10 Great Trail Projects! This Invasive Our crews have been Could Blind You out building and And it’s in our area. Learn how improving trails for you. to recognize giant hogweed. READ MORE ON PAGES 6—7 READ MORE ON PAGE 9

Fall 2014 New York-New Jersey Trail Conference — Connecting People with Nature since 1920 www.nynjtc.org

Trail Conference Recommendations Kaaterskill for Protecting Kaaterskill Falls and PEOPLE FOR TRAILS the Public Falls Deserves The Trail Conference is recommending a comprehensive and collaborative approach Safe Access to managing public access at Kaaterskill Falls, with the goals being to increase safety wo deaths this season, both the and access while protecting and improving result of falls from water-slicked this unique and popular natural resource in Trocks. Unsafe trailhead access, with the Catskill Park. pedestrians and vehicles competing for Solutions will require the cooperation of pavement on a winding, narrow road. the Town of Hunter, the DEC, Dept. of Social paths on the mountainside that result Transportation, nearby landowners, non- Daniel Yu in widespread erosion, degrading both the profit organizations like the Trail Staten Island, NY mountain and the experience for hikers. Conference, and local businesses. The Trail These are just some of the problems that Conference supports: Komodo Dragon: Daniel’s afflict the popular Kaaterskill Falls, an icon - • The creation of a weekend shuttle serv - bestowed nickname at the ic natural feature of the Catskill Park and ice to reduce parking pressure in the clove; Bear Mountain project. the Hudson River School of art. This sum - • Improvements to pedestrian safety mer, the Trail Conference joined New York along Route 23A; Why? Daniel approaches the art State Senator Cecilia Tkaczyk, local offi - • Improvements to the current Kaater - of building cribwall much as a cials, and representatives of the Dept. of skill Falls Trail and the development of a Komodo Dragon approaches its Environmental Conservation (DEC) to new trail that connects the existing prey: patiently, tenaciously, begin a search for solutions that will Escarpment Trail and the Kaaterskill Falls powerfully, and skillfully. enhance visitors’ experience and safeguard Trail in a safe and efficient manner; Plumber of the Internet: this treasured natural asset. • The completion of the Kaaterskill Rail Daniel’s Trail (KRT) at the top of the falls with the nickname for himself in his professional, weekday life. Improvements are needed construction of a bridge over Lake Creek, which would provide a safe crossing for N A Why? “I upgrade the M R

for hikers both along visitors above Kaaterskill Falls and facili - E infrastructure and make it work T N

tate hiker traffic along the KRT, the E S faster; I handle the stuff you

the road and on the trails F F

Escarpment Trail, and any future Escarp - E don’t see to make all the J to promote safety. ment/Kaaterskill Falls Trails connections; The view from the current end of the possibilities of iPhones and • The deployment by the Trail Confer - Kaaterskill Falls Trail. computers seem seamless.” ence and the Catskill Conservation Corps Ironically, Daniel does not own We began with a site visit on a busy July of a combination of paid and volunteer The Trail Conference does not support much hi-tech gear himself. Sunday, and experienced first-hand the trail and resource stewards in the area to the development of a new trail that would perils of the road walk. At the base of the educate visitors, help protect natural bring visitors to the upper level of Kaater - It was while hiking—he started falls we watched many people hike beyond resources, and help to ensure the safety of skill Falls, nor does it support the just last year —that Daniel learned the end-of-trail sign, some slipping and hikers and visitors. Paid stewards require development of a short, steep connector of the Trail Conference on some falling on the eroded slope. We saw people identifying funding sources. trail between the top of the falls and the trail markers. He attended an swimming in the tiers of pools, where the • Giving the DEC more resources to end of the existing Kaaterskill Falls Trail. Intro to Bear Mountain Trails rocks are very slippery and a fall would increase public education and patrols in —Jeff Senterman, Project hike in March and has cause very bad injuries if not death. the area by forest rangers, assistant forest senior program coordinator been hooked on the project, rangers, and Student Conservation Corps coming out every weekend, ever backcountry stewards. since. “I was interested in making a wild place accessible. Every day you learn something new, either Protect Your Trails: on your own or by how others Mugged by a Bear Report ATV Activity are doing it.” Goals: To stand atop the high point of every state and on every “We made a trail for you,” hollered the ATV tri-corner (where three states rider from his mount. He and two compan - meet) in the USA. “I hiked Mt. ions had bull-dozed their four-wheelers up a Marcy and realized I’d done four steep slope, through dense blueberries nearly state high points and figured

E to a viewpoint in the Fishkill Ridge Conser - C

I there are only 46 more to go.” V

R vation Area (owned and managed by Scenic E S

E Hudson) in Dutchess County. They had, in Something not known about F I L

D fact, been following a Trail Conference main - him: He points to a large scar on L I W tained footpath up from an area riddled with & top of his head from an accident

H S By Jerry Adams, Appalachian Trail I old woods roads and off-road vehicle paths as a youth. “It’s a big reminder F

S U

Ridge Runner in New Jersey (East Hudson Trails Map #102). In the con - to be careful out there, but, you : Y B servation area, as in the neighboring Hudson will survive.” The ground trembled, but it was the huff - gled to get my brain around what I was see - Highlands State Park, the use of off-road ing and snorting outside that woke me in ing while working to shove the sleep away vehicles is illegal. Hiking solo, I held my Favorite attribute of self: “My the dead of night. and awaken my senses. It huffed again, and tongue, turned my back on the trio, and con - curiosity. It drives everything Looking through the screen of my tent, I it seemed that bubbles blew from its nose. tinued, a bit uneasily, on my way. else. Do something new every day.” We at Bear Mountain love saw the large black bear lurking about 10 continued on page 2 feet away and staring back at me. I strug - continued on page 8 that about you too, Daniel.

VOLUME XLI, N UMBER 4 ISSN 0749-1352 Learn about the Bear Mountain Trails Project at nynjtc.org/ bearmtntrails Interview by Caitlyn Ball, D L

O AmeriCorps member of the G N R

E Bear Mountain Crew T S

N A S U S ATVs in Harriman State Park. Page 2 Fall 2014

New Jersey Voters: efforts. The Trail Conference has supported dedicated funding for Green Acres through Feedback New Legislature Could the New Jersey Keep It Green coalition; as of VOLUME XLI, NO.4 FALL 2014 Affect Your Parks the deadline for this issue of Trail Walker , we Re Casinos GEORGETTE WEIR EDITOR were reviewing the final measure adopted Thanks for taking up this fight. I was a LOU LEONARDIS GRAPHIC DESIGNER On November 4, you will have the oppor - by the legislature to ensure that its passage child hiking through those areas for TRAIL WALKER (USPS Permit #970-100) tunity to vote on Question 2, a measure would maintain already established funding over six years growing up in Warwick. I (ISSN 0749-1352) is published quarterly by the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference as a that, if approved, would dedicate a percent - for our parks. Please watch your email and live in Georgia now, and still hike up benefit of membership. Subscriptions are age of existing corporate business tax our website for more about this issue in the there from time to time, and when I available to libraries only at $15.00 a year. revenues on a long-term basis to ensure reli - weeks ahead. first read about this a few of months ago Periodical postage paid at Mahwah, N.J., and additional offices. Postmaster: Send address able funding for land and water protection I had to express my concerns to you all changes to the address below. Opinions expressed and other groups too, so thank you for by authors do not necessarily represent the policy taking up this fight. If I can do anything or position of the Conference. Contributions of remarks by Andes Town Supervisor Marty from down here please let me know, typed manuscripts, photos, and drawings are welcome. Manuscripts may be edited for style Donnelly, NYC DEP Recreation and seriously. I would love to be in Albany and length. Send SASE for writers’ guidelines. Property Manager Charlie Laing, and for these meetings! Please keep me in Submission deadlines for the TRAIL WALKER CMC President Rick Roberts, attendees the loop on the progress. are January 15 (Spring issue), May 15 (Summer headed off for a hike. The Palmer Hill Trail —Bruce Murtie issue), August 15 (Fall issue), November 15 Trail News (Winter issue). Unsolicited contributions cannot consists of three segments that can be hiked Hampton, Georgia be acknowledged unless accompanied by SASE. in four distinct combinations, allowing For information on advertising rates, please write hikers the options of short and easy hikes I think [casinos] will [be] fantastic or call. or moderately strenuous and longer hikes. bringing jobs and development to areas Copyright 2014 by: In Harriman State Park New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, Inc. Each takes you through beautiful wild - surrounding our parklands. It will 156 Ramapo Valley Road (Rt. 202) The 1779 Trail bridge over the outlet of flower meadows that offer wide open views expose more people to our parks and Mahwah, NJ 07430 Turkey Hill Lake and the bridge on the of the surrounding mountains and hills make them more popular. Remember it 201-512-9348 Red Cross Trail are restored thanks to the and of the bucolic scenery that Delaware is a state park not a club sanctuary. email: [email protected] editorial email: [email protected] work of Trail Conference volunteers. Con - County epitomizes. Along the way are old —Brian Levy World Wide Web: www.nynjtc.org tributions from AMC helped with the Red foundations, a lovely stream and age old Cross bridge project. trees. In season, there will be blackberries Send Us a Letter and apples galore for the hungry hiker. And Email it to [email protected]; in the subject Still out (as of September 9, 2014): Hill - in winter the cross country skiing will be a line, put “letter to TW editor”; or send it burn-Torne-Sebago Trail bridge over dream come true. to Trail Walker Letters, NY-NJ Trail Pine Meadow Brook (just above Cascade Conference, 156 Ramapo Valley Rd., of Slid): The bridge, washed away by Hur - Mahwah, NJ 07430. ricane Irene, had not yet been replaced and Mission Statement attempting to cross the stream, at least The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is a when water is high, is inadvisable due to federation of member clubs and individuals dedicated to providing recreational hiking the swift current and proximity to the cas - opportunities in the region, and representing the cade. The Trail Conference is coordinating interests and concerns of the hiking community. with the park to replace this bridge; com - The Conference is a volunteer-directed public pletion date is TBD. service organization committed to: • Developing, building, and maintaining hiking trails. Kakiat Trail Bridge over Stony Brook: • Protecting hiking trail lands through This bridge was destroyed during Hurri - support and advocacy. • Educating the public in the responsible cane Irene and has not yet been replaced. use of trails and the natural environment. Crossing the stream without a bridge is JOIN US very difficult (even under low water condi - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18 Board of Directors Chris Connolly Chair tions) and is not advised. The park seeks to Gaylord Holmes Vice Chair relocate this crossing to a more suitable Annual Fall Member Richard Levine Treasurer location, with a shorter span and higher Daniel Chazin Secretary banks to reduce the likelihood of future & Friends Meeting

