New trail connector to offer ease to new hikers, first responders
by niki@hvny.info
One of the most popular places to hike in the Hudson Valley is up Breakneck Ridge for its views of the Hudson River and easy access from Beacon and Cold Spring.
But akin to a name like Breakneck, the hike can be a challenge for those unfamiliar with the terrain, and for first responders assisting lost and injured adventurers on the trail.
According to data from the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, many people choose the trail as their first foray into hiking and make it only to the iconic flagpole area of Breakneck, “the first false summit – then try to make their way back to the parking lot on Route 9D by descending off-trail, causing disturbance and vegetation loss as they walk through sensitive habitats.”
A new scenic trail – The Nimham Trail – opened last week as an alternative half-mile connector with over 500 stone stairs that were “carefully harvested from the slopes of Breakneck.”
The trail connector is named after Daniel Nimham, the last chief of the indigenous Wappinger people, whose ancestral lands, along with the Lenape and Munsee, include this area of the Hudson Highlands.
The ascent trail to Breakneck Ridge is currently one-way only: up! The Nimham connector offers two-way traffic to help manage trail congestion with a more gradual descent.
“This will alleviate overcrowding on the Breakneck Ridge Trail and give less experienced hikers a safer way to get back to trailheads on Route 9D,” said NYS State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid.
Photo by Chris Vultaggio
Source: LINK
