Stewart trail news and upcoming meeting

[GG]

From Stewards of Stewart...sounds like they need more volunteers!!

"Our November 9th work day was a partial success. Three volunteers worked on the south portion of Fiesta Trail.
Our focus was to build a stone path through the section that is rooty and is covered with water during the wet season essentially making this an undesirable trail to ride.
We made a stone path through about 80% of this section but will know when we see it during the spring season and see just how deep the water rises.
In addition we cleared overgrowth that was so thick it made it difficult to determine where the original path was located.
The newly cleared path looks excellent and we encourage riders to use it and provide feedback.
This newly cleared portion of Fiesta now offers a path for riders heading north or south on Dawn and want to stay in the woods when riding to Pine Root.
Or riders exiting Pine Root can cross Orlando Drive and ride Fiesta to Dawn (so many choices with so much fun).

Please note that on Wednesday, November 25, 2014, the DEC is hosting the annual planning meeting for users of Stewart State Forest at the Maybrook Senior Citizen Center at Veterans Memorial Park in Maybrook, NY.

This is an important meeting for all users of the forest.

The meeting starts at 6:30 PM and the agenda includes:

1. Work projects completed in 2014. Maintenance needs for 2015 and beyond.
2. Commissioner's Access Initiative Progress
3. Additional topics: Open forum, sharing the forest.

Please keep in mind that a new Unit Management Plan for Stewart will be developed during next year so your ideas, suggestions and comments can be brought up for all users to hear.

Please spread the word so all users know about the meeting and encourage people to attend."

[GG]

Correction: "Please note I made an error in the previous email.
The correct date for the annual user meeting with DEC is November 25, 2014.
That is a Tuesday and not a Wednesday that I mistakenly stated in the previous email.
Thank you for your patience and hope to see you at the meeting on November 25, 2014 at the at the Maybrook Senior Citizens Center
from 6:30-8:00 PM, Veterans Memorial Park, Village of Maybrook, Orange County.
The Center is located 1 mile south of Route 84, off Route 208.
Make a left at Schipps Lane just before the ball fields and bear right into Veterans Memorial Park."

[GG]

from the mailbag (Stewards of Stewart):

"The Orange County Map Department is a critical player in the production of our trail maps for the Stewart State Forest.
We post these maps (11 x 17 and 24 x 36) on our website for ease of downloading to your PC or cell phone.
The Stewards of Stewart also print hundreds of the 11 x 17 maps that we distribute to local bike shops and riders at parking lots, free of charge.
We think that our efforts to erect trail signs (a practice that has not received universal approval) is a great aid to those who are unfamiliar with our trails. The trail signs match the map so a user can quickly and easily determine their location.
Please check out our website since we hope to have or soon will have posted the updated version of the trail maps that include the new Scofield to Great Swamp trail that the Stewart Volunteers constructed during this past September and October (thank you volunteers). The Buchanan and Lorraine Trails were added that were missing from our original map.
In addition, s modified UMT coding on the map allow users and volunteers to more accurately report the location of trail problems to the Stewards (can I hear a fallen tree?) or location of an injured person when communicating to an emergency agency.

Please note that the DEC spent many work hours and dollars during 2014 to improve Lange Farm Trail, Lorraine Trail and Parking areas.
The highlight of their efforts is the construction of the Great Swamp Road and the walkway across the Great Swamp to an island and the construction of a circumference trail around half the island to a walkway to connect to the Great Swamp Trail.
The Great Swamp Walkway is being constructed to accommodate wheel chaired and other mobility challenged people so they can easily access and enjoy the sights, flora and fauna of the Great Swamp.

Check your calendars and plan to attend the annual meeting on Tuesday, November 25th, for users of the Stewart Forest. This is hosted by the DEC at the Maybrook Senior Citizen Center starting at 6:30 PM.
The purpose includes learning of events scheduled for 2015, the procedure for requesting events and:

Work projects completed in 2014.
Maintenance needs for 2015 and beyond.
Commissioner's Access Initiative Progress
Additional topics: Open forum, sharing the forest.

We report our volunteered work hours to DEC at year end. The only data I have is what I know from the Stewards of Stewart Work Days. I’m sure others are doing volunteer work to maintain the trails in Stewart. If you know of such please let me know a brief description of work, the date, number of volunteers and total clock hours. Thank you.

See you at the users meeting with DEC on November 25th at 6:30 in the Senior Citizen Center in Maybrook, NY located in Veterans Memorial Park just off Route 208.
"

[GG]

The revised, updated maps of Stewart State Forest are now posted on the Stewards of Stewart website: http://www.stewardsofstewart.org. Please check them out.

The Stewards print maps and distribute the 11x17 maps to local bike shops for free distribution to anyone interested in having one.

We also print the 24x36 maps that have contour lines and give these to local bike shops who are willing to put them on display for reference since the 11x17 maps do not have contour lines.

Snow season is here and thanks to the Rock Tavern Snow Riders the snow covered trails will be broken in, packed down and groomed with their new groomer.

The spin off for us bikers is that packed snow also makes good mountain biking trails especially for those of us who ride fat tire bikes.

If you haven’t tried a fat-tire bike why not visit your local bike shop since a number of them provide fat-tire demos and/or fat-tire bikes for rent?

If you haven’t read the DEC’s 10 year plan for Stewart State Forest (called the Unit Management Plan or UMP) here is a link to that plan which will be due for revision and renewal by December 2016:

http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/stewartump.pdf

If you have ideas and suggestions that you want included in the next UMP please keep a list so you don’t forget since the DEC will ask for public input prior to December 2016.

Your ideas or suggestions for trail maintenance or modification that the Stewards of Stewart can or should add to our “to do” or “wish list” for 2015 please share them by sending to [email protected].

Thank you and hope to soon see you on the trails.