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Westport, NY – Discover the beauty of the Champlain Valley with Champlain Area Trails (CATS) and their updated Central Champlain Valley Trail Map, now featuring four new trails. CATS has been constructing and maintaining trails, protecting land, connecting people with nature, and promoting economic vitality in the Champlain Valley as an accredited land trust since 2009. » Continue Reading.
Posts Tagged ‘Champlain Valley’
Champlain Area Trails Releases Updated Trail Map Highlighting New Routes
Champlain Area Trails to host family-friendly Grand Hike, Brew Party on May 14
After a two-year hiatus, Champlain Area Trails (CATS) will present a “shorter” Grand Hike on May 14 through the fields and forests of Westport. This year’s hike will be a six-mile loop on Viall’s Crossing trails. The hike starts at the Essex County Fairgrounds and ends at the Ledge Hill Brewing Company right next to the fairgrounds. All are invited to attend a “brew party” at the conclusion of the hike that will feature live music by the Bionic Band from Saranac Lake, drinks, food to purchase from DaCy Meadow Farm, a kids’ area, and a post-hike celebration.
“We are so pleased to start this up again,” said Chris Maron, CATS Executive Director. “With so many uncertainties, we chose to keep it simple—to have it be an afternoon walk beginning at the Essex County Fairgrounds in Westport, going on a number of CATS trails, then on easy roads through Westport and ending at Ledge Hill Brewery which is right next to the fairgrounds. That makes for convenient parking for all those who want to enjoy our family-friendly trails and for those coming from farther distances.”
Town to Town on the CATS trails
By Mary McGowan
I saw on the Champlain Area Trails (CATS) map that there is a town to town hike starting in Port Kent and ending in Ticonderoga. Well, Peter and I were game. Since we could not go to Spain and walk the Camino de Santiago, we decided to do el Camino de Ticontiago!
Looking over the map we pieced together the trails we would take and made a guess at the mileage. Choosing the number of days, we would walk lead us to what towns we would sleep in and where to eat along the way. Planning our meals to coincide with restaurants being open was a challenge.
Choosing a Tuesday as our start day, we drove to the Port Kent train station and parked the car there as I felt it would not be in the way since the train is not running. With a clear sky we started out with our trusty walking sticks, small backpacks of dry socks, toiletries, change of outfits, sweaters, light rain jackets, water and snacks.
Scenes from the Champlain Valley
Coming up Wed July 28 at 7 pm, join Adirondack Explorer multimedia reporter Mike Lynch and Champlain Area Trails Executive Director Chris Maron on a virtual journey of scenic highlights from the Champlain Valley. RSVP here: http://ow.ly/19ct50FxEAV
A chat with Gov. George Pataki
In mid-May I took a trip up to Willsboro to meet up with former Gov. George Pataki. I wanted to get his take on a few different things happening in the park, one of which you’ll read about in our July/August issue in a story about trash in the Adirondacks.
Clinton County Historical Association to produce series of suffrage-themed events
Clinton County Historical Association (CCHA) received a $15,000 Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership (CVNHP) Special Program grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program to support a series of regional events this summer called The Champlain Valley Suffrage Centennial Auto Tour.
Champlain Area Trails announces Northern Pathways Challenge
Champlain Area Trails (CATS) has announced the Northern Pathways Challenge. Participants can register on the CATS Website. Hike three of the five trails described on the website, and earn a limited-edition commemorative patch.
“I’m looking forward to this challenge,” said Derek Rogers, CATS Development Director, “It will give our supporters a chance to explore some wonderful Clinton County trails.”
The Northern Pathways Challenge will be Clinton County-based, and participants will have to complete three out of the five trails to be awarded a patch. It runs from National Trails Day, June 5th, 2021 until December 31st, 2021. Registration is $5 per hiker.
Champlain Valley Salmon: A Free Teacher Workshop
The Champlain Basin Education Initiative has announced a free International Year of the Salmon Workshop for K-12 teachers, set for Saturday, January 25, 2020 in Grand Isle, Vermont.
Teachers will work with a fisheries biologist to learn about salmon life cycle, habitat needs, and restoration efforts in the Champlain watershed, with a Trout Unlimited angler to learn about Salmon and Trout in the classroom programs, and have a chance to dissect fish as well. The history of salmon and their importance as a food source to early inhabitants of the Champlain Valley will also be featured. » Continue Reading.
New Trail Maps for Central, Northern Champlain Valley
Champlain Area Trails (CATS) has published two new trail maps that cover hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing opportunities in the Champlain Valley, from Ticonderoga and the nearby Pharaoh Lake Wilderness north to the Canadian Boarder.
The Central Champlain Valley Trail Map is the latest update of the trail map first published 12 years ago, which covers a geographic area from Peru south through Ticonderoga and into northern Warren County. New this year, the Northern Champlain Valley Trail Map expands north from Willsboro Point to Canada. » Continue Reading.
Lake Champlain Basin Cultural Heritage Project Grants
The Lake Champlain Basin Program has announced they are seeking pre-proposals for projects and programs to protect, restore, interpret, and showcase the historical resources and cultural heritage of the Champlain Valley.
These projects will highlight the interpretive themes and further the goals, actions and tasks described in the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership (CVNHP) Management Plan. » Continue Reading.
Adirondack Harvest Festival Set For Sept 21
The 4th Annual Adirondack Harvest Festival has been scheduled for Saturday, September 21 at the Essex County Fairgrounds in Westport, from noon to 6 pm, with a pre-festival hike at 10 am.
The Harvest Festival is a regional event celebrating agriculture and the harvest in the Adirondacks and Champlain Valley. » Continue Reading.
Newest CATS Trail Map Now Available
The 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.
Champlain Valley Cultural Heritage Grants Available
The Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership (Champlain Heritage) is seeking proposals for projects to protect, restore, interpret, and showcase the historical resources and cultural heritage of the Champlain Valley.
Champlain Heritage anticipates awarding over $100,000 across four grant categories: » Continue Reading.
CATS Grand Hike Promotes Hamlet-to-Hamlet Hiking
Champlain Area Trails (CATS) will host the 2018 Grand Hike on Saturday, May 12. This year’s 14-mile route will run from the Westport Train Station to the Essex Inn, beginning with a new trail on land CATS just conserved in the Westport area.
The Grand Hike leads to a Block Party at The Essex Inn, featuring the Steady Benders band, food and drink. A buffet dinner will be available at the Essex Inn for $15, with reservations made with the Grand Hike registration. » Continue Reading.
Champlain Area Trails’ Owl Prowl Is Back
Champlain 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.
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Latest News Headlines
- Can art encourage stewardship of North Country waters?
- Opinion: Climate Doomism Disregards the Science
- Indian Lake's challenge to raise and release butterflies
- Fall color unfolding across the Adirondacks
- Fall paddle on the Oswegatchie
- Exploring a quiet side of the park
- Bionique testing lab proposes to triple in size
- The Beekeepers Who Don’t Want You to Buy More Bees
- PHOTOS: The 50th annual Adirondack Balloon Festival
- Stefanik demands plan to keep Amtrak Adirondack Line operational
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