Minutes 6/2/2005

New York – New Jersey Trail Conference
Trails Council
June 2, 2005

1. Trails Council Chair Pete Heckler called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. at the Trail Conference office in Mahwah, N.J. Present were: Pete Heckler - Chair, Larry Wheelock - Trails Director, Estelle Anderson, John Blenninger, Murray Bodin, Bob Boysen, Jim Canfield, Ken Card, Daniel D. Chazin, Chris Connolly, Walt Daniels, Jack Driller, Jakob Franke, Suzan Gordon, John Grob, Gary Haugland, Bob Jonas, Martin Last, Mark Liss, Ron Luna, John Mack, Bob Marshall, John Moran, Gail Neffinger, Sandy Parr, Monica Resor, Ike Siskind, Trudy Schneider, Manny Silberberg, Nicole Smith, Pete Tilgner, Denise Vitale, Eddie Walsh, Jr. and Bob Ward. Each person present was asked to introduce himself and state their position with the Conference. (34)

2. Minutes. The minutes of the Trails Council meeting of April 7, 2005 were approved as submitted.

3. Announcements. The following announcements were made:

a. Central Jersey Trails Chair. Larry Wheelock announced that Ellen Cronan has been appointed Central Jersey Trails Chair.

b. New Jersey Trails Plan. Larry Wheelock announced that, at the next Trails Council meeting, Bob Newton will be discussing a proposed update to the New Jersey Trails Plan. Larry Wheelock distributed copies of the update document to interested Trails Council members. Pete Heckler commented that our New Jersey trail supervisors and maintainers should be the ones who take the lead in offering their comments on the plan, and he pointed out that we now have sufficient time to make detailed comments on the proposed update.

4. Reflective Blazes and Blaze Size. Murray Bodin discussed the use on trails of reflective blazes, and demonstrated a tool that can be used to make round blazes. He recommended that we use 3"x3" blazes, rather than the 2"x3" blazes that we currently use, stating that he believes that the larger blazes are more visible to hikers. It was noted that it may be difficult to place a double blaze made of the larger 3"x3" blazes on a tree with a relatively narrow diameter. Both Pete Heckler and Larry Wheelock expressed their views that the 2"x3" blazes appear to be the most desirable size for trail blazing, and other Trails Council members concurred. After discussion, a vote was taken on this subject. All members voted in favor of retaining the 2"x3" blazes, except that Ike Siskind was in favor of the 3"x3" blazes.

Pete Tilgner reported that the management of Sterling Forest State Park requires the use of reflective blazing in the park on the ground that these reflective blazes facilitate night search and rescue operations. However, he noted, these reflective blazes have not been installed on the Wildcat Mountain Trail. He also noted that the park requires that half-inch staples, rather than nails, be used to affix the blazes to trees, on the ground that staples allegedly do less damage to the trees. (This assertion was questioned by several Trails Council members.) Pete Tilgner commented that staples are a continuing maintenance problem and tend to rust.

Pete Heckler commented on the advantages of metal blazes, noting that they are easier to install than paint blazes, do not require clean-up after installation, and can be installed in any weather. Pete Tilgner noted that metal blazes can be used as targets by hunters, and can also attract graffiti.

5. Update on the Warren Trail. Bob Boysen explained that Jenny Jump State Forest has significantly expanded in recent years, resulting in the near-completion of a nine-mile trail corridor for the Warren Trail along the ridgeline. He showed the proposed trail route on a map, and noted that the first new section of this trail will be built this coming Saturday.

6. Metro Trails. Bob Ward announced that a press conference will be held on Sunday, June 12 th in Cunningham Park in Queens. He explained that the Conference will not be adopting the trails in this park, but will be assisting the park management in maintaining the trails.

7. New York State Trails Council. Gary Haugland reported that, at a meeting of the New York State Trails Council held in May, the DEC draft ATV policy was discussed. He explained that this draft policy does not allow ATVs on most DEC-owned land and that it does not recognize ATVs as a legitimate form of recreation. Gary Haugland commented that although the ATV representatives were opposed to this draft policy, they seemed to recognize that the policy was likely to be adopted. However, they support the development of ATV trails on private property, with indemnification for the landowners, as otherwise, they have no areas on which to ride their ATVs. Gary Haugland explained that there is a fund collected from ATV licensing fees that could be used to construct such trails.

