Newsletter WODC CENTENNIAL ISSUE May, 1992 CEN"TENNIAL DAY EVENTS - AUGUST 8, 1992 It was in mid August 1891 that a small reservations for dinner must be made in sections of the Blueberry Ledge and band of local farmers opened a route to advance. Enclosed with this Newsletter Bennett Street trails, working primarily the summit of Mt. Passaconaway, the is a reservation form. Please return the on erosion control. Work is scheduled first major trail of the WODC system. form as soon as possible, and no later to start on July 7. This year, SRCA and Their approach was by way of an old than July 1st. WODC are actively encouraging WODC logging road to the Dicey's Mill site. To make these events a success will members to help the SRCA crew Activities in celebration of the WODC require help from many people. Your whether for just for an hour, or if centennial will begin at 8:30 a.m. on participation is needed, and will be ambitious, for a whole day. Members August 8th 1992, by retracing the route much appreciated. To volunteer phone who assist the SRCA crew will get a taken by the farmers. Hikers wishing to John Mersfelder at 323-7793, Sally Zink better sense of the work involved in participate in the event will meet at the at 323-8693, or Barbara Sidley at 323- higher level trail maintenance and Ferncroft kiosk at 8:30 a.m. Bring a 8694. should have a good time in the process. lunch. After ceremonies at the mill site, some hikers may wish to return to the kiosk, while others continue to the SUMMER CALENDAR summit of Mt Passaconaway. A separate event on August 8th will July 7 SRCA begins WODC trail work be a walking tour of historic July 11, 8:30 am at Ferncroft Kiosk. Trail Workshop with SRCA Wonalancet. Participants will visit such places as Locke Falls, Mt. Katherine, July 18, 8:30 am at Wonalancet Chapel. White Mt. Trails Day and Tilton Spring, and sites of historic Centennial Trails Day houses and mills. This activity will take July 26, 7:30 pm at Wonalancet Chapel. Evening Program place from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Bring Aug. 8, 8:30 am at Ferncroft Kiosk. Retrace first trail work lunch. Meet at the Wonalancet Chapel. 10:00 am at Wonalancet Chapel. Walking tour of Wonalancet Highlight of Centennial Day will be a 5:00 pm at Runnells Hall. Social hour. festive gathering at Runnells Hall, 6:00 pm at Runnells Hall. Centennial Dinner Chocorua, beginning at 5:00 pm with a social hour under the canopy. A catered Aug. 23, 5:30 pm at Chapel Grove. Pot-Luck supper dinner will be in the Hall at 6:00. 7:00 pm at Wonalancet Chapel. Annual Meeting Following the dinner will be several special events: short addresses by Rick TRAIL PLANS To effectively coordinate the effort, Cables, Supervisor of the White some advanced planning is required. If Mountain National Forest, Stephen K. This summer will be a busy and you think you would like to help the exciting one for all who are involved in Rice, Commissioner of the State of New SRCA crew, phone Doug Mayer (284- maintaining WODC trails. Whether you Hampshire Department of Resources 7726) or John Mersfelder (323-7793) are a trail adopter, or just curious about and Economic Development, and an anytime before July 1. official representative of the what is involved in trail maintenance, Nat Scrimshaw of SRCA will be there are several items that will be of Appalachian Mountain Club; an auction presenting a Trail Workshop for all of retired WODC trail signs and other interest. WODC trail adopters on July 11. We As in past years, WODC has memorabilia; a brief illustrated talk on will meet at the Ferncroft parking area contracted with the Sandwich Range the history of the Club presented by in the morning, and will work on the Conservation Association (SRCA) to Sally and George Zink. Old Dicey's Mill Trail. This will be an undertake "higher level" maintenance on photographs and mementos will be on opportunity to review the basics of trail one or two Qub trails. Higher level exhibit. work led by one of the guiding forces of work includes heavy work such as The cost of the Centennial Dinner is White Mountain trail maintenance. If waterbar installation and building rock $13, children under 12, $6. Dinner will you are an adopter, or interested in the steps. Hired guns from the SRCA will be serve~~buffet style, with ample tables process, don't miss this workshop. be spending ten days on the upper for seating. Due to space limitations, The highlight of summer trail activities will be the WODC Centennial Trail Day, scheduled for July 18. This DINNER MENU centennial event will be held in Baked boneless breast of Chicken with Tarragon orange sauce conjunction with White Mountain Trails Day. See the article elsewhere in this Wild rice Pilaf Green beans with almonds ·Rolls Salad newsletter. Frozen lemon dessert Coffee (Continued on Page 2) ·:··-:··· ? 