Peakbagging NJ Family Hiking 101 A member brings summit Families discover trails and fever to the Garden State. nature at the Hudson Highlands READ MORE ON PAGE 7 Nature Museum in Cornwall, NY. READ MORE ON PAGE 7

O UR 90TH YEAR May/June 2010 New York-New Jersey Trail Conference — Connecting People with Nature since 1920 www.nynjtc.org 800 Steps for Trail Builders, One Giant Leap for the Trail Conference

he grand opening of the newly trail surfacing into place with the aid of We will selectively move downed and rot - rebuilt Appalachian Trail on Bear tracked carriers and hand tools. Drill marks ting logs and branches from the TMountain is just around the cor - must also be diminished and old unofficial surrounding forest along with leaf and ner—June 5, National Trails Day. Five trails and work areas must be restored so organic duff to hide, disguise, and create the years of hard work by hundreds of Trail that the forest can reclaim them. optimal environment for ecological recla - Conference volunteers alongside a crew This restoration will be a major new mation of the impacted areas by the native of professional trail builders is about to be theme for this 2010 work season. It forests. We need as many hands as we can tested by the first of millions of feet. involves naturalizing work zones (our quar - get for this instantly rewarding work. The trail up the steep slope of Bear ries and associated access routes) as well as By late May, crews will be “sweeping” the Mountain includes more hardscaping than obliterating old trail segments. This is the completed trail, looking for last-minute any other Trail Conference-built trail and is “light-duty” task that many of you have details to correct, and finally... blazing. designed to endure a century or more of been waiting for! In June, crews will move tools to the heavy use by the public and prevent the south side of the mountain, where we need for future relocations. will start a new era in the project and a new But it’s not finished yet! trail segment. Help is still needed to complete the first This project would not be where it is 800-step section in time for the public today if it were not for the help of hun - opening. And throughout May, the crew dreds of volunteers and the tens of will be constructing sections that will link thousands of hours they have donated. Crew leader Tom Kindling installing some of the work of the past five years with the Likewise, we are not going to be able to the first steps during year one. existing Appalachian Trail. make it through this last push without the The remaining work will involve split - help of volunteers. Don’t miss out on the Learn more about the project and the ting, crushing and moving stone as well as opportunity to be able to point to this requirements for volunteering by visiting finishing work. impressive trail segment and say, “I www.nynjtc.org/bmp/bear-mountain-trails- This is where we have the biggest need. Crew leader Chris Ingui and volunteer Mary helped build that!” project or by emailing the crew leaders at Finishing involves moving and spreading Grimmig fly a stone with a highline. [email protected].

Catherine lists a series of trail building Revised 9th Edition of Volunteer Profile skills she has learned, including how to The Volunteer move rocks with high-line and grip-hoist East Hudson Trails Map Set Available rigging, and how to use tools to split and Logging the Most shape rocks. Experiencing the project man - The New York-New Jersey Trail Confer - Hours on the agement side of the endeavor over several ence is pleased to announce the new revised years has also been educational, she says. “It ninth edition of our digitally-produced Mountain Is … does take some effort to work with people East Hudson Trails map set. This three- of different skills and interest levels— map set shows trails throughout Hudson …Catherine Kelleher. And she is not your they’re pretty conscious of that on the Highlands State Park and Fahnestock State usual New York-New Jersey Trail Confer - project—they want to make sure they’re Park, including the Appalachian Trail, as ence volunteer. For starters, Catherine is using people’s time productively.” well as other parklands along the Hudson from Bethesda, Maryland. Yet since a get - continued on page 5 River between Peekskill and Beacon. away weekend to New York in March The revised ninth edition includes 2007, when she attended an orientation enlarged inset maps for Manitou Point Pre - session on the Bear Mountain Trails Proj - serve and Manitoga to provide a more ect, Catherine has logged more hours on accurate depiction of their dense trail net - the project than any other volunteer. works. Other minor changes and “She’s accumulated well over 400 work corrections to the previous edition have hours on the mountain, not including been incorporated into this edition as well. travel time, since 2007,” says volunteer At a cost of $10.95 ($8.21 for members), manager Chris Ingui. “Every time she this map set is a must-have for outdoor shows up she camps out in her tent, works enthusiasts interested in exploring the two solid days rain or shine, and is back in Hudson Highlands region. To obtain the Maryland, all within 50-some-odd hours, revised map set, see the Hikers’ Market - he reports, clearly astounded. “She’s even place on page 12, shop online at bought her own masonry hammers, which www.nynjtc.org, call 201-512-9348, or aren’t cheap.” stop in at the Trail Conference office. Catherine, an information technology East Hudson Trails was produced with manager for a telecommunications compa - support from Clearwater, a nonprofit ny, expresses surprise at the direction her organization engaged in preserving and weekends have taken these past three years. protecting the Hudson River. “I didn’t expect to spend more than a week - end there,” she says in a phone interview. A member and volunteer with the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC), Catherine heard about the Bear Mountain VOLUME XXXVII, N UMBER 3 ISSN 0749-1352 Non-Profit project at a PATC meeting. Having already US Postage Paid had her interest in stone work piqued while Permit No. 1239 Bellmawr, N.J. watching someone at the PATC Blackburn Trail Center build a stone wall, she enrolled in the 2007 Bear Mountain Trail Project orientation to learn more. She says “the quality of the workshops and the opportu - nity to practice rock work” kept enticing Long-distance volunteer Catherine Kelleher her back. helps build a crib wall. Page 2 May/June 2010 Call for Nominations Send Us a Letter Email it to [email protected]; in the subject for Awards VOLUME XXXVII, NO.3 MAY /J UNE 2010 line, put “letter to TW editor”; or send it Members may nominate individuals for Trail GEORGETTE WEIR EDITOR to Trail Walker Letters, NY-NJ Trail Conference awards. Award winners are hon - LOUIS LEONARDIS GRAPHIC DESIGNER Conference, 156 Ramapo Valley Rd., ored and recognized at our Annual Meeting. The TRAIL WALKER (USPS Permit #1239) Mahwah, NJ 07430. Cut-off date for recommendations is July (ISSN 0749-1352) is published bi-monthly by Correction the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference as a 1, 2010. Please send nominations (with benefit of membership. Subscriptions are We made a wrong choice of frog photo to accompany the article “Frozen Frogs Under - supporting statements) to the Volunteer available to libraries only at $15.00 a year. foot” in the January/February issue. Our photo is actually of a green frog ( Rana clamitans ) Committee at [email protected]. Periodical postage paid at Mahwah, N.J., and rather than a wood frog ( Rana sylvatica ). Our apologies to the author, Rick Lathrop. additional offices. Postmaster: Send address View the list of past award recipients at: changes to the address below. Opinions expressed Wonder Lake Trail Team Wants Park to Stay Open by authors do not necessarily represent the policy www.nynjtc.org/content/award-winners or position of the Conference. Contributions of Especially after the closure of Wonder Lake State Park was proposed by Governor typed manuscripts, photos, and drawings are Paterson on February 19th, I can’t tell you how uplifting it was for each volunteer of The Volunteer Committee comprises Dan welcome. Manuscripts may be edited for style the Wonder Lake Design and Build team to see our two-year effort to open up the Van Engel, Chair, and Jane Daniels, Catherine and length. Send SASE for writers’ guidelines. Wonder Lake trail network appear as the second bullet item in the FY09 Accomplish - Gemmell (staff), Bob Jonas, Ken Malkin, Submission deadlines for the TRAIL WALKER are January 15 (Mar./Apr. issue), March 15 ments in the March/April 2010 Trail Walker ! Chris Connolly, and Estelle Anderson. (May/June issue), May 15 (July/Aug. issue), We were so busy getting the trails completed last year that we never did get the chance July 15 (Sept./Oct. issue), September 15 to thank each of the more than 50 Trail Conference volunteers, and especially the three AWARDS (Nov./Dec. issue), November 15 (Jan./Feb. trail crews, who took time out of their busy schedules to build the three separate flights Honorary Life Membership issue). Unsolicited contributions cannot be acknowledged unless accompanied by SASE. of rock stairs on the Highlands Trail portion of the trail system, or the six additional Conveys life member status and the right For information on advertising rates, please write miles of trails that were dedicated on June 6, 2009. to vote at Delegates meetings. Usually or call. given after long years of service to the Copyright 2010 by: Conference. New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, Inc. 156 Ramapo Valley Road (Rt. 202) Raymond H. Torrey Award Mahwah, NJ 07430 201-512-9348 The Conference’s most prestigious award, e-mail: [email protected] given for significant and lasting contribu - editorial e-mail: [email protected] tions that protect hiking trails and the land World Wide Web: www.nynjtc.org upon which they rest. William Hoeferlin Award Recognizes Trail Conference volunteers who have demonstrated exemplary service to trail maintenance, management, and/or trail land protection. Leo Rothschild Conservation Award Mission Statement The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is a Presented to a person or organization that federation of member clubs and individuals has made a significant contribution to the dedicated to providing recreational hiking protection of our trails and/or the natural opportunities in the region, and representing the Volunteers with the Wonder Lake trails team take a break. lands that surround them. interests and concerns of the hiking community. The Conference is a volunteer-directed public service organization committed to: More than 500 Wonder Lake Hiking Trail Map brochures have been distributed at the Corporate Partner Award • Developing, building, and maintaining kiosk in the Wonder Lake parking lot since the trails dedication, proving how popular the Given to businesses or their employees for hiking trails. new trails have become. (The brochure is also available online at nynjtc.org by clicking on outstanding service to the hiking commu - • Protecting hiking trail lands through support and advocacy. “Find a Park” and then “Wonder Lake State Park.”) nity. • Educating the public in the responsible Many of the hikers we have seen at Wonder Lake are local residents of the Towns of use of trails and the natural environment. Kent and Patterson. We hope they will join Trail Conference members in campaign - Major William A. Welch Trail Partner ing members of the New York State Legislature to keep all New York State Parks, Award Board of Directors Robert Boysen Chair including Wonder Lake, open. Presented to those outside the Trail Confer - Chris Connolly Vice Chair ence—for example, state, federal, or local James Gregoire Treasurer —Dave Dvorsky, Holmes, NY agency partner officials—who have given Daniel Chazin Secretary Wonder Lake Design and Build team long and/or significant assistance to the Directors local hiking community. Jane Daniels Hans Khimm Trail Conference Should Be A Stronger Advocate for Parks Bill Gannet Seth McKee Josie Gray Edward Saiff As a lifelong Westchester resident and a current member of the Trail Conference, I am Next Generation Award Ann Gruhn Mary Smart disappointed by how ineffectively the Trail Conference is handling the threat of park Given to those under age 21 who are mak - Gaylord Holmes Daniel Van Engel Peter Kennard closures. The report in [the March/April] issue of Trail Walker frames this acute threat ing significant contributions of time and as part of a larger struggle, overwhelming the reader and giving little clue as to what energy to trail building or protection. Staff Edward Goodell Executive Director action to take. The pictures with that report are not of the places that face certain clo - Joshua Howard Deputy Executive sure with the current budget. Ken Lloyd Award Director The only mention of the threat on the main page of the organization’s website is a few Recognizes members of Trail Conference Hedy Abad Membership words of small print. The Trail Conference has not sent a mass-mailing to its members, member clubs or member clubs who have Program Manager leaving some of those who would be concerned in the dark. Nor has the Trail Confer - demonstrated exemplary service to trail Jeremy Apgar Cartographer ence made any specific mention of the parks to be closed—Arden Point, Wonder Lake, maintenance, management, and/or trail Leigh Draper East Hudson Regional Schunemunk, and even part of Harriman, not just a little-used historic site in Yonkers. land protection. Representative I am deeply worried about the future of the park system in New York and I think Catherine Gemmell Database and the Trail Conference should take a much more proactive role in this struggle. This Paul Leikin Extra Mile Award Volunteer organization could have a great influence if only it communicated more effectively. Recognizes those volunteers who have Administrator Chris Ingui Special Projects demonstrated exceptional commitment to Manager —Steven Dworkin, Mount Kisco, NY projects such as a book, map or advocacy. Larry Wheelock West Hudson Regional Editor’s Response: Trail Conference Representative Members who do not get Trail Conference emails or who do not visit the website may Gary Willick Fulfillment Delegates Meeting Coordinator have missed our engagement with this issue. The Trail Conference has been very active in protecting New York parks, both before and since the list of parks targeted for clo - Tuesday, June 22 at Ross The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is a sure was announced on February 19. The March/April issue of Trail Walker was already volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. It is Dock in Fort Lee, NJ a federation of 103 hiking and outdoor groups, at the printer by that date. The focus in that edition on the “larger struggle” was our and 10,000 individuals. attempt to set the context for what we knew was to come in New York—and what we All Members Are Invited expected to come in New Jersey. But at that point, we had no specifics to report. Email is our primary way of communicating on advocacy issues, both for reasons of Schedule timeliness as well as constraints imposed by our very limited resources. Anyone who • Board of Directors meeting: printed on recycled content paper is not receiving such emails and would like to, should contact our membership 5pm-6pm • Socializing and Networking: PLEASE RECYCLE TRAIL WALKER manager, Hedy Abad at [email protected] and ask to be added to the list. 6pm-7pm Stone Steps Don’t Disturb MacKaye’s Sleep • Delegates Meeting: 7pm-8pm Visit our website today! While I sympathize with Eileen West’s desire for our trails to remain as natural and • Speakers: 8pm-9pm continued on page 11 Enjoy a pre-meeting hike led by John www.NYNJTC.org Moran, North Jersey Trails Chair, on Nominations - We Want Your Voice To Be Heard Carpenter’s Trail/Dyckman Hill Trail Loop from Englewood boat basin. The Trail Conference Nominating Committee is seeking Delegates-at-Large Start time: 2:30pm. and nominations for membership on the Board of Directors. The qualification for both is current membership in the Trail Conference. Please RSVP to [email protected] or 201- email your nomination to [email protected]. Self-nominations for 512-9348, ext. 26. Delegate-at-Large, trail maintenance and committee service positions are Find updates and details at appropriate and welcome. www.nynjtc.org/content/delegates May/June 2010 Page 3

