RAIL ALKER TNEW YORK-NEW JERSEY TRAIL CONFERENCE...MAINTAININGW OVER 1500 MILES OF FOOT TRAILS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2003 Pochuck: A Small Name for a Huge Accomplishment The New York-New Jersey Trail Con- ference coordinated the Pochuck project. An extraordinary number of dedicated organizations and individuals volunteered time, materials, and manual labor to con- ED GOODELL The Trail Conference’s struct the crossing. Among these were the biggest project is plished without a whole lot of goodwill finished at last. Appalachian Trail Conference, the Na- tional Park Service, New Jersey Depart- from people with many different interests ment of Environmental Protection-Divi- in the project—and some who definitely sion of Parks & Forests, Vernon Township did not have interest. Ultimately, every- Municipal Authorities, Purcell Associates one pulled together to make it a reality. Consulting Engineers, Builders Association Now, we take pleasure in hearing the ku- of North New Jersey, Jersey Central Power dos of hikers from all over the world who & Light, General Public Utilities, Vernon say they’ve never had an experience such WALT DANIELS Public Schools, St. Benedicts Prep School, as this provides.” and NY-NJ Trail Conference members. Oh, about that bear: The day before After 24 years of planning and he- “Seeing this crossing completed, know- the Pochuck dedication, the bear ransacked roic volunteer effort—engaging an es- ing all the sweat equity that went into it, the camping area of the Appalachian Trail timated 500 volunteers who gave is one of the most satisfying endeavors of Conference’s Mid-Atlantic crew, which nearly 9,000 hours of time, talent and the New York-New Jersey Trail Confer- was wrapping up work at the site. It re- sweat labor—the Pochuck Trail section ence,” says Ed Goodell, executive direc- turned for celebration goodies and was on the Appalachian Trail in Vernon tor. “It never could have been accom- shooed off the boardwalk. Township, New Jersey, was officially New Jersey Office of Travel & Tourism. opened and dedicated on October 20, The Pochuck Trail comprises a mile- 2002. The Pochuck Trail is one of the big- long boardwalk, with a 110-foot long gest volunteer projects ever accomplished wooden suspension bridge, between the Stony Kill Falls Access Trail on the AT, and is a significant feather in Pochuck and Wawayanda Mountains. It the cap of the NY-NJ Trail Conference, was built to provide hikers of all ages and which was one of the key organizers of May Be Ready for Spring abilities with a safe, off-road alternative the trail’s creation. The Conference, along to the 2.1-mile stretch of narrow, winding Almost two years after the Trail Con- pulls back and away from the Stony Kill with Vernon Township, hosted the dedica- local Route 517, formerly the only con- ference teamed up with the Open Space while affording views towards the Falls. tion ceremony. nection between two sections of the AT. Institute (OSI) to purchase property with Then the trail will ascend a side valley, Some 300 people—and one uninvited The area over which it extends is clas- access to Stony Kill Falls on the western where there is a beautiful 30-foot cascade bear—attended the dedication, which cel- sified by the National Park Service as an edge of Minnewaska State Park, the New near the top. Above the cascade, the stream ebrated an extraordinary example of co- “Exceptional Resource Value Wetland,” York State Office of Parks, Recreation and levels out and emerges from the valley at operation among very disparate entities comprising 240 acres and a 3,000-foot Historic Preservation is poised to give its an elevation of approximately 1550 feet. in both private and public sectors. The wide floodplain crisscrossed by tributar- approval for the building of a trail that Here the trail crosses a stream and heads trail’s creation was sanctioned by every ies and a quagmire into which a hiker can will provide the actual access. Until now, due west to connect with the Stony Kill New Jersey governor since the project was sink waist-deep, even in dry summer visitors could not visit Stony Kill Falls carriageway that continues on to the top launched in 1982. Co-sponsors included months. without trespassing on Napanoch Sand & of Stony Kill Falls. the Appalachian Trail Conference, Na- Meandering through wetland is Gravel Co. land. Owing to the foresight and generosity tional Park Service, New Jersey Depart- Pochuck Creek, a non-delineated river If work on this trail can begin in early of the many Trail Conference supporters ment of Environmental Protection and with a 60-foot wide stream channel that spring, it could be finished during the hik- who contributed more than $115,000, en- can be up to eight feet deep. During ex- ing season. When complete, the trail will abling OSI to purchase the property, hik- treme rains, the creek may rise six feet or include a small parking area near the first ers will soon have legal access to Stony What’s Inside more and be fast-flowing, carrying trees gate at the end of Shaft 2A Road. From Kill Falls as well as the relatively inacces- and other debris downstream. there the trail will descend to a seasonal sible western edge of Minnewaska State Advocacy ................... 