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.
Highlands Trail in Clinton WMA
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
Some Delaware Water Gap Trails Closed - Wildfire
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.
Rattlesnakes
Yes!!!
Is Russell Brook Road from Cooks Falls passable (on foot)?
Cooks Falls
Oops.
russell brook road is great, on foot
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.
Russell Brook Road
Confirmation of roadside parking area
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
Looking for Blueberries
Maybe you should pony up
Blueberries on High Point
Blueberries
Blueberries at Sam's Point
Occupation?
Army War games
Unless something has changed.....
I bumped into the occupiers several times
Good point!