Directors R A

Walter Daniels Richard Levine washouts, but it has not yet identified such G P A Christine DeBoer Edward Saiff Caputo Community Center

a location. Y

Charlotte Fahn Dave Stuhr M E

R 95 Broadway, Ossining, NY

Suzan Gordon Daniel Van Engel E James Gregoire Ned Whitney A 0.5-mile relocation of the Appalachian J Daniel Hoberman Patsy Wooters Stokes State Forest Richard Katzive Trail on West Mountain is expected to be completed and open later this fall. Tillman Ravine is reopened after our West Join Us As We Honor Staff Edward Goodell Executive Director Jersey Crew removed blowdowns and Outstanding Trail Volunteers Joshua Howard Deputy Executive The Bare Rock Shelter is reopened after restored two bridges. While additional trail and Partners Director repairs made by park staff. work may be needed (as of mid August), Don Weise Development the trails are passable. PLUS Director Catskill Park Melissa Bean Operations & Breakfast, Workshops, Hikes Finance Director In May, the DEC and regional nonprofits Fahnestock State Park Linda Rohleder Land Stewardship celebrated the acquisition of a 590-acre A number of hurricane-created problems and Business Meeting Director collection of parcels that puts the 3600- on School Mountain Road linger, includ - 8:30am – 12:30pm For a full list of staff visit www.nynjtc.org/content/staff foot Balsam Mountain wholly in the ing several damaged or unsafe bridges and Forest Preserve. severe erosion in some locations. Some The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is a nynjtc.org/event/2014- volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. It is stream crossings may be difficult. Park a federation of 103 hiking and outdoor groups, New Palmer Hill Trail opens in Andes, managers have begun a planning process to members-and-friends- and 10,000 individuals. Delaware County. The trail opened in determine what should be done with the June and is a collaboration between the trail; the schedule for major trail work will annual-fall-meeting printed on recycled content paper Catskill Mountain Club and the New York be determined by the outcome. City Dept. of Environmental Protection PLEASE RECYCLE TRAIL WALKER (DEP). After a brief ceremony featuring continued on page 10

REPORT ATV ACTIVITY Laws and regulations—such as New Cuts to operating budgets for parks in being ridden on, and nearest cross paths or continued from page 1 York state parks’ ban on the use of ATVs in both states in recent years reduces the like - intersections. Is it a single unit or a group? State Parks—are frequently broken and lihood of successful enforcement measures. What color is the vehicle and are there dis - Susan Sterngold also wisely opted against rarely enforced. In New Jersey, hard-won To highlight the ongoing problems that tinguishing features? If a license plate is confrontation during one of her encoun - legislation that imposed registration, licens - illegal off-road vehicles bring to our visible, note the color, number, and state. ters with ATVers in Harriman State Park. ing, and strong penalties for illegal ORV parks and trails, the Trail Conference asks Do not place yourself in danger or take it “I was having a lovely walk in the Laden - use has been effectively ignored since it was hikers to report their sightings as soon as upon yourself to challenge, antagonize, or town area with my dogs, just enjoying the attempt to stop or control the riders. woods and daydreaming, when I heard a What you can do is report illegal trail use rumbling in the background that soon Don’t confront ATVers yourself. Instead, alert the via a form on our website; these reports are became a ROAR,” she recalls. “Luckily the not for immediate action, but are collected drivers were polite and slowed down, local Park Police and be prepared to offer as many for our reporting and advocacy work on enough for me to take their picture. I details as possible about the illegal activity. behalf of trails and parks. We ask that you waved and they waved and they went on.” report sightings to us even if you have Hikers and walkers encountering off- already made a report to police. From the road vehicles illegally using trails on public nynjtc.org homepage, hover on the Our parklands and private preserves is an old, adopted in 2010. A deadline that the state possible. In New York State Parks, in our Community tab, then click “Report Illegal familiar story throughout our region. It’s identify three sites for ATV parks within region, call the Park Police at 845-786- Trail Use.” not just the roar that disturbs the peace, it’s three years was missed, and the strong 2781 immediately if you spot powered —Georgette Weir the speed that threatens and may even penalties in the law have been removed as a vehicles within a park. In New Jersey call endanger pedestrians, and the erosion, consequence. Just one ATV park has been 1-880-WARN-DEP (1-880-927-6337). widened corridors, and destroyed vegeta - built, in Cape May County in 2013; no Be prepared to report the time and loca - tion that degrades the environment. additional sites have been identified. tion, including the park, name of trail/path Fall 2014 Page 3 From the Executive Director getting the question on the November 4 bal - Trail Conference conservationist Leo Roth - PEOPLE FOR TRAILS lot, and are now working to assure that the schild began battling the mining of Mt. Tools of measure will maintain support for our parks. Taurus (Bull Hill) in the early 1930s and the Cause: In New York, large casino resorts threat - sounded the first warning in the 17-year en the peace and natural resources of two of battle to save Storm King that set the prece - Hammers and our most treasured—and hard-won—state dent for allowing community intervention Clippers Aren’t parks: Harriman and Sterling Forest. The over environmental issues. More recently, Trail Conference has actively opposed Trail Conference member and former exec - Enough in approval of these two proposals by the New utive director, JoAnn Dolan, sparked the Advocacy Efforts York State Gaming Commission. If the effort that protected Sterling Forest. commission gives either a green light, we Ideally, as a society, we would learn from There are times when our preferred tools of will continue our fight at the local level. these hard-fought battles and proactively rock bars, loppers, hammers, and clippers Our advocacy efforts to preserve the his - provide adequate access to open space for a Sandy Cascio are of no help at all in taking care of trails. toric natural aspect of the Palisades ridge growing population. To a great degree, this Wallkill, NY When the problem is inappropriate devel - were rewarded with a win in July when the has happened, but there are two trends that opment or short-changed park budgets, we Englewood Cliffs Council unanimously suggest Trail Conference advocacy will be Volunteers as new crew chief, must choose the right tools to safeguard our voted to restore the traditional zoning that needed like never before. Hudson Nor’westers (formerly connections to nature: letters to the editor, limits building height to 35 feet. LG Elec - First, because our region is closer to West Hudson North Crew); letters to public officials, leaflets and demon - tronics can still build its tower to 143 feet as “build out” (when there is no more vacant instigator of the West Hudson strations, our vote. In short, advocacy. a result of its variance, and similar variances land available for development), private Clippers, a new roving I know that most people involved in the are possible in the future. However, the lands in and around parks are going to be maintenance crew. Trail Conference’s work would choose to Council’s action may strengthen the oppo - targeted more frequently for inappropri - contribute their time and resources directly sition’s case challenging the legality of LG’s ate development. Minnewaska grabbed me. I first to the trails and parklands rather than to variance, now pending in appeals court, and Secondly, parks and open space pro - visited six years ago on a group the often overheated debates about the shows that the people can affect the actions grams are often seen as easy targets in hike, and I knew I had to be impacts of development on parks or the of government when they care. Efforts to budget cutting at all levels of government. closer. Three years ago I moved politics of park budgets and policies. But persuade LG to reduce the height of its The end result is that park acquisition and from South Jersey to Wallkill, sometimes our work in the woods is threat - planned building will continue unabated. maintenance are both underfunded. near the park. I totally embedded ened by external events. We neglect the Advocacy is American as apple pie, and We plan to advocate for and defend our myself in Minnewaska, doing lots need for advocacy at our peril. as traditional a tool in the Trail Confer - parks and trails with all the tools at our dis - of solo hikes. I let it become part In New Jersey, for example, Green Acres ence’s tool kit as loppers, saws, and rock posal. We hope you will join our trail of me. I felt I needed to protect funding has run out. Will the state continue bars. Our early constitution named as a advocacy crews. As in the woods, there is that and give back what it had to invest in open space preservation in the purpose aiding “in the conservation of wild more than enough work for all who care given me. I volunteered to absence of public pressure? The Trail Con - lands and wild life and to protect places of about protecting our natural heritage. maintain part of the Scenic Trail, ference has been working with more than natural beauty and interest.” between Castle Point and 100 partner organizations in NJ Keep It Raymond Torrey and Major Welch, Margaret Cliffs. Green to make sure New Jersey voters have founders of the Trail Conference, were the opportunity to vote YES to dedicating a strong and active advocates for the overall — Edward Goodell Wow, I like swinging a sledge portion of existing taxes to the state open parks movement and individual parks like Executive Director hammer! The first time I went out space preservation efforts. We succeeded in the Adirondacks and Smoky Mountains. [email protected] with a crew was at Sterling Forest last year with the Palisades Crew, with the AmeriCorps kids. They were great. I started going to Casinos Update: of 17 submitted is expected early this Trail Conference will be active in these workshops, getting in deeper, fall. At that point, each project is sub - review processes. building a résumé of sorts for Two mega casino resorts proposed ject to local planning and zoning what I want to do for the next 20 for Orange County, in the thick of review and state environmental review We will post updates on our website: years, which is work in parks. state park land and projected by processes. If either the Sterling Forest nynjtc.org/issue/new-york-casinos- I’m really crew-chief-in training. I their proponents to attract a or Woodbury proposal gets a green impact-our-state-parks-and-trails don’t yet have the technical skills combined 17 million visitors annually, light from the Gaming Commission, the I need to be chief. Dave Webber are of great concern to the Trail Con - [volunteer trails supervisor in the ference, and we are opposing them. park] is tech-wise, a great teacher, and is very supportive. He’s taken • Sterling Forest Resort, which me under his wing. would be built on a 238-acre private in-holding at the heart of Weekdays I sit at a desk in front Sterling Forest State Park in the of a computer doing data analysis Town of Tuxedo, adjacent to the for a reinsurance company. I have Doris Duke Wildlife Sanctuary, THE CATSKILL PARK a 22-year-old son who attended where we hold a conservation America’s First Wilderness Ramapo College and I hiked with easement; and him at the Reservation. Recently, I was inspired by the book Walking • Caesars New York in the Town More Hiking, Paddling,addling, Cycling, the Distance . I’d like to do a long of Woodbury, abutting Harriman distance hike—maybe 100-200 State Park. FFishing,ishing, Outddooroor Educducation, and miles. When my son is finished Funun in the Caattsskillskills than ever! with college (next year), I’m going. These projects would irreparably harm Harriman and Sterling Forest Get out with a trail crew. Find them State Parks and their environs. at nynjtc.org/content/trail-crews.

