www.nynjtc.org Connecting People with Nature since 1920 May/June 2008

New York- Trail Conference — Maintaining 1,683 Miles of Foot Trails

In this issue: National Trails Day...pg 3 • Building for the Ages...pg 6 • Hiking with Kids...pg 7 • About Trekking Poles...pg 11 Trail Conference Fights Parks Closure Plan in NJ s this issue was going to press, Trail Conference volunteers and staff were mobilizing to prevent closure of parks in New Jersey. On March 31, the state’s C ADivision of Parks and Forestry released recommendations for extensive park L closures in order to comply with Governor Corzine’s fiscal year 2009 budget. O DEP recommended full elimination of services and closure at the following areas: High S Point State Park; ; ; Monmouth Battlefield ED State Park; (administered under , which will ! remain open); Brendan T. Byrne State Forest (including ); Round Valley Recreation Area; ; and (including Hancock House). Partial elimination of services and/or closures would occur at (including reduced hours at , closure of swimming at Shepherd Lake Welcome to Recreation Area), D&R Canal State Park (including reduced interpretive services and clo - Hig sure of Bulls Island Recreation Area) and Washington Crossing State Park (40 percent h Point State reduction in interpretive staff – resulting in reduced hours of operation at Clark House, Park Johnson Ferry House and the museum). For the latest news and action alerts, stay tuned at www.nynjtc.org.

Volunteers Open ing woods roads, but these are unblazed. Call for Trail GPSers!! You can even walk into Port Jervis by fol - New Trails (and lowing the LRT out of the woods to a If you hike with a GPS connection with the city’s History Trail near unit, or are willing to Other Trail News) the . (See Favorite Hike, learn how to use one, Two New Trails in the Shawangunks page 12, May/June 2007 Trail Walker. ) you can help us contin - The Trail and Long ue to create great trail Path South crews recently finished two South Gully Trail Opens maps! Dedicated volun - new trails. Many thanks to Eric and Sue The other new trail in the Shawangunks is teers have collected the Meyer, Andy Garrison, Malcolm Spector, the South Gully Trail, which runs from majority of the GPS Gely Franke, Ryo Kiyan, John Moran, Sam’s Point Preserve in Cragsmoor down data used to create the Mike Knutson, Linda and John Siwarski, 1,400 feet to Route 52. It is blazed with trails on our current Paul Labounty, and the participants in the aqua blazes that signify the , since maps. The Publications Fall 2007 Trail Maintenance 101 workshop it will be part of a future reroute of the LP. Committee is working at Sam’s Point, who helped to make these The elevation at the Sam’s Point trailhead is on a number of major trails a reality. 2,000 feet; at Route 52, it is 600 feet. mapping projects, including The trail follows a mostly linear course The new South Gully Trail connects brand new digitally produced editions of Minisink Trail Extended through South Gully, a beautiful ravine on to Sam’s Point our popular Kittatinny Trails and Catskill One of the new trails is a nearly 2-mile the west flank of the Shawangunk Moun - embankment, with the stream and several Trails map sets, as well as a new addition to extension of the Minisink Trail (MT) that tains. The trail starts at the loop road in pretty falls and pools visible below. After a our North Jersey Trails map set covering opened in the spring of 2007 in the town of Sam’s Point Preserve, and is 2.7 miles long. final stream crossing, the trail follows a northern Morris County parks. We need Deerpark, on the outskirts of Port Jervis. woods road down to Route 52. A few cars your help collecting GPS tracks of the trails The MT (red blazes) now runs nearly four can be parked there just south of the bridge and woods roads in the following areas: miles from an intersection with the over the gully to provide a shuttle. Catskill Forest Preserve Ridge Trail (white blazes) in Deerpark, —Jakob Franke, Chair, northeast to a new trailhead on Route 6 at Long Path South Committee Water Gap the Deerpark / Greenville town line, where National Recreation Area there is parking for several cars. The MT Windham Long Path Section State Park Temporarily Closed can also be accessed via a trailhead for the Lenape Ridge Trail near the junction of Old Recently, a timber harvest was begun in Greenville Turnpike and Limekiln Road. the Ashland-Pinnacle State Forest near Worthington State Forest Starting from the new MT trailhead on County Route 32C in the Town of Farny State Park and Route 6, follow the red blazes up to a woods Windham. This harvest will require the surrounding areas road, which the trail follows for almost a temporary closure of a short section of the Pyramid Mountain mile. It goes under a power line, then short - Long Path and a nearby parking area. The Mahlon Dickerson WMA ly after turns onto a footpath that extends section of the LP that is closed will be tem - through a wooded valley. The trail follows a porarily relocated a short distance to the Wildcat Ridge WMA stone wall and crosses several streams and north. The relocated trail is marked with Other parks in northern other woods roads. The path then turns orange flagging. An alternate parking area Morris County and southern sharply northeast (right), and arrives on a is available a short distance down a truck Sussex County narrow ridge, where there is a great viewpoint trail from the closed parking area. A writ - at a spot where the railroad passes through a South Gully in the Gunks features several ten notice and map showing the locations If you hike in any of these parks and cut in the ridge. The new trail goes under a pretty falls and pools. of the relocated trail and alternate parking would like to help with our GPS efforts, power line before it links with the junction of are posted on site. contact [email protected]. If you the pre-existing MT and LRT. It passes an old berrypicker shed, crosses would like to help support our region’s You can make this a 6-7 mile lollipop through a nice patch of laurel, and reaches A Re-route on the Hewitt-Butler Trail superb network of hiking trails in some hike by continuing on the MT and return - a pretty stream before crossing Gully Road. The North Jersey Weekday Trail Crew, other way, check out the opportunities on ing via the Lenape Ridge Trail, or vice Next it crosses several small streams and after several previous work trips, got out on page 6 (Volunteer Classifieds) or online versa. Other routes are possible by follow - then follows South Gully on a high continued on page 4 (www.nynjtc.org, click on Volunteer).

Climate Change VOLUME XXXV, N UMBER 3 ISSN 0749-1352 Non-Profit Is on the Way: US Postage Paid Permit No. 1239 How Will the Bellmawr, N.J. Woods Respond? Learn why our forests are changing before our eyes. Turn to page 7. Page 2 May/June 2008 From the Chair

VOLUME XXXV, NO.3 MAY /J UNE 2008 Wanted: More ‘Noise’ about the Trail Conference GEORGETTE WEIR EDITOR LOUIS LEONARDIS GRAPHIC DESIGNER Most of us seem to lot of stuff. And we don’t tell other people So what is to be done? We need to strike The TRAIL WALKER (USPS Permit #1239) agree that the Trail how to behave (other than “please don’t a new balance between charm and nobility (ISSN 0749-1352) is published bi-monthly by the -New Jersey Trail Conference as a Conference (TC) destroy our trails with your ATV”), we just on the one hand and enhancement of benefit of membership. Subscriptions are does a poor job in provide them with great opportunities to organization effectiveness on the other. available to libraries only at $15.00 a year. advertising itself. I enjoy nature. There is a certain nobility in First, we need a volunteer who can act as Periodical postage paid at Mahwah, N.J., and certainly do. When I a volunteer organization that provides sig - an excellent “communications guru,” to additional offices. Postmaster: Send address tell an acquaintance nificant service to the public without a manage/coordinate all of our external com - changes to the address below. Opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily represent the policy that I spend much of great deal of focus on self promotion. munications. Career experience in or position of the Conference. Contributions of my time in retirement with the NY-NJ The conundrum is that, nevertheless, we marketing and management would be an typed manuscripts, photos, and drawings are Trail Conference, the response is usually a could do an even bigger and better job if excellent plus. If you are interested, or welcome. Manuscripts may be edited for style blank stare. Before I joined the TC about our external communications/organization know of someone who might be, let a and length. Send SASE for writers’ guidelines. 10 years ago, I had no idea who maintained marketing were enhanced. We could get board member or committee chair know. Submission deadlines for the TRAIL WALKER are January 15 (Mar./Apr. issue), March 15 and built the trails and I had certainly nev - new members and volunteers more easily, (May/June issue), May 15 (July/Aug. issue), er heard of the NYNJTC. government agencies would give us more July 15 (Sept./Oct. issue), September 15 On the other hand, a major charm of the attention and respect, and we could get (Nov./Dec. issue), November 15 (Jan./Feb. TC is that we don’t create a lot of “noise” in more contributions to support staff, who Bob Boysen issue). Unsolicited contributions cannot be acknowledged unless accompanied by SASE. self promotion. We just DO STUFF—a facilitate our volunteer work. Chair, Board of Directors For information on advertising rates, please write or call. Copyright 2008 by: New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, Inc. 156 Ramapo Valley Road (Rt. 202) Mahwah, NJ 07430 201-512-9348 e-mail: [email protected] Clubmoss: Not as Romantic editorial e-mail: [email protected] as Reported World Wide Web: www.nynjtc.org I do enjoy reading Trail Walker and continue membership, though we live too far north to take advantage of your many offers. 2008 CAMPAIGN In your last issue you had a nicely written article called “Clubmoss: The Diminutive Giant.” I would like to Let Your Friends and Family Help You correct an error in it. Win Great Prizes! Mission Statement The romantic notion of sperm swim - The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is a ming to egg in “those vertical yellow federation of member clubs and individuals cones” is not correct. Spores are shed The member-Get-A-Member (MGM) Grand Prize: Camping Equipment dedicated to providing recreational hiking from those cones and distributed by 2008 program ends May 31! Don’t let all Package from Campmor opportunities in the region, and representing the wind. Some will germinate on or below the amazing prizes slip away. It’s not diffi - interests and concerns of the hiking community. Second Place Prize: One-night, The Conference is a volunteer-directed public the soil surface and grow into tiny plants. cult to find family, friends, neighbors or service organization committed to: These may eventually produce eggs and co-workers who might be interested in mid-week stay in a Jr. suite and • Developing, building, and maintaining sperm. Sperm do swim to egg and if fer - joining the Trail Conference. By getting dinner for two at the Phoenix hiking trails. tilization occurs a new green plant, that them to purchase a membership (or giving Restaurant at the Emerson • Protecting hiking trail lands through Resort and Spa support and advocacy. we recognize as a clubmoss, may grow. A out gift memberships) you increase your • Educating the public in the responsible lifecycle involving two separate plants is chances of winning any one of the amazing use of trails and the natural environment. also the mode of sexual reproduction prizes listed below. Some ways to increase Third Prize: Lunch and hiking practiced by ferns. the number of new members you sign up, passes for two at the Mohonk Board of Directors Ruth Schottman is to: Mountain House Robert Boysen Chair Chris Connolly Vice Chair Burnt Hills, NY • Bring a copy of your Trail Walker to Mac Highet Treasurer work. Share it with colleagues and hand For each new member you recruit, you will Daniel Chazin Secretary Editor’s note: Right you are, Ms. them the MGM form to fill out. have one entry into our drawing for various Directors Schottman! Trail Conference Science • Go on a hike with friends and use a outdoor goods donated by our retail part - Henry Atterbury Peter Kennard Committee member Joan Ehrenfeld, Trail Conference map and/or book. Show ners. Items you might win through the Ellen Cronan Seth McKee Professor in the Department of Ecology, them how helpful these materials are and raffle are: Jane Daniels Mary Smart Evolution, and Natural Resources at suggest that they support our efforts. • Daiwa Executive Travel Pack Fishing Matthew Garamone Malcolm Spector Josie Gray Daniel Van Engel Rutgers University, confirms the above • Take a walk on Trail Conference main - Pole and Reel from Matt’s Sporting Goods, John Gunzler account. tained trails and point out to family Haverstraw, NY Staff Send Us a Letter members that these trails wouldn’t exist or • 3-day free rental of outdoor equipment be in the great condition they are without packages from EMS, Paramus, NJ Edward Goodell Executive Director Email it to [email protected]; in the subject Joshua Howard Director of the efforts of the thousands of Trail Confer - • $50 gift certificate to Hudson Valley line, put “letter to TW editor”; or send Membership & ence supported volunteers. Outfitters in Cold Spring, NY it to Trail Walker Letters, NY-NJ Trail Development • Go to Campmor or any other of the • Wooden Walking Stick from Blue Larry Wheelock NY West Hudson Conference, 156 Ramapo Valley Rd., Trail Conference’s many retail partners and Ridge Mountain Sports, Madison, NJ Regional Mahwah, NJ 07430. Representative show people how much the “members- • $20 gift certificate to Dover Sports Bill O’Hearn Conservation only” discount can save them on their Online in Dover, NJ Director TC Scores at the favorite gear. • Overnight camping package from Ray’s Brenda Holzinger New Jersey The MGM Campaign ends soon, so Sport Shop in North Plainfield, NJ

Regional S

Banff Film Festival M

L sign new members up today! Representative I F R

Jeremy Apgar Cartographer E Prizes and winners will be announced at The more new members you recruit, the D N

Gary Willick Fulfillment E the June annual meeting at Ross Dock. better your chances are at winning any of S /

Coordinator S N Good luck! these great prizes! For more information O I

Catherine Gemmell Administration & T

C and forms, visit www.nynjtc.org/mgm. Information U D O

Manager R P P

Matt Townsend Bear Mountain U YES!! Please sign up my G I

Project Manager B S

Leslie Rapparlie Membership & E friend for all the benefits of N I Development L G N Program Manager I the NY-NJ Trail Conference! K Katy Dieters Volunteer © Coordinator In late February and the first week of Membership Level Single Couple/Family Payment Method: J. Cal Rizzuto Help Desk March, at three sessions of the Banff Supporter $30 $40 Check or money order enclosed Administrator Mountain Film Festival in the Metropoli - Senior $25 $30 (Payable to NY-NJ Trail Conference) Part Time tan area, your TC staff and volunteers Bill my credit card Please Print Visa MasterCard American Express Hedy Abad Membership & garnered close to a whopping $3700 for a Volunteer Associate Name ______Kathy Goldman Office Assistant few hours work. They sold raffles to the Card # ______audience—for the chance to win some Address ______The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is a very great outdoor equipment donated to Exp. ______volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. It is ______the TC by Paragon Sports in a federation of 103 hiking and outdoor groups, Signature ______and 10,000 individuals. and Ramsey Outdoors. City ______State___ Zip _____ printed on recycled content paper Special thank-yous go out to: Katy Home Phone ______Gender: M/F Mail this completed form and payment to: Dieters, Ryan Dolan, Ed Goodell, Lou NY-NJ Trail Conference Work Phone ______Year Born ____ Attn: Membership Department (MGM) Leonardis, Ruth Rosenthal, Michael 156 Ramapo Valley Road Rosenthal, Malcolm Spector, Joe Gindoff, E-mail ______Mahwah, NJ 07430 Visit Us Today! Leslie Rapparlie, and Joshua Howard who Do not share my information with other organizations You can also join at www.nynjtc.org helped spread the word about the Trail or call the office at 201.512.9348 Referred by ______www.NYNJTC.org Conference at the three area showings. Copies of this form are acceptable. Thanks to our hard-working market-eers! Your membership is tax deductible. Dues are not refundable. May/June 2008 Page 3

