The Tale of a Trail: How Volunteers Built a New Path to the Fire Tower 

“It was like a powder keg exploded the day I met Brian Sikora,” recalled Brian Straniti, community outreach manager for the Dutchess Land Conservancy (DLC). The two men had attended a DLC cleanup activity a year and a half ago at Thompson Pond Preserve and discovered a shared ambition: To build a safe, accessible trail that led from the pond to Stissing Mountain’s fire tower. “DLC partners its projects with The Nature Conservancy (TNC),” Straniti said. “We had wanted to create a new trail on public land for years. It was on our priority list but we just couldn’t get to it.” 

Sikora, a volunteer for Friends of Stissing Landmarks (FOSL), wasted no time convincing Straniti that he could spearhead the project. A former trail master for the Adirondack 46ers, Sikora led Straniti to the base of the old fire-tower trail where FOSL volunteers had recently created a new entrance. When Straniti saw the stonework, he instantly recognized it as Sikora’s: “I’d seen it before in the Adirondacks. His work is a step above the norm, artistically done and environmentally sound. I was excited. I knew that with Brian in the lead, DLC, FOSL, and TNC could get the new trail done. Brian gave it new life.” 

After nearly 1,000 volunteer hours clearing, creating switchbacks and hefting 400-pound boulders, the trail is 75% complete and usable. Pink flags mark the 2.5-mile loop, which ascends to 900 feet. Joe Schmidt of Pine Plains, a burly FOSL volunteer singled out by Sikora and FOSL chairperson Vivian Berlinghoff as indispensable, recalled the hard work involved: “It felt like 90% of the trail was stone steps. I got a few scrapes. I think my blood made the rocks grow.” 

FOSL, DLC and TNC have scheduled a community celebration to inaugurate the Thompson Pond to Tower Trail from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23. (Straniti jokes that they almost called it The Two Brians Trail.) Attendees can participate in a gear swap (exchanging or donating old hiking items), a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a hike to the fire tower and educational activities for all ages. 

While there are already two trails up Stissing Mountain to the fire tower, they are 80 years old, steep and in disrepair. FOSL has been unable to reach an agreement on providing upkeep with the multiple landowners involved. “It became clear that a new footpath on public land would be ideal,” Berlinghoff said. “It could be open year round, be easily maintained and give the old fire tower trails a bit of a rest. We could encourage the community to use the trail and become its caretakers.” 

Berlinghoff and Sikora spent more than 50 hours scouting out a new path. “The first two trips were discouraging,” Sikora said. “The layout was difficult. Our top priorities were to protect against soil erosion and make the trail accessible for kids and seniors.” Switchbacks were the answer: Snow melt and rain would flow off the sides of the footpaths, where the rocks are laid, preventing the dirt from washing away. 

Last October, Straniti launched an advertisement blitz to enlist volunteers. “Drop in Thursdays” attracted over 30 participants, including students from Stissing Mountain High School. “The teens were taught rock work and building skills—it helped their self confidence,” Berlinghoff said.  

The new trail begins a half mile into Thompson Pond Preserve to “give hikers a chance to enjoy its beauty, and maybe get a glimpse of the beavers before climbing to the tower,” Berlinghoff said. She rates the trail a “moderate plus” in difficulty, noting that fit seniors should consider using trekking poles. “I’ve already watched kids scramble up the trail, no problem!” she added.  

Schmidt waxed philosophical, saying, “Even though we come from different backgrounds, working together on this project has made us all good friends.” Berlinghoff agreed: “And once FOSL raises the money, we plan to revamp the boardwalk on the loop around the pond that goes past Meiller’s farm. We can’t wait to work on it together.” 

Details about the new trail celebration and how to volunteer can be found on the FOSL’s Facebook page, or the Dutchess Land Conservancy website.