Also Inside (printed version only)
-
-
- Member survey 9-10
- Hikers' Almanac 15-16
Events
Millennium event for Highlands Trail Saturday, October
21
The
Trail Conference's own nationally-recognized New Jersey Highlands Millennium
Trail celebrates the scenic beauties and historic treasures of this water-rich
geologic region. On October 21 of this millennium year, we will celebrate the
opening of another 20 miles of the Trail-moving ever closer to its end point
on the Delaware River. Above, Surprise Lake in Abram Hewitt State Forest
typifies the wildness of the Highlands as a watershed region.
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.
Annual Meeting Saturday, October 14
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.
Slate of Candidates Announced
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.
* denotes a new nominee not currently serving in the position for which (s)he
is nominated.
Torrey Memorial Hike Sunday, October 29
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
A
view looking south from Schunemunk Mountain in the West Hudson Highlands. For
routes to this and other viewpoints in Black Rock Forest and Storm King State
Park, the Conference's new West Hudson Trails map set is an invaluable guide.
The new, third edition of our West Hudson Trails
two-map set features Orange County's popular and dramatic Storm King and
Schunemunk Mountains, and Black Rock Forest hiking areas.
The maps include major new land acquisitions by Open Space Institute and
resulting new trails on Schunemunk Mountain; relocated trailheads and parking in
Black Rock Forest resulting from construction of their new education building;
and new and relocated trails on Storm King. These five-color maps, printed on
waterproof, tearproof Tyvek, include the Long Path, and for the first time the
distinctively-marked Highlands Trail.
You can order the West Hudson Trails map set using the Conference Shop order
form or look at the map catalog.
New Clubs join Trail Conference's
federation
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!
|