EH-RTC October 17, 2016

Committee: 
East Hudson Regional Trails Council
Meeting
Date: 
Mon, 10/17/2016 - 17:45 to Mon, 10/17/2016 - 20:30
Location: 
Teatown Lake Reservation
Agenda: 

Goals for meeting:

  • Learn about the new Trail Conference website
  • Discussion on keeping volunteers and Americorps on the "same page" and knowing about what each group is doing in East Hudson 
  • Approve trails and trail updates
  • Share information about successfully completed projects

Networking and Noshing - 5:45

Welcome – Jane Daniels – 6:15

   Introductions

   Approval of minutes of the August meeting see http://www.nynjtc.org/meeting/ehrtc-august-08-2016 

Announcements

Reports from Trail Conference Headquarters 6:30

  • New Website - Mary Dooman
  • Policy Council - John Magerlein and Fred Stern
  • Taconic Americorps projects -  Hank Osborn
  • Work trips/projects 
  • What's Available 

Trail updates and approvals - 7:55 

  • Undercliff Bypass Trail - Fred Stern
  • Waterfall Trail - Fred Stern

Round Robin Information Share – 8:15

Next meeting December 12, 5:45 Teatown Lake Reservation

Adjourn 8:30

Groups audience: 
East Hudson Regional Trails Council
Attendees: 

Marilyn Blaho, Rose Bonanno, Jane Daniels, Walt Daniels,Salley Decker, Geoff Hamilton, Gary Haugland, John Magerlein, Hank Osborn, Ron Rosen Andrew Seirup, Connie Stern, Fred Stern

Status of Minutes: 
Final
Minutes: 

East Hudson Regional Trails Council Meeting
Monday, October 17, 2016 - 5:45pm - 8:30pm

 

Goals for meeting:

  • Learn about the new Trail Conference website
  • Discussion on keeping volunteers and Americorps on the "same page" and knowing about what each group is doing in East Hudson 
  • Approve trails and trail updates
  • Share information about successfully completed projects

Approval of minutes of the August meeting see http://www.nynjtc.org/meeting/ehrtc-august-08-2016

Minutes are posted on the web Ron Rosen moved and Gary Haugland seconded. Approved.

There were no additions to the agenda.

Reports from Trail Conference Headquarters

  • Saturday November 5, Volunteer Recognition day; sign up for classes
  • Breakneck Ridge Trail Stewards – Hank Osborn reported on the season as of October 19, 2016. Over the three full seasons, the number of hikers has steadily increased. The six train stops have not helped the situation. The season has been extended have extended. Similar programs have been started at Bear Mountain and Catskills.

Hikers going up Breakneck Ridge

As of October 19, 2016

2014

2015

2016

Total hikers counted

26,743

33,872

35,570

Most hikers in one day

1,426

1,755

1,522

Days with over 1,000 hikers

2

14

22

Lost Hikers

99

102

49

Turned Away

392

470

528

Sent to Cold Spring

961

1111

1521

Sent to Beacon

472

652

992

Injuries

25

25

24
  • New Website - Walt Daniels The launch date is to be between 11/15-11/21, 2016. Walt gave an overview and demo of the new menu system. He also told us about the committee members. The new webpage focuses on hiking since 95% of folks who come to site want to find a hike. Every web member will have a page like Facebook listing accomplishments, jobs, etc. Please send photos for new site so send to Walt.
  • Policy Council - John Magerlein At the Policy Council meeting last week, they reviewed the trail design standards; no comments were received from EH-RTC so next step is staff review. They will be discussion trail use next. Two sub committees are working on risk management and trail management.
  • Publications Committee – In anticipation of the Trail Conference’s 100th anniversary in 2020, the Publications committee-will be updating its history in a revised edition of Vista and Visions. All committees are being encouraged to have something to celebrate. The region should be thinking of something to do.

Reports from the region

  • Workshops Ron Rosen reported that on 10/29 he would be presenting and introduction to boundary monitoring workshop at the RPH cabin.
  • Tabling events – the weather on the day of the Yorktown Street Fair was poor and so there was a low turnout.
  • Work trips
    •  Andrew Sierup spoke about recent work trips for stepping stones also in South Taconic . He has used check dams because nowhere to channel water off the trail. Worktrips are planned for 10/22 and 11/5.
    • Westts have worked at FDR State Park and Teatown
  • AmeriCorps projects - Geoff Hamilton is working on improving communication between the corps and volunteers. Attempts in the past to bring in volunteers to work on AmeriCorps projects were unsuccessful. This season the Trail Love program succeeded by focusing efforts on a smaller group and marketing as fun. The Trail Conference is looking to establish seven trail crews and one invasive strike force in 2017
  • Trail updates and approvals
    • Undercliff Bypass Trail is to shorten the route from the Undercliff to the Brook Trail. It eliminates a confusing situation where on the Undercliff Trail while descending takes a left turn and heads back uphill. This way hikers can shorten their hike  It is 0.2 mile Moved Ron Rosen seconded John Magerlein Approved
    • Waterfall Trail has never been approved. It is 0.1 mile and upstream from Constitution Marsh- - Moved Walt Daniels Seconded John Magerlein approved

Round Robin Information Share –

With low attendance, there was a discussion about dropping back to four meetings per year. The January meeting will be a webinar and then April The webinar will need photos from projects.

        Photos from all events/projects needed

Next meeting see above NOT December 12, 5:45 Teatown Lake Reservation

Adjourn 7:51 PM