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.

 

Jeremy Apgar's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 12/19/2014 - 9:43am
The Trail Conference is finishing work on a revision to the Harriman-Bear Mountain Trails map set, and the trail changes in this area that affect the Arden-Surebridge Trail and Red Cross Trail will be on the new map (among other trail relocations, other adjustments, and the introduction of trail mileage numbers along the trails).  Look for the new maps in early 2015!~Jeremy, TC Cartographer
Michael K7's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 12/17/2014 - 8:06pm
The changes are not on the most recent version of the Harriman map set (2013). If these are official, approved changes, then hopefully the TC will create a free printable close up map of that area with the changes on it for hikers to keep with the map set. Thank you for the info!!!
banjolady's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 12/17/2014 - 8:36pm
the relocation of the trail has completely avoided the best part of the ASB which is the nice viewpoint over the lakes. i am sure people will keep making their own trail to the viewpoint...from what i heard, the Park hired an independent trail company to make the changes. I have not heard that the TC approved of the changes but they will most likely be on the next map set which will be coming out soon. i have also noticed bottle caps marking the path to camp thendara from the red cross trail east of skanatati, i think they cross 7 lakes dr too. maybe john mack will chime in and fill in more of the facts here....
Michael K7's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 12/18/2014 - 8:39pm
After so many years of working with the TC, why would the park hire an independent trail company to re-route a trail?
jbeard's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 12/19/2014 - 8:13am
  The man I saw at work on the kiosk was from this company http://www.tahawustrails.com/index.html and he said that the overlook of Lake Skannatati was "sensitive habitat," and that the changes were to keep people away from that area.   JDB
91762's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 12/05/2014 - 3:11pm
Is Rte 106 going to be closed this winter regardless of conditions? If so, when does it close and when will it open? Thanks. Bob
CanadianRoots's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 12/02/2014 - 1:55pm
Was up on Hunter Mountain in the Catskills this weekend hiking the western end of Devils Path. There was anywhere from 5-16 inches of snow in spots on the mountain. Parked at Diamond Notch Road and hiked out to the parking lot at Notch Lake. There was still plenty of running water in the area, and it had warmed up quite a bit by Sunday morning, which made the hike out slightly precarious. 6 inches of melted/ing snow made for some pretty slick conditions even with microspikes.  Overall though Trails were relatively compact and snowshoes weren't necessary.
91762's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 12/01/2014 - 10:14pm
Does anyone know what the trail (e.g. Timp Thorne, Ramapo Dunderburg) conditions are like around Dunderberg Mtn.since it snowed last week? Was there much accumulation, is it still there, any ice? Thanks. Bob
horicon@post.com's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 11/30/2014 - 8:34pm
Does any post trail condations here??
btsullivan@post.com's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 12/22/2014 - 7:35pm
I hopr they do.
horicon@post.com's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 11/30/2014 - 10:44am
Snow in the Gunks.
webmaster's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 10/18/2014 - 10:20pm
See http://www.visitbearmountain.com/calendar.htm for dates and times. Problems generally begin north of Anthony Wayne on PIP and the circle at the Bridge from any direction.
Troop201's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 10/15/2014 - 10:01am
Can you climb the stairs to this fire tower?
Daniel Chazin's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 10/15/2014 - 12:12pm
This fire tower is open to the public, and one may climb the stairs to the top.
johnm's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 09/23/2014 - 12:00am
Experience indicates that the police can do little unless the perpetrators are caught in the act.  Most helpful is to contact the New York State Park Police at 845 786 2781 immediately when observing the act, if possible.  Useful information is on what trail, what locaton, such as what is the nearest trail juncture.  As the reporter apparently knows. there is only one bike trail in Harriman/Bear Mountain Parks.  Powered vehicles are not legal off road anywhere in these parks. 
brianepstein81's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 09/19/2014 - 4:53pm
On TUesday 9/16 posted on Instagram tagged #harriman, it appeared on the myharriman.com website in their instagram section. I called the user out and he deleted my comment and removed the harriman tag, but not before I took pictures to document it.  I'm having trouble including the pictures here but I can send via emai if someone wants to pursue this further. The posters name is Curtis Vriesema, park police should locate this guy and pay him a visit.
