Champlain Area Trails Hosts “Hike with Emily” Events

Champlain Area Trails (CATS) has been begun hosting a series of hikes with Operations & Communications Manager, Emily Segada.

“I’m so excited to be taking these hikes and getting together with people safely in what feels like such a strange time to do so,” said Emily Segada, CATS Operations & Communications Manager, “It’s been great to meet a lot of CATS supporters and friends.”

Emily began the series as a way to explore every single CATS trail. CATS Executive Director, Chris Maron, suggested the idea.

With over 60 miles of trails, it’s hard to know where to start. Since January, Emily has been knocking off trails one by one with CATS supporters. So far, they’ve done Flying Squirrel, Black Kettle, and the Art Farm Trail. Hikes are the second Saturday and last Friday of every month, with the locations updated on the website.

“I said to Emily one day that she should set out on a mission to hike every CATS trail,” said Chris Maron, CATS Executive Director, “If she’s going to be writing about the trails, she should get to know them! She took the idea and ran with it. We’ve heard great things, and people have loved coming out to hike, explore the trails, and get the chance to know Emily better.”

Emily started with CATS as Operations & Communications Manager back in October. She is an avid hiker and loves getting outside. She plans to use the hikes for people to also meet special guests including CATS founders, board members, and other people in our communities.

“This is a great time for me to get to know the trails,” Emily said, “especially because we add new trails every year so I can see what’s been done as we continue to make trails that link communities, connect people with nature, and promote economic vitality.”

To learn more of upcoming hikes and to register for the hikes, visit www.champlainareatrails.com or email emily@champlainareatails.com.

Champlain Area Trails (CATS) is a non-profit organization, begun in 2009, which creates and maintains hiking and cross-country ski trails in the Champlain Valley that link communities, connect people with nature, and promote economic vitality. In its short history, CATS has developed 35 miles of trails that when added to existing trails, gets it half-way toward the long-envisioned goal of a 30-mile trail loop between Westport and Essex. CATS will extend its trails to neighboring towns and eventually connect them to trails in the Adirondack Mountains, Vermont, and Quebec. Learn more on the CATS website.