Hurricane Irene Damage To Trails?

[Linda Frank]

If anyone has any info re damage to trails as a result of Hurricane Irene, I think we'd all appreciate a posting.

Although I consider Manasquan Reservoir in Howell, NJ more of a fitness walk around the Perimeter Trail, technically I guess it is listed as a "hike".  So in case anyone who either hikes this trail on a regular basis as I do, or is considering taking a trip there, I'd wait a week or so to do so. 

Based on my visit there this morning, the majority of the Perimeter Trail is closed from Mile Marker 2 - 5.  It's open from Mile Marker 1 - 2 so I managed to make a little over a five-mile speed walk by going back and forth and back again. I spoke w/couple of park rangers who were in the midst of major clean up and repairs and was told that it'd take a good week before they'd consider the entire trail safe for pedestrians and cyclists.

The shore boardwalks at Spring Lake and Belmar (where I also do some jogging) are pretty torn up and in some cases washed away.  What a shame. Spring Lake boardwalk was a great 4 mile stretch back and forth for a terrific walk/jog. I'm sure it'll be back up and better than ever by next summer.  At least we all came away fairly unscathed by the hurricane.  Hope all here at NJHiking/Connect can say the same and are safe.

So any other damage to report on any trails? 

Linda

[njHiking.com]

Good idea to start a post for this, I am sure people are wondering about trails. I am going to try to gather up any news I see and post here, but our power isn't expected back until Friday so I am a little hampered in that!

From NPCA
Delaware Water Gap NRA - Route 209 within the park is closed from Bushkill to Milford. The road will remain closed until further notice. The strong winds and heavy rains from Hurricane Irene brought down numerous trees along the road and caused flooding at Bushkill Creek. Additional flooding is expected along Route 209 as the Delaware River rises toward flood stage. Many local roads that connect to Route 209, River Road, and other park roads are also closed.

From NYNJTC
Pochunk boardwalk fb.me/16oasOqJd

Throughout the NE (not jersey but NY, New England)
fb.me/160fRws7G

From compass points, New England to south, no NJ
bit.ly/oS8XiU

--Dawn

[Daniela Wagstaff]

The NY/NJ Trail Conference has a page that is being updated:

http://www.nynjtc.org/news/postirene-message-hikers-trail-maintainers

 

From Susan at [e-mail] regarding Harriman State Park, NY on 8/29/11:

this morning i called the park police who told me that 7 lakes dr was closed and so was 106, harriman park was definitely closed. i went by kakiat and that was closed, so on up 202 to call hollow rd. found the bridge at the long path washed out as well so i went up woodtown rd to the reservoirs. both this LP bridge and the popolopen bridge were significant structures and judging from this i would assume that all bridges are washed away at this point. the park police could not tell me if the park would be open tomorrow so i will call again in the AM. the limited experience of the park today was that there is lots of erosion and water on the trail.  at this point i am sure the SBM from downtown suffern can be accessed, as well as woodtown rd from call hollow. i can check on ladentown and the EQ center as well, and it is certainly possible that 7 lakes and 106 may open up but there is no guarantee. not sure about elk pen--

 

Fortunately I did not lose power, yard flooded (doesn't take a hurricane for that to happen) had water coming in all basement windows but luckily right down the french drains and into the sump pump, neighbor's tree crashed through the fence and on to deck but missed the house.  Extensive flooding and damage just blocks from me so I was very, very lucky.  (I'm near GSP exit 135.) Hope everyone else came through as unscathed as possible.

[Daniela Wagstaff]

Morris County, NJ Closures (scroll down for parks)

http://morriscountyoem.blogspot.com/

 

A couple of tweets from this morning regarding NY State Parks:

NYstateparks UPDATE Taconic Parks: Fahnestock, Lake Taghkanic, Mills-Norrie and Taconic Copake, Taconic Rudd-Pond are OPEN http://ow.ly/6gtBV

NYstateparks UPDATE: Hither Hills & west end of Robert Moses state park are OPEN. Please contact the LI regional office for updates: http://ow.ly/6gt5R

[Daniela Wagstaff]

Today's Harriman State Park, NY update from Susan at [e-mail] 

 

acccording to park police, 7 lakes dr is open between sloatsburg and sebago turn around, and johnstown rd by church to 106 is open, and rt 106 east from johnstown rd to palisades is also open. elk pen and rt 17 are also open. kakiat park is closed today but they might open it tomorrow. the bridge there is ok but there is a lot of debris they are cleaning up.

STILL CLOSED 106 west of kanawauke, 7 lakes dr north of kanawauke

[njHiking.com]

New Jersey refuges remain flooded after Hurricane Irene
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/feature_archive/Feature.cfm?id=794591994

And thanks for all the updates, Daniela. I am a little limited on looking stuff up here on 3g and battery power :) But people have it way worse so I am not complaining. The only problems here was spending all day Sunday bailing a couple inches in the basement by hand and not having power (till Friday probably).

And since we're using our hiking headlamps around the house in the dark (sooo much better than flashlights!!) and using a Coleman cooler as our fridge, it's kinda like we're cabin camping! Now if we could just get out on a trail in this lovely weather...

