Posts Tagged ‘CATS’

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Newest CATS Trail Map Now Available

Champlain Area Trails 2018 2019 Trail MapThe Champlain Area Trails (CATS) new 2018-2019 Trail Map shows 87 hikes in the Champlain Valley, as well as new features designed to make it even more useful than the previous maps for hikers, snow-shoers, and cross-country skiers.

The first thing map users will notice is the increase in size and detail. Other new features include topographical detail so hikers will know the physiographical context of the trails they’re hiking. All trails are now listed in an easy-to-read chart form showing descriptions of each trail, length, degree of difficulty, directions, and special features such as overlooks and suitability for cross-country skiing or bicycling. » Continue Reading.


Thursday, May 31, 2018

Grand Opening of CATS’ Flying Squirrel Trail Saturday

Flying Squirrel TrailChamplain Area Trails (CATS) is set to celebrate the Grand Opening of the Flying Squirrel Trail in Westport, on Saturday, June 2, at 2 pm.

The hike will last an hour and a half to three hours, depending on the route hikers select. The new trail connects New York State’s Split Rock Wild Forest to the CATS Wildway Passage property next to Coon Mountain. » Continue Reading.


Saturday, March 24, 2018

Moonrise Hike Planned For New CATS Trails

Cadence’s Crest Trails with views of Lake Champlain, Champlain Area Trails (CATS) has announced the inaugural hike on its first trail in Chesterfield, at Trembleau Mountain near Keeseville, on Saturday, March 31, from 6:30 to about 8:30 pm.

The Cadence’s Crest Trail — called so for landowners’ Kathy and Andy Prescott’s grandson Cadence — is a fairly easy, family-friendly hike that offers views looking out over Lake Champlain in the east and at the sunset over the Adirondacks in the west.

This evening hike coincides with the second blue moon in 2018. A blue moon is the second full moon in a calendar month. This year is unusual in having two blue moons; the first was in late January when CATS held another moonlight hike. » Continue Reading.


Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Sophie’s Lair Ski Or Snowshoe Adventure Feb 17th

Sophie's LairA ski or snowshoe trek has been set for Saturday, February 17th on the Sophie’s Lair Trail in Willsboro.

Skiers and snowshoers should meet at 9:15 am at the Florence Hathaway trailhead on Essex Road in Willsboro (look for the tennis courts).

The Florence Hathaway Trail, about a half-mile long, leads to the Sophie’s Lair Trail. Overall, the ski/snowshoe adventure will run about 3 hours. » Continue Reading.


Friday, January 26, 2018

Boquet River Blue Moon Hike Saturday Night

blue moon hikeA Blue Moon Hike, the first outing of 2018 organized by Champlain Area Trails (CATS), is set for Saturday, January 27, at 5:30 pm on the McAuliffe Road Trail in Willsboro.

Hikers are invited to come with skis or snowshoes— or hiking boots, if there’s not enough snow (which seems likely) — for an easy, family-friendly 3-mile round-trip tour through an old forest above and along the Boquet River. Hikers should meet at the northern trailhead, at the junction of Sunset and McAuliffe Road just west of the Boquet River. » Continue Reading.


Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Champlain Area Trails’ Owl Prowl Is Back

owlChamplain Area Trails (CATS) is holding an Owl Prowl on Friday, December 15, at 5:30 pm at the Black Kettle Trail in Essex.

Naturalist and teacher Gregg VanDeusen will teach participants about the various species of owls in the Champlain Valley area and will make owl calls to elicit their responses.

VanDeusen will also discuss other types of wildlife in the area and copping with the dark. All ages are welcome on this family-friendly hike. » Continue Reading.


Wednesday, October 25, 2017

POSTPONED: CATS Grand Opening For Willsboro Trails Sunday

cats sophies lair trailsThe Grand Opening of the Sophie’s Lair and Florence Hathaway Trails in Willsboro, the newest additions to the Champlain Area Trails (CATS) network of trails in Florence Hathaway Park, has been postponed until January 2018. The event was originally scheduled for Sunday, October 29, but changed due to weather.

The Florence Hathaway Trail is a one-mile loop trail and leads to Sophie’s Lair Trail which provides for easy hikes of up to five miles on a variety of paths through a lovely forest with stone walls and beautiful old oak, hickory and pine trees. There are small creeks, seasonally wet areas, and gentle hills. Come winter, the trails will be available for cross-country skiing. » Continue Reading.


Monday, October 16, 2017

Volunteer Vacationers Build New Trail in Wesport

Thirteen Volunteer Vacationers from around the country worked with CATS, guided by CATS Trail Steward Bill Amadon (second from left) and Abby-the-Golden-RetrieverA new trail is being added to the Champlain Area Trails (CATS) network, thanks to the efforts of 13 volunteers who recently visited the area. The Volunteer Vacationers came from Colorado, Arizona, Virginia, Michigan, New Jersey and New York in an American Hiking Society program that links people who want to spend their vacation building and maintaining trails for organizations like CATS. This is the fourth year CATS has hosted Volunteer Vacationers.

