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

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 09/01/2012 - 4:48pm
IMO the stones and cairns make the Jessup trail one of the most unique in the Trail Conference area. I've yet to be on another trail with a simiar "feel" as the Jessup. Other than that, i agree that this is a great area for hiking, although i found the views somewhat disappointing, as there was always "civilization" within view.
neil's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 08/28/2012 - 10:16am
Thanks a lot  - sounds like the hike should be good with no issues.  Minus the minor negatives you noted of course ;)
neil's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 08/27/2012 - 6:54pm
Hi there, I am planning to do this hike over the weekend: http://nynjtc.org/hike/schunemunk-mountain-dark-hollow-jessup-trails Anyone aware of any trail conditions or closures I should be aware of? Thanks as always, Neil
slabelson's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 08/09/2012 - 1:17pm
Does anyone know the condition of the Cedar Swamp Tr in Wawayanda these days?  Is the water/murk lower in the summer?  I hiked this trail a number of years ago and was also wondering if the trail still goes over rickety wooden puncheons -- half the fun, I admit -- or if they've disintegrated.  I use a hiking stick but remember having to "hug" a lot of brush on the side of the trail to get thru that 1 waterlogged stretch. Thanks for any input!
BrianSnat's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 08/31/2012 - 1:28am
I was thre in the spring and the water was so deep the puncheons were floating and were all over the place. I finally gave up trying to stay dry and just slogged through the water. 
Cory728's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 08/13/2012 - 8:24am
  The puncheons are still passable and during dry times, the trail is still a great hike that is both challenging and beautiful. The Puncheons are scheduled to be replaced in 2013. Until then, Cedar Swamp is best enjoyed when the water is low.
mei.w.gao's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/17/2012 - 11:38am
Thinking to do Terrace Pond Loop this Sunday with a group of mildly experienced hikers including a 5 year old, are there many rattle snakes on the trail itself (including  rock outcrops) at this time of the year? Thanks
hiker4414's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/17/2012 - 11:03pm
All snakes will be less noticeable at this time of the year. We most often see them after cool nights when they seek sunny spots out in the open to bask and warm up. Cold blooded animals don't have the body temperature regulating powers that warm blooded animals do. In the hot weather they will seek cool shaded locations to avoid cooking their flesh on the hot rocks.
Daniel Chazin's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/17/2012 - 11:55am
There have been a number of reported snake sightings on the Terrace Pond Loop recently.  I did the loop two weeks ago, and saw a large rattlesnake along the edge of the Terrace Pond South Trail, on a section of the trail that follows a woods road.  I also saw a large (non-venomous) black snake on the shore of Terrace Pond.  So, I would not say that there are "many" rattlesnakes on the trail itself, but there are some, and you have to keep an eye out for them.  I would not let this deter you from enjoying a hike to Terrace Pond -- which is one of my favorite hikes in the area.  Just be alert for rattlesnakes, and don't put your hands or feet anywhere without first looking carefully to be sure that a rattlesnake isn't hiding out there! 
mei.w.gao's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/17/2012 - 12:18pm
Thank you Dan! As long as we don't grab one while climbing the rocks (will make sure to check), they seem to hide on the ground and that is OK to me.
pintoj's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/16/2012 - 7:18am
Nope Dan, it doesn't look like that now!  It is pretty overgrown and the water is much higher now than in your photo.  According to Estelle this might be due to beaver activity.  I am guessing that there also might be a lot of debris from last summer's storms that might be backing up the water level in the brook too.  It would be great if they would post things like this on the book's update page when it comes to light.  I've checked the update page and so far there is nothing there about any of the hikes in the book.  Maybe this problem should be listed there so that future hikers will be prepared not to attempt to cross that brook unless they plan on going swimming --- which is probably not permitted.
