Noreaster damage

There has been a lot of damage from the Sunday, April 15, noreaster. This news item will track some of the important ones that get reported. Please report any major damage you encounter so that it gets on the list of things to fix.

Known problems:

• Bridges near the Pine Meadow Trail in Harriman (now open 6/20/2007)
  • See the movies on YouTube done by banjolady bridge washes out harriman noreaster cascade of slid harriman
  • Bridge on Kakiat (white) near junction with the Stony Brook (yellow) is out
  • The last bridge going upstream on the Pine Meadow Brook is knocked off one of its footings. This is the bridge which serves the Kakiat, Seven Hills and Pine Meadow trails.
• AT Rt 94 to Wallkill Wildlife Refuge - the Pochuck is all ok but other places have severe problems

The new bridge south on the Trail from Rt. 94 suffered from the current. It seems that the structure just needs to be relocated, and not any real damage.

The planking at Vernie Swamp is missing a 10' or so piece. I didn't see where the planks went, but the support structure floated about 20-30 feet away. (temporary repair 4/21/2007) (complete repair 4/25/2007 by Bob Boyle and Ralph Cooke!!! - see revised pictures)

The entrance to the refuge at Oil City Rd. is flooded.

Bob Boyle April 19, 2007

• Most of Ramapo Reservation has been closed for several days due to flooding of the Ramapo River. (now open 4/21/2006)
• The bridge on the AT in Fahnestock State Park just north of Sunkmine Road is out. You may get wet feet crossing until the water level goes down some more. 4/24/2007 Want to help build a bridge? Fixed 6/6/2007
• Pumphouse trail in Wawayanda - bridge over inlet stream washed away. Park notified. Fixed 4/28/2007.
• Section #24 of the Long Path between Green County Route 10 and NY State Route 23 most of the trail above 2400 feet is blocked and impassable.
• Many high elevation trails in the Catskill suffered massive blowdowns from the heavy snow. Check out conditions before making plans. One place conditions are posted is www.viewsfromthetop.com/trail/ny/index.html. All trails are now clear. 7/26/2007

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From DEC: The following trails have been closed: Updated 5/4/2007

Summary of Storm Damage to Trails in Region 4, Greene County

The snow that fell on April 15 and 16, 2007, coupled with high winds have caused broken tree tops and blown-over trees in the Forest Preserve blocking trails with varying levels of severity. The following information is based upon reports received from Hikers, Volunteer Trail Maintainers, DEC Trail Crews, and DEC Forest Rangers.

General Trail Conditions Based Upon Elevation:

2400' to 2600': Trails in this elevation range may have a moderate amount of fallen tree limbs and an occaisional blown-down tree across them. The trails may be followed with relative ease and fallen material may be stepped over, climbed over or through, or detoured around before resuming passage along the trail. Trail markers are relatively frequent and easily visible.

2700' to 3500': Trails in this elevation range are likely to be covered by broken tree tops up to several feet thick, with little, if any of the trail tread visible. Trail markers are obscured or on downed trees. For example, the Escarpment Trail, between the Norway Spruce plantations near the Elm Ridge Lean-to and the summit of Windham High Peak, passes through an area of the mountainside that, from the air, appears that every standing tree has a broken top. In addition to the broken tops covering the trails, they are supplemented with numerous blown-down trees.

3500' and up: Trails here are likely to be through Spruce-Fir and may have four feet of snow cover. The trees are covered with snow and ice, bent over and frozen in the snow cover lying on the ground. Trails and trail markers are covered by snow or a combination of bent-over or broken trees.

The DEC Trail Crew from North Lake (4), a Volunteer Trail Maintainer and DEC Forest Ranger have nearly completed clearing the Spruceton Trail to the Hunter Fire Tower. A portion of the Hunter Mountain Trail to the Devils Acre Lean-to has been cleared.

Forest Rangers have posted "Trail Closed" signs at the following trailheads:

Roaring Kill: Pecoy Notch Trail, Mink Hollow Trail Prediger Road: Jimmy Dolan Notch Trail, Devils Path Trail Notch Lake: Devils Path Trail (Plateau Mtn. and Hunter Mtn.) Becker Hollow: Becker Hollow Trail Diamond Notch North: Diamond Notch Trail, Devils Path West Kill: Devils Path (west end) Barnum Road: Black Dome Trail

"Trail Closed" signs are posted at the following locations:
Elm Ridge Lean-to: Escarpment Trail
Batavia Kill Trail/Black Dome Trail Junction: Black Dome Trail

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Summary of Storm Damage to Trails in Region 4, Greene County Updated 5/14/2007

Senior Forester Frank Parks at the DEC said that thanks to the incredible efforts of their trail crews and a large number of volunteers from the NY/NJ Trail Conference, most sections of the Devil's Path and the Escarpment Trail have been cleared and re-opened. The following sections of trails are now open:

Indian Head, Twin, Sugarloaf
Hunter Mountain and the Spruceton Trail
Windham High Peak to the Blackhead Trail

The only sections that are still in question are Plateau Mountain on the Devil's Path and the northern-middle section of the Escarpment Trail. He is waiting to get updated reports on those sections and did say that they are making excellent progress and is very hopeful that every section be cleared for Memorial Day weekend.

The DEC web site has not yet been updated, but Mr. Parks said that he has submitted the updated information and hopes it will be posted soon. Feel free to contact Frank at (607) 652-7365 for more information

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Summary of Storm Damage to Trails in Region 4, Greene County Updated 5/25/2007

Greetings from Stamford, NY!

A great amount of progress has been made clearing blowdown from trails in the northern Catskills following the mid-April storm damage. There has been a great turnout from Volunteer Trail Maintainers, the DEC Trail Crew from North Lake and Forest Rangers to open the trails. We hope the following summary of trail conditions is helpful.

Windham High Peak Wild Forest

The Escarpment Trail is cleared for its entire length.

Blackhead Range Wild Forest

The Black Dome Trail is clear from the Escarpment Trail to Lockwood Gap, between Blackhead Mountain and Black Dome Mountain.

The Black Dome Trail from Barnum Road, east across Thomas Cole Mountain and Black Dome Mountain are not cleared of blowdown.

All other trails are cleared of blowdown.

Kaaterskill Wild Forest and North Mountain Wild Forest

All trails are cleared except the Kaaterskill High Peak and Roundtop snowmobile loop.

Indian Head-Plateau Mountain Wilderness

The Devils Path Trail is cleared from Prediger Road over the summits of Indian Head Mountain and Twin Mountain. The Devils Path Trail hasn*t been cleared west of Pecoy Notch over Sugarloaf Mountain and Plateau Mountain.

Hunter Mountain Wild Forest

The Spruceton Trail has been cleared to the summit of Hunter Mountain.
The Devils Path Trail, Hunter Mountain Trail, and Becker Hollow Trail have not been completely cleared of blowdown.

West Kill Mountain Wilderness

The Devils Path Trail has been cleared of blowdown, west of its junction with the Diamond Notch Trail, to the summit of West Kill Mountain. The trail is not cleared from the summit of West Kill Mountain to County Route 6.

 

Frank Parks
Senior Forester
NYS DEC - Lands and Forests
Bureau of Forest Preserve Management
65561 State Highway 10, Suite One
Stamford, NY 12167-9503
(607)652-3698 Voice
(607)652-2342 FAX

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