Trails Council Meeting - February 2, 2012

 

 

 

 

          Jeff Senterman also reported that, on Sunday, May 20th, he will be holding a Trail Maintenance 101 workshop in Stamford, New York, in partnership with the Headwaters Trails organization and the Greater Stamford Area Chamber of Commerce.  He explained that this workshop is aimed primarily at volunteers and users of the Headwaters Trails in the Stamford area.  He also reported that he is working with the Greater Stamford Area Chamber of Commerce to increase cooperation and coordination between trail organizations in the area.

 

          Jeff Senterman reported that a Forest Preserve Advisory Committee meeting will be held tomorrow (Friday, February 3rd), and that, at that meeting, the Trail Conference and the Kaaterskill Rail Trail Committee will be making a presentation on the progress of the Kaaterskill Rail Trail.  He stated that this project will be used to help show the need for greater connections between communities and Forest Preserve.

 

          Finally, Jeff Senterman reported that we are waiting on final approvals from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for the adoption of several miles of trails and a lean-to in the Catskills, and for the approval of two proposed trail relocations.

 

                   g.  Report of West Hudson Program Coordinator.  Larry Wheelock reported that 19 workshops have been planned for the spring in the West Hudson area, including rock work training workshops at Bear Mountain.  He noted that anyone interested in attending these workshops at Bear Mountain must first attend an orientation session.  He also noted that a Trail Maintenance 101 workshop has been scheduled for the Hil-Mar Lodge on Sunday, May 20^th, that another workshop will be held in Port Jervis on Saturday, May 12^th, and that Chris Reyling will be running an invitation-only workshop at Fitzgerald Falls.

 

                   h.  Report of East Hudson Program Coordinator.  Leigh Draper reported that the Eagle Fest event will be held this weekend at Croton Point Park and in Peekskill, and that the Banff Film Festival will be held in March.  She asked for volunteers to help represent the Trail Conference at these events.  She also noted that Christina from Van Cortlandt Park will be giving a workshop on preparing a master plan for the park in connection with next week’s Delegates’ Meeting.  Finally, she announced that, on Sunday, March 25^th, a workshop entitled “Facilitating a Workshop - Training Instructors” will be held at the Trail Conference office.

 

          5.   Bridge Policy.  Walt Daniels noted that the Bridge Policy is designed merely to establish a set of ground rules, and that each park will still decide what the requirements for bridges in that park are. 

 

          He explained that, under the revised draft of the Bridge Policy circulated to the Trails Council prior to the meeting, bridges have been divided into three classifications – standard (that can be built by anyone, following standard specifications), custom, and engineered (large fiberglass truss or cable suspension bridges that require special engineering).  He also pointed out that the revised draft makes it clear that the term “puncheons” refers to structures that are very close to the ground, while bridges are located higher above the ground.  Walt Daniels also pointed out that most of our trails are located in what is generally defined as “front country,” since they are less than a mile from a road.  As a result, he explained, the revised policy proposes that we substitute the term “built environment” for areas that are subjected to higher use.  There was discussion as to the definition of “built environment.” 

 

          Chris Connolly raised the issue of the extent to which the Trail Conference should assume liability for bridges that we construct.  Monica Day questioned the necessity of having bridges approved by a certified professional engineer, noting that, under the draft policy, this requirement would apply to all bridges that are “custom” or “engineered,” and that requiring review by an engineer could result in the Conference incurring a large expense.  Andrew Argensi recommended that this requirement be eliminated from the policy.  John Mack questioned how the “25-year flood level” can be determined.  David Day pointed out that the Pochuck Boardwalk, which was designed to withstand a 100-year flood, floated well above the water level during Hurricane Irene.

 

          Pete Heckler encouraged all members of the Trails Council to think about these questions and review the draft Bridge Policy, which will be discussed further at the next Trails Council meeting.

 

          6.  Trails University Curriculum Redesign.  Jeff Senterman pointed to the many workshops included in Program Coordinator reports as an example of the breadth of our Trails University program.  He stated that he is working to supplement and improve the workshops that are being offered.

 

          Jeff Senterman reported that, following the December Trails Council meeting,  he gathered input regarding the redesign of the curriculum for Trails University and created a scoping document for Tahawus Trails, which was used by Tahawus Trails to develop their final scope of work.  He pointed out that members have been solicited for the review subcommittees for each of the four new courses - Trail Evaluation, Tread & Drainage, Trail Structures, and Trail Design and Layout – as well as for the Trail Maintenance 101 and Leadership Training courses, and that invitations to participate in the review subcommittees have already been sent out.  Jeff Senterman commented all subcommittees should start their work by the end of February, and he stated that the development of the new courses would be a collaborative process.