From the Executive Director backpacking—only hiking/backpacking has environmentally responsible behavior. If people find their way and know something not been declining over the past two decades you believe, as I do, that we have entered an about their local environment. They write Every Day is Trails Day: after steady increases in all activities for era in which humans must learn to live letters to elected officials and spend long decades since they began to be measured. within the ecological constraints of our nights giving testimony to planning boards Making Wild Outdoors Elsewhere, the authors have hypothe - planet, it is very important to have as many to protect and preserve our trail lands and More Accessible sized that a general decline in nature-based people as possible working to lighten other open spaces. recreation is likely due to videophilia—“the humanity’s ecological footprint and solve The rest of the country celebrates Nation - A recent study by Drs. new human tendency to focus on seden - environmental problems of our making. al Trails Day on the first Saturday in June. Oliver Pergams and tary activities involving electronic media.” This is why I believe non-motorized For Trail Conference members, every day is Patricia Zaradic in the (See www.videophilia.org.) access to nature is so important—it con - Trails Day. And every trail is an opportunity October 2007 issue of While I have some questions about the nects us with something essential in our to connect others to nature and renew one’s the Proceedings of the underlying data sources of this research, my heritage as hunter-gathers and it sharpens own connection with nature. National Academy of own experience at the Trail Conference and the awareness we need to find our way for - Sciences has highlighted as a parent both support the larger premise ward into a new age of humans as again what the authors that people, especially children, are becom - environmental stewards. called “a fundamental ing less and less likely to venture into the Trail Conference volunteers provide the and pervasive shift away from nature-based wild outdoors. most simple and ancient form of nature- recreation.” The significance of this trend, and the based recreation—hiking. They provide – Ed Goodell, [email protected] It is worth noting that among the troubling part, is the growing body of evi - the pathways for people to connect with activities studied—park visitation, hunting dence that direct experience of wild nature, wild nature directly. They produce the and fishing, camping, and hiking/ preferably at a young age, results in more maps, guidebooks, and websites to help

Give a little something back to trails by taking part in a trail National project with a Trail Conference crew or member club main - YOU ARE INVITED tenance outing. Or enjoy a day on a trail by joining a hike Get a Historical Trails Day Perspective On sponsored by one of our member clubs. Find an event Hudson Valley Events: below, or visit our NTD page at www.nynjtc.org for the Landscape most up-to-date list of activities in our region. For a national Club Delegates and June 7 listing of events, go to www.americanhiking.org/NTD.aspx All Members Are Invited

When: June 12, 2008 TAKE PART IN A TRAIL PROJECT ENJOY A HIKE Where: Ross Dock, Fort Lee, NJ Final Clean-up and Celebration Union County Hiking Club Plans Social hour will begin at 6pm at LaFarge Property! Event at , NJ with business meeting and guest For details go online at www.nynjtc.org, UCHC plans a day of guided nature speaker Jim Johnson to follow click on Projects and follow LaFarge links, walks and/or trail projects at Watchung starting at 7pm. or contact Brenda Holzinger at Reservation. See www.unioncountynj.org/ [email protected], 201-512-9348, ext. 25 parks/nationaltrailsday.html for details. 8:30am – 12:15pm at Watchung Reserva - AT Project in Dutchess County tion; continental breakfast included. Ollie Simpson of the Dutchess-Putnam Call 908-527-4231 to register. AT Committee will lead participants on a

Hike South Mountain Reservation, G refurbishment of an AT side trail known R O . S as the Beekman Uplands Loop, which was Millburn, NJ, with Union County E D A S

Hiking Club I

a former route of the AT. The trail is in L A P

need of blueberry and mountain laurel Union County Hiking Club plans a mod - J N trimming as well as water management on erate hike for intermediate hikers; 2-3 Meeting site at Ross Dock the northern end. Meet at 9am at the Rt. hours, with several hills, on the yellow 55 AT parking area (west of Pawling, trail through a pine forest. Meet at 10am Hiking trails in our region cover the NY). Contact leader at olliesimpson2005@ at Tulip Springs parking, Brookside Ave. same ground as did American and yahoo.com or 845-298-8379. Leader: Mimi Solomon, 973-379-3910. British armies during the Revolution - ary war. Get a historical perspective on Bear Mountain Trails Project the Hudson Valley’s landscape from Celebrate the day by working at Bear Colonel James M. Johnson, U.S. Mountain. Contact Matt Townsend at Metro Crew Bridge-building in Alley Army, Retired, Ph.D, when he speaks [email protected] for details. Pond Park, Queens to our annual June meeting. June 6, 7 & 8 (Fri. Sat. & Sun.) Alley As the center of the colonies at the West Hudson South Crew Project Park, Eagle Scout Projects. Meet 9am at time of the , the Project to be determined. Contact Brian the upper parking lot, across from the Valley hosted many key Buchbinder for details: 718-218-7563, Sanitation Department, off Winchester figures, battles, and political events [email protected] Blvd. Join the crew and Eagle Scouts in throughout the eight years of war. The building two bridges (17' and 30' long). Sons of Liberty, the leaders of the Rev - Leader: Joe Gindoff, 718-614-2209 or olution, were as active in New York as [email protected] they were in Massachusetts; they print - ed broadsides, encouraged boycotts, Try-A-Trail Crew Day rallied, rioted, and dumped British tea with the West Jersey Crew into the New York Harbor even as Douglas Trail, Worthington State Forest Patriot housewives throughout the Val - We will continue our work building water ley threw their own “tea parties” at the management structures (water bars and expense of merchants and Loyalist check dams) on the Douglas Trail in Hike Ringwood/, NJ neighbors, who supported King Worthington State Forest. with Woodland Trail Walkers George III. The social fabric was Leaders: Monica and David Day, Moderate 7 miles; meet at 10am at ripped apart in the civil war between 732-937-9098 or 908-307-5049 (cell) Ringwood Manor; call to confirm. the Loyalists and Whigs, now called or [email protected] Leader: Ernest Wagner, 973-694-3194. the Patriots. Come and learn about the importance of the Hudson Valley in Long Path North Trail Maintenance Hike the Sussex Branch Trail the fight for liberty. Join the LP North Hiking Club on a trail in the Kittatinnies with Adventures Driving directions and other details maintenance outing on LP section 26— for Women are available online at http://nynjtc.org/ Huntersfield Ridge. Work will include Easy to moderate hike; meet at 10am, out events/meetings.html clearing blowdowns. New volunteers wel - by 2pm. Call 973-644-3592 or go to come! Call for details. Leader: Clarence www.adventuresforwomen.org for details Putman, 607-538-9569. and to register. Hike Hyde Park, NY, Trails with Adirondack Mountain Club, N O

S Mid-Hudson Chapter L E D

E Moderately easy, about 7 miles. Meet at N E

E 10:30 at Poughkeepsie train station (will R U A meet NYC train). Shuttle to Hyde Park. M Trail Conference volunteers will be Rain may cancel. Call leader if in doubt. among those heading into the woods Joint with AMC. Leader: John Kolp, on National Trails Day. 845-496-1731. Page 4 May/June 2008

TRAIL NEWS Conservation Advocacy continued from page 1 March 11 to complete a mile-plus reloca - & tion of the Hewitt-Butler Trail off the From the Ringwood State Park and Ramapo Valley Once again, transportation planning north-south power line in Norvin Green Conservation Director: County Reservation (south) in a fantastic will play a major role in what gets devel - State Forest north of West Brook Road. William P. O’Hearn greenway from the Hudson River to the oped here, as we wait to see the plans for The new route is mainly on footpaths, So Close, Yet So Far — Pompton River that would be easily acces - widening Route 17 and adding exits as it entirely in woods along a ridgeline, and fea - sible from Routes 287 and 17. is changed to federal Interstate 86. At stake tures a beautiful westward panorama of Windows Are Closing in The challenge here is that projects like are possible breaks in a 256-mile corridor . the Gunks and Ramapos Byron Hill Estates, Lorterdan, and Tuxedo along the Shawangunk-Kittatinny Ridge To access the 7.2-mile northern section Reserve are primed to move forward. Perhaps that runs from Rosendale, NY, almost to of the Hewitt-Butler from the south, With all of the preservation activity over a greater concern is the recent designation of the -Maryland border. shoulder parking is available immediately the last few years in the Ramapo Moun - the “Route 287 Corridor in Rockland and The key targeted area for us is a 20- west of 711 West Brook Road, with the tains and the southern Shawangunk Ridge, Westchester Counties” as a desired growth mile stretch from Route 17 in the north trailhead just across the road. Note: West Trail Walker readers could be forgiven for area by the New York Metropolitan Trans - to Route 84 in the south, east of Route thinking that these two areas are secure and portation Council, another example of 209. It includes the towns of Greenville, it is time for the Trail Conference to move regional plans colliding with each other. The Mount Hope, and Deerpark in Orange, its focus on to other areas. Unfortunately, future course will come down to local deci - and Mamakating in Sullivan County. this is not the case. We are in a race to con - sions by local planning boards. Our job is to The Trail Conference has outlined a plan serve the last few critical tracts before we hit educate these local boards and pull in sup - to secure protection of the Shawangunk “build-out,” the point at which all the port from state and regional agencies to save Ridge Trail in this area and we are excit - vacant land in an area is either protected for these last key properties. ed that the Land Trust Alliance is open space or developed as residential or The Shawangunk Ridge, about 35 miles supporting our work with a grant so that commercial buildings. to the northwest, is a much larger project we can develop the information base, In the and water - area, but here, too, our years of hard work maps, volunteer expertise, and other shed right on the New York-New Jersey and progress are in danger of coming up tools that we need to succeed (see story border, we have of course made great short if the Shawangunk Ridge Trail (SRT) below). progress in saving 20,000 acres in Ster - is cut off by new development. The north - If you are interested in helping to pro - ling Forest State Park and some ern portion of the ridge, which connects to tect a green corridor from the Hudson significant tracts in the Torne Valley. In the Catskills, is well protected by the River to the Pompton River or want to be fact, as we stated in the recent testimony , Mohonk Mountain involved in securing an uninterrupted against the Pierson Lakes/Byron Hill House lands, and Minnewaska State Park Shawangunk Ridge Trail, contact me Estates proposed development in the Preserve (wich now includes the area known at [email protected]. Town of Ramapo, we are only five or six as the Awosting Reserve), but the south is a properties away from tying together Ster - crazy jigsaw puzzle of parkland and long ling (to the west), Harriman (east) and stretches of privately owned open space. Conservation & Advocacy News Notes The Hewitt-Butler Trail now avoids Make sure you get Action Alerts from the Trail Conference North train line that defines its western boundary. This is a a power line. so that you can help support our region’s trails, parks, and strategic purchase because it leaves the Trail Conference just one open spaces. Set your email program to accept mail from parcel away from having the western spur of the Shawangunk Brook may run high at times. the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference! Ridge Trail (SRT) run from downtown Port Jervis into Huckle - The north trailhead, with nearby ample berry State Forest. parking, is on the south side of County 511 NEW YORK Persistence was required because although the contract of sale (Greenwood Lake Turnpike), just east of TC Southern Gunks Project was signed in November 2006, there were some breaks in the East Shore Road. Burnt Meadow Road Gets Support from Land Trust Alliance chain of title that needed to be cleared. This took almost a year offers two roadside parking areas. One, The Land Trust Alliance in April announced a grant to the Trail to resolve. Added to this was a discrepancy between the acreage about a half-mile south of County 511, is at Conference to help fund the development of a landowner infor - that was shown on the town tax map and the number in the the Hewitt-Butler east-west power line mation database, maps, outreach efforts, and other tools needed deed, which meant that the Trail Conference was about to pur - crossing (most of this section has also been to successfully complete our trail lands protection campaign on chase a parcel whose exact acreage was unknown. A survey relocated away from the power line). The the southern Shawangunk ridge. A previous grant from LTA would cost almost half the value of the land itself. other parking area, just over a mile south of helped fund a clean-up of a 140-acre parcel on the ridge (LaFarge) Fortunately, at this point Trail Conference board member Seth County 511, is at the Burnt Meadow Trail to ready it for transfer to state DEC. McKee stepped in with a suggestion that we ask someone who crossing. The Burnt Meadow Trail connects Our goal is an uninterrupted 36-mile Shawangunk Ridge Trail has surveyed properties all around this land to do a mini-survey with the Hewitt-Butler 0.8 mile to the west. between in New Jersey and Minnewaska or composite map that would give a fairly accurate picture of the —John Moran, North Jersey Trails Chair State Park Preserve in New York. The southern Gunks project acreage of this land. We did this, and the number was 18.5 acres, targets a 20-mile stretch on the ridge parallelling Route 209 from about what we expected. Having the acreage resolved allowed us Highlands Trail Missing Link Forged Route 17 in the north to the New Jersey border. The corridor to move ahead with the closing, and we are now getting ready to The missing link of the Highlands Trail crosses through the towns of Greenville, Mount Hope, and start handing the land off to the New York State Dept. of Envi - between Windbeam Mountain and the Deerpark in Orange, and Mamakating in Sullivan County. This ronmental Conservation. Blue Mine in Norvin Green State Forest is stretch is the only unprotected section of a continuous greenway We thank our former Land Acquisition Director John Myers now completed. There is limited parking corridor that extends from the Maryland state line all the way to for securing this property, and our attorney, Bob Augello, for his on Townsend Road, and additional parking the Catskills. patience and determination in tying up all of the loose ends. at Ringwood’s Recreation Area on Stone - In recent years Trail Conference crews have built new sections town Road. An additional trail between of the SRT as well as new connecting trails to it. See page 1 for Belleayre Resort Update this new section and Ball Mountain in details about the latest trail enhancement in this area—an exten - As this issue went to press, planning was in progress for an analy - Norvin Green State Forest, which would sion of the Minisink Trail just outside the city of Port Jervis. sis of the impact the proposed resort development would have on provide an aesthetically pleasing loop trail, Read Conservation Director Bill O’Hearn’s column (above) to views from trails and summits in nearby areas of the Catskill For - has been proposed but is not yet approved. learn more about our project in the southern Shawangunks. est Preserve. Trail Conference volunteers planned to participate by Stay tuned. hiking trails and taking photos and GPS coordinates during a bal - TC Buys Strategic 18.5 Acres on Shawangunk Ridge loon test required by NYS DEC as part of the environmental Route 106 Closed in Harriman S.P. In yet another example of the value of vigilance when it comes to impact study. (Areas from which the balloon could be spotted Route 106 between Little Long Pond and matters of real estate, the Trail Conference closed on an 18.5-acre would be visually impacted by the planned development.) Kanawauke Lake is closed until at least the Shawangunk Ridge Meanwhile, in late February the DEC released specifics about end of summer. Signs point to a bridge property in Deer - new ski trails it intends to build as part of the project. The doc - closing on the route as the reason. Bottom park, NY, in March uments indicate a reduction from nine miles of new ski swaths, line: trail access parking areas are open, but of this year. The par - as originally planned, to six, with three miles of trails on the east - accessible by car only from the west (Route cel, known the as ern side of the mountain no longer on the drawing board. Keep 17/17A) side of the park. (A park official Ferretti property, up with news about Belleayre on the Trail Conference website; told the TC that hikers can walk on the touches Huckleberry follow the links from Advocacy at www.nynjtc.org. damaged area of the road, however.) From State Forest on its Seven Lakes Drive, the Kanawauke parking northern border and NEW JERSEY area is available, but the pulloffs for the a private landowner NJ ATV Damage Inventory & Photo Contest Ramapo-Dunderberg crossing, the Victory on its southern edge, ATV legislation was still cooking but on the back burner in New Trailhead, and the White Bar and Island and features a beauti - Jersey as this issue went to press. The Trail Conference is taking Pond Road lot are not; they can be accessed ful waterfall. advantage of the time to beef up our case for ATV regulation. This only from Route 17. Like most of the effort includes compiling documentation of environmental dam - land along the age to state parks, trails, and open spaces through photos and your Milford-Montague Walkway Closed Shawangunk Ridge, reports. Keep those pictures coming! Take your camera when you Hikers should take into account that they the Ferretti property are out hiking and if you see ATVs or signs of the damage they will be unable to cross the R E

