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Trail Walker - Jan./Feb. 1999 |
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Delegates to Meet February 11
For and About Our Members
NJ Voters Approve Stable Source of Funding for Open Space Preservation
Whitman to Raise Spending For Parks
Guest Editorial: Just Don’t Spit on the Sidewalk
Trail News
Hudson River Named an American Heritage River
Book Reviews
New Books in the Hoeferlin Lending Library
Letters to the Editor
Trail Crew Schedules
Get Involved
Trail Conference Hosts Outreach Program in Harriman
Elizabeth Levers, Grande Dame of the AT, Laid to Rest
How to get your mail-in hiking permit for Pequannock Watershed trails
Ask Dr. Rosen
Donations through Workplace Giving
Old Croton Trailway State Park
Conference Volunteers Build Bridge in Minnewaska
How to report illegal park usage (ATVs, Mountain Bikes, etc.)
All Trail Conference members are invited to attend the next meeting of hiking club delegates on Thursday, February 11, 1999 at the Seafarers and International House, 123 East 15th Street, in Manhattan (corner of 15th Street and Irving Place, one block east of Union Square).
Before the meeting, which begins at 7 P.M., join us for a social hours from 6 to 7 P.M. to share refreshments and chat with hiking club representatives.
Public transportation to the Seafarers House: subway lines stopping at 14th St./Union Square are on the Lexington Ave. IRT 4, 5 and 6 lines, as well as the BMT lines N, R and L. The building is also convenient to bus lines 6 and 7 (Broadway); lines 1, 2 and 3 (Park Avenue); and lines 102 and 103 (Third Avenue).
Trail Conference members are invited to attend all delegates' meetings. Some are held in New York City, and others take place at Fort Lee Historic Park on the New Jersey Palisades. These meetings provide a wonderful opportunity for the members of our hiking community to share the latest hiking and conservation news, discuss issues and help determine the Trail Conference's work and activities.
We look forward to seeing you then!
Thanks to Marvin Marcus, Vivian Cannata, Jerry Havlik, Fred Liberman, and John Schoen for preparing the NJ Public Question #1 mailing under an extremely tight deadline. It was "all hands on deck", and they delivered the goods all ready for mailing ahead of deadline!
West Hudson, and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area seasonal, trail crew leader Larry Wheelock presented a Trail Maintenance and Construction Techniques workshop at a recent New Jersey Recreation and Parks Association continuing education Fall Field Day. Larry covered the essentials of proper trail treadway construction, maintenance and drainage for participants, who are largely administrators and maintenance foremen of municipal, county and state parks.
Thanks to Christin Gilmartin who designed the 2-page holiday Conference Shop ad in the last Trail Walker. The look is modern, professional, and Christin completed the job under very tight deadlines. Thanks again.
Is NJ license plate CZ 3949 yours? Our President, Neil Zimmerman, loves to see cars in unusual places with Trail Conference decals. If this is your car, he saw you off Route 17 in Ramsey, NJ, on October 30.. If you think it was you, contact the Trail Conference office and tell us the color and model of your car; if it matches Neil’s description, you’ll get to choose, as our gift, any map or guide we publish.
The Adirondack Mountain Club is now accepting applications for 40 summer seasonal employees to maintain trails, provide backcountry information and operate two mountain lodges in the High Peaks area. All positions require strong outdoor orientation and good public skills. Benefits include room and board, a modest salary and a great setting. Most positions begin in early June and end on Labor Day. Application deadline is February 15th. To apply, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Adirondack Mountain Club, Box 867 (Applications), Lake Placid, NY 12946.
Congratulations to Shorewalkers on their "sweet sixteenth" birthday! Shorewalkers is a walking and environmental group committed to exploring and improving the varied and ever-changing waterfront paths in and around New York, northern New Jersey and the Hudson River. Membership in the organization is $15 per year. For details, contact Shorewalkers, Box 20748, New York, NY 10025.
Congratulations also to the Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference on its 20th anniversary! Twenty years ago they opened a 32-mile trail, and named it the Long Island Greenbelt Trail because they didn’t think there would ever be another. Volunteers ‘came out of the woodwork’ to suggest new routes and help to build them. Now the network is 150 miles and growing! As their newsletter editor said, ‘We’ve outlasted Carter, Reagan, Bush, the Soviet Union, $2 gasoline, leisure suits and lots of paving machines heading east!’.
By a two-thirds majority, New Jersey voters strongly sent a message about the importance of open space in the State by approving the referendum which dedicates $98 million annually for woodland and farmland acquisition over the next 30 years. Governor Christie Whitman first outlined a plan to protect 1 million acres from development in the next 10 years during her second term inaugural last January.
To Trail Conference members who supported this referendum – congratulations! And thank you for ‘hiking to the voting booth’!
The Trail Conference participated strongly in the grass-roots campaign to inform and motivate voters on this issue. Every NJ Conference member received either an e-mail or postcard, as well as all NJ-based clubs and organizations within our federation, and the 55 constituent organizations in the Pride In Our Parks coalition (which the Trail Conference spearheaded in 1996). Similar efforts were made by other of the nearly 300 business and environmental groups joined together as the Coalition to Preserve Natural Resources to back the proposal.
The State’s next step is to determine what percentages of the funding will be used to acquire the farm-, and wood-, lands.
Governor Whitman announced her intention to increase funding in the annual State budget for park maintenance and development a day after New Jerseyans overwhelmingly approved Public Question #1 - the first stable source of funding for land preservation in New Jersey’s history.
Whitman made this commitment in the hope of ensuring that the dollars New Jerseyans approved for acquisition will be focused on that critical need, rather than utilized for operational needs. The governor did not specify how much she will increase funding for parks in next year’s budget. Her Council on New Jersey Outdoors recommended spending $15 million annually for capital improvements and repairs on state lands, and $14 million annual for the daily management of parks, in a report released in 1998. "We haven’t decided on a final number," Whitman said. "We’re going to work with the Legislature to determine what is the appropriate number. I’d like to do that through the budget because this ballot initiative was about open space, farmland and historic preservation and I want to use the dollars for that."