 

          Jeff Senterman explained that the curriculum for Trail Maintenance 101 will be updated, but that the course will retain its basic structure.  He noted that he is developing ideas for the Leadership Training course, including how to work with volunteers and with the Trail Conference, and stated that there will also be an upcoming session on training the trainers.  He also noted that all four of the new courses will be initially taught by Tahawus Trails, and that the courses would then be evaluated by the subcommittees to determine whether changes need to be made.  He explained that, because we are starting from scratch on developing a Leadership Training course, it is likely that this course will not be offered until the fall.  Jeff Senterman distributed copies of a document entitled "Trails University - Status Update" to interested members of the Trails Council. 

 

          Jane Daniels pointed out that the Trails Council is responsible for training and urged all members of the Trails Council to review the proposed curriculum and make suggestions.  Monica Day suggested that a plan for follow-up and retention be included as part of the training plan.

 

          7.  Trail Approvals.  The following new trails and reroutes were presented:

 

                   a.  Long Path Reroute in Minnewaska State Park.  Jakob Franke outlined the planned reroute of the Long Path in Minnewaska State Park, from the Sam’s Point Preserve to Berme Road.  He explained that work on this new trail has been completed, with the exception of a short section leading down to Berme Road.  He noted that we recently obtained permission from the State to complete the final section that descends to Berme Road, and stated that as soon as work on this section is completed (probably during the spring), the new route of the Long Path to Berme Road would be opened, and the existing Long Path route from Sam’s Point through Minnewaska State Park would be deblazed as such.  He pointed out that the existing route of the Long Path through the park will remain but become three distinct trails, with different blazes, and he noted that the Park has given us permission to co-align the Shawangunk Ridge Trail with these trails, provided that markers are installed only at junctions and at infrequent intervals.  Jakob Franke also explained that the Long Path route would temporarily follow Lundy Road and Rogue Harbor Road and then continue on the existing roadwalk, but that the intent is to build a new trail through Vernooy Kill State Forest and Sundown Wild Forest to link up with the Catskills.  Larry Wheelock pointed out that bushwhacking is permitted in these state forests and noted that unmarked trails or woods roads do exist for most of the proposed Long Path route.  Jakob Franke, however, pointed out that a bridge is missing in at least one location along the Vernooy Kill, and he commented that even if the bridge across the Vernooy Kill on Cutler Road is utilized, several miles would need to be traversed without the benefit of any marked trails.

 

                   b.  Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve.  John Moran reported that he, with the assistance of Chris Connolly, Jakob Franke and others, has reopened the trail around the lake that was formerly known as the Haledon Reservoir in the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve, which had become impassible, and that this trail has been named the Preserve Shoreline Loop.  He noted that another trail, called the Island Bridges Trail, also exists in the Preserve, although two bridges are missing.

 

                   c.  Bayswater Trail in Far Rockaway.  Bob Ward outlined the route of the Bayswater Trail in the Bayswater Natural Area in Far Rockaway, Queens, New York.  He explained that the trail starts on State property and continues along the edge of the water.  He also stated that the intent is to extend the trail further in the future, and pointed out that the trail is accessible by both subway and bus.  After discussion, it was moved, seconded and unanimously carried that the Bayswater Trail in Far Rockaway be adopted by the Trail Conference.  This motion was seconded and unanimously carried.

 

                   d.  Trail up Bald Mountain in John Hand County Park.  Leigh Draper explained that while the Trail Conference recently adopted the Teatown-Kitchawan Trail in Westchester County, it did not adopt a short side trail in John Hand County Park that leads from this trail up Bald Mountain.  She explained that this trail is less than a half mile in length and that it is currently blazed in various colors.  She stated that, if adopted by the Trail Conference, the trail will be reblazed in a uniform color that has not yet been determined.  Jane Daniels suggested that the trail be blazed in some color other than green, so as not to confuse hikers who are coming off of the green-blazed Teatown-Kitchawan Trail.  After discussion, it was moved, seconded and unanimously carried that the trail up Bald Mountain in John Hand County Park be adopted by the Trail Conference. 

 

                   e.  Long Path Reroute on Schunemunk Mountain.  Patty Lee Parmalee explained that a section of the Long Path on Schunemunk Mountain will soon be relocated to a new route that will extend south along the Jessup Trail, rather than north along the western ridge of the mountain and then west down to the Hil-Mar Resort on Clove Road.  She proposed that the former route of the Long Path be blazed orange and renamed the Hil-Mar Trail to honor the Hengst family, whose property is traversed by the trail. Larry Wheelock pointed out that members of the Hengst family had originally constructed the trail leading up the west side of the mountain, and he commented that it would be appropriate to name the trail after the resort owned by this family. 

