. rant. UCHC. South Mountain Reservation, West Orange, NJ. Leader: PMNHA. Leap Year Hike, NJ. Leader: call 973-334-3130 for infor- RVW. Woodstock, NY. Leader: Call 845-246-7174 for information. GAHC. Saddle River Park, Paramus, NJ. Leader: Helga Nagy, Louise White, 973-746-4319; call before 9pm. Meet: 10am at Turtleback mation. Meet: 1pm at Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area Visitor Meet: 10am at Sawyer Savings Bank parking lot, 87 Market St., 201-796-5578. Meet: 10:30am at Dunkerhook Park; call leader for details Rock parking in West Orange; call for directions. Moderate 4+ miles in Center, 472A Boonton Ave., Montville Township, NJ. We have an extra Saugerties, NY. Ulster Landing Park or Broadview Rd., Woodstock, and directions. Moderate and easy hikes. nicely wooded area, some rough spots; see Turtleback Rock. day this year; how about a moderate hike? depending on weather. Moderate 3-4 miles. UCHC. Watchung Reservation, Mountainside, NJ. Leader: Mae WTA. Appalachian Trail (CT) or Alternative. Leader: Stewart WTA. Orchard Beach to City Island, NY. Leader: Marcia Cohen, UCHC. Tiorati Circular, Harriman State Park, NY. Leader: Al Deas, 908-233-6641. Meet: 10am at Trailside Nature & Science Center, Manville, 914-582-1237. Meet: 10am at North White Plains train station; 914-478-7074. Meet: 10am at North White Plains train station; $2 trans- Leigh, 973-471-7528. Meet: 9:30am at Tiorati parking; call Friday 7-10pm Coles Ave. at New Providence Rd.; call for directions. Brisk 5-mile hike $7 transportation contribution (if CT). 5-6 miles, moderate. Continuing portation contribution. 5 easy miles. Beach walk to woodlands to City for directions. 8 miles at a moderate pace in this beautiful area; several with mixture of level, easy walking and some hills on rough, possibly icy north from West Cornwall, but only if ground and road conditions per- Island and back. Flat, varied, indoor lunch and facilities. hills throughout the day and rocky trails; numerous views. terrain. Steady rain cancels; good snow cover may result in cross-coun- mit. In event of serious winter complication, something in central or WTA. Jones Beach, NY. Leaders: Will Raffaele, Catharine Allen, try ski instead (or both, if someone volunteers to lead the hike). southern Westchester will be more likely. 914-948-4061. Meet: 10am at North White Plains train station; $6 trans- WTA. Old Croton Aqueduct, Scarborough to Dobbs Ferry, portation contribution. Easy. A winter walk on the beach with possible NY. Leader: Herb Hochberg, 914-472-3525. Meet: 10am at North White THURSDAY, FEB. 19 sightings of harbor seals. Dress very warmly to ward off chilling winds. Plains train station; $2 transportation contribution. 8 miles, moderate. PMNHA. Morning Hike, NJ. Leader: call 973-334-3130 for informa- This section of trail passes several historic houses and churches. We will tion. Meet: 10am at first parking lot off McCaffrey Lane; call for direc- SUNDAY, JAN. 25 use a car shuttle. tions. Moderate hike at the Tourne (adults only). PMNHA. Tripod Rock, NJ. Leader: call 973-334-3130 for informa- FVTW. South Mountain Challenge, West Orange, NJ. Leader: tion. Meet: 1pm at Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area Visitor SATURDAY, FEB. 7 Dave Hognenaur, 973-762-1475. Meet: 10am at Mayapple Hill parking on Center, 472A Boonton Ave., Montville Township, NJ. Moderate hike to UOC. Delaware & Raritan Canal, Kingston, NJ. Leader: Gene Northfield Ave.; call for directions. Brisk pace for 11 miles; snow on our famous glacial erratic. Varney, 732-873-2506. Meet: call leader. Easy 2-3 hour hike along the ground will shorten hike; steady rain cancels. IHC. Lake Tiorati, NY. Leader: Pete Rigotti, [email protected]. canal