2 Editorial leaflet at the Bennett Street and Femcroft for on their respective trails. Included in kiosks is one means being used to achieve the new guidelines is useful information In 1892 the founders of the WODC this goal We hope that those who .use on brushing, blazing and the proper began eutting a trail to the summit of the trails will support their maintenance. method for cleaning drainage. Also ML Passaconaway to provide hiking More members nwst involve themselves provided: a list of fellow adopters, and opportunities for the guests at the in administrative and executive matters information on where to turn if you numerous inns in the area. A century for reasons of democratic process and need help. We hope that this short set and several hundred thousand hikers continuity of leadership. of guidelines will help our adopters get later, WODC continues that legacy by Adopters need to continue their good a better sense of how to accomplish maintaining 49 miles of trails in the work. To provide guidelines for trail work, their work. Adopters are, after all, at Sandwich Range. a WODC Trails Maintenance Manual the center of WODC. Is this sufficient cause for a has recently been distributed to our To keep better track of the state of celebration? You bet! We need to adopters. each Oub trail, we have also instituted celebrate the efforts of all past and Above al~ we need to maintain the a short "work trip" form, to be present trail workers. We need to identity and integrity of WODC. The completed when an adopter spends a celebrate the quiet, energetic work of character of the Club is molded by those day working on his or her trail. The those who have administered aub hikers and residents of the area who completed form will give us a sense of affairs and maintained good during the past 100 years have taken a the relative condition of all WODC communications with Club members proprietary feeling about these mountains. trails, and will help us make better and Forest officials. And most When compared to our big brothers to the decisions regarding how to allocate the important, we need to celebrate the North, the Sandwich Range offers greater time spent by the SRCA trail crew. mountains and their preservation as intimacy, compelling us to visit again and Finally, we are continuing to re-sign symbols of our own need for again and to view the range from all WODC trails. Don't be surprised if maintaining a comer of solitude and numerous vantage points. I am reminded you see new signs at various junctions wildness in our own souls. of a recent comment from a person who throughout the aub trail system. There To celebrate 100 years of our has worked in the Conway area, who said should be 25 to 35 new signs in place mountain stewardship is not just to that she was leaving the area because she over the course of the summer. Many of carry on the traditions started by Kate "got all the trails hiked and wants to find the old signs will be available for Sleeper, Arthur Walden, and Tom some new ones.• Even if she had been purchase at an informal auction to be Wiggin. It means that we must also speaking metaphorically, her attitude does held during the Centennial dinner. consider the challenges to our legacy not address the stewardship ethic which is It's hard to imagine, but WODC has and the opportunities that we have to at the heart of our organization. Our been maintaining trails for 100 years. If strengthen the Oub's mission. The mountains have their own grandeur, their the plans for the summer of 1992 are challenges are both external and own history, and their own memories for any indication, it looks like we're off to internal to the Club. As land changes each of us. WODC gives us the a good start for the next century. hands more frequently, the historic opportunity to share our mutual respect Doug Mayer rights of access across private property for these mountains and help preserve ~~~~~~~~~ becomes more of an issue. Technology them for future generations. MAP SALES and social change are requiring that the Th.is summer we have the opportunity traditional use of trails by those who to celebrate 100 years of commitment to The WODC Trail Map and Guide walk and climb be reexamined and, in the trails and the environs of the continues to sell itself.