FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 2, 2005

LRCT OPENS SNOWMOBILE TRAILS ON RED HILL
AND THE CASTLE IN THE CLOUDS

Meredith, NH.- Snowmobile trails on Red Hill and the popular corridor trail at the Castle in the Clouds, both protected properties of the Lakes Region Conservation Trust, will now be opened to use by the public. The basis for the opening of the trail is an agreement between the Trust and the New Hampshire State Department of Resources and Economic Development. The details of the document had been agreed to in principle late last year; implementation was delayed until the Trust had secured notice of sufficient liability coverage. This occurred on February 1.

"We are glad to see this issue resolved in a manner that meets the Trust's responsibilities as a private landowner and provides for access to these snowmobile trails," stated LRCT President Tom Curren. "The matter of resolving insurance issue took a great deal longer to resolve than we expected or would have wished, but with that issue behind us, we look forward to the implementation of the agreement we reached with DRED last year. I want to thank the Commissioner of DRED, Sean O'Kane, his staff, and the snowmobiling public for their patience and understanding in this regard. The Trust has always enjoyed good relations with local snowmobile clubs, and we look forward to continued cooperation in the future."

The trails on Red Hill have been maintained by the Moultonborough Snowmobile Club since the Trust first provided access to them in 1996. The Castle trails now open include a slightly rerouted corridor 15 trail that begins in West Ossipee, and runs down to a gated trail and parking lot provided by the Trust on Route 171. Side trails are also open to the summit of Mt. Shaw and to a link with trails leading to Moultonborough. A map of these trails will be posted at the parking lot kiosk, and the trails themselves are clearly marked and fenced.