THE COHOS TREKKER

President's Message

With September fast approaching, we are seeing drier, cooler weather. The trails are drying up and the bugs are vanishing.

We are going to be looking for volunteers to sign, blaze, clear and bog bridge the Camp Otter Trail. Also, the Moose Alley Trail is cleared about 2/3s of the way. That trail will also need signage and blazing.

I would like to take the time to thank the volunteers that stepped up to the plate in Aug. to help make this a better trail. Thanks to Ellen Kolb (Flatlander), Adam, Biana, Tim (Roonytoons), MtnMagic, EH Roy, Ray and Joan Chaput for all their hard work.

We are proud to announce that we are now an International trail. The Sentiers frontaliers of Quebec have completed their trail system and we now have an additional 87 miles of trail to hike. Ensure you have your passport or pass card if you wish to return to the U.S..

I would also like to mention a trail in Clarksville across from Ben Young Hill. It is called the Clarksville Freedom Trail and was built by David and Linda Chappall. This trail is about 1 1/2 miles in length and is wheel chair accessable. The trail is graveled its full length and has picnic tables strategically placed. It is well worth looking into for those looking for an enjoyable day hike.

We are again soliciting donations. We are looking to rebuild Kamp Kirk in Nash Stream to increase capacity and repair the floor in the Mtn Bungalow. Both of these shelters will be available to hikers for donations only. The Mtn. Bungalow has seen much use this year and was enjoyed by all.

PS We are still looking for people willing to help us open up new trails and knock down the grasses. Anyone interested, please get in touch with us.

See you on the Trail

Pete Castine
President
The Cohos Trail Association

THE COHOS TREKKER - by K. R. Nilsen

HELLO FROM THE COHOS TRAIL

WALKING THE GREAT DIVIDE

The U.S.-Canadian border across much of Maine and New Hampshire is a narrow timber-cut swath. From the air, the boundary between the two nations looks as if Paul Bunyon strode across the peaks with his felling ax, making way for his big boots and his blue ox, Babe.

It is in that boundary clearing that the Canadian hiking club that goes by the name Sentiers frontaliers (boundary trails) laid out and cut a new and lengthy link pathway to the Cohos Trail. Last week, the Sfers staged a grand opening of the new trail, linking their 87-mile system over Quebec peaks, such as Mont Megantic with its astronomical observatories and Mont Gosford, the tallest in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, with the Cohos Trail.

The French Canadians do it right. Many dozens of people attended the grand opening of the new trail, including a busload of hikers who were to set out on three-day and six-day hiking excursions across the extensive Quebec trail system. Canadian media was on hand in some numbers, as well, including television crews. A ceremony and speeches marked the occasion at a small Knights of Columbus park 300 feet from the border.

Gloriane Blais, president of the Sentiers frontaliers, presided over the affair, and gave credit where credit is due to the founder of the club, Andre Blais, a man who has been interacting with the Cohos Trail Association for nearly a decade in the hopes that the hiking groups on each side of the border might one day join their trails together. That day has come. Cohos Trail hikers may march 162 miles to the Canadian port of entry at the height of land between the two nations, present a passport or passport card, and trek into Quebec and up onto the boundary clearings. The new path climbs the west flank of Mt. Salmon and rises to 3,364 feet. Because of the clearings and because of numerous exposed ledges, there are sweeping views at dozens of points along the way.

The new link trail traverses the crest of Mt. Salmon for close to four miles before dropping down behind remote Boundary Pond, famed for its proximity to an old smuggling route. The trail rebounds and climbs Mt. D'Urban, a summit that tops out at just about 2,999 feet. (Must roll a big stone up there and gain an extra foot so the peak can join the 3,000 footers.)

On the far side of Mt. D'Urban, trekkers can locate the monolith that marks the tri-corner boundary between Maine, New Hampshire and Quebec. On that far side, hikers can move in two separate directions. Northbounders can reach Mont Megantic in several days and walk up to the front door of Canada's biggest astronomical observatory on the summit of that sprawling mountain. Or trekkers can continue east a few days to Saddle and Mont Marble, with its imposing cliff, and reach big Mont Gosford, topped off with a summit observation platform.

The fine grand opening celebration was attended by Cohos Trail President Peter Castine, Treasurer/Secretary Lainie Castine, and board chairman Kim Nilsen. It was quite the pleasure, despite the high temperatures, to see the wonderful turnout of Quebekers. When it was over, dozens of people paced by a professionally designed trail sign and walked off to make a little hiking history. The joint hiking systems represent the second international trail system in the east. The International Appalachian Trail, represented at the festivities by founder Dick Anderson, holds the title of first international pathway from the U.S. all the way to northern Newfoundland.