"How thrilling to celebrate the stable source of funding for acquisition and the Governor’s commitment to raising park’s operations budget," said Anne Lutkenhouse, Conference Projects Director. "The strong public endorsement of the value of NJ’s open spaces helped focus her commitment to raising parks’ operations budget.
The Division of Parks & Forestry says $147 million is needed over a three-year period for deferred maintenance. Although annual park attendance has grown this decade by one-third, to almost 14 million people, and parkland has increased 11 percent, to more than 330,000 acres, the park system’s $24 million operating budget has gone up by less than half of 1 percent since 1990. In the last eight years, authorized permanent staff positions have been cut to 422 from 548, and only 388 of those positions now are filled.
The Trail Conference, individually, cooperatively with the 55 organizational members of our Pride In Our Parks coalition, and in partnership with Sierra Club/New Jersey, will be advocating with the Legislature and Governor’s office to provide adequate sums for the parks. Stay tuned.
by Donald S. Hecht
There is a segment of our society whose behavior seems to be governed solely by the Eleventh Commandment, "Thou shall not be caught." Legality or moral propriety is never weighed in consideration of one's conduct; the only questions asked being, "is anyone watching and will I be caught?" Spitting on the sidewalk is my metaphor for this attitude which manifests itself in illegal, disrespectful and impolite behavior to the detriment of society and the environment. Follow the rules only when someone is watching and if caught, profess ignorance is their anthem.
These selfish people unfortunately leave their mark even in what should be the pristine woods. We've seen their spoor - the smashed beer bottles around the blackened fire ring; the dainty tissues left by trailside and, to me, the most infuriating of all, the telltale dirt bike tracks on the narrow woods trails where wheeled vehicles are prohibited. I'll leave for another time the debate on whether there are any circumstances where bikes on a dirt trail are environmentally benign. While I strongly believe that bikers and hikers don't belong on the same trails, I could accept a network of governmentally approved, ecologically and environmentally sound bike trails built and maintained by the bikers, as we have built and maintain our hiking trails. I would have no problem following the rules and keeping off these trails. Even though no one would be watching, I wouldn't spit on the sidewalk.
In hiking in Harriman where (except for a small area around Beechy Bottom) off road bike traffic is prohibited, it is becoming all too common to encounter bikers on the trails. Having already violated the law and the conventions of polite society by ignoring the postings on maps, park publications and trailhead signs, don't expect these gonzos to respect the rules of riding and courtesy of their own mountain bike associations. Hell! No one is watching except for the tree hugging hikers, and they can't do anything about it. If confronted by them, I'll either argue that I have a right to use these public trails or sheepishly profess ignorance. Well we can do something about it!
The NY-NJ Trail Conference is the umbrella organization allowing hikers in the down state area (and yes, even hikers who bike) to work together, present a united voice, and exert the influence of its membership. Consisting of hiking, environmental and outdoor activities clubs and organizations, and their individual members, the Conference can be thanked for the overall responsibility of maintaining most of the hiking trails in the area. While the Conference's stance on bikes on the tails may not be unanimously embraced by its members, there should be no argument with its position that the rules and laws, as they exist, should be followed and obeyed. Toward that end, the Conference has recently embarked upon a program to assist the strained Park enforcement authorities by having its members become their non confrontational eyes and ears. The Conference has asked its members to report illegal vehicle activity with as great detail as possible . Reports should include a description of the place, date, time, number of bikes, description of bikers, etc.
Reprinted (slightly modified) with permission of the author and Trails & Waves, newsletter of the New York-North Jersey Chapter, Appalachian Mountain Club.
The Long Path North Committee is pleased to announce the re-opening of Sec. 24, in the Catskills north of Rte. 23. The trail has been extensively rerouted to bypass the summit of Mt. Hayden, closed to hikers over a year ago by a landowner. Hikers should be prepared for a rough and steep hike in a few spots, as the new trail has not yet been extensively groomed. Also, hikers should carry ample water, as the area is virtually devoid of streams and springs. The Trail Conference and the committee warmly thank long-time maintainer Jack Seirup and Conference Trail Lands Consultant John Myers, for their extensive labors in scouting and clearing the re-route, and working with landowners and the NYC Dept. of Environmental Protection to allow the new trail to be constructed. Long Path Section Supervisor Norm Schwartz also worked on the project.
About a mile of new Long Path section 26 trail has been constructed and opened, eliminating an equal distance of roadwalk. Hikers descending westerly from Huntersfield Mountain should continue in roughly the same direction via the state Reforestation Area, after crossing Hundermark and Macomber Roads. After a short distance, the trail turns left to hug the bank of Huntersfield Creek, proceeds westerly, and after leaving state land, traverses private property to exit at Albert Slater Road. There, a right turn and a short roadwalk reaches a "T" intersection with County Route 11, where Albert Slater Road ends. Hikers should continue straight across Route 11. The trail enters the woods immediately after a short crossing over a grassy field. Hikers traveling the opposite way from Schoharie County should continue straight along Albert Slater Road after crossing Route 11, and look for the left turn onto private property just past the road crossing the creek. Thanks to maintainer Craig Nunn and Supervisor Norm Schwartz for the new trail construction.
Union County (NJ) Freeholder Linda Stender (left), Trail Conference members Sandy Parr and Dean Talcott, and Betty Ann Kelly of the Union County Park Commission officially open the new Sierra Trail bridge and boardwalk in the Watchung Reservation. The project was made possible through funding from the County of Union and the National Recreation Trails Act, with the building efforts of volunteers including Trail Conference members Tom Crowley, Dick Warner, Bob Hagon, Bill and Berthe Myles and members of the Union County Hiking Club.
I would like to thank the Conference’s New Jersey Trail Crew under the leadership of Crew Chief Sandy Parr for designing and constructing a major, 16-feet-long bridge spanning a stream in Jockey Hollow section of Morristown National Historical Park. In October. Major rock placement was completed to rebuild eroding banks and provide the bridge piers. Many months of planning and preparation can be seen in this fine bridge that will last for many years to come.
