Walking Sticks & Two New CATS Trails

Chris Maron displaying two of the walking sticks created by Don Rennell. (Credit: CATS)

Local artist and craftsman Don Rennell wants to help you enjoy hiking the CATS trails. He donated several beautiful walking sticks he carved and finished from wood found along our trails. The carvings, which illustrate local wildlife, animal tracks, trees, and flowers, are amazing. Don suggested that we make these unique walking sticks available for a special donation of $20 (or more) to CATS. Stop by our office on Main Street in Westport to pick out yours! They range in length from 3 to 5 feet.

A great place to try out your new walking stick is the Penfield Pond Trail in Crown Point. Thanks to our volunteers we recently expanded the trail into a “loop trail.” You will love this trail. It goes above a cascading brook, arrives at the peaceful waters of Penfield Pond, and then passes through the old forest along the shore.

Directions to Penfield Pond Trail: Directions from Crown Point, take County Route 4 west about 6.5 miles toward Penfield Museum. Turn left on Peasley Road and go about 100 yards to a parking area on your right, just before the bridge. Walk across the bridge and immediately walk up the embankment onto the trail.

Meanwhile, we’re almost done with the new Art Farm Trail in Westport. Thanks to the vision of local artist Ted Cornell, this trail begins by Ted’s barn and outdoor sculptures, leads through a grassland with valley views, enters an open woodland, passes by a pond for migrating waterfowl, and connects to the Field and Forest Trail. It provides an easy, wonderful hike.

The new 2015/16 Trail Map will be available for distribution any day now…stay tuned!

Chris Maron
CATS Executive Director

Moonlight Hike Fun (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
Hike the Lake? (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.