From the Executive Director income to buy even more leather which continued to be in high demand and the building and maintenance, training, car - was miraculously transformed into perfect - couple lived happily ever after. tography, publications and advocacy. ly stitched and highly sought after shoes. So, please, if you haven’t noticed what Word spread and soon the shoemaker and And now for the Trail Conference volunteers have done for Trail Magic his wife were thriving again. allegorical interpretation... the public outdoors, take a look at the map The shoemaker couple was curious about Like the shoemaker couple setting out below. This is just a sampling of the trail Depends their good fortune so, one night, they leather to be turned into shoes, the public magic that happens year in and year out, on You decided to hide in view of the workbench in the metropolitan region has been pro - making the region a much better place to to witness this miracle. Round about mid - tecting open space and making it available live and recreate. Do you remember the Grimm brothers’ tale night, two elves appeared, naked and for public recreation. Like the elves who If you like what you see, follow the lead of of the shoemaker and his wife? They were shivering, but rapidly began to stitch the made shoes from the leather, park staff and the shoemaker’s wife and make a donation very honest and hard working but only had leather together into a perfect set of shoes volunteers have been making that open to help the Trail Conference cover its basic enough leather to make a single pair of shoes. before disappearing in a twinkle of the eye. space accessible via trails, turning raw open financial commitments. We won’t disappear So, the shoemaker cut the leather and put it The shoemaker’s wife was appalled. The space into outdoor experiences for mil - like the elves in the fable, but will continue on his workbench with the intention to elves had made her and her husband well- lions—and none more so than the to reward your generosity many times over. make his last pair of shoes the next day. To his off while they had no clothes to protect long-serving and unselfishly dedicated Trail surprise and delight, the most exquisitely them from the elements. She decided to Conference volunteers. stitched shoes were sitting on his workbench sew them a full set of clothes and leave And like the elves, the Trail Conference is the next morning. them out on the workbench. In the morn - a bit naked financially. Every year, we The shoes sold quickly at more than the ing the clothes were gone and, although the struggle to raise the funds needed to sup - — Edward Goodell asking price. The shoemaker used the elves never returned, the shoemaker’s shoes port our core programs of volunteer trail Executive Director NEW YORK 0 5 10 20 30 Where We Work Miles 1 Catskills The 21 regions and 4 long Revised Catskill Trails map set published; TroyTroy all trails newly GPSed and coverage area distance trails identified increased. on this map coincide with JohnJohn Booydyd regions covered by our TThhacheracher 2 Southern Taconics AlbanyAlbany Planning initiated for Taconic Ridge Trail New York and New Jersey extension south to Rudd Pond. 24 S Walk Books . T T K E 22 R S O 3 Dutchess County U Y For each region, we H Wappingers Falls Greenway Trail adopted. W C OneontaOneonta E A N S highlight a recent trail S A 4 Shawangunk Ridge accomplishment by our M Downloadable edition of Shawangunk Ridge Trail map produced. outstanding volunteers.

5 Sterling Forest To support trails in your Allis Trail relocated off the gas pipeline. favorite region, please go r Revised edition of Sterling Forest Trails e iv map published. to the overview map at R www.nynjtc.org. n 6 Schunemunk Mountain o 1 s Hundreds of downed trees cleared to re - d 2 u

open trails after February 2009 ice storm. H CaCatstskillkill FFoorestrest TaTacconiconic PresPreserveerve 7 Storm King and Black Rock Forest Stillman Trail rebuilt in two locations and a bridge replaced on Storm King Mountain. KingstonKingston

8 East Hudson Highlands WWiillcoxcox Volunteers created a new trail network at Wonder Lake State Park. 24 MohonkMohonk 3 9 Fahnestock PresPreseerverve Bridge replaced on the Fahnestock Trail, MinneMinnewawasskaka PoPouughkeghkeeepsiepsie giving access to other bridges needing repair. 4 BBoowwdoindoin P N 22 10 Harriman-Bear Mountain E E N W Chain saw crews clear 496 fallen trees N S Y T O Y U in 48 work trips. L R 25 K NewburghNewburgh C

R V K BBashakillashakill I A T O N WWonderonder C Y

IA 6 E

LLakeake W 8 N

11 Rockland County MiddletownMiddletown E 7 FaFahnehnesstocktock N

N Three trails on West Hook Mountain SchunemunkSchunemunk O MtnMtn 9 C in Clarkstown adopted. HuckleberryHuckleberry HHudsonudson HHighlandsighlands 12 Westchester County 23 r Walkable Westchester book, highlighting e HHighigh 5 almost 600 miles of trails, published. iv PPoointint R BearBear TTeeatatownown MtnMtn LLakeake WWaarrdd PPoundound 13 New York City SSttookeskes SterlingSterling HarrimanHarriman RidgeRidge re Trail assessment and rehabilitation plan a WWaawwaayyandaanda FoForrestest w HHighigh TorTor OssiningOssining prepared for Van Cortlandt Park. la 10 e 16 17 12 D RRingwoodingwood 11 NNorvinorvin 14 Long Island GGreenreen N RRoockckefellerefeller DelaDelawawarere WaWatterer 18 N EW Revised 3rd edition of Hiking Long Island GapGap NRANRA 15 EW YO JE RK LongLong IslandIsland book published. RS 24 EY SSoundound MahlonMahlon PPaalisadeslisades WWoorrtthhingtonington DickeDickerrsonson FFaarnyrny YoYonnkkersers AAllamuchyllamuchy 20 NEW JERSEY 22 HopatcongHopatcong PaPatersonterson PelhamPelham JJennyenny GGararrretet VanVan BayBay JJumpump 21 MtnMtn CoCorrtlandttlandt IA 15 Kittatinnies N A A completely new and updated Kittatinny LV Y LongLong IslandIsland Y E MorMorristristownown 19 S S PPeequestquest GreenbeltGreenbelt Trails map set published. New Warren N R NewNew YYorkork N E E JJockeyockey Trail work planned and built in Jenny P J SouthSouth CityCity W HHollowollow NewarkNewark 14 Jump State Forest. NE MtnMtn HHempsempstteadead 13 AlleyAlley WestWest EElizabethlizabeth JerseyJersey PPondond BabylonBabylon 16 Bearfort Ridge and Wawayanda 23 CityCity Scouting and approvals for 26 miles of RRoundound PlaiPlainfieldnfield new Iron Mine Trail completed. VVaallleyley StaStattenen IIslandsland 17 Wyanokies GGreenbeltreenbelt AtAtlanticlantic Oceancean Several miles of new trails, including Overlook Rock Trail, created in Norvin Copyright © 2010 New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, Inc. Green State Forest. LONG DISTANCE TRAILS 18 Ramapo Mountains New Wanaque Ridge Trail completed. Revised edition of North Jersey Trails 20 Palisades 22 Appalachian Trail 24 Long Path map set published. Revised edition of Hudson Palisades AT on Bear Mountain’s east face rebuilt A missing piece of the Long Path is Trails map set published. to carry tens of thousands of visitors for filled in the Catskills (section 26) and decades to come. Opening: June 5, 2010. for the first time in decades, the route 19 Watchung Mountains is unbroken. Trail Conference assists in reblazing the 21 Morris County 32-mile Lenape Trail in Essex County. Production of brand new Central Jersey 23 Highlands Trail Highlands map set initiated. Links identified and secured that nearly 25 Shawangunk Ridge Trail complete the Highlands Trail to the 4.5 miles of the trail moved off of roads Delaware River. and onto protected lands. Page 4 May/June 2010

son Highlands State Park has done a great Building Bridges job with this hefty project. It was a huge step in user group relations.” A big thank you goes to all the volun - Anyone who hikes or walks on School were lifted into place and the bridge was teers: Walt Daniels and John Magerlein Trail News Mountain Road in Fahnestock State Park once again usable. With the work site (project leaders), Jane Daniels (volunteer knows about Bridge #3, which was devas - cleaned up, there is no evidence of the efforts coordinator), Jean Arledge, John Bisson, tated by Tropical Storm Floyd in 1999. of 22 volunteers who came to 16 work trips Chris Chappell, Warren Egerter, Bob Subsequent rain storms furthered its from August 1 through November 7. Flavin, Chrissy Guarino, Susan Hall, Tim demise. Thanks to a group of volunteers Walt Daniels pointed out that the proj - Keegler, Noel Kropf, Mark Linehan, Bruce LP Builders Celebrate a “Gapless” Trail recruited from several organizations and A missing piece of the Long Path has been led by Walt Daniels and John Magerlein of filled in the northern Catskills, Hunters - the Trail Conference and Friends of Fahne - field Mountain area (section 26) and for stock and Hudson Highlands State Parks, the first time in decades, the trail is without the bridge has been repaired. gaps. The trail section is depicted on the The project started as a discussion on a new, fully revised, 2010 edition of the hike when John and Walt realized repairing Catskill Trails map set. the bridge would be an interesting project. The fact they had never built a bridge of Beavers Win: HT Relocated the magnitude required was not a problem In Pequannock Watershed to Bill Bauman, park manager. He accept - Due to beaver activity on Buckabear Pond ed their offer because the two had in the Pequannock Watershed, the route of conducted numerous trail building projects the Bearfort Waters-Clinton Trail along the in the region over the last 15 years. western shore of the pond, as well as the Funding for materials was already in route of the Clinton Waters Trail over the place through a grant written by the state dam across the southern end of the pond, to obtain FEMA money. Volunteers have been flooded. As a result, the High - recruited from Friends of Fahnestock and lands Trail (shown on North Jersey Trails Hudson Highlands State Parks, the Trail Map #116) is being relocated. Conference, Fats in the Cats (a mountain From Parking Area P4 on Clinton Road, bike group), and the Putnam Horse Coun - the Highlands Trail heads west, but instead cil would provide the labor, with assistance of turning south and running concurrently from park staff to move materials. with the Clinton West Trail, it will contin - Work commenced in August 2009 when ue west to the Bearfort Waters-Clinton a small group first made a temporary Trail and head south along the new route of stream crossing and began dismantling the that trail, which follows a ridge overlooking existing, battered bridge. Using a grip hoist Buckabear Pond. and rigging, they moved three 3,000- At the southern end of the pond, the pound steel plates and four 900-pound Highlands Trail continues south along the steel beams and then previous bridges hid - New bridge on School Mountain Road in Fahnestock, clockwise from top left: route of the Clinton West Trail. The route den below. The rocks supporting the now admiring the gabion; standing on steel beams; the finished bridge. of the Clinton West Trail along the east side disassembled bridge had to be moved, the of Buckabear Pond will remain, with the banks dug out, and rock stockpiled for ect provided challenges at every turn: Lucas, Karen Magerlein, Tom Magerlein, possibility of a loop utilizing the Buckabear future use. Volunteers had to be recruited for every John Maasik, Freidel Muller-Landau, Jean Pond Trail. Gabions (cages filled with soil or rocks) work trip. Monster rocks had to be careful - Ruda, David Small, Jill Sprance, Christine were assembled and put into place. Volun - ly moved, sometimes just at the limit of the Torino, Larry Wheelock, Kenny Zadeck German Hollow Lean-to teers harvested 12 cubic yards of rocks— grip hoist. (rigging specialist). Crushed in Catskills about 20 tons—from the stream bed and A core group of seven anchored the proj - Thanks are also due to Bill Bauman, Some time over the winter (likely in the adjacent woods, leaving nearby stone walls ect with many others assisting three to five Amy Knapp and Frank Mami, park staff, January rain/wind storm) not just one but intact. The gabions were laced together and times. As the seasons changed, the skill lev - and Jolynne Tullis and John Blair from the six trees came down and crushed the closed. Custom frames for the concrete el of the regular participants increased. NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and His - German Hollow Lean-to and it has been were built. Park staff used a gator ™ to move John Magerlein said, “We learned a lot. It toric Preservation. The Trail Conference completely destroyed. The lean-to is dan - 50 60-pound bags of concrete mix to the was fun, but hard work.” supplied all the heavy equipment. gerous to go around due to all the site. There were concerns about pouring the The project built a bridge both physical - A celebration of completion of the project splintered wood and metal from the roof. It cement caps, but the process went smooth - ly and literally. It gave different park user was held on site on Saturday, December 5. should be avoided. ly on the only really rainy day of the project. groups an opportunity to meet and work A week later, steel beams were lifted into together. Jill Sprance of Fats in the Cats —Jane Daniels place; the following week the steel plates said “The Friends of Fahnestock and Hud -

Conservation & Advocacy News Notes Online: www.nynjtc.org/view/issues Make sure you get Action Alerts from the Trail Conference so that you can help support our region’s trails, parks, and open spaces. Set your email program to accept mail from the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference!

Advocacy & and promoting trails in the political arena publication, supporters of the state’s parks zens concerned by the plans. Trail Confer - Conservation (a consequence of reduced budget), exist - and trails were cautiously optimistic. ence members and representatives were ing staff and interested volunteers and among them. The Trail Conference sub - Update members have been active in all of these An End to New York mitted official comments to the park issues. You can find background and Land Protection? service’s Environmental Impact Statement The past two months have presented a updates on most of these issues on our The Trail Conference joined with hun - planning team, outlining the potential broad array of serious trail protection website. Go to www.nynjtc.org/view/issues dreds of environmental organizations impact of various planned routes on exist - issues in the New York-New Jersey region. and select the issue you are interested in. across the state to support New York’s ing trails and scenic viewsheds and They include: Environmental Protection Fund. This suggesting additional alternatives to be • government threats to close parks in New York Park Closures fund pays for a broad array of environmen - studied. Our comments can be found and New York; A constantly updated web page on this tal projects in the state, from infrastructure read on our website (see directions above). • reductions in park staff in New Jersey; issue and a series of email alerts have pro - for clean water to protecting open space. • a proposal by the New York governor vided members and others with the As of the deadline for this issue, the state Seven Peaks Development to end all land acquisition in the state, information needed to stay informed on senate and assembly had both voted to on the Shawangunk Ridge which would disrupt pending land the issue and contact their political repre - increase funding for the EPF above the A draft environmental impact statement transfers, including of parcels held sentatives. Trail Conference members are governor’s proposals, but they were far was the subject of a March public hearing by the Trail Conference; among the tens of thousands of citizens apart on the amount and the purposes. on this project slated for the Shawangunk • hearings on a utility company propos - who have rallied for parks. As this issue The Assembly, for example, had voted to corridor in the town of Mamakating. The al to disrupt two units of the National went to press, both the state senate and eliminate $30 million in stewardship funds Trail Conference signed onto comments Park system in New Jersey—the assembly had indicated their intentions to from the EPF—$15 million each for NYS submitted by the Shawangunk Ridge Delaware Water Gap National keep parks and historic sites open for the DEC and State Parks. Go to our website Coalition, which focused on the many Recreation Area and the Appalachian public. Negotiations were ongoing. for background and updates. shortcomings of the DEIS, and independ - National Scenic Trail—with power ently submitted our own comments, lines that many deem to be unneeded; New Jersey Parks PSE&G Powerline through Parks which focused on issues relating to the • and a hearing on a development plan We were pleasantly surprised when Gover - and across North Jersey Shawangunk Ridge Trail. Go to our web - for large second homes in the Shawan - nor Christie, in his March budget National Park Service hearings in Febru - site to find and read both sets of gunks that threatens to impact the message, indicated no plans to close any ary on PSE&G’s proposal to run comments, along with those by DEC, and Shawangunk Ridge Trail. parks this year. Once released, his detailed powerlines through the Delaware Water to find other links relating to this project Despite the fact that the Trail Conference budget proposals are expected to include Gap NRA and across the Appalachian no longer has staff dedicated to protecting reductions, but at the deadline for this Trail were packed with hundreds of citi - May/June 2010 Page 5