Estelle's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/16/2012 - 6:20pm
As stated already, Echo Lake West is no longer a trail; it was abandoned some years back, maybe 5 yrs ago, when the Highlands Trail came in.   There is only Highlands Trail on the west side of Echo Lake. Our most recent map, and maps before that show only the Highlands Trail.   Beaver activity has flooded out the area north of highlands Trail.  There is also no way to get around the entire lake without trespassing on private property.  Hope this answers the questions.  Sorry that it's in the book, and not yet updated, but as you know, trail updates happen and don't get caught up until a new edition.   Do refer to our maps to be sure trails are where you think.  I think it most important to check maps, since they do get updated.
pintoj's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/19/2012 - 1:28pm
Hi Estelle!  I think the latest map shows the trail in question as an "unmaintained trail" now.  It would be great if they could post on update on the HJH book's page here on the web site warning folks that they won't be able to complete this particular hike, especially given its prominence as the source of the cover picture of the book!  Currently the update page for the HJH book has absolutely no updates listed there whatsoever which gives folks the impression that everything in the book must still be up-to-date which obviously from what you are saying is not correct at least for this particular hike.  Thank you for clearing this up.
Estelle's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/20/2012 - 10:05am
An update has been posted on the book page on our website.  Hope this clarifies for future hikers.  thanks for bringing this to our attention. 
pintoj's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/09/2012 - 7:53am
If you are thinking of doing the echo lake west hike described in HJH be aware that you probably won't be able to cross the brook at the north end of the lake.  I was just there yesterday and could not find the stepping stones described in the book to cross the brook.  The brook looks like its level has been raised and is probably covering the stepping stones now.  What a shame, that location is the cover picture of the book and I was really looking forward to visiting it.
Estelle's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/11/2012 - 10:23am
There is no Echo Lake West Trail, It is now the Highlands Trail part way along the lake and then turns left.   There is a lot of beaver activity at the North end which has flooded out a good part of that section of trail.   
pintoj's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/15/2012 - 8:04am
Hi Estelle!  I was referring to the hike description in "Hiking the Jersey Highlands" by George Petty.  He calls the hike "Echo Lake West Turnaround" and is the source of the cover picture of the book.  From what I could see you can no longer do the portion of this hike that would take you to the spot pictured on the cover.  In the book he says this: "The Highlands Trail forks left(uphill) at 1.8 miles, but you continue to follow the Echo Lake West Trail, which bears to the right along the lakeshore."  A lit bit later in the hike description he says: "At 1.9 miles, the trail turns right and crosses an Echo Lake source brook on stepping stones."  Those stepping stones seem to be submerged now and no longer visible and therefore you can no longer get to the spot pictured on the cover of his book --- unless you are prepared to get seriously wet crossing that brook.
dabalogh's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/15/2012 - 10:29am
Hi pintoj, I did the exact same hike, to which you refer, five years ago. I was following the same book. However, when I crossed the brook it was on large downed trees that made a bridge across the brook. You can see my wife crossing over them in the third row from the bottom here: http://danbalogh.com/echow.html So even as long ago as five years the stepping stones alone were no longer being used to cross the brook. Perhaps a storm swept the makeshift bridge away. Too bad. Dan
ashtab's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/04/2012 - 12:33pm
Just finished an overnighter starting in Tuxedo. We did parts of several trails from the train station to the Dutch Doctor, Sebago, and back the next day.  Originally planned to camp two nights, but conditions were not favorable. The only water to be found this year is in the lakes--all the brooks we passed are dry. Also came much closer than we'd like to three large black bears along the Victory trail. They were not at all intimidated by us. After we came inches from stepping on a coiled rattlesnake, we decided to cut our trip short and head home.
Michael K7's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/04/2012 - 10:41pm
I did a hike on 6-1, and while on the Victory Trail  (near where it crosses the Triangle Trail) i saw a small black furry creature dart off into the brush when it heard me approach. It was smaller than i thought a bear would be, but in case it was a cub, i didn't want to stick around and find a protective mother bear, so i didn't investigate. I wasn't sure if it was a bear or not, but after reading the above post, i think it may have been. All persons travelling in this area are urged to be alert, and understand proper actions in case of an encounter with a bear. Stay safe!