View Full Version : What are those red heart markers for???
ehmenten
10-02-2005, 18:53
I am section hiking in NJ and New England. I come across these markers that are circular and white with a red heart. Does anyone know anything about them?
cascader
10-02-2005, 19:07
Yeah, I was going to ask this same question. I've been seeing them on the AT in MA and CT.
They are badly formed red hearts (too skinny) stencilled in red on white disks and nailed to trees. The white disks are made from the tops/bottoms of tin cans.
I've noticed them when going northbound.
Love tokens from some admirer for a nobo thruhiker?
Nightwalker
10-02-2005, 21:01
And while we're talking red, what's the significance of the Billville red blaze? I asked Jack about it at Siler Bald, but I think that he was too embarassed to say in front of the young Mssr. Dew.
Maybe now that Jester is here, inquiring minds can find out the awful truth.
I'm sure, knowing the few Billvillers that I do, that it has to be something totally rude, crude and socially unacceptable...
Streamweaver
10-03-2005, 11:11
Theres a tree disease called red heart,maybe they are marking trees that have it.
Theres a tree disease called red heart,maybe they are marking trees that have it.
http://www.forestpests.org/northeast/redheartfir.html
And while we're talking red, what's the significance of the Billville red blaze? I asked Jack about it at Siler Bald, but I think that he was too embarassed to say in front of the young Mssr. Dew.
Maybe now that Jester is here, inquiring minds can find out the awful truth.
I'm sure, knowing the few Billvillers that I do, that it has to be something totally rude, crude and socially unacceptable...
You can take your mind out of the gutter Frank, I think the Billville red blazes have more to do with the fact the original "Bill" Tractor Supply work shirts were the color red than anything else. ;)
ehmenten
10-03-2005, 16:03
Theres a tree disease called red heart,maybe they are marking trees that have it.
It's an idea but I don't think they have anything to do with the trees' health except for hurting it with a nail.
I saw these too when I was up there at the beginning of September. All through MA and northern CT. No idea what the deal was.
Here's a (crappy) picture:
TAMBOURINE
10-03-2005, 19:33
Cupid shot the tree awwwwwwww
Nightwalker
10-04-2005, 01:30
You can take your mind out of the gutter Frank, I think the Billville red blazes have more to do with the fact the original "Bill" Tractor Supply work shirts were the color red than anything else. ;)
Hey! Don't rain on my parade like that.
:D
They mark fitness trails...loops and short sections intended as cardiovascular workout for folks out for a day hike for instance, in Harriman State Park. Seems that for every uphill on the AT through the rocks in Harriman there is a stinkin heart trail that goes around the rocks.
Fitness trail? What the hell? It was one thing when I thought it was a forlorn hiker putting up tributes to her tragically killed lover (I imagined him fending off the cougars just long enough for her to get away -- she's torn, but she doesn't want his sacrifice to be for nothing, so she runs). But someone's nailing tin cans to trees to mark fitness trails? That sucks.
Streamweaver
10-04-2005, 13:58
Fitness trail? What the hell? It was one thing when I thought it was a forlorn hiker putting up tributes to her tragically killed lover (I imagined him fending off the cougars just long enough for her to get away -- she's torn, but she doesn't want his sacrifice to be for nothing, so she runs). But someone's nailing tin cans to trees to mark fitness trails? That sucks.
Yeah,no kidding!! They are all fitness trails :o
The ridgerunner my father and I encountered in CT had no idea what these things represented. However, he did say he wished he was carrying his multi-tool so he could take them out.
LIhikers
10-14-2005, 14:07
My wife and I have been on the AT a few times this year. We've seen these markers in northern PA, and thru NJ,NY,CT and into lower MA. We too were wondering what they were.
I don't care what they are they show up 1000 times better in headlamp light than a normal blaze, not that I often roll into shelters after dark or anything ;)
Nightwalker
10-16-2005, 11:36
I don't care what they are they show up 1000 times better in headlamp light than a normal blaze, not that I often roll into shelters after dark or anything ;)
I've seen some things in GA in the last week that look like reflective thumbtacks. Boy do those things show up in the dark! I'd love to see those on about 1/3 of the white blazes!
B Thrash
10-19-2005, 20:08
Reflective Thumbtacks are mostly used by hunters to find their way out of the woods after dark. Can be purchased in most Wal-mart stores in sporting goods section.
MoBeach42
10-19-2005, 22:22
I think I saw the first one of these just south of DWG, and the last one in southern Vermont. I appreciated them, they made me smile. I can't believe they mark fitness trails, but maybe so. I think someone was just being cute and encouraging. :rolleyes:
Alligator
10-19-2005, 22:59
Reflective Thumbtacks are mostly used by hunters to find their way out of the woods after dark. Can be purchased in most Wal-mart stores in sporting goods section.Ahh, those things gave me the willies! I was hiking late one night, hoping for a campsite after cameling up on water. No luck for quite a ways. I saw several sets of these go into the woods. They were set low near the trail, then diagonally went up, sometimes ending in a pair, like eyes:eek: . I was hoping I wasn't stumbling past someone's "gardens". I had a thought they might be research areas. Thanks for the info.