Saturday, May 1 Saturday, June 5 Saturday, May 22 Warren Trail Bear Mountain State Park TBD Trail Crew We will clear the next section of this new trail. Metro Trails Crew will help celebrate the opening Leader: Chris Ezzo of the first new section of the AT. Saturday, May 8 Crew Carpools, Crew Camping Thursday, May 27 Schedules Red Dot (Mt. Tammany) Trail, Worthington S.F. Leader: Joe Gindoff. Please RSVP. Cornell Mine Trail, Harriman State Park We will be refurbishing water bars and rock Leader: Bob Marshall steps that were installed years ago, and installing Saturday, June 19 May — June 2010 additional water bars and check dams. Pelham Bay Park Saturday, June 12 Metro Trails Crew will assist the Friends of Pelham AT at Fitzgerald Falls, near Sterling Forest S.P. Check our website for possible Saturday, May 15 Bay Park on Hunter Island. Work details TBD. Leader: Monica Day additions or changes to schedules. Terrace Pond North Trail, Wawayanda State Park Meet: 10am at the far left corner of the Orchard Go to www.nynjtc.org and click on We will install stepping stones in a wet area of the Beach parking lot. Saturday, June 19 Trail Crews in the Get Involved tab. Terrace Pond North Trail. Leader: Joe Gindoff. Please RSVP. AT at Fitzgerald Falls, near Sterling Forest S.P. Leader: Claudia Ganz Saturday, June 5 EAST HUDSON CREWS Warren Trail WEST HUDSON NORTH CREW We will continue work, building stone steps and Dutchess-Putnam Appalachian Trail Leaders: Denise Vitale, Crew Chief: 845-738-2126, side-hilling on a section of this new trail. Most Saturdays [email protected] Join RPH Crew Volunteers (TC member club) Dave Webber, H: 845-452-7238, Saturday, June 19 on AT maintenance outings. [email protected] Terrace Pond North Trail, Wawayanda State Park Contact: Tim Messerich, We will continue our work installing stepping [email protected] or 845-297-9573 Peters Kill Red Loop Trail stones in a wet area. Minnewaska State Park Preserve Ward Pound Ridge Reservation We continue with the relocation of the Peters Kill Saturday, June 26 Weekly Trail Maintenance Trips Red Loop Trail in Minnewaska State Park. Each TBD Contact: [email protected] work trip will include education for the novice and This will be either a make-up day for a trip Contact WPRR at the email address above or plenty of challenges for the more experienced. TBD = To Be Determined canceled due to rain, or an additional work day. view the East Hudson Trail Crew webpage at This is a great opportunity to learn the basics of www.nynjtc.org for more information and trail building and more advanced rock-on-rock For all trips bring work gloves, water, HIGHLANDS TRAIL CREW the schedule. construction of crib walls and stairs. lunch, insect repellent. In some cases, Leaders: Adam Rosenberg, HT Co-Supervisor: tools are provided. Contact leaders in [email protected] or 973-570-0853 EAST HUDSON COMMUNITY TRAILS PROJECTS In addition to the relocation project, we will be advance for meeting times and places. Work is planned at one or more of the following replacing one of the wooden bridges over the We generally get together the first Sunday of every projects most Saturdays in May and June. Peters Kill. month to tackle various jobs building new sections Contact: Leigh Draper, at [email protected] for CENTRAL JERSEY CREW or reworking existing sections of the Highlands more information or check the East Hudson Trail Saturday, May 15 Leaders: Bob Jonas & Estelle Anderson Trail throughout New Jersey as well as in New Crews page at www.nynjtc.org. Leader: Denise Vitale Phone: 973-697-5326 Cell: 908-803-3883 York west of the Hudson River. We also schedule Email: [email protected] other work dates. All are welcome, experience is Wonder Lake State Park Trail Project Saturday, May 22 not necessary. Contact leader for details of the With Fahnestock State Park Leader: Denise Vitale Please check the Trail Crew Schedules on current trip and what tools to bring. In Putnam County www.nynjtc.org for work trips, or feel free to SHAWANGUNK RIDGE TRAIL CREW call us for more information. METRO TRAIL CREW Teatown to Kitchawan Trail Project Leaders: Andy Garrison, [email protected] Leaders: Joe Gindoff, 718-614-2219, or 845-888-0602 NORTH JERSEY WEEKEND CREW With Teatown Lake Reservation [email protected]; Linda Sullivan, crew chief, Jakob Franke, [email protected] or 201-768-3612 Leader: Sandy Parr, 732-469-5109 Westchester County 347-721-6123, [email protected]; Saturday, May 8 and other dates TBD. Liz Gonzalez, [email protected] Please check the Trail Crew Schedules on Second Sunday of each month Angle Fly Preserve Trail Project www.nynjtc.org for work trips. Trips start at 9:30 am; call for location and We work in various parks throughout New York With Somers Land Trust details during the week before the scheduled trip City, generally the third Saturday of each month, Westchester County BEAR MOUNTAIN TRAILS PROJECT day. Tackle a variety of projects ranging from trail May through October, with additional work dates Sunday, May 16 and other dates TBD Through November 28 repair to bridge building in northern New Jersey. as needed. Thursday-Monday WEST HUDSON SOUTH 8:30am-4:30pm WEST JERSEY CREW Please contact Linda Sullivan, in order to receive Leaders: Chris Ezzo (crew chief): 516-431-1148, Work trips involve a variety of tasks, such as: Leaders: Monica and David Day email notices of work outings, or check the Metro [email protected] corridor clearing, prepping work sites, restoration, Phone: 732-937-9098 Cell: 908-307-5049 Trail Crew page at www.nynjtc.org. Brian Buchbinder: 718-218-7563, quarrying stone, using an overhead highline to Email: [email protected] [email protected] transport stone, creating crushed stone (with Website: www.trailstobuild.com Saturday, May 8 Claudia Ganz: 212-633-1324, [email protected] mash and sledge hammers), building crib walls, Beginners are welcomed on all work trips. Pelham Bay Park Bob Marshall: 914-737-4792, [email protected] setting rock steps, and splitting stone. Contact: Liz Gonzalez . Please RSVP. Monica Day: 732-937-9098, Cell: 908-307-5049, All events begin at 9am. Please phone/email the Lagoon clean-up: Collect, bag, and haul shoreline [email protected] While training is provided every day, individuals who leaders for meeting location and driving direc - debris on foot and with canoes. The Friends of have no trail building experience are REQUIRED to tions. There is usually a walk to the work site, Pelham Bay Park trail crew will lead this work trip. Thursday, May 13 attend one Trail U course on Bear Mountain or a so please be there on time (call the leaders’ cell All are welcome. TBD Trail Building 101 course at another location. If you phone if you are coming to an event and are Leader: Bob Marshall cannot meet these requirements but still wish to running late). Rain cancels – if in doubt, call the Saturday, May 15 volunteer, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator leaders between 6:00 and 6:30 that morning. Alley Pond Park Saturday, May 15 at [email protected]. Carpooling: if anyone is interested in carpooling Pruning and repairing trails on “It’s My Park Day” TBD (offering a ride or riding), please let leaders know Meet: 9am at the upper parking lot, enter at Win - Leader: Brian Buchbinder and we will try to arrange a shared ride. (Passen - chester Blvd., Queens, under the highway gers please be prepared to contribute for gas.) Leader: Joe Gindoff. Please RSVP.

Shelter Caretaker Training Saturday, May 15, 10am-4pm Trail Tool Inventory in Progress Location: Elm Ridge Lean-to, Maplecrest, NY (Catskills) The Trail Conference is in the process of locating and inventorying all This one-day training session will cover the skills necessary to maintain a shelter (lean-to) so that it tools in our region that are owned by the Trail Conference or Appalachi - Teaching Practical Skills to is ready for use by campers and is harmonious with an Trail Conservancy . This includes all manual or gas-powered tools such Trails Volunteers at Locations its surroundings. Students will learn how to do an as picks, loppers, pry-bars, come-alongs, generators, saws, etc.; chaps assessment of the overall shelter condition, clean - and hard-hats are also being inventoried. Throughout the NY-NJ Area ing and clearing the area, the proper use of tools, and how to report the shelter’s condition. No If you have any of these tools owned by the Trail Conference or the ATC, previous experience is necessary and beginners May/June 2010 are welcome. please list the tool type (be as descriptive as possible) and its location and condition. (Please include the Date Code of the hard-hats, which can Trail Removal and Restoration be found under the brim.) Register for Trail U classes online at Saturday, April 24 www.nynjtc.org/view/workshops. Once Location: Bear Mountain, Harriman State Park, NY We will be repairing or refurbishing any old tools to bring them back to registered, you will receive additional details This workshop will cover how to remove obsolete usable condition. one week prior to the actual workshop date. or unofficial trails so that they can be reclaimed Please pay attention to any prerequisites by their native environments. Topics covered will Please send the info to the Quartermaster, Bob Jonas, at [email protected]. include why trails have to be relocated or removed that may apply to certain courses. If you and the methods of obscuring these trails from have any questions, please contact Chris public view so that they have the best chance of Ingui at [email protected]. getting reintegrated with the forest. Participants will VOLUNTEER PROFILE In March, Catherine began her fourth be working on an obsolete section of the Appalachi - season at Bear Mountain. “It’s a great proj - Trail Maintenance 101 continued from page 1 an Trail on Bear Mountain transplanting native plant ect, a great opportunity, and anybody who Saturday, May 1 species and transporting organic matter. Location: Merestead, Westchester County, NY Catherine reports putting her newly might be thinking about it shouldn’t let it This one-day training session covers the skills nec - GPS/GIS Training learned skills to work back home on several pass them by,” she says. essary to maintain a hiking trail so it is easily Saturday, June 26 PATC projects—stair-building at Harper’s “The organization should be proud, its passable and harmonious with its surroundings. Location: Flat Rock Brook Nature Center, Ferry, building a small retaining wall on a members should be proud, that they are Students will learn assessment of trail conditions, Englewood, NJ section of the AT, expanded a parking area part of a group that was willing to take a clearing, blazing, proper use of tools, and how to This one-day workshop provides a basic level of by splitting and dragging away a boulder risk on such a huge effort.” report any trail problems. No previous experience skills for using Global Position Systems and Geo - with a grip-hoist, moving large stepping is necessary and beginners are welcome. Students graphic Information Systems to aid in trail layout, stones. “Now the idea of moving a rock sev - will spend the morning in a classroom environment design, and inventory keeping. This is a great work - and then head out into woods for hands-on shop for all you “techies” who love to hike. eral times bigger than myself is no longer instruction. completely intimidating,” she laughs. Page 6 May/June 2010 Trail Conference members can take Volunteer Classifieds: Get Involved! advantage of exclusive discounts To indicate your interest, or for more information about these or other and benefits with participating volunteer opportunities, go to www.nynjtc.org/volunteer; or contact us at retailers and businesses! [email protected] or 201-512-9348 ext. 22 HERE ARE SOME EXCITING You can recoup the cost of your AND UNIQUE OFF-TRAIL CRM Database Lead OPPORTUNITIES! If you have experience using a CRM data - membership in one visit! base, particularly in migration to CRM Communications/Editorial Assistant software, and want to keep your skills up Help the Trail Conference Communica - to date and help the Trail Conference at tions Manager keep up with and get out all the same time, then take advantage of this the news that’s fit to print, email, or put on unique opportunity by working with our our website! Training will be provided. volunteers and staff in developing and Work from the office or from home. executing a CRM migration. Hike Writers for Long Island, NJ IF YOU’D LIKE TO VOLUN - Pinelands, and Jersey Shore TEER AND GET OUT ON We want to add hikes from these regions to our website and need contributors who THE TRAILS THIS SUMMER: enjoy hiking, are willing to carefully docu - WANTED-Regional Trail Coordinator ment routes, and take photos. Work The Finger Lakes Trail Conference is look - doesn’t get more fun than this! ing for an ambitious trail manager to oversee the maintenance of the Finger The Trail Conference is proud to offer a Membership Copyright and Intellectual Lakes Trail system from NY 206 in

e Benefit Program, which was created to provide our Property Lawyer Delaware County through the Catskills to members with money-saving discounts at area retailers

c The Trail Conference produces a wide vari - the eastern terminus of the FLT at the and service providers — benefits only available to S ety material both in print and on the web. Long Path in Ulster County. Your respon - n Trail Conference members. If you are a lawyer with at least 5 years sibilities would include: enjoying the

e experience in copyright and intellectual outdoors, managing the trail sponsors As part of your Trail Conference membership, you are

r property law and would like to provide the already in place and securing others for T issued a card identifying you as a Trail Conference Trail Conference with pro bono services to this area, assisting with trail maintenance e member, making you eligible for all program discounts. help write and review contracts in these and construction projects, working with f I To receive your member discounts, you must present areas, we’d love to hear from you! public agencies and private landowners to

n your valid membership card at the time of purchase. preserve and protect the trail, and attend - Some stores offer the discount only on select items, General Counsel

o ing one or two trail maintainers’ meetings so be sure to ask.

