The NorthWoods Trail Crew takes a break from trail work at the Bald Mountain summit. (L to R) Alexis Alderman, Shane Tulp (crew leader), Quinn Stevens, Aaron Verge, Dawson Cote, Delphine McCann, Calvin Hosford, Kayla Hanson (crew leader).
The NorthWoods Conservation Corps passed the halfway point in its summer season this past week and hikers and outdoor enthusiasts will find signs of their efforts throughout the region.
Substantial trail management projects are recently completed or underway on Bald Mountain in Westmore, Wheeler Mountain in Sutton, and on the Cohos Trail in northern New Hampshire.
Most recently, the Corps completed two weeks of intense restoration work on the Bald Mountain Mad Brook Trail to address damage caused by illegal ATV and motorbike use. Working with the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, the local ‘NorthWoods Crew’ restored timber and stone retainers and waterbar structures originally constructed over a decade ago by earlier NorthWoods crews.
“It’s remarkable how well these structures have held up over the years”, noted NorthWoods Trail Director Luke O’Brien, “It goes to show that simple, well-constructed backcountry trail techniques can have a significant and long-lasting impact on mountain trails.” He continues: “The upper Mad Brook Trail on Bald Mountain—which is part of Willoughby State Forest—has taken some hard use in recent years, particularly from ATV’s that dislodged older trail structures and caused significant erosion.”
Earlier this month, a contractor was hired by FPR to improve drainage on the access trail and reposition several large stones to deter motorized access.
“The trail needs time to heal” O’Brien says.
Trail structures installed on the Bald Mountain Mad Brook Trail to reduce erosion and restore damaged soils.
Both NorthWoods and the State of Vermont are working hard to maintain and improve access at Bald Mountain—including the restoration of the historic summit cabin in 2013—and encourage visitors to follow State Forest regulations, respect both public and private trail lands, and tread lightly on the land when you hike. Discussions are currently underway to improve portions of the Long Pond Trail on the south side of Bald in the near future.
Each year, NorthWoods employs over 60 young people (ages 15-20) to participate in the NorthWoods Conservation Corps. The program offers paid employment, training, and environmental education to local youth during a six-week summer work season. Additional projects for 2016 include trail work, wildlife management projects and other conservation service projects that benefit the public.
Established in 1989, NorthWoods Stewardship Center is a nonprofit environmental education and conservation service organization based in East Charleston, Vermont. Through three programs—education and camps, a youth conservation corps, and the Forest Stewardship Institute—NorthWoods inspires individuals to be stewards of their environment.