2014 Members and Friends Annual Fall Meeting

  ONLINE REGISTRATION IS CLOSED Please arrive early to register on-site Join Us for Breakfast, Volunteer Recognition, Workshops, and Hikes Saturday, October 18, 20148:30 AM-12:30 PM Caputo Community Center95 BroadwayOssining, NY   CLICK HERE for Directions to the Caputo Center. Limited parking available on site.  Please print a PARKING PASS, fill in your name and cell phone number, and display it in your car. Schedule of Activities 8:30am DOORS OPEN FOR CHECK-IN 9:00am BREAKFAST AND VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION 10:30am WORKSHOPS Harriman-Bear Mountain Trails Access and Park Improvement Talk with David Barone, PIPC General Park Manager and Michael Cahill, PIPC Chief Ranger.  This winter the Harriman-Bear Mountain Access Committee was formed by the Trail Conference to address hiker access issues including the winter closing of Rt. 106 in Orange County and general parking concerns.  The committee solicited input from the hiking community and worked closely with PIPC management to resolve those issues.  Bob Fuller, Chair of the Access Committee will briefly discuss the work of the Committee followed by David Barone and Michael Cahill who will discuss both the challenges and successes of the park in meeting the needs of the hiking community as well as the overall needs of the large, diverse population served by the park. A Chilkoot Trail Adventure with Jeff Bonaldi of The Explorer's Passage.  The hikes that we remember most are those that offer diverse landscapes, challenging terrain, and an opportunity to learn about the culture and history of the places that we explore.  One such hike is the fabled Chilkoot Trail.  The 33 mile Chilkoot Trail is carved into the Coast Mountains on the border of Alaska and British Columbia and winds through two national parks. It played a pivotal role in the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush, where over 100,000 would-be miners from across the globe, set off in search of riches. As one of the most diverse trails for its length in North America, hikers experience everything from coastal rainforest to high alpine tundra to a snow covered mountain pass. In this workshop, adventurer Jeff Bonaldi, will take you through the training, preparation, and outdoor skills required for trails like the Chilkoot so that you can get the most out of your outdoor adventure. 11:30am BUSINESS MEETING (ALL WELCOME, DELEGATES SHOULD ATTEND) 12:30pm HIKES (BRING A BAG LUNCH TO ENJOY ON THE TRAIL) Old Croton Aqueduct Weir Tour (1 Mile) with Charlotte Fahn.  Visit the fascinating weir on Ossining's Double Arch Bridge with Trail Conference and Friend of the Old Croton Aqueduct Board member, Charlotte Fahn. Descend into the original 1842 brick tunnel where pure drinking water first flowed to New York City.   The Quarries at Sylvan Glen (3 Miles) with Walt Daniels.  Join Trail Conference board member and Yorktown resident, Walt Daniels, for a historic 3-mile exploration of the striking remnant of an abandoned granite quarry.  Stone from Sylvan Glen quarry was used in the construction of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan and the approaches to the George Washington Bridge.  This is an interpretive hike with lots of stops.  LIMIT OF 14 PARTICIPANTS. West Mountain Circular: Your Trail Crews at Work (2.3 Mile loop) with Bob Fuller and other members of the West Hudson South and Long Distance Trails Crews.  Join trail crew members on a moderate hike out of the Anthony Wayne South parking lot highlighting some of the local work by our volunteer trail crews.  We will see recent work by both trail crews including puncheons (bog bridges), stream crossings (bridges and massive stepping stones), stone steps, and crib walls as well as follow the nearly completed AT relocation on the south shoulder of West Mountain.  Of course, no hike would be complete without the beautiful views of the south and west facing cliffs of West Mountain and this hike will be no exception (3.5 mile option). Camp Smith Trails Hike (Approximately 4.5 miles) with Trail Supervisor Fred Stern.  Enjoy a steep and rewarding hike with many spectacular views of the Hudson River and Highlands. This point-to-point hike covers the length of the scenic Camp Smith Trail from the Toll House to Anthony’s Nose. We will also cover a short section of the Appalachian Trail.  Wear sturdy shoes and bring plenty of water.  Participants must have a car as this hike requires setting cars at the start and finish points.