Fall Hiking

Fall has always been my favorite time of the year in the Champlain Valley. The cooler weather, colorful trees, and fewer bugs, make hiking even more enjoyable. Bill Amadon has been working hard on the trails to prepare them for fall and winter hiking. This past week, he worked on the WILDWAY PASSAGE TRAIL, one of two trails on property owned by CATS. “I mowed the trail, cut back and cleaned it up in a few places and then I placed a lot of new markers on the trail to make it easier to follow,” Bill told me. “This is a great trail for bird watching and cross country skiing. I recommend walking it before the snow falls so you get a feel for the trail and then come back again and ski it this winter.”

While working on the trail, Bill came across this hemlock that was cut 3 years ago. A quick count of the rings make it a little over 100 years old when Hurricane Irene came along and blew it down.

Have you walked a trail recently and noticed it needed some attention? Give Bill a call (518-925-0552) or send him an email at bill@champlainareatrails.com to let him know.

Update from Chris in France

I received a photo and brief update from Chris Maron this week.

View from a trial in France (Credit: Chris Maron)

“I am especially amazed at the changing scenes across the landscape,” he said. “Huge vistas, then walking through ever-changing forests that break out onto fields where you feel on top of the world. Then the trail leads into the valley where every village is like a movie set.”

He didn’t mention exactly where they are or how many miles they’ve walked to date, but I’m guessing they have done well over 100 miles by now. Stayed tuned…we should be receiving one final update from Chris before they begin their journey back home to the Champlain Valley.

Upcoming Events

Check out our fall events and MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

September 27, 2015 – Art Farm Trail Opening. Guided hikes of the new Art Farm Trail at 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. led by a CATS representative; tour of farm and art led by owner and artist, Ted Cornell.
October 11, 2015 – Pond Sprint, Pok-O-MacCready Camps, Reber Rd., Willsboro. This 13-mile race will benefit our Long Pond Conservancy Program. Check-in starts at 9:00 a.m.; race begins at 10:00 a.m.; awards ceremony at 1:00 p.m.
October 11, 2015 – Penfield Museum Apple Folk Fest. From 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Museum. The CATS Penfield Pond Trail is located near Penfield Museum and CATS will be participating in the event.
October 17, 2015 – DaCy Meadow Farm Trail Hike & Harvest Lunch. Guided hike led by Bill Amadon, followed by lunch provided by DaCy Meadow Farm.
October 24, 2015 – Owl Prowl on the Black Kettle Farm Trail. Led by teacher/naturalist Gregg Van Deusen at 6:00 p.m.

Click here for more information, or to register, for any of these events.

Gail Testa
CATS Operations Manager

Walking the French Way (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
2015 Grand Hike A Sucess – CATS Sends Thanks (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
CATS Achieves Accreditation! (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)

About Champlain Area Trails (CATS)

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.