Bringing Backcountry Back: a Hike & History of the Maple Villa Trail at the Ware Preserve
Join the Upper Saco Valley Land Trust (USVLT) on Friday, November 1st from 1pm to 3pm for a hike and historical exploration of the Maple Villa Glade on the Ware Preserve. This event is in partnership with Granite Backcountry Alliance (GBA) and the New England Ski Museum (NESM), and is part of USVLT’s ongoing Easement Exploration Series.
In April 2018, USVLT finalized the acquisition of the Ware Preserve, a joint project in partnership with GBA. The conservation of the Ware Preserve not only permanently protects 48 acres of forestland contiguous with the White Mountain National Forest and the historic Maple Villa Trail created by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), but creates opportunities for continued outdoor recreation in the winter.
We will meet at the Ware Preserve parking lot on East Branch Road in Intervale at 1pm (look for the USVLT sign on the right). Jeff Leich, the Executive Director of North Conway’s branch of NESM, will kick us off with a brief history of the Maple Villa Trail and the impact it had on skiing in the area, including the development of the subsequent Intervale Ski Area and Eastern Mountain Sports Cross Country Center. From there, Rick Jenkinson, USVLT Secretary and GBA Board President, will lead us on a hike up the newly restored Maple Villa Trail where we will see the work currently being done by GBA volunteers, and imagine what it would have been like to ski the trail when it first opened in the winter of 1936.
This is an intermediate level hike. Please wear appropriate attire and footwear.
