Highlands Trail to get new signs, maps that reflect growing … · 2019-07-30 · Highlands Trail...
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Highlands Trail to get new signs, maps that reflect growing importance David M. Zimmer, North Jersey Record Published 6:00 a.m. ET July 24, 2019 | Updated 8:40 a.m. ET July 24, 2019 More than 25 years after its creation, the Highlands Trail is set to receive enhanced signage and mapping as advocates seek to elevate the status of the long-distance path. The Highlands Council this month approved a $30,000 contract with the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference to create a dedicated map and roadside signs for the trail by early 2021. Lisa Plevin, the council’s executive director, said the Highlands Trail can be a backbone of the Northern Highlands' trail network, connect users with local businesses and expand tourism in the region. “Municipal and county officials throughout the region are looking for opportunities to elevate recognition of the New Jersey Highlands,” Plevin said. The Highlands Trail "travels right through the heart of the region, showcasing the diversity and beauty of our landscapes and communities.” Pieced together since the mid-'90s by the Trail Conference, the trail runs 180 miles from the Delaware River to the Hudson River through towns including Jefferson, Ringwood and West Milford. There are plans to extend the trail across the Hudson to the Connecticut border and link it to the Pennsylvania Highlands Trail Network. Don Weise, a hiker, author and director of membership and development for the Trail Conference, said he once dreamed of a long-distance trail system through the scenic region. “The Highlands Trail rivals the wilderness experience of the Appalachian Trail, yet it is closer to where most New Jerseyans live,” said Weise, a West Milford resident. “This project will improve the user experience, whether you walk a section of it for a short day trip or through-hike it end to end as an epic adventure.” Several sections of the trail have already been mapped by the conference and made available in regional or park maps. Others have been sufficiently scouted to map using ArcGIS software and Adobe Illustrator design software, Weise said. “In 2016, AmeriCorps members with the Trail Conference’s Conservation Corps conducted a complete inventory of the Highlands Trail in New Jersey, and in the following years, additional changes have been tracked by our on-the-ground volunteers,” Weise said. Once complete, the map will be available for download on the free Avenza Maps app for Apple and Android devices, Weise said. The app can pinpoint a user’s location on the digital map using the mobile device’s GPS. It also allows users to download and access multiple maps without cell service. The conference has more than 75 maps available through the app. Most are free, such as those of Ringwood State Park, Ramapo Mountain State Forest and the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve. The Highlands Trail in northwest New Jersey will receive a dedicated map, new signage and additional blazes by 2021 after the Highlands Council and New York-New Jersey Trail Conference came to terms on a deal in July 2019. (Photo: Courtesy of the Highlands Council) Hikers of the Highlands Trail must use multiple trail maps and guides to complete the in-state route. Weise said it is time to map the trail on its own. The conference recently rerouted more than 4.5 miles of the trail through the Hudson Farms property preserved last fall in Sussex County. Roughly 1.5 miles are also being taken off road via a new trail in Hunterdon County’s Musconetcong Gorge, conference records show. The Highlands Trail connector trail in Jefferson Township is a tight squeeze on July 23, 2019. (Photo: David M. Zimmer/NorthJersey.com) Its volunteers also maintain the trail, which is due to receive additional trail blazes, road-crossing signs and roadside signage near trail heads as part of the project. Maps for trailhead kiosks are also planned for the project, council officials said. Carl Richko, Highlands Council chairman and former West Milford mayor, said the project may not directly impact the natural resources the 15-year-old council was created to protect. However, it is in the spirit of its mission and the goals of the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act, he said. “The Highlands Act, first and foremost, directs us to protect the water resources of the region. But it also clearly acknowledges the natural beauty of the region and the importance of protecting it for our enjoyment,” Richko said.
Transcript of Highlands Trail to get new signs, maps that reflect growing … · 2019-07-30 · Highlands Trail...
Highlands Trail to get new signs, maps that reflectgrowing importance
David M. Zimmer, North Jersey Record Published 6:00 a.m. ET July 24, 2019 | Updated 8:40 a.m. ET July 24, 2019
More than 25 years after its creation, the Highlands Trail is set to receive enhanced signage and mapping as advocates seek to elevate the status of the
long-distance path.
The Highlands Council this month approved a $30,000 contract with the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference to create a dedicated map and roadside
signs for the trail by early 2021. Lisa Plevin, the council’s executive director, said the Highlands Trail can be a backbone of the Northern Highlands' trail
network, connect users with local businesses and expand tourism in the region.
“Municipal and county officials throughout the region are looking for opportunities to elevate recognition of the New Jersey Highlands,” Plevin said. The
Highlands Trail "travels right through the heart of the region, showcasing the diversity and beauty of our landscapes and communities.”
Pieced together since the mid-'90s by the Trail Conference, the trail runs 180 miles from the Delaware River to the Hudson River through towns including
Jefferson, Ringwood and West Milford. There are plans to extend the trail across the Hudson to the Connecticut border and link it to the Pennsylvania
Highlands Trail Network.
