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.