As town of Keene seeks solutions, safety concerns mount for trailhead stewards
By Tim Rowland
The town of Keene is used to dealing with frustrated hikers at its popular Garden trailhead, but this year relations have taken a darker turn.
“Our frontcountry steward was trying to talk about preparedness and a fight breaks out between two hikers,” Supervisor Joe Pete Wilson said at the board’s monthly meeting.
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Hikers have yelled, threatened violence, surrounded stewards and poked them in the chest, and illegally parked cars in the access road, warning stewards that the vehicles better not be towed.
“People are just leaving their cars in the road; this is so far beyond anything we’ve ever seen before,” Wilson said.
It’s reached the point where he’s worried about the safety of young stewards, who work solo. The stewards are provided by Keene and the Adirondack Mountain Club. With the escalation in confrontations, the state agreed to add an assistant ranger on Fridays and Saturdays.
The assistant rangers have uniforms and radios, but are unarmed and have no arresting powers. Wilson said crowds have matched those of last year, which were down slightly from the heavy use experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Access to The Garden — one of three main northern access roads to the High Peaks — begins in the hamlet of Keene Valley, winds up the mountain through residential neighborhoods and terminates at a lot capable of holding 44 cars, first come first served.
Unlike the ADK’s Adirondak Loj, there is no long, unpopulated access road that can handle overflow if the main lots fill up. And unlike the Adirondack Mountain Reserve, the Keene lacks the resources to go to a parking-reservation system.
Board member Ann Hough said the AMR’s reserved lot, which has been plagued by no-shows, might actually be driving more hikers to The Garden, because they can’t use the vacant AMR spaces.
The town runs a weekend shuttle from Marcy Field, but The Garden is filling up on weekdays too.
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Due to topography, private property and tree-cutting restrictions in the forest preserve there are few other options, if any.
“The big challenge we have always had is no parking, no parking, no parking,” said Board Member Bob Biesemeyer. “What’s the answer? I don’t know.”
Board members said they will ask for a high-level meeting with state officials to figure out a way forward.
Board Member Teresa Cheetham-Palen said the state bears some responsibility because it promotes park events that bring visitors, but has not followed up with the resources to manage those tourists.
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“We do want to have (visitors) here, but we need help,” she said. “A 20-year-old steward is not equipped to deal with an angry hiker. (But) the rangers are already strapped and they’re working tons of overtime.”
Board Member Chris Daly said he does not want to see the town abrogate responsibilities as it must protect homeowners.
Wilson said town resources are stretched thin, making it difficult to manage not just hiker parking, but also short term rental issues, stray dogs and events at Marcy Field. “As the town of Keene has taken on increasing management responsibilities it’s become more than we can do,” Wilson said. “We have to ask, how much is enough?”
Ryan says
Quick solve is that any spaces not filled at AMR by 7am become first-come first-served. That way they aren’t driving traffic to other trailheads.
Long term though the Garden needs to be expanded. 44 spaces for all the miles of trails and peaks served by that trailhead is absurd. Plus it’s the trailhead for JBL visitors.
Andrew says
Good thought, and not unlike Katahdin. Those with a permit get their spot, those without can gamble on open, first-come, first-served spots.
Or better yet, if the AMR is going to restrict access AND refuse to fill vacant spots, it would be a great time to have another look at their easement benefits.
George says
If these supposed hikers cause problems, have them arrested. Have illegally parked cars towed. Why has law and ORDER become the problem? Bring civility back.
Tracy Hill says
They need to start prosecuting rule breakers as far as they can and levy huge fines. I’m sick of everyone’s entitled attitudes and the destruction these hordes of people are doing to the trails. Find somewhere else to hike, preferably in another state so those of us who live here can get a chance to use the trails. Forever wild doesn’t include habitat for the overpopulated Dickhead Arrogantas.
Adk lifer says
Time to revisit the long standing argument that hikers in New York State pay a trail fee. New York residents as well as out of state residents pay to hunt and fish as well as take a safety training course. Maybe instituting the same fees and education requirements will take the burden off from the rangers and volunteer rescue squads. Hikers will be better prepared and knowledgable. The fee can be used for trail maintenance and to help support rescue squads in the state. $10 per year, per hiker, would go a long way when you look at the numbers that access the high peaks just from the garden alone.