3 In flood conditions, the entire area re- stream crossing of the Stony Kill. At cer- Park. Additional thanks go to Trail Con- Ice Storm Havoc ........... 4 sembles the prehistoric lake it once was. tain times of the year, this may be a wet ference volunteers Neil Zimmerman, More often, it is a beautiful, marshy bog crossing and, at times (after severe rains), Malcolm Specter, Jan Hesbon, and Larry Maintainer’s Toolkit ....... 4 of tall grasses, bushes, and wild flowers impassable. Braun, and Bob Anderberg of OSI for Member Club Focus ....... 5 surrounded by hardwood and evergreen Once across the Stony Kill, the trail making this dream come true. forest. It is habitat for a variety of threat- will follow an old road leading upstream For additional news on the Conference’s Volunteer Profile ........... 7 ened and endangered species and offers for a few hundred yards until it crosses Shawangunk Ridge preservation work, Sphagnum Walk ........... 9 an extraordinary hiking experience unlike bridgework over a small creek. The trail please turn to Advocacy & Conservation any other on the Appalachian Trail. then climbs onto a plateau that gradually on page 3. from the president’s notepad... TRAIL WALKER Volume XXX, No. 1 Jan./Feb. 2003 Georgette Weir Editor Nora Porter Managing Editor The TRAIL WALKER (USPS Permit #970- 100) (ISSN 0749-1352) is published bi- The Trail Conference as Inspiring Teacher monthly by the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference as a benefit of membership. Of Educating the public about the respon- they see and what they are doing. who have led the hikes report back enthu- membership dues, $4 is allocated to a one- sible use of trails and the natural environ- Our publishing activities, on the other siastically about how much they enjoyed year subscription. Subscriptions are available ment is as much a part of our organiza- hand, amount to a full-fledged business, sharing the woods with others. Addition- to libraries only at $15.00 a year. Periodical postage paid at Mahwah, N.J., and additional tion as preserving open space and main- one that generates significant financial ally, board member Daniel Chazin began offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to taining trails. Hiking is not just a matter support for our organization. Currently writing a weekly “Hike of the Week” ar- the address below. Opinions expressed by au- thors do not necessarily represent the policy of putting one foot in front of the other. we publish 11 map sets and 10 books in- ticle for the Bergen Record under Trail or position of the Conference. Contributions Hikers recognize that they need to know cluding the 7th edition of the New York Conference auspices. of typed manuscripts, photos, and drawings about equipment, trail marking, destina- Walk Book, which was first published in Our science initiatives are just begin- are welcome. Manuscripts may be edited for style and length. Send SASE for writers’ guide- tions, weather, and fitness. To insure that 1923. For an organization as small as ning. This past year there have been ar- lines. Submission deadlines for the TRAIL there is a place to hike, they also need to ours, our efforts, as a small press, in the ticles in the Trail Walker detailing the WALKER are January 15 (Mar./Apr. Issue), be aware that trail lands need protecting past 12 months are remarkable—we pub- natural history and ecological context of March 15 (May/June issue), May 15 (July/ Aug. Issue), July 15 (Sept./Oct. Issue), Sep- and that trails need to be maintained. At lished one new book and three new edi- our region’s trails. We also began a new tember 15 (Nov./Dec. Issue), November 15 the same time, hikers need to know that in tions. Our publications offer great hike program of natural heritage monitoring, (Jan./Feb. Issue). Unsolicited contributions can- some places, their footsteps can cause ir- destinations, how to get to those places in which volunteers conduct field research not be acknowledged unless accompanied by SASE. For information on advertising rates, reparable harm, by creating erosive con- (including public transportation informa- to track the status of endangered or threat- please write or call. ditions, for example, or by trampling on tion), and what to see. These books and ened species of plants over time. Copyright 2003 by: rare and endangered species of plants.