LA Trails Goes Snowshoeing at Huston Farm
February 5, 2011
Huston Farm
LA TRAILS GOES SNOWSHOEING FOR WINTER FESTIVAL
Public is invited to a guided exploration of local open spaces and conservation land
LA Trails, the urban trails program of the Androscoggin Land Trust, will host two snowshoe hikes as part of the City of Auburn’s Annual Winter Festival. The first of the two hikes will occur at Mt. Apatite Park on Saturday, January 29. Dana Little, local LA Trails volunteer, will lead participants of all ages along all-season trails with mild gradients. There will be hiking regardless of the weather or amount of snow, and it will last approximately two hours, depending on the ability level and desire of the participants. During the walk, Dana will identify birds and animal tracks, and trail maps of the Mt. Apatite Park will be available for all hikers.
For the Mt. Apatite hike, meet at the Small Road entrance at 10:00 am. Directions: From Minot Avenue (Routes 11 and 121), turn north onto Hatch Road and travel 1.5 miles. Turn right onto Small Road. Parking is at the end of Small Road (about .2 mile). Please bring your own snowshoes and dress appropriately for the weather.
The second snowshoe hike will occur at the Huston Farm Conservation Area in New Auburn on Saturday February 5th. The Huston Farm, located off Loring Avenue, is 62 acres of privately owned that was conserved in 1999 through a conservation easement held by the Androscoggin Land Trust. The easement, while allowing for continued farming, also provides for neighborhood non-motorized recreation, including snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter months.
In 2008, the land trust partnered with the City of Auburn to acquire an additional 25 acres abutting the farm property that will eventually be used to connect neighborhood recreational opportunities back to South Main Street. The vision, as developed by LA Trails and the City of Auburn in the New Auburn Master Plan, will be to connect the green space of the Huston Farm area with the Sherwood Forest Area, creating a greenbelt linking the Androscoggin River and the Little Androscoggin River. Jonathan P. LaBonte, ALT Executive Director, will lead this hike and highlight the recreation plans of LA Trails in the area as part of the walk.
This Huston Farm snowshoe hike will leave from the Walton School parking lot at 10 AM and the group will walk along Loring Avenue to the Huston Farm property. Again, please bring your own snowshoes and dress appropriately for the weather.
For more information about these open spaces or the snowshoe events, contact LA Trails at (207) 782-2302 or email at info@latrails.org.
LA Trails, a program of ALT, advocates for trail development and stewardship and works to transform the quality of life in Lewiston and Auburn by helping to develop the most comprehensive, accessible, and well-used trail system in Maine. The Androscoggin Land Trust protects important natural areas, traditional landscapes, and outdoor experiences within the Androscoggin River watershed by promoting stewardship and supporting a network of public and privately held conservation land. We currently conserve nearly 4,700 acres of land, including over nine miles of riverfront along the Androscoggin River.