Approximately $1500 for rock, lumber and hardware was supplied by the National Park Service for this project, which was a fine example of a partnership between a Government agency and a group of fine volunteers.
John Grob
Morristown, NJ
A segment of Sec. 26 of the Long Path crossing the Greene-Schoharie county line, running from the junction of Albert Slater Road and Marvin Rion Rd./Greene County Rte. 11 over Sickler's Mtn. to Pangburn (Pangman) Rd., has been closed at the Greene County end due to sale of the parcel. Location of the closed segment offers no convenient hike-around via roads. The Long Path Committee hopes to complete a reroute by year-end. Hikers seeking current information may call Supervisor Norm Schwartz at (914) 246-9478, or check the Long Path website:
The 181-acre Camp Tamarack is now permanently protected as public open space after a three-way cooperative purchase. The Borough of Oakland, Bergen County and the State’s Green Acres program together paid $1,400,000 for the parcel, which is contiguous to Ramapo Mountain State Forest, and other Borough-owned open space along the Ramapo Mountain ridge.
The Yellow Trail, maintained by the Trail Conference, runs through the property as a critical link between Skyline Drive to the south and the Ramapo Valley County Reservation to the north. (See Trail Conference North Jersey map #22, grid H-5.)
The Borough and Bergen County agreed to together fund a little over $400,000 to close the price between market value and asking price.
Two other Boy Scout camps, Camp Glen Gray and Camp Yawpaw, round out the remaining privately-owned land on this section of the Ramapo Ridge; efforts continue to acquire these two tracts.
Our West Hudson Trail Crew completed work on the new Duggan Trail in Black Rock Forest by putting in some stepping stones and improving drainage in two newly discovered wet areas. Additional cribbing walls were also constructed. Opening ceremonies were held on National Trails Day, June 6, including a ribbon cutting by Stephen Duggan. On a section of the Highlands Trail on long hill, rock steps, cribbing walls and a water bar were placed.
After more brush cutting and removal of blow downs on the new Bluebird Trail in Storm King State Park, we placed stepping stones, water bars, rock steps and cribbing and scree walls. This scenic trail has been paint blazed red and blue and is now open for use.
On our first trip to the Timp-Torne relocation over the Timp in Harriman State Park, we were only able to deliver our tools to the work site near Timp Pass. We wish to thank the PIPC rangers for bringing in our tools in their trucks in the steady rain. The following day we had to swim to the top of the mountain in the relentless rain and fog for an inspection. We found that two areas we had worked on four months earlier had turned into mud holes and streams that needed stepping stones and cribbage. In three work trips this was completed along with additional rock steps, water bars and cribbing walls. This very pretty relocation is now blazed and in use.
A relocation on the Cornell Mine Trail was completed in one work trip by placing rock steps, cribbing and scree walls, stepping stones and water bars. On the Arden-Surebridge Trail near Green Pond Mountain, we installed more rock steps, stepping stones, water bars and a rock box.
The new Indian Hill Trail in Sterling Forest State Park has been flagged, and brush cutting and side-hill work began. Check our schedule for future work trips there.
We wish to thank everyone who came out for spring work, especially to crew leaders Harriet Daddona, Victor Gabay, Claudia Ganz, Denis Halliwell, Bob Reardon, Monica Resor, Paul Waclawski and Larry Wheelock, and to crew members Brian Bachbinder, John Blenninger, Adam Bovane, Doris Bosworth, Mary Jo Bowdoin, Race Brandt, Gail Brown, James Brown, George Cartamil, Deborah Churchill, Herman Clausen, David Day, Margaret Douglas, Tom Dunn, John Eckstein, Carole Ehleben, Sara Ehleben, Chris Ezzo, Christina Ferloni, Erika Ferloni, Chris Fleischman, Margaret Freifeld, Bea Fuzia, Tom Fuzia, C. G. Go, Gary Haugland, Mary Hilley, Joan James, Ellen Kelly, Patrik Larsson, Gay Mayer, Douglas McBride, Nancy Moen, Carol Nestor, Trudy Pojman, Rick Rosenthal, Bruce Shriver, Cynthia Smith, Harry Smith, Jim Walke and just back from outer Mongolia, last but far from least, Hanson Wong. Thanks and a tip of our caps.
Please join us on one or more of our work trips and give trail work a try.
- Bob Marshall, West Hudson Trail Crew Chief, and Trudy Schneider, Assistant to the Crew Chief
Staten Island Greenbelt trails were made and marked by the Urban Trail Club, whose volunteers currently maintain them for use on foot. In the last year, several major reroutes were made, as follows:
White Trail: The trail follows the left edge of the Willowbrook right-of-way (the side away from the college) to Forest Hill Rd. and crosses it directly into the woods on a new footway. After crossing Rockland Ave., it joins the old route at the Greenbelt Circular (blue).
The section opposite Tonkin Lane may be confused by a new construction project. The trail ends at Richmond Rd.
Yellow Trail: At the top of Spring St., soon after entering the woods, the Yellow Trail leaves the dirt road into the trees on the right and parallels the road past Basket Willow Swamp, after which it rejoins it.
The last section near the bus depot and Richmond Ave. has been partially rerouted; follow the blazes.
Red Trail: The trail begins at the St. Patrick’s Place bus stop on Richmond Rd. Do not enter the woods at that point. Walk back along Richmond Rd. to Lighthouse Ave. and follow the blazes a few blocks on streets and then uphill to the parking lot for the Latourette House.
The former wet section in the woods the other side of the House has been abandoned. At the parking lot, the trail goes only to the right to a smaller loop east of the golf course where much of it is on the same footway as the Yellow Trail.
Blue Trail: From the corner of Rockland Ave. and Forest Hill Rd., the Blue Trail now stays coaligned with the Yellow Trail until it nears the knob above the Model Plane area, where it turns left up over the knob, and on the far side loops back on dirt roads until it passes above Hessian Spring (rather than to it) and parallels Old Mill Rd.
It will cross Richmond Hill Rd. on a new golf-cart bridge and descend from the parking lot with the Red Trail to the railroad tie and then out to city streets. (Construction may make it hard to get to Tonkin Lane.)