F Trail Conference receives and creates con - and training sessions each year. If you are C We encourage our members to take advantage of this tracts ranging from hiring contractors and interested, please contact: Steve Cather - service providers to work-for-hire and trail man, FLTC Director of Trail Maintenance l incredible opportunity that comes with a Trail Conference i membership. New discounts and offers are continually building proposals. We’re looking for a at [email protected]. E lawyer with 5 or more years in general law, a being added so be sure to visit our website’s membership who can provide pro bono services to help Become a Trail Maintainer!* r benefits area at www.nynjtc.org/content/retail-partners for current offers. write and review these contracts and also Adopt a section of a trail and help to keep T to advise the organization on some best our region's footpaths accessible, pristine,

N practices to protect itself. and protected by keeping them clear and 25% Discount on Trail Conference publications and

J adequately blazed on two or more visits a clothing when purchased directly from the Trail Conference. Insurance Expert year. We have vacancies in almost all

N FREE Subscription to the Trail Walker , the Trail The Trail Conference is looking to bolster regions our trail network covers. Check E - Conference’s bi-monthly newsletter filled with timely articles our newly formed Operations Committee out our website at: www.nynjtc.org/ and columns that will enhance your hiking experiences. and needs your insurance expertise. We vol-trail-vacancies or email: volunteers Y have a complex set of insurance policies @nynjtc.org to see if there is a vacancy in Money-Saving Discounts at participating retailers and need a professional to review our the area of your choice. N B and businesses. policies on an annual basis and assist with *This position is available to Trail Confer - our renewals. ence members only. Workshops and Seminars on trail maintenance and construction, leadership training, wilderness first aid, Prospect Caller New to Trail Work? Join a Trail Crew… chainsaw operation, environmental monitoring and Do you want to put that clear and friend - …and learn on the job! Our Trail Crews GPS operation. ly voice of yours to good use? Do you have welcome both new and experienced vol - Volunteer Opportunities to “learn by doing” in sales experience? We have a new volunteer unteers. Participation is flexible; most areas as varied as trail maintenance, construction, position in our sales department, calling crews spend from 3 to 8 hours—weekdays publications, environmental monitoring, and cartography. stores and asking them if they want to or weekends—working at a specific site. receive our new, free, full-color catalogue Trail crews perform a wide variety of tasks Access to the Hoeferlin Library at the Trail of our high-quality books and maps. ranging from painting blazes, heavy-duty Conference office that includes more than 1,000 books Managers are very busy, but people like maintenance to trail building and restora - on hiking worldwide, along with maps, guides and a you can get right to the point and high - tion. We have crews working on trails in historical archive. light aspects of the Trail Conference that West Hudson, East Hudson, Northern we know will catch their interest. We New Jersey, and Western New Jersey. Some of Our Discount Partners hope to see you soon in our office, on the phone, sharing the word about the Trail Conference and its indispensable hiking books and maps we all love so well!

Retail Partner News: Gravity Vault Opens Second Rock Gym *select locations The Gravity Vault Indoor Rock Gyms, a retail partner of the Trail Conference, announces the opening of a second state-of-the-art climbing facility, in Chatham, NJ (40 Watchung Ave.). Its first gym, in Saddle River (107 Pleasant Ave at Rt. 17 N), continues operations. Trail Conference members can enjoy 10% discounts on day pass - es at both locations when they show their current membership card. The new gym in Chatham offers 14,000 square feet of rock climbing, 58 top rope stations, extensive bouldering and lead climbing, a huge retail shop, lock - er rooms, a fitness studio, a private party room, and much more. This facility, one of the two largest rock gyms in New Jersey, is great for beginners, sea - soned climbers, or anyone looking for a new way to stay in shape. One can get involved in indoor rock climbing at The Gravity Vault through more than a dozen avenues including memberships, classes (for both adults and children), scout programs, group events, private events and birthday parties. VISIT WWW.NYNJTC.ORG/CONTENT/RETAIL-PARTNERS For more information on The Gravity Vault visit www.gravityvault.com or FOR COMPLETE LIST OF MONEY-SAVING DISCOUNTS! contact the Chatham facility at 973.701.ROCK (7625). May/June 2010 Page 7

Science & Ecology The mission of the Museum Hudson Highlands is to create responsible Nature Museum Is a caretakers of our environment. Family-friendly Outdoor Through quality educational Discover Center programs for the public that If the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum focus on the unique ecology (HHNM) in Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY, of the Hudson Highlands, the has anything to do about it, there will be no local epidemic of “nature-deficit disor - Museum promotes knowledge der,” a health and environmental concern and appreciation of our raised by author Richard Louv in his influ - natural world and the dynamic ential 2005 book, Last Child in the Woods . Louv wrote that a growing body of role of human interaction in research “reveals the necessity of contact its well-being. with nature for healthy child—and adult— development.” But, he asserted, too often Visitors enjoy ponds, meadows, and woods as they explore a 6-mile trail network at the our society scares people “straight out of Outdoor Discovery Center in Cornwall, NY. the woods and fields.” Their resulting “nature deficit,” he says, is a threat to their tors can purchase a guide to each Quest’s designed to be of interest to multiple gen - fee for a Quest guidebook. Additional pro - well-being and, if sufficiently widespread, a stations for $5 (there is no fee to access the erations. “They are intended to be grams offered by HHNM include lectures, danger to the health of the planet. grounds) and follow the field notes about something that families can do and enjoy demonstrations, and exhibits. The muse - HHNM addresses these challenges in a the natural and human history visible and learn together without being totally um is member supported. Learn more at very direct way: with a program they call along the trail and do suggested interactive, oriented to kids. People can use these to www.hhnaturemuseum.org. Quest Discovery Hikes. These are a series hands-on activities that aim to promote learn no matter what their age.” of four self-guided walks on the nearly six observation and learning. Says Education Director Judy Onufer: Hudson Highlands Nature Museum is miles of trails that explore the 177-acre his - The guide books, says Ms. Grant, are “We’re focusing on ways to forge the bonds a sponsor of the New York-New Jersey toric farm that comprises its Outdoor between people and nature that we now Trail Conference. Discovery Center. (A second campus, the know are at the heart of conservation and Wildlife Education Center, is a short drive environmental ethics. Our goal is to culti - away.) These Quests are designed to intro - vate respect for the rich natural resources of duce beginner hikers of all ages to nature our region in the hope that people will fall and the pleasures and protocols of hiking. in love with the Hudson Valley. You’re not The trails are color-coded and meticu - going to care about protecting something lously blazed; traditional blazes are unless you love it.” reinforced with colored flags on the easiest Families, school groups, an on-site pre - trails. “We’re a kind of bunny slope for hik - school program, and independent walkers all ing,” says Jackie Grant, HHNM executive explore the trails and grounds at the center. director, referring to the gentle slopes where most beginning skiers learn the The HHNM Outdoor Discovery Center is basics of the sport. Published guides avail - located at 100 Muser Drive, across from able on site explain the basics of reading 174 Angola Road in Cornwall (off of trail blazes. Route 9W). Quests are open weekends There are four designed Discovery Quest April 24- November 15. The Quest Visitor hikes: Pond Quest, Field Quest, Woodland Center is open from 9am until 4pm, Satur - Quest, and Hiking Quest. Each features 12 day and Sunday. Trails are open all year and learning stations, Ms. Grant explains. Visi - The center is not for kids only. there is no admission charge; there is a $5 Grandfather and grandson take a Quest Hike.

Peakbagging Comes The cave was an interesting find, but we spread to New Jersey. I, Eric Koppel of bagging, even if it takes you to treed-in felt compelled to head on to the top of the Rutherford, and my collaborator, Jeffrey S. summits and fields of pricker bushes. Peak - to New Jersey! mountain, for summit fever had gotten the Bennett of South Orange, were the agents bagging gets you to mountains you’d never By Eric Koppel with Jeffrey Bennett best of us. With a map, a compass, and of contagion. think of climbing otherwise. some guesswork we negotiated our way Two years ago we were Catskill 3500 There’s also something liberating about Trail Conference member and maintainer through desolate leafless forest toward an Club and ADK 46er aspirants who just peakbagging when you don’t have the ben - Eric Koppel and his hiking buddy, Jeffrey unfamiliar summit. decided to do some county high pointing efit of trails to guide you up. And there’s Bennett, have founded a group they call the After trekking uphill for a while, follow - closer to home. We hadn’t even made it to the thrill of discovery. Is the stream’s ravine New Jersey 1K Club, dedicated to identifying ing gullies carved by rain and snow-melt, the southern New Jersey county high scenic? Does the forest have magic to it? and climbing New Jersey’s “high peaks”—52 we found ourselves high on a ridge covered points when I said to myself, what the Are there interesting rock formations? Is mountains (and hills) that rise at least 1,000 by low-lying shrubs and windswept ever - heck, why can’t New Jersey have a peakbag - there a view from the top? feet above sea level. Check their website at greens. So this was the unknown ging club of its own? So after doing a bit of www.nj1k.org. mountaintop we had identified months research, Jeff and I came up with a prelim - ago on a topographic map. If you closed inary list of New Jersey’s 1,000-foot “It’s not always about the destination— your eyes it was almost like a slice of alpine mountains with 200 feet of prominence. We had settled on a list it’s about the journey.” tundra. The scene changed again a few Over the next several months, the list Those words echoed through my head as minutes later when we arrived at the true changed but at least it was a start. of 52 high peaks... Jeff and I set off from Ghost Lake to bag summit; bloodthirsty pricker bushes We soon lost count of how many moun - two New Jersey high peaks in Jenny Jump capped the summit flat, like sentinels tains we had climbed for this local State Forest one early spring. Using guarding the secrets of the mountaintop. peakbagging quest of ours. We also lost trekking poles for support, we carefully After a brief struggle with the briars, we count of how many more we had to go. But most important, this list helped us, edged across the steep and rugged shoreline made it to the top, with sweat and blood to Thanks to USGS topographic maps, our both life-long residents, to get to know of the lake before stumbling upon our first show for it. list was constantly growing; yet thanks to New Jersey better. In a state better known surprise of the day: a cave rumored to have Ah, peakbagging: that odyssey, mad our own reconnaissance missions we were for traffic-clogged interstates, corrupt been occupied by Indians once upon a quest, obsession, psychiatric condition continually discovering which of our iden - politicians, post-industrial cities, and time. We poked around the interior of the found in the Adirondacks, Catskills, White tified “high peaks” were actually accessible. sprawling suburbs, over the course of two cave for a moment, hoping to find some - Mountains, Colorado Rockies, New About two years after we had started years we discovered an impressive patch - thing of interest. Perhaps there were Zealand Alps, and more. The Marshall researching New Jersey’s high peaks, we work of public open space—state forests, pottery shards on the floor. Unfortunately, brothers of Adirondack 46er fame may finally reached the end of the beginning. parks, wildlife management areas, county only its modern counterpart was present: a have been the first peakbaggers, but nearly We had settled on a list of 52 high peaks reservations, and more—that allow us all to lonely old beer can. 100 years later the disease had finally and had climbed every single one of them. enjoy the outdoors. Interestingly, the very first person to com - And yes, there are views on a lot of these plete our list, William Maurer, is from mountains too, some of which, like the Reading, Pennsylvania. Jeff and I were 3rd trailless Hamburg Mountain High Point, and 2nd to finish respectively. Hasenclever Hill, Green Pond Mountain, We’ll admit that the mountain described and Buck Mountain (Kinnelon), are above on the Jenny Jump range wasn’t the pretty incredible, yet relatively unknown most awe-inspiring summit to be found. destinations. Yet, there’s something special about peak - Highlights: Best View: Hasenclever Hill and Bowling Green Mountain Most Interesting Forests: Bearfort Mountain North Weirdest Mountain: Bald Mountain Easiest Climb: Guerin Benchmark Hardest Climb: Hasenclever Hill Worst Pricker Bushes: The Tornfell and Upper Pohatcong Mountain Eric Koppel and Jeffrey Bennett, founders of the New Jersey 1K Club. Page 8 May/June 2010 HHII KERSKERS’’ ALMANACALMANAC A Sampling of Upcoming Hikes Sponsored by Member Clubs