Background In 2013, New York State voters approved the Upstate New York Gam - ing Economic Development Act to • Explore the Catskill Fororest Preseervrve, NYC Waattershed permit the development of four casi - LLandsands and Coommunitmmunity Parks and Preseervrves no resorts. But, in a classic bait and switch, the referendum was revised • Caanoenoe and Kayak the Reservoirs at the last minute to include Orange County, which shares a border with New Jersey and is hardly “Upstate New York.”

The visual impacts within the parks, the massive traffic jams and unsafe driving on winding park roads, as well as the noise and lights from planned nighttime events, will nega - tively impact the vast majority of park users who depend on these R E L S

parks as havens from urban hubbub. S E R B

H P L A Two massive gambling corpora - R tions—Genting and Caesars—with powerful lobbyists have been mov - For a complete schedule of MORE THAN 50 ACTIVITIES, visit: ing quickly ahead with their proposals, and the NYS Gaming www.catskillslark.org or call 845-586-2611 Commission is on a fast track to

issue permits. Their decision about LLarkark in the Park is a parartnership of the New YYorkork-New Jersey Trail Conference, the Catatskill Mountain Club, the Catskill Center which four proposals to approve out and the New Yoork State Department of Enviroonmennmental Conservation Page 4 Fall 2014

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

ADK Long Island Flat Rock Brook Nature Association New Haven Hiking Club SUNY Oneonta Outing Club www.adkli.org www.flatrockbrook.org www.NHHC.info www.oneonta.edu/outdoors

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

Alley Pond Environmental Center Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct, Inc. Palisades Nature Association The Outdoor Club, Inc. http://www.alleypond.com http://aqueduct.org www.njpalisades.org/greenbrook.htm www.outdoorsclub.info

AMC Delaware Valley Chapter Friends of The Shawangunks Protect Our Wetlands, Water & Woods Thendara Mountain Club www.amcdv.org http://shawangunks.org (POW) www.thendaramountainclub.org http://box292.bluehost.com/~powwworg AMC Mohawk Hudson Chapter Friends of Van Cortlandt Park Tri State Ramblers www.amcmohawkhudson.org http://vancortlandt.org Protectors of Pine Oak Woods http://tsr.nynjtc.org/ www.siprotectors.org AMC New York North Jersey Chapter German-American Hiking Club Torne Valley Preservation Association www.amc-ny.org http://gah.nynjtc.org Rip Van Winkle Hikers http://newyorkheritage.com/rvw Town of Lewisboro Bellvale School Hike for Mental Health www.lewisborogov.com/parksrec www.bruderhof.com/en/international- www.hikeformentalhealth.org Rock Lodge Club directory/united-states/bellvale www.rocklodge.com Union County Department of Parks & Hilltop Conservancy, Inc. Community Renewal Black Rock Forest Consortium Inc. www.hilltopconservancy.org RPHC Volunteers http://ucnj.org/community/parks- www.blackrockforest.org timtrek.mikentim.com community-renewal/parks-facilities/ Hudson Highlands Gateway Task Force Boy Scout Troop 121-Hudson Valley Council www.TownofCortlandt.com SAJ - Society for the Advancement of University Outing Club Judaism www.universityoutingclub.org Boy Scout Troop 50 Mahwah Hunterdon Hiking Club http://www.thesaj.org MAHWAHtroop50.scoutlander.com www.hunterdonhikingclub.org Urban Trail Conference, Inc. Salt Shakers Trail Running Club www.urbantrail.org Boy Scout Troop 8, Brooklyn Interstate Hiking Club www.saltshakersrun.com www.interstatehikingclub.org Valley Stream Hiking Club Boy Scouts of America, Troop 21 Shorewalkers Inc. www.meetup.com/vshclub Jolly Rovers www.shorewalkers.org Boy Scouts of America- http://jollyrovers.org/ Wappingers Greenway Trail Committee Northern NJ Council Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter Outings www.nnjbsa.org Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference Committee Warren County Morris Canal Committee www.ligreenbelt.org/ www.newyork.sierraclub.org/outings www.morriscanal.org Byram Township Environmental Commission Long Path North Hiking Club Sierra Club Lower Hudson Group West Milford 13ers www.byramtwp.org www.schoharie-conservation.org http://www.newyork.sierraclub.org/lhg http://www.weishike.com

Catskill 3500 Club Mohonk Preserve Sierra Club Mid-Hudson Group Westchester Trails Association www.catskill-3500-club.org www.mohonkpreserve.org www.newyork.sierraclub.org/midhudson www.nynjtc.org/clubpages/wta.html

Catskill Mountain Club Monmouth County Park System South Mountain Conservancy Inc. Women About www.catskillmountainclub.org www.monmouthcountyparks.com www.somocon.org www.womenabout.org

Chinese Mountain Club of New York Morris County Park Commission Southampton Trails Preservation Society WWW www.cmcny.org www.morrisparks.net http://southamptontrails.org www.weishike.com

Church Communities Foundation Mosaic Outdoor Mountain Club St. Benedicts Prep Backpacking Project www.bruderhof.com www.mosaic-gny.org/joomla http://www.sbp.org

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

The 2014 Ralph’s Peak Hikers’ Cabin Club (RPH) Work Weekend Was a Huge Success!

