Trail Report

Winter is well underway here in the North Country, and ACT’s trails continue to see use from hikers, Nordic skiers, snowshoers and fat-tire mountain bikers. Overall, conditions are good to great for non-motorized winter recreation. Trails are well-packed and have minimal ice due to the consistent cold weather we had in January. Be sure to dress for the weather, wear layers and do your best to stay dry! The ski glades at Cooley-Jericho are open but hazards will exist beneath the snow, please exercise EXTREME caution if venturing up into the glades. One or two more decent snowstorms should develop enough of a base for skiers and snowboarders to have a more enjoyable experience on the Community Forest.

ACT has also revived a short Nordic ski trail in Franconia at the Grote Wildlife Sanctuary, which will be open to hikers, skiers, snowshoers, and walkers year-round. Be advised that hazards may lie beneath the snow surface, as this trail has been recently cleared and will require additional maintenance in the spring. A quick reminder that no bikes are allowed within the Grote Wildlife Sanctuary. Please do your part to preserve groomed trail conditions by wearing snowshoes or skis or choosing to ride a fat-tire mountain bike, to prevent “post-holing” in the trail surface. This occurs when hikers wear boots on groomed trails, creating divots in and destabilizing the trail surface. Over time, this activity will degrade the trail surface and shorten the length of the Nordic and fat-tire bike season, which local volunteers put tremendous amounts of time and effort into developing.

Trail Reporting

ACT’s trails rely on a team of dedicated, hard-working volunteers and maintainers to continue providing recreational opportunities and access to the outdoors in the North Country year-round. The link below allows the general public, as well as our volunteers to keep the ACT team up-to-date on current trail conditions. If you are out and about on one of our trails and notice something that doesn’t look quite right, (tree down, washout, mud hole, overgrown vegetation, etc.) please go ahead and let us know on the “HAZARDS” page. Conor, our Trails Manager, will address the hazard and organize an opportunity to fix these problems with volunteers who wish to join.

Thank you for your continued support and excitement for outdoor recreation. See you on the trails!

Reporting Table

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17mOuLR6ptI0srsjPedrjqdjDvOxj_3756gSVoGQRYLM/edit?usp=sharing

ACT Needs Tools! 

ACT’s Trails Program is growing and needs both hand and power tools to better maintain and grow our local trail systems. Do you have some equipment in the garage that you no longer use? We’d love to help you clear out some space! 

Refer to the list below for the tools that we are most in need of.  

If your tools are old(er), dull, or a bit rusty -- no problem -- we can fix them right up! However, we ask that you do not donate tools that are broken or are no longer functioning for their intended use.  

If you think you may have some things to donate, please contact Trails Program Manager Conor at [email protected] to coordinate. 

Hand Tools: 

• Loppers 

• Hand Saws 

• Rogue or Hazel-type Hoes 

• Pick Mattocks 

• Cutter Mattocks 

• Axes or Pulaskis 

• Rakes 

• Sledgehammers 

• Silky saw

Power Tools: 

• Chainsaw 

• Weedwhacker

Other:  

• Chainsaw Chaps: gently used and in good shape 

• Work Gloves: unused  

• Hard Hats: unexpired and in good shape 

• Mill Bastard Files: in good shape 

• Wire Brushes 

• Wheelbarrow  

• 5-gallon Buckets

• Tarp

• Webbing

• Toolbelt / holster

• Safety Glasses

Lastly, we need volunteers to swing these tools! If you’re interested in helping on ACT trails, please reach out to Conor at [email protected] for more information.