Appalachian Trail Overseer Mike Rea takes you out in the field with the volunteer Mid-Atlantic Trail Crew of the Appalachian Trail Conference when they visited Bellvale Mountain in Orange County, NY.
Thursday 9/10/98. Hello, everybody, I thought I would just let everybody know how things are going. I really enjoy working with the crew so I just want to share as much of the experience as I can. Ever since my first year as overseer, I felt that the crew is part of the Appalachian Trail experience. In those days Elizabeth Levers [former AT Management Committee Chair] would always have a project for them, helping us with projects that are too big for us. The crew members are volunteers of all ages and from all parts of the country, similar to the thru-hikers that we meet from time to time, but even better, because crew volunteers share our feelings for trail stewardship.
The crew arrived and brought in their tents and food to their campsite. Later, they helped me carry in the lumber shipment for the new bridge railing to be built. Then I helped them carry their tools up the slope of Bellvale Mountain for the rock-step work. After that, some cleared blowdowns while others picked up some of the litter and fire-rings in the area. Tomorrow we really start working.
Thursday 9/11/98: Right now the crew is working in two groups: five volunteers are working on the rock steps going up Bellvale Mountain’s steep slope. They moved about 20 large rocks to the trail using the Grip-Hoist�, rocks too heavy to lift because they must be big enough so as to stay in place while being walked on. The "well-shaped" rocks are used for steps, and irregularly-shaped rocks are placed along the side to keep the traffic on the steps. Soil and small rocks are gathered to fill in behind the steps. And of course, digging is involved in making a place for the rock in the trail.
Three crew volunteers and one local volunteer are putting a new handrail on the Trout Brook bridge, which is being built inside the bridge deck instead of mounted on the outside. This is for added strength against repeated vandalism. Since it involves removing some of the decking, the crew is repositioning and re-nailing all the deck boards. In the process, they are replacing damaged boards and also rebuilding the steps on each end. George Sheedy, our local trail maintainer from Lakes Road to the Cat Rocks helped on Saturday with hammering and nailing. I was "go-fering" for more wood and nails. I also got to know these visiting volunteers who were working on our bridge a bit better. Cynthia, from Atlanta, is the Crew leader. This little piece of the AT is the furthest north she has ever been. In Georgia, Cynthia is a trail maintainer responsible for 10 miles of the AT. Kevin, from Rochester, is on the faculty of the Psychology Department at the University of Rochester Medical School. Sybil, from Woodmere, (Long Island), first volunteered with the crew in 1990 -- when she helped build the bridge that she is repairing today. Since then, she joins the crew every year for as much time as she can, some years as many as three weeks. In 1994 she became a [NY-NJ Trail Conference] maintainer, and in 1996 she took over maintenance of the AT from the Lemon Squeezer to Fingerboard Shelter in Harriman Park. In a way, she is also represents our local AT volunteers.
Friday, 9/12/98. Because I love to dig in the dirt, today I helped build the rock steps up Bellvale Mountain. I am more tired from my one day of rock work then any of the regular crew after their four days. While I was trying to catch my breath, I asked each of the crew a few questions about themselves. Josh, a college student from Canton, OH, is the camp coordinator. Bob from Richmond, VA, is also an AT maintainer, having the "toughest" 2.9 mile section for the Old Dominion AT club. He thru-hiked the AT in 1990 with his son. Since 1992, he’s volunteered two weeks with the crew every year. Sylvia, from Fayettville, NC, lives too far from the trail to be a maintainer, but every year since 1992 she spends two weeks each on the Konnarock, Mid-Atlantic and Rocky Top crews. Rachael, from Anville, PA, , and Ken, from Shohola, PA, are both "first-timers". She has her own pottery business, and Ken hiked the AT from Unionville, NJ to Pearsburg, VA in 1996 to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis. Ken said the crew was a "great bunch of people, and the food is excellent too!"
The crew volunteers completed 19 steps. I think these are the most beautiful and perfectly-placed rock steps I have every hiked on. Sunday marks the completion of most of the crew’s work. The new railing makes the bridge look great. The newly repositioned deck seems easier to walk across and the approach steps on both sides are even and not awkward as before. Tomorrow morning they will add a few touch-ups and gather up their tools and head back to their base camp.
I really appreciate the crew, not only for the quality work they do, but because they share part of the magic that is the Appalachian Trail. The same magic that happens because people like you, the Appalachian Trail maintainers and monitors, volunteer time every season to care for our section of this famous trail.
On behalf of myself and the maintainers, I wish to express our appreciation for the crew coming to work on our section of the Appalachian Trail. I appreciate the high level of effort that every crew volunteer placed into their work. I also found every one of them to be highly personable and interesting. I very much enjoyed working with the crew leaders. Personally, I am richer for having shared this magical week with these fine volunteers of the Mid- Atlantic Crew.
Last summer, the Hudson River was named one of the first 14 American Heritage Rivers in the country. The designation could means tens of millions of dollars for the region for tourism, environmental protection, and economic development (although no specific federal funds have been earmarked). The designation means the Hudson will be officially listed as a heritage site and also means a ‘river navigator’ will be named to get the most for the region out of federal programs. The new designations covers the entire 315-mile length of the river, from its origin in Lake Teat-of-the-Clouds in the Adirondacks to the Atlantic Ocean.
By Peter Senterman
The Catskills: A Cross Country Skiing Guide, by George V. Quinn. Purple Mountain Press, Ltd. 1997.....
A very delightful, well researched and written introduction to cross-country skiing in the Catskills and Shawangunks. The book briefly covers some of the commercial areas, but deals extensively with the back-country routes.
All back-country rotes described are marked hiking trails. Descriptions are excellent, along with directions to the trail heads and what to expect when you get there.
The Essential Guide to Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing in the United States, by Charles Cook. Henry Hold and Company, Inc. 1997.
The bulk of this guide is just that, a guide to the more popular of areas commonly available by state. However, the first portion of the book contains a wealth of information on everything connected with cold weather recreation. The author covers the usual fundamentals of equipment for both sports, as well as how to dress, safety in the woods and on the winter roads, winter camping and even a few words on visual pollution by wearing ‘loud’- colored apparel.
