Our
trail history started in August of 1999 when a small group of
people gathered at an informational meeting at Stimson Hall on a
possible trail project for Libby Hill in Gray. Like many “kickoff”
meetings lots of ideas were floated on what recreational possibilities
could be done with 73 acres that were donated to the town 30 years
earlier. Over the next 18 months the committee evolved a plan and was
fortunate enough to have a majority of members who were “hands on”
volunteers. February 2001 saw the Grand Opening of Trails and Libby
Hill Trails were born! Since that time hundreds of people have
volunteered, donated money, and given land to expand the trails to be
a destination recreational space in southern Maine.
The
Friends of Libby Hill are expanding communication efforts by
producing this electronic newsletter on trail activities, history, and
features. We want you, the trail user, to get the most out of your
experience on Libby Hill and
provide opportunities for you to get involved in promoting open space
recreation.
What can be done in
the next ten years? We hope to see you out on the trails!
Steve McPike –
Friends of Libby Hill Trails
Hannaford
Helps Libby Hill!
Hannaford Supermarkets
had a sneak preview of its new grocery store on Shaker Road in Gray
on Friday evening August 28th. The new store is poised to open 7am,
Saturday. Seeking to begin a long relationship with the local
community, the store donated to three charities in Gray. Libby Hill
Trails was chosen because it represents
Hannaford's core value of "Healthy Lifestyles".
Shown above, store manager Jarod
Castonguay (left) presents Gray Community Endowment President, Carl
Holmquist (right) with a check for $3,000 to be used for the Save
Libby Hill Campaign. Also key in organizing the event and obtaining
the donations was Tap FitzGerald, Relations & Public Relations
Specialist. Many thanks to Hannaford for this generous donation.
We look forward to being their neighbor across the street!
Now $23,500 remains to be raised to
complete the purchase of land for Libby Hill Trails.
Won't you join and help
us get over the top by donating what you can?
Signs of the Times
Thanks to volunteer Dave
Dowler we finally have two road signs for Libby Hill on Route 26. Jotul
USA and the
Gray Community Endowment also provided funds to purchase the
signs. Also thanks to the Gray Public Works who erected the signs.
Over 16,000 cars each day pass this intersection and the new signs
will help people find Libby Hill Trails.
Delorme has also
added Libby Hill Trails to its
Topo USA version 8 software. They also will include Libby Hill
Trails in their next printing of the Maine Atlas, scheduled later this
year.
Secrets of the
Trails
Pond on Turkey Trot
Sometimes the
best things are right under your nose! The pond off the
Turkey Trot trail is often missed by trail users. First many hard
core trail users want to get out in the woods as fast as possible and
shoot up the Moose Odyssey trail to leave civilization behind.
However, the most dense population of wildlife inhabits the small
woods and wetland area around the pond.
The
pond is actually shaped like two kidneys and you have views of the
trail from a high knoll on Turkey Trot and from the far corner of the
middle school ball field. If you look carefully on the knoll you will
see a path that leads out to a point that gives you a nice view of
both parts of the pond. Since this path is among shrubs you are
hidden from any wildlife that might be around the pond. This is an
ideal spot to bring your binoculars and watch for birds or beaver.
The
other easy access to the pond is just off the ball field in front of
the middle school. Here you can find a beaten path that goes left
around the perimeter of the pond. If you look carefully on the dead
logs in the water you can see up to 25 turtles sunning themselves on a
warm day. You may also find another path at the farthest corner of
the ball field that leads down to the pond at the site of a new beaver
dam. There are two active beavers in this area and you may hear the
'slap' of their tails if they sense you nearby.
Many species of
birds have been spotted around or in the pond including green
heron, blue heron, yellow throat, Canadian Geese (currently dozens
stop here every day), mallard ducks, downy woodpeckers, hairy
woodpeckers, and pileated woodpeckers.
Winter brings a different world to the pond. From mid January to mid
March you can venture out on the ice to go out and explore the snag
trees standing in the water. These dead trees provide excellent nest
sites for birds and you can explore some of these nests from the
previous season. You can also enjoy a snowshoe in full moonlight on
the pond and make a loop back to the Turkey Trot trail.
If
you decide to go off trail please respect other land owners and stay
away from the trailer park and gravel pit areas. If you haven't been
to the pond come and check it out!
Average equipment and
materials costs amount to over $3,500 per year.
How Many People Visit
the website?
April - Nov - 400+
Dec - Mar - 700+
What are the oldest trees on the Hill?
Several trees on the hill are near or over 200
years old. This includes 3 sugar maples and 1 white oak on Old Libby
Hill Road near the farm foundation. The oldest tree may be the rare
black gum tree on the ghost trail.
