Palisades MTB (PMTB)

jmanic

JORBA Board Member/Chapter Leader
Staff member
JORBA.ORG
Team MTBNJ Halter's
Update on the great stuff PMTB is making happen- links at the bottom to join, renew or donate.

2021 PROJECTS
New trails in Sterling Forest

The Sterling Forest master plan includes over 20 miles of approved multi-use trails. The Red Back / Hutchinson / Munsee-Eagle loop has been a popular destination ride since it opened in October 2018. The next phase of work will greatly increase the current mileage and will make Sterling Forest the go-to park for epic rides in our region. Construction has already started to add McKeag's Meadows and Augusta Mine trails to the existing loop, and there is an approved plan to upgrade the Red Back trail between McKeag's Meadows and the top of the ridgeline to make it rideable both uphill and downhill.

Construction on the new Sterling trails has been slowed by Covid restrictions on the size of volunteer work crews. To speed construction, Palisades MTB will apply for permission to bring in a professional trail building contractor with specialized equipment to rough out difficult sections of the approved trail route. PTMB is working with New York State Parks, the PIPC, and with the New York / New Jersey Trail Conference to get permission to start work this season. We will need to raise money from grants and contributions to hire the contractor. Every penny we raise will go towards trail construction.

Trail upgrades in Blauvelt State Park

PMTB completed two major projects in Blauvelt in 2020: building the Swamp Thing bridge and spreading 15 tons of crushed stone to fix a muddy multi-use section of the Long Path where it crosses Marsico Court in Blauvelt. In the 2021 season, we have approval to replace the rotting Antler Creek log bridge with a bridge made of pressure-treated lumber and approaches armored with stone slabs split from quarried blocks near the bridge site. We will also rock armor the approach to a muddy log bridge in Bradley Cove.

The Blauvelt trail work has been done with approval from the Park manager and to demonstrate that bikers can be good stewards of the multi-use trails. Once we complete the Antler Creek bridge replacement, we will apply for permission to build additional trails at Blauvelt.

Alpine Scout Camp

We have approval for following projects at Alpine Scout Camp:
  • Buckhorn Campground bypass. ~1,000’ segment to move the Red Trail away from campground facilities and closer to the Dwarskill. In addition, realign the cut through from Red Trail around the campground to the camp road. Add fencing around the campground to keep riders from cutting through the campsites while Scouts are present.
  • Minor improvements to the Red Trail between the Dwarskill bridge and Buckhorn campground.
  • Safety railing on the Dwarskill bridge in addition to re-fortifying the decking.
  • Minor bridgework along the Red Trail towards Rockleigh.
  • A beginner skills course near camp entrance. This is a Palisades Cyclones (NICA) project with some overlap with PMTB volunteers. This initially be a closed course for Scouts and NICA with the intention to eventually allow public usage.
Cheesecote Mountain

We submitted a proposal for a 1.4-mile beginner loop at Cheesecote Mountain Park in the Town of Haverstraw and expect to get approval from the Town government. The town is currently reviewing the proposal.
We need your support and membership to continue our work. Please consider renewing, donating, or joining in 2021.
 

jmanic

JORBA Board Member/Chapter Leader
Staff member
JORBA.ORG
Team MTBNJ Halter's

PALISADES MTB 2022 NEWSLETTER

NEWS

2022 was an extremely productive year for PMTB.
2023 is going to be busier than ever before.
Our positive momentum is opening up new opportunities for more quality trail mileage to ride, and improvements to existing trails. Your support is the most important key to our success in 2023.

Augusta Mine is open!


We had our ribbon-cutting ceremony in Sterling Forest State Park and Augusta Mine is official and ready to ride. You can find the details on Trailforks.