In terms of number of participants and • The Gerry Messerich Memorial • The door of the outhouse at Morgan projects accomplished on the Appalachian Flower Garden on the RPH grounds was Stewart shelter was replaced. Trail, this was our most successful work cleaned up and weeded. weekend in nearly 10 years! • A total of 10 water bars north and In two days on the AT, On average, 30 people per day, includ - south of RPH were cleaned out. ing 10 thru-hikers who were passing • The trail directly south of the bridge 11 projects were tackled. through, worked on various projects: was cleared of overgrowth. • The vandalized post and mileage sign • A new bulletin board was installed at the RPH Shelter were replaced. inside the cabin, replacing one that was We are very thankful for ongoing gener - • Several lengths of rotted treadway burned by vandals 10 years ago. ous support from ALDHA, B-Dry lumber were repaired near the shelter. • Seventeen large rock steps (roughly Waterproofing, Chelsea Forest Products, • To complete the renovation started in 200-300 pounds each) were installed on Richard Carroll, and Thalle Industries. We 1995, new siding was installed under the the Stormville Mountain step project. continue to use equipment generously shed area of the shelter. Additionally, the This project is 90 percent completed and donated by L.L.Bean in 2012. We also entire shed area and one picnic table were will continue into 2015. appreciate the local businesses who assisted painted with a red wood stain. • Maintenance on the outhouse at us with food: Stormville Pizza and • The Seth Lyon Memorial Bridge RPH, including some painting and lime Frankie’s Superette of Hopewell Junction. The Long Distance Trails Crew was among painting project was completed. treatment, was done. —RPHC the volunteers at the annual work party. Fall 2014 Page 5 800+ Miles and Counting served between AmeriCorps members and PEOPLE FOR TRAILS Trail Mix Our Invasives Strike Force made fabulous volunteers on their crews, great progress progress this summer, topping 800 cumu - was made in just the first two months of lative miles of trails surveyed since 2011 for their six-month season. In that time, three 14 common invasive plants, finishing two trail crews built and repaired over 1,000 large parks—Wawayanda State Park (NJ) linear feet of sustainable trail and the Inva - and Bear Mountain State Park (NY)—and sives Strike Force crew was joined by more several small parks including Mahlon than 70 volunteers for 12 invasive removal Dickerson (Morris County, NJ) and work trips at 8 different parks. Cheesecote Mountain Park (Rockland County, NY). ISF Coordinator Linda Rohleder regularly updates the mileage thermometer on our website, Kevin Stamey nynjtc.org/invasives. Visit and track the Cortlandt Manor, NY team’s accomplishments as data comes in. Meeting the Public at Breakneck Nine lives? Kevin, an AmeriCorps member of the Taconics Trail Four Trail Conference trail stewards, outfit - Crew this summer, is reinventing ted by Mountain Tops in Beacon, kicked Wake Up, Rip! Join the New CCC himself after 28 years of off the summer hiking season by welcom - information technology work at a Under a contract with New York’s Dept. of ing and assisting 2,163 hikers over the The Invasives Strike Force AmeriCorps crew global financial services company at Westchester Wilderness Walk. Environmental Conservation (DEC), the three-day Memorial Day holiday weekend. in New York City. He retired last Trail Conference is developing and manag - Over the first five weekends of the season, Good News Alert on Palisades May as a project manager for ing the Catskill Conservation Corps, a the stewards counted almost 10,000 hikers global IT infrastructure projects. program to recruit and supervise volunteers accessing the trailhead on Route 9D; many On August 13, the Englewood Cliffs Coun - That followed his first career to perform various tasks related to natural of them met and received information, cil unanimously adopted Ordinance 14-11, as a Juilliard-trained musician; resource stewardship in the Catskills. The water, and maps from the stewards; a dozen which restores the traditional zoning to he played trombone. contract totals approximately $75,000 for hikers, injured or lost on the mountain, Englewood Cliffs, limiting building height two years, funded through the Environ - were assisted by the stewards. Our hiker to 35 feet. LG Electronics can still build to Path to trails. “I started hiking mental Protection Fund (EFP), with an outreach program at Breakneck got a nice 143 feet, well above tree-line on the Pal - and was looking for maps. That option to extend the agreement for an assist—and additional recognition— isades historic landscape, as a result of its led me to the Trail Conference additional three years. DEC will identify thanks to volunteer director/videographer variance, and similar variances are possible website and the mother lode. specific needs and the Trail Conference will Krysti Sabins, who worked with us to pro - in the future. However, the council’s action I clicked on the Volunteer button recruit, train, and supervise volunteers duce Welcome to Breakneck Ridge, a great may strengthen the opposition’s case chal - and got drawn into Trail U. working on specific projects across multiple video that you can view on our YouTube lenging the legality of LG’s variance, now I volunteered last year at Bear DEC divisions and at various sites in the channel: www.youtube.com/user/nynjtc. pending in appeals court, and shows that Mountain. It intrigued me—it Catskills. Projects may include trail con - the people can affect the actions of govern - involved the high-profile AT, struction and maintenance, fish sampling, Getting Out with the Corps ment when they care. The 4-0 vote by the visited by thousands of people— invasive species control, research and mon - Seventeen AmeriCorps members under - council, which the mayor did not veto, also to be part of that was rewarding. itoring of state lands, and a broad range of went extensive training and have been cancels the planned public referendum on I could share what I was doing other activities. A website and Facebook deployed at works sites in New York and the issue in November. Efforts to persuade with family and friends and they and Twitter accounts for the program are New Jersey this summer. The sites include LG to reduce the height of its planned all ‘got’ it.” set up. Visit catskillconservationcorps.org Sterling Forest and Fahnestock State Parks building will continue unabated. to learn more. as well as the Appalachian Trail on Bear AmeriCorps? Yes, most members Mountain. With more than 8,300 hours are younger, but, Kevin says, “Don’t let demographics influence what you want to do. If we’re lucky to have had a long career, and told her their stories. The exhibit was we can pivot to something that A Photographer the culmination of her summer project. is more fun. I can’t think of She calls it a “collaboration” with the 80 another opportunity like this. Gives and Gets hikers who were her subjects. Twenty were It’s a fantastic program, and it featured in the exhibit. gave me the opportunity for this Trail Magic “I used to think of the Appalachian Trail reinvention.” He is putting last as a place,” Heather writes in her artist’s year’s training and his lifetime of statement. “But after working on this proj - experience to work as crew chief. ect I realize it’s much more than that—it’s His crewmates. “Someone says a living thing. The trail isn’t a long path a task is ‘hard’ and they say, that connects state to state, community to ‘Challenge accepted!’ They’re community… It’s a community and a ready to do everything. It’s fun being in itself—It’s very own entity. to be with enthusiastic people “As many [thru-hikers] told me of hiking like that.” the trail, their faith in humanity has been restored, and I am finding that mine has Sculpting beauty. “The trail is been too,” she says. not just functional, it’s beautiful. You can find a link to Palecek’s Tales It’s not just bringing people into of the Trail portfolio on her website, a place that is beautiful; the Photographer Heather Palecek spent two weeks making magic on the AT this summer. hpalecek.com. trail is beautiful in itself. It’s like sculpture. We’re carving this A young man who is hiking the Appalachi - These are some of the people you meet in out of the earth.” an Trail with Bell’s Palsy, which he got , a collection of Appalachi - Tales of the Trail Reinvent yourself with us. through a tick bite while on the AT; a 60- an Trail thru-hiker portraits by Click Volunteer at nynjtc.org. year-old woman who states, “You have to photographer Heather Palecek (pictured push yourself to grow”; a man who is thru- here) of Manning, NJ. Palecek debuted the hiking for the second time and says, “The photos at an exhibit at the Love Life Tattoo trail calls you back. You start thinking & Art Studio in Warwick, NY, this past about it. You start missing it.” summer. The exhibit was the featured event Enjoy Trails? in this year’s edition of the annual Warwick Appalachian Trail Community Day, co- sponsored by the Town of Warwick Appalachian Trail Community Committee and the NY-NJ Trail Conference. Each year, the Warwick AT Community Committee sponsors activities such as hikes, informational programs, and trail mainte - nance work trips for local residents. Many local artists and musicians find inspiration hiking the AT, and this year’s event brought art to the forefront of the annual event. Tales of the Trail Please make a Palecek, a photography teacher and out - doors enthusiast—High Point State Park is Donation to the a favorite destination—gave herself a sum - mer project: spend two weeks on the Trail Trail Conference. at locations in Vernon, NJ, and Warwick, Left Turn is from Florida and she is living out NY, dispensing “trail magic” to thru-hikers. Go to some great advice: “When you hit a wall, it’s She offered snacks, water, cell phone Scrambles. He describes thru-hiking the time to make a left turn.” She told Palecek that recharging, and other supplies. In return, Appalachian Trail as, “A bunch of four day nynjtc.org/donatenow hiking the Appalachian Trail is her left turn. the hikers posed for photographic portraits camping trips spanning many months.” Page 6 Fall 2014 People for Trails. Trails for People. A quarterly look at some of what our volunteers have been doing to assure public access to nature. 10 Great Trail Projects in New York, New Jersey This Season

Reopening a Popular Ravine Hugging the Water Thanks to an incredibly productive one-day visit by the West Jersey The Reservoir Trail in Ramapo Valley County Reservation has been an Crew, the popular Tillman Ravine at Stokes State Forest, closed to the ongoing project throughout the summer, executed completely through public since Hurricane Sandy, reopened this summer. Crew Chiefs a series of Trail University classes that helped develop our new Ramapo Monica and David Day report that their crew built a stone staircase up Trail Crew. The trail is a 0.8-mile near-loop that stays close to the mar - a very steep embankment created when a huge tree was blown over; gin of the beautiful MacMillan Reservoir and crosses a dramatic rock redefined several trail sections with sidehill work; cut up two huge slope. Volunteers were brought together from Ramapo College, our blowdowns that blocked a bridge and used a highline to lift the tree larger local volunteer base, and brand-new volunteers who saw the pieces out of the streambed; rebuilt the bridge's footings on a tempo - action and decided to get involved. The project also has turned out new rary basis and hoisted it back into a new alignment; and freed another maintainers for Northeast Jersey, North Jersey, Central North Jersey, bridge from a massive blowdown. The crew invites volunteers to join and West Jersey. them on a likely return visit this fall. Keeping Your Feet Dry The Hudson Nor’wester Trail Crew (formerl Glen Trail at Minnewaska State Park Preserve ing the tread in wet areas with “turnpiking,” will continue into next year. The crew welcom

Where Have All the Flowers Gone? Managing Erosion Native wildflowers along a stretch of the Long Path at High Tor once A severely eroded portion of the Appalachian Trail on the western again have space to grow after visits by our Invasives Strike Force this slope of West Mountain in Harriman State Park, above Beechy Bot - summer. The crew, including five AmeriCorps members, surveyed and tom Road, prompted a trail relocation project this year by our Long removed Japanese barberry, multi-flora rose, phragmites, Norway Distance Trails Crew. The length of the relocation is 0.5 mile, about maple, garlic mustard, and—at the particular request of park offi - 0.2 mile longer than the section it is replacing, and incorporates a cials—black swallowwort (a root crown of which is pictured) from switchback, stone walls to support the trail (called crib wall), and stone sections of the trail. steps. The crew expects to complete the project this fall and invites new participants. First Comes the Trail In August volunteers with the Catskill Trail C new trail at the site of the future Catskill Inte 28 in Mount Tremper. The trail will lead hik Center, across a stream, and up a slope to a vi feature a replica of a fire tower.

No Hunting Hike The Palisades Trail Crew, consisting of four A a steady stream of volunteers, completed th From Beach to Viewpoint Doris Duke Trail loop, and began work on th The new Taconics Crew completed relocating and enhancing the 0.3-mile Appalachian Access Trail that has its trailhead at Fahnestock State Park’s This section will lead up Sterling Mountain to Canopus Lake beach. The improved trail, built to sustain high use, will lead summer AT hikers to the concession stand and new visitor center at City and surrounding parkland. This trail, l Canopus Beach, and beach-goers and hikers to the AT, including to a great viewpoint over Canopus Lake. More than 70 volunteers, including free zone of Sterling Forest State Park, con 30 from the World Missionary Society Church of God, some pictured above, worked alongside four AmeriCorps members on the project. The along Sterling Ridge, which in turn connec trail will become part of a new loop hike when a new trail on the nearby ridge is completed. Trail leading to Fitzgerald Falls. Fall 2014 Page 7 JOIN PEOPLE FOR TRAILS ON ONE OF MANY EXCITING PROJECTS THIS SEASON Check the crew trip calendar at nynjtc.org/view/trail-crew-outings

Spearheaded by a small and very dedicated group of Ramapo College students, the Ramapo Trail Crew welcomes any and all trail volunteers to join them in the field.

y ly the West Hudson North crew) is addressing slick bedrock and wet areas on the beautiful Mossy e. The crew is building bog bridges across the most hazardous sections of this stream-side trail, rais - Nature Place summer camp youth enjoyed a workout at the Bear Mountain Trails Project. and installing rock steps to create safer short descents in places. The project began in the spring and mes new and existing volunteers on a project whose location is hard to beat.

A group of incoming Ramapo College Groundwork Hudson Green Team freshmen were led in the field this volunteered at Bear Mountain this summer. September by a quartet of experienced Views over the Hudson Trail Conference student volunteers. The ongoing relocation of the Appalachian Trail on Bear Mountain continues this year with some very technical work including a lot of building on bedrock and moving materials long distances. This reloca - tion will offer beautiful views of the Hudson River and eliminates three Crew began constructing a road crossings. As of mid-August, 148 individuals had volunteered a erpretive Center along Rt. total of 5,665 hours quarrying, splitting, flying, and building almost kers and visitors from the 350 feet of five-foot wide tread. By the time winter rolls around, more iewpoint that will one day than 500 feet of new trail will have been completed in 2014.