joerichkus's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 09/18/2014 - 11:16am
Yesterday I saw a rather large tent, folded up with its poles placed on top, sitting beside the TMI trail, about a quarter of the way between Claudius SMith Den and the Dutch Doctor Lean-to (heading east).  I am assuming that someone brought this out and decided it was too heavy to carry and left it there.  It's a very strange place to place this.  They should have known that this would be a heavy thing to carry on trails.  Another thing I noticed yesterday is a proliferation of fire rings in that general area of the park.
johnm's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 09/16/2014 - 3:21pm
Responding to Harriman Problems posted September 8th: Previous reponses were on the mark.  The TC does not, and is not allowed to, maintain the woods roads. This is in accordance with park rules as posted in various kiosks that users are to keep to marked trails: these roads are not in that category.  As was mentioned, blockage of ATVs is a worthy consideration: usage of powered vehicles off road in the park is prohibited.   The supposition that the square concrete structures were part of CCC-era is confirmed in Harriman Trails, A Guide and History, William J. Myles and Daniel Chazin, 3rd Edition, Published by the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, P. 77.  After noting that the traill passes the foundation of a Civilian Conservation Corps building, the following paragraph includes "The Pine Meadow Trail now crosses the road and follows the north shore of the lake. For much of the way it follows old water and sewer pipes, usually buried but sometimes placed above ground on a rock causeway, which serves today as the trail route.This pipeline, and others around Lakes Wanoksink and Minsi, were built in 1934 to service the camps which were to be built on the lakes.  The pipelines all terminate in a large (but never used) concrete septic tank on Christie Brook."   The trash situation is a problem of long standing.  PVPatrick's reply that "Obviously, the persons that left the trash are responsible.  But anyone could help take it away." is of course correct.  It is a bit much to expect the trail maintainers to haul out all of this trash.  The shortest distance to carry the trash to a roadside for pickup  is somewhat greater than two miles.  Possibly a volunteer team could be assembled to bag the trash and haul it out.  If coordinated and arranged in advance there is also the possibility that the park would haul it out if bagged and hauled to an agreed upon location accessible by the park.        Removing the trash would temporarily improve the situation but there is no reason to believe that these blocks will not continue to be used for depositing trash. At this time no action plan has been defined. If many of we hikers were to take just a moderate sized bag and haul out some amount when using the trail, the situation could be much improved. Perhaps enough people will see our joint comments and follow this suggestion.
banjolady's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 09/17/2014 - 9:41pm
in early summer, may i think--there was a huge pile of trash over by pine meadow lake where the trail meets the road before the dam. one day i saw a ranger there hammering up a "no swimming" sign. he had a big truck right there. he said he is not taking away trash that day, he was just putting up the signs so if anyone drowned they couldnt say they didnt know swimming was illegal. apparently someone did take the trash away but then more piles appeared as the summer went on.... there is a small hand lettered sign that says "please take out your trash". not nearly as big or eye catching as the "no swimming" sign... another thing that irks me is the broken glass, lots of it near the trailheads, near the lakes and also on the early part of the blue disc trail near johnsontown rd and on the white bar. people bring bottles in and smash them?? it is horrible to see this broken glass there and especially if one has dogs..luckily most of the park is lovely and very clean, just a few spots like this.one of the park officials said that minnewaska and the gunks areas dont have these problems. the good news is that i havent seen fishing line around lately as much as earlier in the summer....
jbeard's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 09/12/2014 - 5:32pm
We did this hike today http://www.nynjtc.org/hike/terrace-pond-loop-stephens-road#comment-4518   and it was a good hike, with quite a bit of rock scrambling. The trails and blazes were in good condition, but it was sad to see bags full of trash, and more trash scattered around them, on three sides of Terrace Pond. Whose responsibility is it to clean up this park? The rest of the area seems clean. Jonathan