yes i think you may be right about that. some amc members are trying to find out exactly what will be the policies around this camp and whether our happy days of enjoying the area are now over. what we have heard so far is that AMC leaders leading day hikes for dues paying AMC members are not allowed to swim at the camp or even stop for lunch without a reservation with the boston AMC HQ. not only that but members are being asked to contribute volunteer labor to the camp at work parties....
members have yet to get a definitive written statement from the NY chapter leaders regarding these policies. there was a tour of the camp for AMC leaders a week or so ago and one of the attendees reported that the AMC has leased the entire lakeshore and will build a trail all around the lake with "backcountry" campsites. right now they are doing all they can to get the camp ready for opening day july 1. hopefully we will still have access to other areas of the lake not in the actual camp until they get this trail done which may take a while.
so even if you bring your high limit credit card it may not work if you have not made an advance reservation with AMC Boston corporate HQ!!! not sure what any of us can do about this until we get clear statements of facts regarding the policies...
is putting $1,000,000 plus into renovations. You will likely find the camp and the entire lake and the trails posted with "private area" signs soon. Bring a high limit credit card along if you want to visit. You'll have to register in advance I'm sure. Sad situation.
I walked today along the paved road into a camp at the north end of Breakneck Pond (maybe Camp Lanowa) in order to find the unblazed trail that climbs up to the Breakneck Mountain Trail. The camp was full of workers, including an AMC trail maintenance crew, and it looks as if all the sad old cabins have been demolished and replaced by brand new structures. Someone has invested a lot of money here. All the work--including new roads within the camp, and clearings around the cabins--made it difficult to find the beginning of the trail, which starts next to Cabin 218.
Posting here is one way to report map items like this, or on the other applicable pages on our site (for instance, the North Jersey map set product page or Pequannock Watershed park page).
In general, our maps attempt to show all routes on the ground, including unmaintained woods roads and trail. As Estelle alludes to below, we do work closely with park managers and others to review whether any routes should not be shown. So I have made note of this for us to consider with the next map update.
For Back Beach Park, which only includes one officially marked trail that connects to Ramapo Mountain State Forest, there isn't quite enough justification to produce a special inset map for the maze of unmarked trails and social paths.
Thank you for the suggestions, and certainly feel free to provide input about the maps in the future!
The unmarked trail is not a maintained trail nor is a Trail Conference Trail. Our maps do show dotted lines for unmarked trails or woods roads that are near our marked trails. This trail should not be shown as it does not connect to any of our trails and in some places abuts private property. Also, a City of Newark permit would be required to access that property. There are miles of marked trails available for the public to hike.
I can't answer about Back Beach, but again, posting many dotted lines would serve to only confuse a hiker who will then call for help to find their way back. We generally show marked and maintained trails. It's important that hikers be kept on marked trails.
If you like exploring these, suggest you carry a compass and a flash light and have an appropriate permit if on Newark property.
Estelle Anderson
co-chair Central North Jersey Trails
Is there a way to report trails that are not shown on current maps to be shown on the next updated map set?
Across the street from the Echo Lake Office is a woods road which is not shown on the North Jersey Map set.
Also, in Back Beach Park (Wanaque), there is a maze of trails, maybe a map insert could be included in the next version since there are trails running within 50 feet of each other.
Hiked the Long Path from Mt Ivy to Dunning Trail/Bald Rocks yesterday, and over all the trail is in great shape. However there is MAJOR construction going on at the point where the LP crosses a gas pipeline in Cheesecote Mt Town Park. I was barely able to cross the construction zone, and if they add the next section of pipe (a large green pipe or tube), passing at that point will not be feasble. I don't how much time passes before they bury the pipe sections after they are added, but while the pipe is above ground, a detour will be necessary. Perhaps the TC can find out how long this construction is expected to last, how long it wil affect this crossing, and put up a warning on the trail alerts page. I would hate to see someone's hike get ruined because they were unaware of this construction and any necessary detours.
Posting here is one way to report map items like this, or on the other applicable pages on our site (for instance, the North Jersey map set product page or Pequannock Watershed park page).
In general, our maps attempt to show all routes on the ground, including unmaintained woods roads and trail. As Estelle alludes to below, we do work closely with park managers and others to review whether any routes should not be shown. So I have made note of this for us to consider with the next map update.
For Back Beach Park, which only includes one officially marked trail that connects to Ramapo Mountain State Forest, there isn't quite enough justification to produce a special inset map for the maze of unmarked trails and social paths.
Thank you for the suggestions, and certainly feel free to provide input about the maps in the future!
~Jeremy
TC Cartographer