Dawn

[Linda Frank]

We were extremely fortunate by comparison to both of you and many others who are still w/o power and suffered home and property damage.  Actually we had more trees downed and no power for a day as a result of the previous storm that came through here a few weeks before.  Naturally w/the intensity of this predicted we were prepared for much worse but we lucked out this time.

We're on well water and depend on electric for the well pump.  A warmer fridge doesn't bother me as much as the prospect of no flushing.  But...being used to taking care of at least some business in the woods as a result of no-facility-hiking trails, that's no longer an issue since I have plenty of woods behind my house.  As you alluded, Dawn, a handy headlamp helps if the "call" comes after dark. :)

Desperate as we also are to get back on a trail, I've been researching just about any kind of walking venue w/more paved surfaces and less surrounding/overhead trees that escaped the ravages of the hurricane.  That's beginning to look like the NJPark system.  I know that'll mean dealing w/more cyclists and families this weekend, but at this point we're chomping at the bit to put any distance underfoot and get us out this weekend...if the NOW predicted rain holds off.  Ugh...more rain. :(

Here's hoping you're up and running on full power, Dawn, real soon. P.S. If you've got one of those Coleman grills, how 'bout toasting up some 'Smores to complete the pseudo camping experience?

Linda

[njHiking.com]

N.J. parks ‘suffer significant damage’ from Hurricane Irene
http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/science-updates/nj-parks-suffer-si...

Linda-- funny you mention the Coleman grill because we actually had used it last night to grill up some eggplant. Our stove works but we didn't want to heat the house up. Should have made s'mores too!

[Daniela Wagstaff]

Wow, sounds like the southern parks are in really bad shape.  I would guess the water has no place to go with it being so flat. This article addresses some of the north Jersey parks:

 

Some state parks reopen, others still closed - New Jersey Herald

http://www.njherald.com/story/news/PARKS--for-Irene-folo-of-083011-...

 

From Twitter regarding Ringwood:

@junglehabitat Hurr Irene rpt for Ringwood: probable blowdowns throughout the park and we're working on cleanup now. Fireroads eroded badly and dicey.

 

[Linda Frank]

Thanks for the link, Dawn.  I was Googling individual venues for more info and having this link w/updates on so many places right there makes it a lot easier to keep track of current conditions.  

Sadly, one of the places we were thinking of doing was Wharton.  But as you alluded, Daniela, despite the sandier soil conditions which would normally prompt better drainage, the land is so flat and with that much water, it just has no place to go till Mother Nature decides to accept it back into the air and the earth.

Another consideration we had was returning to Valley Forge only this time sticking to their myriad of paved trails so I checked out their conditions.

http://www.nps.gov/vafo/planyourvisit/index.htm.  

Only just this morning did I notice on their Facebook page that two of the trails reported closed as of last night, however, were now opened: Rt. 252 and Yellow Springs Road. 

I also read last night about the devastation to the Delaware Canal & Towpath. Nearly any section of that path always presented a good walk and Washington Crossing Park was a great place to picnic afterwards. I guess we must have done nearly the whole thing - in sections - over the years. 

I realize, however, that in the scheme of things, good hiking conditions (or lack thereof in this case) aren't nearly as important or life altering as some of the other terrible after effects Irene left in its wake.  But I can't deny my gloomy outlook toward the very real probability of incredibly deteriorated trails this fall.

 

[Daniela Wagstaff]

Linda - have you considered Ridley Creek State Park?  It's been years since I have been there but I remember hiking trails and the paved multi-use trail kind of intermingling so the nice thing about that is you could always start out on a hiking trail and bail to the paved trail if need be.  Can't find any current info at all on that park but PA State Parks does have updates on other parks on their web site.  I have been thinking about Nockamixon State Park since I prefer to drive out I-78 on holidays weekends for lighter traffic.  I found some nice firsthand information on a mountain bike forum: http://forums.mtbr.com/pennsylvania/nockamixon-conditions-733329.html
- sounds like those trails are in good shape.

[Linda Frank]

Thanks for the suggestions, Daniela. Earlier this summer we did Tyler Arboretum, which is right next (and I believe has connection trails) to Ridley. We wanted to go into Ridley then, but didn't have the time. So it's definitely worth a return visit there now as long as it's open.   The only news I did read/see about Ridley This YouTube Video.   

I remember we visited Nockamixon many, many years ago.  But that was just to picnic at the marina.  We weren't into hiking then.  (Gee, hard to imagine now that there was ever such a time in my life when hiking wasn't a major part of it.)

Both are about the same travel distance from us.  I guess the only way to get more info & assurance about either area is to call them.  Short of exchanging info on forums such as these, calling a venue in advance would be the best bet for any hiker in the days and weeks ahead.  Thanks again.  

Linda 

[njHiking.com]

Report hazardous trail situations to the NY-NJ Trail Conference:

http://www.nynjtc.org/webform/trail-problem-report

 

Harriman State Park Irene Damage

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150295629888857.335515.2...

 

Info for Stokes/Worthington via Anthony Zagari's post here:

Stokes: Cabins are fine, No Power yet, They have not been able to inspect Trails

Worthington: No Power Yet, Many Roads closed by downed Trees and Power Lines