The Peru Gazette

WESTPORT, NY: Champlain Area Trails (CATS) is preparing its trails for the annual Grand Hike on Saturday, May 6, which this year is an almost 14-mile walk through forests and fields from Willsboro to Westport. CATS will have three “oases” along the way, where hikers will find snacks, water, and porta potties. Hikers can also complete a shorter hike and catch a shuttle from an oasis to the hike’s end.

This hike starts at the north trailhead of the McAuliffe Road Trail and ends at the new Mountain Dog Restaurant & Pub in Westport, NY, where hikers can join an “après hike party” featuring live music, drinks, food to purchase, outdoor games area, and a post-hike celebration. 

CATS had the help of a group of dedicated volunteers from the American Hiking Society’s Volunteer Vacation Program, working this week to prepare the trails for over 200 hikers expected to walk the route. This is the tenth time the Volunteer Vacationers have worked with CATS.

“The Volunteer Vacation Program is such a win-win,” CATS Executive Director Chris Maron said. “We complete necessary trail improvements and, simultaneously, introduce people to the Champlain Valley, which promotes regional tourism. Volunteer vacationers get to give back to the trails they love and visit or revisit areas they’ve come to appreciate.”

“The volunteers made a big contribution with the time they dedicated to improving these trails,” said CATS Director of Trails and Land Management, Tony Thoman. “During the week, they worked over 200 hours clearing overgrown trails and developing reroutes, a new trail connecting two of our most popular trails—the Wildway Overlook Trail and Boquet Mountain Trial,” he said.

The Grand Hike starts with check-in from 9:15-10:00 am at Ballard Park in Westport on Saturday, May 6th.  They will then catch a bus to start the walk at the junction of Sunset Road and McAuliffe Road in Willsboro.

Everyone is welcome to attend the après hike party, which is free. There is a fee of $25/per person and $50/per family to register for the hike by April 30th. After that date, the price is $30/per person and $60/per family. Children under 18 are free. For more information and to register for the Grand Hike, visit www.ChamplainAreaTrails.com.

ABOUT CHAMPLAIN AREA TRAILS

Champlain Area Trails (CATS) is a non-profit organization that aims to conserve land and establish trails to allow people to experience nature and support the economic growth in New York’s Champlain Valley. Founded in 2009, CATS addresses the shortage of public lands and hiking opportunities in the Champlain Valley, ensuring that all Adirondack communities have equal access to nature and trails. With 67 miles of trails, 983 acres of land saved, and numerous volunteer opportunities, hikes, and outdoor education outings, CATS has attracted thousands of visitors to the region.