In this millennium year, New Jersey's Millennium Legacy Trail-the Trail Conference's very own Highlands Trail-will be toasted by trail builders and friends on Saturday, October 21 in Spruce Run Recreation Area, Clinton, NJ.

Celebrating both the Trail's nationwide recognition and the culmination of another 20 miles of new trail open to the hiking public, the day's activities begin at 10:30 a.m. in the Group Picnic Area of the state-owned Spruce Run Recreation Area-one of the many parks the Trail traverses.

Governor Christine Whitman has been invited as the speaker for the brief ceremony, to be followed at noon by a ribbon-cutting, and a series of hikes on sections of the Highlands Trail offered by volunteer trail builders and maintainers. Updated Highlands Trail brochures describing the new routes will be distributed at the event.

"We've been looking forward to hosting this Millennium celebration for the Highlands Trail for a year, ever since hearing it was selected as New Jersey's Millennium Trail. More than just a happy event for trail supporters and friends, October 21 will be a day to open new sections, and familiarize residents in western New Jersey about the Highlands Trail in particular and the Trail Conference's work in general," said Anne Lutkenhouse, Conference Projects Director.

The Millennium Trails program is a collaboration between the White House Millennium Council, the Department of Transportation, and the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in cooperation with other agencies and organizations. The mission of the program is to recognize, promote, and stimulate the trail movement in the United States and reconnect our communities by trails.

Millennium Legacy Trails is a select list featuring one trail from each state, chosen as the best ambassador of the state's past and future. Each state governor nominated three trails to a "green ribbon" panel based in Washington, D.C., which then selected the one for nationwide recognition. "The Highlands Trail was selected because it is an extraordinary trail connecting the northern part of the state," said Page Crosland, a spokeswoman for the non-profit, Washington, D.C.-based Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. "Also, it is located in an area seen as a major priority by open-space protection advocates in an increasingly urban part of our country."

The Highlands Trail is a cooperative partnership in the finest sense-between public land agencies, municipal governments, private volunteer groups and private landowners. Conceived in 1992 as an estimated 150-mile, long distance hiking trail connecting the Hudson and Delaware Rivers, the Highlands Trail traverses the Highlands Physiographic (geologic) Province-putting on display the scenic and historic treasures of this water-and iron-ore-rich region. Currently about 115 miles of the Trail have been completed and opened to the public.

The newly-open trail sections are scattered in Sussex, Warren, Morris, and Hunterdon counties. The northernmost new section begins in Allamuchy Mountain State Park, in rugged terrain that recalls the Trail's route closer to the New York-New Jersey stateline. It begins with a rock scramble, then follows a section of the Morris Canal Trail, on the former towpath itself, ending near Saxton Falls in Stephens State Park.

Heading Trail-south, the next new segment begins in Stephens State Park near the Musconetcong River and Waterloo Valley Road. It crosses lands of the Hackettstown M.U.A. before reaching U.S. Route 46.

After a brief gap (currently), the Highlands Trail picks up on the Columbia Rail Trail in Morris County, continuing into Hunterdon County. A section through Ken Lockwood Gorge Wildlife Management Area connects to Voorhees State Park. Snaking though that park, the Trail enters Union Furnace Nature Preserve, passing remnants of the mill industry, and (currently) the available trail section ends near the Group Picnic Area in Spruce Run Recreation Area.

To get to Spruce Run, take Interstate Route 78 to Route 31 northbound. After a couple of miles, Van Syckels Road will intersect Route 31 on the left. Take Van Syckels Rd. about a mile and a half to Spruce Run Recreation Area's main entrance. Signs after the entry point will direct you to the Group Picnic Area.

Get an updated Highlands Trail brochure

Those unable to join us on October 21 can receive a copy of the newly-updated Highlands Trail brochure with descriptions of the four new Trail sections. Send a self-addressed, stamped (99 cents) envelope to the NY-NJ Trail Conference, 232 Madison Ave., Room 802, New York, NY 10016, attention New Highlands Trail brochure.

Meet new friends, hike a bit, and hear what the Trail Conference has been doing in the last year and what it has in mind for the future at this year's Trail Conference Annual Membership Meeting on Saturday, October 14, in the heart of Harriman-Bear Mountain State Park, NY.

This meeting is open to all NY-NJ Trail Conference members, club delegates, their immediate families, and invited guests.

The day begins with light refreshments and coffee at 9:00 a.m. The short business meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. followed by hikes between 11:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The day's events conclude with an after-hike reception at 3:30 p.m.

Early registration is recommended. Registration fee for the full day's events is $6 for adults and $4 for children under 14 years of age.

The Nominating Committee is pleased to present the following slate of candidates for the Board of Directors (class of 2003, to serve until October 2003), and for Delegates-at-Large. Board of Directors: Jane Daniels, Wanda Davenport, Brian Goodman, and Tom Humbach. Delegates-at-Large: Larry Braun, Eric Calder, Jacqueline Corrieri, Ilse Dunham, Clifford Gerenz, Denis Halliwell, Jill Hamell, John Jurasek, Jane Levenson, Larry Luxenberg, Bob Marshall*, Trudy Schneider*, Mike Selender, Naomi Sutter, Cyrus Whitney.

Don't Forget! The annual Torrey Memorial Hike to the top of Long Mountain in northern Harriman-Bear Mountain State Park is set for Sunday morning, October 29.

This event honors one of our co-founders, Raymond H. Torrey, as well as the Long Path, which is used to gain Long Mountain's summit.

Meet at the Torrey Memorial/Long Mountain parking lot off Route 6 in Harriman park for a 10:30 a.m. departure for our hike to the memorial plaque. We'll arrive in time for a brief 12:30 ceremony and communal social.

This hike is especially good for families with small children. The just-under- a-mile hike is relatively easy and level, yet includes one challenging ascent at the end-enough to keep the little ones excited. The panoramic view over Turkey Hill Lake, Harriman, and onto the Shawangunks will tempt everyone farther. At past events, children were especially captivated by tracing with their fingers the chiseled tribute into the granite marker atop Long Mountain. This is a great Green-bonding outing!

You can arrive at the Memorial from any number of routes, but do plan on being there on October 29.

Remember: daylight savings time ends early on the 29th-clocks go back one hour!

New!! West Hudson Trails Map

At the June Delegates' Meeting, the Sierra Club/Catskill-Ramapo Chapter, Boy Scout Troop 8 (Brooklyn), and Shorewalkers were voted into the Trail Conference's federation.

The Sierra Club/Catskill-Ramapo Chapter applied for membership as a trail maintaining organization. Once approved, they were assigned trail maintenance of the Long Path in Highlands Lake State Park (Orange County, NY).

Boy Scout Troop 8 (Brooklyn) has a long commitment to volunteer activism and trail work. It is one of the primary maintainers of the 50-Mile (Red) Trail in the Ten Mile River Scout Camp, as well as the creator and maintainer of the Brooklyn Historic Quest Trail linking Gateway National Recreation Area with the Fulton Ferry Landing State Park on the East River.

Shorewalkers is a non-profit group dedicated to promoting and preserving New York City's surrounding shores. Since 1982, they have led walks exploring varied and extensive shore areas in and around New York City. Its premier annual event, The Great Saunter, is an all-day hike along Manhattan's 32-mile shoreline, held on the first Saturday in May.

Welcome to our newest organizational members!