BUCKFIELD — Eight volunteers for the Western Foothills Land Trust began creating a two-mile hiking trail loop in the Virgil Parris Forest on Saturday.
The trail, designed by Mike Cooper of Caribou Recreation, will provide nonmotorized access to a section of the 1,200-acre forest, which lies between the Sodom Road and the west shore of South Pond, Lee Dassler of the Western Foothills Land Trust said in a recent news release. The trail begins near the Packard Cemetery and meanders through the woods around geologic whale backs, small streams, near several beautiful waterfalls and to a vista above the west shore of South Pond before returning to the Sodom Road trail head.
Once the hand work has been completed for the entire loop, Caribou Recreation will come to the site with a small excavator to prepare a level trail surface, Dassler said. The trail design calls for a corridor wide enough to accommodate two hikers side by side.
Saturday’s crew opened up about a half mile of the proposed trail and decided to return Saturday, June 23, from 8 a.m. to noon to continue the process. Once the corridor has been completed, trail signs and a small kiosk will be installed.
Anyone who would like to help build this trail should meet 8 a.m. June 23 at the trail head on the Sodom Road in Buckfield — 1.2 miles south of Route 117. Dress for the woods and bring gloves, loppers, wood saws, water and a snack.
Call 739-2124 or email wflt@megalink.net to carpool or get additional information.
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- A small group of volunteers have started to clear a two-mile loop hiking trail in Buckfield. From left, front, are Sarah Weafer, Wes Ackley and Eric Rathbun with his dog Madsion; back, Mike Cooper, Bob Van Nest and Kevin Bowler. More volunteers are being sought for additional trail work June 23.
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