G is a heavily forested have caused, take pictures and email them with details (where, between New Jersey and Pennsylvania by N I Z

L tract with rock out - when) to [email protected]. GPS coordinates of damage are way of the Milford-Montague Toll Bridge’s O H

A crops. It drops much appreciated also, but are not required. pedestrian walkway from now until D N

E steeply to the Metro- Memorial Day 2009. The bridge is under - R B A small waterfall graces newly preserved going extensive rehabilitation. land in the Shawangunks. Find Trail News online at www.nynjtc.org. May/June 2008 Page 5 Trail Crew Teaching Practical Skills to Schedules Trails Volunteers at Locations

Throughout the NY-NJ Area May – June 2008 For the latest schedules and additional May — June Workshops details, go to nynjtc.org and click on “Trail crews/Work trips.” For information or to register for a work - TBD = To Be Determined shop, go to www.nynjtc.org and click on For all trips bring work gloves, water, “Workshops” in left-hand column or lunch, insect repellent. In some cases, contact [email protected] or call tools are provided. Contact leaders in 201-512-9348, ext. 26. advance for meeting times and places. Volunteers must become members of Additional workshops may be added at our the Conference to participate in these Members of the Shawangunk Ridge/Long Path South crews, led by Jakob Franke, second Bear Mountain Trails Project (BMTP) by projects. A one-time “guest” participa - from right, were busy on the ridge last fall. Their accomplishments are featured on page 1. group request or popular demand. Contact tion is allowed, so bring your friends. Matt Townsend, BMTP manager, at June 22 (Sunday) [email protected] [email protected]. , Worthington State Forest May 8 (Thursday) NORTH JERSEY WEEKEND CREW We will complete construction of a mouldering privy Gorge Trail Leader: Sandy Parr, 732-469-5109 at Backpacker Site 2. Leader: Bob Marshall Second Sunday of each month CENTRAL JERSEY TRAIL PROJECT May 10 (Saturday) Trips start at 9:30 am; call for location and Contact: Ellen Cronan, [email protected] Brooks Lake Trail details during the week before the scheduled trip Leader: Monica Day day. Tackle a variety of projects ranging from trail ??Anything for this, or was it a one-day project?? repair to bridge building in northern New Jersey. May 22 (Thursday) HIGHLANDS TRAIL CREW Long Path NORTH JERSEY WEEKDAY CREW Leader: Glenn Oleksak, [email protected] Leader: John Moran, [email protected] Leader: Bob Marshall We meet on the first or second Sunday of each May 31 (Saturday) This crew covers the NJ Ramapos, Ringwood S. P., month, with additional trips sometimes scheduled. We Norvin Green S. F., and NJ Palisades area. Its TBD tackle a variety of Highlands Trail projects from trail Leader: Chris Ezzo purpose is to respond quickly to immediate maintenance to trail building. Most upcoming spring needs, rather than to schedule definite events far trips will be in Hunterdon County, NJ. For details on June 7 (Saturday) May 3 & 4 (Saturday & Sunday) in advance. If you’re interested in being on call trips, go to www.nynjtc.org and click on “Trail TBD Start time is 9am for this work, contact John Moran by email. crews/Work trips” at left. Please contact leader if you Leader: Brian Buchbinder #335: Basic Stone Cribbing (May 3) are coming on a trip so that you can be notified of #336: Basic Stone Cribbing (May 4) WEST JERSEY CREW cancellations. June 12 (Thursday) Coordinator: Matt Townsend Leaders: Monica and David Day Long Path Instructor: TBD Phone: 732-937-9098 Cell: 908-307-5049 METRO TRAILS CREW Leader: Bob Marshall Contact: Matt Townsend, [email protected] Email: [email protected] Leader: Joe Gindoff, 718-614-2209 Location: Website: www.trailstobuild.com [email protected] June 14 (Saturday) May 17 & 18 (Saturday & Sunday) Sterling Lake Loop Traill Beginners are welcomed on all work trips. May 17 (Saturday) Start time is 9am Leader: Claudia Ganz All events begin at 9:00am. Please phone/email the Pelham Bay Park #337: Stone Paving (May 17) leaders for meeting location and driving directions. Contact: Liz Gonzalez, 646-319-5159 #338: Stone Paving (May 18) June 21 (Saturday) There is usually a walk to the work site, so please Meet 10am at the canoe launch next to the Orchard Coordinator: Matt Townsend Cornell Mine Trail be there on time (call the leaders’ cell phone if you Beach Parking Lot. Coastal Cleanup Instructor: TBD are coming to an event and are running late). Rain Leader: Chris Ezzo Contact: Matt Townsend, [email protected] cancels – if in doubt, call the leaders between 6:00 May 18 (Sunday) Location: Bear Mountain State Park and 6:30 that morning. NEW JERSEY APPALACHIAN TRAIL FIELD CREW Alley Pond Park, Queens Leader: Gene Giordano, May 31, June 1 Meet 9am at the corner of 233 St. and 67 Ave. [email protected] May 3 (Saturday) Trail maintenance / Waterbar construction June 4 & June 7 Terrace Pond North Trail, Wawayanda State Citizen Scientist Invasive Plant Monitoring Park Second Saturday of Each Month, Training sessions are planned to prepare for the June 6, 7 & 8 (Fri. Sat. & Sun.) April through November We will construct rock steps on several of the steep - National Trails Day, Eagle Scout Projects third and final year of our USDA research project. er climbs of the Terrace Pond North relocation. Work begins at 9am and is finished before 4pm. Please see page 11 for details. Alley Pond Park, Queens Covers the entire NJ section of the AT, blue-blazed Meet 9am at the upper parking lot, across from Contact: Anne Osborn, [email protected], May 17 (Saturday) Try-A-Trail Crew Day! side trails, and shelters. Supplements work by our 201-512-9348 the Sanitation Department, off Winchester Blvd. individual maintainers as requested and for special Warren Trail, Jenny Jump State Park Join us in building two bridges (17’ and 30’ long) Work continues on this new trail. work projects. Workers bring gloves, lunch, and water; all tools, equipment and training provided. June 21 (Saturday) Email leader to be placed on email notification list. May 31 (Saturday) Van Cortlandt Park, John Muir Trail Terrace Pond North Trail, Wawayanda State Park Meet 9am at the riding stable parking lot BEAR MOUNTAIN TRAILS PROJECT We will continue with trail improvemen ts on Trail maintenance Project Manager: Matt Townsend, several of the steeper climbs of the Terrace [email protected] or 201-512-9348 Pond North relocation. EAST HUDSON CREW For info and to register: [email protected], Work dates to be announced on website. Sign up for or call 201-512-9348, ext. 17 June 7 (Saturday) National Trails Day email notification at www.nynjtc.org; click on “Trail Try-A-Trail Crew Day! Crews,Work Trips” then Sign-up for Trail Crew at top Second Saturday of Each Month Douglas Trail, Worthington State Forest of page. Beginner work trips. We will continue our work building water manage - ment structures (water bars and check dams) on WEST HUDSON SOUTH CREW Weekly Work Trips the Douglas Trail in Worthington State Forest. Leaders: Chris Ezzo (Crew Chief): 516-431-1148, Scheduled Thursday through Monday [email protected] (including on weekends that have workshops) June 21 (Saturday) Brian Buchbinder: 718-218-7563, Appalachian Trail, Worthington State Forest [email protected] June 7 (Saturday), National Trails Day We will begin construction of a mouldering privy at Claudia Ganz: 212-633-1324, [email protected] Work trip at Bear Mountain Backpacker Site 2. Bob Marshall: 914-737-4792, Learn to prepare rocks for use in crib walls [email protected] and trail paving at Trail U. Monica Day: 732-937-9098, Cell: 908-307-5049,

grams already in place to protect the interactive capabilities, a summer intern information portal and virtual communi - Trail Conference Catskill region. In addition, the program program that will train college students ty for the entire Catskill area. The Kicks Off Catskill will educate visitors and residents of the and place them on popular trails and sum - fledgling website is located at region about the hiking trails mits for hands-on outreach, http://trailkeeper.wordpress.com. Please Trailkeeper Program and myriad other outdoor and an educational program check back often for content updates and recreation resources available for K-12 schools and youth new functionality. The educational out - The Catskill Trailkeeper Program is an in the greater Catskills, as well groups throughout the Catskill reach program will begin in early 2009 exciting new education and stewardship as about the fragility of this region. The Trailkeeper sum - and the summer internship program will project the Trail Conference is inaugurat - region and its importance to mer outreach internships are be in place for summer 2009. If you are ing in partnership with Catskill the environmental health of inspired by the Appalachian interested in working as a volunteer proj - Mountainkeeper. New York State. Trail Ridgerunner and ADK ect manager for this program or in any The Catskill Trailkeeper Program will Ultimately, the Catskill Summit Steward programs. other capacity, please contact Brenda focus on grassroots-based education and Trailkeeper Program will During its first year, TC and Holzinger via email ([email protected]) advocacy initiatives as a new conservation achieve its goals with an internet informa - Mountainkeeper staff focus is on creating or telephone (201-512-9348, ext. 25). stewardship resource to complement pro - tion resource center that will include a website that eventually will grow into an Page 6 May/June 2008 * TRAIL REFLECTIONS * Volunteer Classifieds: Get Involved! Attention All Trail Stewards: Maintainers, Crew Members, Monitors, etc: Have you enjoyed a good day on the trail while doing maintenance? Project Manager: Web-Redesign, Office Assistant: Order Processing Share your experience with words or a photo. Send your contributions Implementation & Launch Retrieve and print electronic orders to Trail Walker editor Georgette Weir at [email protected]. Help guide our technical and creative (retail) coming from our web store into a team to a successful launch of a dynamic database. Charge the orders through a Three Crew Members Reflect new Trail Conference website! Candidate credit card virtual charging website, enter should have a working knowledge of cur - the order details into our financial soft - on Building Something for the Ages rent web technologies and delivery ware (QuickBooks), and ship out the systems (Drupal content management orders. After becoming proficient in this, Something to Show As I walked the trail at the end of year system a plus). Prior experience working the volunteer will move onto taking and at the End of the Day two, I felt a personal relationship with indi - on websites in a team environment with processing phone-in and walk-in orders. By Sona Mason, Bear Mountain volunteer vidual rocks and the people who set them. management experience a plus. Familiari - Familiarity with a database system Here’s where Peter, Matt, and I pinned base ty with trails within the tri-state region (preferably Filemaker), an accounting There is something immensely satisfying rocks on bedrock. The steel pins are cov - would be helpful. Contact: Edward software (preferably QuickBooks), skill about standing back at the end of a day’s ered by duff now, but I know they’re there. Goodell, 201-512-9348, ext.12, using the Internet. Two mornings or trail-building, and having a manifestly tan - Here’s where Matt and I cut sections out of [email protected]. afternoons a week for a month. Contact: gible end product such as a magnificent a dead oak that was leaning over the trail. [email protected] or 201-512-9348, stone stairway to show for it. So unlike Here’s the section of crib wall where I Help with Closter Nature Center ext. 26. today’s increasingly technocratic work envi - burned out trying to keep up with Claire. (NJ) Trails Project ronment, where more often than not, the Here are the steps below the seasonal water - The NY-NJ TC will be improving trails at Join Friends of Darlington most visible result of one’s labor is a clean fall that I set with Tom and Ollie. Is there a the Closter Nature Center in Closter, NJ in Schoolhouse desk or blank screen. name for ‘rock’ druid? late May through early June. Trail improve - The Friends of the Darlington Schoolhouse Year three on The Mountain will have ments include installing 700 linear feet of are seeking volunteers to help in the follow - new challenges. The work is getting farther plank puncheon boardwalk and a 4' wide x ing areas: from road access. The trail will go through a 70' long elevated boardwalk. Volunteers are • Technology: A volunteer to help boulder field. There are a lot of blowdowns needed to dismantle deteriorating struc - digitize the Darlington archives and on the flagged route. When do we start? tures and construct new ones. Work begins maintain the website May 14th and will continue Wednesday - • General: Volunteers to join the Building Something for the Ages Sundays for the following three to four committee and help direct the future By Catherine Kelleher, volunteer with the weeks. Contact Eddie Walsh, Project Man - of the schoolhouse Potomac AT Club and NY-NJ TC ager, at [email protected] or If interested, please contact Chris Tausch 845-591-1537 for more information or to at [email protected] for Trail work is unrelated to my profession, get involved. more information. information technology in the telecom industry, or to my background and educa - Talk to New Jersey N tion. Perhaps because of this, it is a wonderful O S Help spread the word about the Trail A diversion. Working on trail projects, even for M A

