Trails Council Meeting - October 6,2011

MINUTES OF A MEETING
of the
TRAILS COUNCIL
of the
NEW YORK-NEW JERSEY TRAIL CONFERENCE

October 6, 2011

    1.  Trails Council Chair Pete Heckler called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m. at the Trail Conference office in Mahwah, N.J.  Present were: Pete Heckler - Chair, Melissa Bean - Program Assistant, Leigh Draper - East Hudson Program Coordinator, Chris Ingui - New Jersey Program Coordinator, Georgette Weir - Communications Manager, Larry Wheelock - West Hudson Program Coordinator, Estelle Anderson, Jill Arbuckle, Andrew Argeski, Daniel D. Chazin, Chris Connolly, Geof Connor, Jane Daniels, Walt Daniels, David Day, Jack Driller, Jakob Franke, Gary Haugland, Chuck Irwin, Bob Jonas, Mark Liss, John Mack, John Magerlein, Paul Makus, John Moran, Patty Lee Parmalee, Sandy Parr, Joel Pinsker, Keith Scherer, Frank Schoof, Andrew Seirup, Robert Simpson, Brian Sniatkowski and Rich Taylor.

    2.  Minutes.  The minutes of the Trails Council meeting of August 4, 2011 were approved as submitted.

 
    3.  Reports.  The following reports were presented:

        a.  Report of Conservation and Advocacy Committee.  Larry Wheelock stated that the Conservation and Advocacy Committee is looking at various parcels of land that the Trail Conference may consider purchasing.  Pete Heckler reported that the Open Space Institute has recently purchased a parcel of land along the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail.

 
        b.  Report of New Jersey Program Coordinator.  Chris Ingui reported that the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company is expanding their pipeline that runs through northern New Jersey.  He noted that the company has promised to keep the trails that cross the pipeline open during the course of construction and to reforest 75 feet of the 125-foot right-of-way.  He pointed out that, as compensation for the damage that would result to state park lands, the company is willing to pay $8.6 million to the state, which would be used to benefit the affected parks, but he noted that we are advocating that this payment be increased.  In addition, he stated, the Spectra Gas Company is installing a new gas pipeline, is building a new compressor station on Drag Hill in the Ramapos, and intends to construct a new pipeline from there to Jersey City, although we do not currently know the proposed route of this new pipeline.  He also noted that the gas being transmitted through these pipelines is produced by fracking.
 

    Chris Ingui also reported that it has been determined that the bear which allegedly attacked several campers last August in Stokes State Forest actually did not attack anyone, as the wounds that had been reported by the campers were determined to have been several weeks old.

    Chris Ingui announced that two workshops will be held this weekend at the Ramapo Reservation.  He stated that Hurricane Irene caused damage to the Pochuck Boardwalk on the A.T., which will be repaired by the West Jersey Trail Crew, and that the Black Creek bridge on the A.T., as well as the Sterling Ridge Trail bridge over the Wanaque River in Long Pond Ironworks State Park, have been washed out.  He noted that Marianne Ansari has become a Volunteer Coordinator for New Jersey.  

        c.  Report of Publications Committee.  Daniel Chazin reported that the North Jersey map set is almost ready to go to the printer and that we will soon be working on new editions of a number of additional maps.

        d.  Report of Catskills Program Coordinator.  In the absence of Jeff Senterman, Pete Heckler reported that the Fall 2011 issue of Kaatskill Life magazine features an article by Jeff Senterman that discusses the maintenance of trails and lean-tos in the Catskills by volunteer groups, including the Trail Conference.  Larry Wheelock reported that Jeff Senterman, along with Ed Goodell, is attending a ceremony tonight in the Catskills at which an Adopt-A-Resource agreement between the State and the Trail Conference is being signed.

        e.  Report of West Hudson Program Coordinator.  Larry Wheelock reported that all of the footbridges in Minnewaska State Park, as well as seven footbridges in Harriman State Park, have been destroyed by Hurricane Irene.  Patty Lee Parmalee reported that the high embankment of the Lower Awosting Carriage Road that leads to Lake Awosting in Minnewaska State Park Preserve has been completely destroyed, with the cement culverts washed downstream.  She questioned whether some road bridges in the park that were destroyed by Hurricane Irene might be rebuilt as foot bridges, but Pete Heckler commented that it is likely that these bridges will eventually be restored as road bridges.

