Trail Report

Heading into October, ACT’s trails have finally received some much-needed rain, knocking down the dust on popular mountain biking trails and replenishing the streams and wetlands across our lands. All of our trails are open and in good condition. Get out there soon to view the fall foliage, the dry end to the summer has caused the leaves to change color a little earlier this year, so we expect the first week of October to be best for leaf-peeping.

In September, Scouts from Littleton Troop 209 continued working on the new trail being built at the Gale Family Forest. Using materials found on site, the scouts constructed a climbing turn with crushed stone, soil and a rock retaining wall to transform a steep, hazardous step up a ledge to a gradual, easy rise that will make the trail more enjoyable for all ages.

When heading out onto ACT trails this time of year, be mindful of the cooler temperatures, shorter daylight hours, and foliage covering the trail footprint. Our trails are well marked by plastic blazes mounted to trees alongside the trail, so be sure to follow those if the tread is covered with fallen leaves and check the maps at our kiosks before enjoying your time on the trails.

ACT is looking to acquire a gently used pickup truck to support our Stewardship team in the care and maintenance of ACT-owned lands and public trails. A reliable truck would greatly enhance our ability to transport tools, materials, and volunteers to field sites throughout the North Country. If you or someone you know has a suitable vehicle to donate or sell at a reasonable cost, please contact [email protected].

See you on the trails!

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.