Monday, January 2, 2012

Ringwood-Ramapo Trail Progress - 2011



2011 wrap up: For those following the Ringwood-Ramapo (red blaze) project, we (Jorba) have been making improvements to a long section of trail from the intersection of the (blue) bridge all the way up to The Old Guard Trail (green/white) intersection. The project started with two years of planning and approvals, and then three years of actual re-route trail building to date. This trail traverses and climbs through some very extreme grades and numerous rocky areas. When Art and I first took on this project, we knew it was ambitious. Trying to keep volunteers motivated to work on something that they may not be able to ride for years was tough, but I think we have finally crested over the top of that hill in 2011, as the route is open for riding and hiking.

Throughout 2011 our Jorba volunteers came out to work nearly every Thursday from May through September plus several weekend super work days, putting in over 500 hours of volunteer labor. During these work days we have had a plethora of memorable experiences on this special mountain. We have worked in extreme heat, in clouds of mosquitoes and in thunderstorms. We have witnessed beautiful water falls from a year of heavy rains. We have been blessed with beautiful sunsets and gentle breezes. Every Thursday has been spent with hands in the dirt and moving rocks to create a pleasing path for others to take. We hope you will take it.









Jorba would like to thank these volunteers for donating their time and labor to work on Ringwood trails in 2011:
Joe Azze
Jo Baldacci
Joe Benevento
Ty Benevento
Adrienne Blair
James Bazzano
Steve Brossok
Zsuzanna Carlson
Allen Clark
Jessica Clark
Jeff Coneys
Joaquin Conizales
Elizabeth Corrion
Jeffrey Dodd
Leigh Dodd
Bill Dove
Pattu Duffy
Tim Egan
Joe Esak
Lori Esak
Tray Esak
Mike Ferraro
Chris Focacci
Chris Garatti
Phil Germakian
Henry Gozdz
Thomas Gustainus
Tom Haines
Steve Kleiber
Manny Lugo
Dan Matthews
Kathy Maziarz
Chris Michaloski
Randy Miller
Frank OReilly
Tom Pannorei
Darlene Phillips
Joe Prebish
Michael Rossi
Marianne Santagelo
Jennel Santos
Conor Schaar
Joe Schaar
Brian Sniatowski
Tom Stanowski
Tahir Thomas
Steve Wagoner
Tara Walhart
Art White
Ellen White
James Wilbur
Ben Williams
Joey Wyckoff
Mike Zusman