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.

 

Larry Wheelock's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 02/27/2012 - 1:24pm
This is an update on the closing of the Highlands/Jessup Trail at Seven Springs Road. The Orange County Park renovations north of the road are NOT complete and the trail is closed where it approaches the construction area from the north and from the road. People are being ticketed for entering on the land. The County assures us that work will be complete "sometime" this spring. We'll be sure to alert people as soon as this happens.
thegup's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 02/26/2012 - 9:50am
The fire was on the southern slope of the hill.  The news kept saying it was near the AT which is about 1/2 mile North of the Nose.  I think they meant it was near the Camp Smith trail.  Typical shoddy reporting.
Wolfie2nd's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 02/21/2012 - 7:47am
would anyone know if old mine road is opened up to the rail head of the coper mine trail? and the same for the parking lot @ the bottom of buttermilk falls is opened as well?? i cant seem to get any answers from anyone? any help would be great....     
Estelle's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 02/28/2012 - 1:45pm
We passed by a portion of it near Dingmans Bridge and didn't see any road closed signs.   Don't know what is closed, if it stillis closed.  According to the Walpack Inn website, the road is open; it was previously closed just south of their location. If any doubts, here's the NPS website with a phone number. that way you'll be sure http://www.nps.gov/dewa/index.htm       hope this is helpful
neil's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 02/17/2012 - 6:58pm
I was considering doing Breakneck Ridge hike on Monday.  I was concerned because I know it is a fairly strenuous scramble but the weather is supposed to be pretty dry Sunday and Monday.  Does anyone know the current conditions and if it would be safe to do the hike at this time of year assuming the weather is ok over the next few days?  I am in pretty good shape so that part is not a concern - I would just prefer not to slip or endanger myself as I have never done this hike/scramble.   Thanks.
Michael K7's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 02/18/2012 - 6:42pm
While definitely a hike to be careful on, BR is overrated IMO in terms of difficulty and danger. Just use extra caution if there are any wet rocks- they will be slippery. Maybe someone who's been there this weekend will chime in with the exact current conditions. Have fun!
neil's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 02/21/2012 - 8:46am
I did this hike yesterday - there was no ice and all trail conditions were good - I hiked Breackneck Ridge to South Beacon Mountain fire tower, back to the yellow Wilkinson trail back to the car - about a 9.5 mile hike.  Strenuous but a great hike - my first time in this area.
scope's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 02/16/2012 - 10:28am
Two questions about trails in two totally different areas. 1.  School Mountain Road in Fahnestock SP from Hubbard Lodge - is this passable following the washing out of two bridges during hurricane Irene last year? 2.  Terrace Pond North trail from Warwick Turnpike.  I am assuming this is now open again following gas line disruption.  However this trail used to be quite overgrown in places between the gas line and Terrace Pond.  Having been out of use for sometime, is the trail now clear or is it quite overgrown? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.   Simon 
Georgette Weir's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 02/16/2012 - 3:49pm

bridge washout

On Feb. 4 I walked on School Mountain Road only as far as the stream crossing at the blue trail (half mile in or less), which I took up to Round Hill. The bridge was totally out, but the stream was passable. (I crossed on the steel beams at the bottom of the picture. The wreck of the former crossing is above the beams.) The crossing where the Perkins Trail comes in about 2 miles further on is reported to be damaged, but I am not sure about its status, nor about the condition of the road beyond where I left it.

 

