From his 2017 NOBO A.T. thru-hike to joining the Taconic Trail Crew this season, Matt AKA Logjam shares his experience of what the Trail means to him and the importance of giving back. I enjoy hiking. There is a rhythm to the day, just as there is a rhythm to all things. A trail can take you many places.
Dia the Detection Dog and her handler Joshua are helping to combat invasive species one sniff at a time. The Trail Conference is the leader in regional efforts to combat invasive species. As such, we are always looking for the most effective ways to diminish the impact invasives are having on the environment. That’s why the Trail Conference is
Prohibitions Now Enforced at Four Catskill Destinations New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the adoption of new regulations designed to improve public safety and enhance the user experience at Kaaterskill Falls and three nearby areas that have experienced a substantial increase in public use in recent years. Commissioner Seggos said,
On May 4 at the Allenberry Resort in Boiling Springs, Pa., the Appalachian Trail Museum Society posthumously inducted Elizabeth Levers as one of four members of the eighth class of the Museum’s Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame. During my time as chair of the Dutchess/Putnam Appalachian Trail (A.T.) Management Committee (a Trail Conference trails committee), I originally nominated
Thanks to the following businesses and foundations for supporting the work of the Trail Conference in 2018. Two A.T. Projects Receive Grants from ATC and L.L. Bean Two Trail Conference projects on the Appalachian Trail have been made possible by grants from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) through funding from L.L. Bean. Volunteers will be replacing 1,128 feet
We may adventure differently, but we are all united in our passion to connect with nature. The trail community in the greater New York metropolitan area is an inspiring movement. We are wanderers, runners, hikers, and riders of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. We appreciate, respect, and deeply treasure the wealth of wild places reachable
Sawyers are working hard to clear and repair the Long Path, which was damaged by several remarkably strong storms that hit our parks this spring. When experienced New York State Park Ranger Lt. Mickey Cahill says part of your trail is a “mess,” it gets your attention. On May 15, Mickey informed the Trail Conference
Sawyers in New Jersey are working hard to clear and repair trails temporarily closed or damaged by several remarkably strong storms that hit our parks this spring. Our sawyers have been “sawing up a storm” throughout our regions of New Jersey. Many areas escaped with only minor impact; others were devastated. In some cases, our volunteers have had
The Trail Tramps Crew is working hard to clear and repair trails temporarily closed or damaged by several remarkably strong storms that hit our parks this spring. On May 21, Trail Tramps Crew member Dave Margulis and I determined that approximately a half-mile of the Sugarloaf Trail in the Castle Rock Unique Area of the Hudson Highlands was essentially impassable. On
Volunteers Rally After Storms Damage Trails “On May 15, trails throughout the Hudson Highlands changed dramatically and, for those who love, hike, and maintain those trails, catastrophically. Like many people, my husband and I were prepared, based on forecasts and warnings, for a severe storm and resigned to losing power as usual. Instead, we had
As the regional leader in fielding Stewards, the Trail Conference welcomed N.Y. and N.J. state partners to attend our 2018 training. The Trail Conference began its Trail Steward program as a one-month pilot at Breakneck Ridge in 2013. Since then, the program has grown in numerous ways. The first year we trained two Stewards for one location. This May,
The amount of volunteer time put into a project speaks to the value the public places on a project. I’m reading a fascinating book by Florence Williams called The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative. It says a lot about why people love trails and are motivated to give back by volunteering.
