CATS Tales from the Trails

CATS trail marker seen on the Grand Hike (Credit: virtualdavis) — CATS trail marker (Credit: virtualdavis)

One of my joys is meeting people on the trails. During last Thursday’s project I was lagging behind the others and heard some raucous noises coming from up ahead on the trail. “Sound like they are having a good time,” I thought. “Carrying cedar posts and post-hole diggers must really be fun.” I met up with the others just as a group of boy scouts came rollicking over the hill. “We’re walking 20 miles today” one said. Their troop leader said they were from New Hampshire, camping in the area and showed me a CATS map with trails outlined that would get them to that total.

On Friday, while going up the Wildway Overlook Trail, six people were coming down. Two were from New York, two from Vermont, and the other two from Pennsylvania. “We’re hiking the trails with views,” one said. “We’ve been to Coot Hill, Cheney Mountain, Coon Mountain, here, and next is Rattlesnake Mountain. Someone said that Turtle Island is good for dinner so we’ll finish up there.”

You can make tales from the trails too.

Create Your Own Story On CATS Trails

Working on a CATS trail (Credit: Champlain Area Trails)

Like at this Thursday’s on the Trail Project, please help us continue to improve the Field and Forest West Trail. We will put up signs at junctions helping people know where they are, place directional posts in the field, clear overhanging branches, and reroute part of the trail to avoid a wet area. This trail connects Wadhams to Bobcat trail and leads to Whallonsburg and Essex so it’s important for hamlet-to-hamlet hiking; or just having a good time. Meet at the Dogwood Bakery in Wadhams at 9:00 am. Everyone is welcome. We’ll supply the tools.

Think of the stories you can tell after attending the next mushroom foraging workshop on Tuesday, August 26. There is still time to register for this workshop featuring instructor Ari Rockland-Miller, co-founder of The Mushroom Forager. Our recent rain has been perfect for a “bumper crop” of tasty mushrooms, plus the not-so-tasty ones too. Click here for details.

And then you really have to come to the August 28th Soundwaves Concert in Ballard Park featuring musicians Rebecca Martin and Larry Grenadier AND Champlain Area Trails! These concerts have been fabulous and we are so thrilled to be part of this program. The concerts are free. You’ll hear a lot of great music and a little about how CATS is making trails and tales and saving land. Donations received at this concert will benefit CATS. Please come and show your support for CATS and the lively arts scene in our Champlain Valley.

Chris Maron
CATS Executive Director

Let CATS Speak at Your Events (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
CATS Talks About Upcoming Events (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Ramble up Cheney Mountain and a view of history (northcountrypublicradio.org)

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.