Has the Outdoors Seemed More Crowded This Summer?

On a challenging Black Diamond trail in Monmouth County - Photo via Flickr

Though hiking and camping have been showing increased popularity in the past decade, there has been a big jump in the past three summers.

An article at outsideonline.com made this personal observation.

In 2013, I hiked to one of the most beautiful places in the world: a glowing turquoise lake cradled by alpine tundra and framed by 13,000-foot peaks. It was a clear fall day, and I didn’t see another person on the entire 3.5-mile Ice Lakes Trail, in southwest Colorado.

I was so enchanted that I returned the following year, and the year after, and every year after that. Each time I saw more and more people as I huffed up the steep switchbacks to Ice Lake, one of two high-altitude lakes accessed by the trail. By 2019, 125 to 250 hikers a day were tackling the trek on busy weekends. A year later, even that figure seemed low. As hiking emerged as one of the few safe activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, 400 to 600 people a day came to the Ice Lakes Trailhead—every day of the week, all season long.

Trails around the country, including New Jersey, have seen increased use. I know two couples who drove cross-country this summer and tried to visit some national parks. They told me the crowds were big and without reservations there was no way they were camping or even getting into a few of them. Some national parks' visitation numbers almost doubled from 2019 to 2020. That was pre-pandemic. 

People might have stayed home in 2020 but the pent-up desire to hit the road and get outside has hit hard this summer. Last year, I saw increases in our local parks and trails with people wanting to out of the house.

A study commissioned by the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), showed that 8.1 million new hikers hit the trails in the United States in the same time period.

What have you observed about numbers in your local outdoor places lately?

Annual NJ State Parks Passes Available Online

New Jersey will be the first state in the nation to sell annual state parks passes through a public lands pass website, giving visitors the opportunity to save gas, time and money by avoiding daily walk-in costs and parking fees.

The online purchase program through YourPassNow takes effect today, April 1 and stems from an existing partnership between the DEP’s Division of Parks and Forestry and the New Jersey Division of NICUSA Inc. YourPassNow is a digital marketplace that makes it easy and convenient for visitors to purchase online electronic passes, permits and tickets to public lands.

“This partnership benefits the public in a variety of ways and is another example of New Jersey’s environmental leadership on a national level,” NJDEP Commissioner Catherine McCabe said. “Instead of driving to a park office to buy an annual pass or mailing an application, visitors can order an annual state parks decal online at their convenience and affix it to their vehicle’s windshield. Using this method will allow visitors to save transportation time and costs and help reduce fuel emissions.”

YourPassNow.com offers online purchase of passes to approximately 22 federal and state sites, most of which are in the western half of the United States. With New Jersey’s entry into the program, residents and non-residents have the option to buy a decal to affix to their vehicle’s windshield that will provide entrance for one calendar year to state parks, forests and historic sites. Fees vary, and a $3 per-pass surcharge will apply to every purchase.

“The Division of Parks and Forestry is excited to offer a new and convenient way to purchase a New Jersey State Park Pass through YourPassNow,” said Olivia Glenn, Parks and Forestry Director. “We hope to attract more state park pass holders who enjoy our forests, beaches, historic sites and the 1,000 miles of trails in the state park system.”

Online Purchase of State Parks PassesVisitors can order one or more passes, including discounted household passes, for other members of their household, or as gifts for family and friends.

The State Park Service includes 47 state parks, forests, recreation areas, battlefields and marinas. Camping is available at 19 sites ranging from Brendan T. Byrne State Forest in the Pinelands to Stokes State Forest near the Delaware Water Gap to Parvin State Park in Salem County. Visit www.camping.nj.gov to reserve a camping site.

The New Jersey Division of NICUSA, Inc. is the official digital government partner of New Jersey, assisting governmental entities with web-enabling their information services.

NICUSA, Inc. has partnered with the DEP on other information services projects, including development of the award-winning campground reservation system NJ Outdoors at camping.nj.gov and WARN NJDEP, a smart device app that allows the public to report non-emergency environmental incidents. WARN NJDEP is available in the Google Play store and the Apple App Store.

For a list of fees and to purchase an annual pass to New Jersey’s Parks, Forests and Historic Sites, visit https://yourpassnow.com/parkpass.