Conference in New Jersey and enjoy some N just a day, has been a great way to clear the O S interesting events. Support NJ Regional Work that will outlast its creators. mind from routine issues while learning Representative Brenda Holzinger by something new. A work trip borders on a staffing our information table at events in Not only does this monument of stone pocket vacation—becoming totally absorbed New Jersey during April, May, and June. look good, but it will probably outlast the in a different experience—without the elab - Contact: [email protected] or 201- lifetime of its creators. Neither will it orate advance prep, adjustment time, or 512-9348, ext. 26. become outdated and descend into obscu - catch-up after returning. rity in some dusty filing cabinet or box or Trail construction on the scale of Bear Catskill Trailkeeper Project Manager even more invisible hard drive, but will be Mountain just doesn’t happen much these The Trail Conference seeks a project man - used and appreciated by many others for days. You still have some trails needing a bit ager for a new Catskill Trailkeeper program. years to come. It will stand as its own ode of a reroute or occasionally a new route cut, VBA Programmer Needed for New Work in partnership with Catskill Moun - to nature, being made of the materials of but few projects have the time, resources, or Marketing Project tainkeeper to develop this stewardship and nature, taken just a few feet away. True, it skills to do so much work with stone. Per - We are looking to expand our publications education program for trails in Catskills . will erode, but only incrementally, adding haps it is a bit elitist, but it is satisfying to sales and could use assistance program - (See page 5 for program details.) Contact: character to its beauty. Mosses and lichens work on something that can last decades, not ming Microsoft Map Point to meet our Brenda Holzinger, [email protected] will gradually add their adornment, for pic - just seasons. The useful life of this trail is cer - needs. This project will involve MS Access, or 201-512-9348, ext. 25. nickers and scout groups to further tainly many multiples that of any application Excel, Word and Map Point. Contact vol - discover and enjoy. [email protected] for more information. Maintainer Openings in NJ and NYC And best of all, there is an unequalled feel - Apply now for maintainer openings on the ing of contentment at the end of such a day Event Planner Warren Trail in Warren County and in Stokes with the satisfaction of a job well done, know - Help make the ONE Fest event successful State Forest in Sussex County, both in New ing that you can go back at any time to gloat for the TC, club affiliates and exhibitors. Jersey. There also are openings in the Metro over your own bit of hand-forged eternity. Assist with promoting the event to affili - region (, including Staten ates to help attract exhibitors and Island). Contact: [email protected] or Looking Forward to Year Three attendees. If you have good communica - 201-512-9348, ext. 26. on The Mountain tion skills, high energy and a positive By Steve Zubarik, West-Hudson Trail Crew attitude, contact [email protected] to Contact [email protected] or 201-512- member and Bear Mountain Volunteer get involved with this event. 9348, ext. 26, to indicate your interest or get more information about these or other During the first year of the Bear Mountain Tool Quartermaster volunteer opportunities. project, in 2006, I learned some basic tech - The Trail Conference is looking for a consci - niques at the workshops: crib wall entious soul to help us inventory and track construction, stone splitting, and rock pin - our vast storehouse of tools and equipment. ning. It was the start-up year, so I got Catherine Kelleher, Bear Mountain Volunteer This includes rock bars, grip hoists and incli - involved with moving a tool box down to nometers but also GPS’s, video projectors the worksite and making a 280-foot chute software currently being developed. and tabletop displays. All of these are for gravel. During the 2007 season, my For those with an ever practical bent, purchased with our members’ charitable curiosity drove me to The Mountain every there are some generally applicable skills to donations, so we want to make sure they are couple of weeks. Here’s some of what I saw. be learned at Bear Mountain, in addition being put to good use and in good condition. There were interesting examples of field to a host of trail skills. With so much to be If you enjoy keeping good records and have engineering and puzzle solving going on. accomplished, observing the project man - a few hours per month, we want to talk with Erin cut a rectangular hole in bedrock to agement is in itself fascinating. Getting you. Contact: [email protected] or set a base stone for a crib wall. Rich and Jon tools and supplies in place, coordinating a 201-512-9348, ext. 26. used a grip hoist and dragline to remove an shifting and variable work force, setting up inconvenient tree trunk. Jed and Eddie equipment and executing tasks like con - Bear Mountain Camp rigged a double, round-trip high line to struction of a section of steps, cribbing, or & Tool Quartermaster belay buckets of surfacing material down to a sidehill is a case study ready for the Proj - If you are tool-savvy and have general the new trail. Motorized wheelbarrows ect Management Institute’s body of handy-man skills, you are a great candi - showed up. Standards were still very high. knowledge known as the PM-BOK. date to help us at our base camp at Bear Eddie Walsh still asked, “Are you satisfied In a way I’m glad the effort at Bear Mountain (Lower Twin Lake Camp). with that?” when he saw a problem. Mountain is large enough to require sever - This camp will be home for the season for A new attraction was talking to the pro - al more seasons of work. I intend to take our three paid trail staff as well as a resting fessionals (trail gypsies) who rotated advantage of them. Opportunities to learn place and getaway for volunteers who through to lead workshops and work on on this scale just aren’t readily available. come for a weekend or extended trail the trail. I liked hearing about the places Each time on the mountain has been both work vacation. Contact Bear Mountain they’ve worked since their last Bear Moun - an interesting learning experience and a Program Manager Matt Townsend at tain stints. Some built with mud in Costa satisfying day’s work. I just wish the project [email protected] or 201-501-9348, Rica. Others worked on trails in New Mex - were a little closer to where I live, inside the ext. 24. ico, Yosemite, and Alaska. Another was a Washington, D.C. beltway. cook on the Clearwater sloop. Vicarious? Certainly. But still a pleasure. May/June 2008 Page 7 Science & Ecology Climate Change Is on the Way: How Will the Woods Respond? By Joan Ehrenfeld

Trees live so long—200, 300 years, maybe more—that it seems inconceivable that the forests we love to hike through will change dramatically, perhaps as we watch. But for - est scientists are nervously watching the woods, anticipating that many changes may be coming soon. There is now no doubt that people are changing the climate on earth: change is already well underway, Our region currently supports diverse forest communities. Projections of forest tree distributions based on climate models and assuming continued and will continue at ever-increasing rates. high levels of CO 2 emissions show the loss of much of this forest diversity. See http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/atlas/tree/ne_fortypes.html. While most attention is, naturally, focused on the implications of these changes for Climate change is already affecting What can we expect in the forests southern species, such as southern red oak, human welfare, all other creatures—ani - plants and animals throughout the world of our region? turkey oak, post oak, even loblolly pine, are mals, plants, and even microbes—will be in many ways. A few examples will illus - Because temperature and moisture condi - projected to become more common. affected as profoundly as people are. trate this. Coral reefs are increasingly tions affect so many aspects of the lives of Forest Service scientists have also used Indeed, there is overwhelming evidence experiencing bleaching events, in which the all plants and animals, it is certain that the these projections to forecast changes in for - that human-caused climate change has corals turn white and die because tempera - biology of many species will change. It is est communities; they project a change already greatly affected many species, from ture stress kills the symbiotic algae that live very difficult, however, to predict exactly from diverse forest communities in north - plankton to bears, and from the tropics to within the coral organism. As this has been which species will change, in what ways, ern New Jersey and southern New York to the Arctic. happening at a rapidly accelerating rate and by how much. It can be expected that a situation with only oak-hickory forests Projections of climate change in the mid- over the past 10 years, it is now estimated more southern species, including pest throughout the region. Atlantic region show that we can expect that up to 50 percent of coral reefs may be species like kudzu, the highly invasive vine, Finally, forest service scientists are apply - warmer and shorter winters with more rain on the verge of collapse; coral reefs may may move north into our area. Heat-sensi - ing these models to migratory birds: they and less snow, droughts occurring during most largely disappear by mid-century. Numer - tive species that now reach their forecast that forest birds, such as wood war - summers, and longer, hotter summer seasons ous species of animals—birds, insects, southernmost point of occurrence in New blers, thrushes, and orioles, may experience (see www.northeastclimateimpacts.org). copepods in the plankton of the oceans, Jersey, for example, may depart for more major shifts in their ranges as climate and What this means is that by 2070-2090, among others—have shifted their ranges northern areas. plant communities change. Visit their web - New Jersey could have a climate like that of northward. Wildflowers are flowering earli - The U. S. Forest Service has combined site (www.nrs.fs.fed.us/atlas/index.html) Georgia and South Carolina today, if emis - er and fall is arriving later in many parts of several climate models with detailed infor - and see for yourself how climate change sions continue at their current rate. Also, temperate, boreal, and arctic environ - mation about the climatic preferences of may affect your favorite species of tree. extreme events—periods of very hot, very ments. Bird migration and breeding most forest tree species to make some pro - The projections are sobering. They tell cold, very dry, or very wet weather—often patterns have also changed dramatically in jections about where forest trees will be us we should enjoy our diverse forests now, have larger effects on organisms than do some places; one species, the pied flycatch - found. Species typically found in cool, and, obviously, work as hard as we can to the slow changes in seasonal averages. In er, has become nearly extinct in the moist environments—hemlock, beech, red prevent the amount of climate change that other words, one extreme event can “reset” Netherlands over just the past decade, oak, sugar maple—and many of the com - may be heading our way. plant and animal populations and restruc - because of a mismatch between its altered mon species on ridgetops in our area, such ture whole ecological communities in ways breeding times and the availability of its as chestnut oak and black oak, are expected Joan Ehrenfeld is a member of the Depart - that last a long time. insect prey. to decline in abundance over the next cen - ment of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural tury, some precipitously. Conversely, Resources, SEBS, Rutgers University Hike Logistics for Small Bipeds (i.e. Kids) By Marek Stycos

A drumbeat of research news indicates young people avoid physical activity, especially in the outdoors. Niko Stycos doesn’t fit that stereotype. Here, his Dad reports on the techniques he used to bequeath to Niko and his friends the pleasures of hiking.

The Age: What’s the right age to start hiking? My son, Niko, was hiking on day three, strapped to my chest in a Baby Bjorn. Rap - idly we moved into a Kelty backpack carrier. At this age, you may want to sur - round the child’s neck with a towel to avoid whiplash while they gain muscle control. M O C We came to an agreement at about the . S O C

time he was 2½: “At the age of 3, we’re Y T S

splitting the work 50/50. You walk half the @ K E R

time and I’ll carry you half the time. At A M 3½, you’re on your own—the backpack An early photo of Niko Stycos, who has been hiking with his Dad since infancy. An older Niko knows the swing of things. won’t fit you anymore.” This was accepted like all things at that age—parents are The Throttle: How do you keep Goals: What are you looking for? Avoid: omniscient, so it must be so. them going? There must be premeditated highlights to • Sugar. This will provide false energy “Hey, keep your eyes peeled for the next look forward to. These should be noted and then a super lull, replete with The Selection: Where to go? [TRAIL JUNCTION], [VIEWPOINT], during the “selection” phase. “Today we’re “Are we there yet” complaints. Get junior reading maps with you immedi - [LAKE], [STREAM], [ROPE SWING], looking for [the Lemon Squeezer], [the • Anything with more than five ately. Explain, “We need to find a ‘P’ for [BLUEBERRY PATCH], [INSERT Boston Mine], [Claudius Smith’s Den], ingredients. Most “health” bars are parking at the beginning and the end of our ITEM HERE]. See if you can spot it first.” [the Ice Caves]… loaded with garbage. By the next day, hike for an end to end,” or “We are looking “Do you want to be point person? Okay, your child may have processed it. for a loop today,” or “ * means killer view!” then you’ve got to be the pace setter too.” Food: What to bring (this assumes • High fructose corn syrup. You get the idea. At age 3 Niko was suggest - Watch their temperature. Kids don’t regu - day hiking only—not overnights). Worse than sugar (see above). ing useable routes (perhaps by mistake?). late. Ask them, “Are you too hot or cold?” Snacks: Kids need constant fuel to • Partially hydrogenated anything. You’ll be surprised how many times you take maintain a pace. Will slow them down like L.A. traffic. Length vs. Time: How big a hike? off their hat to find a sweat-laden noggin. • Best: Fresh, organic fruit. • Artificial or natural flavors (really the Don’t worry so much about length. Just They’ll speed up when feeling balanced. You will see this converted into same thing, per Fast Food Nation ). make sure the first one isn’t a monster that Bring a small knapsack or backpack energy almost immediately. will turn them off permanently. Plan with extra clothes. Remember, once cotton • 2nd Best: Fresh, organic juice. Recap: Wasn’t that fun!? enough TIME. Start early, the worst expe - gets wet, it stays wet. Wool and polypropy - Anything processed takes longer Bring a camera and take photos and scan rience for a child is rushing: “I’ll tell you lene will dry while being worn. Think to convert into energy. the map with the specific hike highlighted. about that later, we’ve got to hurry or we’ll multiple hats and layers (less weight and • 3rd Best: Homemade granola Later you can review the good times and miss the Flintstones reruns!” Let them roll bulk, more warmth). (it’s easy, ask me for a recipe). keep reinforcing that hiking is a blast. at their own pace, with gentle prodding. Do not add candy or sugar (see below). Page 8 May/June 2008 HI KERS’ ALMANAC A Sampling of Upcoming Hikes Sponsored by Member Clubs

