Howdy from the Amherst Trails!

It seems a bit ironic to be kicking off a trails blog on the eve of an “Historic Record-Setting Never-Before-Seen-So-Much-White Stuff” snow event.  I’d be willing to wager very few folks are thinking about hiking this afternoon.  Mostly, everybody’s making sure the batteries are fresh and there’s gas in the generator, right?

We’re definitely in the bullseye.  Gonna be a wild ride.

Oddly enough, I’m only writing this blog as a result of the last “big event” – the October Storm of last season.  Remember?  Such a mess – trees down literally everywhere… including all of the Amherst town trails.    It was a disaster – so much so that it was months before all the trails were walked, evaluated, and cleared.

It was then that we realized we needed to take another look at how we’re handling our town’s nearly 30 miles of trails.   “We” are the members of the Amherst Conservation Commission… and I – your humble blogger – am Daryl D’Angelo, currently serving as the ACC Trails Manager.

I can almost hear your thoughts.  You’re saying, “What on earth is a trails manager, and why do we need one?”

Essentially, I’m the primary point of contact for reporting trail conditions and arranging for work crews / chainsaws / repairs and materials as needed.  To that end, I’ve been putting together a Trails Stewards program, and have been humbled and gratified by the super response from the community.

We now have at least one (and often more) stewards assigned to the trails (or trail combinations).  These energetic, motivated volunteers have undertaken the task of keeping the trails passable and blazed, as well as making sure the various structures (bridges / stairs / kiosks, etc) are in good condition.  They’ve already been out there clearing downed trees and repairing bridges and railings. 

You will doubtless see them out there as you are hiking (or rather, snowshoeing).  They’ll be the folks with loppers or clippers (and the occasional chainsaw), working hard to ensure everybody’s enjoyment and access.  Give them a howdy!

I’ll be using this blog to update about various trails or properties, and I’m very interested in hearing from the community as well.  Do you have questions about a particular trail or property?    Do you have a fabulous idea about someplace?

Let me know!  I look forward to hearing from you, and especially to seeing you out there on the trails!