Gary Haugland proposed that the Trail Conference consider supporting the ATV owners’ position that this fund should be used to construct ATV trails on private land, pointing out that the Finger Lakes Trail Conference has written a letter in support of this position. He noted that the establishment of these trails might possibly diminish illegal ATV use on public lands. Differing views were expressed on this proposal by Trails Council members, with some members stating their view that creating several legal ATV trails will not alleviate the illegal use of ATVs elsewhere.

8. Realignment of Connector Trail in Sterling Forest State Park. Pete Heckler explained that although, at its last meeting, the Trails Council approved a relocation of this connector trail, the route approved had not met with the approval of all trails committees involved. Pete Heckler stated that he had presumed at the last meeting that the A.T. Orange-Rockland Management Committee had approved the relocation, but this was not the case. He explained that a different route has now been agreed upon by the various trail committees involved. Rather than cross the A.T. directly, he noted, the relocated connector trail to the Indian Hill Loop Trail (which will not be an extension of the Sapphire Trail) will link up to the A.T. about 0.1 mile west of the southern end of the Sapphire Trail, at the A.T. register box.

Gail Neffinger, Chair of the A.T. Orange-Rockland Management Committee, stressed the importance of obtaining the concurrence of all affected trails committees before the Trails Council votes on any proposed relocation. He expressed concern that a direct crossing of the A.T. corridor by the Sapphire Trail could facilitate the illegal use of the corridor by ATVs or other inappropriate vehicles, and noted that the establishment of a new trail on the A.T. corridor requires, at a minimum, the concurrence of the ATC Regional Office in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania. Pete Tilgner reported that work is in progress on the construction of this relocation.

After discussion, the Trails Council unanimously approved this change in the alignment of the connector trail.

9. Trail Workshops. Larry Wheelock noted that this spring’s trail workshops were very successful. After discussion, it was agreed that a rotation would be set up for rotating trails workshops among the various trails chairs, and that no workshops will be held this fall.

10. A.T. Relocations in Dutchess County. Walt Daniels reported that there will be two minor relocations on the A.T. near the southern boundary of Dutchess County. He explained that these relocations will bypass private homes and an area that is frequented by ATVs, and that they do not require Trails Council approval because they are very minor.

11. Donation of Chainsaw Chain Sharpener. Bob Jonas announced that he is willing to donate a chainsaw chain sharpener to a trail crew that could use it. It was suggested that this sharpener could be kept in the Trail Conference’s trailer in Harriman State Park, which is located near a usable electric outlet on a utility pole. It was also noted that we need a volunteer to coordinate the Conference’s tools.

12. Report of Long Path Committee. Jakob Franke reported that a meeting of the Long Path Committee meeting was held on April 30 th. At this meeting, he noted, the Long Path North Committee inquired whether the Trail Conference could provide some token of appreciation to landowners who allow the Long Path to cross their land. Daniel Chazin explained that while Board approval is required for certain formal awards for distinguished service to the Conference, such as the Torrey and Hoeferlin Awards, such approval has never been required for an informal Certificate of Appreciation, which can be used to recognize these landowners and can be provided by the staff when needed. It was suggested that Jakob Franke contact Josh Erdsneker to arrange for the presentation of appropriate certificates.

13. Trails in Blauvelt State Park. Jakob Franke explained that, in addition to the Long Path, there has existed for many years a network of poorly maintained trails in Blauvelt State Park in Rockland County. He noted that one such trail, which can be used, together with the Long Path, to make a loop hike, was recently rehabilitated, and commented that he would like to encourage the establishment of additional such side trails in this area to facilitate loop hiking opportunities. Larry Wheelock noted that Blauvelt State Park is managed by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, under the jurisdiction of Barbara Thomas and Jayne McGlaughlin. After discussion, it was agreed that all side trails to the Long Path in Blauvelt State Park would be assigned to the Long Path Committee, subject to PIPC approval.

14. Review of Maps by Trails Committees. John Blenninger complained that the Bypass Trail and a portion of the Stillman Trail are missing from the map that appears in the back of the revised Seventh Edition of the New York Walk Book, which was recently printed. He commented on the importance to hikers of these Walk Book maps, and urged that the Trails Council ensure that every trails chair or supervisor will have the opportunity to look at every revised version of each map before it is published. He requested that this matter be discussed in more detail at the next Trails Council meeting.

Daniel Chazin explained that while every effort is made to involve trails people in the map production process, the error in the Walk Book map pointed to by John Blenninger probably occurred during the printing of the book, and there is no practical way to prevent such errors from occurring. Walt Daniels noted that this is a problem with analog maps, and he stated that the problem should be solved when we convert all of our maps to digital format.

15. The meeting was adjourned at 9:02 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Daniel D. Chazin
Secretary

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