Eventually, all these systems will be linked together to form a vast network of international trails. Then we could all walk off the face of the continent with a smile on our faces. I'd like that.

HEADWATERS TRAILS GET THE NOD

Finally, after months of waiting for land transfers and written permissions to change hands, we can finally report that a number of new trails are a-building. The much sought after three-plus mile Camp Otter Trail, linking Camp Otter Road with the Magalloway Road can be developed in its entirety. So work has begun on that avenue in the woods. The Round Pond Brook Trail also has been flagged in its entirety and will be built soon. It will eventually link the Covell Mountain Trail to Route 3 and the Camp Otter Road, allowing hikers to move seamlessly from the high country to the lakes with less than a mile of road walking. The Round Pond Brook trail will boast a small falls, trekking beside the sweet sounding stream, open woodlands with modest views, and raspberries in season.

Another route that's about to get attention is the Moose Alley Trail. Lainie Castine recently improved the layout of that trail considerably, snaking the route along logging openings that have become prime wildlife habitat, crossing a grassy bog (puncheons will go in there), and cresting a low ridge with a view of Diamond Ridge. The Moose Alley Trail will be accessed from the Magalloway Road near the Connecticut River and run more than two miles out to Route 3 in the vicinity of Big Brook bridge. That trail is in prime moose country. Folks have found moose antlers and portions of moose skeletons along the route.

Also getting attention is the new path between Mountain Bungalow in Pittsburg and Ramblewood Cabins and Campground. Much of that trail is already in place, and hikers can trek out from Mountain Bungalow now and reach the dramatic open summit of Prospect Mt. with its sweeping views across First Connecticut Lake. Lainie and Pete have spent yeoman hours trying to make this path a reality. It's almost ready. Stay tuned. If all goes well, we could have a dozen miles of new trails open before snow flies, and be in a position to complete the Cohos Trail as planned in 2010 (not including the old Deer Mt. fire tower path restoration scheduled for 2011).

TRAIL MOWER NEEDED

The Cohos Trail Association does most all its work with hand tools and a chainsaw, oh, and a bit of muscle, too. But we could use one not-so-high-tech tool to make big improvements to old grassy and weedy snowmobile trails and skidways that the Cohos Trail utilizes to some degree.

We could use a tow-behind trail mower, a device that is designed to be towed by an ATV and which can easily take down tall grass, weeds, and some small woody growth. A once-over with such a brush-hog mower would improve the experience on the Cohos Trail and make about a dozen miles of walking on such trails much more pleasant.

That said, we are seeking a flat-out donation of one of these devices, or small donations so that we can cobble together the $2,600 in funds necessary to buy one. We have the use of a hefty ATV, so could be in business next year mowing grassy backcountry trails.

So, smash the piggy bank or take that three-pound jar of pennies off the top of the dryer and send the contents to: Brush Mower, The Cohos Trail Association, 266 Danforth Road, Pittsburg, NH 03592.

STEALING SIGNS

Every trail organization faces this problem periodically. In Clarksville, someone has been stealing new trail signs. If you encounter some CT trail signs in somebody's den, let us know. We'll give 'em a sign to keep and ask for the originals back. We'll be nice about it for at least a few interminable minutes.

ROWELLS LINK CLEAN

It has been several years since we've walked Rowells Link with an ax and a branch lopper and a shovel. But I got at it recently, inspected the bridge over Rowells Brook, and sweepings the link trail between the Bald Mt. Trail and Jimmy Cole Brook Road of blowdowns and brush. Nothing like doing trail work in 90 degree heat.

CHANGES IN NASH STREAM

Make note of this if you are going to be out hiking the Cohos Trail in the Nash Stream Forest this fall. There has been a new gate installed in the headwaters end of the Nash Stream Road, about a mile south of the Headwaters Gate. This new hospital green barrier has no CT signs about. It sits to the left of a junction with the Nineteen and a Half Mile Road, which also sports a gate to the right. Move left and pass the new barrier and continue as you would have in the first place. You'll see a yellow blaze in the trees next to the gate.

When hiking on the south end of the East Side Trail, you will notice what looks like construction work. The Department of Fish and Game has done fine work restoring trout habitat in Nash Stream, habitat that was compromised when the Nash Bog Dam blew out in 1969, destroying the valley below.

About a long quarter mile in the backcountry from the road, watch out for a broken bog bridge board in a grassy spot. We'll replace that board next year, or perhaps bypass the grassy spot in the woods to reduce maintenance.

