Our conservation partnership with Open Space Institute (OSI) just conserved 290 acres in Willsboro. Thank you to Reg and Jenny Bedell for donating a conservation easement to OSI that protects farmland, forest, and wetlands and allows for a hiking trail. Stay tuned for upcoming trail projects there.
The Sad News: Mourning Bruce Klink
We mourn the passing of Bruce Klink, one of our founders. Bruce Klink and Steven Kellogg initiated the creation of CATS when they happened to see each other in the Charlotte, North Carolina airport in 2006. Both were reading Wandering Home by Bill McKibben where he wrote about hiking through our Champlain Valley towns of Essex, Westport, and Elizabethtown.
They agreed that this area needed a network of hiking trails so they called several people together and thus began Champlain Area Trails. Now, in 2014, we have over 35 miles of new trails and a listing of over 40 local trails. We will miss you Bruce. You have made a difference in this world.
Whallonsburg Grange Lyceum Series
The Whallonsburg Grange has an especially informative series of lectures beginning on February 4th. Geologist David Franzi begins with a lecture titled, “Wild Beginnings: The Formation of the Adirondacks.” Click here to see the whole series of lectures.
Great Hiking News!
Thursday morning it was 0 degrees and actually felt balmy. Clear sky, bright sun and sparkling ice on Lake Champlain made it hard to stay indoors. February is here and it is the best winter month because the sunny, longer days make for wonderful outdoor opportunities with positive feelings of warmer weather to come.
February is an especially good time to enjoy the trails. With fluffy snow, it’s great for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The occasional thaws and refreezing can create a hard, unbreakable crust which is fabulous for winter walking. (We’d caution against just walking with boots in soft snow because the “postholes” make skiing more difficult.)
People ask about good ski trails and I’d especially recommend Bobcat Trail, Boquet Mountain Trail, and Hidden Quarry Trail. You may have your favorites so let us know about them.
Chris Maron, Executive Director
Related articles
- Essex-Whallonsburg Entrepreneurs Unite! (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
- Help CATS with Wadhams-to-Whallonsburg Trail (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
- CATS Photo and Caption Contest Winners (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
- Whallonsburg Grange Winter 2014 Lyceum Series (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
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