Boy Scouts from Brooklyn lent their hands building trail in the Doris Duke Wildlife Sanctuary at Sterling Forest State Park with the Palisades Crew.

Moving South AmeriCorps members and In northeastern Dutchess County, volunteers are extending the 15.7- he second section of the mile long South Taconic Trail an additional 6 miles to the south. The he final section in August. project includes building 4.5 miles of new trail and adding new blazes o great views of New York to existing trail sections. It will result in a new access to the spectacular ocated within a hunting- ridge at Rudd Pond State Park. The crew cleared a grand total of 1.25- nects with the Allis Trail miles of trail on its first four monthly trips, much of it through thick cts with the Appalachian blueberry patches. Trails Chair and Crew Chief Andrew Seirup says, Ten volunteers (including the photographer) turned out for the inaugural trail clipping outing, at Minnewaska, of the West Hudson North Clippers, a roving maintenance crew. “Not too shabby!” Page 8 Fall 2014

Why Trail Users Love Our Maps How you can use on the PDF Maps App! the PDFMap app to improve trails If you have a mobile device and have not • Use the device’s GPS to pinpoint yet checked out our nearly 50 maps your location on the map While out on the trail, you through Avenza’s PDF Maps app, you are • Track your movements in real time might use the app to capture missing out on some great enhanced trail and produce hike statistics a photo and GPS location of maps that have been improving the out - • Attach photos to a waypoint to keep door experiences of many trail users over for reference or share with others a major blow-down or other the past two years. If you do have the app, • Measure distances along trails easily The Trail Conference offers a large trail problem, which can then be aware that Avenza has made some and accurately selection of both free and for-sale maps be sent to us so that the trail recent updates that make it even more • Navigate with a built-in compass through the app. In the past year, we have problem can be addressed. useful on the trail, including the ability to • Use maps and many tools offline in added up-to-date versions of many of our Users of the app maps can now track your route and geotag photos areas with no mobile cell coverage new published maps, and more recently, on both Apple and Android devices. • View satellite imagery of the map new free maps of Franklin Lakes Nature also contribute to field-check - The app now offers the following fea - area Preserve and the five Catskill Fire Towers ing of our maps by noting trail tures to enhance your outdoor experience • Carry all your maps on one small have been added. updates or corrections (for (some features vary in function by operat - device With more than 25,000 map down - instance, if a viewpoint star is ing system; some also require cell coverage): loads, we are one of the app’s most not placed correctly based on popular map vendors. As with our print maps, funds received from app map sales where the GPS location is on support our trail work throughout the the map). The app can even region. be useful for helping with Looking ahead, we will continue to add our surveying and reporting maps to both our free and for-sale selec - tions. We hope users will continue to get of invasive plant species the word out about these great app maps, along trails. and we intend to work more with park partners to get the word out as well. The PDF Maps app is a free app that Some of the Trail Conference can be obtained on Apple devices map sets available on PDFMap (through iTunes or the App Store) or Android devices (through the Google Play Map 119 - Harriman-Bear Mountain Store). Step-by-step instructions, a list of (North) - 2013 our available maps, more suggestions Northern Harriman State Park, Bear for how to use the app, and other Mountain State Park, Appalachian Trail, resources, are available on our website, Long Path www.nynjtc.org/pdfmaps. It is important to note that these digital Map 115 - North Jersey (East) - 2014 maps are not meant to be a replacement Campgaw Mountain Reservation, Long for printed maps, which every trail user Pond Ironworks State Park, Norvin Green should have on hand. Batteries can die, State Forest, Ramapo Mountain State Nearly 50 Trail Conference maps are software can have issues, and weather can Forest, Ramapo Valley Reservation, Ring - available on Apple and Android mobile become problematic, so we certainly sug - wood State Park, Highlands Trail devices through Avenza's PDF Maps app. gest you carry printed maps just in case. Catskill Hikes - Hunter Mountain Fire Tower, NY (free)

MUGGED BY A BEAR replaced, but I sure would hate to lose that not putting myself into harm’s way. damage. My keys and wallet were still inside. continued from page 1 pack. It carried my gear, years of sweat and No luck, as I could find neither the source This was a clearly aggressive bear that grime, and tons of memories. of the commotion nor my missing backpack. had upped its game from simply wandering Camping at Brink Shelter in Stokes State I was always hoping to see bears. New I returned to my tent and dozed, only to the woods near campsites and hoping to Forest, I knew that my food was safely Jersey is known for having more bears than be jolted awake again by snorting and huff - rummage through the trash. stored in a metal bear-proof box 50 yards anywhere else on the AT, but I had not seen ing. The bear was back and 10 feet away. I Category One bears are those that have away, but I could not remember if I had any when I passed through in 2011. I saw screamed, but he ignored me, instead con - attacked someone or caused serious proper - brought a snack into my tent. As that just one the following summer, a small one tinuing to paw at a nearby log. I screamed ty damage and are deemed to be threats to thought formed, there was another loud on Labor Day, the final day of my first again and he left. public health and safety. These bears are huff. My empty backpack was outside, less ridgerunner summer. I saw 20 or so in Sleep finally came again, and I awoke at killed, put down, or euthanized (pick your than a foot away from my head. 2013 (not as many as boasted by other 7, looked around and determined that I phraseology), typically by lethal injection if There was a snort, a shuffling sound, and ridgerunners) but I had seen maybe two had not been having a bad dream. I noticed they have been caught or by gunfire if they a bang as the tent shook. Rattled, I dozen so far in 2014, and I and was eager my water bottle 20 feet away and found are running loose. Some bears can be reha - screamed and looked outside the tent, but for more. teeth marks on it, signaling that the bear bilitated or re-educated in a Pavlovian or the bear—and my backpack—were gone. Orwellian sense and taught You Will Not Oh my Lord, I thought, heart pounding. Do That Again. My watch said 3am. “This was a clearly aggressive bear that had upped its These methods are designed to teach the Unzipping my tent, I grabbed my head - game from simply wandering the woods near campsites bear to associate Bad Things with human lamp and crawled cautiously into the night. contact. Trapped bears are anesthetized, The lamp was only mildly effective in the and hoping to rummage through the trash.” examined, given blood tests and tagged. As mist, but I walked a ways in the direction I the bear wakes, I am told, officers might thought the bear had gone. Nothing. bang on the bear trap with bats, shoot it I had been mugged and robbed by a Bears are more of a problem at public had picked it up from right beside my tent with rubber bullets as it is released back bear. I am guessing that the bear weighed campgrounds and in suburban neighbor - (and me) but dropped it as he moved away. into the wild and then let dogs chase it about 300 pounds and was an adult, prob - hoods than they are deep in the woods. I wandered the site again and then head - away and hound it up a tree. ably a male, though I have no idea why I I was surprised at what had happened ed up a small rise to share my tale of woe My zeal for seeing bears in the wild has assumed that. because on the trail, bears had always been with campers I had met the night before. faded, though I am sure I will smile the Wandering aimlessly through the mist, a a novelty, not a threat. “He was here, too,” the man said. “He next time I see one in its element. The for - harsh reality hit: My wallet and truck key My pack had been leaning against the grabbed my son’s pack last night and ran, but est is, after all, their home, and I am just a were in my pack, and that meant my dri - head end of my small one-man tent, we hollered and he dropped it. We were in visitor passing through. I will continue to ver’s license, Social Security card, debit and which, without the rain tarp, is essentially a the tent when another hiker yelled, ‘Hey, you encourage hikers to Leave No Trace, hang credit cards and other stuff were gone. My 30x85-inch screened space. As I lay there, in the white tent. There’s a bear outside!’” their food or use the bear boxes, and to brain went into overdrive at the major mess still shaken, I realized that bears do not That happened at 9:30pm, which means please not burn trash. that would cause. I had no ID, no money, have opposable thumbs, meaning he there were four separate incidents involving I will tell them that bears have been no transportation, no way to get someone grabbed the pack in his teeth and that those the bear: that one, plus the two at my known to steal packs looking for food, and to cut another key; it was Sunday and the teeth had clamped shut less than a foot tent and the pounding on the bear box. I will do a better job of protecting my back - banks were closed. How would I get a from my head. It mattered little that a Unbelievable. pack, keys and personal information. The South Carolina driver’s license in New Jer - screen mesh separated us. I phoned the park office to file a report, last thing I need is a bear using my debit sey? Where do I start? Then the pounding started. and the man and his son stopped and card or hacking into my bank account. I crawled back into my tent and strug - The sound of clanging metal echoed offered to help me look for my pack before gled with those questions while also trying across the campsite, and the only rational they moved on. We fanned out and moved Jerry Adams is a seasonal RidgeRunner on the to be optimistic that I would find my stuff explanation was that the bear was hammer - through the section of forest where I Appalachian Trail in New Jersey. He lives on the next morning. I had carried that ing at the bear box trying to gain access to thought the bear had gone. Five minutes lat - the trail during peak hiking season, assisting Osprey backpack on my 2011 thru-hike of the goodies within. The nuisance bear was er, I found my pack, about 150 yards from and educating hikers and monitoring and the Appalachian Trail and for three seasons back after barely an hour. I roused myself my camping spot. The pack’s bright blue protecting the trail corridor. as a ridgerunner in New Jersey. My keys, and went looking for it, hoping to track my rain cover was slashed and so was the outside wallet and the rest of my stuff could be missing pack while telling myself that I was pocket of the pack, but that was the only Fall 2014 Page 9 This Invasive Plant Can Burn and Blind You PEOPLE FOR TRAILS