A8626A08-5AFE-484F-A2CE-462AD2D1E1DB.JPG


Alpine NJ Trails Plan 2022-2023:


Last spring and summer, Palisades MTB collected trail usage data that we used in conjunction with a physical count to create a presentation that we will be presenting to the GNYC and PIPC. We are moving the ball forward to create a trail master plan for Alpine. We want more trails, closer to home.
Screen+Shot+2022-08-05+at+2.15.34+PM.png

Screen+Shot+2022-08-05+at+2.15.19+PM.png

Redback volunteer work has begun in Sterling Forest


Tahawus Trails machine work will continue this month. Hand and finishing work has begun thanks to our volunteers. We can't do this work without you. Please consider volunteering or donating if you have time constraints. This is a community-built trail and YOU are the community.
IMG_0862.jpg

IMG_8098.jpg

20221022_114626.JPG

IMG_7428.jpg

Sterling Forest 2023-2024 Work:


Palisades MTB has been working with NY State Parks, NYNJ Trail Conference, and the Palisades Interstate Parks Commission, to help develop our next phase plan in Sterling Forest. We've completed our planning phase and are in the process of applying for permits and grants.
We will need major fundraising contributions for this project that will extend the current Sterling loop by 50%. We are currently seeking corporate sponsorship for this project. Please contact us if you or someone you know is interested in sponsoring this project.
Screen+Shot+2022-08-05+at+12.59.24+PM.png

HOW CAN YOU HELP?


MEMBERSHIP


Keep your membership active and in good standing. Numbers count when we propose new projects. This year, we had record membership, but we recognize that we are still missing many of our local riders. Spread the word and let’s become one powerful voice! Click here to renew your membership.
Screen+Shot+2023-01-31+at+1.57.44+PM.png

VOLUNTEER​


We have a core group of people who give up days of riding to build and maintain trails, but we can’t keep relying on the same people all of the time. You don’t need any experience and you will discover that maintaining and building trails is both rewarding and fun. Give up a day on the pedals and come lend a hand. Your next ride will be better because of it! Click here to follow our volunteer announcements.
IMG_0108.JPG

DONATE

If you are able to donate to any of our projects, please consider doing so. Your donations this year helped us hire a professional trail contractor with equipment to speed projects along, saving MONTHS of hand work. Click here to donate to our PMTB general fund.
DONATE
 

frug

Well-Known Member
More trails are being built at Sterling Forest State Park. Like Augusta Mine and Redback DH, these will be funded and built by mountain bikers by Palisades MTB in cooperation with NYNJ Trail Conference. Please consider getting involved either by donating your time or money.
Find out more here...

What is the status of the Redback trail? Is it rideable if not finished, or should we keep off of it until it’s done?
 
What is the status of the Redback trail? Is it rideable if not finished, or should we keep off of it until it’s done?
It’s ready to rip minus some naturalization, drainage tweaks, and improvements to grade. Presently it goes to nowhere but most of us are descending it and then climbing back up it. PMTB does not recommend continuing the loop via the unfinished section of McKeags. We’re hoping to get that done before the winter.
 

jmanic

JORBA Board Member/Chapter Leader
Staff member
JORBA.ORG
Team MTBNJ Halter's
de5c9222-f3af-4a9e-9bf8-e6d43688c201.jpg
aa9ab098-32fe-94f5-1c72-2c82f738bc05.jpg
9 of our 11 board members had our 2023 wrap up meeting last night. Not only did we drink some delicious beverages and eat fist fulls of pistachios, but we made some pretty big plans for 2024.
  • More trails
  • More events
  • More community
  • and...Hopefully more members.
A big thank you to our board members, our volunteers, and our donors. And a big thanks to YOU for signing up to hear more and be informed.
081f314c-fccf-a2ee-efa6-7aaacd1ac44e.jpeg
Did you know?
  • PMTB is a 501c3 non-profit. Your donations are tax-deductible.
  • We are a 100% volunteer organization. We do not employ anyone.
  • We volunteered to build trails for 97 days and over 420 total hours in 2023.
  • Our board and leadership team dedicated over 120 hours to administrative and planning tasks for 2024-2025.
How can you help?
  • Donate to PMTB. If you want your dollars to stay completely local, this is how to do it. Click on DONATE.
  • Renew your membership to PMTB/IMBA. Your voice and dollars can be heard loudly through this. Click on RENEW below.
  • Become a PMTB Sponsor! Your business or company can contribute to building more trails directly to us.
  • Volunteer. We have wrapped up our field work for the season but there will be many opportunities to help next Spring.
Your support is greatly appreciated and we can't do any of this without you.
64992588-476e-4c21-8c78-6f292e0bc177.jpg
Website
Instagram
Email
Facebook
Copyright © 2023, Palisadesmtb.org, All rights reserved.
PALISADES MTB

Our mailing address is:
info@palisadesmtb.org

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.
open.php
 
Top Bottom