PHOTO COURTESY OF KEN HERZ
LONG POND TRAIL
GRAND OPENING OF THE LONG POND TRAIL
On July 8th, 2023, Long Pond Conservancy and Champlain Area Trails held the Grand Opening hike of the 4.5-mile Long Pond Trail. The trail leads trekkers through a beautiful forest to the pristine western shore of Long Pond. The path continues along a shoreline berm shielded by trees that block views of anyone on the trail. Hikers can see a pleasant, filtered view of the pond, hills, forests, and undeveloped southeastern shore with the mountains beyond.
The trail is an easy-to-moderate hike that allows the traveler several different loops and alternate ways back to the trailhead. As the path wanders along the lake, near the outer reaches, one can find a large bronze plaque carved into a boulder dedicated to those who supported the effort to preserve the trail’s land by graciously giving $1000 or more.
BRONZE LEGACY PLAQUE
Creating the trail was a years-long effort to find a route that avoided the wetlands just inland from the shoreline and provided an easy path for people to enjoy. After finally locating the route, many volunteers came out for numerous projects, clearing fallen logs and branches, many from recent logging activity, and opening the trail.
TONY THORMAN, CATS DIRECTOR OF TRAILS AND LAND MANAGMENT
Close to 30 outdoor enthusiasts attended the opening, with many local people being joined by hikers as far away as Queensbury, Glens Falls, and Champlain. One attendee, Angela Baker of Plattsburgh, said, “I wanted to attend the volunteer days to make the trail but couldn’t so coming to this hike and seeing the beautiful trail and how it winds through trees on a little rise along the shore was truly fascinating. And fun.”
The trail is open for public use, which aligns with Long Pond Conservancy’s and CATS’ missions to save land, make trails, connect people with nature, and promote economic vitality. It allows the public year-round opportunities to explore and hike Long Pond’s western shoreline. The kiosk at the trailhead has illustrations of Long Pond and a description of LPC’s goals and efforts to protect the pond’s watershed. The Long Pond Trail allows all to experience the pond’s beauty in an unobtrusive manner that respects nature, wildlife, and the area residents.
NEW KIOSK AT TRAILHEAD
INSTALLMENT OF LEGACY PLAQUE FROM START TO FINISH
LONG POND CONSERVANCY
LEGACY DONORS
These generous donors contributed at least $1000 to preserve this piece of land forever.
Adirondack History Museum Board
Rob and Christine Babson
Sue Bahner, Jim, Suzi and Michael Harriff, Sean and Caryl Bahner-Guhin – In memory of David S. Bahner
Sue Bahner, Jim, Suzi and Michael Harriff, Sean and Caryl Bahner-Guhin – In memory of Colonel David MacCready
Tom and Betsy Balderston
Bullpen – Tim Singer, Ken “Squeak” Herz, Josh Bornt, Caleb Balderston, Matt Moscato, Geoffrey Livsey, and Laura Potel
Champlain Area Trails Board
Davis Camalier
Cloudsplitter Carpentry
Cloudsplitter Foundation
Thomas and Ellen Davis Conroy
Phil and Mary Corell
DBWW – Durlacher, Balderston, Wright, and White Families with Chris Durlacher
Sarah Disney and David Henderson
Bruce and Kate Dodd
The Durant Family
Alan and Susan Eddy
Essex Community – Tom Duca, Andrea Barrett and Barry Goldstein
Elizabeth Grant
Stephen Grant
Jeb and Peggy Hart
Susan Hobson and Michael Putziger
Sharon and David Joelson
Steven and Helen Kellogg
Kelsey Trust
Irene and Chuck Krotz
Ladies of MacCready – Dana Beck, Ashley Fetterman, Fiona Stauffer, Erin DeBusk, Cecilia Disney, Liz Abel-Sherwood, Meredith Chapman-Kohlbecker, Abbe Wright, Kate Durlacher-McCann, Kelly Sanders and Abby Comeau
Dwight, Jack, Margaret Lansing and Caroline Noble – In memory of John Faulkner
Peter Levine
Joan and Alan Lutz
Tom Marshall
Lauren Murphy and Sharp Swan
Nicky and Jim Murphy
Richard C. Obiol
Sally and Mark O’Neil
Patty and Peter Paine
Reinckens Family
Ripman Family
Evelyn and Joe Rinella
Mary Ann Schneible – In memory of Philip
Chris Stokes
Heather and Glenn Sweeney – In honor of Cale and Ryan
Diane Marie Temple
Marie and Harry Tobiassen
Water Lilies – Brianna and James McDonough, Rebecca Philion, Meaghan Swan-Wilson and Nick Wilson, Julia Backus and Cole Starkey
David White Sr. Family
T.S. White Jr. Family
Ann and Fredric Wright
Gerald Zahavi and Deborah Maxwell
One Anonymous Friend