Chester Challenge

Opportunities Close to Home

By Tom O’Grady

There is a saying that all public health begins at the local level. Additionally, one of the basic services of local public health agencies is in the provision of health education. For the past five months public health, science, and society at all levels have been wrapped up in addressing a separate basic public health service – communicable disease control. Covid-19 has demanded our attention in a fashion similar to Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs demanding our attention at a basic human level. Though not without due cause because infectious agents can demand our attention it is it is important for individuals to spend some of this time paying attention to their full physical, spiritual and social well-being, and not just the absence of illness. 

One of the cornerstones of maintaining and improving community health is the collaboration between local municipalities and non-profit hospitals to provide health education, community engagement and health interventions. Currently in the U.S. these types of collaborations occur in approximately 50% of municipalities. The Chester Challenge is an example of this type of collaboration and is a partnership between the Town of Chester and Glens Falls Hospital. The collaboration was formed out of a desire to promote physical activity as well as health and fitness in the greater Lake George area. 

Considerable thought went into the creation of the challenge and a community mapping project was chartered to identify suitable recreation areas. The process was a true collaboration as town officials sought opportunities for new areas of recreation and had to engage land owners and stakeholders to obtain trail access. In 2015, the end result of the Chester Challenge initiative was the creation, improvement, and maintenance of 11 trails at eight recreational areas in Chester that were located on a combination of private, municipal and state land. Individuals visiting and hiking along six of the 11 trails can log their hikes and be eligible to receive a special challenge specific pin and stickers for their efforts. Although none of the hikes are particularly challenging or taxing in their own right, the entire initiative is important and unique. 

The Chester Challenge was completed in 2015, prior to a dramatic cutting in public health funding at all levels. Each hike is designed to allow people of all abilities to enjoy the outdoors and beauty of nature while exercising. A beginner may see the trails as a pathway to a future lifetime of health and happiness, and a veteran may see the trails as a quick, easy way to maintain overall health and fitness. The location of each trail in the Exit 25 to Exit 27 area of the Northway gives people an introduction to the southern Adirondacks and many opportunities for beautiful views along each trip.

Chester Creek Trails – The trails along Chester Creek are a convergence of two trail networks that run behind the Chester Municipal Center. The center itself is an old school building. One trail entrance is located in a parking lot next to a basketball court. The trail runs for a little over a quarter-mile before converging with the second entrance along a row of solar panels. Along the trail leading from the basketball court there is fitness equipment for perform stretching and bodyweight exercises as desired. The fitness equipment was constructed as part of an Eagle Scout project. As the two trails converge, they cross Chester Creek along an old bridge. The current bridge is in need of repair and it’s difficult to cross without getting wet – boats are advised! On the other side of the bridge the trail passes along wetland area that is supposed to be great for bird watching in the spring while another section borders powerlines. 

Cougar Nature Trails – Much like Chester Creek, the Cougar Nature trails are a network of four trails that were constructed as interconnected loops, adjacent to the North Warren Central School. The nature trails owe their name to Cougar Hill on which they run along. This is a fun trail system that is suitable for a quick walk or a longer trail run or hike with ranging from 0.9-mile to 4.5 miles for the entire system. If a relaxing walk is the goal, there are beautiful views at the top of Cougar Hill and a picnic table available for enjoying a snack. The trails are well marked with several information areas. This is a true multiuse trail network as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing is encouraged in the winter. There are many different plant species along the trails. We came across a large patch of raspberries that was not quite ripe when we visited.

Dynamite Hill and Caroline Fish Memorial Trails – The combination covers 133 acres of land and offers 2.6 miles of multipurpose trails that are truly intended for four-season usage. In warmer months hiking, trail running, walking or mountain biking are enjoyable options, while cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are options in the winter. If you’re looking to spend the day in this area you can get your exercise in early before taking advantage of the seasonal picnic pavilion. While you are exploring take note of the lean-to that offers a nice place to rest and relax.

Green Hill and Catamount Trail – It’s important to note that this duo is both the most strenuous of the hikes on the challenge and also requires an admission fee at Natural Stone Bridge & Caves Park in Pottersville. The name is deceiving, as Green Hill is both the highest and longest hike on the challenge, and requires covering 4.6 miles and 1,263 feet of elevation gain. The difficulty of the trip is adequately rewarded with views of the Adirondack High Peaks. Catamount Trail is also a deceiving name as this mountain is a steep and strenuous 1.8-mile round-trip that requires a climb of close to 700 feet.

Kipp Mountain – The hike up Kipp Mountain is rewarding and offers visitors a lot for a relatively short round-trip distance of 1.9 miles and 500 feet of elevation gain. The trail itself is wide and well-maintained with a relatively even surface the entire way up. This is a great family hike but adults should be aware that the last tenth-of-a-mile has a steep drop off of the side and care should be taken. On a clear day the view from the top is stunning. While Lake George is blocked by mountains, Loon Lake is visible in the foreground and Prospect, Crane and Gore mountains are all clearly visible from 20 miles in the distance. 

Meade and Beckman Mountains – The round-trip circuit up the mountains is just under 2.0 miles and has over 600 feet of elevation gain. Starting from the parking lot, the first half-mile is quite steep before leveling off just before the summit of Meade. Although one of the more strenuous sections of the entire challenge, the exertion is well worth the effort once at the top. There is a small bench to sit and lookout over an open-faced rock overlook. Gore, Crane and Hadley mountains are clearly visible in the distance, in addition to several lessor known mountains that are identified with wooden reference sign. After the steep climb up Meade, the walk over to Beckman is relatively level with only a slight decline and incline over 0.2-mile. The view from the top of Beckman is as rewarding as the view from Meade. Immediately visible in the foreground are Kipp Mountain and Loon Lake, while Crane, Hadley and Prospect mountains dominate the southwest and Lake George area mountains dominate the eastern view. On the way down there’s an opportunity to stop at picnic table near an outcropping for one final view, so rest or snack if desired. 

Palmer Pond – This 31-acre recreation area is also a multiuse site that has a 1.5-mile trail leading to Palmer Pond. The elevation and grade are easy-to-moderate and DEC has created handicap accessible campsites. There are several spurs that allow added distance and addition views of water. The main attraction, Palmer Pond, is stocked with rainbow and brook trout so it’s a great place to take your children if you have a fishing license. 

Stewart Mountain – Stewart is an intermediate hike on the challenge and a great transition from the flatter trail adventures to the steeper hikes. Approximately 200-feet of elevation gain is covered over a gradual 0.8-mile round-trip through dense pine forest. Out of the thick tree coverage, the summit opens up to a nice lookout that provides a great view to the west across Loon Lake, with several homes visible along the shore. The most prominent mountain visible is Gore with its ski slopes, although both Crane and Prospect mountains are visible to the southwest.

It’s been less than five years since the inception of the Chester Challenge and it’s easy to see how the intended purpose was to promote health and fitness while providing hikers with a preview of what the Adirondacks have to offer. With the Challenge’s close proximity to the Capital Region, it’s easy to see how this public health intervention can take on a second life and meaning during the pandemic, offering individuals and families relatively easy opportunities to get outside and exercise.

Tom O’Grady, Ph.D., M.P.H. of Slingerlands is a public health professional and researcher who’s also a NASM certified personal trainer and a USATF Level 1 and VdotO2 certified run coach. For more info on training or coaching, email ogrady.strategies@gmail.com or visit ogradystrategies.com.