vermont

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BrattlePaddle Canoe & Kayak Races

BrattlePaddleSave the date for the BrattlePaddle Canoe & Kayak Races! Proceeds will benefit the West River Trail. Please join us!
A great family outing, with fun races for all skill levels!
Sunday July 23, 2017
Registration: 8 – 9:30 am, Race starts: 10 am
Entry fee: $20.00
Racing distance: 9 miles
Recreational distance: 3.5 miles
Separate starts for different classes
Awards will be presented following the races
A light lunch will be provided under the party tent for all registered participants by the Marina
The Marina
For more information please contact:
Sandy Harris, 603-363-4868; racemonkey14@myfairpoint.net

Directions from North or South
I-91 to exit 3, South on Route 5 to The Marina On the Water (located right before the bridge where the West and Connecticut rivers meet.

Proceeds to benefit the West River Trail.

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West River Trail Workday Report

 

WRT trail workday June 2017Huge thanks to the 5 volunteers who showed up to help repair the West River Trail.
Below is Jason Cooper’s report from the Trail Work Day.

We got an incredible amount done today!
Repaired erosion on the steeps of the I-91 bridge bypass.
Trimmed back brush and grass on the bypass.
Cleaned out and repaired many culverts from I-91 (mile 2) to just before mile 3.8.
Removed many downed trees.
Filled many holes in the trail.

The biggest surprise was the incredible washout on the Fox Farm Road access. It is as bad as it was after Hurricane Irene. This will take some structural redesign. There is also still some work to do between mile 3.8 and the foot bridge at mile 4.1, and a ditch at mile 2.8. Beyond the foot bridge there are several erosion cuts in the trail bed that will need fill trucked in.
WRT trail workday June 2017 - 2
Photos are on the Fox Farm Road trail access. Photos by Jason Cooper. The trail really needs your help! If you use the trail regularly, please consider lending a hand on the next workday or making a contribution to help maintain the trail. Email us at lowersection@gmail.com with any questions.

 

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Rice Farm Road Trailhead

West River Trail Rice Farm Road AccessAs many trail users are aware, branches and stick barriers have been placed at the Rice Farm Road (RFR) trail head for some time now.  More recently, the words “No Trespassing” and “Private -Keep Out” were painted on the ground.  The area being contested is the RFR trail head, including a couple hundred feet south on the trail.  Friends of the West River Trail (FWRT) has deeds and surveys showing FWRT ownership of the trail for public use.  Furthermore, the public has been using this trail for decades and because of that​, has the continuing right to use the trail (this right is called a prescriptive easement).

​Recently FWRT brought an action in court to stop this obstruction. However, it will take several weeks to 3 months or more for the court to address the situation.  In the past, trail users who have come in contact with the contesting party have been treated politely by him and even encouraged to use the trail.  Unfortunately, our efforts as members of the FWRT to resolve or even discuss the situation have been met with hostility.  Given the situation, it is up to each trail user to decide whether to use the RFR access to the trail. If you are feeling concerned about using the RFR trail head, you can access the trail from Fox Farm Rd or the Marina trail head.   We regret the uncertainty and any inconvenience this is causing.

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Sunday June 25 Trail Work Day 1-5 PM

WRT trail wildflowerIf you like and use the trail, we need your help!

Please come help repair the damage from last Monday’s storm.  If you have a shovel or iron rake, please bring it along.  Meet at the Fox Farm Rd Trail Access and stay as long as you like.  Hope to see you there!

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West River Trail Damaged in Storm

West River Trail, rainstorm damage to culvertHeavy rains last Monday exposed a culvert, and caused other damage to the lower section of the West River Trail. Please come to our trail work day this Sunday, June 25, from 1-5 PM to help maintain our community trail. Meet up at the Fox Farm Rd trail access. Wear your boots and work gloves, bring bug spray and water. We’ll have tools! The trail really needs your help! Thank you! Email us at lowersection@gmail.com for info or questions.