Since this guide covers 38 states, the author lists areas in states with marginal snow as well as areas in places one would not normally associate with winter sports, such as the Great Plains and Arizona. The listings are primarily areas with designated, marked and groomed trails. Easily accessible back country areas with designated but not maintained areas are included. His listings are necessarily limited in each state for the obvious reason of space, and, as the author notes, ‘those areas that responded to his inquiries for information’.
This book would make an excellent companion to someone who travels (with skis or snowshoes) and wants to find places to practice his or her sport without wasting time looking for suitable areas. The descriptions are adequate for first-time use, plus each area (both public parks and private ski touring centers) has a contact listed for up-to-the-minute information.
Allen, Dan. H. Don't Die on the Mountain. Diapensia Press. 1998.
Blaney, Melody A. and L. K. Ullyart. A Journey of Friendship. A Thru-Hike on the Appalachian Trail. The River Press. 1997.
Bryson, Bill. A Walk in the Woods. Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail. Broadway Books. 1998.
Danielle, Gene and Jon Burroughs (Eds.) White Mountain Guide. Hiking Trails in the White Mountain National Forest. Appalachian Mountain Club Books. 1998.
Fishlock, Trevor. Fishlock's Wild Tracks. Twelve Walks in Wales. Dufour Editions, Inc. 1998.
Folwell, Elizabeth. The Adirondack Book. A Complete Guide. Berkshire House Publishers. 1998.
Fried, Marc. B. Shawangunk. Adventure, Exploration, History and Epiphany from a Mountain Wilderness. Marc B. Fried, 766 Sand Hill Road, Gardiner, NY 12525. 1998.
Gildart, Bert and Jane. Best Easy Day Hikes Shenandoah. Falcon Publishing, Inc. 1998.
Hunger, Bill. Hiking Wyoming. Falcon Publishing, Inc. 1998.
Kershner, Bruce. Secret Places of Staten Island. A Visitor's Guide to Scenic and Historic Treasures of Staten Island, New York City. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company. 1998.
Laubach, Ren�. A Guide to Natural Places in the Berkshire Hills. Berkshire House Publishers. 1997.
Leadem, Tim. The West Coast Trail and other great hikes. The Mountaineers Books. 1998.
Litton, Evie. Hiking Hot Springs in the Pacific Northwest. Falcon Publishing, Inc. 1998.
McGrath, William Chad. Great Wisconsin Walks. 45 Strolls, Rambles, Hikes and Treks. Wisconsin Tales and Trails. 1997.
Marshall, Ian. Story Line. Exploring the Literature of the Appalachian Trail. University Press of Virginia. 1998
Molloy, Johnny. Day and Overnight Hikes in the Shenandoah National Park. Menasha Ridge Press. 1998.
Molvar, Eric. Best Easy Day Hikes. Glacier and Waterton Lakes. Falcon Press. 1998.
----- Best Easy Day Hikes. North Cascades. Falcon Press. 1998.
S�guin, Yves. Hiking in the Northeastern United States. Ulysses Green Escapes. 1996
Schad, Jerry. Afoot and Afield in San Diego County. Wilderness Press. 1992
Scherer, Glenn. Nature Walks in New Jersey, a Guide to the Best Trails from the Highlands to Cape May. Appalachian Mountain Club Books. 1998.
Scofield, Bruce R., Stella Green, and H. Neil Zimmerman. Fifty Hikes in New Jersey (revised). Backcountry Publications. 1997.
Smith, Charles W.G. Nature Walks in the Berkshire Hills. An AMC Nature Walks Book. AMC Books. 1997.
Spring, Ira and Harvey Manning. One Hundred Classic Hikes in Washington. The Mountaineers Books. 1998.
Stanton, Ken. Great Day Hikes in and around Napa Valley. Bored Feet Publications. 1995.
Stevens, Lauren R. Hikes and Walks in the Berkshire Hills. Berkshire House Publishers. 1998.
Stone, Robert. Day Hikes in Sedona Arizona. 25 Favorite Hikes. Day Hike Books, Inc. 1998.
----- Day Hikes in Yosemite National Park. 25 Favorite Hikes. Day Hike Books, Inc. 1997
Tarr, Mary Anne. Timber, Trails and Tundra. Hiking Trails and Mountain Peaks of the Gunnison Basin. Uncompahgre Books. 1996.
Todesschini, David John. G.P.S. Land Navigation for the Great Outdoors. A Comprehensive G.P.S. Land Navigation and Technical Manual. Telson Communications, Inc. 1997.
----- and William Maki. The Mid-Atlantic Trailblazer. A G.P.S. Trail Guide. Telson Communications, Inc. 1997.
Thwaites, Tom. Fifty Hikes in Eastern Pennsylvania. >From the Mason-Dixon Line to the Poconos and North Mountain. (revised). Backcountry Publications. 1997.
Wadsworth, Bruce, and contributors. With Wilderness at Heart: A Short History of the Adirondack Mountain Club. 75th Anniversary 1922-1997. Adirondack Mountain Club. 1996.
Wharton, Tom and Gayen. An Outdoor Family Guide to the Southwest's Four Corners. The Mountaineers. 1995.
Wheelock, Walt, and Wynne Benti. The Original Climbing Mt. Whitney. The Complete Guide for Hiking and Backpacking. Spotted Dog Press. 1997.
White, Michael C. Nevada Wilderness Areas and Great Basin National Park. Wilderness Press. 1997.
Wiemann, Barbara L. (General Editor). Pennsylvania Hiking Trails. 12th edition. Keystone Trails Association. 1998.
Winnett, Thomas, Jason Winnett, Lyn Haber, and Kathy Morey. Sierra North, 100 Back-country Trips. Wilderness Press. 1997.
Wuertz-Schaefer, Karin. Hiking Virginia's National Forests. The Globe Pequot Press. 1998.
