Stephens State Park Conditions

[chainsawer]

Today I dropped into Stephens to catch up with all known issues. See red waypoints. This included removal of the massive double header leaner that finally came down on “Upper Woods Road”. Removal of shoulder level hazards on “Border Trail”, and the removal of a blockage on a very little used trail near “Swamp & Chop”. Then I repositioned to Firetower Road to get an “on the ground” blockage at the “Unblazed/Campfire trail” intersection out near the Gravity Cavity area. Finally from Continental Drive, hit a few on the Morris Canal Greenway, where it comes within view of Rt 80. The targeted vertical leaner was super hazardous to work on so I couldn’t fully clear it without killing myself. With the aid of a rope, I was only able to step it back away from the trail to open up a wide passage around it. Was lucky enough to get that far. To finish that would need a come-a-long, or a little time to let mother nature and gravity do her thing

While we’re talking about the Morris Canal greenway, the section I traversed was very ripe for some sweeps with the brushhog. Very overgrown. Getting the brushhog there might be a trick…maybe better for a Stihl pole trimmer or a weedwhacker with the metal blade?? You can probably access easy enough from Continental drive, but there’s a very steep punchy climb just as you get to the stretch that parallels Rt 80. Coming in from the Tilcon lake side (under the Rt 80 overpass) would suck because that’s rocky AF. See last 2 pics for sense of the greenway trail overgrowth...

 

[philcore80]

This is right off big orange on upper white

 

[jdog]

Today I dropped into Stephens to catch up with all known issues. See red waypoints. This included removal of the massive double header leaner that finally came down on “Upper Woods Road”. Removal of shoulder level hazards on “Border Trail”, and the removal of a blockage on a very little used trail near “Swamp & Chop”. Then I repositioned to Firetower Road to get an “on the ground” blockage at the “Unblazed/Campfire trail” intersection out near the Gravity Cavity area. Finally from Continental Drive, hit a few on the Morris Canal Greenway, where it comes within view of Rt 80. The targeted vertical leaner was super hazardous to work on so I couldn’t fully clear it without killing myself. With the aid of a rope, I was only able to step it back away from the trail to open up a wide passage around it. Was lucky enough to get that far. To finish that would need a come-a-long, or a little time to let mother nature and gravity do her thing

While we’re talking about the Morris Canal greenway, the section I traversed was very ripe for some sweeps with the brushhog. Very overgrown. Getting the brushhog there might be a trick…maybe better for a Stihl pole trimmer or a weedwhacker with the metal blade?? You can probably access easy enough from Continental drive, but there’s a very steep punchy climb just as you get to the stretch that parallels Rt 80. Coming in from the Tilcon lake side (under the Rt 80 overpass) would suck because that’s rocky AF. See last 2 pics for sense of the greenway trail overgrowth...

You are a machine.

 

[V-Dub]

spent most of the day there today, it's coming together the place will dialed for the fest

 

[Teutonic]

spent most of the day there today, it's coming together the place will dialed for the fest

Agree, rode a lot of what Jdog did brush back on today and all the trees Ed cleared! Great jobs by all!

 

[Teutonic]

We cleared a tree on Tilcon Lake Climb in case that was on your radar. Found the following or got reports from a friend:
Trestle:

Tally, approximate location, est dia 6":

Near the top of orange, est dia 2ft!!:

 

[MarioGed]

Here is a picture of the tree on Tally Ho that @Teutonic marked on trailforks above.

 

[chainsawer]

Does anybody know if there's a passable cut thru from Dorset drive to the trail system?

 

[jdog]

Does anybody know if there's a passable cut thru from Dorset drive to the trail system?

Strava heat map show very little use there. Not zero, but not a lot.

 

[chainsawer]

Thanks! I totally forgot about the heatmaps function. That'll work!

 

[chainsawer]

I cleared all known targets in Stephens today. From the RR crossing, I cleared Trestle and did a few tuneups along the way. From Saxton Falls, I cleared the small blockage on Tally Ho. I'd been tracking a low leaner a few feet below where the target was found., so I cleared that too. Then I moved over to the Stephens Park office area and cleared 2 clusters of fatties on the Highlands trail along the stream (The NY/NJ Trail conference guys asked). Then I moved over to Dorset drive to access the trifecta blockage on White, near orange. Dorset Drive turned out to be a very easy access point for that area. I took a pic from where I parked: go up gravel trail, make a left under the Electrical tower, and you're in!!

 

[jdog]

I cleared all known targets in Stephens today. From the RR crossing, I cleared Trestle and did a few tuneups along the way. From Saxton Falls, I cleared the small blockage on Tally Ho. I'd been tracking a low leaner a few feet below where the target was found., so I cleared that too. Then I moved over to the Stephens Park office area and cleared 2 clusters of fatties on the Highlands trail along the stream (The NY/NJ Trail conference guys asked). Then I moved over to Dorset drive to access the trifecta blockage on White, near orange. Dorset Drive turned out to be a very easy access point for that area. I took a pic from where I parked: go up gravel trail, make a left under the Electrical tower, and you're in!!

amazingsauce!

 

[Cassinonorth]

Three hours today just before the rain came.

if someone wants to cut out the face slappers in this section, that will make this the cleanest the lower trail have been in years.

Lower section of Tressle has face slappers or Blue Rock as well?

Trying to get in a TM hike and use a small hedge trimmer Friday. Getting close to being able to use the big boy but not quite there yet.

 

[V-Dub]

Lower section of Tressle has face slappers or Blue Rock as well?

Trying to get in a TM hike and use a small hedge trimmer Friday. Getting close to being able to use the big boy but not quite there yet.

Maze end of Trestle face slappers, upper maeze too.
message me and I'll get you a trimmer

 

[Cassinonorth]

Maze end of Trestle face slappers, upper maeze too.
message me and I'll get you a trimmer

Got it. Plan on being out there Friday afternoon 1ish and Saturday morning if anyone wants to come trim, I have a 2nd hedge trimmer that's too heavy for me to use right now.

 

[Cassinonorth]

Opened up some more sightlines and face slappers off Trestle with @ebarker9 this afternoon. That trail is golden for the rest of the year, great job @jdog.

Doing the mazes with @christryon tomorrow morning, we should have an extra machine if anyone is around.

 

[Teutonic]

Came across this one on Morris Canal Trail. Within viewing distance of the one you ( @chainsawer ) had to use the rope on last week. We didn't have enough time to take care of this one, so we had to leave if for you.

We did take care of another one over by the inclined plane.

 

[jdog]

Opened up some more sightlines and face slappers off Trestle with @ebarker9 this afternoon. That trail is golden for the rest of the year, great job @jdog.

Doing the mazes with @christryon tomorrow morning, we should have an extra machine if anyone is around.

Likely the cleanest that place has been in forever.

 

[Patrick]

Worked on trestle and the railbed trail today. Will be back to figure the bridge on trestle next week

 

[Cassinonorth]

Worked on trestle and the railbed trail today. Will be back to figure the bridge on trestle next week

View attachment 267463

Where is that? We walked all of trestle and didn't come across a bridge lol