SOURCE nj.gov/dep/newsrel/2019/19_0020.htm

Using Trail Tracker for Your NJ Outdoor Adventures

We had a taste of warmer weather recently and some snow coming back this week. The former is good for a trail walk or hike, and the latter may be better for some planning.

The State Park Service launched Trail Tracker at the end of 2017 which is an app that helps park visitors make detailed plans tailored to trails, activities, and terrain that interest them. It is available through Google Play, the Apple app store and the Microsoft app store.

It was developed by the Division of Parks and Forestry’s Geographic Information System (GIS) department as part of a project to map and highlight amenities in the state park system. The state park system boasts nearly 1,000 miles of officially designated trails.

Batso Trail in Wharton

Our NJ park system is comprised of 50 parks, forests recreation areas and marinas, from High Point State Park in Sussex County to Cape May State Park at the southernmost tip of the state.

Hiking opportunities range from the rocky woodlands of the Highlands and Skylands regions to secluded sojourns through coastal marshes, Revolutionary War battlefields, and Pine Barrens forests. Some trails are designated for foot traffic only while others also accommodate bicyclists and horseback riders.

Trail Tracker NJ quick start guide (pdf)

NJ State Park Online Campground Reservation System

I don't think many of us are thinking about camping in New Jersey in January, but on a cold winter day when you're housebound might be the best time to consider outings for the other three seasons.

Campsite in Wharton State Forest

I have very fond memories of taking my family camping in our state parks when my sons were younger. They especially enjoyed our tent and cabin vacations at Stokes and Wharton and swimming in the tea-colored Pinelands water of Atsion Lake.

This is also a opportune time to consider future trips because  the Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Parks and Forestry has launched a new online campground reservation system. This NJ Outdoors online reservations system can be accessed at www.camping.nj.gov.

It provides flexible search capabilities for finding and reserving tent sites, cabins or shelters within the New Jersey State Park System, and is part of a broader, ongoing DEP effort to improve customer service and information services through online and mobile-device technologies.

Back when I was making reservations for campsite (and especially for the limited cabins), it was all done by snail mail with an occasional phone call. You could wait a few weeks only to find out that nothing was available.

“The New Jersey State Park System offers some of the best camping experiences found anywhere,” Commissioner Martin said. “This new reservation system will make it easier than ever to plan an affordable weekend getaway or vacation at our great state parks, forests and recreation areas to create memories that will last a lifetime.”

The system, developed in partnership with the New Jersey Division of NICUSA Inc., went live in December, and it provides updated maps and park information filters that allow users to more easily check site availability and plan visits around amenities and recreational opportunities available at each park.

Features of NJ Outdoors include:

• The ability to easily update or cancel a campground reservation;
• A list of current discounts available at state parks;
• A document upload feature for pet license and vaccination documents to make check-in easier at pet-friendly campsites;
• An optional account creation feature, which allows campers to securely store their payment and access their camping history;
• A real-time notification system that alerts campers of events that could affect their stay or upcoming reservations.

“Whether your interest is hiking, kayaking or simply relaxing by the campfire, it is our sincerest hope that residents and visitors will find this new reservation system a convenient portal into planning their camping adventures in a park system that offers a wide range of opportunities for enjoying the outdoors,” said Division of Parks and Forestry Director Mark Texel.

The State Park Service boasts 50 state parks, forests, recreation areas, battlefields, and marinas. Camping is available at 19 sites, from Brendan Byrne State Forest in the Pinelands to Stokes State Forest near the Delaware Water Gap to Parvin State Park in Salem County.

Atsion Lake in Wharton State Forest

Want to get news and photos of what is happening in our New Jersey State Parks?  Follow them on Instagram at www.instagram.com/newjerseystateparks/ and on Facebook  www.facebook.com/NewJerseyStateParks/

Source: NJDEP - News Release 

Changes Ahead For NJ State Parks

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/bass.htmlVisitors to NJ might find themselves paying more to take advantage to our state parks in the future, but they might find expanded services or facilities too.

Bob Martin, commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection, told lawmakers recently that the DEP didn’t plan to cut services or staff when the new fiscal year starts July 1. However, state parks probably cannot rely only on tax dollars and will need to consider new ways of making parks self-sustaining financially.

For example, Bass River State Forest is a 27,635-acre tract outside of New Gretna where the state charges up to $10 per vehicle on the weekend from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. It offers canoeing, fishing and swimming in Lake Absegami, as well as camping and hiking.