May Saturday, May 10 ADK-MH. Waterfall Hike Taconics-Race Brook, CT. Leader: Saturday, May 24 WTW. Loantaka Park, Morristown, NJ. Leaders: Hermann and Alvin DeMaria 845-255-1704. 10 miles In the vicinity of Salisbury, WTW. Pyramid Mtn., Boonton, NJ. Leader: Wanda Gilbert, Thursday, May 1 Marlene Memmer, 973-267-0539; please call to confirm and for CT. We will hike the Race Brook Trail, with numerous waterfalls. 973-334-7585; please call to confirm. Meet: 10am at Pyramid Mtn. UCHC. Bearfort Ridge, Hewitt State Forest, NJ. Leader: George meeting place. Meet: 10am at Loantaka. Easy 5-6 miles. Then south along the AT, through Sages Ravine, to cars (shuttle). visitors center. Easy 3 miles. Smith, 973-778-3586. Meet: 10am at A&P in Hewitt for short Call for car pooling. caravan to trailhead. Strenuous morning and easy afternoon; IHC. Appalachian Trail – Culvers Gap to Buttermilk Falls, NJ. AFW. , NJ. Leader: call 973-644-3592 SHORE. The Bridges & Waterways of New York’s Central Park. about 8 miles. Leaders: Guy and Jen Percival, 973-590-7437. Meet: 9am at or go to www.adventuresforwomen.org for details and to register. Augusta, NJ, park & ride, Rt. 206 at Rt. 15. Moderately strenuous Leader: Matthew Brozyna, 917-912-9533. Meet: 9am sharp at the Meet: 10am. Easy to moderate hike; out by 2pm. Saturday, May 3 Atrium entrance to the Time Warner Towers Complex at 59th St. 8 miles, mostly along the AT with a major climb rewarded by UCHC. Watchung Reservation, Mountainside, NJ. Leader: UCHC. Watchung Trail Maintenance, NJ. Leader: preregister & Columbus Circle. Rain or Shine! Subway: take the A, D or 1 train views of the Delaware River and Poconos. Buttermilk Falls trail is Leslie Bischoff, 908-233-7454. Meet: 10am at Trailside Nature and with Trailside at 908-789-3670. Meet: 9:30am; we’ll work until to 59th St. This moderately paced adventure will take you under, lovely in the spring. Shuttle required. Science Center. Fast paced 5-6 miles with some rocky trails; for noon. Have fun while giving back something to the trails; meet over, around and through many of the amazing architectural AFW. Wave Hill/The Cloisters, NY. Leader: call 973-644-3592 or advanced hikers. Rain cancels. new people while learning a new skill. No experience needed. wonders of Central Park (arches, bridges, and waterways). We go to www.adventuresforwomen.org for details and to register. Bring gloves, trash bag, and clippers/lopping shears if you have begin our journey at the southwest tip of Central Park South and SHORE. The Jersey / Hudson River Saunter - Part 2. Leader: Easy hike. them. Severe weather cancels. zig-zag our way up the eastern half of Central Park to The Harlem Matthew Brozyna, 917-912-9533. If you have been searching for a UCHC. Cooper Mill to Kay Environmental Center, Chester, NJ. Meer at 110th St. Then we circle back along the western half of the journey with spectacular views of the Big Apple, but from a differ - WTW. Central Park, Manhattan. Leaders: Middy Weissbart and Leader: John Gilris, 973-386-1168. Meet: 10am at Cooper Mill; call park and finish at Sheep’s Meadow. Please bring water and lunch ent perspective, make it a must to join us on this amazing 14+ mile Irene Kelvasa, 212-246-6641; please call to confirm and for for directions. 4+ miles at moderate pace; suitable for beginners, or snack for this fascinating 5-hour trek of approx. 8 miles. medium-paced walk. First, we walk across the GW Bridge from meeting place. Easy 4 miles. optional 2-mile extension. Hike along the Black River. Rain cancels. Manhattan; then we will spiral south along The Palisades, The UCHC. South Mtn. Reservation, Millburn, NJ. Leader: Clotilde Sunday, May 18 ADK-MH. Northern Catskills , NY. Leader: Jean- Cliffs, and The Shores of New Jersey. Later we pass through Lanig, 732-549-4977. Meet: 10am at Tulip Springs parking, WEC. Buck Mtn. with the Highlands Hikers, NJ. Leader: Charlie Claude Fouéré ([email protected]; 845-462-0142 before Historic Hoboken, and finally end our adventure at the newly Brookside Ave., Millburn. Easy, pleasant hike at a moderate pace. Toole; call Weis Ecology Center at 973-835-2160 for details and to 9pm). Meet: Contact leader for place, time, car-pool arrange - rebuilt pier near the tip of Jersey (Liberty) City, N.J. Please bring Rain cancels. preregister. Meet: 9:30am. 4-5 miles at easy to moderate pace. ments. 7+ miles will take us from the Barnum Road parking lot to plenty of water, fresh fruit & nuts for energy, and/or lunch for this Hike western side of Norvin Green State Forest; hills with views of visually stunning, 7+ hour “mini-saunter.” We return to Manhattan ADK-MH. , NY. Leader: John Kolp, 845- Thomas Cole Mtn. and on to Black Dome offering beautiful views. Manhattan and northern Wyanokies. Fee $8. 496-1731. Strenuous, 10-mile hike up the Trestle Trail and along the All-day hike; bring lunch, water and wear adequate clothing. by PATH ($1.50 fare). Meet: 9:15am at the information booth in the Western Ridge on the Long Path. Cross-over and hike out to High IHC. Wanaque Ridge Trail, NJ. Leader: Pete Heckler, 973-831- GW Bridge Port Authority Bus Terminal (178th St./Broadway). By SHORE. Roosevelt Island, NYC. Leader: Louis Kleinman, Knob. Return via Dark Hollow, either along the marked trail or the 2307 (no calls morning of hike); please preregister by email at Subway: take the A Train to the 175th St. Station. [email protected] or 646-232-4134 by Thursday evening old hunters’ trail along the brook. Rain may cancel. Call leader if in [email protected]. Meet: 9:30am at Back Beach Park, Haskell, if you plan to attend. Co-leader: Tom McBreen, 516-812-0156 doubt. Meet 10am at Black Rock Fish & Game Club parking area on NJ. Moderate 7 miles along this new trail, past Indian Rock, with (home), 516-238-8073 (cell). Combination of historical walking tour NY 32 and Angola Road, Orange County south of Cornwall. excellent views of Wyanokies. Hike around Ramapo Lake to return. and photography tour. Meet 9:45am for 10am start, at Tram Plaza SHORE. The Great Saunter, Manhattan. Annual 32-mile walk at 59th St. and 2nd Ave. See entire island — historical ruins, apart - around Manhattan’s rim. For information and to register in ment complexes, commercial district. Many photo opportunities. advance, go to www.shorewalkers.org. The pace is steady, but not Lunch at local restaurant (or bring your own lunch). About 8 miles fast. Most of the route is fairly flat. We keep to the waterside as round trip, moderate pace, or take the island bus for $0.25 ($0.10 much as possible. No rain date. We’ll go rain or shine and many of for seniors!). Return via tram, subway, or bridge to Queens and us will make it round, regardless of the weather. We walk through subway. Rain cancels; but rain date on Sunday, May 17, 2008. more than a dozen parks, and touch a dozen cultures. There are Sunday, May 11 many points from which you can easily drop off and catch public transportation. ADK-R. Trestle to Trestle (TC map #114). Leader: call 201-816- 9465 for details and meeting place. Moderate 7.5 miles. Sunday, May 4 AFW. Wawayanda State Park, NJ. Leader: call 973-644-3592 or WWW. Terrace Pond to Flagpole Vista, NJ. Leader: Don Weise; go to www.adventuresforwomen.org for details and to register. call Weis Ecology Center at 973-835-2160 for details and to pre - Meet: 10am. Moderate hike; out by 3pm. register. Meet: 9am. 10 miles at fast pace. Clinton Rd. to Warwick Tpk. We’ll rock scramble on new trails and bag two of the West NYR. Lord Stirling Park, NJ. Leader: Don Recklies, 718-768-9036; Milford Baker’s Dozen peaks. Fee $8. call leader for hike details. Meet: 7:55am at NY Penn Station for 8:11 NJT train to Lyons Station, arrive at 9:27; return from Convent GAHC. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and Greenwood Cemetery, Station. Drivers call for directions. NY. Leader: Brian Kassenbrock, 718-748-0624. Meet: 10am at Cemetery main entrance, 5th Ave. and 25th St., Brooklyn. Moder - HGSF. , Cold Spring, NY. Leader: Orest Engel - ate/easy walks through spring blooming landscape and bird flyway. brecht, 203-743-1981. Meet: 10am at Metro North RR lot for Breakneck Ridge. Strenuous hike with rock scrambling required. IHC. Catamount Mtn., Harriman State Park, NY. Leader: Jordan Up Breakneck Ridge with outstanding views of Hudson River; Lampert, 732-516-0148. Meet: 9am at Lake Sebago lot, Seven Lakes 6+ miles but over 2,000 ft. total ascent. R Dr. Strenuous 9 miles, with 5 climbs that afford excellent views. I E

UCHC. Mother’s Day Hike at Willowwood/Bamboo Brook, NJ. W E

HGSF. Mohawk Trail, Cornwall, CT. Leader: Mike Carlo, 203-263- T Leader: Lynn Gale, 973-763-7230. Meet: 10am at Willowwood T E