scope's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 02/17/2012 - 8:46am
Thank you both for your helpful replies.  Much appreciated.
WawayandaEast's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 02/16/2012 - 12:07pm
The section of trail between the pipeline and terrace pond is more passible than it was. Most of the heavy overgrowth has been cut back since earlier this year. The trail is followable over the pipeline coalignment. There is some muddier areas on that coalignment due to the work performed. Im not sure how much because I walked it  when it was frozen.  A reblaze is scheduled for when the weather stays warm enough overnight. There is one tangle blowdown that  I trimmed up with my saw so one could navigate over it. All in all the trail is in better shape than it was but still requires work.
neil's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 02/08/2012 - 5:49am
I was planning on doing this hike this weekend: http://nynjtc.org/hike/stony-brook-cascades-and-ramapo-torne-harriman-st... But I read some things in the comments about footbridges being washed out  - although that was a few months ago - and the people said they were still able to do the hike and it was good. Wanted to know if anyone knew the conditions of the trails in this hike and if it would be doable and if the streams would be crossable.  Seven Hills Trail, HTS, Racoon Brook Hill, Kakiat, Stony Brook from the Reeves Meadow Visitor Center. Thanks
neil's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 02/12/2012 - 11:00am
I did this hike yesterday - it was great - the makeshift footbridge on the red white and blue was fine, no problem.  The descent down the 7 hills trail was slippery - had to go down on our butts in a couple of spots but the hike was great - definitely a workout but very nice.
Michael K7's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 02/08/2012 - 11:18am
The hike should be fine if you are in good shape, but it will be cold on Saturday, so any moisture is likely to be frozen, making the steep descents on rocks even more slippery. I was on the RBH and Kakiat near PM lake last weekend, and the trails were fine. I advise bringing a camera, as you are likely to see some amazing ice patterns around the streams. Have fun!
neil's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 02/09/2012 - 9:55am
thanks - it looks like we are going to get some snow too - i am going to bring my spikes for sure - i am in pretty good shape so i am hoping for a good winter hike
Daniel Chazin's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 02/08/2012 - 9:17am
You should be able to do the hike as written, although one of the footbridges crossed by the hike was washed out during Hurricane irene.  The footbridge in question is the first one that the hike uses to cross Pine Meadow Brook.  It carries the Pine Meadow, Seven Hills and Kakiat Trails over the brook and is sometimes informally known as the "red, white and blue" bridge, since the trails are of those colors.  Although this footbridge has not been replaced, hikers have built an informal crossing of the stream, utilizing logs.  When I was there about two months ago, it seemed to me that this crossing could be used by hikers with care.  The second footbridge over the brook used by the hike, which carries the Kakiat and Stony Brook Trails, is still there (the bridge at the Cascade of Slid, mentioned in the hike description but not used by the hike to cross the brook, has also been washed away). If you find it impossible to cross the brook on the logs at the site of the first footbridge (the "red, white and blue" footbridge mentioned above), you can just continue along the south side of the brook, following the red-on-white-blazed Pine Meadow Trail all the way back to the Reeves Meadow Parking Area.
neil's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 02/08/2012 - 10:35am
awesome - thanks a lot for the information
johnm's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 01/30/2012 - 1:24pm
The bridge over Stahahe Brook on Old Arden Road is totally gone and is not likely to be replaced, at least for a long time.  It is a responsibility of the park.  However, at this time you can walk along the brook upstream and find several places where crossing is not too difficult. Then bushwhack up the hill to regain the Stahahe Brook Trail (or descend again to continue on Old Arden Road.)  The two bridges over the close-together branches of the Stahahe Brook on the Nurian Trail are gone but crossing is not too difficult, as reported to me about a week ago.  Alternatively, the brook can be followed along its east side from the missing bridge around to the Nurian Trail, with no need to cross the stream at any point.  Doing so is relatively easy, the area is quite open with no significant brush to scramble through.  There are some blowdowns to go over or around without significant difficulty.  This route can not be encouraged without a degree of reticence due to the park policy that users are to remain on "established ways."  Development of a trail reroute will be considered.  The next edition of the Harriman-Bear Mountaint Trails maps, to be available in about a month, will flag eight  locations of bridges missing due to the storms where crossings may be difficult or highly impractical, such that alternatives can be planned.  Though based on no authority I have always heard and used pronunciation of Stahahe as three syllables: Stah- ha'- he; ending with a long e.  
slabelson's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 01/29/2012 - 12:18am
Does anyone know if Stahahe Brook (on the Stahahe Brook Trail near the Elk Pen) is crossable?  Are both bridges out? Also, does anyone know how to pronounce 'Stahahe'? Thanks!
Georgette Weir's picture

Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 01/30/2012 - 9:28am
No change to the situation after Irene: This major bridge, formerly adequate for park trucks on the old Harriman Arden Road over Stahahe Brook, is totally washed out; stone arches, embankments and all. Crossing is not possible. We plan to post trail updates as we get them on the Harriman Park page on our website