Find more hikes at www.nynjtc.org. Click on Scheduled Hikes under Go Hiking! May Wednesday, May 5 IHC. Delaware Water Gap, PA. Leader: Roy Williams, 570-828- Monday, May 17 RVW. Cinco de Mayo Day Celebration Maintenance Hike, 6207 or [email protected]. Meet: 9am at Augusta park & ride, RVW. Shaupeneak Ridge, Esopus, NY. Leader: for more informa - Saturday, May 1 Catskills, NY. Leader: for more information call 845-246-8616 or Rtes. 206 & 15. Moderately strenuous 8 miles on some new trails, tion call 845-246-4590. Meet: 8am; call for location. Moderate AMC. Taurus Twice for Beginners, Hudson Highlands State 845-626-4104. Meet: call for time and location. Help us maintain including the Conashaugh View trail. Shuttle required/double toll hike of 3.5 miles, in 2.5 hours. Inclement weather date is Park, NY. Leader: Art Almeida, 914-271-8659 or a section of the Long Path, from Platte Clove Rd. to Palenville. on Dingman’s Ferry bridge. Rain cancels. following Monday. [email protected]. Meet: contact leader for details. If you’ve No experience needed. Participants receive appreciation gifts at PM. Animal Babies Hike, Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic wanted to climb a mountain, here’s your chance to do it twice. Saturday, May 22 end of hike! Area, NJ. Leader: for more information or to register (required), We’ll climb Mount Taurus from two different sides. Steep initial AMC. Old 210 Circ., Harriman State Park, NY. Leader: call Pyramid Mountain in Boonton, NJ at 973-334-3130 or visit climb, but well worth it for the great views. Moderate pace. Look Saturday, May 8 Larry Spinner, 845-548-3194, call before 9:30pm, or www.morrisparks.net. Meet: 10am. Easy walk with naturalist to at some interesting ruins along the way. Remember, “beginner” AMC. Bear Mtn. Inn to Long Mtn., Bear Mountain State Park, [email protected]. Meet: Contact leader for meet time and learn about animal babies and the moms who help them grow; for doesn't necessarily mean easy! Great intro to Hudson River area NJ. Leader: Susan Pollak, 914-698-1838, call before 10pm, or location. North on the White Bar, then who knows? Wanderings ages 5 and up with an adult. $1 per person. hiking. Limited to 15 people. [email protected]. Meet: Contact Leader for meet time & on various trails, some well-known, others may not be known at location. Short visit to the zoo, plus Popolopen Torne, Walt ADK-MH. Mohonk Pavilion and Guyot Hill, Mohonk Preserve, all. Hike not suited for stragglers. Registration not necessary ADK-MH. Woods and Meadows, Fahnestock State Park, NY. Whitman, and a surprise treat. Relaxed pace with stops to enjoy NY. Leader: Brian Sullivan, 845-594-9545; call before 9pm. Meet: but email the leader prior to Friday to see if hike is still on. Leader: Georgette Weir, [email protected], 845-462-0142. the views, but be prepared for a couple of good climbs and a 9am at Spring Farm parking area, New Paltz, NY. 10 difficult miles Rain cancels. Meet: contact leader for details (carpool from Poughkeep - tricky, scrambly descent. Bad weather may cancel or modify. at a moderate pace. sie/Wappingers). 7 miles through woods and meadows, along a AFW. Hacklebarney State Park, NJ. Leader: for info and to reg - stream and past several ponds. Possible stop after hike at WEC. Wildflower Hike with Author George Petty, Weis WTA. West Mombasha Rd. to Rt. 17, Harriman State Park, NY. ister, call 973-644-3592 or visit www.adventuresforwomen.org. Stonecrop Gardens (modest fee). Ecology Center, NJ. Leader: George Petty, associate naturalist Leader: must register; contact Carol Harting at 845-669-6731. Meet: 10am; out by 2pm. Easy to moderate hike at leisurely pace. and author of ; to register call the Meet: at Harriman train station on Rt. 17. 7 miles, moderate with WTA. Castle Rock, Hudson Highlands State Park, NY. Leader: Hiking the Jersey Highlands ADK-MH. Locust Grove Walk, Poughkeepsie, NY. Leader: Nan - center at 973-835-2160. Meet: 10am for car shuttle or 10:30 at the some rock scrambling. We’ll shuttle to West Mombasha Rd., take George O’Lear, 914-631-8441. Meet: 9:30am at North White Plains cy Keenan-Rich, 845-452-1727. Meet: 10am at estate parking lot. trailhead; details available upon registration. High Point-Iron the AT up to Agony Grind, then out on the easy and beautiful train station for carpool to trailhead ($5 contribution), or call leader Easy 2-3 miles on carriage roads, viewing emerging spring, site of Mines Loop is 3.3 miles, with moderate/strenuous climb to High Sapphire Trail. for alternate meeting place. Moderate 7 miles at a brisk pace. Climb an old sawmill, and Hudson River views. Rain cancels. Point summit and a ramble past Roomy Mine in search of pink Sugarloaf Hill for Hudson River views, then hike on the Appalachi - Saturday, May 15 lady’s slippers, pinkster, anemones, columbine, wild geranium and WEC. Weis Women’s Hikes, Norvin Green State Forest, NJ. an Trail and return via carriage roads. Bad weather cancels. WEC. Wildflower Hike with Author George Petty, Norvin Green other spring wildflowers. Heavy, soaking rain postpones the hike Leader: Weis’ Sanctuary Director Karla Risdon and others; to reg - State Forest, NJ. Leader: George Petty, associate naturalist and UCHC. Hawkwatch Hike, Rockaway Twp., NJ. Leader: Al Verdi, until the next day. Non-members $8. ister call the center at 973-835-2160. Meet: 8am; details available 973-263-8569. Meet: 10am at Wildcat Ridge parking on Upper author of Hiking the Jersey Highlands ; to register call the center upon registration. Moderate 2-3 miles. Enjoy some time outdoors, AFW. Kakiat County Park /Harriman State Park, NY. Leader: Hibernia Rd. Moderate 3 miles with some hills. at 973-835-2160. Meet: 10am for car shuttle or 10:30 at the trail - get some exercise, and get home in time to do your day’s work; for info and to register, call 973-644-3592 or visit head; details available upon registration. This Carris Hill hike is 4.1 out by 10am. Non-members $5. Sunday, May 2 www.adventuresforwomen.org. Meet: 9am; out by 4pm. Strenu - miles, with a long, moderate climb toward the end that will test GS. Forest Flora at Great Swamp, Chatham, NJ. Leader: Great IHC. Ringwood State Park to Mahwah, NJ. Leader: Steve Rikon, ous, all-day hike at moderate pace. We’ll do the entire Kakiat Trail. your muscles. Steep ascent with excellent views from the summit; Swamp Outdoor Education Center naturalist; to register call 973-962-4149 or [email protected]. Meet: 9am at Skylands later views of beautiful Chikahoki Falls. Expected spring wildflow - GS. Tyke Hike at Great Swamp, Chatham, NJ. Leader: Great 973-635-6629 or visit www.morrisparks.net. Meet: 9am. Learn parking lot A, Skylands Manor, Ringwood. Moderately strenuous. ers include pink lady’s slippers, pinkster, anemones, fringed Swamp Outdoor Education Center naturalist; to register call 973- to identify trees, shrubs, flowers and ferns on this easy, educa - We’ll hike from Skylands, over the ridge to Macmillan Reservoir in polygala, and spring beauties. Waterproof footwear is required. 635-6629 or visit www.morrisparks.net. Meet: 10am. Kids take to tional walk. Appropriate for ages 16 and up. $5 fee per person. Ramapo Valley County Reservation, then return to Ringwood Heavy, soaking rain postpones the hike until the next day. Non- the trails to discover unique animals and plants found at the Out by 11am. using another scenic route. Rain cancels. Great Swamp. Appropriate for ages 2-5 with an adult. Fee $2 per members $8. ADK-MH. Schaghticoke Mountain, Dutchess County, NY. person. Leader: Ollie Simpson, [email protected], 845-298- PM. Tyke Hike, Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area, NJ. 8379 (no machine). Meet: 9:15am at Starr22 Diner, intersection of Leader: for more information or to register (required), call Pyra - NY 22 and County 21, to caravan to ending point on East Moun - mid Mountain in Boonton, NJ at 973-334-3130 or visit tain Rd., then carpool to start at Schaghticoke Rd. Moderate www.morrisparks.net. Meet: 10am. Discover the animals and 5.5 miles. Call at 7:15am day of hike if questions about weather. plants found on Pyramid Mountain on a relaxing guided hike; for NYR. Walkway over the Hudson State Park, Poughkeepsie, NY. ages 2-5 with an adult. $2 per person. Leader: Ludwig Hendel, 718-626-3983. Meet: 7:30am at Grand WTA. Timp Torne Trail, Harriman State Park, NY. Leader: Mike Central for 7:47 Hudson Line train to Poughkeepsie (RT; check Kaplan, [email protected]. Meet: 9:30am at North White time). We’ll take the Mid-Hudson Bridge to Highland Landing, loop Plains train station for carpool to trailhead ($6 contribution), or up to newly opened rail-trail bridge and return over it to Pough - call leader for alternate meeting place. Moderate 5 miles, with keepsie. We’ll take the Duchess rail-trail past Morgan Lake, through some rock scrambling. We’ll hike from Anthony Wayne parking, various parks, to a rural cemetery and historic Springside. on the Fawn, Timp Torne, and SBM trails, with multiple views from PM. Butler Reservoir, Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic the ridge. Area. NJ. Leader: for more information or to register (required), UOC. Merrill Creek Reservoir, Warren County, NJ. Leader: Jane call Pyramid Mountain in Boonton at 973-334-3130 or visit Faulkner, 908-874-8376; please call to register. Meet: call leader www.morrisparks.net. Meet: 9:30am. Strenuous 10 miles around for carpooling instructions and other details. Hike the trails at this Butler Reservoir and Fayson Lakes. For experienced hikers; ages environmental preserve. 16 and up. No fee; out by 2pm. Sunday, May 9

WTA. Popolopen Gorge, Harriman-Bear Mountain State Park, R I

WEC. Mother’s Day Family Hike, Norvin Green State Forest, E

NY. Leader: Mike Doehring, 914-761-7225 or [email protected]. W

NJ. Leader: WEC naturalist; to register call the center at 973-835- E T

Meet: 9:30am at North White Plains train station for carpool to T 2160. Meet: noon. Take your mom to lunch…at the top of a E G

trailhead ($6 contribution), or call leader for alternate meeting R

mountain! Moderately paced 3-mile hike up Wyanokie High Point, O E

place. Moderate 3-6 miles, depending on consensus of the group. G with 360-degree view of spring’s return to Norvin Green S.F. Rec - Hike above the rushing waters of the gorge, along a section of trail ommended for families with elementary-aged kids and above. Mountain laurel at Lake Awosting, Minnewaska State Park Preserve maintained by the hike leader. Limit: 20; out by 3pm. Non-member individuals $8/families (par - ADK-MH. Pawling Nature Preserve, Pawling, NY. Leaders: Bill RVW. Panther Mountain (3720'), Catskills, NY. Leader: for UCHC. Jockey Hollow, Morristown National Historic Park, NJ. ents and their children) $24; moms hike free. more information call 845-246-7987. Meet: 8am; call for location. Leader: Pat Curley, 908-868-7510. Meet: 10am at visitor center. Beehler and Ellen Zelig, 845-473-5557. Meet: 10am at Prudential GS. Mother’s Day Stroll at Great Swamp, Chatham, NJ. Strenuous 7 miles; estimated 7 hours. Moderate 4-5 miles. Rain cancels. Real Estate office, Rt. 55, west of Arlington H.S.; carpool to trail - Leader: Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center naturalist; to head. Easy 3 miles on the Appalachian Trail. Bring water and Sunday, May 23 Monday, May 3 register call 973-635-6629 or visit www.morrisparks.net. Meet: chocolate brownies for hike leaders; back by lunchtime. Call if FOCA. Jerome Park Reservoir, Bronx, NY. Leader: Led by a RVW. Sam’s Point Preserve, NY. Leader: call 845-338-8772. 2pm. Bring your mom out for a stroll and enjoy the natural world weather is questionable. member of the Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct; for info call Meet: 8am; call for location. Moderate 4 miles, 3 hours. Inclement together. Great for all ages. No fee. AFW. Point Mountain, Musconetcong River Reservation, NJ. 718-430-4613 or [email protected]. Meet: 11am at the park. weather date is following Monday. NYR. Timp-Torne Trail, Harriman-Bear Mountain State Park, NY. Leader: for info and to register, call 973-644-3592 or visit Guided 2-mile walk in this 94-acre park where the Old and New Tuesday, May 4 Leader: Shizuko Okumura, 718-997-6186. Meet: 8:30am at Port www.adventuresforwomen.org. Meet: 10am; out by 2pm. Easy to Croton Aqueducts meet; learn about our water supply and local GS. Baby and Me Hike, Kay Environmental Center, Chester Authority Bus Terminal for 8:45 Short Line bus to Jones Point (one- moderate hike at leisurely pace. Revolutionary War history. way). Moderately strenuous hike on entire TT, from Jones Point to Township, NJ. Leader: Great Swamp Outdoor Education UCHC. Tourne Park, Boonton, NJ. Leader: Susan Jacobs, 973- Ft. Montgomery, including climbs to the Timp, West Mtn., and IHC. Greenwood Lake Ridge. Abram S. Hewitt State Forest, NJ Center naturalist; to register call 973-635-6629 or visit 402-2555. Meet: 10am; call for directions. Moderate hike with hills. Popolopen Torne. Return by bus or by train from Manitou. to NY. Leader: Ursula Davis, 973-786-7087. Meet: 9am at www.morrisparks.net. Meet: 9:30am. Put your infant in a pack To the top of the Tourne, past wildflowers, a stream, and a lake. A&P/Hewitt post office on Union Valley Rd. (Rt. 513). Strenuous 10 and join us out on the trail. Out by 11am. Fee $1. Repeated each AFW. Mahlon Dickerson Reservation, NJ. Leader: for info and to Steady rain cancels. miles. Hike the length of Greenwood Lake, plus a little extra. Tuesday in various Morris County locations. register, call 973-644-3592 or visit www.adventuresforwomen.org. Sunday, May 16 Rewards are beautiful views and cookies; bring lots of water. Meet: 10am; out by 2pm. Easy hike at leisurely pace. AMC. Southern Harriman Trails, Harriman State Park, NY. UOC. Round Valley, Hunterdon County, NJ. Leader: Sushma Leader: Steve Galla, 914-953-2222 or [email protected]. Sharma, 732-821-7135; please call to register. Meet: call leader for The activities listed are sponsored by member clubs of the NY-NJ Trail Conference. All hikers are welcome subject to club regula - Meet: Contact leader for meet time & location. Enjoy springtime details. Moderate hike. Hear from a park tree expert and hike tions and rules of the trail. You are responsible for your own safety. Wear hiking boots or strong, low-heeled shoes. Bring food, water, in southern Harriman. Hike is suitable for beginners, but all hikers (before park fees kick in on May 30). rain gear, first aid kit, and a flashlight in a backpack. Leaders have the right and responsibility to refuse anyone whom they believe should be in good aerobic condition. Explore Ramapo Torne, cannot complete the hike or is not adequately equipped. Easy, moderate, or strenuous hikes are relative terms; call leader if in doubt. NYR. Peekskill to Croton along the Hudson River, NY. Leader: Russian Bear, and hike on a variety of trails, some of which require Clive Morrick, 212-242-0931. Meet: 8:30am at Grand Central for More than 100 clubs belong to the Trail Conference, and many of our affiliate groups sponsor hikes not listed in the Hikers’ Almanac. rock scrambling. Must have at least one quart of water. 8:47 Hudson Line train to Peekskill (one-way; check time). We’ll For a descriptive list of Conference clubs, consult our website or send a SASE with your request to NY-NJ Trail Conference. IHC. Clifton and Paterson Industrial Walk/Historical Hike, NJ. traverse riverside pathways, nature preserves, local parks to Club Codes Leader: Al MacLennan, 973-451-1435, [email protected]. Croton-on-Hudson, exploring the Westchester Hudson RiverWalk Only those clubs with hikes offered in this issue are listed below. Please call numbers listed to confirm. Meet: 9am at Walgreens, 1138 Main Ave., Clifton, NJ. Moderate (some short road sections). ADK-MH ADK Mid-Hudson Chapter PM Pyramid Mountain 8 miles. Mostly urban/suburban experience with long interlude in WTA. Ringwood State Park-Ramapo State Forest, NJ. Leader: Garret Mtn. Reservation. Shuttle required. Rain cancels. AFW Adventures for Women Natural Historic Area Eileen West, [email protected]. Meet: at North White AMC NY-NJ AMC New York-North Jersey Chapter RVW Rip Van Winkle Hiking Club FOCA. Croton Dam to Crotonville on the Old Croton Plains train station for carpool to trailhead ($5 contribution), call Aqueduct, NY. Leader: Led by a member of the Friends of leader for time or for alternate meeting place. 8 moderate miles. FOCA Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct UCHC Union County Hiking Club the Old Croton Aqueduct; for info call 914-862-4207 or Explore the ridges and valleys of these NJ woodlands, ending GS Great Swamp Outdoor UOC University Outing Club [email protected]. Meet: 10am at Croton Gorge Park on with stroll through Skylands gardens. Rain cancels. Education Center WEC Weis Ecology Center Rt. 129, one-half mile north of Croton-on-Hudson. We’ll tour the Monday, May 24 105 year-old stone dam, then step back in time to walk on the IHC Interstate Hiking Club WTA Westchester Trails Association RVW. Graham Mountain (3868'), Catskills, NY. Leader: for aqueduct along rustic Croton Gorge; about 4 miles. NYR New York Ramblers more information call 845-246-8074. Meet: 8am; call for location. WTA. Mount Taurus, Hudson Highlands State Park, NY. Leader: Clubs wishing to have hikes listed in Hikers’ Almanac should send their schedules to [email protected] or to the Trail Conference Office. Moderate to strenuous bushwhack of 7 miles; estimated 5 hours. The deadline for the July/August issue is May 15. Peter Hibbard, 914-285-9211. Meet: 9am at North White Plains Inclement weather date is following Monday. train station for carpool to trailhead ($6 contribution), or call leader for alternate meeting place. 6 moderate miles. We’ll take the gradual way up on Notch Trail, then enjoy outstanding views at summit and all the way down. May/June 2010 Page 9