4547. Meet: 10:30am at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, G

parking. Easy 3.4 miles; a stroll suitable for all. Walk through two R O

Rt. 7, just north of intersection with Rt. 112. Strenuous 8-9 miles; E

estates with gardens, woods, and fields. Steady rain cancels. G no early exits. Dean Ravine and a challenging climb up Barrack A hiker walks past mountain laurel in bloom last June at Lake Awosting Mtn. Shuttle required. Hike from Cornwall Hollow to Falls Village. Tuesday, May 13 in Minnewaska State Park Preserve. Steady rain cancels. UCHC. Terrace Pond, NJ. Leader: George Smith, 973-778-3586. HGSF. , NY. Leader: Gloria Flook, 203- Meet: 10am at lot #7 on Clinton Rd., West Milford. Moderately AFW. Orienteering Hike, Harriman State Park, NY. Leader: call Sunday, May 25 972-0108. Meet: 11am at Rockland Lake State Park trailhead; call strenuous 5-7 miles; lunch at the pond. For experienced hikers. 973-644-3592 or go to www.adventuresforwomen.org for details IHC. Ramapo Mtn. State Forest, Oakland, NJ. Leader: Jim for directions. Can also meet at 10am for carpool. Somewhat Wednesday, May 14 and to register. Meet: 9:30am. Moderate hike; out by 3pm. McKay, 973-538-0756. Meet: 9am at lower parking lot, Skyline Dr. more difficult, faster paced hike; not recommended for beginners. HGSF. Schunemunk Mountain, Mountainville, NY. Leader: Leo UCHC. Tourne Park, Boonton, NJ. Leader: Susan Jacobs, 973-402- Moderate 6-7 miles including the new Indian Rock and Wanaque Cristofar, 203-876-7666. Meet: 10:45am at Rt. 32 and Pleasant Hill Tuesday, May 6 2555. Meet: 10am; call for directions. About 5 miles at moderate Ridge Trails. Rd., Fish & Game Club parking; or 9:30am in UCHC. Reeves Meadow, Harriman State Park, NY. Leader: Bob pace through this beautiful park; some hills. Steady rain cancels. Danbury for carpool. Strenuous hike. WWW. Schunemunk Mtn.-Megaliths Loop, NY. Leader: Don Bieri, 201-664-3813. Meet: 10am at Reeves Meadow parking on Friday, May 16 Weise; call Weis Ecology Center at 973-835-2160 for details and Seven Lakes Dr. 6 miles at moderate pace with some steep HGSF. Squantz Pond State Forest, New Fairfield, CT. Leader: TLR. Central Park, Manhattan. Leader: naturalist Charlie to preregister. Meet: 9am. 9 miles at fast pace. Explore fracture sections; includes stops at the Ramapo Torne and the Russian Ted Gass, 845-279-2252. Meet: 11am at Squantz Pond parking; call Roberto; call at 914-762-2912, ext. 110, caves, ravine, giant rock formations on Orange County’s highest Bear. For experienced hikers. for directions. Moderate to strenuous hike. to register. Early morning walk in this birding hot spot. peak; great views. Fee $8. Wednesday, May 7 UCHC. Jockey Hollow National Park, Morristown, NJ. Leader: AFW. Wanaque Ridge Trail, Ramapo Mtn. State Forest, NJ. HGSF. Mohawk Trail, Cornwall, CT. Leader: Jack Patterson, MaryDell Morrison, 908-269-6126. Meet: 10am at visitors center TLR. Spring Bird Walk, Ossining, NY. Leader: naturalist Charlie Leader: call 973-644-3592 or go to www.adventuresforwomen.org 203-866-7667. Meet: 9am at Baird’s Store on Rt. 7; call by 5pm parking. Scenic 4-5 miles in this historic park. Roberto; call Teatown Lake Reservation at 914-762-2912, ext. 110, for details and to register. Meet: 10am. Moderate hike; out by 2pm. day before for directions. Moderate hike; pace/distance to be to register. Bird song fills the morning and spring migration is Saturday, May 17 ADK-MH. Waterfall Hike, NY. Leader: Salley Decker, 845-454- determined by the group. Only severe bad weather cancels. in full swing; join this 7am walk when birds are most active. 4206 evenings until 10pm no later than Friday, May 16 to register. AFW. Appalachian Trail – Rt. 23 to Oil City Rd., NJ. Leader: call UCHC. South Mtn. Reservation, Millburn, NJ. Leaders: Rick and Families welcome. Meet: Call for details by May 16t. Rain cancels, but hike may be 973-644-3592 or go to www.adventuresforwomen.org for details Ellen Jeydel, 908-232-2413. Meet: 10am at Locust Grove parking, rescheduled. Moderate hike, approximately 6 miles, to a waterfall AFW. The Palisades, NJ. Leader: call 973-644-3592 or go to and to register. Meet: 9am. Strenuous hike; out by 5pm. across from Millburn RR station. Very fast paced 5 miles with a hill to be determined in the Hudson Valley. Driving distance likely to www.adventuresforwomen.org for details and to register. Meet: at the start; for advanced hikers. Steady rain cancels. 10am. Easy to moderate hike; out by 2pm. UCHC. Watchung Reservation, Mountainside, NJ. Leader: Joan be more than one hour from Poughkeepsie. Lepselter, 908-273-4188. Meet: 10am at Trailside Nature & Tuesday, May 27 UCHC. Ramapo Valley County Reservation, Mahwah, NJ. Monday, May 19 Science Center; call for directions. 4-5 miles at a brisk pace. UCHC. Van Campens Glen, Delaware Water Gap. Leader: Wayne Leader: Ben Sterman, 201-797-0468. Meet: 10am; call for direc - UCHC. Skylands, Ringwood, NJ. Leader: Joe McLaughlin, Steady rain cancels. Frey, 732-537-9190. Meet: 10am at Millbrook Village; call for directions. tions. About 5 miles at moderate pace. A lake, a reservoir, and a 973-263-2799. Meet: 10am; call for directions. Easy 3 miles; Moderately strenuous 6 miles. For experienced hikers. Hamilton cascading river. a stroll suitable for all. Stunning display of spring blooms and Ridge and Pioneer Trails to lunch beside beautiful cascades. flowering shrubs. The activities listed are sponsored by member clubs of the NY-NJ Trail Conference. All hikers are welcome subject to club regula - Wednesday, May 28 Wednesday, May 21 tions and rules of the trail. You are responsible for your own safety. Wear hiking boots or strong, low-heeled shoes. Bring food, water, ADK-R. Ramapo Reservation (TC map #115), NJ. Leader: call UCHC. Locust Grove, South Mtn. Reservation, Millburn, NJ. rain gear, first aid kit, and a flashlight in a backpack. Leaders have the right and responsibility to refuse anyone whom they believe 845-359-2465 for details and meeting place. Easy 5 miles. cannot complete the hike or is not adequately equipped. Easy, moderate, or strenuous hikes are relative terms; call leader if in doubt. Leader: Irv Auerbach, 973-239-4342. Meet: 10am; call for direc - tions. About 5 miles at moderate pace through this beautiful UCHC. Watchung Reservation, Mountainside, NJ. Leader: Joan More than 100 clubs belong to the Trail Conference, and many of our affiliate groups sponsor hikes not listed in the Hikers’ Almanac. park; some hills. We’ll follow Rahway Trail past Diamond Hill Pond. Lepselter, 908-273-4188. Meet: 10am; call for directions. About For a descriptive list of Conference clubs, consult our website or send a SASE with your request to NY-NJ Trail Conference. 5 miles at moderate pace; some rocky trails. Steady rain cancels. Club Codes FOGM. Garret Mountain Bird Walk & Hike, NJ. Leader: Norma Holmes, 973-746-8933. Meet 8am at the Stony Brook parking area Saturday, May 31 Only those clubs with hikes offered in this issue are listed below. Please call numbers listed to confirm. of Garret Mountain Reservation. Easy 2-mile bird walk looking for ADK-R. Stonetown (TC map #115), NJ. Leader: call 201-357- ADK-MH Adirondack Mtn. Club Mid-Hudson NYR New York Ramblers late spring migrants in Garret Mountain – premier north Jersey 4642 for details and meeting place. Easy 6 miles. spring migration hotspot. Potential optional 3-mile extension ADK-R Adirondack Mtn. Club Ramapo Chapter SHORE Shorewalkers WTW. , W. Orange, NJ. Leader: Pat exploring trails and scenic vistas in the park with the possibility of AFW Adventures for Women TLR Teatown Lake Reservation Hawkins, 973-337-2843; please call to confirm. Meet: 10am at seeing more birds. Call leader if in doubt about weather. FOGM Friends of Garret Mountain UCHC Union County Hiking Club trailhead. Moderate 5-6 miles. Thursday, May 22 GAHC German-American Hiking Club WEC Weis Ecology Center AFW. Schooley’s Mountain County Park, NJ. Leader: call HGSF Hiking Group for Singles and Friends WTW Woodland Trail Walkers UCHC. Appalachian Trail – Millbrook Rd. to Camp Mohican, 973-644-3592 or go to www.adventuresforwomen.org for details IHC Interstate Hiking Club WWW Weis Wyanokie Wanderers Delaware Water Gap. Leaders: Anne Mattei, 732-777-0416, and and to register. Meet: 10am. Easy hike; out by 2pm. Al MacLennan; must call ahead to register. Meet: 10am at AT park - LPNHC Long Path North Hiking Club ing on Millbrook Rd. Moderately paced 6 miles; for experienced Clubs wishing to have hikes listed in Hikers’ Almanac should send their schedules to [email protected] or to the Trail Conference Office. hikers. Hike along the ridge, pass the fire tower to Camp Mohican The deadline for the July/August 2008 issue is May 15, 2008. and back on the Orange Trail. May/June 2008 Page 9 June AFW. Appalachian Trail – Oil City Rd. to Rt. 94. Leader: call 973-644-3592 or go to www.adventuresforwomen.org for details Sunday, June 1 and to register. Meet: 9am. Strenuous hike; out by 5pm. HGSF. Undermountain Trail to Mt. Frissell, CT. Leader: Phil Member Club Profile UCHC. Farney Highlands, Rockaway Twp., NJ. Leader: Al Verdi, Statlender, 203-631-8620. Meet: 9:30am at White Hart Inn, 973-263-8569. Meet: 10am at fisherman’s parking on Split Rock Salisbury; call for directions. Strenuous 12 miles, including climb The Trail Conference comprises 10,000 individual members and more than 100 Rd. Moderate to brisk 4 miles with several hills, rocky trails, and of Mt. Frissell. Trail crosses highest point in CT as well as juncture one tricky stream crossing over Beaver Brook. of CT, NY & MA. member clubs with a combined membership of 150,000 hikers. We invite club Sunday, June 15 UCHC. Pyramid Mountain, Montville, NJ. Leader: Angela Coble, representatives to submit photos from hikes or maintenance outings or other events IHC. Delaware & Raritan Canal Towpath – Kingston to Prince - 908-686-5958. Meet: 10am at Pyramid Mtn. parking; see (please set your digital camera for highest resolution). Email your photos, along with http://parks.morris.nj.us for directions. Brisk 4-5 miles with steep ton, NJ. Leaders: Guy and Jen Percival, 973-590-7437. Meet: 9am hills; hiking boots required. Rain cancels. at D&R Towpath parking, Kingston. Moderately strenuous 10 complete caption information to: [email protected]; put “TW club photo” in the subject line. miles, mostly level. Includes time to visit Princeton Univ. Museum. Tuesday, June 3 GAHC. Harriman State Park, NY. Leader: Brian Kassenbrock, UCHC. Annual Trail Maintenance at Wawayanda State Park, NJ. 718-748-0624; please call to preregister. Meet: 9:45am at Leaders: Dave Hogenauer, 973-762-1475, and Fred Schneider, parking. Moderate hike. 973-694-0156. Meet: 10am at park offices, short distance from Rt. 511 just north of Upper Greenwood Lake. We will hike 6 miles of UCHC. South Mountain Reservation, Millburn, NJ. Leader: the AT, clearing low branches, small trees across the trail, trash; Naomi Shapiro, 973-762-1832; call before 9pm. Meet: 10am at nothing major. No experience needed. Bring work gloves and Locust Grove parking across from Millburn RR station. Brisk 5 miles clippers if you have them. One group will go steeper route, the in little over 2 hours with steep hill at start. Steady rain cancels. other on a fairly level segment. Monday, June 16 Wednesday, June 4 UCHC. Patriots’ Path, Morristown, NJ. Leader: Roz Bloom, UCHC. Jonathan Woods, Denville, NJ. Leaders: Jim and 973-364-0186. Meet: 10am at Speedwell Village; call for directions. Theresa McKay, 973-538-0756. Meet: 10am at Diamond Spring Easy 3 miles; a stroll suitable for all. Hike along the old Rock-a-Bye Park in Denville; call for directions. About 5 miles at moderate Railroad and Whippany River. pace. Hike to the revolutionary era “Hog Pen” and short road Tuesday, June 17 walk in area. UCHC. Dater Mountain, Harriman State Park, NY. Leaders: Jim Thursday, June 5 and Theresa McKay, 973-538-0756. Meet: 10am at Reeves UCHC. Jockey Hollow National Park, Morristown, NJ. Leader: Meadow visitor center on Seven Lakes Dr. 6 miles at moderate S E

Mike Handelsman, 718-633-6129. Meet: 10am at visitors center pace, including a short road walk; for experienced hikers. Hike in N A

Dater Mtn. County Park on various trails. M parking; call for directions. Moderately brisk pace for 9-10 miles; E K I

for experienced hikers. Mostly easy/well shaded terrain. M Thursday, June 19 Delaware Valley AMC hikers enjoy a break at a waterfall. Saturday, June 7 AFW. Harriman State Park, NY. Leader: call 973-644-3592 or go NATIONAL TRAILS DAY to www.adventuresforwomen.org for details and to register. Meet: 10am. Moderate hike; out by 2pm. LPNHC. Huntersfield Ridge Trail Maintenance, NY. Leader: Delaware Valley Clarence Putman, 607-538-9569. The Long Path North Hiking Saturday, June 21 Club will be doing trail maintenance, including the clearing of a AFW. Bearfort Ridge Fire Tower, NJ. Leader: call 973-644-3592 Chapter, AMC number of blowdowns, on section 26 of the Long Path. New or go to www.adventuresforwomen.org for details and to register. volunteers welcome! Meet: 10am. Moderate hike; out by 3pm. In a sense, the Delaware Valley Chapter UCHC. National Trails Day at Watchung Reservation, NJ. UCHC. Eagle Rock Reservation, West Orange, NJ. Leader: of the Appalachian Mountain Club Leader: call 908-527-4231 to register; see www.unioncountynj.org/ Peter Wolff, 973-731-0602. Meet: 10am at parking past the High - (DVC-AMC) is the frontier club of the parks/nationaltrailsday.html for details. Meet: 8:30am – 12:15pm at lawn Pavilion. Casual 3-mile hike on some newly marked trails; New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, Watchung Reservation; continental breakfast included. Join staff good for beginners. Rain cancels. being our westernmost member club. and volunteers for guided nature walks and/or trail maintenance ADK-MH. Catskill Wittenberg – Cornell Mountains, NY. With more than 5,000 members scat - or repair project. Take part in this national event to help our trails! Leaders: Jean-Claude Fouéré ([email protected]; 845- tered across three states—Pennsylvania, S

UCHC. South Mountain Reservation, Millburn, NJ. Leader: 462-0142) and Georgette Weir by June 19 for meeting place and E middle and southern New Jersey, and N Mimi Solomon, 973-379-3910. Meet: 10am at Tulip Springs time, and for car pool arrangements. Strenuous. Starting from A M