towpath. Meet: 9am at Tiorati Circle parking area, Harriman State Park. Moder- UCHC. South Mountain Reservation, Millburn, NJ. Leader: SATURDAY, FEB. 21 ately strenuous, but wimps welcome. Early finish. East, west, RD or AT? Naomi Shapiro, 973-762-1832; call before 9pm. Meet: 10am at Locust UOC. Hacklebarney State Park, Chester, NJ. Leader: Dan Leader goes with wind direction. Rain, heavy snow, poor driving condi- Grove parking, corner of Glen Ave. and Lackawanna Pl., across from Greenwald, 732-246-4132. Meet: call leader. Moderate hike with some tions cancel. Millburn RR station. Brisk 5 miles with steep hill at beginning. Rocky ups steep inclines. OUT. Tibbetts Brook Park, NY. Leader: George Glatz, 212-533- and downs; wear hiking boots. Not suitable for beginners. Steady rain UCHC. South Mountain Reservation, Millburn, NJ. Leader: 9457; call 7-8am. Meet: 12 noon at 242nd St. and Broadway, park side cancels; if icy, bring crampons. Bob Hagon, 908-788-8360. Meet: 10am at Locust Grove parking, corner (take #1 subway to last stop, 242nd St./Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx). 5 of Glen Ave. and Lackawanna Pl., across from Millburn RR station. Brisk easy/moderate miles at steady pace. Walk on the old Putnam Trail to see SUNDAY, FEB. 8 5-mile hike with views of waterfall and possibly NYC skyline. Hiking this beautiful park in winter. Bathrooms are heated and have warm boots required. Canceled if rain or snow (snow on ground okay). water—ah, Westchester County! OUT. Ponds of Staten Island. Leader: Joel Pomeranntz, 212-691- 3844; evenings before 10. Meet: 10:15am by foot of escalators, Staten WTA. Leatherstocking Trail, NY. Leader: Stewart Manville, 914- UCHC. South Mountain Reservation, Millburn, NJ. Leader: Island Ferry Terminal, South Ferry, Manhattan. 8 miles at steady pace 582-1237. Meet: 10am at North White Plains train station; $1 transpor- Ed Leibowitz, 201-332-1709. Meet: 10am at Locust Grove parking, cor- with some ups & downs. Hike on marked and unmarked Greenbelt trails tation contribution. 4 easy miles. An interesting jaunt between Saxon ner of Glen Ave. and Lackawanna Pl., across from Millburn RR station. to Turtle Pond, Duckweed, Frog, Martling, Pump House and more. Woods Park and Pinebrook Boulevard reminiscent of the public foot- Easy 3-4 miles, suitable for beginners. Canceled if rain or snow (snow on Nonmembers $3. path system in England. ground okay). PMNHA. Snowshoe Trek, NJ. Leader: call 973-334-3130 for infor- WTA. Silver Lake, NY. Leader: Barry Kaplan, 914-946-2869. Meet: mation. Meet: 1pm at Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area Visitor SUNDAY, FEB. 22 10am at North White Plains train station; $1 transportation contribu- Center, 472A Boonton Ave., Montville Township, NJ. Bring your snow- IHC. Stokes State Park, NJ. Leader: David Kientzler, 973-948-3983. tion. 4 easy miles. This is a park just at the edge of White Plains that shoes and hope for snow on this moderate hike. seems so incredibly remote, once into the woods. A good time of year Meet: 8:30am at Burger King/Stop & Shop, Rt. 23N, Butler, NJ. Strenu- IHC. South Mountain Reservation, NJ. Leader: Charles and Anita for avoidance of gnats, mosquitos, etc. Timed to finish early enough for ous hike or snowshoe. The park has many good snowshoe trails, so if lunch at home or “out.” Kientzler, 973-835-1060. Meet: 9am at South Mountain Arena (ice rink), snow we’ll have some winter fun. If trails are clear, we’ll enjoy views Northfield Ave., West Orange, NJ. Explore this park in all its winter from Kittatinny Ridge. Rain, heavy snow, poor driving conditions cancel. glory, at a moderate pace. Hemlock Falls will be locked in ice and the MONDAY, JAN. 26 WWW. Sterling Ridge and Fire Tower, NY. Leader: Don Weise, view from Washington Rock will be “cool.” 973-835-2160. Meet: 9:30am at Weis Ecology Center, NJ; call for direc- RVW. Huntersfield Mountain, NY. Leader: Call 845-246-4145 for UCHC. Lord Stirling Park, Basking Ridge, NJ. Leader: Phyllis tions. Strenuous, fast 8 miles on the New York side of Sterling Ridge. information. Meet: 8am at Sawyer Savings Bank parking lot, 87 Market Brown, 908-753-8812; call before 9pm. Meet: 10am at Somerset County High, remote trail with mature hemlocks and numerous great views. St., Saugerties, NY. Moderate 4-mile hike; snowshoes and crampons Environmental Center, Lord Stirling Rd. off S. Maple Ave., Basking Ridge; Terrain is steep; snowshoes or crampons may be necessary. may be necessary. call for directions. 8+ miles of wide and level trails; could ski or snow- OUT. 116th Street Broad Channel to Breezy Point Circular. shoe if good snow cover. You can stay for as short or long a time as you Leader: Oliver Wayne, 201-840-4145. Meet: call leader. 12-13 miles along THURSDAY, JAN. 29 wish. Rain cancels; call Sat. eve before 9pm if in doubt. the beach at moderate, steady pace; no hills. Dress warmly and bring hot WWW.MALOUFSMOUNTAIN.COM FVTW. Butler Reservoir, NJ. Leader: Jim & Theresa McKay, 973- WTA. Croton Point Park, NY. Leader: Catharine Allen, 914-948- lunch/beverage. Nonmembers $3. 538-0756. Meet: 10am at Kinnelon baseball field, on Boonton Ave. two 4061. Meet: 10am at North White Plains train station; $2 transportation GAHC. Cranberry Lake Park, North White Plains, NY. Leader: Camping on the Fishkill miles north of Pyramid Mt. visitor’s center; call for directions. Moder- contribution. 4 easy miles. Hike around Croton Point, with winter views Marianne Janowski, 914-428-4573. Meet: 10am at Valhalla RR station; ately strenuous 8-mile hike around the reservoir. Steady rain cancels. across the Hudson. We may see bald eagles and wintering water fowl. Ridge call leader to register. Moderate and easy hikes; possible cross-country Dress for bitter winds from river. Optional lunch at the Croton Diner. skiing. Located just North of Bald Hill, SATURDAY, JAN. 31 UCHC. Ramapo Lake, Oakland, NJ. Leader: Micky Siegel, 201- at the end of the East Hudson PMNHA. Turkey Mountain, NJ. Leader: call 973-334-3130 for in- SATURDAY, FEB. 14 797-7054. Meet: 10am on Skyline Dr., first parking lot on left at bottom Trails (Map 2) formation. Meet: 1pm at Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area OUT. Pomona to Suffern, NY. Leader: Oliver Wayne, 201-840-4145. of hill in Oakland; call for directions. Very scenic, moderate 5-6 mile hike Visitor Center, 472A Boonton Ave., Montville Township, NJ. Moderate Meet: 7:45am at Short Line ticket windows, Port Authority Bus Termi- with views of beautiful Ramapo Lake. Call if in doubt about weather. hike. Grand Opening August 1st nal, for 8:15 bus. 9 strenuous miles; steady pace, hilly, must be prepared WTA. Rockefeller Preserve, NY. Leader: Sam Acerbo, 914-939- UCHC. South Mountain Reservation, Millburn, NJ. Leader: for ice. No beginners; hiking boots required. Optional dinner at Italian 2769. Meet: 10am at North White Plains train station; $1 transportation Ellie King, 908-233-8411. Meet: 10am at Locust Grove parking, corner of restaurant in Suffern. Nonmembers $3. Only 33 Sites Available contribution. 5 miles, easy to moderate. Beautiful bridle paths of Glen Ave. and Lackawanna Pl., across from Millburn RR station. 4-5 PMNHA. Heartbeat Hike, NJ. Leader: call 973-334-3130 for infor- Pocantico. We will visit the glacial erratic and Spok Rock. Lunch at Accessible from Metro North miles at moderate pace with some hills. Possibly a snowshoe wallk. mation. Meet: 1pm at Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area Visitor Eagle Hill overlooking Kykuit. Rain, shine, or show. WTA. Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, NY. Leader: Joan Coffey, Center, 472A Boonton Ave., Montville Township, NJ. Get your heart Visit us on the Web: 914-232-5839. Meet: 10am at Trailside Museum parking area; $3 trans- beating on this moderately strenuous hike. SATURDAY, FEB. 28 WWW.MALOUFSMOUNTAIN.COM portation contribution. 4 -5 miles. UOC. Pine Barrens, Chatsworth, NJ. Leader: Coralyn Gorlicki, ADK-R. Appalachian Trail. Leader: call leader at 845-354-0738 for

