Bear Mountain Trail Update
The Bear Mountain Trail route (across from Kilburn) has been flagged and can be followed out to the view site and beyond toward Brattleboro. The recent logging operation greatly obscured the trail at the east end but I have been reassured by Richard Hood, landowner, that he continues his support for the trail and for the FOP. A permanent trail route will be re-signed in 2017.
Fall 2016 Update Available
The Fall 2016 edition of Update the Friends of Pisgah newsletter has been posted. Click the Newsletter tab to check it out.
Pisgah Reservoir Trail Bridge Rebuilding
Friends of Pisgah will meet at the Horseshoe Trailhead at 10:00 Saturday, November 5th, to rebuild two bridges on the Reservoir Trail. The bridge materials are already on site and one of the old bridges has already been removed.
Friends of Pisgah October Trail Maintenance Canceled
Due to the messy, wet conditions with numerous trees down in the Park the Saturday, October 29th bridge building has been canceled by Pisgah Park Manager Whip Newell for this month.
Friends of Pisgah Annual Meeting
Mark the calendar folks. On Tuesday, November 15th at 7 p.m., the Friends of Pisgah will hold its annual meeting at the Winchester VFW on lower Main Street, on the second floor. We will be voting on officers and council members for the coming year, voting to adopt or reject revised bylaws, and getting a rundown on the extensive work that has been done in the park in 2016. Guest speaker, Kim Nilsen, will give a tongue-in-cheek slide show presentation about the geological history of Pisgah and how it was settled by men and women tougher than all of us TV channel surfers put together.
The agenda and proposed bylaws are attached.
October 22nd Keene Connector Hike
Keene Connector Hike
Join Antioch University, the Chesterfield Conservation Commission's Lynne Borofsky, and Tom Duston, President of the New Hampshire Association of Conservation Commissions for a five- to six-hour hike along the Keene Connector of the Wantastiquet-Monadnock Trail. We will hike through the beautifully preserved California Brook Natural Area and Horatio Colony Preserve. Much of this hike will be through a landscape that is State of New Hampshire Tier I (highest ranked) wildlife habitat as determined by the NH Wildlife Action Plan. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Horatio Colony Preserve on Daniels Hill Road- from there, we will take pre-arranged transportation to the beginning of the hike. Bring water and lunch and be prepared for moderately strenuous inclines, occasionally muddy trails, and lots of fun! Registration is required for this event. To register, please call 603-283-2115 (leave a voicemail with your name and number of participants registering) or email colonypreserve@antioch.edu. This hike is also cosponsored by the Horatio Colony Trust and Museum.
Public Lands Day Guided Hike to Old Growth Forest
On Saturday, September 24th, the Friends of Pisgah will hold a guided hike to a stand of old growth forest in the North Round Pond area of Pisgah State Park.
Interested folks may meet at 9 a.m. at the Horseshoe Trailhead parking lot at the very end of Horseshoe Road in Chesterfield.
The hike will be about three miles into the old growth tree stand and three miles out. Bring a small pack, plenty of water, a snack or a lunch with you. Bugs should not be much of a problem this time of year.
There will be a bit of elevation to ascend and descend both coming and going. The hike should not be strenuous but there is some length to it.
To reach Horseshoe Trailhead, travel Route 63 to Chesterfield Village. In the heart of the little village, turn east on the Old Chesterfield Road and pass the Chesterfield Elementary School. About 800 feet beyond the school the Horseshoe Road shows up on the right. Take that road a mile until the road ends at the trailhead.
Kim Nilsen
Pisgah Ridge Trail Reblazed
The long eastern leg of the Pisgah Ridge Trail from the Pisgah
connector junction all the way to Reservoir Road was reblazed today,
through both vistas and down to the backwaters of the reservoir. Get
lost out there now and you'll have to renounce your citizenship.
In a week or so, the western leg will be blazed from the junction all the way to the Baker Pond area.
All blazes are white. About half of them have the words PISGAH RIDGE TRAIL emblazoned on them.
Get out there. Hike long. Get skinny.
FOP Approved to Receive Funds for Major Restoration of Kilburn Loop Trail - 09/08/2016
Friends of Pisgah just received word from NH Department of Resources and Economic Development that we have been approved to receive $23,700 in funds based on a Recreational Trails Program grant that we prepared in the spring of the year.
We submitted a 40-page proposal for a major restoration of the Kilburn Loop Trail along the entire west side of Kilburn Pond in Pisgah State Park, calling for the building up of the surface of the trail in some areas, adding culverts, cutting a trail bypass in one section, and improving the treadway considerably.
The RTP grants are highly competitive. We understand that more than $4 million in grants were submitted but only about $900,000 would be allotted. We were one of the fortunate trail groups to make the cut.
Friends of Pisgah Upcoming Events
Over the next four weeks, the Friends of Pisgah will host three events. Mark your calendar.
On Saturday, September 10th, we will hold a work day on the Chestnut Hill Trail. We will be installing two small bridges in the trail, replacing two that have deteriorated. We will meet at the Visitor's Center in Winchester at 10 a.m. and drive north to the Chestnut Hill parking area and walk up the trail to the work sites. Materials will be on hand.
On Saturday, September 24th, on Public Lands Day, we will host a guided hike to an old growth forest stand in the North Round Pond area. We will meet at Horseshoe parking lot a long mile behind the Chesterfield Elementary School at 9 a.m. The walk in to the stand of old growth trees is nearly three miles, so the round trip will be nearly six miles in total.
Bring a lunch and plenty of water so you'll have plenty of energy and will remain well hydrated.
And on Saturday, October 1st, we will hold our annual fall picnic at the Visitor's Center and barn in the park. As usual, food and drink will be provided and we will have a guest speak from the NH Department of Resources and Economic Development, Patrick Hummel.
The picnic will begin at 11:30 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m.