northern Delaware—DVC-AMC covers E parking, Brookside Ave. Moderate hike, 2-3 hours with several Woodland Valley we will climb 2,400 feet to the Wittenberg sum - K I hills; for intermediate hikers. Yellow trail through Pine Forest and mit at 3,780 foot elevation, on to at 3,860 foot a lot of ground. The chapter is one of M The group maintains 15 miles of almost to Crest Dr. elevation, and back for a hike of 9+ miles. All-day hike; bring three AMC member clubs that belong to the AT in Pennsylvania. WTW. Ringwood/Skylands, NJ. Leader: Ernest Wagner, 973-694- lunch, water, and wear adequate clothing. the Trail Conference, the others being the 3194; please call to confirm. Meet: 10am at Ringwood Manor. Sunday, June 22 New York-North Jersey and Mohawk- sylvania, between Wind Gap and Little Moderate 7 miles. IHC. The Palisades, NJ. Leader: Carol O’Keefe, 973-328-7395. Hudson Chapters. Gap, and also schedules other monthly AFW. Sussex Branch Trail. Leader: call 973-644-3592 or go to Meet: 9:30am at NJ Palisades Interstate Park headquarters, Alpine DVC-AMC tackles its geographic trail work outings, such as at Valley Forge www.adventuresforwomen.org for details and to register. Meet: Approach Rd., Alpine, NJ. Moderately strenuous 6 miles. Walk along spread by clustering activities around National Park. 10am. Easy to moderate hike; out by 2pm. top of the Palisades with a steep descent to the river passing several outstanding viewpoints; possible stop at Kearney House. three areas: a primary group, centered in The group’s comprehensive website ADK-MH. Hyde Park Trails, NY. Leader: John Kolp, 845-496-1731. southeastern Pennsylvania, the Lehigh details its scheduled activities and offers Meet: 10:30 at Poughkeepsie train station (will meet NYC train). AFW. Kay Environmental Center and Cooper Mill, NJ. Leader: call Shuttle to Hyde Park. Moderately easy, about 7 miles. Rain may 973-644-3592 or go to www.adventuresforwomen.org for details Valley Group, which meets in the Allen - links to such useful information as direc - cancel. Call leader if in doubt. Joint with AMC. and to register. Meet: 10am. Easy to moderate hike; out by 2pm. town-Bethlehem-Easton area, and the tions to popular trailheads in the Sunday, June 8 UCHC. Watchung Reservation, Mountainside, NJ. Leaders: Rick Mid-Jersey Group, which meets in cen - NY-NJ-PA region and weather forecasts IHC. Sterling Forest, NY. Leaders: Pete Tilgner and Suzan Gordon, and Ellen Jeydel, 908-232-2413. Meet: 10am at Trailside Nature tral New Jersey. All three schedule for favorite hiking destinations. New hik - 201-871-3531. Meet: 9am at East Shore Rd. parking, Greenwood and Science Center. Very fast paced hike of 5-6 miles with some activities and events that become part of ers will find there an online guide to day Lake, NY. Moderately strenuous hike on Sterling Ridge and Lake to rocky trails; for advanced hikers only. Steady rain cancels. the chapter schedule. hiking, How to Survive in the Wilds of the Lake trails; excellent views from various lookouts, including the ADK-MH. Mountain Laurel Hike In Three States. Leader: Salley DVC-AMC offers day hiking, back - Delaware Valley: A Guide to Day Hiking best view of Greenwood Lake from the fire tower. Shuttle required. Decker at 845-454-4206, evenings before 10pm. Meet: Register by Friday, June 20 for carpool location. We will start in CT, hike Round packing, canoeing, kayaking, bicycling, With the Delaware Valley Chapter of the AFW. Fishkill Ridge, NY. Leader: call 973-644-3592 or go to cross country skiing, snowshoeing, win - Appalachian Mountain Club . It includes www.adventuresforwomen.org for details and to register. Meet: Mtn., then Frissell (to the highest point in CT), and on to the Tri-State 8:30am. Strenuous hike; out by 4pm. Marker! Then, we will continue on to the summit of Brace Mtn., the ter mountaineering, trail maintenance, good tips for getting started on the trail highest point in Dutchess County. Return by a woods road. One rock conservation cleanups, educational work - and is helpful in understanding such hik - HGSF. Mohawk Trail to Dark Entry Ravine, Cornwall, CT. scramble. 8 miles. Bring sunscreen and a hat along with recom - shops, meetings and programs er lingo as separation , sweep , and car spot . Leader: Mike Carlo, 203-263-4547. Meet: 10:30am at hiker park - mended gear. Hiking boots and extra water a must. Possible stop for ing on Rt. 4 in Cornwall Bridge, just east of Rt.7/Rt. 4 junction. food after the hike, so plan accordingly. Rain cancels. throughout the year. Events are led by Learn more about the Delaware Valley Strenuous hike. Steady rain cancels. volunteers. The club maintains a 15-mile Chapter of the AMC at their website, Wednesday, June 25 ADK-MH. AT Garrison to Bear Mountain Bridge, NY. Leader: section of the Appalachian Trail in Penn - www.amcdv.org. UCHC. Ramapo State Forest, Oakland, NJ. Leader: Ben Sue Mackson, [email protected], 845-471-9892. Meet: Sterman, 201-797-0468. Meet: 10am at lower lot,at start of Skyline McDonalds at Route 9 just south of Village of Wappingers Falls. Dr.; call for directions. About 5 miles at moderate pace. Around the 9am. Six miles. Wonderful ridge views and mountain laurel; lake and then climb to the ridge for some interesting views. climb down at Anthony’s Nose, rather than up. Thursday, June 26 Get Certified to Distance Swim FOGM. Garret Mountain and the Great Falls, NJ. Leader: Craig Nunn, 551-206-6823. Meet 12:30pm (after lunch) at Lambert Castle UCHC. Sunrise Mountain, Stokes State Forest, NJ. Leader: Jim parking area off Valley Road in Paterson. 7 miles moderate pace on McKay, 973-538-0756. Meet: 10am at Sunrise Mtn. parking on the at Lake Minnewaska. trails and city streets, some ups and downs. Walk past scenic vistas AT; call for directions. Moderately strenuous 8.5 miles from and sites associated with the silk and other industries from Garret Sunrise Mtn. to Steam Mill and back. For experienced hikers. Mountain to Paterson including the Great Falls of the Passaic River Saturday, June 28 If you would like to end your hike at and the historic raceway system. Steady rain cancels. UCHC. Tourne Park, Boonton, NJ. Leader: Susan Jacobs, Minnewaska State Park Preserve by taking Tuesday, June 10 973-402-2555. Meet: 10am; call for directions. Moderate 4 miles a distance swim in the lake, you can, but with some hills through this beautiful park. Steady rain cancels. UCHC. Pine Meadow Lake, Harriman State Park, NY. Leader: only if you pass a swim test and become Ellie King, 908-233-8411. Meet: 10am at Reeves Meadow visitor Sunday, June 29 a member of the Minnewaska Distance center on Seven Lakes Dr. 5-7 miles at moderate pace; for experi - ADK-R. Skannatati, Harriman State Park (TC map #119), NY. enced hikers. Up a moderately pitched trail to lunch at the lake; Leader: call 845-354-9165 for details and meeting place. Swimmers Association (MDSA). Details hoping to see laurel in bloom. Moderate 7 miles. on testing standards and swim test Wednesday, June 11 IHC. Pequannock Watershed, NJ. Leader: James Schlenker, 908- dates can be found at the website UCHC. Eagle Rock Reservation, West Orange, NJ. Leader: 561-0228. Meet: 9am at Burger King, Rt. 23N, Butler, NJ. Moderately www.minnewaskaswimmers.org Peter Wolff, 973-731-0602. Meet: 10am at lot past the restaurant, strenuous 8 miles. Lovely hike from Hanks Pond to Buckabear Pond; near kiosk; call for directions. About 3+ miles at moderate pace. seldom done and not to be missed. Shuttle required. or call the MDSA hotline at Thursday, June 12 AFW. Pyngyp Mountain, Harriman State Park, NY. Leader: call 845-895-5012. AFW. Hook Mountain, NY. Leader: call 973-644-3592 or go to 973-644-3592 or go to www.adventuresforwomen.org for details By arrangement with the park, www.adventuresforwomen.org for details and to register. Meet: and to register. Meet: 9am. Strenuous hike; out by 4pm. MDSA members who pass a 10am. Moderate hike; out by 2pm. UCHC. South Mountain Reservation, Millburn, NJ. Leader: 500-yard swim test, pay the UCHC. , NJ. Leader: Dave Hogenauer, Naomi Shapiro, 973-762-1832; call before 9pm. Meet: 10am 973-762-1475. Meet: 9:30am at ranger station parking at Locust Grove lot across from Millburn RR station; call for MDSA annual membership fee in Wawayanda State Park; call for directions. Shuttle required. directions. Brisk 5 miles with steep hill at start in little over of $15, and post a photo ID, are 9 miles at a steady pace; for experienced hikers. Along the AT 2 hours. Steady rain cancels. permitted to swim from the beach from Rt. 17A to Long House Rd. with marvelous views; constant Monday, June 30 ups and downs and then some steep descents. at the southeast corner of the lake, AFW. Jockey Hollow, NJ. Leader: call 973-644-3592 or go to in deep water, parallel to a 200-yard Saturday, June 14 www.adventuresforwomen.org for details and to register. Meet: WTW. Weis Ecology Center, Ringwood, NJ. Leaders: Gwen and 10am. Moderate hike; out by 2pm. buoyed line, with no lifeguard Tom Healey, 973-492-4855. Meet: 10am at Weis Ecology Center UCHC. Loantaka Brook, Morristown, NJ. Leader: Clotilde Lanig, present. Swimming at the park parking on Snake Den Rd. Moderate 5 miles. 732-549-4977. Meet: 10am at South Street parking; call for begins on June 21 and ends directions. Easy, level 3 miles; a stroll suitable for all. Walk through on September 1. woods on paved and unpaved trails along a stream. Page 10 May/June 2008 DONORS TO THE ANNUAL FUND Castle to Castle January 24, 2008 to March 21, 2008 Special thanks go out to Fred, Anne and Hank Osborn who hosted the TC’s GIFTS first “Castle to Castle” hike, which introduced the Trail Conference and its Hedy & Dave Abad, Paul & Kathryn A. Abdis, Heidi K. Adami & Christopher M. Fordice, Betty J. Aiken, Amazon.com, Richard new East Hudson Community Trails Program to a group of hearty souls J. Anderson, Robert P. & Joan T. Augello, J. Mike & Melissa Austin, Terry Barr, Base Camp Adventure Outfitters, Dr. George L. who braved the elements on a wet March morning to hike between Becker Jr., Robert & Rose Marie Boysen, Campmor, Bob Clifford, Earth Share, Eastern Mountain Sports, Emerson Place - Resort & Spa, Stanley & Charlotte Fahn, John J. & Julie Fahner, Jean R. Fletcher, Jane Geisler, German-American Hiking landmarks in the East . Club, Edward Goodell, Michael Holober & Melissa Hall, Nitin Kapadia, Howard Kaplowitz & Robert Gaudreau, Vincent Karabatsos, Edward R. & Paula N. Lavorgna, David C. Lowell, Stanley C. Marko, Matt’s Sporting Goods, Mohonk Mountain House, Andrew Moroz, New York Hiking Club, Herbert J. Richman, John Rudder, Julia & David Russell, Lester D. Simon, Marek Stycos, Hsin-Chien Tai, Jerry D. Tersoff & Deborah Franzblau, The Environmental Fund for NJ Inc., Cynthia A. Tollo- Falls & Stuart Falls, Union County Hiking Club, James L. Van Tassell, Nicholas J. Viggiano, Patrick G. Welsh, Westchester Trails Association, Barbara Westergaard, Malcolm L. White, Marty & Nancy Willick, Richard & Nancy Wolff

TRIBUTES MATCHING GIFTS In honor of Christine Benton’s Birthday American Express Foundation, GE Foundation, General David & Naomi Sutter Re Corporation JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Minerals In honor of George Petty Technologies Inc., Pfizer Foundation, United Way of Louis & Helen Lowenstein Bergen County Thank you to Ed Goodell & Lynne Katzmann MEMORIAL GIFTS David & Naomi Sutter In memory of Arlene M. Coccari In honor of Torleif Meloe Andrew S. Coccari Erica A. Meloe In memory of Kate Peyser In honor of Michael Rubashkin’s 50th birthday Alan Melniker Edward K. Goodell & Lynne S. Katzmann In memory of Bertha Pritchard In honor of Rick Suntag First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn Richard & Ellen Sarna In memory of Albert Rosen In honor of Art Zimmerman’s 85th Birthday Mr. & Mrs. Aaron Bigalow, Carole Russo, Marguerite Shore, June P. Slade Herbert Shulman, David & Naomi Sutter WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY TRAILS PROGRAM Peter L. Kennard In memory of Shelley Norton Tributes are only printed for donations of $25 or more. Sally Ann Parsons Catskill Hiking Shack Closes New Membership Benefit! After more than 10 years in business, the Catskill Hiking Shack in Wurtsboro closed April 30. The Shack had been a favorite destination for hikers in the market for boots, packs, and other trail gear. “We have truly enjoyed running this shop and have met many won - derful people along the way,” owners Susan and John Lavelle wrote to their customers in The Trail Conference is a part of a March email. “It has been a very difficult decision to make and we have given it our best for the past 10 years.” The Lavelles cited the downturn in the economy as their reason for Commerce Bank’s Affinity Mem - closing. “With the current economic climate and dismal forecasts for the near future, we bership Program, which provides simply couldn’t continue to ‘hang in there.’” our organization the opportunity to earn annual cash donations. We’re thrilled with the ease of Hike-a-thon Set for October 4, 2008 participating in this program and The Gravity Vault in Upper Saddle that there is no cost to our organ - River, New Jersey, has partnered with To Support ‘Gateway to the the Trail Conference to offer every Trail ization or our members. Conference member, who shows a Backcountry’ at Bear Mountain Here’s how it works: membership card 10% off day-pass Commerce will donate a percentage of admissions to their facility! The Trail Conference plans to con - the annual balance in every one of our With 13,000+ square feet of indoor struct a public exhibition about members’ accounts. Checking, savings, rock climbing, this facility offers you the money market, CDs, and retirement chance to meet new people, engage in a hiking and trail building at Bear accounts are all included! And, there is new sport or just enjoy another activity Mountain State Park. Called Trails no limit on the amount of our potential that can be transferred to the outdoors. for People, the proposed exhibit is donation! The Gravity Vault has 45 top rope sta - Make Commerce Bank your bank. tions, this provides ample opportunity to conceived as a publicly accessi - Visit any Commerce Bank location and climb and to reach heights of over 40 ft. ble, high visibility, engaging and open any of the above mentioned Other features of the Gravity Vault accounts. Let the Commerce represen - include: a rappel ledge, a keyhole arch, entertaining interactive explo - tative know that you want your account two 14+ feet high bouldering walls ration of the fundamentals of linked to the Trail Conference’s Affinity totaling 4,500+ square feet, a cardiovas - hiking trail design, construction, Program. That’s it…Commerce will cular training area, a private party room, take care of the rest. a lounge and a pro shop. If you don’t and maintenance. know anything about rock climbing, We believe that this represents you can enroll in classes that teach belay and climbing skills. Moreover, you can the first-ever attempt in the Unit - rent all the equipment that you might ed States to introduce general need to climb there, including rock audiences to hiking and trail-build - shoes, harness and chalk bags—all you have to do is show up! ing in a hands-on, whole-body, interactive style. To build support for this project, we have set a People for Trails celebration October 4, 2008, in Harriman State Park. The centerpiece of the celebra - tion is a hike-a-thon, which will raise awareness and support for volunteers who build and main - tain the hiking trails in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan region. Participation will be limit - ed to 300 individuals, so mark your calendars, start training For more information about the now, and keep your eyes open for Gravity Vault and what they offer, visit the signup form in the their website at www.gravityvault.com July/August Trail Walker. or call 201.934.ROCK(7625). We hope you enjoy this great new membership benefit and have fun climbing! May/June 2008 Page 11

