Trail Conditions Forum

Mud? Ice? High water at stream crossings?

This is the place to let the trail community know what you encountered, where and when (be as precise as possible). Suggestion: Make the trail or park name your subject.

To report serious trail problems that need Trail Conference attention, including illegal trail use issues, visit our Contact Us page. Problems reported through our Contact Us page get to the maintainers fast and reliably. Problems reported on the forum below may help fellow trail users avoid problem areas until they get fixed, but not all maintainers read this regularly.


 

tree188's picture

12/1/2013 Does anyone know how much snow is on the ground near Berne or Albany?  Looking to hike there Tuesday and I'm not sure how to find out this information.  Any information regarding this subject is appreciated, thanks.
Pole Dancer's picture

Was wondering how the conditions are from Bear Mountain to CT?? We will be hiking this section this weekend.
PVPatrick's picture

There is no snow on the ground. Streams are running again after the Nor'easter and some small ponds have begun to ice up.  Condions are generally fine at least from Bear Mt into Putnam County.
CanadianRoots's picture

Myself and 2 friends stayed at the Stone Memorial shelter on Saturday night in the south east part of the park. While we were cutting some firewood off a downed tree nearby, 2 guys on ATV's came past. I didn't think much of it until about 7:30pmish when 7 ATV's came storming by the shelter on the woodsroad thats directly behind. They were heading down the woods road towards where it would eventually meet up with the power lines.   Any idea who these people might have been? Maybe park workers, or Trail Conference people?
PVPatrick's picture

Those people are local people that ride through the park regularly for their selfish enjoyment which the Park, and Park police, seem to care or do little about.
joerichkus's picture

is pretty intense.  Just take a look at the trails on Beacon Mountain.  I would hate to see that in Harriman.  
johnm's picture

We appreciate the report of these ATVs in Harriman Park and have passed this report to Park authorities.  While we have no information on the identity of these ATV users, we can say definitely that they were not on any Trail Conference mission.  We do not condone ATV use where not permitted, which includes all of Harriman and Bear Mountain Parks, as well as other parks in the area.  
CanadianRoots's picture

Thanks very much for addressing this!   -Chris
tree188's picture

Hiked this section on 11/23/2013.  Weather was COLD, breezy with clouds, the temperature never got above freezing.  The section was marked OK, however when the leaves are up there are a few sections that would be hard to navigate due to a bad line of sight.  Deer were pleniful and scared. Hunting season is in full swing, we met many hunters, very friendly and safety conscious.  Make sure to wear orange if you hike this section, a wildlife management area, AKA hunting area.  We met about a dozen hunters along the trail. The weather cooperated most of the day but around 3pm when we reached the lean-to, a snow squal line came in and blanketed the whole area for about an hour.  We were done for the day so it was not a concern but the snow fall was fast and dense with low visibility.  About a half inch to inch came down at this time.   The lean-to is well made and nicely maintained.  The open pit out house would take a little getting used to and it is a little too close to the Switz Kill stream for my liking.  It could easily be over flowed in a storm and its "contents" could end up in the stream. Ponds were pretty and the beavers have been industrious.  Bird flocks of chickadees and nut hatches were present along the length of the trail, talking up quite a storm.  We were also treated to a flock of cedar waxwing munching on wild berries or cherries on trees along the trail.  Hiking this section with the leaves down was a plus.  Views over some of the valley areas were present that normally would not be observed with the leaves up.  While hiking here in warm weather would have its finer points too, hiking here in the colder weather was good. Finally, during this section and the last several sections, the sandstones have exhibited interesting fossils.  The bulk have been bivalves.  They are not easily seen but show up frequently if one looks for them along the trail.
joerichkus's picture

I just got back from hiking up to the Ramapo Torne and saw scorched earth and trees from fires practically all of the way up to the top, on the west-northwestern side, where the orange trail (Hillburn Torne Sebago Trail) climbs up to it.  This was the first time I had hiked up there in several months.  Does anyone know the story about this fire?  or is it unknown.  Did rangers put it out?
joerichkus's picture

