Text by Bob Fuller and Marty Costello, pictures by Marty Costello, LDTC members
New trail goes up through cliffs, climbs a stone ladder, and reaches beautiful views.
The crevice showing steps pinned to the rock face.
In March 2015, the Long Distance Trails Crew (LDTC) began work on a relocation of the Appalachian Trail on the southwest shoulder of Bear Mountain, just north of Seven Lakes Drive (the section between the Palisades Interstate Parkway and 9W). This new route, designed to be a sustainable and enjoyable hiking experience, winds its way up through cliffs, replacing a deeply eroded section of trail.
The new trail begins to take shape.
To date, the crew has completed more than 35 trips totaling over 3,000 volunteer work hours on this project, making excellent progress up the mountain in just seven months. The lower three sections, including a very interesting and technical rock-pinned stone ladder out of a crevice and up the rock face, are done. We are now in the final stages and are working diligently to complete the entire relocation by the end of November.
Shoshana sets up the highline.
We invite everyone to come out and experience the amazing things our all-volunteer crew has accomplished. This relocation is in a very convenient location, only a couple tenths of a mile from the A.T./1777W parking area on Seven Lakes, with a short, five-minute walk to the work site. Seeing the crew at work on sections of the trail at various stages of completion makes for both an enjoyable and informative excursion.
Antonia working the grip hoist.
If you’d like to join the Long Distance Trails Crew for an outing, they’re on the trails many weekends throughout the season. Their next work trip is next Friday, Nov. 6 through Sunday, Nov. 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. No experience is necessary; the crew provides on-the-job training and guarantees a fun and rewarding day for volunteers at any skill level. Contact Crew Chief Chris Reyling at 914-953-4900, chrisreyling@gmail.com, or Crew Leader Bob Fuller at 732-952-2162, refuller99@hotmail.com for more information.
