Trail Conditions Forum

Mud? Ice? High water at stream crossings?

This is the place to let the trail community know what you encountered, where and when (be as precise as possible). Suggestion: Make the trail or park name your subject.

To report serious trail problems that need Trail Conference attention, including illegal trail use issues, visit our Contact Us page. Problems reported through our Contact Us page get to the maintainers fast and reliably. Problems reported on the forum below may help fellow trail users avoid problem areas until they get fixed, but not all maintainers read this regularly.

 

Brenda Holzinger's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 08/17/2010 - 11:37pm

Thanks for the post about your recent hike on section 8 of the Highlands Trail in Hunterdon County.    

This is a section of the Highlands Trail that we struggle with because we are not permitted to do any maintenance in Clinton WMA between April 15 and August 1st in order to protect and leave undisturbed significant bird nesting areas.  The HT Supervisor has spent at least two full days recently in that area attempting to clean it out, but it is almost impossible to do  without a substantial mower after all the grass grows for 4 months.  The WMA will not assist us with the trail maintenance.

I think your comment that the entire section is unmaintained is a bit misleading, although I completely agree with you about the Clinton WMA.   The HT through the remainder of this section should be in pretty good shape based on other recent reports I have received, and is not subject to the maintenance requirements of Clinton WMA.  

We are always trying to do our best to both maintain and keep improving the entire 150 mile route of the HT.  However, as you may know, the entire HT project--routing, building and maintaining--is performed by volunteers.  If you are interested in joining this effort we would welcome the assistance!  This weekend we will be building a small reroute between Tower Hill and Jugtown Mountain to move the HT from its current route through the power line right of way, which is not the most pleasant place to hike. 

Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions about the Highlands Trail.  You can also find information about the HT sections via this link:  www.highlands-trail.org/description.html.

Thanks for taking the time to post a report.  I hope you are able to enjoy hiking other sections of the Highlands Trail.

Brenda Holzinger
Chair, Highlands Trail--Hudson to Delaware Rivers
email:  brendaholzinger@gmail.com
cell:  973-303-3538

Jeremy Apgar's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 08/09/2010 - 12:34pm

Note: All trails are open again as of noon on Saturday the 14th.

Larry Wheelock

 

From National Park Service website on 8-9-2010 http://www.nps.gov/dewa/index.htm:

A wildfire burning within Worthington State Forest has resulted in hiking trail closures within Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, which adjoins the state forest.
The following trails are closed until further notice to ensure public and firefighter safety:
Kaiser Trail - the 2 mile trail is closed from the trailhead on Old Mine Road to the Appalachian Trail.
Coppermine Trail - the 1.8 mile trail is closed from the trailhead on Old Mine Road to the Appalachian Trail at Camp Road.
Appalachian Trail - the trail is closed from the Mohican Outdoor Center south to Holly Spring. Hikers will follow alternate routes along nearby roads. The Appalachian Trail is open from the Dunnfield Creek trailhead north to Holly Spring.

wizzer103's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 08/02/2010 - 9:58am
I went hiking in Harriman yesterday on the Reeves Brook Trail I saw a 5 foot long Timber Rattler just a few feet off the trail not too far from the information center. If you go hiking here keep an eye out! What an awsome sight. I got a few really nice pictures.
coolhandgatsby's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 08/13/2010 - 10:20am
I've seen rattlesnakes many, many times in the park. The good news is that they are very tame and it usually takes a lot just to get them rattling. The bad news is that they are very tame and you might not even know one is there until you step on one . . . which I once almost did on Panther Mtn.
Nick's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/22/2010 - 9:03pm
hi! last winter i did the stretch of russell brook road between the mud pond trail and the trout pond trail (to make a loop, starting from the trout pond trail end). i've never come from cooks falls. is this lower stretch of the old russell brook road passable (on foot, of course). also, is there available parking at that cooks falls end of the road? thanks!! (this is in the western catskills)
BrianSnat's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/23/2010 - 11:59am
I don't believe it is. I know some people who were camping there a few weeks ago and they had to approach the area from the north.
BrianSnat's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/23/2010 - 12:01pm
OOps, I missed the "on foot" part. I'm sure it is. I was there after the road washed away and there was nothing that would keep someone from walking it. Driving is a whole 'nother matter.
Nick's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/25/2010 - 8:50pm
thanks for the replies. i did this today with a friend, and we found that russell brook road is completely passable on foot, with only one river crossing, one ditch scramble, and a few other minor rough spots. This is actually a very beautiful road. And... it's not overgrown at all, though there are a few spots with japanese knotweed invasions.