To the Editor:
David Lillard’s guest editorial, "The Drama of Hiking Trails" (September/October 1998 Trail Walker) hits the nail on the head. The primary reason for separate hiking trails is the quality of the experience. New Jerseyans for Low-Impact Trail Use (NJLITU) welcomes the American Hiking Society’s new policy statement. It is important to note that this lucid description of the nature of the hiking experience contains no reference to trail width. In other words, those who walk on woods roads, including the elderly, families with young children, and hikers completing loops, are seeking the same tranquility and enjoyment of nature as those who are walking on narrow, rugged trails. NJLITU advocates a bicycle-free zone in the southern Kittatinnies, that is, Worthington State Forest and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, for this very reason. We hope that the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference (and, indeed, the AHS) will join us in pressing for this goal. There are already plenty of woods roads for bicyclists to ride on in Northern New Jersey, many of them lightly used.
Readers may be interested to know that before Richard Burton took the role of the psychiatrist in Equus, it was played by Leonard Nimoy of Star Trek fame.
Bob Moss
Bloomfield, NJ
To the Editor:
In the November/December 1998 Trail Walker, Mr. Stephen Schuckman mentions that his ‘promotion of the Conference was jeopardized’ (See Letters, page 2).
Does the Tuxedo-Mt. Ivy Trail need work? Yes! What trail does not? His statement, "completely overgrown" is just not the case.
It is extremely easy to find fault with someone else’s trail and their style of maintenance. Is Mr. Schuckman’s trail in the Catskills in perfect condition at all times?
The Trail Conference has set forth trail standards and these standards should be maintained. If there is a weak spot in the administration of the system, determine the problem and resolve it. We should try to look at all sides of the issue.
The way to get volunteers involved is not to insult the people you have. There are numerous examples of outstanding projects done by volunteers under the NY-NJ Trail Conference umbrella and we should not lose sight of this successful achievement. Volunteers, like good friends, are difficult to acquire and easy to lose. Let us have a little less talk and a lot more work.
Marvin Kirkland
Westwood, NJ
New Jersey Trail Crew
What & Where: Tackle a variety of projects ranging from trail repair to bridge building in NJ’s parks and forests. Bring lunch, work gloves and a beverage.
When: Sundays, January 10 and February 14.
Meet: Call leader(s).
Leaders: Sandy Parr, (732) 469-5109; Dick Warner, (201) 327-4945.
"No, officer. I'm not driving home drunk from a party."
Yes, officer. I know that there are 11 Corona bottles, 8 Budweiser cans, 2 Samuel Adams bottles, 15 soda cans, 2 Evian bottles, 3 Gatorade bottles, 2 gallon water bottles and 1 So-Be (with Yohimbe) bottle in my trunk. All empty."
"I'm a trail maintainer."
"No, landlord. I did not have wild bash over the weekend."
"Yes, I know that there are 11 Corona bottles, 8 Budweiser cans, 2 Samuel Adams bottles, 15 soda cans, 2 Evian bottles, 3 Gatorade bottles. 2 gallon water bottles, and 1 So-Be (with Yohimbe) bottle in my recycling bin. All empty."
"I'm a trail maintainer."
Trail Maintainers: Recyclers for the slobs of the world.
(photo caption) A summer hiking project at Lake Tiorati in Harriman, spearheaded by Board members Lizbeth Gonzalez and David Fermoile, brought volunteer hike leaders from Trail Conference clubs to the park to introduce park users to hiking and the trails. Lizbeth said ‘The response from the public was wonderful. Folks were keenly appreciative of the beauty of Harriman and the opportunity we afforded to experience it on foot. Most said that, although they’ve visited Harriman for several years, they were unable to hike because they didn’t know how to handle themselves in the woods. We taught them about maps, how to follow trail markers, and what to do if they got lost. We answered lots of questions and learned something about the many cultures in New York State. It was fun!’.
Dear David [Fermoile],
Remember us? You met us at Lake Tiorati on July 25th and led us on a hike of the area. We are the Long Beach branch of the NAACP Youth Council. We were taking the hike as part of the Underground Railroad Experience, which celebrates the experiences of runaway slaves and helps young people draw confidence from the strength, courage and intelligence these "passengers" displayed. Part of this program is a hike to help our youngsters understand the hardship of the journey.
We had been coming to Lake Tiorati for this program since 1994, but we never really saw it until you showed it to us. You made quite an impression. We saw so many interesting plants, animals, tracks and burrows that we would have passed right by without your guidance. We are still talking about that trip, and we are already making plans for the next one.
So, this is just a note to thank you for volunteering and the New York - New Jersey Trail Conference for supporting your efforts.
Linda J. King, President
Elizabeth Levers, past president of the New York - New Jersey Trail Conference (1970 - 1972), former Chair of the Appalachian Trail Conference, and former Chair and Corridor Manager of the Conference’s Orange-Rockland Counties’ AT Management Committee, died on November 1, 1998 at her senior home in Wyoming. Known for her key activity in the early land acquisition planning for the AT in New York, as well as setting the standard for AT management for our region, Elizabeth was a no-nonsense woman who literally devoted her energies 7 days a week to the AT after her retirement from an administrative post at Columbia University. In 1979, she received recognition from President Jimmy Carter for her outstanding efforts as a trail volunteer.
Many New York Boy Scouts earned their Eagle Scout badge with her help and encouragement. Elizabeth was a bit of a trend-setter, in her down-to-earth, no-nonsense way: she was a member of the first camping party that went behind the Great Wall of China when it was opened, canoed through England and adventured in the Australian outback. There was only a positive attitude within her, a belief that anything could be done but that one might just have to try several ways. She gave everyone a chance to do their best. She was an Honorary Life Member of the Appalachian Trail Conference, and the NY-NJ Trail Conference.
From Vistas & Vision, the Trail Conference’s 75th anniversary history, author Glenn Scherer profiled Elizabeth:
Elizabeth Levers: Trail Builder and Environmentalist
Liz Levers took her first childhood hike near Lake Hopatcong, NJ. Her grandfather made her a tent from an old sail, so she could sleep out under the stars. This introduction led to a lifelong dedication to the outdoors.
As a college student at Columbia in the ‘30s, Levers joined the Green Mountain Club. Very quickly she learned that ‘trails aren’t just there, you have to put them there’. She started out by throwing aside the branches other people had cut. Over time she moved up to clearing and blazing.
