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.


 

Michael K7's picture

I thought maybe he meant one of these:     They sell simpler versions that are flexible, easy to carry. and light, so i could imagine laying one across the trail, and covering it with leaves...
PVPatrick's picture

NY State DMV requires all ATVs to be registered and have a plate attached to the rear of the vehicle.  http://dmv.ny.gov/sites/default/sites/default/files/legacy_sites/default/files/broch/c29.htm
hiker4414's picture

Georgette, you have ducked both questions.  1)  Is there an email address for the Park for use by the public? If not, will the TC ask that one be set up? If the TC won't ask, please let us know.    2) Will the TC advocate to keep ATVs out of the Park? We have heard no news in your Trail Walker on this topic in a very long time. Clearly with the technology available today many hikers "think it would be relatively easy, if so inclined, for the park police/rangers to set up a dragnet one weekend to nab the offenders and make an example of them.  Put them to work fixing the trails, planting trees, etc." If the TC won't put pressure on the Park, nothing will get accomplished. 
hiker4414's picture

I note the Trail Conference has made no response to the concerns posted below. If the TC does not intend to address the issue, please do let us know. I intend to hold my membership renewal until I hear from you.
Georgette Weir's picture

  These reports have been forwarded to the volunteers and staff who work in Harriman.  Illegal activity in our parks is best reported immediately to Parks Police, in our area: 845-786-2781. Short of that, illegal activity can also be reported via a web form that goes immediately to the appropriate volunteers or staff: http://www.nynjtc.org/webform/illegal-usage-problem-report Thank you all.
banjolady's picture

ok i just need to rant about an issue that really bothers me. last month around turkey hill lake we saw a bunch of guys coming toward us with fishing rods and lines, said hello pleasantly and passed on. a few hundred yards up the trail we were all of a sudden caught in a web of fishing line, the dogs were NOT HAPPY --i was with a friend and we each had 2 dogs and none of us could move. luckily i had a handy knife tool and was able to cut some of the line and free ourselves up but it was very upsetting. now today 6/1 we found a makeshift rod from a stick with fishing line and A HOOK left on the rocks at island pond!!!! my friend's dogs got caught in the fishing line and luckily managed to avoid the hook. please if you all see people that have fishing gear please tell them to keep track of their fishing line and hooks and not leave them lying around. it can have disastrous results for wildlife as well as people and dogs. 
banjolady's picture

saw another one today, i was coming down the pine meadow trail toward the EQ center on the power line and there was one way ahead of me. either the atv rider had a dog or a dog was chasing along side the ATV. i couldnt get near enough to take a picture or report it.it was heading SW on the power line toward the sherwood path...maybe they come in from there on 202
banjolady's picture

i was hiking with my dogs in the ladentown area a few weeks ago and all of a sudden heard a huge VROOOM....  i was on an unmarked trail/woods road. i got the camera out and took pictures of 2 atvs.... i called the park police immediately and told them the location. i believe the # is on the maps. 845 786 2781. the regular park # is rarely answered and not on weekends. i emailed with a park official who told me that they are investigating and thanked me for the photos. i do not have a public email yet to send such photos but i can ask next time our committee meets w the park. the atvs really trash the trails and they are not allowed on the woods roads either....perhaps they think because the trails are not marked in certain areas that they can bring their atvs there
Michael K7's picture

About a month ago, i passed some guys riding mountain bikes on the TMI trail, also near Ladentown- those aren't allowed either, correct?
PVPatrick's picture

Mt bikes are permitted only on the Horn loop by Anthony Wayne in Harriman State Park.  Although I understand another mixed use trail is being considered somewhere between Harriman and Sterling Forest.
PVPatrick's picture