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West River Trail Work Day

West River Trail mountain-laurel June 2016Save the date!
Do you love the West River Trail?
Please come help out at our Volunteer Trail Work Day scheduled for Sunday, June 25, from 1-5 PM. Meet us at 1 at the Fox Farm Rd Trail Head and stay as long as you like.
Bring work gloves, water, insect repellent, loppers. We’ll have shovels and other tools. We’ll be working on improving drainage in some wet areas and trail clearing where needed. Email lowersection@gmail.com for more information and to let us know you’re coming. Thank you!

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The West River Trail Run

West River Trail RunSaturday, June 3, 2017, is the annual West River Trail Run, held in Londonderry & Jamaica, Vermont. A FUNdraiser to benefit The Collaborative’s long-standing programs like the Afterschool Program, Summer Camp, and Refuse To Use Program.
Click here for more info: https://runsignup.com/Race/VT/SouthLondonderry/WestRiverTrailRun

The full 11 mile trail run starts at the South Londonderry Depot and ends at Jamaica State Park. This run is great for trail running enthusiasts of all skill levels. In addition to the competitive, unofficial timed 11 mile run for individual runners, it has a 3-leg relay option, walkers’ start time and a 5K Fun Run.

The West River Trail Run course is surpack for the first 4 miles and follows the West River as you pass through Winhall Brook camp ground. Then into the woods as you watch your step with rocks, leaves and trees (oh my!), cross over Angel Falls (yes, there is water but there are rocks to step across), don’t forget to look up! Up the hill you go! Then down the gnarly switchback at Ball Mountain Dam. Almost there with 4 miles left, as the river is now to the right of you! A couple miles down the surpack in Jamaica State Park and you cross the finish to dip your feet in the river. We ask no dogs. If you would like to push a stroller, the 5K or the first leg of the race is best.

Sponsored by the Collaborative
Email: info@thecollaborative.us
Phone: (802) 824-4200
Physical & Mailing Address: 91 VT Route 11, Londonderry, Vermont 05148

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New Lower Section Map

 

We’ve published a brand-new map of the Lower Section of the West River Trail, with lots of trail information on the back. It folds down to pocket size for convenient use on the trail. Pick up your copy at the Marina Restaurant, Brattleboro Chamber of Commerce, River Garden, Brattleboro Bike Shop, Burrows Specialized Sports, West Hill Shop, Guilford Country Store, Route 91 Welcome Center, local hotels, and other locations. Many thanks to C&S Wholesale Grocers Print Shop for donating the printing of the map and to Jeff Nugent, Senior Planner, Mapping & GIS, Windham Regional Commission, for creating the map.

View and download the map on the WRT Lower Section Map Page.

 

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Springtime on the West River Trail

Spring has sprung on the West River Trail! The river is running high, the trail edges are greening up, the wildflowers are blooming, and the trees are leafing out.

Many thanks to PCL Civil Constructors, Inc. for their efforts to keep the West River Trail open during all phases of bridge construction. Trail users should exercise extreme caution at the intersections between construction access and the trail path. As an additional safety precaution, users of the West River Trail are reminded to keep pets on a leash, especially in the construction area.

Please note that demolition of the old iron bridge over Route 30 will begin by the middle of May. During bridge demolition above the trail, personnel will be stationed to provide warning to pedestrians when work is occurring overhead.

Please also note that some users have reported trees and rock slides across the trail. Enjoy the trail, but be observant, and stay safe.

If you would like additional information about the bridge construction, please contact Bonnie Clark, Public Relations Officer, at bclark@pcl.com, PCL Civil Constructors, Inc., 41 Spring Tree Road, Brattleboro, Vermont 05301, 802-251-0709, www.pcl.com.

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A Spring Ski on the West River Trail

A beautiful spring ski along the West River Trail, through the Riverstone Preserve and down onto the river shore. Snow-slides along the cliff edge created hilly terrain on an otherwise flat stretch of trail. Along the river edge, fresh snow covered ice floes, left behind on the banks when the river thawed.

Story submitted by Kathleen White. photos by Jim Webster, from a ski trip in early April. Probably the most unusual environment they’ve skied on!

Soon the snow will give way to spring ephemeral wildflowers. Enjoy the trail in all its glorious seasons. Happy Spring!