By LYNDSAY CAYETANA BOUCHAL, NJ Herald, link to original post
After suffering astronomical damage from summer and late fall storm, and months of arduous repairs, the Appalachian Trail is back on track and ready for winter hikers. “This year was probably one of the worst years in our (the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference’s) history for damage to trails,” the said Chris Ingui, New Jersey Program Coordinator for the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference.
The trail conference was established in 1920.
Ingui said Hurricane Irene left the Black Creek Bridge in Waywayanda State Park “uncrossable” and hundreds of feet of the Pochuck Board destroyed. “The water had risen so high — two feet above the 500-year flood line — and the boardwalk was actually lifted off the piers and were displaced,” Ingui said.
To date, the Black Creek Bridge is still washed out, but the boardwalk has been reset — a several-week repair project. Ingui said most of the recovery effort was spent “cutting blow downs” or downed trees that fell directly across the Appalachian Trail.
The Appalachian Trail then came face-to-face with the late October snowstorm. Ingui said the heavy snow and ice “took down a tremendous amount of trees.” “(The Appalachian Trail) was completely blocked by one fallen tree after another,” Ingui said.
Because many of the trail maintenance crew members also were dealing with power loss, the cleanup started a few days later than ordinary circumstances would allow. “What made (cleanup) tricky was that the trees were still alive … heavier,” Ingui said. “There were trees littering the trail with full crowns of leaves.” “There were hundreds and hundreds of trees that had to be cleared,” Ingui said.
He added that “widow-makers,” or tree limbs that hang loosely overhead, also threatened hikers on the trail and needed to be removed.
After months of repairs to the trail, it’s finally back up to par. “Between the flood damage and the tree damage, it was just a tremendous amount done in such a short amount of time,” Ingui said.
Now, with winter well on its way, Appalachian Trail thru-hikers have summited Mount Katahdin, novice day hikers have retired for the season, and more serious or experienced hikers will take to the trail.
For any hiker in Sussex County, however, Ingui recommended hiking to High Point Monument as it is “one of the most popular vistas” or trekking along Kittatinny Ridge near Stokes State Forest. Ingui said the views from Kittatinny Ridge are generally obscured by trees in full bloom, but with the leaves down this time of year, it makes for a “nice stroll with a lot of great views.”
Of the 74 miles of the Appalachian Trail that crosses New Jersey, about 55 weave through Sussex County.
Ingui also suggested snow-shoeing the Appalachian Trail. With snow on the ground, and boots sinking deep into it, it becomes “strenuous to hike the easiest of trails,” he said. “In the heart of winter, snowshoes are typically necessary,” Ingui said. “You can buy or rent them.”
While winter activities like snowshoeing are welcomed on the Appalachian Trail, cross-country skiing and ATVs are illegal. Ingui said the route is foot-traffic exclusive as other types of machinery would be destructive to the trail.
For enthusiasts looking to head out for a hike this winter, Ingui recommended getting the conditions report from the state park being traveled through, and to expect ice on steep sections. “Bring a map and bring some foot traction devices, like micro spikes or stabilizers, and you should be good to go,” Ingui said.
If you’re interested
Although winter is in full swing, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy has now begun accepting applications for Appalachian Trail ridgerunners.
A ridgerunner’s duties consist of hiking the 74 miles of the trail for five days, facilitating a positive Appalachian Trail experience, educating hikers and trail users, performing trail maintenance, and discouraging or mitigating any misuse of the trail.
Anyone interested in applying to the ridgerunner program can apply by submitting a form to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, www.appalachiantrail.org/who-we-are/job-opportunities. Applications are generally accepted through January.
