Profiles in Trails
Bela
If you find yourself walking on a Norwich trail past a tree that’s been cleared from out of the way, a path with the brush trimmed back or even skied on a groomed surface, Bela knows whom we should thank: his human companion, who’s a regular participant with volunteer trail maintenance and construction crews in Norwich. If you come across Bela and his companion, Bela would be glad to receive your thanks on his behalf!
George Clark
George began occasional work on Norwich trails with the Norwich Trails Committee, and particularly Nick Krembs, as early as the mid 1990s. By the end of the ’90s, he had become a regular participant in trail work together with several other members of the Norwich Conservation Commission. Following seven years serving as secretary for the Norwich Conservation Commission, he continued to record the minutes of meetings over a number of years for both the Trails Committee and the group which became the Milton Frye Nature Area Committee.
George has been a trail walker for as long as he can recall, since his childhood. In his youth, he became enthusiastic about birds, another lifelong interest which merged with that of hiking. A wish to have well maintained trails in Norwich and the pleasure of working along with other like-minded individuals led to his helping in Norwich trail work for numerous years.
Highlights of new developments in Norwich trails during George’s years with the Trails Committee have included the creation of the Parcel 5 trails and the Blue Ribbon Trail, opening of the Cossingham Road Farm trails, and construction of the new bridge on Brown Schoolhouse Road at the Charles Brown Brook crossing.
Jim Faughnan
Norwich has a lot of running and standing water along its many trails, especially the Ballard Trail. Consequently, Norwich trails have bridges spanning streams and bog bridges, supported on piers, spanning marshy areas. These were all portered to the site and assembled by volunteers. Behind all this effort stands Jim Faughnan, who planned the execution of many of these projects, measuring the gaps to be spanned, calculating the lumber to be purchased, ordering it and pre-cutting it, ready for portering and assembly. In addition to his home shop, Jim has an impressive array of tools for use in the field that contribute to the rapid demolition of decayed structures and the rapid construction of new ones. On site, he provides instructive guidance to volunteers, as they go about accomplishing the work. Jim’s efforts, off site and on, contribute to everyone’s sense of accomplishment when the job is done.
Jim has designed and constructed the most recent kiosks, appearing at Norwich trailheads. He is also the steady hand behind making trail signs for our trail system.
Bob Fisken
Bob has an extensive array of tools and skills to go with them that he applies to keeping Norwich’s trails in good shape, in all seasons. His chainsaw cuts through windfalls, his brush cutter keeps the weeds at bay, he may be found digging a drainage ditch, or at times, on a snow machine, grooming a trail. He and his dog, Bela, are regular participants in Norwich Trails volunteer work days.
Steve Flanders
Steve, as a retiree from the US Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory and a former selectboard member, brought his government experience to complement the considerable contributions of those already maintaining Norwich’s trails. During his 30-year career, Steve was an avid hiker and cross-country skier. Upon his retirement, he joined a group of retired hiking enthusiasts in their 70s and beyond, which led to his hiking many venues in New England.
Steve applied his work skills to writing grant proposals, helping publicize the ballot initiative to replace the Brown Schoolhouse Bridge, and publicizing the work of the Norwich Trails volunteers in their monthly summer work sessions through the Norwich Trails website. He has been glad to see the trails volunteers finish installing needed bridges, signs and kiosks to make the town’s trail system more accessible and enjoyable to our neighbors and visitors.
Peter Griggs
Peter enjoys a good challenge in trail building. Norwich’s landscape has yet to put a rock in his path that he couldn’t lever into place for good effect, whether it be installing steps on a steep hillside or creating stepping stones over a stream crossing.
Peter’s roots in Norwich are so deep that there’s a mountain named after his forebears. As a long-time member of the Norwich Fire Department, he has attended to many and varied community emergencies. His expertise has grown to where he is an instructor for firefighters, statewide.