TRAIL WALKER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2004 11 HIKERS’ ALMANAC A Sampling of Upcoming Hikes Sponsored by Member Clubs

The activities listed are sponsored by member clubs of the NY-NJ Trail Conference. All hikers are welcome subject to club regulations and rules MONDAY, JAN. 5 WEDNESDAY, JAN. 14 of the trail. You are responsible for your own safety. Wear hiking boots or strong, low-heeled shoes. Bring food, water, rain gear, first aid kit, RVW. Sherril Mountain, NY. Leader: Call 845-246-4040 for infor- RVW. D&H Canal and Bruceville Rd., High Falls. Leader: Call and flashlight in a backpack. Leaders have the right and responsibility to refuse anyone whom they believe cannot complete the hike or is not mation. Meet: 8am in Saugerties, NY; call for directions. Strenuous 5.5 845-246-2945 for information. Meet: 10am at Sawyer Savings Bank adequately equipped. Easy, moderate, or strenuous hikes are relative terms; call leader if in doubt. mile bushwhack up 3500’ mountain. Snowshoes and crampons may be parking lot, 87 Market St., Saugerties, NY. Two easy walks for a total More than 85 clubs belong to the Trail Conference, and many of our affiliate groups sponsor hikes not listed in the Hikers’ Almanac. For a necessary. of 5 miles. descriptive list of Conference clubs, consult our Web site or send an SASE with your request to NY-NJ Trail Conference. Club Codes THURSDAY, JAN. 8 THURSDAY, JAN. 15 Only those clubs with hikes offered in this issue are listed below. Please call numbers listed to confirm. FVTW. Sterling Forest, NY. Leader: Carolyn & Jim Canfield, 973- FVTW. Escalator and Stalter’s Spring. Leader: Dave & Naomi 728-9774. Meet: 9:30am at Indian Hill parking lot, Orange Turnpike/Rt. Sutter, [email protected]. Meet: 10am at Rt. 9W and Jones Point Rd.; ADK-MH ADK, Mid-Hudson Chapter PMNHA Pyramid Mountain Natural 19; call leader for directions. Moderately strenuous. Hike from the Ap- contact leader for directions. Strenuous bushwhack up the forgotten ADK-R ADK, Ramapo Chapter Historic Area palachian Trail to the Indian Hill loop; route depends on conditions. Steady Escalator; no beginners. Bad weather cancels. FVTW Frost Valley Trail Walkers OUT The Outdoors Club rain cancels. GAHC German-American Hiking Club RVW Rip Van Winkle Hiking Club SATURDAY, JAN. 17 IHC Interstate Hiking Club UCHC Union County Hiking Club SATURDAY, JAN. 10 OUT. Jamaica Bay to Beach. Leader: Judy Levine, 718-482-9659. MJOC Mosaic Jewish Outdoor Club UOC University Outing Club OUT. Connetquot State Park, Long Island. Leader: Paul Develet, Meet: 10am at Broad Channel stop on A subway, Long Island. 9 miles on WTA Westchester Trails Association 516-488-5232. Meet: 10:37am at Great River, NY, LIRR station (take 9:14 easy terrain; beach and town hike at moderate pace. Dress warmly, WWW Weis Wyanokie Wanderers LIRR train from Penn Station). 8 miles at a moderate pace on easy including face protection, if cold; may be icy. Nonmembers $3. Clubs wishing to have hikes listed in Hikers’ Almanac should send their schedules to [email protected] or to the Trail Conference office. The deadline terrain. Pleasant wintertime walk along the Connetquot River; up to the ADK-R. Letter Rock. Leader: call leader at 845-359-2465 for meeting for the March/April issue is January15, 2004. fish hatchery and back. Interesting wildlife along the river. Nonmem- time and place. 