Also, for the record, at the Cooks Falls side, there is road side parking with space for maybe 4 cars. The 2005 maps do not indicate any parking, so i thought i'd mention it here.

srtmaintainer's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/26/2010 - 7:45pm
Thanks for your report Nick, this is truly what the trails condition forum was created for. Andy Garrison
Jeremy Apgar's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/26/2010 - 10:30am

Nick,

Glad to hear you enjoyed this section of Russell Brook Rd in the western Catskills.

The new 2010 edition of our 'Catskill Trails' map 144 shows this section as a dashed woods road with labels 'Road Closed' to indicate it is not drivable.  We also included a roadside parking symbol at the southern end since we learned during the production of the map that there was a spot for a few cars at this end of Russell Brook Rd, and your posting confirms this!

~Jeremy, TC cartographer

Laurie Lewis's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/14/2010 - 1:50pm
Are there any blueberries left on High Point in the Catskills, or am I too late?
thex's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/23/2010 - 12:43pm
Maybe you should pony up some money and just go to the store and buy some blueberries. Leave whats in the forests for the animals that live and rely on the blueberries. Maybe then, we won't see so many skinny deer, hungry bears going onto peoples property and instigating a bear hunt. You might tink its a small percent of blueberries being taken, but if everyone takes a handful, just think that thats a meal an animal could have relied on. Besides, I've seen people leaving with huge bags of blueberries, a couple of gallon zip locks. Tell me that doesn't affect animals. Haven't we taken enough from our forest friends? Just thing about were you are right now, no matter were it is, its lost animal habitat. STOP THE GREED!!!!
brownjoeus's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/20/2010 - 1:48pm
I was on High Point on July 13 and while they were there, they were smaller than I've ever seen up there. They are/were around though. Here in the Gunks it's like they're "predried" on the bush.
srtmaintainer's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/14/2010 - 5:51pm
I assume that you mean High Point in the Shawangunks! The answer to your question is that plenty of them can be found on the Shawangunk Ridge at this time. Andy Garrison
DoOver's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/19/2010 - 5:48pm
I was at Sam's Point yesterday. Blueberries are in! Brian
BrianSnat's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/10/2010 - 8:42am
Occupation? That's a bit hyperbolic. In Harriman we share the trails with groups large and small and people from all walks of life. It's not like they are playing war games, they are hiking. It's little different than encountering one of those huge hiking groups we see in Harriman, only these people are wearing camouflage. Even if I considered their presence an inconvenience, these are the the men and women who are willing to put their lives on the line to defend our country. If that means that I'm inconvenienced for a few days by their presence, so be it. A few days of sacrificing my peaceful enjoyment of the trail is insignificant to the sacrifice they are willing to make.
fsteinmann's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/12/2010 - 10:24am
I was hiking in northern Harriman on Thursday and in southern Harriman on Sunday and heard what sounded like artillery fire. I believe this had to be some sort of summer training at WP.
PVPatrick's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/10/2010 - 12:07pm
Harriman is a state park designed for peaceful recreation, not a military exercise area. As far as sacrifice, these are novice career army people voluntarily working towads commissions. Also, apparently the rules of the park do not apply as they park vehicles anywhere and walk off trail. I think the PIPC should rethink the idea before this becomes an annual event.
hiker4414's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/10/2010 - 8:58am
It was a pleasure to meet and talk with them. I only wish we were still permitted to hike thru West Point. There used to be trails that ran all the way from Harriman to Storm King. 5 or 6 Years ago the Long Path was routed off roads and thru W. P. property, but our access was terminated after only a month or two. Does anyone know the reason?
srtmaintainer's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 07/10/2010 - 12:20pm
Good point about the trails that used to run on West Point land. I do imagine trails through the heart of the area where they do military maneuvers could be an issue with them. As for the LP though, it ran along the outer boundary of the military land. Maybe it's time to reopen negotiations on the LP route. On the main topic! I would be happy to see the Military hiking the Shawangunk Ridge Trail, I too would thank them for their courageous service. Andy Garrison