Don Weise, a hiker, author and director of membership and development for the Trail Conference, said he once dreamed of a long-distance trail system
through the scenic region.
“The Highlands Trail rivals the wilderness experience of the Appalachian Trail, yet it is closer to where most New Jerseyans live,” said Weise, a West
Milford resident. “This project will improve the user experience, whether you walk a section of it for a short day trip or through-hike it end to end as an
epic adventure.”
Several sections of the trail have already been mapped by the conference and made available in regional or park maps. Others have been sufficiently
scouted to map using ArcGIS software and Adobe Illustrator design software, Weise said.
BYCHARLESSCHWAB
(https://eb2.3lift.com/pass?tl_clickthrough=true&redir=https%3A%2F%2Fbttrack.com%2FClick%2FNative%3Fdata%3LbhT1JMDIqfcGfaayYqF1sB6UQBC9ueYxPXNZfpU64KWwomAvyKvCjJ4kpn2u601ClIJvkrHw3qKu51Nlw6eGUmzvCS6vQhiKnm9YUjrTFWM2prNk_yNwMSKPXw0O5EbZ5axWEbayu9iX0gK8qwB-m2r65fsv1DDdfs9XDYxsRV_eAtCdOCpUjnT3nijiVfZAZ7itUxiYQPs5vqMK34a4HZ1PlDxUTnEjN2hbfzTB4eYKqZp0ELC1i-Y4eaaPcy3yE2m9urPyj1Qc-FDjjZ2UtLbV6BCOQQNbCUIf1HMU7-GzKsJU8_bZMduIlQ2luxYT2ngptH_t03N-SpukGEhz4nJSxnf10HZvNSzKjxULcKixI9R9Jc1votjrpT5ExGB_c7f4JNnRBYO22TyIKda_4KIDceIRZbkwzp3oi00o2-6YdM
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long-distance path.
The Highlands Council this month approved a $30,000 contract with the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference to create a dedicated map and roadside
signs for the trail by early 2021. Lisa Plevin, the council’s executive director, said the Highlands Trail can be a backbone of the Northern Highlands' trail
network, connect users with local businesses and expand tourism in the region.
“Municipal and county officials throughout the region are looking for opportunities to elevate recognition of the New Jersey Highlands,” Plevin said. The
Highlands Trail "travels right through the heart of the region, showcasing the diversity and beauty of our landscapes and communities.”
Pieced together since the mid-'90s by the Trail Conference, the trail runs 180 miles from the Delaware River to the Hudson River through towns including
Jefferson, Ringwood and West Milford. There are plans to extend the trail across the Hudson to the Connecticut border and link it to the Pennsylvania
Highlands Trail Network.
Don Weise, a hiker, author and director of membership and development for the Trail Conference, said he once dreamed of a long-distance trail system
through the scenic region.
“The Highlands Trail rivals the wilderness experience of the Appalachian Trail, yet it is closer to where most New Jerseyans live,” said Weise, a West
Milford resident. “This project will improve the user experience, whether you walk a section of it for a short day trip or through-hike it end to end as an
epic adventure.”
Several sections of the trail have already been mapped by the conference and made available in regional or park maps. Others have been sufficiently
scouted to map using ArcGIS software and Adobe Illustrator design software, Weise said.
BYCHARLESSCHWAB
(https://eb2.3lift.com/pass?tl_clickthrough=true&redir=https%3A%2F%2Fbttrack.com%2FClick%2FNative%3Fdata%3LbhT1JMDIqfcGfaayYqF1sB6UQBC9ueYxPXNZfpU64KWwomAvyKvCjJ4kpn2u601ClIJvkrHw3qKu51Nlw6eGUmzvCS6vQhiKnm9YUjrTFWM2prNk_yNwMSKPXw0O5EbZ5axWEbayu9iX0gK8qwB-m2r65fsv1DDdfs9XDYxsRV_eAtCdOCpUjnT3nijiVfZAZ7itUxiYQPs5vqMK34a4HZ1PlDxUTnEjN2hbfzTB4eYKqZp0ELC1i-Y4eaaPcy3yE2m9urPyj1Qc-FDjjZ2UtLbV6BCOQQNbCUIf1HMU7-GzKsJU8_bZMduIlQ2luxYT2ngptH_t03N-SpukGEhz4nJSxnf10HZvNSzKjxULcKixI9R9Jc1votjrpT5ExGB_c7f4JNnRBYO22TyIKda_4KIDceIRZbkwzp3oi00o2-6YdM
STORY FROM VRBO (https://www.delawareonline.com/story/sponsor-story/vrbo/2019/07/01/vrbo-calculator-shows-what-you-could-earn-renting-your-delaware-home-travelers/1584467001/)
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“In 2016, AmeriCorps members with the Trail Conference’s Conservation Corps conducted a complete inventory of the Highlands Trail in New Jersey, and
in the following years, additional changes have been tracked by our on-the-ground volunteers,” Weise said.
