Breakneck Ridge Trail
Update 8/14/2000: See East
Hudson Crew Schedule for a trips to continue work on the near by
trails and grass planting on Breakneck.
Project
The popularity of Breakneck Ridge as a hiking destination has
resulted in severe erosion problems.
Watch
for Trail Work Ahead sign! For the rest of summer 2000, the crew will be installing more
waterbars,
cleaning up the loose rock and moving it to define a 6-8 ft wide path
by lining the edges with the loose stones (similar to what has been done
above treeline in the White Mountains), and planting grass and/or shrubs
to hold the remaining dirt. Doing this work takes volunteers!
Work trips: Sat. Jun 3, 10, July 8, August 12, Sept 9.
Sign up: Meet at the Breakneck Trail Head, just north of the
tunnel on Rt 9D north of Cold Spring, at 9 am. You can take either the
train to Cold Spring or to Breakneck Ridge stop (a few morning
trains). If you are coming by train to Cold Spring be sure to let us
know so someone can pick you up. Bring
lunch, water, work gloves in a day pack. Wear hiking boots and
clothing appropriate to the weather. So that we can plan the day�s
work, contact: East Hudson Trail Crew
Background
Many hikers desire to retain the essential
character of the Breakneck Ridge Trail as a challenging trail with
opportunities for rock scrambles. At the same time we also have to
protect the resource for future generations and provide a safe
experience.
For many years the lower part of the trail (to the first bump) has
gone straight uphill which resulted in a wash gully with
no dirt left for the trees and bushes. Lots of
loose rock collects toward the bottom of the
hill and makes for
unsafe walking (ankle twisters). Loose rocks may fall on the people below.
There are long stretches of trail that have become 40-50 ft wide as people look for better footing.
In 1997, an Americorp crew relocated the lowest part of
the trail from under the telephone line to the top of the railroad
tunnel with views over the river.
In 1998, a workshop taught volunteers how to split very large rocks
into usable pieces.
In 1999
the crew ran a workshop to learn how to use highline techniques to move the
split pieces to where they are needed.
Later in the fall the crew used some of this rock to build steps around one of
the severe washouts.
On 5/13/2000
the crew installed two waterbars to direct the water off the
trail and started on a third.
[picture goes here when available] On 6/3, National Trails Day, a crew of
19 finished much more than the estimated work. The path is now defined about 1/3 of the way to the first flat viewpoint and
the loose rock removed. The top 1/3 needs little work so that leaves 1/3 to
do. Special thanks to the Hudson Valley Health Care Americorps
volunteers who helped. No thanks to the hiking club group of over 50
who stopped our work for more than 10 minutes as we waited for them to
pass. See LNT.
See also more Breakneck Ridge
Trail Worktrip pictures.
Mt. Tammany (Red Dot) Trail
Update 8/14/2000: See West
Jersey Crew Schedule for a trips to continue the trail
reconstructionl.
The West Jersey Trail Crew is working on a major reconstruction
project on the Mt. Tammany Trail, including extensive rock work. They
have had trips on May 6, 7, and 21 with one trip remaining on
Saturday, June 3. Contact Dave Day or Monica Resor, [email protected].
Copper Mine Closure
Update 8/14/2000: See East
Hudson Crew Schedule for a trip on Thursday Aug. 31 to start
cutting the trail.
While not a restoration, in a sense it is. There is a dangerous
copper mine (actually never was a copper mine, NY
Walk Book, page 139) that was adjacent to the Appalachian Trail in the 50s. The mine is
now on land
recently purchased by Open Space Institute (OSI) and will eventually be turned over to
NYS OPRHP
as part of Hudson Highlands State Park. In cooperation with OSI, there
will be a new trail that goes from the AT near Hemlock Springs
Campsite, passes the mine and ends on the AT on Canada Hill. The new
trail will make an interesting loop using the AT. However, the trail cannot be opened until the mine is closed. Until
the trail is opened, access to this area is trespassing unless you are
working on the crew.
OSI has hired a mine closure expert and he will be working with
volunteers to close the mine on June 14-24, 2000. Only two of these
days are weekend days so we especially need mid-week volunteers. The
first 2 days need 4 volunteers and the rest need 8 volunteers each
day. Meet at the end of Coppermine Road (off South Mountain Pass, just
east of the AT crossing) at 8:30 AM. Bring lunch, water and work
gloves.
The mine will be closed by installing steel grates across the
openings to allow bats and snakes access while filtering out small
kids and stupid adults. There is no intention to destroy an historical
site but rather to preserve it and make it accessible to people.
Contact Jessica
Burton, 212-505-7480 or Walt
Daniels, 914-245-1250.
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