Ive seen these ATV riders dozens of times in that section (around reservoirs!) of Harriman. Clearly these are local people.  You would think it would be relatively easy, if so inclined, for the park police/rangers to set up a dragnet one weekend to nab the offenders and make an example of them.  Put them to work fixing the trails, planting trees, etc. Also, ATVs, if they are registered properly, have a licence plate on the rear of the vehice which should help identify the offender.
hiker4414's picture

Why can't the Trail Conference publish a phone number and email address to report illegal trail use directly to the Palisades Interstate Park police and rangers? If the Park received cell calls or emails and photo reports promptly when ATVs are seen, the rangers/police might be able to take action. The rangers do have ATVs and do ride them. If the Park knew the public was unhappy with ATVs destroying trails and beautiful woods roads, it would be a lot more effective than stale reports forwarded a day or more later by the Trail Conference. Has anyone ever had any real feedback from reports to the TC? Does anyone think that reports filed with the TC as a middleman have been effective? When was the last time you heard the Trail Conference was honestly trying to make an issue over illegal trail use?   
Michael K7's picture

is in rough shape from the trailhead in Tuxedo to the point where it meets the White Bar Trail. Numerous muddy/swampy sections, as folks are creating bypasses. I would highly recommend that the Trail Supervisor for this area walk the trail and consider rerouting portions of the trail to higher/drier ground.  If anyone is planning on using this trail in the near future, be prepared to either have wet feet, or to be forging through side paths along the trail.
91762's picture

I've read that the trailhead is off the sidewalk 500 feet N of the 87/287 overpass. Looking on Google Maps I don't see any marking or what looks like a trail leaving the sidewalk. Does anyone know if there is a sign, blaze or landmark that indicates the location of the trail head? Also, I'm planning on taking the train from NY Penn Station to the Suffern Station and walking to the trailhead. Does this seem reasonable?
Daniel Chazin's picture

The trailheadof the S-BM Trail  is in fact right off the sidewalk, about 500 feet north of the I-87/287 overpass in Suffern. You just walk north under the very wide overpass and continue past a few houses. You then encounter a huge rock adjacent to the sidewalk, and just beyond it there is a stone wall. Just past the stone wall, you will see a triple-yellow blaze on a boulder, which marks the start of the trail. The continuation of the trail uphill is plainly marked with yellow blazes. It's not surprising that you don't see this trail on Google Maps.  Very few trails are shown on Google Maps, and you can't rely on it as a source of information about trails. The trailhead is plainly shown on the Trail Conference's Harriman-Bear Mountain Trails Map 118. The distance from the Suffern station to the trailhead is about 0.4 mile, which is certainly walkable.
Michael K7's picture

Agree with everything Daniel said, just be aware that the initial climb from the trailhead is very rocky, and steep in some spots, so if conditions are wet, you will need to take extra care. I haven't been to this area in over a year, but the last few times i was there, this part of the trail was in desperate need of some trail maintenance. The walk from the station to the trailhead is one of the shortest from public transit to trails you will find in the area .
91762's picture

Thanks to you both. I've since "re-looked" at Google Maps street view and see the blazes indicating the start of the trail. What I'm trying to figure out now is how to get back to NYC (preferable Penn Station) from the Bear Mountain end of the trail. All I've been able to find so far is: cross the BM Bridge to Manitou Station and take Metro North? back to Grand Central Station. Anyone have any other ideas? Thanks again for the help.   Bob  
PVPatrick's picture

Some people arrange for a taxi from the front of the Bear Mt Inn to Peekskil train station.
Michael K7's picture

There is a Shortline bus that goes from Bear Mountain to Port Authority. It doesn't run often, and I believe the last one on weekends is at 5:15. I think it stops at the Bear Mountain Inn. Other than that, your only option that i know of is the train from Manitou. Are you planning on hiking the entire SBM in one day?  If so, are you familiar with the trail?  It is one of the toughest in the park IMO, and you should figure at least 10-12 hours minimum to finish it.
91762's picture

Thanks. I plan to take my time - not in any hurry - I'll plan to spend 2 nights on the trail.