Battling bugs, heat, rain, and rocky terrain, five young women are building a trail loop at Pinnacle Park this week. Currently an up-and-back trail to the summit (with a scenic overlook loop), the Pinnacle trails will now include a loop on the southeast side of the peak back to the parking lot.
This group of trail blazers from the Student Conservation Association (SCA) is the second crew that the Hooksett Conservation Commission (HCC) has contracted with in two years. In 2019, another SCA crew built a quarter-mile trail loop at the Clay Pond Headwaters Conservation Area. Conservation Coordinator Zach Colatch has been overseeing the Pinnacle project for SCA.
“The SCA works with AmeriCorps to place young adults in environmental conservation projects throughout the state,” said Cindy Robertson, HCC chair. “The SCA provides training and oversight, and the work is a great benefit to the town in terms of cost.”
If time allows, this group plans to move over to the Hooksett Riverwalk Trail for additional trail work along the river and removal of some of the invasive bittersweet on the property.
“They do great work using mostly hand tools,” said Robertson. “It is very low impact to the environment overall.”
Bear-Paw Regional Greenways, the easement holder at Pinnacle Park, is providing support for this project by helping to lay out trails and identify areas that need to be closed off, such as areas leading to private property or unsafe areas due to washout or erosion.
Bear-Paw is also providing new trail signage thanks to Rue Teel, Stewardship Coordinator. Evidently signs were placed on the property without permission from the HCC. Those signs have been removed (sorry whoever you are!)
“Sometimes people don’t realize the trails are managed by the town and governed by conservation easements,” said Robertson. “It’s a good reminder that people can contact the Conservation Commission if they have suggestions for trails or conservation property. We invite public input at every monthly meeting.”
Pinnacle Park is located off Pinnacle St., one block off of Route 3A.
–JoCarol Woodburn
HOOKSETT CONSERVATION COMMISSION 