Trail Conditions Forum

Today,  I parked at the circle on Johnsontown Road,  and did a loop hike which ended with my descending from the viewpoint above Almost Perpendicular.  The Blue Disc trail, as I headed south after crossing the gas pipeline, has at least three steep places that are badly eroded.  One is about 300 years north of the viewpoint, as the trail climbs a steep section. Maybe steps need to be built here.  But there are 2-3 places in the Almost Perpindicular that are in poor condition.  Sections that are all rock are OK, but those containing soil are losing it.  There is a woods road that perhaps could be used as an alternative, although it does not climb directly to the viewpoint--the main attraction here.  The other trails and roads I took were mostly in good condition, though it is a shame how much truck traffic the Victory seems to get. Jonathan

4/27/2013 Great day for a renewed hike on the Long Path, pressing ever forward for 2013 (start of our 4th season)!  Brother & I hiked from the Scutt Rd. parking area in N.Lake/S.Lake to the Batavia Kill at the end of Big Hollow Rd.  The walk was approximately 11.6 miles and was challenging asending from Ducher Notch to Arizona Mtn. and then onto Blackhead's peak.  I still feel like I was on a stairmaster for approximately 9 hours.  In general the trail was clear and the views were great towards the Hudson Valley and now of Albany to the north northeast.  We still have not had a perfectly clear day to get a crystal clear sky.  The views are somewhat hazy, it's a shame not to be able to take clearer pictures.    The path was in great shape and easily followed.  Markings were clear although the signs at North Point have either been removed or have fallen off of the post at this location.  They are on the ground and look to be due for replacement.  Plant life is starting to burst out all over but the tree buds are just starting to open.  They still need to a few more weeks to open up fully.  We didn't see too many birds or wildlife on this section, I guess it's still a bit early for that.    As usual, Spring takes its time coming to the Catskills.  Snow and ice patches are still present in many locations throughout this walk but generally not an issue.  Except at the top of Blackhead on the north side of the peak.  Upon arriving at the top of this peak, we noted snow and ice on the trail as one descends to the north towards Batavia Kill.  Two couples arrived from this section of the trail and we asked about the conditions.  "The trail is covered with ice and snow and is very steep and slippery.  However, if you focus and use the trees and some bare rocks you should be able to descend in about 20 mnutes and it is bare ground below this area.  We are glad we came up and are not going down that way."  Talk about a pep talk.........  We pressed on, not really having any good alternatives and descended from the top.  The Long Path guide is not kidding when they describe this as a steep decent, one of the steepest on the trial.  After roughly 30 minutes of sheer terror, clinging for dear life to trees, slipping on the ice and snow, wailing and nashing of teeth, we made it to the clear area, probably around the 3500' elevation.  Many oaths were sworn and a general feeling of relief was felt.  The moral of this story: this was year 2 of a lack of traction gear.  While we made it through, as we had last year on the Borrough's Range with issues at the Cornell Crack, next year the Microspikes are along for the ride.    Water quality of the Batavia Kill looked good.  Nice and clear with no sedimentation in the water.  Looks like it could be a great trout stream.  Colorful, speckled rocks on the stream bed, wonderful to look at.  Also of interest is the iron truss bridge at the last house on Big Hollow Rd. by the trail parking area.  It was built in 1900 in Canton, Ohio.  Impressive in its durability.  All in all, another great section of the Long Path, not to be missed!  

According to a park's spokesperson contacted by phone yesterday and contrary to alerts on NY State Parks' website (as well as here on NY/NJ TCF)...the following trail closures are no longer in effect:  

• Lower Awosting Carriage Road
• Awosting Falls Carriage Road: closed at the waterfall
• Jenny Lane Footpath: closed at the Blueberry Run Footpath intersection    Rainbow Falls is accessable again via reopened Rainbow Falls Trail as well.   The only active advisory still noteworthy is that all bridges over the Peters Kill are still out and crossings are only recommended at times of low water.  Suggestions in that regard were to wait 2-3 days after any rainfall and (presumably) any Peters Kill crossings would/could be fordable. Doing this hike this weekend and hope the informtion given was correct.  We'll see.   

I did most of the Indian Hill loop today, starting from the parking lot off Orange Turnpike in Sterling Forest.  Using the yellow trail provides a nice, short loop hike with views of Route 17 and the NY Thruway on the eastern leg of the loop.  I started going north on the western leg, and coming back south on the other side, I cut it short by taking a shortcut I have used before.  Near where the red and yellow trails merge, you can walk west past a pond, follow some very broad wood roads past some abandoned buildings, and end up back on the western leg of the yellow trail, not far from the start.  Today I discovered this shortcut is now blazed with bright green plastic blazes with a yellow songbird in the center of each blaze.  Who blazed this trail?  Is it, or will it be on TC maps?  Jonathan

as per the sign on rt 106 close to 17--- rt 106 from kanawauke circle west to 17 will be closed on the following dates apr 15-may 10 june 10-july 3 aug 5-sept 6 i spoke to the park police fri apr 5  to clarify where these closings were on 106. the officer said they were only west of kanawauke circle, the east part of 106 will stay open. he said also arden valley rd will be open soon but it was not open as of fri apr 5.  the officer said that the entire length of 106 from 17 to kanawauke will be closed for those time periods and that they would reopen the road for various summer holidays.

Looking to go for a nice long hike this sunday. The book 60 hikes within 60 miles brings a 15+ miler combining Wawayanda and Bearfort Mt. it lists it as a "9 hour" hike. So I have two questions: 1) anyone been there recently and knows if the trail conditions are decent since sandy; 2) anyone done this hike or something similar and can confirm if the 9 hour time estimate is realistic or not? Thanks in advance David

Can anyone tell me as to whether any of the bridges that cross both Pine Meadow Brook and Stony Brook are currently passable.