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.

I missed the turning back

Permalink Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/14/2012 - 9:13pm

I missed the turn back onto the AT from 1777. I'm not sure how, I just missed any indication of the turn. I could not see an AT blaze from 7 Lakes Drive, only the 1777 blaze. It should be double-blazed right there. It is not. The problem with the junction on West Mountain is that it's on rock, hence no well-worn trail. When I went back and looked at the junction when I found the path, it looks light it should be blazed as a right hand turn. It definitely doesn't go straight from where you arrive at the junction from the AT. Straight is closer to going on the blue trail. I have had no problem navigating in the entire rest of the park, AT and otherwise. All other blazes seem perfectly clear. Perhaps these two spots could use another look.

Water Source by West Mountain Shelter

Permalink Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/13/2012 - 11:02am

I plan on bringing a scout troop to the shelter in several weeks and was wondering if anyone knew of a water source in the area.

West Mountain

Permalink Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/23/2012 - 12:44pm

Our troop is also planning to be camping at West Mountain on April 21-22. How crowded does it get up there? And, is there generally enough room for everyone?

Camping at West Mountain Shelter

Permalink Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/23/2012 - 1:11pm

The West Mountain Shelter is a very popular one, especially on weekends. It is not large enough to accommodate a Boy Scout troop, together with other users, but the Park allows camping near a shelter when the shelter cannot accommodate all users. There are a number of open areas adjacent to the West Mountain Shelter that are suitable for camping. I would strongly advise that you bring enough tents to accommodate your entire group and figure on camping in tents near the shelter, rather than in the shelter itself.

Water Source by West Mountain Shelter

Permalink Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/13/2012 - 11:23pm

I stayed there March 9th, and the stream .25 mi south east down the blue trail toward The Timp was flowing very well. It was dark when I went down there and was able to locate it by sound, at the bottom of a steep, rocky descent. There is also water from a nice stream down the S-BM yellow trail north east from West Mt., but it's a lot longer and harder climb back up to the shelter. If you're on your way up from here, however, consider bringing the water up from here. If you're coming from the AT, water seemed to be fairly scarce. At least water that you might want to drink, after treating it, of course. The shelter itself is in fairly poor condition with a hole in the roof and a hole in the floor (even the rock hole "filler" that was there is now gone), but usable. The camping area is in great condition, and I recommend it highly. What a wonderful view up there...

West Mountain Shelter

Permalink Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/14/2012 - 4:01pm

Thank you for info! I'll bring a trap so they can sleep in there. Jim

Be prepared, West mt shelter

Permalink Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/13/2012 - 12:49pm

Be prepared, West mt shelter is very popular on weekends(and has a hole in the roof). There is a stream crossing the TT/SBM trails a few minutes hike west of the shelter. There is also a stream at the bottom of Timp pass east of the shelter. Of course, any water source in Harriman should be considered contaminated and requires purification for cooking/drinking. Would probably be easier, and much safer, to carry in all water needs.

West Mountain Shelter

Permalink Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/14/2012 - 4:32pm

Thank you for the warning but we plan on teaching the scouts how to purify water three different ways so we are prepared.

Shelter Maintenance

Permalink Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/14/2012 - 1:31pm

Seems like this shelter has needed repairs for quite some time. I thought there were designated "shelter maintainers", similar to trail maintainers. Any reason no work has been done to fix this shelter?

Kakiat trail over stony brook

Permalink Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/12/2012 - 10:37am

Does anyone know if stony brook is crossable via the Kakiat trail? If I started at the Reeves meadow visitor center - took red and white to the yellow on the left, then to white kakiat I think that is stony brook on the left - my goal is to take kakiat to where it intersects with white bar. Last time I was there I was coming from the other direction (from cascade of slid) and continued on the yellow back to the parking area and it looked like white kakiat just kind of ended - or turned right over the brook and I was not sure if crossing was possible or if a bridge was out. I could have this a little wrong but wanted to know if anyone knew these conditions currently. Or I think I could potentially park off Johnsontown Road near whitebar and bypass this section entirely - but I'd rather not if possible. Thanks.

