5:45 Networking and dinner
6:15 Meeting
- Introductions
- Additions to the agenda
- Approve minutes of the March Meeting
- Announcements
- Volunteer Leadership Changes
- Breakneck Ridge, repairs and traffic- Hank Osborn
- Reminders
- Follow-up from March Meeting - Empire State Trail
- News from Headquarters
- Publications - Jane Daniels
- Westchester Map Set
- Walkable Westchester update
- Centennial Celebration - Josh Howard, Chief Operating Officer, NY-NJ Trail Conference
- Staff and program changes
- T- Shirts
- Roving Trail Team
- Eyes of the Trail Builder
- Invasives Training
- Publications - Jane Daniels
- Reports from the Region
- New Maintaining Club
- Updates & Changes
- Sylvan Glen - Jane Daniels
- Teatown - Mary Dodds
- Accomplishments & Activities
- Trail Tramps - Mary Dodds
- Mohansic Trailway - Jane Daniels
- John Jay High School Interns - Rose Bonanno
- North East Trail Crew - Geof Connor
- Taxter Ridge - Connie Stern
- Workshops
- Trail Maintenance 101 May 4 - Rose Bonanno
- Presentation: - Why Have Trail Stewards Hank Osborn, Senior Program Coordinator
Overuse and misuse of the most popular outdoor destinations are threatening the ecological integrity of these special places. In the greater New York metropolitan region, the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is taking a leadership role in coordinating stewardship efforts to keep up with growing threats. There is no one answer to solving this issue; it is our belief that we can create better outdoor experiences through user education, public participation, and sustainable, on-the-ground solutions. The Trail Conference has joined with land managers and local partners to begin a multi-phased stewardship approach on the Appalachian Trail, at Breakneck Ridge, and in the Catskills. Learn how trail steward and trail-building programs have worked to make the public better informed, more responsible trails users while protecting the resource. Because when trails are used responsibly, they protect both the people who use them and the environment that surrounds them.
- Meetings, Speakers, Workshops
- Round Robin
8:45 Adjourn
Marilyn Blaho, Rose Bonanno. Donna Chapman, Geof Connor, Jane Daniels, Walt Daniels, Mary Dodds, Tim Harvell, Gary Haugland, Phil Heidelberger, Laura Kosbar, David Margulis, Hank Osborn, Michael Pashley, Martha Rabson, Ron Rosen, Andrew Seirup, Connie Stern, Fred Stern, Marlena Ver-Schocknere Daniels, Michael Pashley
Introductions
Jane introduced Michael Pashley who will be conducting our meetings in the future as Jane transitions out of her leadership role. She also introduced Phil Heidelberger who will produce future visual presentations. Jane also introduced Josh Howard who recently became Chief Operating Officer of the Trail Conference.
Attendees then introduced themselves.
No additions were made to the agenda. No changes were made to the minutes of our last meeting.
Reports from the Region
Ron Rosen reported that the ATC Vista event has been moved from 2020 to 2021. As yet the dates have not been announced.
Hank Osborn reported that the recently precariously located boulder at Breakneck Ridge which caused shutdown of the trail has been pronounced not to be a present hazard to hikers. The incident was noted by State authorities and Homeland Security who closed the area for 24 hours before deeming it safe.
Jane reported that the new Empire State Trail will become a reality reaching now through Brewster, Putnam County to Hopewell, Dutchess County and Columbia County.
Report from Headquarters
Publication of Walkable Westchester III and new trail maps will be in time for the TC 2020 Centennial Celebration. Josh Howard gave an historical recap of the Trail Conference, including highlights of its development, including successful environmental action efforts to save park land from development and the change from local clubs maintaining trails to individuals performing maintenance, and the extension of TC work to include the Catskills, the acquisition of the schoolhouse headquarters and recently the training of a dog trained to sniff out one of five kinds of invasives.
Two innovative programs sponsored by Headquarters are a Roving Trail Crew which has had a very enthusiastic response and Eyes of a Trail Builder Workshops led by Headquarters staff, where hikers join experts to enhance trail building skills, with several workshops scheduled. Details of these programs are available on the TC website.
Reports from the Region
Jane announced that the Westchester Mountain Biking Association has joined the TC as a new maintaining club.
Jane also announced changes to trails in Sylvan Glen which have been approved, including moving and extending the Taconic Bridge Trail.
Mary Dodds noted that due to busy beaver activity a section of the Twin Lakes Trail in Teatown is now under water, including a length of boardwalk, and has been rerouted. The trail is now the Three Lakes Trail as it goes around Teatown Lake
Geof Connor reported that in Ward Pound Ridge new bridges are necessary in very wet areas and puncheon near Meadow had to be reset out of deep water. Repairs to broken bridge over the Cross River have not yet been scheduled.
Connie Stern reported that on May 16 a successful corporate community service day with MVP Healthcare volunteers solved several trail repairs at Taxter Ridge in Tarrytown.
Presentation
Hank Osborn, Senior Program Coordinator. And Why Have Trail Stewards?
With six years of experience with the TC, and a lifelong dedication to the outdoors, Hank described how, in answer to a growing problem of trail overuse and deterioration, he created the Trail Steward program to assist unprepared hikers to a safer, more successful trail experience. As of 2018 fifty Trail Stewards have been trained. As a result of this program, numbers of lost hikers, for example, have dropped from 99in 2014 to 26 in 2018. Hank announced that this program has received an award from the Leave No Trace organization for Breakneck Ridge area. His presentation was the one he gave at the Trails Symposium in Syracuse at the end of April.
Future Meetings
Michael announced the next meeting, which will be a picnic, will be on September29 at Hubbard Lodge. Families and maintainers are welcome. Michael will send a notice as it approaches. He asked for group to come up with suggestions for speakers at future meetings.
Ron Rosen announced at the annual work weekend at RPH will be held on July 19, 20 and 21, with a barbeque for AT volunteers on Monday, July 22.