Forest Society Invites Public to Tour Silver Mountain, Long Pond, and Sand Pond
Explore the mountains and lakes of Lempster with the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests on Saturday, September 26. Education Director Dave Anderson, Director of Land Protection Brian Hotz, and Policy Director Chris Wells will guide visitors on short, moderate hikes at 10 am, noon, and 2 pm.
Two one-mile hikes to the summit of Silver Mountain will be offered at 10 am and again at 2 pm. Naturalist Dave Anderson will share information about the wildlife habitat and forest ecology of Silver Mountain. Learn about local bear populations, visit an active bear territory, and find out how this land provides critical habitat for bears, bobcats, moose, fox, coyote, mink, trout, and other creatures.
A two-mile walk around the shorelines of Long Pond and Sand Pond will depart at noon. Old woods roads access the shore of Long Pond where a remote trail leads to the hidden ‘bear cave’ rock formation located near the shore of Sand Pond
The Forest Society is working hard to conserve the 1,750 acres that encompass both the mountain and the ponds. The bald summit of Silver Mountain is a popular hiking and blueberry-picking destination that offers spectacular views to the south and west. In addition to the two miles of shoreline around Long Pond and Sand Pond, the Ashuelot River Headwaters Project also includes more than 11,000 feet of frontage along the Ashuelot River, which supplies drinking water to the residents of Keene and others.
The Forest Society must raise $2.18 million to conserve this dramatic landscape by December 1, 2009.
“Our goal is to establish a permanent Forest Society Reservation,” said Brian Hotz, Forest Society director of land protection. “If we’re successful, the land will remain open to the public for the hiking, blueberry picking, hunting, fishing, and the other activities that people have enjoyed on the mountain for generations.”
Space on the hikes is limited, and preregistration is required. For more information or to register, call 224-9945 ext. 313 or email .
For more information about the Ashuelot Rivers Headwaters project, visit forestsociety.org/ashuelot.