Charlotte Rutherfurd New York, NY More than 1,000 giant hogweed populations have been recorded Wheelchair to Trail Builder: Two throughout New York State, but only years ago, I couldn’t hike. Actually, about a dozen of those are in the I couldn’t even walk. I was hit by a Lower Hudson Valley area. Just a car going 30 mph in Manhattan, handful of locations have been spending three weeks in the recorded in New Jersey. Early hospital and four months in a Removing young hogweed plants from among a patch of native milkweeds. Working in detection and treatment can keep pairs, one crew member helped ensure that the other did not accidentally touch the plant. wheelchair after sustaining tibia, this dangerous plant in check. fibula, pelvis, and clavicle Members of our Invasives Strike This year the Trail Conference’s If you think you find giant hogweed, fractures. One thing inspired me Force donned hazard gear to Invasives Strike Force AmeriCorps do not touch it . Take photos and through that recovery process: help remove populations in the crew had the opportunity to learn compare your plant to giant hogweed the vision of hiking again. I used Hudson Valley how to deal with this dangerous plant. and other look-alikes using the to plan hikes while sitting in my They received training from the New New York State giant hogweed wheelchair, mapping out the It doesn’t have thorns but it can hurt York State Dept. of Environmental identification page at different trails I wanted to you. The sap from this plant can Conservation’s (DEC) Giant Hogweed http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/72766. experience and visualizing the cause severe burns, blistering, and Response team and helped to remove html. There is a native plant called feeling of walking through the scarring. It can even result in plants at almost a dozen sites in cow parsnip that is easily confused woods with a backpack on. blindness if the sap gets in your eyes. Putnam County. The team donned with giant hogweed but is not as The sap reacts with moisture and Tyvek suits, rubber boots, rubber dangerous. Cow parsnip has no purple Now here I am, an AmeriCorps sunlight to cause a chemical burn. gloves, and safety glasses for their blotches on the stem. member of the Palisades Crew day in the field. Wielding shovels, they working in Sterling Forest State Giant hogweed ( Heracleum dug out small plants, ones that had If the location is in New York, email the mantegazzianum ), an invasive species Park, making hiking trails—through reached only about four feet in DEC at [email protected] or call the strength of my own body. found in our region, is a federally listed height. These plants were small the Giant Hogweed Hotline: noxious weed. A long-lived perennial, Every morning at 8:45, we hike because the Giant Hogweed Team 1-845-256-3111. Provide photos, detailed about two miles on the Doris Duke it can grow up to 14 feet tall; its giant had already been treating these spots directions to the plant infestation, Trail to our work site. And as we flower looks similar to its much in previous years. We got to witness and estimate the number of plants. walk through the woods, I get to smaller cousin, Queen Anne’s lace. the success of their efforts at a In New Jersey, reports can be sent to Both are in the carrot family (but don’t couple of locations we visited; three the NJ Invasive Species Strike Team marvel at our accomplishments try to eat either of them). The leaves years after the state team treated the http://njisst.org/observation.htm. throughout the summer. of giant hogweed are large with spots, not one giant hogweed plant What I enjoy most about seeing jagged edges and the stem is green was found. Those spots can now be with purple blotches and white hairs. our work is that everything we marked off the list. did was built through the power of the crew’s and the (awesome!) volunteers’ own sweat. Machines didn’t sink our steps, make crush, or excavate soil. We did that with Beetle-mania muscles and tools. And our work By Edna Greig is strong—built to last. They live in virtually every terrestrial and As I make that trek, I’m reminded aquatic habitat. There are over 350,000 of the time when I couldn’t hike, species worldwide—or about one quarter of and am thankful for my recovery. named animal species. About 25,000 species And I think of how lucky I am to occur in the United States and Canada. be given this opportunity by the Beetles are members of the insect order New York-New Jersey Trail Coleoptera, meaning “sheath wings.” The Conference and AmeriCorps to name refers to the hardened forewings strengthen the hiking community called elytra which, when closed, form a as it strengthened me in my time protective armor over the beetle’s back. of weakness. Tucked beneath the elytra are membranous hind wings which unfold in flight. Learn more about the Trail Some beetle species, like the Asian Conference’s AmeriCorps program Longhorned Beetle ( Anoplophora at nynjtc.org/news/building-future- glabripennis ), are highly destructive to help-americorps trees, cultivated crops, or human environ - Asian Longhorned Beetle Anoplophora glabripennis ments. But the majority of beetle species are minimally destructive, and some are well as a noxious chemical that it sprays, predators, acts as a communication even beneficial predators. also helps it to avoid predators. pheromone, and reduces water surface ten - A well-known and well-liked beneficial Aquatic environments are home to the sion, making swimming easier. The beetle is the ladybird beetle, or ladybug fascinating whirligig beetles (family secretion smells like rotten apples, and (family Coccinellidae). These familiar bee - Gyrinidae). There are about 30 species of whirligigs sometimes are called apple bugs. tles are lauded for their voracious appetites whirligigs in eastern North America. Beetles existed when the first flowering for pests, particularly aphids. There are They’re about 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch long, plants evolved and probably were impor - close to 500 species of ladybugs in North oval-shaped, and shiny or dull black. Adults tant pollinators for a few million years, America. The most abundant are non- can be seen from spring through fall gliding before bees evolved. Flower longhorn bee - native species that were introduced as on the surface of ponds or slow-moving tles (family Cerambycidae, subfamily biocontrols; formerly common native streams, often congregating in large groups. Lepturinae) and soldier beetles (family Can - species have now become rare. The Lost The name whirligig comes from the wild tharidae) broaden their invertebrate diet to Ladybug Project (lostladybug.org) is a gyrations they make when disturbed. also feed on flower pollen and nectar. The citizen science project established by Whirligigs are remarkably adapted to goldenrod soldier beetle ( Chauliognathus Cornell University to survey ladybug their aquatic environment. Their divided marginatus ), as its name suggests, often is populations to understand why native eyes allow them to simultaneously see found on goldenrod flowers in late summer. species are declining. above and below the water’s surface, help - Fireflies (family Lampyridae) are the Another brightly-colored predatory bee - ing them to find their invertebrate prey twinkling nocturnal relatives of soldier bee - tle is the six-spotted tiger beetle ( Cicindela while avoiding predation by fish and other tles. Learn more about fireflies in the sexguttata ). This 3/4-inch long bright animals. Between the eyes are short, sensi - May/June 2011 issue of Trail Walker , metallic green beetle can be found on sun - tive antennae that detect the slightest page 7, available at nynjtc.org. ny woodland paths or sandy areas in spring vibrations in the water. This helps them The abundance and diversity of beetles and early summer. If you spot one, locate prey and avoid collisions with their make them interesting to meet during approach it slowly to get a better look, but cohorts while gyrating. Their front pair of warm weather walks. be prepared for it to rapidly run or fly away legs are long and adapted to grasp prey, once it detects your presence. It uses its while their two rear pair of legs are short Edna Greig is a regular contributor to long legs, large eyes, amazing speed, and and paddle-like for swimming. Trail Walker . powerful jaws to hunt down and crush a Whirligigs secrete a pungent chemical myriad of invertebrate prey. Its speed, as from the tips of their abdomens that deters Page 10 Fall 2014 STAFF NOTES TRAIL CONFERENCE SUPPORTERS DONORS TO THE ANNUAL FUND May 27, 2014 – August 20, 2014

