325 Acres for White Mountain Ntl. Forest (NH)

BARTLETT, New Hampshire, 6/3/02: The White Mountain National Forest, the Trust for Public Land, and the Appalachian Mountain Club announced the addition of 325 acres in Bartlett to the National Forest today. The land is located off of West Side Road, along the access road to Echo Lake-Cathedral Ledge State Park. Known as the Lucy Brook property, it is entirely surrounded by the National Forest and the Echo Lake-Cathedral Ledge State Park and includes portions of two popular hiking trails. Thanks to the leadership of New Hampshire’s congressional delegation, especially Senator Judd Gregg and Representatives Charlie Bass, Congress appropriated $360,000 from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund for the purchase.

U.S. Senator Judd Gregg, a member of the Senate Appropriations Interior Subcommittee, stated, “The White Mountain National Forest is the defining element of New Hampshire’s awe-inspiring living landscape, providing diverse economic, recreational and natural resource benefits for New Hampshire residents and visitors to the Granite State. I applaud the leadership of the White Mountain Trailhead Partnership and the success of the 325-acre Lucy Brook project in Bartlett and was pleased to be in a position on the Senate Interior Appropriations Committee to direct LWCF funding to protect the WMNF trail system for the benefit of future generations.”

U.S. Senator Bob Smith stated, “This cooperative effort between public and private sectors, along with local residents, is a model of how conservation can be a win-win for all involved. I congratulate the Trust for Public Land for putting together this partnership that will preserve New Hampshire’s natural beauty for all to enjoy.”

“The Lucy Brook property is one of the natural resources that make New Hampshire special,” said Bass. “I am pleased to have played a small part in the effort to preserve this property for public use by helping to secure the federal funding needed to add this area to the National Forest.” T

he White Mountain National Forest’s acting forest supervisor, Mary Stoll, is delighted with the collaborative effort and the leadership of the congressional delegation. “It’s partnerships like these that are so rewarding to people who use and enjoy the National Forest. We deeply appreciate Senator Gregg’s strong and continuing support,” she said.

“This project is part of our long-term commitment to protecting important trails within the White Mountain National Forest,” said Rodger Krussman, project manager for the Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit conservation organization. “The Trust for Public Land has been working for nearly three years to add the Lucy Brook property to the National Forest because it includes portions of two well-used hiking trails and lies adjacent to Diana’s Baths. We are grateful to New Hampshire’s congressional delegation for their commitment to this project and to the Lucy Family, long-time supporters of conservation in New Hampshire, for providing the opportunity to purchase this land and protect it permanently.”

“Those who have hiked or skied to Diana’s Baths know it as one of the most beautiful spots in the White Mountains,” said Walter Graff, deputy director of the Appalachian Mountain Club. “Thanks to the vision of the Lucy family and the efforts of New Hampshire’s Congressional delegation, particularly Senator Gregg and Congressman Bass, this project adds a signature property to the White Mountain National Forest while protecting popular hiking trails and ensuring public access for generations to come.”

The 325-acre Lucy Brook property includes portions of both the Moat Mountain and Red Ridge Trails. Both trails are extremely popular and are often combined to form a loop hike over the summit of North Moat Mountain. In summer, Diana’s Baths—a swimming spot located next to the property—is a popular destination for hikers. The Lucy Brook parcel also contains the western portion of Cathedral Ledge, a well-known rock-climbing site. Peregrine falcons are known to nest on the ledge in adjacent Cathedral Ledge State Park.

The Trust for Public Land, Appalachian Mountain Club, and White Mountain National Forest recently inventoried trails within the National Forest, and found that 22 percent originate on or cross private land. Over the past 15 years, land sales and development have forced the abandonment of seven trails and the relocations of at least 15 others. With support from the Martin Foundation and National Forest Foundation, the three organizations have launched the White Mountain Trailhead Partnership, with the goal of protecting as many of the National Forest’s trails as possible.

The Trust for Public Land is a national conservation organization dedicated to conserving land for people to enjoy as parks and open space. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 1.4 million acres nationwide, including nearly 30,000 acres in New Hampshire. To learn more, visit www.tpl.org.

Founded in 1876, the non-profit Appalachian Mountain Club is the most experienced conservation and recreation organization in the United States. Its 93,000 members promote the protection, enjoyment, and wise use of the mountains, rivers and trails of the Appalachian region. For more information, visit www.outdoors.org.