The group stayed at Camp Dudley while working under the supervision of CATS Trail Steward Bill Amadon to build a new trail. They spent a free day during the week exploring the Lake Champlain area from Ticonderoga to Rouse’s Point, including travels in Vermont to Middlebury and Burlington. » Continue Reading.


Wednesday, August 30, 2017

CATS ‘Get Out of the Mud!’ Campaign Underway

bobcat trail parking areaChamplain Area Trails (CATS) is raising the funds needed to complete a trail improvement project, using a crowdfunding program offered through Adirondack Gives, part of the Adirondack Foundation.

The Get Out of the Mud! campaign is planned to provide the $1,500 needed to complete the Bobcat Trail Improvement Project; the Essex Community Fund previously provided $1,500 for the project in memory of two early CATS supporters, Bruce Klink and Baird Voorhis. » Continue Reading.


Saturday, August 26, 2017

Tim Rowland: Lost on Bouquet

Pete and Addie on the Bouquet Mountain TrailMy wife Beth works for Champlain Area Trails out of Westport but, long before she started there, we were major fans of the network of hiking opportunities radiating through hill and dell interwoven throughout the eastern side of Essex County. The trails are gorgeous, running through field, forest and stream, and have some of the best views anywhere of Lake Champlain and are a perfect, nearby antidote for those wishing to take “pressure off the peaks.”

They don’t present the physical challenge that the High Peaks do, but look, it’s not every day that you want to climb up the south side of Saddleback.

Being generally free of erosion, roots and rocks, the trails are a break for the knees. Being mostly short, and at lower altitudes, there is no need for a pack full of survival gear. And being more open and interspersed with civilization than the wilderness to the west, there’s little chance of getting lost.

Or so one would think. » Continue Reading.


Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Champlain Area Trails Publishes New Trail Map

2017-18 CATS Trail MapTo keep up to date with its expanding network of hiking trails in the Champlain Valley, Champlain Area Trails (CATS) has published a new, updated paper trail map for 2017-18, including new trails that have been added to the network and updated information on existing trails.

A new feature on the trail map is the inclusion of icons to identify trails especially good for cross-country skiing and biking or that feature scenic views. It also notes those trails that are wheelchair accessible.

» Continue Reading.


Thursday, August 17, 2017

Fascinating Fossils of the Champlain Valley Saturday

Crown point historic siteChamplain Valley fossils, ancient reefs, and old forts are the topics professor and paleontologist Nancy Budd will cover on August 19 at the Crown Point Historic Site, from 10 am to 12:30 pm. The program is sponsored by Champlain Area Trails (CATS).

After a 45-minute presentation in the Museum’s theater, program participants will find and identify fossils in the rock exposures at the historic site. Most fossils in the Champlain Valley are approximately 460 million years old and are remnants of what was once a shallow sea along the edge of the Adirondacks. The climate of the Champlain Valley was subtropical, and the fossils include a diverse group such as sponges, brachiopods, gastropod snails, bivalves, and trilobites and many others. » Continue Reading.


Wednesday, August 2, 2017

New Kiosk in Essex: Hike, Bike, Boat, Shop

new kiosk in Essex is celebrated by some of those who worked on the projectChamplain Area Trails (CATS) and Essex Initiatives have completed construction of the new informational kiosk in the heart of Essex.

The kiosk, located behind the Essex Town Hall right by the sidewalk, highlights outdoor recreation opportunities in and around Essex and points visitors and residents alike to local businesses and community activities. It’s visible to visitors traveling through Essex, especially those arriving by ferry. » Continue Reading.


Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Wildlife Friendly Farming is Topic for CATS Summer Intern

coyote photographed by local trail camA research project examining wildlife friendly farming in the Champlain Valley is currently underway by Alex Caskey, graduate student at Tufts University. Caskey is a summer intern in a project sponsored by Champlain Area Trails (CATS), the Eddy Foundation and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

Caskey is currently conducting interviews with local farmers about their interactions, positive and negative, with local wildlife. The results of his inquiry will create a baseline of current practices in wildlife friendly farming for future investigation and recommendations for wildlife friendly practices in agriculture. » Continue Reading.


Wednesday, June 28, 2017

CATS Split Rock Wildway Walk Postponed

john davisUPDATE 6/29: Owing to the weather forecast for heavy rain, this Split Rock Oak, Hick and Hop Hike, scheduled for this Saturday, July 1, will be rescheduled to a date to be determined.

Conservationist John Davis will lead an educational nature hike on Saturday, July 1, to showcase forest types common to the Champlain Valley and West Champlain Hills. The hike, sponsored by Champlain Area Trails (CATS), begins at 9:30 am and is open to the public.

Hikers are to meet at the Whallonsburg Garage and carpool to the Bobcat Trail Trailhead. The hike will last until about 2 pm . Participants can also learn about the ecological importance of the Split Rock Wildway wildlife corridor stretching through the valley and hills of the central Champlain Valley. » Continue Reading.



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