VFTT - 40 years ago!

[Tom Rankin]

Saw this plaque today, on top of Bear Mountain in NY:

http://home.hvc.rr.com/trankin/DSC00379.JPG

 

[Artex]

I've seen that plaque before! I used to live across the river in Peekskill. I have many fond childhood memories of Bear Mountain. Thanks for posting that.

 

[Tom Rankin]

I've seen that plaque before! I used to live across the river in Peekskill. I have many fond childhood memories of Bear Mountain. Thanks for posting that.

Ah ha! Now I know why you are so interested in NY Climbing!

 

[Artex]

Ah ha! Now I know why you are so interested in NY Climbing!

Yup. My mother's side of the family is all from Peekskill. I also used to live in Nyack (Rockland County) and just across the border in Jersey, so I've done lot's of hiking and exploring around there. I miss it (well, not Jersey), but I'm more than happy to call Maine home now and I'm never leaving.

 

[ROCKYSUMMIT]

Gotta love that plaque... pretty cool!

 

[Raymond]

The last guy who cut a path and blazed a tree got a big fine. This guy got a plaque.
I guess it's just a matter of timing.

And please, hold your ire. I'm not defending the Couchsachraga slasher; I couldn't resist pointing out the irony.

 

[Jay H]

Not only a plaque but a huge tower! Although in defense of Robert Bartha, it seems to be mounted on a granite block and not chopped into a tree.

Jay

 

[timmus]

The last guy who cut a path and blazed a tree got a big fine. This guy got a plaque.
I guess it's just a matter of timing.

And please, hold your ire. I'm not defending the Couchsachraga slasher; I couldn't resist pointing out the irony.

That is also what went through my mind reading that plaque.

And I am pretty sure there was many opponents to that plaque back then...

 

[bubba]

He was the NY-NJ Conference "Trails Chairman" so someone elected him and trusted him to do what he held close.

Although the plaque is 40 years ago, he was out blazing trails over 60 years ago when he was between 69 and 74 years old himself!! Wow for Joe!!

 

[Tom Rankin]

I was not trying to re-hash the axe man thread, I just thought the wording on the plaque would be interesting to readers of this board!

Peace out...

 

[charlos]

cmon...betcha miss new jersey a bit....tons of beautiful nature, a wonderful secret from those who picture n.j. as a big metuchin.

 

[Mark Schaefer]

Joseph Bartha: Trail Patriarch

Thanks Tom for the plaque photo.

I am also not trying to stir up any ire, but there is a difference between authorized trail blazing (with official markers or paint), and illegal blazing and crude cuts into trees. For those who may not know, the New York / New Jersey Trail Conference has built and/or actively maintains over 1600 miles of trails from the Delaware Water Gap to the current northern terminus of the Long Path. That includes most or many of the trails in the Catskills, Shawangunks, Hudson Highlands, Taconics, and New Jersey. All of the trail construction and maintenance is authorized by the public and private authorities governing the lands served by the trails. The Trail Conference has meticulous and well defined procedures for trail blazing and maintenance which are distributed to their volunteers in a comprehensive Trail Maintenance Manual.

In 1995, on their 75th anniversary, the Conference published a booklet, Vistas & Vision - A History of the New York - New Jersey Trail Conference. It included one full page dedicated to the service of Joseph Bartha. The full text can be read in a very large 32MB PDF, a link is here: http://www.nynjtc.org/pubs/books/index.html#vistas
It is on page 28 of 50 in the PDF (page 14 in the printed version of the booklet). For some reason the pages in the PDF are not in order. The text pages were scanned as images, so you cannot use find or search to locate text in the PDF.

A few excerpts follow:

Tough-minded, tireless, and warm-hearted, Joseph Bartha stands as a model to all trail maintainers. Serving as Trails Chair from 1940 to 1955, it is claimed by some that he single-handedly kept the Appalachian Trail open throughout World War II.
...
Appointed as the Conference Trail Inspector in 1939, Bartha walked every important Harriman Part trail, with an eye on improvements. "He goes out each week to get a true report to the Trail Conference and trail workers direct," said Bill Hoeferlin. "Yes, Mr. Bartha, with his taste for cleanliness and order, is the best man we could have on the job. He should be on our "Memories payroll!" Bartha and the new Trail Patrol were a regular sight along the Conference trails until he stepped down in 1951.
...
For the next fifteen years, Bartha went on clearing blowdowns and brush, repairing bridges, and repainting blazes. Under his watchful eye, many hikers learned the art of trail making.

At age 95, a plaque to his honor was unveiled on Bear Mountain.​

The 95 year old Mr. Bartha was present at the unveiling. The booklet includes a photo of Mr. Bartha standing above the plaque. It is nice to see that his contributions were recognized during his life time. The Appalachian Trail and another conference trail traverse Bear Mountain. It is a fitting place for hikers to remember the service of Joseph Bartha, as they enjoy the view from the top that the trails provide.