6 mile hike; Goshen and Stevens mountains. bers $3. PMNHA. Winter Hike. Leader: call 973-334-3130 for information. JANUARY tions. Moderate 5-mile hike; watch for wild turkeys. Rain or heavy snow UCHC. Pyramid Mountain, Montville, NJ. Leader: Micky Siegel, Meet: 1pm at Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area Visitor Center, cancels; call prior to 8:45 morning of hike if in doubt. 201-797-7054. Meet: 10am at Pyramid Mt. Visitor Center; call for direc- 472A Boonton Ave., Montville Township, NJ. Moderate hike with Neil. SATURDAY, JAN. 3 tions. Moderate 5-mile hike along the reservoir, then up to Tripod Rock. UCHC. South Mountain Reservation, Millburn, NJ. Leader: Call if in doubt about weather. ADK-MH. Vassar Campus Walk, NY. Leader: Jenny & Stan Rob- SUNDAY, JAN. 4 Mimi Solomon, 973-379-3910. Meet: 10am in Millburn; call for direc- erts, 845-471-5712, before 10pm. Meet: 1:30pm at north gate of campus, IHC. Highlands Trail, NJ. Leader: Jim McKay, 973-538-0756. Meet: WTA. Hudson River West Shore Path, NY. Leader: Ellie Carren, tions. Moderate hike in woodlands and some fields. Collegeview Ave. near Fairmont Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY. Easy 3 miles. 9am at Burger King/Stop & Shop, Rt. 23N, Butler, NJ. 8 strenuous miles 914-591-7038; call in advance. Meet: 10am at North White Plains train WTA. Erie Railroad Between Nyack and Piermont. Leader: Get out and stretch your legs and share some conversation on campus on the Rock Lodge Loop, including hills surrounding Pequannock and Oak station; $3 transportation contribution. 7 miles, easy to moderate, walk- Stewart Manville, 914-582-1237. Meet: 10am at North White Plains paths (college not in session). Ridge reservoirs. A new area to explore; shuttle required. Rain, heavy ing along the river toward Haverstraw, returning on the same shore train station; $3 transportation contribution. 2 or 4 easy miles, depending MJOC. Operation Dessert Climb, NY. Leader: Howard Israel, 212- snow, poor driving conditions cancel. path, one of the rare stretches of original, undeveloped river bank. on your individual choice of one-way or round-trip. Views optimal with 502-0820, call 9pm—11pm. Meet: Call leader to register by Jan. 2. Start WWW. Heart of Harriman, NY. Leader: Don Weise, 973-835-2160. leafless trees. Lunch in medium-priced cafe recommended, especially if with a hot breakfast at a cafe in Cold Spring, NY, then strenuous 6-7 mile Meet: 9:30am at Weis Ecology Center, NJ; call for directions. Strenu- SUNDAY, JAN. 11 wintery. hike on Undercliff Trail to Mt. Taurus. Take Metro North train to Cold ous, fast 7+ miles in Harriman State Park. Variety-filled hike starting at IHC. Black Rock Forest Ramble, NY. Leader: Ilse Dunham, 973- Spring. Nonmembers $10. Lake Skannatati and visiting Pine Swamp Mountain, mines, bare rock 838-8031. Meet: 9am at Red Apple Restaurant, Rt. 17, Southfields, NY; SUNDAY, JAN. 18 summits, glacial erratics, and deep evergreen forests. Several steep ADK-R. Pine Meadow Circular, NY. Leader: call leader at 201- park in rear. Moderately strenuous wanderings along trails and woods IHC. Camp Smith Trail Plus, NY. Leader: Carolyn & Jim Canfield, spots; snowshoes or crampons may be necessary. 816-9465 for meeting time and place. 