        f.  Report of East Hudson Program Coordinator.  Leigh Draper reported that two footbridges in Fahnestock State Park were washed out by Hurricane Irene, and that discussion is underway with the Park to determine how (or whether) they will be replaced.  She announced that an East Hudson Supervisors meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 19th, and that an East Hudson Partners meeting will be held sometime in November.  Finally, she announced that the Trail Conference Annual Meeting will be held on Saturday, October 15th in the East Hudson area.
 

        g.  Report of Volunteer Committee.  Estelle Anderson reported that the Volunteer Committee has developed a Volunteer Satisfaction Survey on the web, and she requested that all members of the Trails Council take this survey and publicize its availability to others.  She presented Gary Haugland, Walt Daniels, Sandy Parr, Jill Arbuckle, Daniel Chazin, John Magerlein, Jack Driller and Pete Heckler with special vests, with the Trail Conference logo, in recognition of their dedicated service to the Trail Conference over a period of at least 20 years.  She also announced that 20-year volunteers Monica Day, Bob Jonas and Karen Magerlein either had already received their vests, or were not present at the meeting.  Pete Heckler thanked Estelle Anderson for her dedicated work on the Volunteer Committee.

        h.  Web Team Report.  Walt Daniels reported that the web team will be working with John Moran to implement online trail maintainer reporting on a trial basis in the North Jersey area.

    4.  Retirement of Trail Crew Chief.  Sandy Parr, North Jersey Trail Crew Chief, announced that he will be retiring this spring and moving to Vermont, and he stated that his final trail crew trip will be in December.  Chris Connolly presented Sandy Parr with the Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his dedicated work over a period of many years for the Trail Conference.

    5.  Report on New York State Trails Council.  Jane Daniels reported that she is one of the hiking representatives to the New York State Trails Council.  She noted that, at the latest New York State Trails Council meeting, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation thanked the Trail Conference for their work in determining the status of trails damaged by Hurricane Irene and posting this information on the web.  It was noted that Melissa Bean and Georgette Weir were the people primarily responsible on behalf of the Trail Conference for posting this information on the web.  

    Jane Daniels further reported that no representatives of motorized vehicle users (except for snowmobile representatives) attended the September meeting of the New York State Trails Council, and she stated that that meeting had a very cordial tone.  She stated that there are currently openings for representatives of snowshoers and trail runners, and she encouraged Trail Conference members who are New York State residents and are active in these trail use categories to apply for these positions.  She also reported that a draft action plan for trails in New York State has been issued, and she stated that she will coordinate comments on the draft plan, which are due back on October 25th, on behalf of the Trail Conference.

 
    6.  Shawangunk Ridge Trail Blazes.  Jakob Franke noted that the Shawangunk Ridge Trail is currently marked with Long Path blazes, which has resulted in much confusion.  He showed the Trails Council three proposed new logo blazes for the Shawangunk Ridge Trail, all designed by Lou Leonardis, which will be blue (not aqua) in color.  He noted that, for the most part, these logo blazes would be used only at junctions and road crossings.  After a brief discussion, it was moved, seconded and unanimously carried that Option 1 (using a variant of the existing Long Path logo) be adopted as the new logo blaze of the Shawangunk Ridge Trail.

    7.  Girl Scout A.T. Hike.  Jane Daniels explained that the Girl Scouts are trying to organize local groups of girls to hike the entire A.T. (over a period of a full year) to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts of America.  She pointed out that this is an opportunity for youth to get out and go hiking, and she noted that the Trail Conference is cooperating with the Girl Scouts in connection with this hiking program.  Walt Daniels stated that an article on this hiking venture will be included in the November/December issue of the Trail Walker.

    8.  Trail Approvals.  The following new trails and reroutes were presented:

        a.  Shawangunk Ridge Trail Extension to Rosendale.  Jakob Franke explained that the Shawangunk Ridge Trail currently extends south from the Sam’s Point Preserve to High Point State Park.  He proposed that the existing section of the Long Path through Minnewaska State Park Preserve that is being relocated to a new route through the Mine Hole area be redesignated as the Shawangunk Ridge Trail (although the Park would also be designating the various segments of this trail with other names and different colored blazes), and that the Shawangunk Ridge Trail also be extended north through lands of the Mohonk Preserve.  He also noted that there is the potential of extending this trail further north, as additional lands are acquired.  He explained that the designation of the existing Long Path through Minnewaska as the Shawangunk Ridge Trail would become effective once the Long Path is rerouted through the Mine Hole area.  Patty Lee Parmalee suggested the possibility of creating a “land bridge” for the relocated Long Path, as well as for wildlife, over Route 209, as a connection between the Catskills and the Shawangunks.  Larry Wheelock stated that the International Mountain Bike Association is currently engaged in discussions with the Mohonk Preserve with the view of creating new trails (that would be open to both hikers and mountain bikers) on land that the Mohonk Preserve has acquired at the northern end of the Preserve.  After discussion, it was decided that, since not all park managers had yet consented to this proposed extension of the Shawangunk Ridge Trail, formal Trails Council approval for this extension would be sought at a future meeting.

