July 14, 2014 by EW

West River Trail Improvements

Conservation 11 Youth Crew
L to R back row: Henderson Ramirez, Beth Maguire, Hannah Chitambar, Nate Keeney
Front: Altanai Winston, Ellen Holmes (crew leader), Chris Wu (assistant crew leader)

A huge thanks to local volunteers and the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) for the many trail improvements accomplished in June and July.

On June 15. a small, but dedicated team of volunteers worked hard to clear stumps that had come up in the new section of trail . They also improved drainage from the bridge up to the Fox Farm Road right-of-way. Thanks to Jason Cooper and Diana and Hank Lange.

From June 30-July 11, 2014, the VYCC crew completed many projects and did a terrific job while here for 2 weeks . They replaced two drainage culverts on the trail adjacent to the Riverstone Preserve, which stood up very well to the torrential downpour we had a few days later. The crew was very happy to get to see how the work they did on the culverts would perform in such an extreme condition. They also cleared a lot of the knotweed from the bank of the river, completed a new section of trail on the Riverstone Preserve that includes a 30′ raised walk over a chronically wet section and demolished an old shed that was falling down. Thanks so much to the VYCC crew for doing an excellent job to improve the West River Trail.

Thanks to Jason Cooper for the work reports and for all his good work to improve the lower section of the West River Trail. Take a run, walk or ride on the trail soon and check out all the improvements!

July 11, 2014 by EW

Public Invited to ‘Trail Talk’ to be held for I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Project

The PCL+FIGG Team will conduct the next on-site Trail Talk on Saturday, July 12, 2014. These trail talks will discuss the status of the I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Project and allow the public to ask questions. The talks will originate at the West River Trail near the Marina. The trail talk will be led by Caleb Linn, Project Manager for PCL (lead contractor), and Garrett Hoffman, Design Manager for FIGG (bridge designer). Interested participants should meet the PCL+FIGG Team at the West River Trail trailhead on Saturday, July 12, 2014, at 8 a.m. and the talk will begin at 8:15 a.m.

Participants will walk the trail to the I-91 bridge site, so please wear appropriate clothing and footwear. The project’s website (www.i91brattleborobridge.com) features up-to-date information about the project, construction photos, and live traffic cameras. If you would like additional information, or would like to be added to the email distribution list for all project updates, please contact Cindy Cook, Public Relations Officer, Adamant Accord, Inc. at ccook@adamantaccord.com.

June 13, 2014 by EW

The West River Trail Detour

west river trail detour at marina trailhead

Woohoo! An alternate path for the lower section of the West River Trail has been opened at the Marina Trailhead that provides recreational use of the trail near the I-91 bridge construction access road. Follow trail signs carefully through the construction area. There are intersections between construction access and the trail path, and users should exercise extreme caution at these intersections. As an additional safety precaution, users of the West River Trail are reminded to keep pets on a leash in this area. Be safe and enjoy the trail!

Lots going on this weekend on and near the West River Trail. Come and join in!

West River Trail workday, Sunday June 15 starting from the Marina trail head at 10 am. More Click HERE for more information.

Black Mountain Hike, Saturday, June 14, 1 pm. Join members of the Vermont Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) for a 4-mile walk through a 275-acre parcel on Black Mountain that TNC plans to acquire this summer. Mountain laurel should be at peak bloom! Meet on Rice Farm Rd., Dummerston, opposite the West River Trail kiosk, 1 mile south of the green iron bridge. Hike will be of moderate difficulty, over logging roads, led by Jon Binhammer and Roger Haydock. Information: Jbinhammer@tnc.org, or 802-229-4425 ext. 110.

Trail Talk, Saturday June 14, meet at the Marina Trailhead at 8 am, click HERE for more information.

