Users of the Canalway Trail near Rome may have noticed some improvements this summer, thanks to the efforts of new trail adopters Brian Moore and Julia Taylor. PTNY recently had a chance to catch up with Brian to hear about his experience so far as a trail adopter.
Q: What led you to get involved in adopting the trail?
Being an environmentalist, I have grown to love nature and help out in any way possible. I volunteered at the Cycle the Erie Canal event over the summer through NY Parks & Trails and it was a great experience to be involved assisting the participants and cause. Also over the last few months I have volunteered doing clean-up projects for the Lake Placid Ironman 2018 and Adirondack Mountain Club. I thought it would be fun to take part in adopting a trail, being a leader cleaning up our Earth and making it look nice for the people to walk/bike etc. on it.
Q: Can you describe your section of trail a little bit? What about that section appeals to you?
My section of the trail is approximately a 3 mile stretch from Rome to Oriskany. I think what appeals to me the most about this trail is that it is located in the country area outskirts. It is very woodsy which I like as I enjoy spending a lot of my free time hiking and being out in nature.
Q: What have you done so far this year and what do you have planned for upcoming years?
So far this year my girlfriend and I have done several clean-ups on the trail. We’ve brought trash bags to pick up the garbage as well as recyclable materials. We plan on doing the same throughout the year and upcoming years. Anything we could do to assist in making improvements to the trail we would do.
Q: Was there one experience from this summer that sticks out in your mind? Something to share with other potential trail adopters?
The very first time we went out explore the trail was an interesting one for sure. It was about 85 degrees or so and the mosquitoes were out in full affect. There’s a section on the trail where a swamp is located which made things even worse. Luckily I had some bug spray in my car as we had to head back to get protected. So a piece of advice when on the trails in the spring and summer months, bring the bug spray!
Q: Do you have any final thoughts on being a trail adopter that you want to share?
“Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve…. You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love. ” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Canalway Trail Times 