The “Frostbite Challenge” aims to get kids & families outside in the winter… walking, snowshoeing or skiing. It will run for 3 months, from January 1st to the end of March.
Vischer Ferry General Store will once, again, be partnering with ECOS this winter. And we’ve added a second challenge location this year, with Arthur’s Market in the Stockade District offering the treat upon completion!
Challenge 1:
ECOS challenges kids and families to complete four miles along the Towpath Trail beside the Mohawk River, from the Whipple Bridge Entrance to the Lock 7 overlook. Both ends have small parking areas. There’s an additional parking lot midway, at the end of Ferry Drive. It can be done in either direction, on one day, or in sections on different days.
Vischer Ferry General Store (357 Riverview Rd Rexford, NY) will offer a free cookie to kids under 14 years of age who complete the four-mile walk.
Send an email to celikECOS@gmail.com to let ECOS know that you are undertaking the challenge.
After completing the four miles, the family may go to Vischer Ferry General Store and tell them that the child has completed the four miles! Vischer Ferry will jot down the child’s name and age, email it to ECOS, and give the child a Cookie. They might even like to see photos of the walk, as well.
To document completion, the child (or parent) should email two digital photos of themselves on the path, one near each end of the walk, with their name and age to: celikECOS@gmail.com . If parents give permission to publish the names and/or photos of the winners on the ECOS website, Facebook page or newsletter, please state so with the photos.
For the Whipple Bridge entrance: A small parking pull-off area is available directly across from the intersection of Riverview Road and VanVranken Road.
For the Lock 7 overlook entrance: A parking area can be found by going down the hill toward the Mohawk at the intersection of Riverview and Sugar Hill roads. A blue sign, “Vischer Ferry Power Plant” leads to the parking lot from Riverview Road.
Note: The Vischer Ferry Parking Lot at the end of Ferry Drive makes a good midpoint location along the trail for parking and walking the trail in sections. This central parking lot is near Vischer Ferry General Store.
Trail Map link: https://www.google.com/maps/d/ u/0/viewer?mid=1eWQSDsaEz4cc2ZKxHDU22AxmXhga3oeZ&ll=42.80279888164603%2C-73.78720474999997&z=13
Challenge 2:
ECOS challenges kids and families to complete about 3 miles along the Mohawk Hudson BikewayTrail from the Lock 8 Park to Gateway Landing Park near the Western Gateway Bridge. Both ends have small parking areas. It can be done in either direction, on one day, or in sections on different days.
Arthur’s Market (35 N Ferry St, Schenectady) will offer a free cookie to kids under 14 years of age who complete the three-mile walk.
Send an email to celikECOS@gmail.com to let ECOS know that you are undertaking the challenge.
After completing the three miles, the family may go to Arthur’s Market and tell them that the child has completed the three miles! Arthur’s Market will jot down the child’s name and age, email it to ECOS, and give the child a Cookie. They might even like to see photos of the walk, as well.
To document completion, the child (or parent) should email two digital photos of themselves on the path, one near each end of the walk, with their name and age to: celikECOS@gmail.com . If parents give permission to publish the names and/or photos of the winners on the ECOS website, Facebook page or newsletter, please state so with the photos.
The Lock 8 entrance is located at 106 Rice Road, Schenectady. From I-890 Westbound: Take I-890 to Exit 2B (Rice Road). Take a right onto Rice Road and Lock 8 Park will be 1.3 miles ahead on your right.
Gateway Landing Park:from State Street in Schenectady take the exit ramp on the right as you approach the Western Gateway Bridge. Look for the Rotary International sign on the right. From Scotia take the first exit ramp on the right to Schenectady County Community College and keep turning right under the approach to the Western Gateway Bridge. Gateway Landing Park will be on the left.