DEM Director Andy McLeod will participate in the first day's Trek and will hike as much of the trail on subsequent Saturdays as his schedule allows. This will be a great hike. Starting at Blue Shutters Beach in Charlestown and working their way north, hikers on this year's Trek will cover between 11 and 15 miles per day as they hike through two state parks, seven state wildlife management areas, and nine towns. The Trek will end at the Massachusetts border, in the Buck Hill Management Area in Burrillville, on May 30. Equestrian and mountain bike rides along segments of the North South Trail are scheduled as well.
Hikers can join in for a day, or for the entire length of the state.
This year's Trek route will include the connecting trail between the Arcadia and Carolina Management Areas in Richmond completed by volunteers last fall, and a new portion of trail in the northern part of the George Washington Management Area recently created by volunteers, with guidance from DEM's Division of Forest Environment. People who go on the Trek often comment about the fun of discovering parts of the state they've never been through before. The Trek always has many veteran hikers, people who keep coming back every year for the exercise, the fresh air, the scenery and the camaraderie. And, new people join up each spring as well. Over 250 people participated in Trek hikes or equestrian rides in 1996, with an average of about 75 per day.