Her early inspirations and role models were Bill Burton and Sam Wilkinson, both Trail Conference Presidents and legendary trail blazers. "These men and the many other leaders I met in the early days of my hiking were all so kind and so generous in their time," relates Levers. "They taught me a great deal about trails, leadership and conservation."
Over the years, Levers became known for her boundless energy. She took on the challenge of becoming co-editor of the New York Walk Book, and for a 1976 revision of the Appalachian Trail Guide hiked and wheel-measured all 108 miles of A.T. in New York. When she discovered that the phone company had replaced all of their utility poles in Vernon Valley, NJ (inadvertently removing all of the Appalachian Trail’s white blazes!), Liz didn’t call for help. She wrote and printed leaflets, placed them at shelters, then put new blazes on all the poles. When water was needed at a New York campsite, she provided carfare to a dowser who discovered an underground spring on the first try.
Lever’s disgust over the trashed conditions of Harriman Park shelters inspired the creation of Litter Day in 1965. "Gradually I became interested in conservation, as well as hiking," explains Levers. "I guess when one becomes a hiker, conservation sort of rubs off on you." The effort went far beyond collecting a few gum wrappers. "Along one brook we hauled out furniture, a bathtub, broken glass, tires of course, buckets of paint, you name it. We got two big piles 20 feet across for the town to pick up."
Elizabeth Levers’ leadership in New York’s Appalachian Trail is legendary, as was her modesty. When asked about her scouting of the 108-mile section, and of her negotiations with 150 property owners, she merely said, "It was great fun! We had a very good time."
Her career in education (Levers was bursar at Columbia University, then student financial aid officer at Long Island University and NYU) gave her a strong interest in young people. She organized 30 Eagle scout projects for young Boy Scouts. Her motivation is easily explained. "Who is going to take over the trails next? She demands to know. "You need an ongoing belief in this kind of thing to keep the trails alive."
Elizabeth was my mentor. She was the reason I got involved in trail work, and, later, in the administrative tasks of a trail supervisor and committee chairman.
- Gary Haugland, Chair Long Path South Committee
Without Elizabeth Levers’ dedication to trails, the AT as we now know it in Putnam County would not exist.
-Jane Daniels, former Co-chair, Putnam County AT Management Committee
Elizabeth’s memorial is the AT in New York. A tireless lady, she wandered through the woods for mile after mile working to move the AT off the roads. The permanent blazes stand as tall, strong and bright as Elizabeth’s dedication.
- Fred Gerty, Regional Forester, NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation, & Dutchess County AT Management Committee member
Elizabeth’s enthusiasm for the park and particularly its trails system unfailingly inspired me. She could be compellingly frank about her conservation outlooks, but was a lady first and foremost.
- Nash Castro, former Executive Director, Palisades Interstate Park Commission
Elizabeth had the unique quality of reaching out to others and utilizing their aid in building the Trail Conference as an organization.
- Meyer Kukle, Honorary Life Member
Elizabeth had an amazing ability to endure the longest, and sometime contentious, meetings where nothing seemed likely to be accomplished, then - like an experienced distance runner - her energy and determination kicked in to finish with a breakthrough of some kind.
- Ken Lutters, Sr. Landscape Architect, NY Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation - Taconic Region
Liz had an incredibly effective approach, best described as quiet but strong, that always produced results. Liz could make things happen!!
- Ron Rosen, Chair, Dutchess/Putnam AT Management Committee
Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope with check or money order with the appropriate fee to: NWCDC, 223 Echo Lake Road, P.O. Box 319, Newfoundland, NJ 07435. Include your telephone number, a photocopy of a current NY-NJ Trail Conference membership card (or photocopy of a hiking club membership card), and a list of the license plate number(s) of the vehicle(s) that will be used on the NWCDC property.
This information will expedite the application process.
FEE STRUCTURE
Newark resident................................$4
Non-Newark resident........................$8
Newark Senior Citizen......................$2
Non-Newark Senior Citizen..............$4
Club Group.......................................Free
Duplicate [permit] for 2nd car.............$1
(Not transferable)
Group Permit: Hike leader must send a letter of request, two weeks in advance if possible. Indicate the date of hike, number of persons in group and intended trail(s). Include contact name, address and phone number (use club stationery when possible). You will receive original and copy of a Special Permit to sign. Return original and save copy to display on vehicle.
Individual Permit: Includes spouse and children under 18 years of age.
Permits are available now. Secure permits early in the year to derive the most benefit. (Permits are always issued for the current calendar year, regardless of the month.) the permit includes an updated trail map, parking decal and a list of regulations, including the locations of areas where hiking is not allowed during hunting seasons.
The NWCDC office is located 1 mile north of Route 23, on Echo Lake Rd. in Newfoundland, NJ; telephone (973) 697-2850.
Lyme Disease Revisited
There is good new about the prevention of Lyme disease. The FDA is in the process of approving two vaccines to prevent Lyme disease. The two vaccines are very similar; Imulyme is manufactured by Pasteur Merieux Connaught and Lymerix by SmithKline Beecham.
The vaccines are good but have some shortcomings. It is not a one shot vaccine. It requires three injections within one year and it will give protection to 80% of the recipients, leaving 20% still vulnerable. The vaccine can not be given to children under the age of 15 and it is children who are most susceptible to Lyme disease. The reason for this caveat is because children under 15 years of age were not used in the initial trials. Also, the FDA advises it not be used by pregnant women, immunocompromised persons, and persons who have immune mediated neurologic disease or arthritis. We do not know how long the immunization will last. Is it a lifetime immunity or will boosters be required?
There are very few adverse reactions in the short term studies. The vaccine can cause false positive if blood Lyme tests are done. The vaccine works in a very unusual manner; the tick ingests blood on biting, the blood has antibodies which inactivate the spirochetes that cause Lyme disease.
I called manufacturers regarding when the vaccine would be available and what the cost would be. Both stated they could not answer either question until they get final clearance from the FDA.
