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.

 

neil's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/20/2011 - 8:54am
I did a loop at Abram Hewitt on 4/16/11 - from Greenwood lake marina blue stateline trail to yellow - hit surprise lake to white bear foot ridge trail to orange quail/jeremy glick back to yellow then blue.   A couple of things - the intersection with the white bearfoor ridge trail is very easy to miss - i missed it and kept going down yellow to the ernest walter trail - then backtracked to find white - the white blazes on bearfoot ridge trail can be easy to miss - most important the orange was very wet with multiple stream crossings - one was very tough and would not be for everyone - at one point i took my shoes and socks off and crossed that way - the blazes on orange were very far apart and at one point basically non existent - the trail was a bit hard to follow - however, the forest was georgeous and it was a great day - just be prepared for some wet conditions and areas where the trail is not so visible
WawayandaEast's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 06/09/2011 - 11:02pm
     Trail conditions have improved greatly since april. This winter left an amazing amount of snow on Bearfort ridge and the surrounding mountains. The heavy rains that followed flooded the unique topography of the area.   Some of these flooding issues were temporary and unavoidable. Others are being investigated. Any detailed information is apprceated. Blazing has also improved. The bearfort ridge is halfway redone and the blue connector trail has new blazes.  The quail trail had some temporary metal tags put up until more permenant blazing could be established. The marker for the begining of the BRT at the E.Walter is on a rock, as are many in the area, due to the uniqueness of the fauna.
neil's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/11/2011 - 1:33pm
thanks - I went back to Bearfoot ridge recently and you are right - blazing is improved and the trail was much clearer and drier.  I was there with my wife and she was making fun of me based on difficulty I had described in the past ;)  It was a great hike and I was glad things were a little clearer the second time around.
christopher.c.sullivan's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/17/2011 - 7:55am
Anyone know trail conditions for Dater Mountain Nature Park and Harriman State Park trails, after last night's storm?
PVPatrick's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/17/2011 - 8:55am
Very wet, several inches of rain last night. Expect ponding, wide stream crossings, wet rocks, mud and May flies. Other than that should be quite nice out, particularly for the wood frogs and spring peepers.
christopher.c.sullivan's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/17/2011 - 9:16am
Thanks PVP ;)
douglaslundeen's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/13/2011 - 2:05pm
Just a heads-up.  There was a 3-foot long rattlesnake sunbathing on the front side of the Tammany Mt. Trail this past Saturday (4/9).  He was really hard to see and was rather annoyed at being woken up. 
krisdecker's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/08/2011 - 9:47pm
Thanks Patrick!     Sounds like we are a go for manana!  :-)
krisdecker's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/08/2011 - 3:37pm
Thinking about doing this hike tomorrow...   Anyone been there recently?  How does the trail look?  Extremely muddy? High water?   Thanks everyone! K
PVPatrick's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/08/2011 - 5:39pm
The trails are fine. Go for it!
denali2001's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 04/02/2011 - 1:31pm
Anyone been up there recently?  Wondering if there are still snow/ice up there.  Was at Bear Mt last weekend and there wasn't, so I'm assuming no.  Thanks.
Wolfie2nd's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/29/2011 - 11:15am
has anyone been out this way? i herd there was some snow out there last week. 
PVPatrick's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/29/2011 - 12:32pm
There is 1-2 inches of snow in places primarily on north facing shady slopes and at higher elevations.
johnm's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/29/2011 - 10:00am
Kakiat Trail: The eastern approach to the bridge crossing Stony Brook has been washed away.  Use of the bridge is very difficult.  Also some treads are missing.  Plan and agreement with the park, and materials are required prior to correction. Nurian Trail, two close-together bridges formerly crossing Stahahe Brook: The eastern one was removed about two years ago after it collapsed.  A quite usable makeshift crossing nearby of logs, builder unknown, may remain. The more western bridge has now collapsed and is considered too dangerous (steep and slippery) to use.  In dryer weather both crossings are easily crossed adjacent to the former bridge locations.  Assessment indicates that bridges are more appropriate here than placement of large boulders for stepping, considering blockage of the water channels. Rot resistant materials have been requested from the park but without sucesss to date.  Alternatives are being investigated. 
Michael K7's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/29/2011 - 1:16pm
Seems like every year at this time at least one (there are 2) of the bridges on the Kakiat get washed out/damaged. Perhaps it's time for the TC/trail maintainers to consider relocating the trail in this area. Just a suggestion.
Este's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/10/2011 - 4:42pm
Hi All!   Does anyone have recent report of trail conditions at the Sam's Point Preserve Loop (South Shawangunk Ridge - Cragsmoor, NY)?   I'm particularly curious about whether there is any snow accumulation on the ground from previous snowfall. Packing light and want to make informed decision what appropriate gear to wear (shoe-type, gaiters, etc).   The weather report says the area is receiving rain the next few days - we're planning to hike there on Saturday (3/12), so appreciate any info re snow covering the trails or other things to keep in mind.    Thanks 
eaglescout's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/06/2011 - 9:48pm
We are planning to hike from the visitor Center on 7 Lakes Drive to the East on the Pine Meadow Trail and Pine Meadow Lake toward the Egg and the Stone Memorial to camp.  What are the trails like and conditions regarding snow and ice?  Thanks.
johnm's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/10/2011 - 10:26am
A brief response, not especially helpful but offered as possibly better than nothing.  Hopefully someone will post more specific information. We have no reports from maintainers who have very recently walked this trail.  Only a semi-related report received from a Wednesday hike north of Pine Meadow Lake is available.  The hike was Sebago Boat Launch, 7-Hills, Pine Meadow Road, and Buck Trail: Several inches of snow remained in some places, other spots were bare.  Depends on what side of a hill a person is on and prior use. Treacherous conditions were not mentioned. Thus, a guess is that with reasonable care, the trails could be navigated by good hikers though progress will be somewhat slowed.  Conditions may become quite different with the current rain and higher temperatures: the next issue may be mud. Though there are not a lot of serious inclines on the proposed path, a subsequent freeze could create truly dangerous conditions and snap-on ice treads of some sort would then be almost imperative.  
eaglescout's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/10/2011 - 8:54pm
Thank you - that is about what I was expecting actually.  I would have rather pushed the hike to later in March but schedules did not work out that well for us.  I will pass along the information to the crew and we will come prepared.  I will post a report when I get back as well.
Larry Wheelock's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/02/2011 - 11:28am
Due to heavy snows and freeze/thaw conditions this winter the new AT ascent up the east face of Bear Mountain has become icy and difficult to hike. If you choose to attempt this route you should consider bringing some sort of ice gripping devices for you boots and a sturdy hiking pole for balance.