From July 29–August 4, the Ashokan Center hosted a crew unlike any other: the Jolly Rover Trail Crew, a group of expert volunteer stoneworkers who travel the country building and restoring trails with skill, care, and a good dose of camaraderie.
For years, the Deer Trail has been waiting for some love, and the Rovers answered the call. Over the course of their visit, they combined old-world craftsmanship with modern ingenuity to create lasting improvements that will make the trail safer and more accessible for generations to come.
A Week of Heavy Lifting and Fine Craftsmanship
The work began with three days of harvesting stone from Ashokan’s old quarries—pulling out beautiful, sturdy slabs weighing anywhere from 100 to 400 pounds. To move the stones, they set up a pulley system that carried them out to the road, where sleds dragged them to the top of the Deer Trail.
From there, another pulley lowered the massive stones to the base of the slope—no small feat given the terrain. With the help of Ashokan’s own maintenance crew (Jason and Malcolm), the Rovers then used these stones to construct about 10 perfectly set steps into the hillside. These steps now anchor a section of trail that had been difficult and sometimes dangerous to navigate.
Life at Camp
True to their adventurous spirit, the Rovers camped out during their stay, enjoying evenings by the fire and swapping stories after long days of stonework. Their week even came with an unexpected guest—a curious adolescent black bear who wandered through their campsite and helped himself to a snack.
As Project Manager Joe Martignetti put it:
“The Jolly Rovers are a rugged, fun-loving bunch. They were a pleasure to have on site, and we’re already looking forward to welcoming them back next year.”
Looking Ahead
While weather and time constraints meant they couldn’t finish the entire project this trip, the progress made is already a major win for the Deer Trail. Plans are in the works to invite them back and to host a stoneworking clinic where volunteers could learn the “ancient art of stonework” from Jolly Rover master Artie Hidalgo.
For now, the trail improvements stand as a testament to the Rovers’ skill, teamwork, and love of the outdoors—a gift to every future hiker who sets foot on the Deer Trail.