Recreation: We covered the waterfront: A trip down NJ's 18-mile walkway (/story/entertainment/2019/07/18/we-covered-waterfront-trip-down-njs-18-
mile-walkway/1564017001/)
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Hiking: Abandoned NJ rail line one step closer to becoming a hiking and cycling trail (/story/news/passaic/wanaque/2019/07/05/nj-dormant-rail-bed-
step-closer-becoming-hiking-cycling-trail/1628896001/)
Local: Jefferson shooting: First responders describe chaotic crime scene (/story/news/crime/2019/07/16/jefferson-nj-shooting-first-responders-describe-
chaotic-crime-scene/1749244001/)
Once complete, the map will be available for download on the free Avenza Maps app for Apple and Android devices, Weise said. The app can pinpoint a
user’s location on the digital map using the mobile device’s GPS. It also allows users to download and access multiple maps without cell service.
The conference has more than 75 maps available through the app. Most are free, such as those of Ringwood State Park, Ramapo Mountain State Forest
and the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve.
The Highlands Trail in northwest New Jersey will receive a dedicated map, new signage and additional blazes by 2021 after the Highlands Council and New York-New
Jersey Trail Conference came to terms on a deal in July 2019. (Photo: Courtesy of the Highlands Council)
Hikers of the Highlands Trail must use multiple trail maps and guides to complete the in-state route. Weise said it is time to map the trail on its own.
The conference recently rerouted more than 4.5 miles of the trail through the Hudson Farms property preserved last fall in Sussex County. Roughly 1.5
miles are also being taken off road via a new trail in Hunterdon County’s Musconetcong Gorge, conference records show.
Highlands Council officials said the conference is uniquely qualified to execute the project. In addition to creating the long-distance trail in the mid-90s,
the conference has been mapping trails in New Jersey for more than half a century, Weise said.
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6 free articles left.99¢ per month. Save 90%.
“In 2016, AmeriCorps members with the Trail Conference’s Conservation Corps conducted a complete inventory of the Highlands Trail in New Jersey, and
in the following years, additional changes have been tracked by our on-the-ground volunteers,” Weise said.
Recreation: We covered the waterfront: A trip down NJ's 18-mile walkway (/story/entertainment/2019/07/18/we-covered-waterfront-trip-down-njs-18-
mile-walkway/1564017001/)
Newsletters
Get the Daily Brieng newsletter in your inbox.
Start your day with the morning's top news
Delivery: Daily
Hiking: Abandoned NJ rail line one step closer to becoming a hiking and cycling trail (/story/news/passaic/wanaque/2019/07/05/nj-dormant-rail-bed-
step-closer-becoming-hiking-cycling-trail/1628896001/)
Local: Jefferson shooting: First responders describe chaotic crime scene (/story/news/crime/2019/07/16/jefferson-nj-shooting-first-responders-describe-
chaotic-crime-scene/1749244001/)
Once complete, the map will be available for download on the free Avenza Maps app for Apple and Android devices, Weise said. The app can pinpoint a
user’s location on the digital map using the mobile device’s GPS. It also allows users to download and access multiple maps without cell service.
The conference has more than 75 maps available through the app. Most are free, such as those of Ringwood State Park, Ramapo Mountain State Forest
and the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve.
The Highlands Trail in northwest New Jersey will receive a dedicated map, new signage and additional blazes by 2021 after the Highlands Council and New York-New
Jersey Trail Conference came to terms on a deal in July 2019. (Photo: Courtesy of the Highlands Council)
Hikers of the Highlands Trail must use multiple trail maps and guides to complete the in-state route. Weise said it is time to map the trail on its own.
The conference recently rerouted more than 4.5 miles of the trail through the Hudson Farms property preserved last fall in Sussex County. Roughly 1.5
miles are also being taken off road via a new trail in Hunterdon County’s Musconetcong Gorge, conference records show.
Highlands Council officials said the conference is uniquely qualified to execute the project. In addition to creating the long-distance trail in the mid-90s,
the conference has been mapping trails in New Jersey for more than half a century, Weise said.
Your Email
6 free articles left.99¢ per month. Save 90%.
The Highlands Trail connector trail in Jefferson Township is a tight squeeze on July 23, 2019. (Photo: David M. Zimmer/NorthJersey.com)
Its volunteers also maintain the trail, which is due to receive additional trail blazes, road-crossing signs and roadside signage near trail heads as part of
the project. Maps for trailhead kiosks are also planned for the project, council officials said.
Carl Richko, Highlands Council chairman and former West Milford mayor, said the project may not directly impact the natural resources the 15-year-old
council was created to protect. However, it is in the spirit of its mission and the goals of the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act, he said.
“The Highlands Act, first and foremost, directs us to protect the water resources of the region. But it also clearly acknowledges the natural beauty of the
region and the importance of protecting it for our enjoyment,” Richko said.
Read or Share this story: https://www northjersey com/story/news/passaic/2019/07/24/highlands-council-seeks-boost-namesake-nj-trail-new-map-
