Voice of the Wapack
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Fall / Winter 2006 Voice of the Wapack Published by the Friends of the Wapack, Inc. Issue #78 From the President The summer of 2006 has (www.wapack.org) will keep you ad- identified the emergence of two im- vised of any future events. The suc- portant regional projects that can cessful implementation of these pro- have very significant effects on the jects will require considerable sup- Inside this issue: Wapack Trail – the Temple Moun- port from all of us. tain Project and the Wapack Wilder- Remember to note your calen- Temple Mt. Project 2 ness Project. Both of these projects dar with the date and time of the an- involve the protection of significant NE Wilderness Trust to 4 nual meeting – October 21, at the protect Wapack Wilder- portions of the Trail, but even more Shieling Forest Barn in Peterbor- ness importantly, will place considerable ough. See the Calendar in this issue In Memoriam—Jane 5 acreage into permanent conservation for details. We hope to see you there. Mutch control. This issue has both of these - Mitch Call, President Trail Work Days 6 projects highlighted in separate arti- cles and the Friends website On the Lighter Side by 6 Lee Baker Friends General Store 7 Welcome New Members 8 Courtesy on the trail • Foot travel welcome. • Leave NO trace. • Be quiet near houses. • Stay on blazed trails. • Respect trailside property. • Park cars so others can pass. View of Mt. Monadnock from Pratt Mountain. Photo courtesy of Mena Schmid. Temple Mountain Project Temple Mountain is one of the most visible the property, but determined that it was not vi- landmarks in southern New Hampshire. One of able as a ski area. Local residents and town offi- America’s earliest ski areas, Temple Mountain cial formed Friends of Temple Mountain (FOTM) serves as a prominent gateway to the Monadnock to discuss conservation options with the owners, Region. The 352 acre ownership is currently the holding public meetings with local selectmen, con- major gap in a contiguous stretch of more that servation commissions and local residents in the 3,000 acres of publicly accessible conservation three towns (Temple, Peterborough and Sharon) land. The property includes a prominent alpine and found strong support for conserving the section of the Wapack Trail and a network of mountain for public recreation, scenery, wildlife other hiking and skiing trails, nine distinct natu- and water resources. ral communities, extensive wildlife habitat, and The ownership of the property changed in breathtaking views. It abuts Miller State Park 2003 and the property was marketed aggressively across Route 101. In addition to being a priority for development. One potential buyer proposed for conservation by itself, Temple Mountain is the dozens of housing units, golf course, etal. With southern “anchor” of a possible conservation corri- the encouragement of conservation groups and dor running north to Crotched Mountain. FOTM, Temple Highlands LLC purchased the Portions of the property operated as Tem- property expressly to allow time for the develop- ple Mountain Ski Area commencing in 1937, but ment of a conservation plan. In 2005, Monadnock closed in 2001, and the property was put up for Conservancy and Temple Highlands LLC opened sale. A serious potential ski area buyer studied (Continued on page 3) Friends of the Wapack The Voice of the Wapack is published twice a year by Board Members the Friends of the Wapack. The Friends are nonprofit volun- Officers: teers dedicated to the maintenance and preservation of the Wa- Mitch Call, President (603) 924-7544 pack Trail System. Financial support is provided by member Jeff MacGillivray, Vice President (603) 878-4251 donations which are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Wendy Christensen, Secretary (603) 878-1000 Affiliated Club Member of the American Hiking Society and the Bruce Myrick, Treasurer (603) 352-8616 New England Trail Conference. The Standing Committee Chairs: Wapack Trail is a 21-mile skyline Lee Baker, Trips (603) 525-5262 footpath from Mt. Watatic in Rick Blanchette, Trails (603) 878-1464 Ashburnham, MA to North Pack in Mitch Call, Ways & Means (603) 924-7544 Greenfield, NH. Completed in 1923, Renee Blanchette, Newsletter (603) 878-1464 it is the oldest interstate hiking trail Jeff MacGillivray, Management / in the Northeast. Right-of-Way (603) 878-4251 Directors: Copyright © 2006 Friends of the Wa- Joanne Buck (603) 532-7386 pack, Inc. Dave Buren (603) 924-3967 Dwight Horan (603) 878-3779 Friends of the Wapack Ollie Mutch (978) 386-5318 Mike Przybyla (603) 878-3350 P.O. Box 115 Newsletter Distribution, Membership Coordinator, West Peterborough, NH 03468 & Map/Guide Sales: Wendy Christensen (603) 878-1000 Trail Master: Mike Przybyla (603) 878-3350 Website: http://www.wapack.org Web Master: Rick Blanchette (603) 878-1464 Page 2 Voice of the Wapack Temple Mountain Project (cont.) (Continued from page 2) 21st and in Peterbor- ough on July 12th, discussions with the the NH Division of New Hampshire Divi- Parks and Recreation sion of Parks and Rec- solicited public com- reation about possible ment on the proposed acquisition as an addi- acquisition, future tion to Miller State public use and re- Park. Since that time source management, numerous meetings and the allocation of informed interested the state’s fiscal year parties about the pro- 2007 appropriation ject and an acquisition for the LWCF to the appropriation was project. This com- submitted through ment period closed on Congressional delega- Pack Monadnock / Miller State Park from the former Temple September 15, and now Mountain Ski Area. Photo courtesy of Mena Schmid. tion to (the federal) being reviewed by the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), and division. in June 2006 CLHIP approved a acquisition grant Further information and future activities of $135,000. relating to this project can be found at After public hearings in Concord on June www.nhstateparks.org. Ashburnham Conservation Trust auction supports protection of Mt. Watatic SILENT & LIVE AUCTION Enjoy a great Sunday afternoon with friends and begin your holiday shopping! DATE: November 19, 2006 LOCATION: Cushing Academy Dining Hall-School St., Ashburnham, MA TIME: 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. TICKETS: $20.00-includes hors d’oeuvres, wine, beverages, & auction paddle! The auction features art, goods & services covering a wide array of interests and offers phenomenal deals benefiting the Ashburnham Conservation Trust. LIVE MUSIC HORS D’OEUVRES WINE & BEVERAGES Information and tickets contact: Lois Somers-978-827-4301 [email protected] Tickets are limited – reserve today Issue #78 Page 3 Northeast Wilderness Trust to Preserve Wapack Wilderness Walking along the Wapack Trail from put together big chunks of protected land rather Stony Top Mountain to Pratt Mountain one can than protecting isolated bits here and there…we not miss noticing the intact swath of forest that are all in favor of promoting the conservation of stretches down from the trail towards a series of the [Wapack Wilderness.]” waterways and wetlands. This is the Wapack Wil- The Hampshire Country School has long derness—1,400 acres owned by the Hampshire maintained the property as wild; however, the Country School and the focus of a conservation cost has become prohibitive. Rather than seeking campaign led by the Northeast Wilderness Trust maximum profit by developing the land, the (NWT). school found a solution that The Wapack Wilder- honors its values and his- ness is ecologically signifi- tory—the school agreed to cant as well as home to ap- sell a conservation ease- proximately one mile of the ment on the Wapack Wil- Wapack Trail. The property derness to NWT. hosts a broad diversity of To preserve this wildlife, such as moose, natural gem in perpetuity, bobcat, fisher, mink and NWT must raise beaver and contains the $1,400,000. While early in headwaters of the Millers the campaign, NWT has River. Hampshire Country School property, looking toward the raised approximately Protection of the Wapack Range, Rindge, NH $330,000. The project has Wapack Wilderness will ensure protection of this been endorsed by the awesome natural area, access to the Wapack Trail Rindge and New Ipswich Conservation Commis- and preserve the exceptional views along the sions as well as over ten local and regional con- trail, and it will help connect and expand existing servation organizations. Rick Van de Poll, ecolo- natural areas, such as the adjacent Binney Pond gist and President of NWT said, “We need every- State Forest and Mountain Pond Preserve. one’s support to preserve this exceptional prop- erty for just $1,000 an acre. It is a win-win situa- The property is a target area in a greater tion for nature, wildlife, trail users and the landscape initiative stretching from the Quabbin school.” To learn more about the exciting effort to Reservoir to Cardigan Mountain. When asked protect the Wapack Wilderness, go to about the significance of the Wapack Wilderness, www.newildernesstrust.org. Meade Cadot, Director of the Harris Center in Hancock, New Hampshire, said it is “…good to E-Mail Addresses As you can see in the articles about Temple project, and made a plea by e-mail. But less than Mountain and the Wapack Wilderness, important pro- a third of our members have e-mail addresses on gress is being made towards the Friends goal of protect- file. So, for potential future needs, please provide ing the entire length of the Trail. Sometimes progress is a current e-mail address, which you may do by slow, but occasionally short deadlines are imposed, and sending it to [email protected]. your support needs to be solicited. We needed to increase We promise to use it only when we feel it very the quantity of public comments on the Temple Mountain important and time critical.