Until the vaccine is available, continue checking for ticks after a hike; shower or bathe if possible. This advice will also apply to persons who are immunized once the vaccine is available as 20 out of 100 recipients will still be susceptible. If you note a target-like rash consult your health provider. Antibiotics are effective in treating Lyme disease. I’m sure this is cheaper than the vaccine.
- Albert P. Rosen, M.D.
Can you help us?
Do you have any contacts in the corporate or non-profit world that could help the Trail Conference enter their workplace giving program? The Conference is already in a number of companies and non-profits in New York for workplace giving, but we want to enter more locations.
The Trail Conference belong now to Earth Share New York (formerly Environmental Federation of New York) which is a national organization and gives us a much better marketing opportunity.
Workplace giving, which allows us to collect money in the "office", has been very effective for us. We have raised several thousand dollars a year. Will you help the Conference by suggesting new companies who we can contact through you? We don’t need the president, human resources, and many appropriate officials can be helpful in getting into the workplace.
Ann G. Loeb, Board Member, (e-mail or leave a message at the Conference office. I will return your call. Thanks!
I had looked forward to this hike for months, after receiving a copy of the new map to the Old Croton Trailway State Park. The map seemed to call to me; it’s filled with a wonderful variety of attractions and sights, some quite urban and others pastoral and ethereal, and along the Trail the Hudson River seems to lead the way onward. The back of the map is a wonderful mix of beautiful photographs and descriptions of sites of interest (55 in all!), and a history of the Old Croton Aqueduct, which, from 1842 until 1955 brought water to the Great Lawn in Central Park and to the site of the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue, providing New York City with fresh water. The aqueduct now supplies water to the town of Ossining. Old Croton Trailway State Park, 26.2 miles long, runs through quaint little villages, historic cemeteries, colonial estates with mansions, and up to the Croton Reservoir and Dam. I wanted to see the underbelly of the great, old aqueduct.
In the museum, pictures and artifacts of the aqueduct, history of its construction, and a great deal of information about Sing Sing Prison; many of the inmates, along with a multitude of Irish immigrants, performed the actual construction. Double Arch Weir, a solidly-built, stone structure which houses the original gate and mechanism that opened and closed the aqueduct, is still functional. Down a long flight of stairs we entered the aqueduct’s tube - huge, rounded, constructed of brick. You can see the water marks still remaining on the bricks that showed the water level. The bricks are wedged to form the tube, reminding me of a coffered ceiling. Within 30 seconds, something whizzed by: pay no mind, it’s just bats which make their home in the aqueduct.
Up near the Croton Reservoir and Dam, the Trail is serene and cool as you walk under a canopy of trees, underfoot the mound that you know is the top curve of the aqueduct. On either side are trees, but as you gaze right and left, a kind of haze or mist seems to protect you from the outside world, and kind of lulls you along up the aqueduct. We counted the vent towers, tall round brick cones, as we went. At the Dam, we looked out over the calm water, listening to the soothing sounds of the rushing water and the lovely fountain at the dam’s base.
Hiking the Trail is an enjoyable, informative way to spend a day. I’m filled with anticipation to hike the next section. The Trail offers something of interest for just about everyone, and the map is so easy to follow. Even the most inexperienced traveler will be comfortable and enjoy a delightful day in the country.
- Judith Fulmer
Now, a four-color map, published by the Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct, is available to the Trailway State Park. Presented in a convenient 4" x 9", accordion-folded format, the map shows the route of the historic Old Croton Aqueduct and its 26-mile Trail from the New Croton Dam through river towns of the lower Hudson Valley to the Yonkers-New York City line. More than 50 sites of interest on or near the trail are located. The illustrated text on the reverse side includes a brief history of the Aqueduct and capsule descriptions of the sites of interest. Inserts on the map side give greater detail for hard-to-navigate trail sections. Practical visitor information is included. The map/guide sells for $4.50 (which includes sales tax), plus $.75 shipping for the first map, $.50 each additional map. Have questions? Contact (914) 693-4117, or Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct, Inc., Overseer’s House, 15 Walnut Street, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522.
[photo available later]
(1) A foot bridge takes form...The first course of the bridge pier’s log crib is laid out on the banks of the Peterskill near the Dallas Pools area of Minnewaska State Park. This bridge will provide foot access to the new Mossy Glen and Witch’s Cave trails.
[photo available later]
(2) Volunteers have now completed four courses of the bridge pier, and are weighting it with rock fill.
[photo available later]
(3) The first of three telephone pole stringers, which will support the bridge decking, is winched across the stream to sit on the pier.
Photos by Hanson Wong
I’d like to thank the NY-NJ Trail Conference for the wonderful volunteer work provided for the bridge building across the Peterskill at Lake Minnewaska. As the bridge designer, I enjoyed the chance to collaborate with the Trail Conference on this project.
Carol A. Hoernlein
Assistant Civil Engineer
Palisades Interstate Park Commission
The Conference suggests the somewhat more effective approach of writing park managers directly with these reports and sending a copy to us.
| For New York State Parks in Rockland, Orange and Ulster Counties (Harriman, Tallman, Storm King, Minnewaska, etc.) | New York State Superintendent Palisades Interstate Park Commission Administration Building Bear Mountain, NY 10911 |
| For New York State Parks in Putnam, Dutchess and Columbia Counties (Fahnestock, Hudson Highlands, Taconic, etc.) | Regional Director Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation P.O. Box 308 Staatsburg NY 12580 |
| For northern New Jersey State Parks & Forests (Ringwood, Norvin Green, Stokes, High Point, Wawayanda, etc) | Regional Superintendent New Jersey State Parks RD #1 Box 999 Route 23 Franklin, NJ 07416 and/or Director Division of Parks & Forestry Dept. of Environmental Protection P.O. Box 404 Trenton, NJ 08625-0404
|
| For Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area | Superintendent Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Bushkill, PA 18324 |
| For Morris County (NJ) Parks (Pyramid Mountain, etc.) | Director |
| For Bergen County (NJ) Parks (Ramapo Reservation, etc.) | Director Bergen County Dept. of Parks 21 Main Street Hackensack, NJ 07601 |
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Last updated: 01/18/01