June 12, 2014 by EW

Public Invited to ‘Trail Talk’ to be held for I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Project

The PCL+FIGG Team will conduct the next on-site “trail talk” for the Public on Saturday, June 14, 2014. These trail talks will discuss the status of the I-91 Brattleboro Bridge Project and allow the public to ask questions. The talks will originate at the West River Trail near the marina. The trail talk will be led by Caleb Linn, Project Manager for PCL (lead contractor), and Garrett Hoffman, Design Manager for FIGG (bridge designer).
Interested participants should meet the PCL+FIGG Team at the West River Trail trailhead on Saturday, June 14, 2014, at 8 a.m. and the talk will begin at 8:15 a.m. Participants will walk the trail to the I-91 bridge site, so please wear appropriate clothing and footwear.
The project’s website features up-to-date information about the project, construction photos, and live traffic cameras. If you would like additional information, or would like to be added to the email distribution list for all project updates, please contact Cindy Cook, Public Relations Officer, Adamant Accord, Inc. at ccook@adamantaccord.com.

June 5, 2014 by EW

Volunteer Trail Workday on Sunday June 15

In honor of National Trails Day (June 7) please consider volunteering to improve the lower section of the West River Trail! Our next Volunteer Trail Workday is Sunday, June 15 from 10 AM to 2 PM. We will gather at the Marina trail head and leave at 10 AM. Wear work shoes that can get wet; bring gloves, bug spray, and drinking water. Most of the work will be improving drainage–cleaning out drainage ditches and repairing some parts that have washed out. Maybe a bit of chainsaw work. We will provide the tools. For more information, contact Jason Cooper at jason.cooper10@gmail.com We look forward to seeing you there! Please come out and help improve the West River Trail!. Thanks!

June 5, 2014 by EW

Black Mountain Hike Saturday June 14

Join The Nature Conservancy at their Black Mountain Natural Area on Rice Farm Road in Dummerston on Saturday, June 14, 2014 at 1 pm for a trip to the 275-acre parcel they plan to acquire this summer. Walk through oak, pine and hemlock forest. The mountain laurel should be at peak bloom!
Trip Contact: Jon Binhammer, jbinhammer@tnc.org or 802-229-4425 ext 110.
Difficulty level: Moderate 4 mile hike–walking on logging roads.

June 2, 2014 by EW

West River Trail Run Saturday June 7th

The West River Trail Run
Saturday June 7, 2014.
The West River Trail Run is a spectacular run along the West River from South Londonderry to Jamaica in beautiful Southern Vermont. Open to single runners & relay teams of 3. Hikers and walkers are welcome and will start about an hour before the runners. For more information and to register, please call 802-824-4200 or check the The West River Trail Run website.

May 15, 2014 by EW

Birding on the West River with the Vermont Land Trust

DATE: Saturday, May 17
TIME: 7:30 –10:00 am
PLACE: Riverstone Preserve, Brattleboro
River corridors provide important habitat for migratory and breeding birds. Grab your binoculars and join VLT’s Kerry Doyle on Saturday May 17 for a morning of birding along the West River Trail in Brattleboro. Co-sponsored with Friends of the West River. RSVP appreciated but not necessary. Meet at the Rice Farm Road trailhead access to the West River Trail. Click HERE to register. Click HERE for a map. If you have questions, contact Sharon at 802-262-1241 or sharon@vlt.org. Hope to see you there!

May 5, 2014 by EW

West River Trail Detour Open at Southern Trailhead

New by-pass trail heading south toward Brattleboro

Looking down at the bypass trail from the spur to New Chapter

Trail to the left is the spur to New Chapter

Great news! The trail detour around the I-91 bridge construction has been completed, and the southern trailhead near the Marina Restaurant is now open. The ephemeral spring wildflowers are profuse. It is a good time to get out and explore the Riverstone Preserve and the West River Trail. Photos by Alex Wilson.

Here’s the update from Jason Cooper:
Over the last couple of weeks we have been able to re-route the part of the trail between the interstate bridge and the trailhead by the Marina Restaurant. Thanks to the generous support of: Adam Winstanley, who permitted us to move the trail on to his property, PCL, the interstate bridge contractor, J. Evans construction, who skillfully built the new trail segment, and several volunteers, we are open at last.
The new section of trail passes under the interstate on the hill just below the bridge abutment. This location offers a great vantage point to watch the bridge construction. Today I watched them drilling holes for the new bridge footings. Happy Trails.
To access the detour trail from the Marina trailhead, look carefully for a small yellow sign & turn right up the hill. Look closely and take care – the sign is easy to miss. See photo below.