Moses in the Bible traveled through the expensive trekking pole? Extra Weight, or Worth Their Weight? Trekking Poles: desert for 40 years with one. In literature, Modern trekking poles are very strong In the age of “lightweight” hiking and Gandolf the Grey, in the Lord of the Rings because they are made from reinforced alu - backpacking, some argue that any extra Do You trilogy, travels with one, too. And highly minum or carbon graphite. They have a unnecessary weight is a burden that can experienced backpacker Andrew Skurka cushioned, ergonomic foam or cork com - slow a hiker down. However, people who Need Them? has trekked well more than 10,000 miles posite hand grip. One innovative company, regularly use trekking poles wouldn’t hike with a pair of them. Pacerpoles, has placed the handles at an without them. By Howard E. Friedman, DPM “I hike nowhere without my two oblique angle, claiming they make the use “Trekking poles are a staple in my gear list, trekking poles,” Skurka, named “Adventur - of the pole more efficient. Many poles have about as important as my shelter or rain er of the Year” by National Geographic fabric straps attached to the hand grip to jacket,” Skurka wrote in an email. “They put Adventure magazine for 2007, writes on his prevent the poles from slipping away. some extra power into my step,” he added. backpacking website. Trekking poles have three sections, which While the weight of a pair of collapsible Yet, many hikers and backpackers are still can be extended or collapsed. A locking three-section trekking poles varies from 17 not convinced of the usefulness of hiking ring mechanism is the most common ounces to over 24 ounces, research studies (or trekking) poles, and many of those who method of securing the bottom and middle have shown that carrying this additional are convinced choose to use only one pole. weight does not impact the hiker’s perform - Advocates of trekking poles say they ance. The studies also indicate that decrease pressure on the knees, especially metabolic use is not increased with pole use. going up or down hill. And advocates of Force on the knee Many hikers and backpackers further jus - Nordic walking (a type of exercise walking) tify the extra weight of trekking poles by maintain that the poles help with walking may decrease by as finding additional uses for them. These even on a level surface. include using them for tent or tarp poles— much as 20% when or even makeshift poles to string a line to What Does the Research Show? dry rain-soaked clothes. Moreover, some Research published in scientific journals backpackers reduce the weight of the poles supports the use of two trekking poles, two poles are used. by removing the wrist straps and baskets especially going up or down hill. One arti - from the bottom of the poles. cle, published in Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise in 2000, loaded volun - Personal Experiences teers with a backpack equal to 30 percent of sections of the pole at the desired length. A Over the past several years, I have become their body weight and monitored their twist to the right locks the pole, while a convinced of the usefulness of hiking poles. walking for 60 minutes on a treadmill with twist to the left unlocks it. One locking ring Before making any investment, however, I five degrees of incline. Those using two hik - controls the bottom pole section, while “borrowed” two identical kitchen mop ing poles had a longer stride, with a shorter another ring controls the middle section. handles, unscrewed the mop attachment, frequency of strides. The muscles in their An optional feature is a small spring (which and hit the trail. I appreciated the poles legs were less active, energy consumption can be turned on or off) in the center of the during stream crossings, and especially while carrying the poles did not increase, pole to give a bit of extra shock absorption when going downhill. On more than one and the subjects perceived their workout when the pole hits the ground. occasion, being able to plant a pole into the with poles to be less taxing than the same The bottom of the trekking pole usually ground prevented or minimized an ankle routine without poles. has a strong carbide tip, which resists wear sprain or fall. Eventually, I began using Leki integrated positive angle grip > Perfect ergonomics Another scientific article, published in and tear. Sitting just above the carbide tip is Makalau trekking poles. I have also used > Minimum packing size the Journal of Sports Sciences in 1999, evalu - a circular plastic basket-like device. This Komperdell Mountaineer anti-shock poles. > Optimized swing action ated how trekking poles affected forces on feature helps the pole resist plunging far While I rarely adjust the pole length dur - Comfort Strap the knees while hiking downhill. Volun - into muddy or boggy ground. A special ing a hike, preferring instead to simply > Wicking liner for a more breathable strap teers were monitored, while carrying a snow basket can be inserted for snow treks. “choke” up on the pole when going uphill, > Softer strap edge means less tender spots backpack weighing about 17 pounds, walk - This modification makes the poles more I do find the adjustable feature important. ing on a ramp downhill 25 degrees with useful in deeper snow by increasing the sur - Before the hike, I adjust the pole length to and without two trekking poles. The poles face area of the basket. a size that suits me, making certain to tight - were adjusted to about two-thirds of their body height while participants walked at a Leading Trekking Pole constant rate wearing hiking boots. The Manufacturers authors concluded that an important force Black Diamond (www.bdel.com) on the knee (ground reaction force) Komperdell (www.komperdell.com) Aluminum decreased as much as 20 percent when the > The highest-quality 7075 aluminum alloy volunteers used two hiking poles. Other Leki (www.leki.com) > An outstanding level oftensile strength due to our exclusive heat-treating process forces on the knee also decreased. The MSR (www.msrgear.com) > Textured inside surface to ensure greatest decrease occurred while the hikers Pacerpoles (www.pacerpole.com) a superior hold had both poles on the ground when one > The poles lock reliably at the selected length foot was in the air between steps. Trekking Pole Features Super Lock System A third study, published in the Interna - > Provides maximum hold Foam or cork hand-grip > Length adjustment locks in 3-4 turns tional Journal of Sports Medicine in 2000, > 360º reverse turn security determined that 20 volunteers, walking Adjustable wrist-straps Sleeve uphill at a grade of up to 25 percent carry - Three-section adjustable length Designed to prevent dirt and debris ing about 33 pounds in an internal-frame > Rugged carbide tip from getting into the section above Gregory backpack, said their perceived exertion was less while walking with a pair Anti-shock absorber of Leki brand poles than while walking (available on some models) Universal Carbide Flextip without them. In addition, no significant > The Carbide Flextip can flex up to 30° without damaging the pole shaft increase in energy expenditure was noted Since trekking poles are made for rugged en the locking rings to avoid slippage (on > Optimal grip on rock and ice surfaces while using trekking poles, despite the extra use, pole parts such as hand-cushions, car - one occasion, my hiking pole did shorten > To replace the Carbide Flextip, position an weight (about 24 ounces for the pair) and bide tips, and locking rings can generally be unexpectedly, since I had not sufficiently open crescent wrench around the pole shaft section, and using a quick motion, the extra arm motions. Test subjects also replaced, if needed. tightened the adjustment). Moreover, if I whack the Carbide Flextip off. Do this with said that the steeper the grade, the more In contrast, walking poles for the Nordic need to use my hands for an uphill climb, I the tip facing downward to avoid injury they relied on their poles. walking exercise discipline have a more can collapse the poles and stow them in my > Please visit www.leki.com to view an instructional video secure wrist-strap mechanism as well as a backpack. Walking Stick, Stave, or Trekking Pole? Basket modified and angled rubber tip, may only Overall, I would add my voice to those > Prevents poles from sinking into soft Many a hiker has made his or her way over contain one or two sections (rather than who proclaim that they do not hike any - ground or rocky terrain a rocky brook crossing with the aid of a three), and are lighter in weight. They are where without their two hiking poles. > Snowflake Baskets (model #8-575-003) can be interchanged for winter use nearby thick, relatively straight downed designed not to bear the full weight of the > To remove baskets, unscrew with branch. Some hikers routinely use a walk - walker but only to assist in walking. A hik - Howard E. Friedman DPM, a pulling motion ing stick, carefully crafted from a downed ing or trekking pole is designed for more www.yourfootdoc.net, is a podiatrist treating > To apply baskets, simply push the basket onto the Carbide Flextip until branch, but finished and smoothed for ease rugged use and pressures. hikers and non-hikers in Suffern, NY. it is locked into position of use. So what are the advantages of an

Tracking the Wild Invasives – Year Three Training Dates This is the third and final year of a three-year project supported by the USDA, which Saturday, May 31 aims to better understand the spread of invasive plants in forested parklands that have Sunday, June 1 high conservation value and high levels of public use. Field data are collected by volunteer “citizen scientists” drawn from the membership Wednesday, June 4 of the Trail Conference and member clubs. An explicit part of the research is to test Saturday, June 7 whether hikers can collect accurate data regarding invasive plants. You can register online (www.nynjtc.org/science/projects/2008/usda.html) or contact If you have or can borrow someone’s GPS Annie Osborn, the project coordinator, at the office, 201-512-9348, or by email, unit we will be able to train more volunteers. [email protected]. Page 12 May/June 2008

HOW TO GET THERE GET MORE INFO Take the Taconic Parkway to the exit for Stissing Mountain Area is allotted four Favorite Hike Route 199. Go east on Route 199 to Route pages in the New York Walk Book and is fea - 82 in Pine Plains; go south on Route 82 tured in 50 Hikes in the Lower Hudson By Al Poelzl (hike leader) and Georgette Weir less than half a mile; turn right onto Lake Valley by Stella Green and H. Neil Road and continue on this for about 1.8 Zimmerman (second edition just pub - Stissing Mountain miles to the small Stissing Mountain trail - lished this spring; see Hikers’ Marketplace). head parking area. This is a short distance You can also get information from Stissing Mountain rises like an island beyond the parking area for the Thompson The Nature Conservancy’s website, amidst the still pastoral landscape of north - Pond Sanctuary. www.tnc.org; type “Stissing” in the Search central Dutchess County. Admittedly, it is box on the home page. remote for many in the New York-New Jer - sey area (even for some of us living in Dutchess County). And offering a relative - ly short (1.5-mile) lollipop hike from the parking area at the base to the summit, the Hikers’ mountain may seem to fall short for some hikers. But Stissing has virtues that make it Marketplace a worthwhile destination, including 360- degree views from a fire tower at its summit NY-NJ TC member? YES NO JOINING NOW Member #______and an optional 4-mile extension around Please order by circling price Retail Member P/H Total at its base. The hike up Stissing includes an eleva - Official Conference Maps Order 8 or more and get discounted expedited shipping! tion gain of 950 feet, which begins Catskill Trails (2005) & see combo $14.95 $11.21 +$1.65 ______immediately upon leaving the parking area, NEW!! East Hudson Trails (2008) $10.95 $ 8.21 +$1.50 ______so hikers who enjoy a strenuous climb NEW!! Harriman-Bear Mountain Trails (2007) & see combo $ 9.95 $ 7.46 +$1.50 ______won’t feel shortchanged. There is minimal Hudson Palisades Trails (2005) $ 8.95 $ 6.71 +$1.50 ______blazing. Shortly after starting up, the trail, Kittatinny Trails (2005) & see combo $12.95 $ 9.71 +$1.65 ______which is rocky and eroded, hits a woods North Jersey Trails (2007) $ 9.95 $ 7.46 +$1.50 ______road. Turn left on the road, then take the NEW!! Shawangunk Trails (2008) & see combo $10.95 $ 8.21 +$1.50 ______R next left at a fork made by a footpath (on I South Taconic Trails (2006) $ 4.95 $ 3.71 +$1.10 ______E the left) and the woods road (which contin - W E Sterling Forest Trails (2005) $ 7.95 $ 5.96 +$1.30 ______T T ues right). The fork is marked by a cairn. E G West Hudson Trails (2006) $ 8.95 $ 6.71 +$1.50 ______R O

Pay attention or you may miss this junc - E tion. (You’ll return to this point on the G Books Atop Stissing Mountain in March: Sayi Nulu, NEW!! Appalachian Trail Guide to New York $19.95 $14.96 +$3.00 ______woods road later.) Al Poelzl, Lalita Malik and fire tower. At the summit (1400 feet) there stands & New Jersey (2007) an intact fire tower, which can be climbed Land and trails on and around Stissing NEW!! Hiking the Jersey Highlands (2007) $22.95 $17.21 +$3.50 ______by those who want more uphill exercise. It Mountain are mostly private and trails are New York Walk Book (2005) & see combo $22.95 $17.21 +$3.50 ______offers fabulous 360-degree views that open to the public thanks to permission of New Jersey Walk Book (2004) & see combo $19.95 $14.96 +$3.50 ______extend east to the Taconics and west to the the owners. The New York State Dept of Circuit Hikes in Northern New Jersey (2003) $11.95 $ 8.96 +$3.00 ______Catskills. The tower was saved and is pre - Environmental Conservation has land Day Walker (2002) $16.95 $12.71 +$3.00 ______served by a local citizens group. nearby designated as a multiple use area. Harriman Trails Guide (1999) & see combo $16.95 $12.71 +$3.50 ______To descend the mountain, walk past the The Nature Conservancy owns several Hiking (2005) $19.95 $14.96 +$3.50 ______tower and westward; turn right and down - hundred acres on the mountain in addition Iron Mine Trails: NY/NJ Highlands (1996, rev. 1999) $ 8.95 $ 6.71 +$3.00 ______hill wherever there is a choice. to land around Thompson Pond at the Kittatinny Trails (2004) & see combo $18.95 $14.21 +$3.00 ______mountain’s base. Long Path Guide to NY/NJ (2005) $16.95 $12.71 +$3.00 ______The pond, and the surrounding marsh Scenes & Walks in the Northern Shawangunks and swamp land, is a naturalist’s delight. The (2006) & see combo $13.95 $10.46 +$3.00 ______area is a remnant of a glacial kettle and Doodletown: Hiking Through History in a showcases a dynamic wetland ecology. Vanishing Hamlet on the Hudson (1996) $12.95 $ 9.71 +$3.00 ______According to the TNC, more than 387 Nature Walks in New Jersey (2003) $14.95 $11.21 +$3.00 ______species of plants, 162 species of birds, and 27 mammal species have been identified in the AMC Catskill Mountain Guide (2002) $19.95 $14.96 +$3.00 ______Thompson Pond/Stissing Mountain area. ADK Catskill Trails (2005) & see combo $19.95 $14.96 +$3.00 ______One caution: The Thompson Pond Trail ADK Catskill Day Hikes for All Seasons (2002) $12.95 $ 9.71 +$3.00 ______can be very muddy, even under water dur - Shawangunks Trail Companion (2003) $18.95 $14.21 +$3.50 ______ing wet periods, such as an early spring day. Moon Take a Hike NYC (2006) $16.95 $12.71 +$3.00 ______An early-spring view of the Harlem Valley from Walking Manhattan’s Rim (2003) $13.95 $10.46 +$3.00 ______the top of the fire tower. NEW!! 50 Hikes in the Lower Hudson Valley (2008) $16.95 $12.71 +$3.50 ______50 Hikes in New Jersey (2006) $16.95 $12.71 +$3.50 ______Best Hikes w/ Children in New Jersey (2005) $15.95 $11.96 +$3.00 ______Join the volunteers who Best Hikes w/ Children in the Catskills & Hudson River Valley (2002) $14.95 $11.21 +$3.00 ______bring you the great outdoors! Hudson to Delaware: The Great Valley (2004) $75.00 $56.25 +$5.50 ______Combo-Packs 1,700 miles of trails; your membership helps us expand our horizons. Catskill (5-map set & ADK book) $30.35 $22.69 +$3.00 ______Harriman (2-map set & book) $23.40 $17.55 +$3.50 ______Included with membership, Trail Walker , 10% discount on purchases at most NY & NJ Walk Books $38.60 $30.95 +$4.50 ______outdoor stores, and 25% discount on all Trail Conference maps and books. Shawangunk (3-map set & Scenes & Walks book) $21.65 $16.23 +$3.00 ______Save time and a tree by joining or renewing online at Kittatinny (4-map set & book) $27.80 $20.85 +$3.00 ______www.nynjtc.org. Just click on the Join/Renew button. The Personal Touch MEMBERSHIP LEVEL DUES Note Cards: TC Collection $12.00 $ 9.00 +$3.00 ______Senior Individual (65+) $25 Long-sleeve Denim Shirt Circle: S M L XL $29.90 $22.43 +$5.50 ______Senior Family (65+) $30 Polo Shirt (Forest Green) Circle: S M L XL $19.90 $14.93 +$5.50 ______Supporter $30 Trail Conference Baseball Cap $ 5.00 $ 3.75 +$2.10 ______Family $40 Trail Conference Logo Patch $ 2.50 $ 2.50 postpaid ______*Sponsor Individual $60 Long Path Logo Patch $ 2.75 $ 2.75 postpaid ______*Sponsor Family $75 Trail Conference Logo Decal Circle: Inside Outside $ .85 $ .85 postpaid ______*Benefactor Individual $120 Subtotal ______*Benefactor Family $150 Postage/handling from above ______*Life Individual $1,000 New Jersey residents add 7% tax* ______*Life Joint $1,500 TOTAL ENCLOSED $ ______Name ______Address ______Method of Payment: NAME City ______State ______Zip ______Check or money order enclosed Visa Mastercard Amex Day Phone ______Evening Phone ______ADDRESS Card #______E-MAIL ______CITY STATE ZIP Exp. Date: ___ /___ Check or money order enclosed Visa Mastercard Amex Signature: ______Card # ______Exp. Date: ____ / ____ EMAIL TELEPHONE Make check or money order payable to the NY-NJ Trail Conference, Make check or money order payable to NY-NJ Trail Conference, and mail to: 156 Ramapo Valley and mail to: 156 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430. Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430. For a full descriptive catalog, please write or call 201-512-9348. *Tax must be paid on books, maps, misc., but not on clothing or shipping, by customers *New Sponsor, Benefactor, and Life Members may elect to receive a with NJ ship-to (not billing) addresses. Prices are subject to change. (5/08) Trail Conference cap. Check here if you would like us to send you a cap. Tax-deductible. Dues are not refundable. YOU CAN ALSO ORDER AT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.NYNJTC.ORG