Recent Posts

There are news stories this morning that a bear killed a hiker in Apshawa Reserve in NJ. Initial reports are that a group of hikers were being followed by a bear while hiking in the reserve. The hikers made the mistake of running in different directions to try to get away from the bear. One of the hikers was found dead by authorities a few hours later after failing to reunite with the other walkers. If you ever run into a bear in the woods, DO NOT run away. That is one of the worst things you can do. Do not panic. Make yourself look as big as possible. Make noise, shout, etc., and slowly back away from the bear. My condolences to the family of the deceased. RIP.

Jonathan.......Our Trail maintainers and Trail supervisors for this trail area have an almost full time job attempting to keep the Terrace Pond area clear of garbage. The Superintendent and Staff of Wawayanda State park are fully aware of this problem and make regular trips up there to bag and bring down this trash. At this point we can only suggest that if you bring it IN.....Please Bring it OUT, even if it's not your garbage. It's takes all of us as hiking enthusiasts to do our part if we wish to keep our forests clean, natural and enjoyable......Thanks to all of you that have this same ethic. Bob & Estelle

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.

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.