William Abrams, Henry F. Ahner, John & Bonnie Anlian, Raul Arrazcaeta, Michael Azzara, Michael Baker, Dr. George L. Becker III & Dr. Alyssa Gelmann Becker, Carol Berran, Peter Biging, Kenneth Bitz, Ed Blaumeiser, Ian Blundell, Stanley & Ida Bochner, Rita Boyd, John Bradley, Han & Afina Broekman, Sigrid & Edward Brooks, John Brotherton, Lawrence Budner, Peter Buffington, Sean Burke & Elizabeth Boylan, Lisa Cavanaugh, Frank Cerisano, Jonathan L. & Jeanmarie Chenette, William Chiappane, Alec Clowes, Derek D. & Barbara Cocovinis, Herbert J. Coles, Christopher Compel, D.N. & Mary Connolly, Chris Cox, Peter Coy, Carolyn Curran, George F. Davenel Jr., Michael L. DeLuca, Nick Denkowycz, Brigitte Dessauer, Daniel Diamant, Paul & Nancy Diamond, Jerry Disalvo, Thomas Dowling, Paul Doxey, Francois Amber Ray of Sloatsburg, NY, has begun Heather Rolland of Bovina Center, NY, Duchesneau, Douglas K. Eads, John Ellingboe, Charles Evans, Jr., Deborah Farrell, Arnold & Mildred Feinsilber, Adele work as co-communications manager, a has joined the staff as assistant program Garber, Robert J. Gawel, Rainer E. & Janet L. Gehres, Peter George, Jannah Goodell & Konrad Hayashi, Gary Grasselena, position she will share with current com - coordinator for the Catskills. In this year- Jim Grieshaber & Dr. Martha Withjack, Joseph O. & Dolores Grupp, Ann Guarino, David Haase & Esther Schwalb, Eileen munications manager Georgette Weir. round, part-time position, Heather will P. Hanna, Peter E. Hobday, Daniel Hoberman, Richard T. Holden, Royal Jay Holly, Paul & Amy Impelluso, William R. Jones, David Kababik, Laurel & Seth Kane, Ruth Stoll Kassanga, Richard Katzive, Hogyun Kim, Carl-Heinz King, Gary Amber will take full responsibility for the help support our Catskills volunteer & Cindy Kuhns, Robert LaColla, Marianna Lantsman, Laura Leso, Howard Liebmann, Cynthia MacVicker, Walter & job in early 2015, following maternity leaders and trail crews in the region, as well Frances Madsen, Walter & Joan Maier, Paul N. & Annette S. Marcus, Bonnie H. Marsh, Jennifer Mathews, Frederic leave. Amber is a writer and editor with as our new partnership with the Dept. Mauhs, Larry & Cathy Mazzella, Robert Mazzola, Scott Michenfelder, Francis X. Miller, Daniel K. Miller, John & Pat Mintzer, Steven & Sophia Mirones, Keith Mogerley, Paul D. Monti & Nikki Sidhu, Dennis R. Morgan, David S. & Carol experience in both print and digital media. of Environmental Conservation, Catskill S. Morse, James Mott, Michael Needleman, Robert L. Newton, Robert & Mary Jo L. Nutt, Barbara O’Brien, Dean F. & Most recently, she was web editor at Enter - Conservation Corps. Heather is an active Lorrie Paccioretti, William Parsons, Keith Paulsen, Edmund W. Peters, Gale & Louis Pisha, Trudy Pojman, Peter W. tainment Weekly. Before that she worked board member of both the Catskill 3500 Preston, Patricia Reilly & Kevin Bailey, Laurel Rimmer, Johanna Rioux, James H. Robbins, Laurance Rockefeller, Roger as deputy entertainment editor at iVillage. Club and Catskill Mountain Club. She is Roloff & Barbara Petersen, Jean Romsted, Weil & A. Ross, Robert C. Ross, Mike Rossi, Robert & Catherine Roth, Jules D. Royak, Mellonie Sanborn, Michael Sasse, Joshua Schickman, David Schiff, Edwin Schlachman, Arlene Scholer, Anne For nearly a decade, Amber held editorial an avid hiker, currently working on hiking M. & Marleigh M. Siebecker, Mary R. Sive, Cindi Small, Robert J. Smith, Chuck Smith, Karl M. Soehnlein, Douglas positions at Metro, a daily print and digital all trails in the Catskills to be the first to Sohn, Christian Sonne, Malcolm Spector, Dennis Spriet, Judith Swan, Laura Szwak, Kathleen Tabor, Dean B. Talcott, newspaper, starting as an editorial assistant earn the Catskill Mountain Club’s new All Jason Taormina, Michael Tillison, Donald Tripp, Maria Celina Trzepacz, Cynthia Uber & John Gaut, Patty Hauer in Philadelphia, then rising through the Catskills Trails Patch. Heather brings Valente, Daniel R. Van Engel, Sandra van Heerden, Colin & Tim Watters, Larry A. Wehr, Dava Weinstein & Dorothy Calvani, Stephen & Kinue Weinstein, Donald L. Weise, John E. Weise, Joan Tutin Weiss, Diana Whiteman, David B. & ranks from staff writer to features editor extensive experience working with volun - Adrienne K. Wiese, Roger & Laura Williamson, Ida Wong & Let Lee, Patricia Wooters, Steven B. & Nathalie E. Yafet, Jon and finally managing editor in New York teers and a professional background that Yenor, Gene & Muja Yoon, & Martin F. Zumsteg City. She studied journalism at Temple will help her work with the diverse groups University in Philadelphia. Amber is an and individuals of the Catskills. TRIBUTES CORPORATE, FOUNDATION In honor of Edward Goodell & OTHER DONORS avid outdoorswoman, a member of both Constance Carter & Gordon Dale AIG Matching Grants Program, Allendale-Saddle River ADK and AMC, and loves living “at the In honor of the our country & all who serve Rotary Foundation, Amazon.com, Appalachian Trail gateway to Harriman State Park.” Jesse Garlman Conservancy, Avon Products, Inc, benevity, BlackRock Matching Gift Program, Citizens for Informed Land Use, In honor of Rick Levine & Franz Rucker Inc., Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation U.S. Matching Kathy Goelz Gifts Program, Dyson Foundation, Earthshare Chapters, In celebration of the wedding of Melissa & Tom EarthShare New Jersey, Easter Foundation, Fidelity R.L. & M.A. Lurie Charitable Gift Fund, Hans Auto Body Shop, Hudson City Hello In honor of Daniel Van Engel Savings Bank, IBM Corporation Matching Grants Program, Jules D. Royak Johnson & Johnson Matching Gifts Program, Maxim Group LLC, Merck Partnership For Giving, Mobile Giving Maintainers! In honor of Glen Collins Foundation, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Global Impact Steven & Jane Tennen Funding Trust, Inc., Network For Good, Novartis In honor of George Solovay’s 80th birthday Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Pfizer Foundation Matching Fall is a time for all good Daniel R. & Lynne H. Van Engel Gifts Program, Raymond James Charitable Endowment stewards to get out and check Fund, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, REI, Reynolds Hills, Corrections to spring 2014 Trail Walker TD Bank, The New York Community Trust, Truist, & (and clip) their trails! In memory of William (Bill) Moss – WithumSmith+Brown, PC avid hiker & outdoorsman Your Trail Supervisor will be Charles Kientzler Tributes are only printed for donations of $25 or more. asking for your report of your donated time and efforts by DONORS TO THE November 30. DARLINGTON SCHOOLHOUSE FUND Please help us provide our May 27, 2014 – August 20, 2014 park partners with an accurate Jeremy Apgar, Michael & Kathy Azzara, Minor Bishop, Lisa Campanella-Coppo, Richard Cantor & Alice Luddington- accounting of the HUGE Cantor, John P. Denkowski, Jennifer Easterbrook & Kevin Zack, Ronald R. Fontana, Carol W. Greene, ADK North Jersey contributions you and all Ramapo Chapter, Marilyn L. Gross & Kim Hausner, Inserra Supermarkets, Inc., Judy Keith, John K. Leigh IV, Gloria Lewit, Becton, Dickinson & Company, Bryant D. & Joan Malcolm, Gwen Marquardt, Gwynne & Michael McConkey, Donald C. Trail Conference volunteers Pachner, Winston C. & Betty P. Perry, Joanne E. Reinhardt, Robert C. Ross, Jeffrey P. Senterman & Maurice Lemire, Mark make to our public trails. & Mindy Sotsky, Doris Swenson, Daniel R. & Lynne H. Van Engel, Marilyn Van Houten, Constantine G. Vasiliadis & Ellen Stewart, Larry A. Wehr, Donald L. Weise, Gary Willick

TRAIL NEWS continued from page 2 Hunting Season Warning The red-blazed Catfish Loop Trail in Fahnestock State Park is now a true loop contained This year, New York State instituted an early bear season (most of entirely on the west side of Dennytown Road. The section of the blue-blazed 3 Lakes Trail September) in the Catskills and other southern regions of the state and west of Dennytown Road has been designated as the Catfish Loop Trail, and volunteers also now permits use of crossbows. have constructed a short new trail section on the west side of the road to link the north In brief, remember to wear blaze orange when hiking! Below are hunting and south arms of the Catfish Loop. A short stretch of the Catfish Loop Trail on the east seasons still to come. side of Dennytown Road that previously ended at the Appalachian Trail is eliminated. The changes are incorporated on the new edition of the East Hudson Trails map set. NEW YORK Bear Season (Southern Zone) Westchester County High Point State Park Regular: Nov. 15 - Dec. 7 Bow only: Oct. 1 - Dec. 31 The side trail from the Appalachian Trail to the Rutherford Shelter has been relocated off Bow Hunting: Oct. 1 - Nov. 14; of slick slab rock and onto a safer route through woods. Suffolk County Dec. 8 - Dec. 16 Bow only: Oct. 1 - Dec. 31 Deer Season Southern Zone (includes Hudson Valley and Catskills) Regular (Gun): Nov. 15 - Dec. 7 Bow: Oct. 1 - Nov. 14; Dec. 8 - Dec. 16

NEW JERSEY Hunting with firearms on Sundays is generally not permitted in the state. Deer Season Bear Season Early Bow: Oct. 4 - 31 Dec. 8 - 13 Winter Bow: Jan. 1 - 31 6 Day Firearm: Dec. 8 - 13

Find details and relevant links on our website, nynjtc.org/news/hunting-seasons-2014.

Our growing ranks of Retail Partners reward you for supporting us by offering discounts to our members. Check out the current list of partners at nynjtc.org/content/retail-partners. Then take your membership card with you when you visit them. Fall 2014 Page 11 First aid for plantar fasciitis includes Other Treatments PEOPLE FOR TRAILS Heel Pain: several components. If the above conservative measures are not • First, stretch the Achilles tendon and effective, your podiatrist may recommend Tips for Hikers calf muscles. With the knee straight, move any number of additional treatments. Stan - By Howard E. Friedman, DPM the foot toward the body as far as it will dard treatments include applying an go and hold the position for 5-10 seconds, athletic taping to the foot to help support Heel pain is one of the most common foot five times in a row. Repeat this two to the plantar ligament, and, in some cases, complaints. Referred to variously as “heel three times a day and always first thing in administering one or two cortisone injec - spur” or “plantar fasciitis,” this malady is an the morning prior to taking a first step. tions. The doctor will evaluate your foot inflammation at the junction of an impor - • Second, wear only supportive shoes or type and shoes to determine if you will tant foot ligament, the fascia, to the large clogs even when getting out of bed. benefit from an arch support. In some cas - heel bone, or calcaneus. With early inter - • Third, rest the painful heel on an ice es, a pre-molded arch support will be vention, the amount of time needed to heal pack for 5-10 minutes one to two times sufficient; these are sold in many sport Suse Bell can be shortened. a day. shops. In other cases, a molded arch sup - Wyckoff, NJ • And fourth, you will probably benefit port or custom foot orthotic may be What Is It? from placing an additional arch support in necessary. Volunteers as indexer and In fasciitis, the ligament sustains a micro your shoes. copyright registrar with our tear at the point where it attaches to the Take these measures to Publications Committee and as heel bone. This creates an inflammatory a maintainer on the Appalachian process resulting in some local swelling treat and prevent heel - Trail in New Jersey. around the ligament and likely irritation of adjacent nerves, causing pain. If not treated spurs or plantar fasciitis. Suse draws on her background in early the condition deteriorates and can education publishing to contribute become chronic, resistant to healing. to our own publishing program. Emerging Treatments She helped the Publications

What Else Could It Be? S

L Newer treatments not yet widely accepted Committee put together an I F N

Other conditions that mimic fasciitis O include non-invasive extra corporeal shock - operations manual several years M

include a bone bruise of the undersurface N wave therapy, radiation directed at the heel, ago, based on best practices in E I C