7-8 mile hike in Harriman State roads; crampons might be needed. Rain, heavy snow, poor driving con- 973-728-9774. Meet: 9am at Anthony Wayne north parking area, Park. GAHC. JFK Bird Sanctuary, Long Island. Leader: Gunter Georgi, ditions cancel. Harriman State Park. Strenuous hike with continuous climb of 1100’ to PMNHA. Overlooks Hike, NJ. Leader: call 973-334-3130 for infor- 516-883-2336. Meet: 10am at Tobay Beach; call leader for details and to OUT. Cold Spring Circular. Leader: Oliver Wayne, 201-840-4145. Anthony’s Nose, with great views of Hudson River. Hike down the AT, mation. Meet: 1pm at Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area Visitor register. Meet: 8:30am at information booth, Grand Central Terminal. 9-10 hilly across Bear Mt. Bridge, and finish along the 1777 Trail; shuttle required. Center, 472A Boonton Ave., Montville Township, NJ. Moderate hike to UCHC. Black River County Park, Chester, NJ. Leader: Phyllis miles at moderate pace; no beginners. Hike along the Nelsonville Trail, Crampons might be needed. Rain, heavy snow, poor driving conditions some scenic overlooks. Brown, 908-753-8812; call before 9pm. Meet: 10am at Kay Environmen- returning on Cornish Trail; possible dinner in Cold Spring. Probably late cancel. return; hiking boots required. Nonmembers $3. UCHC. Turkey Mountain, Montville, NJ. Leader: Terry Kulmane, tal Center; call for directions. Mid-hike break at the center; anticipate a GAHC. Hook Mountain State Park, Upper Nyack, NY. Leader: 908-665-2672. Meet: 10am at Pyramid Mt. Visitor Center; call for direc- 2:30pm finish. Rain cancels; call prior to 9pm eve before hike if in doubt. PMNHA. Winter Trees. Leader: call 973-334-3130 for information. Henry Loddigs, 718-899-1052. Meet: 9 am; call leader for details and Meet: 1pm at Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area Visitor Center, directions. 472A Boonton Ave., Montville Township, NJ. Moderate hike; learn to UCHC. Watchung Reservation, Mountainside, NJ. Leader: Bob identify trees by their bark and twigs. Hagon, 908-788-8360. Meet: 10am at Trailside Nature & Science Center, UCHC. Mills Reservation, Cedar Grove, NJ. Leader: Lynn Gale, Coles Ave. at New Providence Rd.; call for directions. Brisk 5-mile hike Join the volunteers 973-763-7230. Meet: 10am at Mills Reservation; call for directions. Easy with views of the deserted village and stables. Hiking boots required. to moderate hike. Rain or snow cancels (snow on ground okay). who bring you the great outdoors! MONDAY, JAN. 12 MONDAY, JAN. 19 1500 miles of trails and counting; your membership helps us expand our RVW. Gertrude’s Nose, Minnewaska State Park, NY. Leader: RVW. Indian Head Mountain, NY. Leader: Call 845-246-8546 for horizons. Call 845-246-6949 for information. Meet: 8am at Sawyer Savings Bank information. Meet: 8am at Sawyer Savings Bank parking lot, 87 Market Included with membership, Trail Walker, 10% discount on purchases at parking lot, 87 Market St., Saugerties, NY. Moderately strenuous hike St., Saugerties, NY. Strenuous hike of 7 miles up 3500’ mountain; snow- of 7-8 miles; snowshoes and crampons may be necessary. most outdoor stores, and 20% discount on all Trail Conference maps and shoes and crampons may be necessary. books. continued on page 11

Support the work of the NY/NJ Trail Conference with your membership.

Membership Level Individual Joint/Family TRAILWALKER Individual $25 $31 THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NEW YORK-NEW JERSEY TRAIL CONFERENCE Sponsor $50 $60 Volume XXXI, Number 1 ISSN 0749-1352 January/February 2004 Benefactor $100 $120 Senior/Student $18 $24 Permit #970-100 Life $500 $750

Name ______Address ______City ______State ____ Zip______Day Phone______Evening Phone______E-MAIL ______ Check or money order enclosed Visa Mastercard Amex Card #______Exp Date: ___/___ Make check or money order payable to the NY-NJ Trail Conference, and mail to: 156 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430. Tax-deductible.

printed on recycled paper