To compete with other East Coast state parks, NJ parks might offer additional amenities such as concrete pads, utility hook-ups, and pull-through sites that appeal to trailer campers, general stores,and the ability to book reservations online which is helpful for both in and out-of-state vacationers. Though these would require an initial capital outlay, it would also justify higher fees. The state could also do better online marketing of its natural areas.


more at AtlanticCity.com

Backpacking

Backpacking is a great autumn and early winter recreational activity in NJ and our region.

For newbies, ultralight backpacking may be a good approach. Although that "advanced" style of backpacking emphasizes carrying the lightest weight safely possible for a given hike for the purposes of long distance hikes, it also is a good approach for the more casual day hikers and weekend backpackers.

To hardcore backpackers who set out on those long trips, I might be misusing the term backpacker here, but I'll take that risk.

Light and ultralight packs generally refer to base pack weights below 20 pounds and below 10 pounds respectively. (Traditional backpacking often results in base pack weights of 30-60+ pounds.)

Ultralight backpacking was popularized in a book by Ray Jardine (see below). He claimed his first Pacific Coast Trail thru-hike was with a base pack weight of 25 pounds and on his third PCT thru-hike, he was down to less than 9 pounds.

By carrying lighter and less equipment, backpackers usually cover longer distances per day with less wear and tear on the body.

What do you leave home? Camping luxuries such as camp chairs, coffee makers, electronic gadgets, camera equipment, multiple items of clothing, etc. all vanish.

Backpacker will also use or make lighter versions of items - remove the handle from a toothbrush, transfer boxed & canned food items to plastic bags etc. They substitute light nylon & other fabrics for packs, tents and covers for older & heavier materials.

And they use things that serve multi-purposes - the rain poncho that also is a tarp shelter or dressing more warmly s that a lightweight sleeping bag is sufficient.

Having partners on your hike - a good idea for any type of outdoor adventuring - also means that some equipment can be carried by one person for the group. How many compasses, maps or GPS nits do you need?

Okay, so you have considered how to keep that pack light. Now, where to go...

Since 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club has been promoting the protection, enjoyment, and stewardship of the mountains, forests, waters, and trails of the Appalachian region. AMC is the nation’s oldest outdoor recreation and conservation organization.

The New York-North Jersey Chapter (originally the New York Chapter) has more than 13,000 members from New York City, southeastern New York, and northeastern New Jersey and would be a good place to begin your research.

Try their Trip Search. I checked our region and found three backpacking trips still open for this year:

11/21/09 - 11/22/09 NY Catskills Five Peaks Loop Backpack
11/28/09 - 11/29/09 Big Savage Mountain Backpack (MD)
12/05/09 - 12/06/09 Appalachian Trail in PA-Wind Gap to Delaware Water Gap

They offer local chapter activities and major excursions worldwide at all ability levels. It's not limited to hiking and climbing. There are also paddling, snowshoeing and skiing trips.

Want to go a distance and not carry that tent? They have AMC Lodges, Huts, Full-Service Camps, Cabins, Shelters and Campgrounds.

They also offer programs in the skills to be safe outdoors and care for the natural world around us, through for children, teens and adults.

Sunrise Mountain view via Flickr

More Information

http://www.thebackpacker.com offers trip information, like this Appalachian Trail hike from Culvers Gap to NJ Rt. 23. About 13 miles, along Kittatinny Ridge to the crest of Sunrise Mountain with great panoramas of the NJ Highlands and the Poconos before dropping down to High Point State Park.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backpacking_(wilderness)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultralight_backpacking

Pack It In, Pack It Out

"Pack it In, Pack it Out" is a waste management philosophy of environmentalism. The idea is simple: whatever you bring into a natural area - bags, bottles, trash - must be taken out of the area when you leave.

It is not just removing the trash and biodegradable waste from the natural area, but also the proper disposal of those materials when you get home so that they cause no harm to the ecosystem.

This philosophy is closely related to the broader minimal impact code that is practiced by many environmentalists, naturalists, and conservationists. It has become a part of the philosophy of many organizations that have members who enjoy camping, hiking, trekking, fishing, and other activities that involve entering wilderness areas.

More

• United States Bureau of Land Management
• The Backpacker
• Leave No Trace