U the industry. “It’s out of date now,”

of the heel bone or a stress fracture of the L injection of platelet-derived plasma into calcaneus. A bone cyst or tumor of the heel Heel bone with heel spur (red arrow) the heel, and inserting either a radio wave she says, referencing the many will be similarly painful. With the excep - emitting probe or freezing-cold probe into changes in the field in recent tion of the bone bruise, the other Hikers can take additional measures. the fascia. Releasing the fascia by cutting it years. But it helped to standardize conditions are uncommon. • Reduce the weight of your backpack if is a last resort and often results in a lower the production of books and maps possible. The less weight you carry the arch height. Early intervention and conser - by our many and geographically Early Treatment better. This also includes losing extra body vative measures are still the most scattered volunteers. Hikers can shorten their recuperation by weight. recommended treatment for this common, beginning treatment promptly. A sharp • Shorten your stride while walking to painful condition. Detail-oriented, Suse has indexed pain in the heel with the first step in the reduce impact on your heel. Hiking the Jersey Highlands morning or during the day is a common • Use two hiking poles to further off- Howard E. Friedman, DPM, is an avid (second edition), Walkable finding. Sometimes the pain will ease after load the pressure under foot. hiker, a podiatrist in Suffern, NY, and a Westchester (two editions), and a period of walking but worsens with • Ice the painful area down after hiking. frequent contributor to Trail Walker . Find Hiking Long Island (two editions). extended walking or standing. The pain many of his articles on our website at By keeping up with copyright rules also eases after sitting and resting. Any red - In general, however, one should not hike nynjtc.org/news/health-news. and promptly registering new ness or noticeable swelling around the heel or exercise if the heel is still painful. editions of our books and maps, area is usually not associated with plantar Suse helps the Trail Conference fasciitis and should be investigated. protect its ownership of these valuable assets. Active with Boy Scouts since 1996—she is an award-winning Don’t Get Lost assistant Scoutmaster—Suse makes a point of getting Scouts without Them! out on the AT to learn about conservation and outdoor ethics, Find Your Way and to do trail work. “I deliberately bring the Trail Conference and with New, Boy Scouts together. The trail is our lab area,” she jokes, “but also J

N Updated Editions -

C a good excuse for me to go out P I P in the woods.” Shop Amazon. Y S of Two of Our E T R

U Other interests include Wyckoff O

Support the C Popular Map Sets

O Historical Society (trustee), the T N A

R Wyckoff Fire Department Ladies

Trail Conference. A T

Y Auxiliary (treasurer), and her old N O

H house (constant renovation and

You can donate 0.5% of your T N A restoration). Amazon.com purchases to the Palisades Cliffs, Palisades Interstate Park Trail Conference at no cost to you. New 5th Edition of Hudson Palisades Trails Map Set “Even if you don’t backpack or build trails,” Suse says, “there’s When you sign up for AmazonSmile This five-map set covers trails and parklands along the western side of the Hudson River work at the Trail Conference and designate the Trail Conference from Fort Lee, NJ northward through Bergen and Rockland counties to Haverstraw, NY. you can do. There’s a place for Nearly 100 miles of marked trails and bike paths are shown, featuring approximately 40 as your beneficiary, we receive everybody. I feel that I’m filling miles of the Long Path from its southern terminus at Fort Lee Historic Park. a portion of your total cost to a niche.” This revised edition contains multiple improvements and trail updates. Parklands support our mission. The process include Palisades Interstate Park, Blauvelt State Park, High Tor State Park, Rockland Lake Find your niche at the Trail is simple and automatic, using your State Park, Tallman Mountain State Park, Buttermilk Falls Park, Clausland Mountain Conference. Visit nynjtc.org and Amazon.com login. Build new trails Park, Flat Rock Brook Nature Center, Gurnee Park, Mountainview Nature Park, Rock - click on Volunteer. while you shop! leigh Woods Sanctuary/Lamont Reserve, South Mountain Park, and Tenafly Nature Center/Lost Brook Preserve. Here’s how: Revised 11th Edition of East Hudson Trails Map Set 1. Visit smile.amazon.com. More than 150 miles of marked trails are shown on this three-map As always, our new maps are set, including the popular networks at Breakneck Ridge, Bull Hill printed in vibrant color on 2. Sign-in with your Amazon.com (Mount Taurus), and Mount Beacon, and more than 20 miles of login or create an account. the Appalachian Trail as it passes through Putnam County. waterproof, tear-resistant This revised edition contains multiple trail updates and Tyvek. Shop online at 3. Select the New York-New Jersey improvements. Several trail relocations and newly-marked trails nynjtc.org, call 201-512-9348, Trail Conference as your in Fahnestock State Park are included, and other adjustments to trails in Hudson Highlands State Park, Manitou Point Preserve, or stop in at the Trail designated charity. and West Point Foundry Preserve are shown. Some trails and Conference office. 4. Shop! woods roads have been replotted using new GPS data and high- resolution aerial imagery. Many other minor corrections and They are also available on changes have been made, making this revised 11th edition of the Every time you want to shop, be East Hudson map set even more accurate than before. Apple and Android devices sure to sign into smile.amazon.com. through the PDF Maps app; Consider bookmarking the site in Special thanks to all the volunteers and park partners who provided your browser, so you can always information, field checked, and reviewed these new map editions! learn more about these find it again. GPS-enhanced maps at These map sets were produced with support from Campmor, nynjtc.org/pdfmaps. an outdoor store and retail partner of the Trail Conference. Page 12 Fall 2014

Curry Pond, back to the Osborn Loop trail. Turn right on the yellow connecting Featured Hike trail back to Lost Pond, then left and downhill, to complete the white-blazed By Georgette Weir route back to your starting point. On your way down, watch for a yellow-blazed side trail to the left, which you can follow to a Manitoga: A Designer’s Refuge viewpoint over the Hudson River. Find a detailed description by Daniel Offers Links to the Appalachian Trail Chazin of this 4.6-mile figure-8 hike on our website at nynjtc.org/hike/manitoga. Hikers are welcome daily, during day - R I

light hours. Admission: suggested E W

contribution of $5.00 per person; Manito - E T T E

ga members, free. The house and studio G R O E

may be visited on ticketed tours. G Enjoy a picnic while hiking; carry in-car - Curry Pond is a grassy wetland. ry out. Pets are welcome if kept on a leash. Please note that visitors not on a ticketed Trail Crew that will assist with trail projects tour may view the house and studio from at Manitoga and the trail network to which the view spot at the base of the Quarry it connects. New volunteers are invited. Pond but are asked not to enter the Quar - Watch our website and E-walker newsetter ry Pond path, reserved for guided tours. for details. Manitoga volunteers were among those Find more information about Manitoga who participated in an Intro to Trail Main - on their website: russelwrightcenter.org. R

I tenance workshop at the site, and plans are E W

E in the works for a new Hudson Highlands T T E G R O E Trail Supervisor Mary Dodds leads the way on Russel Wright's original trails. G Hikers’ Perhaps you’ve eaten off of one of his dinner the Hudson River. plates. Or maybe you’ve relaxed in a chair of The trails offer an interesting challenge Marketplace his design. Russel Wright was a prolific and for stewards: layout and maintenance must popular industrial designer in the 20th cen - respect Wright’s original intentions and Go Places with Trail Maps and tury, credited with inspiring Americans to design while adhering as closely as possible adopt informality as a lifestyle. He applied to Trail Conference guidelines for corridor Books from the Trail Conference. his sensibility—labeled American Mod - width and height and blazing standards. ern—beyond housewares to architecture Wright envisioned the trails being hiked and landscape, including his home and four in one direction; trail blazes reinforce that Get the complete set miles of trails that he laid out across 75 acres intention by being single-color in one direc - at his estate, Manitoga, in Garrison, NY, in tion, and the same color but with a black of trail maps at one the east Hudson Highlands. The estate is a dot in the reverse direction. Red, white, and great, low price! National Historic Landmark. blue trails are co-aligned, following a single Our map combo offers all of our The trails at Manitoga are open to the path from the start, with first the red peel - high-quality Trail Conference maps public and in April of this year, the Trail ing off to a short, inner loop; then the blue, Conference adopted them. They offer with the white trail extending up the hill to at a 5% discount (members get an opportunities for moderate loop hikes of the state park boundary. Rock steps additional 25% discount). Save big varying distances on the west-facing slopes encountered along the trails date from on shipping charges! as well as access to extended hiking on the Wright’s time. “He was the original Jolly Osborn Loop Trail and Appalachian Trail Rover,” remarked Mary Dodds, our volun - Find it on our online store under Combos. in the adjacent Hudson Highlands State teer crew chief for the region, during a Park. In summer there are pocket views of recent inspection hike there. We cover your favorite hiking areas in the New York-New Jersey region, She recommends a route that follows the including Harriman-Bear Mountain, the Catskills, North Jersey and Jersey Russel Wright applied his white trail clockwise (Wright’s intended Highlands, East and West Hudson Highlands, and more. direction) up to Lost Pond, then the yellow Find all our publications, and select trail guides from others, on our website, American Modern aesthetic trail over a ridge to the blue-blazed Osborn and get your 25% member discount ! Loop. Turn right onto Osborn, then left for to the trails at Manitoga. a short jaunt on the Appalachian Trail Visit www.nynjtc.org/panel/goshopping! (white blaze); left on the yellow-blazed Or call 201-512-9348

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

c provides volunteer service opportunities in the great outdoors. Regular $30 $40 S

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

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

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

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

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

C nynjtc.org/content/retail-partners

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

E introductory courses Name ______a

r Workshops and Seminars on trail maintenance Address ______

T and construction, leadership training, wilderness first aid, City ______State ______Zip ______

chainsaw operation, environmental monitoring N Day Phone ______Evening Phone ______and GPS operation. Learn more about Trail U at J E-MAIL ______nynjtc.org/trailu Check or money order enclosed Visa Mastercard Amex N E

- Access to a wide range of volunteer opportunities Card # ______Exp. Date: ____/ ____ on-trail and off-trail. Visit nynjtc.org/volunteer Make check or money order payable to the NY-NJ Trail Conference, Y Find links to all these and more at nynjtc.org. and mail to: 156 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430. N B Tax-deductible. Dues are not refundable.