Wednesday, May 26 ADK-MH. Conservation Tour & Hike, Black Rock Forest, NY. Saturday, June 19 AMC. Dog-Friendly Hike, Harriman State Park, NY. Leader: Leaders: conservation leader Sayi Nulu; hike leader Jean-Claude ADK-MH. Sunset Rock, Fishkill Ridge, East Hudson Highlands, Susan Sterngold, 845-519-4890 or [email protected]. Fouere, [email protected]. Meet: 9:30am at 129 Continental NY. Leaders: Al Poelzl, 845-677-9995, and Sue Mackson, Special Event Meet: contact leader for meet time and location. Dog-friendly Rd., Cornwall, NY. We’ll start with guided tour of Black Rock [email protected]. Meet: 10am at McDonald’s, Rt. 9 south of hike with some gorgeous views and challenging climbs over a Forest’s Center for Science & Education and the Forest Lodge, I-84. Moderate hike with 700-foot climb, great views of the Walks and Hikes rarely-done section of the SBM Trail. This hike has over 2,500 feet which are designed using green technologies such as solar Hudson Highlands Ridge north of Breakneck. No sneakers. panels and geothermal heating and cooling. Then moderate of elevation gain and is not for beginners or the faint of heart. AFW. Mount Minsi and Beyond, Worthington State Forest, NJ. 5-6 mile hike to Mount Misery, Black Rock, Hill of Pines, with some Manhattan at 3 MPH Bring at least three quarts of water and lunch for you and your Leader: for info and to register, call 973-644-3592 or visit easy bushwhacking. We will discuss the geology of the area and Saturday, May 1 dog. Dogs must be under control of owner; park leash laws must www.adventuresforwomen.org. Meet: 10am; out by 4pm. Moder - of the Highlands. be obeyed. Shuttle required. ate hike at fast pace. On Saturday, May 1, Shorewalkers will AFW. Mount Tammany, Worthington State Forest, NJ. Leader: sponsor its 25th annual Great Saunter, Saturday, May 29 IHC. Ice Caves, Minnewaska State Park, NY. Leader: Chris for info and to register, call 973-644-3592 or visit PM. May Flowers Hike, Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Davis, 609-924-2563. Meet: 8:30am at Harriman RR station, Rt. approximately 32 miles through more than www.adventuresforwomen.org. Meet: 9am; out by 5pm. Area, NJ. Leader: for more information or to register (required), 17, Arden, NY. Strenuous climb up Ice Caves Mountain in Sam’s 20 parks and promenades along Manhattan’s Strenuous all-day hike at moderate pace. call Pyramid Mountain in Boonton, NJ at 973-334-3130 or visit Point Preserve, with its dwarf pines (sorry, too early for blueber - rim. Starting time is 7am at South Street www.morrisparks.net. Meet: 10am. Moderate walk. Get to know Sunday, June 6 ries). Shuttle required. native wildflowers; for ages 7 and up with an adult. $1 per person. Seaport. Check www.shorewalkers.org for AMC. Weis Ecology Center, Ringwood Family Ramble, NJ. PM. Creepy Crawlies Hike, Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic more information. WTA. Fishkill Ridge, Hudson Highlands, NY. Leader: Debbie Leader: Andrew Joyce, 973-324-2657 or [email protected]. Area, NJ. Leader: for more information or to register (required), Meet: Contact leader for meet time and location. Drive to Weis Farrell, 914-282-9942, call before 9pm. Meet: at North White call Pyramid Mountain in Boonton, NJ at 973-334-3130 or visit Earth Citizen Walk Plains train station for carpool to trailhead ($6 contribution), Ecology Center in Ringwood for a hike with kids to ridges, then go www.morrisparks.net. Meet: 10am. Easy walk. Learn to value the call leader for time or for alternate meeting place. 5-6 miles, to the visitors center. tiny creatures found along the trail; for ages 7 and up with an Saturday, May 1 moderate to strenuous. Enjoy views from Overlook and Fishkill AFW. Ramapo Mountain State Park, NJ. Leader: for info and to adult. $1 per person. Rockland Lake State Park Ridge Trails, and from Bald and Lamb hills, on this less-traveled register, call 973-644-3592 or visit www.adventuresforwomen.org. Sunday, June 20 Celebrate the beauty of Rockland Lake side of the ridge. Meet: 9:30am; out by 12:30pm. Moderate hike at leisurely pace. AMC. Island Pond Loop, Harriman State Park, NY. Leader: Ellen State Park and enjoy a 3.5-mile walk UCHC. Watchung Reservation, Mountainside, NJ. Leader: Jen - PM. Family Mountain Laurel Hike, Pyramid Mountain Natural Blumenkrantz, 201-784-8417 or [email protected]. around the lake. The walk starts at 10 am, nifer Chen, 732-763-3531. Meet: 10am at Trailside Nature Center. Historic Area, NJ. Leader: for more information or to register Meet: contact leader for meet time and location. Moderately rain or shine. There are 150 lakeside picnic Brisk 4-5 miles. Rain cancels. (required), call Pyramid Mountain in Boonton, NJ at 973-334-3130 paced loop hike from Lake Skannatati to Island Pond and back. tables if you want to make a day of it. For Sunday, May 30 or visit www.morrisparks.net. Meet: 10am. Moderate walk. Join Slight ups and downs. Group limited to 12 people. Hikers must pre - FOCA. Old Croton Aqueduct, Bronx, NY. Leader: member of this quest to view laurels in bloom; for ages 7 and up with an register. Rain cancels. details of the First Annual Earth Citizens adult. No fee. Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct; for info call 914-478-3961 or WEC. Father’s Day Hike, Norvin Green State Forest, NJ. Walk, including registration fees, go to [email protected]. Meet: 9:30am at Bedford Park Blvd. and WTA. Dater to Diamond, Harriman State Park, NY. Leader: Leader: Weis naturalist; to register call the center at 973-835- www.earthcitizenwalk.org. All proceeds Goulden Ave. Guided 4-5 mile walk on the Old Croton Aqueduct, Eileen West, [email protected]. Meet: at North White 2160. Meet: 9:30am; details available upon registration. Moderate will benefit UNICEF. learning about aqueduct history, engineering, and nearby historic Plains train station for carpool to trailhead ($6 contribution), con - 2-3 miles; recommended for families with elementary-aged kids sites. Optional extension across Washington Bridge to view Man - tact leader for time or ask for alternate meeting place. 8-9 and above. Appropriate footwear required. Spend some quality World Trade Center Perimeter Hike hattan end of Highbridge. moderate miles. Hike past boulders and cool waters of the Cas - time together outdoors; out by 1:30pm. Non-members $8. Saturday, May 8 cade of Slid and climb to summit of Diamond Mountain for views WTA. Westchester Wilderness Walk, NY. Leader: Marcia Cohen. GS. Father’s Day Stroll at Great Swamp, Chatham, NJ. Leader: all around. Short shuttle required. Rain cancels. Trail Conference member Peter Brown Contact Eileen West at [email protected] for information. Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center naturalist; to register Meet: 9:30am at North White Plains train station for carpool to Saturday, June 12 call 973-635-6629 or visit www.morrisparks.net. Meet: 2pm. invites other members to join him for a trailhead ($3 contribution), or ask for alternate meeting place. 5- AMC. Laurel in Fahnestock State Park, NY. Leader: Janice Bring your dad out for a relaxing guided walk and enjoy the first guided tour of the World Trade Center 6 easy miles, dog friendly hike. Lovely preserve in Pound Ridge, Bortree, 845-831-4430 or [email protected]. Meet: contact days of summer. Great for all ages. No fee. Perimeter. He will talk about history, NY, with shaded walks and varied terrain. leader for meet time and location. Enjoy the rolling hills and lakes UCHC. South Mountain Reservation, NJ. Leader: Gail Waimon, including his own experiences there on Monday, May 31 of Fahnestock State Park and, hopefully, a spring laurel display. 973-467-4761. Meet: 10am at Locust Grove parking. Moderately 9/11 as a NYC fire fighter, and the Rain cancels. ADK-MH. Overlook Mountain with Sketch Pad/Camera, brisk 4-5 miles with possible steep climb at start. Rain cancels. future of the site. Co-sponsored by Catskills, NY. Leader: Barry Skura, [email protected]. Meet: ADK-MH. Lost City Rock Scramble, Mohonk Preserve, NY. Saturday, June 26 TributeWTC.org, $5 admission to muse - contact leader for details. Moderate 5 miles; 1400-foot climb. Hike Leader: Skip Doyle, [email protected]. Meet: contact AMC. Sloatsburg Circle, Harriman State Park, NY. Leader: to a classic viewpoint that inspired the Hudson River Artists. Intro leader. Strenuous, all-day hike with lots of steep climbs, crevass - um. Meet 10am, walk 10:30. One mile, John Bradley, 212-744-0589 or [email protected]. Meet: con - to sketching and photo composition at several great viewpoints; es, caves and cliffs; expect to have your hands on the rock emotional. The tour is limited to 20 tact leader for meet time and location. Leisurely hike. Bring no artistic experience necessary. Bring camera or sketchpad with throughout the day. For strong, sure-footed, experienced hikers. water, lunch, and clothing suitable for the season and the weath - people, and you must contact the leader in colored pencils or watercolors. $8 access fee. er. Beginners welcome. advance: [email protected]. IHC. New York City Hike, NY. Leader: Al MacLennan, 973-451- June PM. Tyke Hike, Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area, NJ. 1435, [email protected]. Meet: call leader to register. Leader: for more information or to register (required), call The Big Walk: NJ2NY50 Tuesday, June 1 Moderately strenuous; wear shoes that are comfortable for many Pyramid Mountain in Boonton, NJ at 973-334-3130 or visit Sunday, May 23 UCHC. Appalachian Trail Maintenance, Wawayanda State miles of city streets. Walk the High Line, downtown through www.morrisparks.net. Meet: 10am. Discover the animals and Park, NJ. Leader: Dave Hogenauer, 973-762-1475. Meet: 10am at Greenwich Village, around World Trade Center site, over Brooklyn Online registration (free) is now open. plants found on Pyramid Mountain on a relaxing guided hike; for park office off Rt. 511 beyond Upper Greenwood Lake. Everyone Bridge and return on the Manhattan Bridge. This 50-mile walk will promote the East does a little clipping, etc. and we hike about 6 miles. Bring tools if ages 2-5 with an adult. $2 per person. PM. Tyke Hike, Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area, NJ. Coast Greenway, a 3,000-mile multiuse you have them, and remember gloves. UOC. Historic Whitesbog Village, Pemberton, NJ. Leader: Jean Leader: for more information or to register (required), call Pyra - Romsted, 732-247-0316; please call to register. Meet: call leader trail for walking, running and cycling that is GS. Baby and Me Hike, Jockey Hollow, Morristown National mid Mountain in Boonton, NJ, at 973-334-3130 or visit for details. We’ll also walk the Old Bog Nature Trail and drop in on envisioned to extend from the tip of Maine Historic Site, NJ. Leader: Great Swamp Outdoor Education Cen - www.morrisparks.net. Meet: 10am. Discover the animals and the annual Blueberry Festival. $8 per car. to Key West, Florida. (East Coast Greenway ter naturalist; to register call 973-635-6629 or visit plants found on Pyramid Mountain on a relaxing guided hike; for www.morrisparks.net. Meet: 9:30am. Put your infant in a pack ages 2-5 with an adult. $2 per person. UCHC. Watchung Reservation, NJ. Leader: John Jurasek, is a Trail Conference member group.) and join us out on the trail. Out by 11am. Fee $1. Repeated each 845-365-3618. Meet: 10am at Trailside Nature Center. Moderate GS. Tyke Hike at Great Swamp, Chatham, NJ. Leader: Great The hike will start in Metropark in Tuesday in various Morris County locations. 5 miles. Explore the northern end of the park; appropriate for Swamp Outdoor Education Center naturalist; to register call Iselin, NJ, and end at Penn Station, NYC. beginners. Steady rain cancels. Saturday, June 5 973-635-6629 or visit www.morrisparks.net. Meet: 10am. Kids This will be an “urban hike” through a vari - National Trails Day take to the trails to discover unique animals and plants found at Sunday, June 27 ety of places from streets to parks, Trail Conference. Celebrate Re-opening of the AT at Bear the Great Swamp. Appropriate for ages 2-5 with an adult. Fee AFW. Terrace Pond, Wawayanda State Park, NJ. Leader: residential areas to industrial parks. Mountain, NY. Contact: [email protected]. The Trail Conference will $2 per person. for info and to register, call 973-644-3592 or visit It is expected that while some will walk www.adventuresforwomen.org. Meet: 10am; out by 2pm. Moder - host day-long festivities to celebrate the re-routing of the original UOC. Delaware & Raritan Canal Towpath, NJ. Leader: Ed the full 50 miles, many more will walk section of the Appalachian Trail. Opening ceremonies at 10am, McSherry, 732-245-9438; please call to register. Meet: call leader ate hike at moderate pace. shorter distances, joining or leaving the with inaugural ascent of Bear Mtn. along 800+ hand-hewn rock for details. Moderate, level hike. IHC. Anderson Bypass & Swim in Macs Lake, Roland May Eves steps. Family activities and live music will also be available – plan group along the way. The pace will be Sunday, June 13 Mountain Inlet Sanctuary, NJ. Leader: Mac McCaulley, 973-398- to spend the day. $7 per vehicle parking fee. 3002, [email protected]. Meet: 9am at Roland May Eves moderate; walkers are asked to make their AFW. Baileytown, Harriman State Park, NY. Leader: for info and to Mountain Inlet Sanctuary, Rt. 609, Hopatcong, NJ. Moderately UCHC. National Trails Day at Watchung Reservation, NJ. register, call 973-644-3592 or visit www.adventuresforwomen.org. own distance goals, which can be done strenuous. Views of Kittatinny Mountains. and Lake Hopatcong Leader: call 908-527-4231 to register. Meet: 8:30am check in and Meet: 9:30am; out by 2:30pm. Moderate hike at moderate pace. online. continental breakfast. Join staff and volunteers working on main - from a little used section of the Highland Trail. Visit to Bear Pond, Visit http://nj2ny50.org for details. tenance projects along the trails, or take a guided nature walk. UCHC. South Mountain Reservation, NJ. Leader: Louise White, 973- a most beautiful little-known pond; bring bathing suit for swim 746-4319. Meet: 10am at Tulip Springs parking. Moderate 4 miles. after the hike. Heavy rain cancels.