 

          Daniel Chazin pointed out that the section of this trail that runs along the western ridge of the mountain was formerly called the Western Ridge Trail, and he proposed that the historical name for this trail be restored.  This suggestion was not accepted by the Trails Council.  Daniel Chazin also suggested that, if the Western Ridge Trail name is not accepted for the trail section that runs along the western ridge of the mountain, consideration be given to renaming the short spur trail that crosses the mountain and is now called the Western Ridge Trail.

 

          In response to a question by Chris Connolly, Larry Wheelock pointed out that the Hil-Mar Resort, which the Long Path passes through on the way down to Clove Road, is currently up for sale.  He noted that the owner would consider selling a trail corridor along the side of the property to the Trail Conference, and he also pointed out that there is a land-locked parcel near the trail route, further up the mountain, that could perhaps be acquired by the Trail Conference.

 

          After further discussion, it was moved, seconded and unanimously carried that, effective upon the relocation of the Long Path on Schunemunk Mountain, and contingent on Park approval, the former route of the Long Path along the western ridge of the mountain and down to Clove Road be blazed orange and renamed the Hil-Mar Trail.  Jakob Franke noted that he had repeatedly contacted Jeff Hutchinson, Park Manager, to advise him of this proposed change but had not received any response from him.

 

                   f.  Adoption of Trails in Western Catskills.  Jeff Senterman explained that, several weeks ago, he was approached by the Finger Lakes Trail Conference and asked whether the Trail Conference would consider adopting two trail sections in the western Catskills that are part of the Finger Lakes Trail.  He stated that the trails proposed to be adopted by the Trail Conference are the 3.7-mile Touch-Me-Not Trail and the 8.1-mile trail section that extends from the end of the Mill Brook Ridge Trail on Balsam Lake Mountain to the northern end of the driveable section of Black Bear Road and includes portions of the Balsam Lake Mountain, Dry Brook Ridge and Neversink-Hardenburgh Trails.  He pointed out that these trails were maintained by the Trail Conference a number of years ago but that, at the request of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference, we turned over to them the responsibility for maintaining these trails.  He also noted that the section of the Neversink-Hardenburg Trail proposed to be adopted is one of the few relatively level trail sections in the Catskills.

 

          Jeff Senterman pointed out that, at present, these trails are maintained by the Finger Lakes Trail Conference pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.  He stated that, for the present, we would be maintaining these trails on behalf of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference, but that we would work to change the “paperwork” so that these trails would come under our own MOU with the DEC in the future.

 

          After discussion, it was moved, seconded and unanimously carried that the Trail Conference adopt the following two trails in the western Catskills: the 3.7-mile Touch-Me-Not Trail, and the 8.1-mile trail section that extends from the end of the Mill Brook Ridge Trail on Balsam Lake Mountain to the northern end of the driveable section of Black Bear Road and includes portions of the Balsam Lake Mountain, Dry Brook Ridge and Neversink-Hardenburgh Trails.  This motion was seconded and unanimously carried.

                   g.  Relocation of Long Path in Mt. Ivy.  Jakob Franke explained that the Long Path currently follows Route 202 and a ramp that is part of Exit 13 of the Palisades Interstate Parkway in Mt. Ivy.  He explained his proposal to relocate the trail in this area to a sidewalk on the north side of Route 202 and to a footpath through a wooded area inside the loop of the ramp, which would eliminate about a quarter mile of roadwalking.  Jane Daniels questioned the safety of crossing the Parkway exit ramp, but Jakob Franke stated that the use of the trail section is very light, and that visibility of approaching traffic is reasonably good.  It was also noted that the Long Path currently crosses the ramp in the same place that it would cross if the relocation is approved.

 

          After discussion, it was moved, seconded and unanimously carried that the proposed reroute of the Long Path in Mt. Ivy, at Exit 13 of the Palisades Interstate Parkway, be approved by the Trails Council.

 

                   h.  Relocation of Major Welch Trail in Bear Mountain State Park.  John Mack explained his proposal to relocate two short sections of the Major Welch Trail in Bear Mountain State Park.  He noted that the first relocation substitutes a 1,900-foot-long switchback for a rocky and eroded section of the trail, and that the second relocation involves constructing a parallel route to 150 feet of trail.  In response to a question by Jane Daniels, John Mack stated that steps would be taken to remediate the old sections of trail that are being abandoned. 

 

          After discussion, it was moved, seconded and unanimously carried that the two proposed relocations of the Major Welch Trail in Bear Mountain State Park be approved by the Trails Council, contingent on the approval of these reroutes by the Park.

 

          8.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:43 p.m.

 

                                                                             Respectfully submitted,

 

 

                                                                             Daniel D. Chazin