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.

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PVPatrick's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 08/21/2011 - 10:53am
Well not really, but thanks. Good luck with the book.
Michael K7's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 08/11/2011 - 7:03pm
Looking forward to this- i hope the trail runs will be graded as far as difficulty, as i find some of the trails in Harriman to be just about un-runnable.
donweise's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 08/19/2011 - 1:52pm
You are right about the challenges finding runable trails in Harriman. In the book, each loop makes use of multiple trails, some rougher, some smoother. I found that the best way to let readers know what to expect was to provide an overview statement about the trail features and difficulty, followed by a detailed description to warn you of rocky/eroded/steep/wet areas. Hopefully it will work for you. As mentioned in the book, I recommend bringing a copy of the chapter with you and planning to hike/run it your first time out. Once you've gotten familiar with each loop's sudden turns and unmarked trails, you'll have a route you know well and can come back to again and again.
flyguy's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 09/04/2011 - 3:18am
Better start rewritting the Book - Irene changed a lot of the terrian - and I'd be willing to bet the Trail Conferance will be Re-routing some of the trails that have servere washout damage   
donweise's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 09/08/2011 - 11:48am
Fortunately, the author, editor and field checkers are all TC employees and/or well-connected volunteers, so we get the trail updates firsthand.
chimguy3's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 08/03/2011 - 1:50am
Hi I am interested in hiking the Balsam mountain Loop. I was wondering just how difficult the steep parts are on both sides? I please keep in mind that I hike with a Great Dane and one person in my group has not the greatest knee. We are staying overnight so we are carryin packs with weights from 20-40 lbs. Any information will be greatly appreciated. Basically here are the questions 1. on the part in the trail description where it says a steep rock face. Is this really a rock face with climbing involved? 2. where it says in the trail description Steep accent and caution should be taken. Do I need rope? 3. We have all done the Peekamoose Table mountain trail including the same dog. How does this trail compare?
Daniel Chazin's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 08/03/2011 - 11:34am
 The "steep rock face" is a short climb of no more than 10 vertical feet.  You do not need a rope for this climb, nor do you need a rope for the steep descent, where it says that caution should be exercised.  Both of these spots can be traversed with care by ordinary hikers in reasonably good condition.  If you have hiked the Peekamoose-Table Trail, you should be able to do this hike, too.  I do not know the abilities of your dog, but I would think that an ordinary dog should be able to follow this hike without undue difficulty.  As for the person who "has not the greatest knee," any steep downhill can be a severe strain for people who have knee problems.   But, again, if this person could do the Peekamoose-Table Trail, he or she should probably be able to do the Balsam Mountain Loop, too. Even if you are staying overnight, it makes the most sense to camp at the lean-to at the base of the mountain and then do the loop to the summit as a day hike.
chimguy3's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 08/05/2011 - 1:56am
Thanks for the fast reply. But when you say short climb I really just was wondering if our 95 lb great Dane will be able to get up it? I can't really pick her up and help. Do you think a dog will make it over?
neil's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/20/2011 - 3:23pm
thanks all - i think i will go back and have a look again later this season - i am determined to find the trail ;) it was a great hike except for that one part - the walk i took through the woods off the trail is not something i really want to repeat    - oops - i put this in the wrong spot - i am referring to the sunfish pond post below
Larry Wheelock's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/20/2011 - 10:07am
Brodge Repair on Seven Lakes Drive in Harriman State Park On Thursday, July 28,2011 Seven Lakes Drive will be closed to all traffic between the Lake Skannatati parking lot and Knawauke Circle from 5:30 AM until 4:00 PM. This closure is necessary to set beams for the new bridge being constructed at that location. There will be flaggers and barricades at Kanawauke Circle, the Skannatati parking lot and at Tiorati Circle. The flagger at Tiorati Circle will be there to advise motorists that they can only go as far as the Skannatati parking lot. For further information, please call (845) 786-2701
exed's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/27/2011 - 9:37am
Is it still possible to cross 7 Lakes Drive on the Long Path in the area of the bridge repair?
thegup's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/14/2011 - 8:39am
If you take the Yellow Trail from Sunken Mine Road (which becomes the old mine railroad bed) it ends at Hidden Lake where there are signs that the area is being rehabitated.  This prevents you from connecting to the Blue (Tree Lakes Trail) unless you bushwhack or make a uturn then a left (South) on Red (Charcoal Burners Trail).  There used to be caution tape and a trail closed sign at the Sunken Mine Road/Yellow intersection but since it is no longer there it is easy to assume that the trail has been reopened.  
neil's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/11/2011 - 1:14pm
I just wanted to ask anyone who might know - I was hiking in the Sunfish Pond/Mt. Tammany area this past weekend - I took red dot to the top of Mt Tammany, then blue to the Mt Tammany fire road - I went down the fire road for a couple of miles past the heli pad and I was looking for turquoise on the left to get over to Sunfish Pond.  I could not find Turquoise trail and eventually went left and bushwhacked through the woods over the Sunfish Pond fire road.  It was a little difficult and maybe not the best decision but I guess live and learn.   My question is, is the turquoise trail off the Mt Tammany fire road there?  Perhaps I just didn't go far enough to reach it on the left?  Is it clearly marked, blazed, and maintained?  I am just trying to figure out if I missed it, if I am blind, stupid, or just didn't walk far enough to reach it and prematurely second guessed myself.
Jeremy Apgar's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/19/2011 - 9:01am
As 'weather220' notes in his reply, the turquoise trail is marked from the Mt. Tammany fire road.  It is about 4 miles from the Mt. Tammany overlook, so it can certainly seem like it is a long way to travel along the fire road. This trail is maintained by our volunteers but does not get very much foot traffic since it is the most remote trail in the Worthington area.  Unfortunately, the turnoff for the trail does not have any significant feature tied to it (such as immediately following a steep descent, etc.), but the location of the trail on our Kittatinny Trails map 120 is accurate and based on GPS data collected in April, 2008. ~Jeremy, TC cartographer
weather220's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/14/2011 - 10:37pm
I hiked that route last month. Yes, the turquoise trail is there, north of the helicopter landing area. As I remember, there's a rock cairn marking the turnoff. The trail itself was a little overgrown in some areas with blueberry bushes. I got the sense that it didn't get nearly as much traffic as the more popular trails in the area (red dot and AT). I did see three bears right where the turqouise trail crosses Dunnfield Creek. My guess is that you didn't go far enough; since you were looking for the turnoff, you probably would've noticed it if you passed it.
BrianSnat's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/10/2011 - 10:29am
Last time I was there it was mid August and there were plenty of blueberries.
Laurie Lewis's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/14/2011 - 2:35pm
Thanks. Didn't make it to the top last week (thunder and rain), so we'll try again!
Laurie Lewis's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/07/2011 - 8:06pm
I call it High Point, the peak in the Catskills overlooking the Ashoken Reservoir. Do we think there are still blueberries up there? Too late in July? LHL
srtmaintainer's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/08/2011 - 8:39pm
They are just getting ripe on the Shawangunk Ridge.
exed's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 06/27/2011 - 1:37pm
Hi, is the old camp by Breakneck Pond in Harriman State Park being used? Can hikers walk pass the area of the camp? Thanks.