Celebrate the reconstruction JOIN US... of the original section of the and be among the first to climb Appalachian Trail! 800+ hand-hewn rock steps on Kids’ Learning Activities and LIVE MUSIC starting at 10am. Bring your O the way up the Appalachian UR 90TH YEAR family and friends, or make it a club Trail on Bear Mountain! outing! $7 parking fee per car. 10am Keynote Speakers Presented by: Carol Ash, Commissioner, NYS OPRHP The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Pamela Underhill, NPS Appalachian Project Partners: Trail Park Manager National Park Service (NPS) Raymond H. Torrey Award Palisades Interstate Park Commission (PIPC) Presented to JoAnn and Paul Dolan NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and for significant and lasting contributions Historic Preservation (OPRHP) that protect hiking trails and the land upon which they rest.

Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) H S L A Watch for details on nynjtc.org! For more Sponsored by: W E I information email [email protected]. D D E : O T O H P Saturday, June 5, 2010, starting at 10am: National Trails Day Page 10 May/June 2010 DONORS TO THE ANNUAL FUND IN MEMORIAM January 26, 2010 – March 26, 2010 GIFTS Gene R. Ambroziak, Tom Amisson, Estelle Anderson, Richard C. & Michele Antonick, Dr. George L. Becker Jr., Suse Bell, Richard & Maryan Bing, Joshua Blanco, Robert L. & Rose Marie Boysen, John V. Bracco, Jeanne V. & Malcolm Campbell, Tom I. Carr, Martin J. & Helene J. Celnick, Susan Chiaravalle, Herbert J. Coles & June Fait, Jerome Dean, Mark Diekmann, Fred D. Engels, Noel S. Fernandez, Howard & Nancy France, Roy Geist, James Gilligan, James C. & Bob Busha; 1923-2010 Susan P.R. Goodfellow, Brian Goodman, Timothy A. Gregg, Robert W. Grize, Ellen Holt, Paragon Sporting Goods, Paragon Sporting Goods, Bernard Japy, Robert J. Jonas, Peter R & Cynthia K Kellogg, Debra Lautenberg, Bryan Lees Bob Busha, of Clifton, NJ, a long-time member and volunteer with the Trail Conference, & Paula Whitlock, CNA Foundation, Pat & Rocco Lovascio, Morris Trails Partnership, Sean J. & Suzanne Mayer, Rick died February 28, 2010. Bob spent many hours hiking with various organizations to & Joan Meril, Richard W. & Barbara F. Moore, Robert & Mary Jo L Nutt, Jesse Phillips, Bob Randall, John Rowan, Ayako Saito, David Schiff, Gideon Alexander Schor, Alfred A. & Carol Seymour-Jones, Al Shehadi, Constantine & Anne which he belonged and on his own. His volunteer service included filling the role of Trail Sidamon-Eristoff, Jon G. Sinkway, Fred & Connie Stern, Tahawus Trails, Bud Therien, Nicholas J. Viggiano, Roslyn Conference supervisor in the Pyramid Mountain/Morris County Park System and Garret Willett, Gary Willick, Anastasia Yuelys Mountain/Passaic County Park System. CORPORATE In addition, he spent many hours volunteering at the Pyramid Avon Matching Gifts Program, Earth Share, Friends of the Woodbury Public Library, German-American Hiking Club, IBM Mountain Visitor’s Center, tirelessly answering questions from visi - Corporation Matching Grants Program, Morgan Stanley, Mutual of America Foundation, Paragon Sporting Goods, Ramsey tors. He probably knew its trails better than anyone else and would Outdoor Store, United Way of New York City, United Way of New York City, Verizon Foundation, Westchester Trails Association often be encountered “out there” refreshing trail markings or remov - ing debris from the trails…often helping various organizations plan TRIBUTES DARLINGTON SCHOOLHOUSE and construct new trails and bridges. In honor of Robert Boyajian’s 20th anniversary as a Alyssa Orwig member of the Trail Conference “One of the most tangible reminders of his work, were the impec - Robert W. Boyajian TRAILS FOR PEOPLE FUND cable blazes that he so carefully carved into the surface of the trees,” In honor of Lois De Conca’s 15th anniversary as a Edward K. Goodell, Jose Vincente Jr. & Anaeli Sandoval, recalls trails colleague Bob Jonas. “No matter where you go in our forests, you can instant - member of the Trail Conference Truist ly identify where Bob blazed the trail. He leaves behind many loyal and loving friends, and Lois N. De Conca MEMORIALS appreciative park officials.” In honor of Terry Hamacher & Greg Schumacher In memory of Robert Bovit Memorial contributions may be made to the Morris County Park Commission/ Helene Ferm Jeffrey Bovit Pyramid Mountain, c/o Pyramid Mountain Natural Historical Area, 472A Boonton In honor of Dr. Joan Ehrenfeld’s birthday In memory of Gene Doleschal Kate E. Gardoqui Lin Goetz Avenue Boonton, NJ 07005. In honor of Michael Rubashkin’s enduring support of In memory of Tom Dunn He was respected and loved by all those he worked with and will be missed by us all. the great outdoors Rita & Peter Heckler Note your gift is designated for the Robert Busha Memorial. Edward K. Goodell & Lynne S. Katzmann In memory of Bob Busha —Hugh Merritt, Douglas Vorolieff, Ron Luna contributed to this memorial note. In honor of Cleo & Shady Grove David & Naomi Sutter These sweet, loving, loyal, beautiful, intelligent, humorous In memory of Norman Clausen Fred Schroeder; 1925-2010 and courageous hiking dogs left us in 2009, Susan Sterngold Jack & Alice Young Fred Schroeder, of Slingerlands, NY, a long-time member of the Trail Conference and a In honor of Kevin Kilgallen’s 25th anniversary as a In memory of David Bennett very active member of the Long Path North Hiking Club, died on March 18, 2010. He member of the Trail Conference Patricia Bennett Kevin P. Kilgallen is credited with laying out the LP through the Capital region. Fred’s obituary recalls that In honor of Winston Perry’s 40th anniversary as a for 30 years, every week, year round, he led hikes throughout the northeast for the Albany member of the Trail Conference Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club. He was a member of the Adirondack 46ers, Winston C. & Betty P. Perry the Catskill 3500 Club, the New England 111 Club. He was active with the Adirondack In honor of Lynn Swanson’s 10th anniversary as a Mountain Club, the Appalachian Mountain Club, the Taconic Hiking Club, as well as member of the Trail Conference Lynn T. Swanson Tributes are only printed for donations of $25 or more. with the Trail Conference. He designed and organized the development and maintenance of miles of hiking trails, particularly in the expanded sections of Thacher State Park. Those wishing to contribute in Fred's memory may do so through the Endowment Fund of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany, 405 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12206, Appalachian Trail Museum to open in June or the Friends of Thacher and Thompsons Lake State Parks, 87 Nature Center Way, Voorheesville, NY 12186, or a charity of their choice. Another way to honor Fred's mem - After years of planning, the Appalachian Trail Museum Society, founded in 2001, plans to ory and legacy is by joining in the effort to save Thacher Park. open The Appalachian Trail Museum at Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Pennsylvania on June 5, National Trails Day. Potomac Appalachian Trail Club volunteers will rehabili - Seth Lyon; 1961-2010 tate a 200-year-old grist mill to bring it up to code and install displays. New York-New Seth Lyon, of Poughkeepsie, NY, died March 15 while hiking in the Catskills. Seth was an Jersey Trail Conference member Larry Luxenberg is president of ATMS. Details about the experienced hiker, hike leader, and active trail volunteer on the Appalachian Trail with the museum and the opening are available at www.atmuseum.org. RPH Cabin Volunteers Club and with the Hyde Park trail program in Dutchess County. He crafted a hiking and backpacking skills course for Dutchess Com - munity College. He was 49 years old. He was found near the summit Shopping Online? of Blackhead Mountain, in the Township of Windham on March 15. Seth and his climbing partner had spent Saturday night in a snow Start your shopping trip from the Trail Conference website and your cave they had dug, after becoming engulfed in an unexpectedly seri - purchases may help support our programs. ous wind and ice storm. On Sunday morning, Seth made a valiant attempt to hike out to get help and save his climbing partner, who It’s easy: could not move his legs. Weakened himself, Seth died in the attempt. 1. Click on the “Go Shopping” tab. His daughter recalled him as “a compassionate, generous man who always had a smile and found peace in the mountains.” Memorial donations can be made to: Winnakee Land 2. Click on “Affiliate Program” Trust, P. O. Box 610, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 or RPH Cabin Volunteers Club for The Seth Lyon Fund, c/o Beth Habermann, 31 Country Club Rd., Hopewell Jct. NY 12533. 3. Click on the merchant you want (for example, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sierra Trading Post, and others) Art Schneier 4. Shop Word has come of the passing in 2009 of Art Schneier, of Huntington, NY. Art was long active with the Trail Conference and, since the 1960s, with the Interstate Hiking Club, of The Trail Conference gets a rebate from the listed merchants which he and his wife, Lillian, were both past presidents. Art also served as trails chair for whenever shoppers connect to them through our website. the club for many years as well as supervisor of the Appalachian Trail in Putnam County for the Trail Conference. He section-hiked the AT over the course of two decades, ultimate - ly fulfilling his dream of becoming an End-to-Ender. An avid naturalist, Art wrote the “Nature’s Notebook” column for Trail Walker for many years. Art will be missed by the many who knew him. Paint and Hike This Summer With Georgia O’Keeffe Join AMC and ADK leaders Barry and Kathy Skura in Northern New Mexico August 28 – Sept 3. Learn about Georgia O’Keeffe’s life and art. Walk and paint the landscape that inspired her so much. Develop your own artistic vision on 1 – 6 mile hikes of mountains and canyons. Stay at historic Taos B and B with studio space and pool. Contact: [email protected], 914-779-0936, or www.hikingandart.org.

Hudson Valley Cottages Join friendly, Follow NYNJTC! historic 3-season bungalow community in Westchester County, steps from Blue Mountain Reservation. 1-3 bedroom cottages, $80-112K, cash sales. Sorry, no dogs. 973-951-8378 or www.reynoldshills.org/homeshop

Rock Lodge Club Family-Friendly Nudist Resort Highlands Trail: a stone ʼs throw from our gate. Clean, spring-fed swimming lake, tennis, sauna, hot tub Visitors Welcome http://www.rocklodge.com May/June 2010 Page 11