        b.  Granite Knolls Trails.  Jane Daniels explained that it has been proposed to rename the Arnold’s Run Trail in the Granite Knolls Preserve in the Town of Yorktown, Westchester County, as “Bruno’s Run,” to honor Bruno Grenci, the former owner of the quarry, and to name a woods road in the preserve “Arthur’s Ramble,” to honor a deceased local farmer.  It was noted that the Town of Yorktown, which owns the property, does not object to these name changes.  After a brief discussion, it was moved, seconded and unanimously carried that the Trails Council approve the changes to the names of these two trails.

        c.  Brook Trail in Hudson Highlands State Park.  Geof Connor explained that two bridges along a section of the Brook Trail in Hudson Highlands State Park have been removed, because they were in poor condition.  He further explained that Hurricane Irene did significant damage to the valley followed by the trail, which has become very eroded in this area, and he showed the Trails Council a proposed reroute of this section of the Brook Trail, as well as a portion of the Notch Trail, with the relocated trail routed to the east of the current alignment.  The proposal indicated that the Brook Trail would be co-aligned with the Notch Trail up to the ruins of the dairy farm, but several members of the Trails Council objected to this co-alignment.  After discussion, it was moved, seconded and unanimously carried that the Trails Council approve the proposed reroute of the Brook Trail and the Notch Trail in Hudson Highlands State Park, with the understanding that the Brook Trail will terminate at the Notch Trail and that the two trails will not be co-aligned.

        d.  Washburn Trail in Hudson Highlands State Park.  Geof Connor explained that the section of the Washburn Trail that descends the northeast side of Bull Hill currently follows an eroded path that shortcuts an old carriage road that switchbacks down the hill.  He proposed that the current trail route be abandoned and that the Washburn Trail be rerouted onto the carriage road.  Jane Daniels commented that, if this relocation is implemented, an effort should be made to remediate the abandoned trail section.  After a brief discussion, it was moved, seconded and unanimously carried that this proposed relocation of the Washburn Trail be approved by the Trails Council.

        e.   Stonetown Circular Trail.  Frank Schoof explained that the current route of the Stonetown Circular Trail descending Windbeam Mountain is very steep and eroded.  He proposed that the trail be relocated so that it would follow the current route of the Highlands Trail over Little Windbeam Mountain and then head northwest towards the trailhead on Stonetown Road, following a more attractive route with a gentler grade.  After a brief discussion, it was moved, seconded and unanimously carried that this proposed relocation of the Stonetown Circular Trail be approved by the Trails Council.

    9.   Trail Worker.  It was noted that Les Ferguson, editor of the Trail Worker, is looking for articles to include in the forthcoming issue.  Articles can be sent to trailworker@nynjtc.org.

    10.   Bridge Policy.  Walt Daniels noted that the washouts of many bridges in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene brings to the focus the need for the Trail Conference to adopt a Bridge Policy.  He outlined the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s bridge policy, which distinguishes between bridges that exceed 35 feet in length and those that are shorter, and he pointed out that all long bridges require specific approval by an engineer, while shorter bridges must follow engineering drawings.  Andrew Argeski stated that the engineering school of Dartmouth College, his alma mater, has students work on design projects, and he stated that he would investigate whether the design of these bridges could be taken on as a student project, although he noted that some funding would probably be required.  In response to a question by Daniel Chazin, Larry Wheelock stated that over $4,000 has been raised in donations to repair damage caused by Hurricane Irene.  Daniel Chazin suggested that at least part of these funds be allocated, if required, to assist in the funding of engineering work for the design of bridges.  Pete Heckler requested that the Board be asked to allocate these funds for this purpose.  It was suggested that an ad hoc subcommittee, consisting of Larry Wheelock, Walt Daniels, Daniel Chazin, John Magerlein, Geof Connor, Andrew Argeski and Eddie Walsh, be asked to formulate a proposed Bridge Policy for review by the Trails Council.

    11.  “Mudders and Grunters.”  Patty Lee Parmalee asked to be provided with a list of the local races scheduled through muddy and wet areas, and she offered to participate in some of them to enable her to evaluate their impact on the environment.

    12.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

                                Respectfully submitted,


                                Daniel D. Chazin