2024 Annual Public Meeting Minutes
| Board Members Present: |
| Will Roth |
| Edek Falkowski (via Zoom) |
| Patrick Zelko |
| Tom DuBois |
| Dominic Eisinger (via Zoom) |
| Jeremy Haas (via Zoom) |
| Doc Livingston |
| Carly Woodhouse |
| Bob O’Connor |
| Adrienne DiRosario (via Zoom) |
Meeting called to order:
The meeting was started at 7:30 PM. A quorum was present for the meeting.
Approximately 8 non-Board members attended in person, and approximately 1 non-Board members attended via Zoom. Thanks are due to Jeremy for moderating the “Chat” function for public input.
The meeting proceeded according to the following agenda:
Introductions
Reflecting on 2024:
Trail work
ADK Mtn Club Trailhead Stewards
Represented Climbers at VUM Stakeholder Meetings
Meet with DOT about Route 73 Chapel Pond Pass Parking Issues
Peregrines
Financial Update
Looking Forward to 2025:
Beer Walls
Climbing Management Plan
ADK Mtn Club Trailhead Stewards
Route 73 Chapel Pond Pass Parking Issues
Other topics
Audience Q&A
Meeting Discussion:
Will opened the meeting with a remembrance of Jay Harrison & Robbi Mecus.
Will then introduced the meeting and thanked the public members for attending.
2024 Summary
Trail work: We were hoping to be able to start work in 2024 in the Beer Walls, but the work plan was not developed. Will explained the details of this, and noted that we have positive communication with DEC, and we hope to begin Beer Walls trail work in 2025.
ADK Mtn Club Trailhead Stewards: Will explained our involvement, and thanked Kayla White from ADK who was present at the meeting.
VUM Stakeholder Meetings: Will explained our involvement. He mentioned that there will probably be an announcement seeking public input sometime in January 2025, and that we do not yet know what will be proposed.
Route 73 Chapel Pond Pass Parking Issues: Will summarized the positive communications he has had with NY State DOT regarding the handicap parking spaces and the delineators. We briefly discussed traffic safety regarding vehicles entering and exiting the “standard” Beer Walls parking. Kayla mentioned that the Trailhead Stewards had seen and reported two accidents in the area, which information we felt would be useful in continuing communications with DOT.
Peregrines: Royce Van Evera presented the results of 2024 Peregrine monitoring. The program continues to be successful. 8 sites were monitored: Crane, Potash, Shelving Rock, Sleeping Beauty, Rogers Rock, Wilmington Notch, Poko and Chapel Pond. Four sites had territorial pairs. The birds are doing well, and our monitoring continues to allow climbing routes to be open when appropriate. Royce mentioned that the Peregrine program at DEC is in a state of flux with personnel changes. We will be ready to help again in 2025.
Financial Update
Patrick presented a summary of our financial position.
Looking Forward to 2025
Beer Walls: We hope to do trail work, and possibly to seek grant funding for a professional crew.
Climbing Management Plan: Will summarized the status of this, and that we intend to carry it forward.
ADK Mtn Club Trailhead Stewards: We will continue our involvement with this successful program.
Route 73 Chapel Pond Pass Parking Issues: Will will continue communications with DOT, and work for an improved arrangement of parking in the pass.
Other topics: Will described the improvements we plan for our website and email. He also stated that we are looking for one or more people to help coordinate social media and social events, and that we hope to have a gathering of some sort in Spring 2025.
Audience Q&A:
Does ACC have a Volunteer Stewardship Agreement for trail work?
>>Yes, we do. It covers all of Region 5, and goes through the end of 2026.
Might we be more productive with trail work outside the High Peaks?
>>The issue is that DEC trail work plans can only be developed for areas which have an approved Unit Management Plan. Shelving Rock, as an example of one of the busiest areas outside the High Peaks, is in the Lake George Wild Forest, which does not have an approved UMP.
NY State Parks and Recreation Department offers various grant programs.
>>Good information; we may be able to take advantage of this.
Discussion of the Climbing Management Plan:
Is there a risk that the CMP may highlight the question of fixed anchors and cause problems for the climbing community?
>>We can never predict the reactions of Government agencies, but we think we have this issue well covered in the CMP. Also note that fixed anchors are only a small part of the overall CMP, which covers other larger topics.
How did Barkeater Trails Association obtain approval for their work on bike trails?
>>The same way we are going about it, by cultivating the appropriate contacts at DEC and developing a management plan.
Will thanked all the attendees.
The Annual Public Meeting was adjourned at 8:40 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Tom DuBois, Secretary