Great news. This month, a new trail is being added to the GNSC empire! The trail connects the Turner property to the James property, over the fields of Megan McCrossan and (your webmaster) Michael Smart. Now you can complete a GNSC Odyssey – from the County Forest, to Turners’, then Smarts’, Jameses’, and Barneses’ and back (or the reverse) – without ever retracing your steps. To find out more and see the trail on a map, just click here to …
Have a look at the schematic map, where the McCrossan-Smart property is shaded green. Starting from the southern, Turner end, look for the new spur trail leading across Tamarac Meadow and up the hill to the corner. The trail then turns north and east across open fields, over the top of a hill, and down through an old fencerow to Hamilton Lane. After the trail turns north to parallel the road, look for a small opening that leads to Hamilton Lane opposite the James pond loop trail. (Watch for traffic!) The larger opening in the fencerow also works but is much steeper due to the road grading.
A word of caution: near the top of the hill on the McCrossan-Smart farm, there may be a ski track leading north into the old woodlot. This trail is not groomed and could be dangerous in icy conditions. So you may prefer to stay on the main groomed trail.
This new trail is an experiment for this year, and its continued existence depends on the tireless efforts of our groomers Bob and David. If you’ve tried the trail, leave a comment by clicking the link in the next line. Let us know what you think, or any suggestions you have.
Hi there!
Did this trail on Saturday (what an AWESOME ski day) with three other intrepid women. We’d decided to do the outside trails of every section and I thought this would be a good way to finish and get back to the parking lot without a major backtrack. It was a bit of a grunt getting up the hill (having already skied all morning), but a great view from the top and an awesome slip down the other side (what fun!!!). Let’s hope for some more snow so we can do it again!
Thanks to all the groom masters and landowners who allow this to happen!!!
Donna
We tried the ‘over the top’ link again today, east to west this time in calm weather. Great views, easy climb and long downhills. Thanks! Going this way gives the great run down through the Barnes’ hills too. Thanks to the landowners all around.
Blain