The brudge that the Kakiat

Permalink Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/12/2012 - 12:51pm

The brudge that the Kakiat used to cross Stony Brook was destroyed by Irene, and it may some time (if ever) before it gets replaced. You MIGHT be able to cross on rocks, or now that the weather is warm, take off your shoes, roll up your pants, and cross through the water, but you won't know until you are there if that is possible. I suggest making an alternate route to use instead if you decide that crossing there is ipossible/not acceptable to you.

Crossing over stony brook

Permalink Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/18/2012 - 7:59am

We did this crossing barefoot yesterday. In the places where the crossing was narrower the water was running quite swiftly and the submerged rocks were very mossy and looked slippery. So we went upstream a few hundred yards from the Kakiat where the crosser was wider but the stream was shallower. I still went in up to my knees in places and the water was numbingly cold. But we made it across and probably provided a nice show to the dozens of hikers on the yellow trail who stood and watched us.

alternative

Permalink Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/12/2012 - 1:47pm

thanks - I think I'll park at Johnsontown Road parking and pick up white bar there - looking to take white bar to ramapo dunderberg to tom jones shelter - that should work, right?

Yes

Permalink Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/12/2012 - 2:21pm

That should be fine, and you have plenty of alternatives if you don't feel like staying on the White Bar the entire way to the R-D. One question- have you been to the Tom Jones shelter before? I could never find it any of the times i passed that area on the R-D.

tom jones

Permalink Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/12/2012 - 2:25pm

I have never been there - seen pictures on the web etc and it is on the map - but I have never been to it - I hope its there - otherwise I will be stealth camping ;) anyone else know about the location or status of the tom jones shelter?

Location of Tom Jones Shelter

Permalink Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/12/2012 - 2:40pm

The Tom Jones Shelter is there, but the shelter is not directly on the trail, and it can be a little tricky to find it. As the map indicates, the shelter is a short distance east of the trail, and it cannot be seen from the trail. If coming from the south, when you reach the crest of the summit ridge, the R-D Trail bends to the left and begins to head north. At this point, you should continue heading east, across the summit, and you should soon see the shelter. There is a rather indistinct unmarked side trail that leads from the R-D Trail to the shelter.

thanks

Permalink Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/12/2012 - 2:47pm

thanks a lot all - this is good information for me ;) i hope i'm not the most annoying person on this board - i post all the time...but greatly appreciate all the info :)

tom jones shelter

Permalink Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/20/2012 - 3:12pm

found the tom jones shelter no problem - it is visible to the right just as you come up to the summit of tom jones mountain on r-d - I guess since there are no leaves yet it is pretty clear - had a great night there and then the next at big hill - thanks a lot ;)

Popolopen Gorge trail Bear Mtn and trail re-directs on Mt Taurus

Permalink Submitted by Visitor (not verified) on 03/01/2012 - 4:17pm

What is going on with the red trail along the gorge? On Tuesday I hiked that trail from the entrance off 9W and was planning to go to Turkey Hill lake and back, but I was stopped early on and told the trail was closed. In the spot where you turn left and up the switchbacks away from the gorge the trail was flattened and double wide and soon I ran into the guys and machine that was flattening and widening the trail who told me that the trail was closed and to turn around. They've effectively wrecked that part of the red trail and seems they were building a dirt road, perhaps something to do with the Aqueduct? So after heading down we went across the BMB to hike Mount Taurus. Here the red trail has been moved so you don't have to cross the missing bridge on the blue trail and you no longer need to cross the brook where the red trail was redirected around the missing red trail bridge, but rather on a calmer section to the right. Towards the peak where the blue meets the white, you're directed to take the wide switch back trail and the white markers have been removed on the three sections of trail straight up; there was a sign after the second stretch that indicated these trails have been closed due to erosion. There was some light snow and ice up in this section and up to the summit, but I climbed it without any ice crampons or trekking poles and the dogs certainly had no problems. Regarding the missing pond by the Cornish Estate barn ruins, I spoke to someone along the trail who indicated they always planned to take down the damn wall that has been partially taken down by Irene, so I take it that it will never be rebuilt. So that's 2 bridges and a pond that's gone from that hike - makes it less appealing.