August 16, 2011 (Jackson, NH) – As many of you know from skiing the Ellis River Trail last winter, a landslide, caused by river erosion, occurred at the halfway point of the trail. With the U. S. Forest Service’s permission, we were able to provide a temporary way past the slump. The slump has continued to collapse and is now completely unstable. The dangerous section is about 100 feet long. We have been working on a plan for the past 9 months to do a re-route around the landslide. The planning is complete. You can see the plan on the web HERE.

Landslide on Ellis River Trail at end of winter. © Jackson Ski Touring Foundation

Fundraising for the work has gone well, but due to the increased extent of the reroute and corresponding increase in costs, we are still short on the money necessary to repair the trail. There have been many generous donations. We still need a little more than $10,000 to complete the re-route. The total expense is about $78,000. To date, we have received $65,000 from donations for the total project. I am asking those who love the Ellis River Trail to help us with the balance.

At this time the trail re-route requires building 1.8 km of new trail to go around the 30 meters of damage. The route has been located; the science has been done; the decision notice has been signed by the Forest Supervisor, the permits have been acquired and a contractor has been engaged. Work begins Thursday. While working to construct the re-route we will also upgrade the Ellis River Trail drainage and surface on the northbound loop just past the Warming Cabin. This previously planned work is already paid for by a generous donation of $25,000.

Here is a message from JSTF season pass holder Toby Savage that I will pass along to you:

“I had the pleasure on this warm sunny spring day to walk the route of the new part of the Ellis River Trail with Thom. This will bypass the part of the trail that suffered the landslide and has become unstable. It was far different than I had imagined and is going to be spectacular. We walked it from north to south .Gentle climbs to an incredible view area, with lovely sweeping turns down thru a glade area to rejoin the original Ellis.

It was so nice it had me thinking snow !… this is going to be a project that every JXN xc fan should get behind….. you will be amazed. It is fabulous….but it is going to cost a boat load of dollars, so dig into your piggy banks and throw a little cash to JSTF to help….this is one of the best XC trails around… so dig deep.”

All donations to the Foundation are tax deductible (ID# 02-0305906). You can send a check payable to JSTF, P.O. Box 216, Jackson, NH 03846 or go online to make a donation with a credit card.

Thank you so much,

Thom Perkins
Executive Director
Jackson Ski Touring Foundation

p.s. This is such a well loved trail; I hope that you can help us put it back together.