BUSHWHACKERS BAD DREAM

Mt. Magic, Ghost Dog and I did some serious bushwhacking in the forests north of North Percy Peak and on the west flank of Long Mountain recently, trying to determine a good route for a proposed new trail that would take hikers off the Nash Stream Road altogether between the Percy Loop trail and Pond Brook Falls.

We actually did well for ourselves for a few hours, cutting north from Percy Loop campsite to the 2,000 foot elevation level of Long Mountain, then turning west and staying at that elevation for a mile before turning north again to try to gain a level region on the western flank of Long Mountain and eventually reach Trio Ponds Road.

We didn't make it. I ran a compass line due north and followed it after we came around the flank of the mountain. We should have hit exactly what and where we wanted. After all, I'd done this for more years than I want to admit. Well, the long and short of it is, we came out about three-quarters of a mile from my truck. The compass line north (it did point north, or so I thought) actually was skewed almost due west. Either the compass was faulty (can't be!), or some magnetic deposit somewhere was pulling the needle westward. Or, perhaps (and I shouldn't admit this), I've gone foggy in my old age and I can't read a simple compass any longer. Just throw me over Pond Brook Falls and be done with me.

I decided a week later to approach this from a different direction. I walked up the slabs at Pond Brook Falls, entered the woods above and bushwhacked a while until I reached the confluence of Pond Brook and Waterhole Brook. I crossed Pond Brook on several large stepping-stone boulders and followed the lesser brook southeast a short distance to Trio Ponds Road. I crossed the road and walked out onto a drained beaver bog to get my bearings. As expected, I could easily see the dead level country I and Mt. Magic and Ghost Dog had been shooting for days earlier. All I'd have to do is skirt the lowland boggy country to the west, downhill 100 vertical feet in elevation, and then come around the flank of Long Mountain we had visited when we were chipper some days before.

This is not rocket science. I should be able to do this. And in October, we should have the GPS coordinates for a new trail that, hopefully, we will be able to open up in 2010 or 2011. If we can do so, we will cut off two miles of road walking in the Nash Stream Forest and make the entire experience in that wonderful wooded environment that much more pleasurable for the tramper in us all.

HOT TIMES IN THE OLD TIMBER

It is a rare thing to get temperatures in the high 80s and low 90s in Coos County. But during the third week of August, the thermometer hit those temps day after day. Working in the woods on such days is a challenge, but a lot better than working on the city streets of, say, Trenton, New Jersey.

One of the toughest stretches in the far north during such temperatures is the south flank of Dixville Peak. You are exposed to the sun for what seems like two hours trying to gain several thousand feet of elevation. It's a tough grind.

On such days, you need to take three quarts of water along with you, plus some salty foods. And, you need to throw caution and clothing to the wind and sit your skinny rear end down in some Coos stream and let Neptune nymphs cool your fevered brow. During that week, I have to admit getting a dunking daily, sometimes several times a day. The fish didn't care for it, I can assure you.

One other downside to high heat: Animals do not show themselves at all at such temperatures. I saw next to nothing moving for a week. Even the birds were quiet and rarified.

THE LAST WORD

Recently, a young couple, Adam Varga, Biana Fay, and their dog Alex, completed a thru-hike of the Cohos Trail. (www.cohoshike.com) They didn't stop there. They turned around, picked up some tools, and with a fellow friend, Tim Humphrey, volunteered for a day of work on the Deadwater Trail. Now that's impressive.

Another hiker, Ellen Kolb, sectioned hiked the trail from Diamond Pond to the border and then up to the international event on Aug 18th. The next day, she was working and flagging the Round Pond Brook Trail with Lainie. A big thank you to them all. The Cohos Trail and its trail structures were built largely by volunteers putting in thousands of hours over the last dozen years. And they are still at it. We'd like to invite you to put in one day of volunteer work on the Cohos Trail each year.

You get no fame, no fortune. You get dirty, sweaty, fly bitten, and even happy with yourself. You might meet interesting people, like the all-volunteer crews who built the lean-tos, or you might meet moose. The chances of that are good. You might meet young people working with the Kingdom Corps out of the NorthWoods Stewardship Center at East Charleston, Vermont, or you might stumble upon a seventy-year-old gal who has hiked the trail twice, because she likes the solitude and the wild things.

The thing about volunteering is this: It's not about you. It's not about me. It's about doing something that other people can benefit from. Volunteers step out of their own skin and do the world's people a favor. Over the course of the next decade, the Cohos Trail will need another 1,000 hours and more of volunteer time. When we finish the trail as planned in a year or two, we will turn our attention to making it a premier destination trail, a trail that people think of first when they think of hiking in New England. To do that, we will need your ideas and your energy, your spunk and your spiel.

Get in touch. And touch others who haven't even heard of the Cohos Trail yet.

--percypeaks

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