Elisabeth Hammer
Elisabeth was drawn to join the Norwich trails community in 2021 through her love of hiking, the mountains, the outdoors, and community. She loves the bounty, beauty, and variety of trails in the Norwich and the Upper Valley. In 2023, she readily accepted an invitation to become a trail adopter on a segment of the Appalachian Trail, to keep it in prime condition for both Norwich residents and those coming on foot from afar.
Elisabeth has acquired a repertory of hiking loops, throughout Norwich, which she incorporates into her almost daily routine in all seasons, adapted to the weather. Many of her hikes culminate with a view. Her wanderings have brought useful suggestions for projects that the Norwich Tails volunteers have implemented.
She encourages others to use the maps and other resources on the Norwich Trails website to explore and enjoy the many wonders to be found in the wilds of Norwich.
Doug Hardy
When notice comes to the Norwich Trails volunteers through norwichtrails@gmail.com of a downed tree or other trail problems, it’s likely to be Doug, who gets the word out to responders.
Doug has lived in the Upper Valley for about three decades. He works from Norwich for the University of Massachusetts Amherst, conducting research on high-elevation glaciers and climate. He is an avid trail runner and Nordic skier. Locally, he devotes his time to clearing and grooming trails for others to enjoy.
Nick Krembs
The Norwich Trails volunteers look to Nick for leadership in organizing regular meetings to identify work to be accomplished and on the ground to guide work crews on projects identified by the volunteers. His leadership of volunteers has led to many improvements to the Norwich trails system, some involving other volunteer groups.
Nick enjoys the outdoors in Norwich and beyond in all seasons, whether leading a local group on Norwich Trails, canoeing in the wilderness, or winter camping in the Green Mountains.
His volunteer efforts extend to cultivating food for underserved people in the Upper Valley and helping provide shelter and justice to people making a new beginning in our country.
John McCormick
John was enjoying the Norwich trails network for three decades before joining the cadre of trails volunteers in 2018. He’s found fulfillment in learning the skills needed to sustain the trails amenities that he has long enjoyed and has become a pro at clearing trenches for seasonal water courses. He has access out his back door to his favorite trails, which include the Ballard Trail, Parcel 5 and loops that incorporate the Appalachian Trail corridor. He encourages other trail users to experience the camaraderie and satisfaction of accomplishment that come from joining the monthly volunteer work sessions.
Gerry Plummer
Gerry is an all-season denizen of Norwich Trails and has explored just about every corner of town, whether served by a trail or not. As a volunteer, he often applies his energy, expertise and extensive tool selection to trail building and maintenance projects.
His technical background has inspired him to institute this Norwich Trails website and to evolve its mapping capabilities.
Cathie Redpath
Cathie has long been an all-seasons powerhouse both in enjoyment of the trails of Norwich and beyond and in her contributions to keeping Norwich’s trails in good shape. She recently retired from being an adopter of a major segment of the Appalachian Trail, after three decades of volunteering on trail work. She continues to love the physical work and the camaraderie of working with the crew on each project. A memorable project for her was creating the Blue Ribbon Trail, which connected Gile Mountain to Norwich’s core trails—she engaged with participating landowners and helped blaze the trail, once established.
She recommends Parcel 5 for the ups and downs it provides to those walking, biking skiing, and snowshoeing. She recommends the Ballard Trail for its beauty and solitude that anyone can enjoy.
In the meantime, she encourages newer and younger trail users to join in the fun of maintaining what they enjoy—in the company of like-minded volunteers.
The Norwich Trails Committee
The Norwich Trails Committee is a subcommittee of the Norwich Conservation Commission. It provides a bridge between the Norwich Trails volunteers and town government with regard to trails on town-owned and managed land and budgetary needs for projects on those lands. It also coordinates funds for grants from other sources, expended on trails. Its members, as of 2023 were David Hubbard, Craig Layne and Cody Williams, each of whom have also volunteered to perform trail work. It schedules monthly, warned meetings for the first Wednesday of each month from April through December, whose agendas and minutes are warned and posted.
Norwich Trails 