Yesterday I was on the Lichen Trail heading south, right at the great vista spot, marked by a star on the Harriman map, and I saw several pillers of smoke all along the corrider that would be about where the White Bar trail is in that area.  They were southwest from my position. I could even smell leaves burning from all the way up on the lichen trail. I called the State Park Police and they forwarded my call to the Rangers who called me back within a minute and said that they had some Rangers heading there.  The park is very dry as we have not had enough rain for several months.  Please be careful with matches.  There is no real reason to start fires in the park, especailly at this time.
jbeard's picture

I hiked today from Anthony Wayne, looping from the parking lot south to 1779, over to Owl Lake Road, then the Red Cross to Menomenee to the shelter.  Then the AT/RD north to the 1779 again and home. South of the parking lot on the bike trail, and then again on the AT/RD, coming down off Black Mountain, I saw signs stuck in the ground, warning of Pesticide applications.  They had dates pencilled in, from October and November. They were Trail Conference signs. What are we trying to control?  Why weren't the signs removed once they were out of date? Jonathan
tree188's picture

Hiked this section 11/5/2013.  Weather was cold & clear.  Winter has arrived north of the Catskills.  Thin but extensive amounts of snow were observed in the higher elevations outside of the valley.  The cliffs of Middleburgh and the "lemon squeezer" were great.  We couldn't id the 500 year old cedar.  Maybe that's for the best.  My brother wanted to burn a sage offering for the tree.  I told him "Please don't do this, it's a bad idea.  Knowing our luck you'll burn the damn tree down when you burn the sage.  Try explaining that to the State of New York!". The view of Vroman's Nose from this direction is impressive too.  The lean-to on Cotten Hill is clean and makes a good lunch stop.  It was not clear where the summit or view point described on Canady Hill was.  We couldn't find it and did not see some of the sights described on this section.  Fortunately it's been cold enough here the tick problems seem to have ended for the season.  A few are still around but not to the extent discussed by other hikers earlier this year.  The trail was well marked and navigation was fine.  We did not encounter any problems.
tree188's picture

Hiked this section 11/2/2013.  Weather was variable during the day with some rain encountered and limited sun.  Trail was well marked and we had no navigation problems that were previously mentioned by 46r796 back in August of this year in the section discription.  Walk through the woods was nice but not that memorable, except for the multiple ticks we pulled off ourselves during regular checks.  Much of the plant life has died for the season which made navigation a little easier.  New bridges(2) in the Pleasent Valley are all completed, making stream crossings much easier.  These things are beefy(!) and should last for many years to come.  The steel i-beams used for the main supports for each bridge are impressive.  The stone walls and former foundations of building throughout this area were interesting to observe too.  Care around around mile 5.80 should be used (parking area).  It appears some of the locals are using the area for firearms target practice, not hunting, and it's not clear where they have set up their targets.  The description of the hike from about 3.20 through 5.40 may need updating.  It appears the trail may have been re-routed in this area and the trail conditions did not always seem to match the written description.  But the blazes are clear and navigation was not an issue. From Hardscrabble Road through Middleburgh, the trail was clear and easy to follow.  The note that 46r796 mentioned back in August of this year that could be an issue in warmer weather is the Mulberry Lane section just prior to Middleburgh.  When all of the plants and crops are fully grown this could be a tough area to navigate to see the blazes and walk the trail corridor between the crops and wild plants/trees.  It was much easier for us with all of the crops harvested and wild plants dying for the season.  Maybe this area needs more attention during the growing season.  We just walked the edge of the field were the crops had been harvested, it was very clear and easy to walk. Vroman's Nose is truly spectacular and the main attraction of this section.  The walk to the top from Rt. 30 was not too challenging but it is steep.  Views of the valley and surrounding mountains (back to the Catskills) were great.  We were lucky that the Sun choose to come out just as we summited the cliffs.  This is a place worth visiting again.  The prominitory rock was amazing to see, but neither of us had the "stones" to walk out on it,  it is magnificent.  Middleburgh is one of the nicer towns we have seen in upstate New York since our trip started.  There are a couple of nice restaurants in town and the people were very friendly.  Seems very historic with many references back to the late 1800's.  The surrounding area is farm and tree county.  
mjzdanis's picture

