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

[Daniela Wagstaff]

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Begins Opening Roads

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/warren-county/express-times/index.s...

 

Irene Took Toll on Hiking Trails

http://www.northjersey.com/news/environment/128997258_Irene_took_to...

 

 

[njHiking.com]

I've created a page that collects the links from this thread in one spot, as well as a few other resources:

 

Hurricane Irene Trail Damage

 

Keep using this thread to post updates, and I will add them to the page.

 

Dawn

[Daniela Wagstaff]

Jenny Jump State Forest

I headed out this morning with 5 places plugged into my GPS figuring I would just start at one and move on to the next if need be.  Never needed to do that.  I started at Jenny Jump State Forest and the trails were in very good shape.  I got almost 9 miles of hiking in.  The park has done a tremendous job of cleaning up.  I spoke with the park ranger and he said they have been working on it all week.  It was sad that I was the only one there after all of their hard work - the place was deserted.  The mosquitoes were horrendous (maybe that is why nobody was there).  I know Dawn had said they were awful earlier in the summer.  The park ranger said they were horrible all summer but they are twice as bad since Irene.  If you can deal with the little bloodsuckers, here is the scoop on the trails:

Summit Trail - all clear

Ghost Lake Trail - all clear except for a large blowdown .2 mile before Ghost Lake - park staff has it on their "to do" list.  You can go off trail to the right and go under the trunk where there are no branches to get around it.

Orchard Trail - some of it is stream/trail combo but manageable with rock hopping.  Large blowdown shortly before trail reaches gravel road but we were able to climb right through it.  Park staff is aware and it is on their list.

Jenny Jump Trail - I hiked out to the two views, about 1.5 miles each way.  A section of the trail is wet but passable. Quite a few large blowdowns but was able to get through all of them.  I have those detailed on my blog and will let the Trail Conference know.  I cleared the smaller ones that I could lift and move off to the side or pull far enough across the trail so the branches were not obstructing.

[Linda Frank]

Daniela, We'll be doing Jenny Jump tomorrow and will be following your directions from your blog. Am I right in assuming that the trail(s) traverse both the Northern and the Southern portions of the park?

Linda

[njHiking.com]

Tammany and Dunnfield should be fine, but plenty of areas are still closed.

 

Gap Updates: http://www.nps.gov/dewa/parknews/irene-updates.htm

 

(Mark - sorry for the response delay, we were away that week and I missed this post)

 

Dawn

 

 

[Paul]

I spoke to someone at the Bear Mountain office on friday (10/7) about access to Harriman roads and she said all roads are open. Don't believe it. Although Seven Lakes Dr. is open via a detour in Sloatsburg, Rte 106 is closed from Rte 17 and Arden Valley Rd. is closed at the Elk Pen (the Elk Pen is accessible). 

 

We hiked the Arden-Surebridge trail to the Lemon Squeezer and the trail is beat up but OK. There are at least three places where the trail markers went down with the trees they were on. But we didn't have much trouble figuring out where the trail was heading. Island Pond is as beautiful as ever.

[njHiking.com]

Thanks for the update; I added the info to the Irene Trail Damage page.

 

Dawn