Long Distance Trails Crew

West Hudson

Meeting Place:

Location varies for each work trip.

Work Days:

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Frequency:

Every other weekend, from March through December

About the Crew

The Long Distance Trails Crew (LDTC), established in November 2011, is an all-volunteer group dedicated to the construction and rehabilitation of the Appalachian Trail, Long Path, Shawangunk Ridge Trail and Highlands Trail in New York State on the west side of the Hudson River. We really enjoy being in the woods and we thrive on leaving something of lasting grace and proportion behind us that will provide enjoyment to hikers for a long, long time to come. We take particular pleasure in the sense of camaraderie that comes from working as a team.

The LDTC has relocated and rehabilitated trails from the Catskills southward into Harriman and Tallman Mountain State Parks. Our work is technical in nature and is most often beyond a routine maintenance crew’s scope of expertise. Working with rock and earth, we have installed crib walls, stepping stones, stairways and trail tread. We have used heavy lumber to place bridges of varied design over creeks and bog bridges over wet lands.

All LDTC projects are intended to invite a hiker to walk an extra mile and to take pleasure from the grace and proportion of the trail. All projects pay special attention to the long term sustainability of the trail itself and the immediately surrounding terrain. We use local materials and strive for an integrated, natural look at every project’s end.

Where We Work

Many of our projects are in Harriman State Park. You will find our work on Bear Mountain, West Mountain, Black Mountain, Long Mountain and at Greenwood Mine - among many other sites. As our name implies, we focus on the “long distance trails” - the Appalachian Trail, the Long Path, Shawangunk Ridge Trail and the Highlands Trail.

Training

No experience is necessary and beginners are encouraged to join us! We provide on-site training during each. Our experienced crew leaders and members are eager to teach people of all abilities the skills needed to build and rehabilitate trail. Volunteers will learn the basics of trail planning and construction, work site safety, material selection and movement, proper use of hand tools and rigging.

LDTC in the News

Long Distance Trails Crew Chief Chris Reyling Named ATC Mid-Atlantic Volunteer of the Year - March, 2016
Eric Garnjost Art Exhibit - the oil and watercolor paintings of artist Erik Garnjost, crew leader for the Long Distance Trails Crew, are on view in a solo exhibition closing April 26, 2017.
Restore Seely Brook Bridge on Goosepond Mountain - a project for the 2017 season.

Resources:

2021 Annual Crew Report - Summary of the 4 projects, 78 crew outings, and 4,384 volunteer hours contributed
2020 Annual Crew Report - Summary of the 3 projects, 64 crew outings and 4,057 volunteer hours contributed
2019 Annual Crew Report - Summary of the 3 projects, 50 crew outings, and 4,617 volunteer hours contributed
2018 Annual Crew Report - Summary of the 3 projects, 63 crew outings, and 6,077 volunteer hours contributed
2017 Annual Crew Report - Summary of the 3 projects, 83 crew outings, and 7,915 volunteer hours contributed
2016 Annual Crew Report - summary of the 9 projects, 82 crew outings and 7,776 volunteer hours contributed
2015 Annual Crew Report - Summary of the 7 projects, 70 crew outings and 4,850 volunteer hours contributed
LDTC 'Rack Card' - used by the LDTC crew leaders to provide hikers and prospective volunteers with information about the crew