This year’s Champlain Area Trails (CATS) Grand Challenge – where people can hike any or all three of the “challenge trail loops” and get a limited-edition commemorative patch – is now underway.
The Grand Challenge is a fundraiser for CATS to support its mission of making trails, saving land, connecting people with nature, and promoting economic vitality. CATS invites people to register with a $25 donation and complete one of three trail loops designed to meet each hiker’s trail comfort level; thus hikers can choose from a 1.5-mile “easy” trail, a 5.3-mile “moderate” route, and a 8.3-mile “difficult” hike. Hikers who complete the Challenge between September 21st and November 15th will get a patch designed by Willsboro, NY, resident Rob Powell.
The 2020 CATS Grand Challenge routes are the easy Wildway Passage Trail on Angier Hill Road in Westport, the moderate Viall’s Crossing to Woods & Swale Trail to local roads in Westport, and the moderately difficult Boquet Ridge Ramble in Essex. Each trail will feature a picture frame where participants can take a selfie of themselves and their hiking group.
Full details, including downloadable maps and directions, are available on the CATS website.
Information on future CATS events and activities is available on their website, by calling (518) 962-2287 or by emailing info@champlainareatrails.com.
Photo of 2020 Grand Hike Challenge Patch provided.
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