Upper trail off Skyline drive in Wanaque (opposite the lower lake trail)  had two bears about a half mile into the woods.  A dog we had warned us so we were able to avoid them.    M.Zdanis
joerichkus's picture

That area has many Black Bears ranging through it and it is not at all uncommon to see them.  Black Bear attacks are quite rare, but still one should never run near them as it could possibly trigger their predetor mode.  I have had many close encounters with them and all one has to do is clap their hands loudly two times and they will turn and run away like scared dogs. When we hike through the woods, we are hiking through their home.
walkwoman's picture

As reported on the Trail Alert page (last updated Dec.2012): "the low bridge about 0.3 mile south of Hasenclever Mine was washd out.  Crossing is possible by somewhat difficult hop over stones.  It will be difficult in times of high water.  Replacement is not yet planned."   Are there any updates on this or info re crossing here?  Want to do this this weekend but not looking forward to wading across.  Thanks much in advance.
hiker4414's picture

You should have no trouble this weekend.
walkwoman's picture

Thanks for responding.  I appreciate it.  Looks good to go.
tree188's picture

Hiked this section on 10/5/2013.  Parking in this area seems to be best by the fishing access for the Power Authority.  It adds a little distance to the walk but seems to be the easiest area to park.  Cool but humid on this day, with mosquitos out in full force.  Fall is definitely here in the North Catskills.  Colors on the tree leaves were out in full force and many trees are dropping their leaves.  The trail was marked OK throughout this section however there are one or two spots where the blaze does not face the hiker ( near mile 12.0 in West Consville to Doney Hollow section) on the woods road when it takes a left downhill to pond adjacent to West Kill Rd.  It can be easy to lose the trial and have to backtrack to get back on course. In the section that is listed as Doney hollow to West Fulton, the references to roads means woods, dirt or cinder roads, the majority unpaved, FYI.  The parking area is the local park with the historic schoolhouse near the stream and Patria Rd. and West Fulton Rd. The former saw mill foundations are impressive, as are the multiple "pool diggers" in the streams one crosses hiking these sections.  The Cole Hollow brook(?) was pretty and had many of the "pool diggers" installed in it.  A pretty stream. The Rossman Lean-To was a real pleasure to observe and take a brief rest. In the forty years I have been hiking trails in multiple states and locations, this lean-to was the cleanest, best maintained and outfitted lean-to I have observed.  Many thanks to the maintainers of this shelter.  They should be given an award for the work they have done and for setting an example of the way a shelter should be maintained and treated by visitors.  Great job folks!!! Looking Glass Pond is very pretty if you can be there in the late afternoon when the sun is beginning to set; very dramatic with the Fall sun.  The parking area is worth a quick visit for information about the pond and some of the neat signs the Club has installed there. The trail is a little easy to lose here as the blazes quickly turn to the left on the dam side of the pond when heading north.  This may be an attempt to avoid a beaver pond that is spreading across the trail path in this area and probably should be moved further to the right to avoid walking in a swamp and water.  The beaver dam is impressive, 3 to 4 feet high at the highest section. Throughout this overall section new bridges were noted to have been installed.  Many thanks to the trail maintainers for their hard work on these projects.  There are a few other bridges that will need replacement in the near future, the wood is close to rotting out (after Duck Pond Road crossing?).  All of the bridges seem to quickly develop a cover of green algae, making the bridges slippery, caution is advised. Another good section of the Long Path to enjoy.