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Book Review continued from page 2 The Adirondack Reader torow that was in the second edition, was uncrowded as they were when I took my first hike in 1950, Chris Ingui’s response was on omitted from this edition. the mark—we have to accommodate hikers in numbers that Benton MacKaye never imag - Four Centuries of Many of these new pieces focus on issues ined (“She Doesn’t Like the Steps,” March/April 2010). Adirondack Writing of the day in the park. These tend to And Benton MacKaye is not spinning in his grave. Rather than envisioning a trail revolve around land use or environmental through unbroken wilderness, his vision included communities “on or near the Edited by Paul Jamieson with themes. One example is “The Woods” by trail...where people could live in private domiciles... These community camps...should Neal Burdick Saranac High School physics teacher not be allowed to become too populous and thereby defeat the very purpose for which Thomas Kalinowski, who explains in lay - they are created. Greater numbers should be accommodated by more communities, not man’s terms the ecology of a coniferous larger ones. There is room, without crowding, in the Appalachian region for a very large forest in the Adirondacks, taking into camping population... These communities would be used for various kinds of non- account seasonal temperatures and soil industrial activity... Summer schools or seasonal field courses could be established and types. In “Wilderness Guaranteed,” Philip scientific travel courses organized and accommodated in the different communities Terrie, an Adirondack historian and a for - along the trail...” mer assistant curator of the Adirondack [From Benton MacKaye, “An Appalachian Trail: A Project in Regional Planning,” Museum, mixes a tale of bushwhacking in Journal of the American Institute of Architects 9 (Oct. 1921)] the Seward Range and negotiating a signif - icant blowdown—“I pondered my —Bob Moss, Bloomfield, NJ situation: I’m a long day’s hike from the nearest phone; I’m by myself; if I break a Stone Steps Will Protect the Mountain leg now, they won’t find me for weeks”— I read the letter critical of the stone steps work on the Bear Mountain Trail and the Adirondack Mountain Club, 2009 with ruminations on the importance of response from the Special Projects Manager (Chris Ingui). As a trail maintainer myself, Reviewed by Howard E. Friedman wilderness in modern society. I cannot help but respond and offer my encouragement for the project. Two years ago I Editor Burdick contributes a murder “adopted” the 1,700-acre West Rock Ridge State Park in Hamden, CT, because the trails mystery, “Who Killed Orrando P. Dexter?” were sadly neglected. I have put in many hours fixing up the trails, including blazing, The Adirondack Reader is a smorgasbord of Burdick revisits the mystery of this pruning, relocating eroded sections, hardening others, installing rock water bars, and excerpted writing about or in some way unsolved, 1903 murder and writes in a col - building boardwalks through muddy areas. related to the region of the same name, loquial style as he tries to deconstruct the Most people have been very positive and supportive of what I have done. The occa - known since 1892 as the Adirondack Park, life of an enigmatic, wealthy loner who sional hard core mountain biker thinks that some of my efforts are ruining the “fun” and the largest park in the “lower 48” states. moved to the North Country, bought up “challenge” of riding the trails. I reply that my efforts focus on protecting the trails and At almost 6 million acres of rugged and land, and angered his neighbors by limiting the park, and not on the experience of one class of user. The hikers, dog walkers, and mountainous terrain, criss-crossed by their access to the pristine wilderness. Bur - most bikers really appreciate how I am keeping them out of the mud. streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds, the dick doesn’t solve the mystery, but he From looking at the online pictures, I think the stone steps [at Bear Mountain] look Adirondacks have been inspiring writers for sounds a theme familiar among the more fabulous. West Rock has a series of stone steps that were probably built by the CCC and hundreds of years. Editor Paul Jamieson recent Adirondack writers, declaring, “It all I would love to see them reset, rehabilitated, and restored. brought the first and second editions of the came down to a question of land use.” When people talk to me about relocating wet and eroded trails, I always educate them Reader to life; he died in 2006 (at age 103) The third edition expands the Reader about the importance of doing it right, so the problem is not recreated elsewhere. I think while guiding the preparation of this third concept to include the visual arts, with a the stone steps are the way to go and they look as natural as they can be made. edition by Neal Burdick, long-time editor collection of 32 pages of reprints of works of Adirondac magazine. depicting the region by artists including —Tom Ebersold, Milford, CT Like all such books, The Adirondack Winslow Homer. If later Adirondack writ - Reader includes and draws from an array of ers have become more realistic in their disparate works, in this case including clas - writing, visual artists tend to present a Member Group News sic fiction, such as The Last of the Mohicans romantic, almost impressionistic, view of by James Fenimore Cooper, which takes the lakes and mountains. Black-and-white Discover Wildflower Island possibility of a free watertower tour giving place in the vicinity of Lake George; poet - portraits of Adirondack personalities taken at Teatown Lake Reservation viewers a spectacular view from its top. The ry, “Lords of this Realm,” by Ralph Waldo in the late 1800s are reprinted from the Wildflower Island is a unique, two-acre hike will support C.L.I.M.B. (City Life Is Emerson from his collection The Adiron - first edition. refuge within the greater Teatown Lake Moving Bodies), a grassroots project of the dacs ; and humor, “How I Killed a Bear,” a The Adirondack Reader will likely have Reservation preserve that is home to over Community Research Program of the spoof by Charles Dudley Warner (1829- something to whet the interest of anyone 230 native and endangered species of wild - Mailman School of Public Health of 1900) of a then-popular genre of adventure who enjoys reading about the outdoors. flowers. It is “managed” only to the extent Columbia University. writing. Among my favorites are “Nate’s Pond” by that invasive alien plants are removed and Trip leaders: Bob Ward, 718-471-7036 This collection is divided into 10 sec - the prolific nature writer of the early 1900s, certain native competitive species are not (call after 8pm) and Patricia O’Malley, tions with a total of 132 selections. Section John Burroughs; Robert Marshall’s 1932 encouraged. Guided tours are given during 212-924-7486 (call before 9pm). Event titles date back to the first edition, pub - hour-by-hour account of how he climbed the months of April through September as Coordinator: Lourdes Hernandez- lished in 1964; most are self-explanatory, 14 Adirondack peaks in one day; and the follows: Cordero, 212-305-1077 (call business such as “Shelter for the Night” and introduction to the section entitled “Shel - May: Wednesdays, 7pm hours, weekdays except Monday). “Woods-Peaks-Waters”; others, though, ter for the Night,” which explores the Saturday, 10am and 2pm offer a bit of mystery: “The Angle of different meanings that “camping out” has Sunday, 2pm Rock Lodge Club Plans Vision” and “Imperishable Freshness.” to different people. This volume is certain - June: Saturday and Sunday, 2pm June 5 Open House Each section begins with an introduction, ly a book that readers will pull off the shelf July-September : Saturday, 10am Rock Lodge Club in Stockholm, NJ, a updated as needed to reflect the inclusion again and again, and it will serve as a returning Trail Conference Supporting of 32 pieces new to the third edition. Read - springboard for exploring the growing uni - Member, opens its gate to the public on ing all of these introductions before wading verse of authors writing on this vast Saturday, June 5, for its annual Open into the myriad selections provides a help - expanse of a most unique sanctuary. House. The group’s Trail Conference mem - ful overview of the subject matter. bership was affirmed at the February Neal Burdick assembled an advisory Howard Friedman, DPM, is a podiatrist in Delegates meeting. panel of Adirondack-based writers to help private practice in Suffern, NY, treating hikers Rock Lodge is a historic family and kid- select the new material. They focused on and non-hikers. He is a frequent contributor to friendly nudist resort which sits on 145 acres pieces by writers living full-time, or at least Trail Walker. of woodlands. The club maintains a trail part-time, in the Adirondacks. So, for network that connects to trails through the example, an excerpt from the novel Loon Passaic River Coalition’s Russia Brook Sanc - Lake , by non-Adirondacker E. L. Doc - tuary and the Sparta Mountain Wildlife Reservations are required and can be Management Area. The Highlands Trail made by calling Teatown at 914-762-2912, passes within a stone’s throw of the Rock ext. 110. Private tours on weekdays can be Lodge gate. The club has a clean, spring fed- arranged for groups of six or more. Admis - swimming lake, tennis, sauna, and hot tub. sion is with guided tour only. Experienced From Rock Lodge trails, hikers can access guides lead visitors along the Island path, the Audubon Trail, which passes through describing the unique features of the the Edison Mine area with the historic Island's wildflowers, most of which are remains of Thomas Edison’s mine works, or native to our area. Admission is $4 for hike to Ryker Lake and meet up with the Teatown members and $6 for nonmem - Highlands Trail just east of the lake to access bers. Children under 12 are not permitted the ridges of the central highlands. on the Island. Each October, Rock Lodge leads a hike on its trails, through Russia Brook Enjoy National Trails Day in NYC Sanctuary and the Sparta Mountain New York Hiking Club and the Urban Wildlife Management Area to Ryker Lake. Trail Conference plan to “Hike the Before leaving club lands, the group stops Heights” on Saturday, June 5. The groups at “Indian Cave” for the traditional hot dog will meet at 10:30am on the northeast cor - roast. After lunch, children and “easy” hik - ner of Central Park West and 110th Street, ers are led back to the club, while others Manhattan, and then follow the necklace continue on to Ryker Lake to rest and pick of parks from Central Park to Highbridge up and pack out litter. Other informally- Park, ending up at the Watertower Plaza. scheduled hikes continue throughout the There, refreshments will be available and May-October season. each walker will receive a free t-shirt. Upon Learn more about the club at reaching the Watertower Plaza, there is the www.rocklodge.com. Page 12 May/June 2010

Manitoga, a natural landscape designed How to Get There: around a quarry by designer Russel Wright, By car , look for Mystery Point Road on the Featured Hike offers some four miles of hiking trails. Both west side of Route 9D, 1.8 miles north of properties have appeared on Trail Confer - the Bear Mountain Bridge, less than 1 mile By Georgette Weir ence maps of East Hudson trails. But the south of Manitoga. A small parking area is newest edition of the East Hudson Trails immediately at left. By train : Manitou Point Manitou Point Preserve map set presents the two sites in more Preserve (and Manitoga via Rt. 9D) is with - detail as inset maps, with all trails marked in walking distance of the Manitou train by their blaze colors (missing on previous station. The train stops weekends only; on the Hudson River editions). The Appalachian Trail is also check the Metro-North schedule. Walk east within reach, and hikes of various lengths 0.1 mile on Manitou Station Road, then can be created in this area with careful turn left between two stone pillars onto a study of the trail maps. woods road that edges the Manitou Marsh. Hikers’ Marketplace NY-NJ TC member? YES NO JOINING NOW Member #______Please order by circling price Retail Member P/H Total Maps (TC published except where noted. Discounted shipping available for orders of 8 or more.)

R NEW!! Catskill Trails (2010) & see combo $16.95 $12.71 +$1.75 ______I E W

E NEW!! East Hudson Trails (2010) $10.95 $ 8.21 +$1.60 ______T T E

G Harriman-Bear Mountain Trails (2008) $ 9.95 $ 7.46 +$1.60 ______R O E G Hudson Palisades Trails (2009) $ 8.95 $ 6.71 +$1.60 ______The shoreline trail at Manitou Point Preserve Kittatinny Trails (2009) & see combo $13.95 $10.46 +$1.75 ______Manitou Point Preserve is a sweet little (136 recently, it served as the national headquar - North Jersey Trails (2009) $ 9.95 $ 7.46 +$1.60 ______acres) spot along the Hudson River, 1.8 ters for Outward Bound. Ruins of small Shawangunk Trails (2008) & see combo $10.95 $ 8.21 +$1.60 ______miles north of the Bear Mountain Bridge. It service buildings can be seen on the prop - South Taconic Trails (2006) $ 4.95 $ 3.71 +$1.20 ______includes several miles of trails and woods erty, which was once a portion of the estate roads that criss-cross steeply sloped wood - of Edward Livingston. Sterling Forest Trails (2008) $ 7.95 $ 5.96 +$1.40 ______lands and offer access to the Hudson River. The best trail at Manitou extends south NEW!! West Hudson Trails (2009) $ 8.95 $ 6.71 +$1.60 ______On an early spring visit, most of the trails from the mansion along the shoreline for Old Croton Aqueduct (Friends of OCA, 2008) $ 4.95 $ 3.71 +$1.10 ______were walked in a leisurely two hours. perhaps half a mile. It’s a narrow trail, Books blazed blue, and the water views and moss- covered rocks that line the treadway are NEW!! Walkable Westchester (2009) $24.95 $18.71 +$3.70 ______The water views and enchanting. The trail makes a sharp turn Hiking the Jersey Highlands (2007) $22.95 $17.21 +$3.70 ______back at the point to meet a red-blazed New York Walk Book (2005) & see combo $22.95 $17.21 +$3.70 ______moss-covered rocks woods road; the entire loop is about one New Jersey Walk Book (2004) & see combo $19.95 $14.96 +$3.70 ______mile long. Day Walker (2002) $16.95 $12.71 +$3.20 ______that line the treadway The woods at Manitou clearly show the sad deterioration of our eastern hemlocks. Hiking Long Island (2008) $22.95 $17.21 +$3.70 ______are enchanting The 2001 edition of the Walk Book Kittatinny Trails (2004) & see combo $18.95 $14.21 +$3.20 ______describes the woods at Manitou as “primar - Long Path Guide to NY/NJ (2005) $16.95 $12.71 +$3.20 ______ily hemlock forest.” A decade later, most of Scenes & Walks in the Northern Shawangunks The preserve, once known as Mystery the hemlocks are fading or dead. The (2006) & see combo $13.95 $10.46 +$3.20 ______Point, is bounded on the east by Route 9D woods at the top of the bluff are littered and straddles the Copper Mine Brook, the with downed trees and branches, an Nature Walks in New Jersey (2003) $14.95 $11.21 +$3.20 ______train tracks of Metro-North Hudson Line increasingly familiar sight in many of our NEW!! AMC Catskill Mountain Guide (2009) $23.95 $17.96 +$3.20 ______(via a stone bridge), and a modest tidal fire-free, suburban woods. Still, even soon ADK Catskill Trails (2005 ed. with revisions, 2009) $19.95 $14.96 +$3.20 ______marsh. Trails are generally moderate to easy, after some major late winter storms, the Shawangunks Trail Companion (2003) $18.95 $14.21 +$3.70 ______though there is one steep, short bluff to trails in late March were mostly clear and Moon Take a Hike NYC (2006) $16.95 $12.71 +$3.20 ______navigate if you fully traipse the preserve all were well-blazed and marked by a main - Walking Manhattan’s Rim (2003) $13.95 $10.46 +$3.20 ______from east to west (or vice versa). tainer with an interest in building A handsome 19th-century, red-brick whimsical, fragile-looking cairns. 50 Hikes in the Lower Hudson Valley (2008) $16.95 $12.71 +$3.70 ______mansion looks out over the Hudson River The New York Walk Book suggests a hike Best Hikes w/ Children in New Jersey (2005) $15.95 $11.96 +$3.20 ______from a point that juts into the Hudson Riv - at Manitou be combined with a visit to Best Hikes w/ Children in the Catskills & er at the foot of Mystery Point Road. Until Manitoga, less than a mile to the north. Hudson River Valley (2002) $14.95 $11.21 +$3.20 ______Hudson to Delaware: The Great Valley (2004) $75.00 $56.25 +$5.70 ______Join/Renew Membership to West Milford’s Bakers Dozen (2008) $ 9.95 $ 7.46 +$2.70 ______the NY-NJ Trail Conference Combo-Packs NY & NJ Walk Books $38.60 $28.95 +$4.75 ______1,700 miles of trails; your membership helps us expand our horizons. Shawangunk (3-map set & Scenes & Walks book) $21.65 $16.24 +$3.25 ______Included with membership, Trail Walker , 10% discount on purchases at many Kittatinny (4-map set & book) $28.60 $21.45 +$3.25 ______outdoor stores, and 25% discount on all Trail Conference maps and books Catskills (6-map set & ADK Catskills Trails book) $31.73 $23.80 +$3.25 ______purchased directly from the Trail Conference. The Personal Touch Save time and a tree by joining or renewing online at www.nynjtc.org. Note Cards: TC Collection $12.00 $ 9.00 +$3.20 ______Just click on the Join/Renew Now button. Long-sleeve Denim Shirt Circle: S M L XL $29.90 $22.42 +$6.00 ______MEMBERSHIP TYPE Polo Shirt (Forest Green) Circle: S M L XL $19.90 $14.93 +$6.00 ______Select one: Join Renew Membership # if available______Trail Conference Baseball Cap $ 5.00 $ 3.75 +$2.30 ______Individual Joint/Family Trail Conference Logo Patch $ 2.50 $ 2.50 postpaid ______Long Path Logo Patch $ 2.75 $ 2.75 postpaid ______Regular $30 $40 Trail Conference Logo Decal $ .85 $ .85 postpaid ______Sponsor* $60 $75 Benefactor* $120 $150 Subtotal ______Senior (65+) $25 $30 Postage/handling from above ______Life* $1,000 $1,500 New Jersey residents add 7% tax* ______To purchase a gift membership, call 201-512-9348, extension 26. TOTAL ENCLOSED $ ______Name ______Address ______Method of Payment: NAME Check or money order enclosed City ______State ______Zip ______Visa Mastercard Amex ADDRESS Day Phone ______Evening Phone ______Card #______E-MAIL ______CITY STATE ZIP Exp. Date: ___ /___ Check or money order enclosed Visa Mastercard Amex Signature: ______EMAIL TELEPHONE Card # ______Exp. Date: ____ / ____ Make check or money order payable to the NY-NJ Trail Conference, Make check or money order payable to NY-NJ Trail Conference, and mail to: 156 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430. For a full descriptive catalog, please write or call 201-512-9348. and mail to: 156 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430. *Tax must be paid on books, maps, misc., but not on clothing or shipping, by customers *New Sponsor, Benefactor, and Life Members may elect to receive a with NJ ship-to (not billing) addresses. Prices are subject to change. (5/10) Trail Conference cap. Check here if you would like us to send you a cap. Tax-deductible. Dues are not refundable. YOU CAN ALSO ORDER AT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.NYNJTC.ORG