Andover residents will have a great chance to try out those cross-country skis, snowshoes, or sleds they received for the holidays next weekend — assuming some snow falls.
The annual Winter Fun Day is set for Sunday, Feb. 12 from noon to 3 p.m. The free event will take place with or without snow on the ground, and is held at the Ward Reservation, situated in Andover and North Andover. The event is meant to highlight the trails in the area. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, refreshments and a warming fire will be available.
Last year, 125 visitors turned out for the event. Many visitors had cross-country skis, snowshoes and sleds. But the winter of 2012 has been so different: snow-free,, with the thermometer hitting 50 degrees on some days.
"I keep waiting for a winter storm to move in, but that's not happening," said Chris Ward of the Trustees of Reservation.
Winter Fun day is hosted by the Trustees of Reservations and Ward Reservation Property Committee, in partnership with the Andover Trails Committee, and Friends of North Andover Trails.
Short to medium length guided hikes to different destinations on the reservation will leave periodically throughout the afternoon. Hike times include 12:30 p.m. guided hike to Boston Hill, 3 miles, 1 ¬ hours; 1 p.m., guided hike around Holt Hill and the bog, 1 mile, 30 minutes; 2 p.m. guided hike around Holt Hill and the bog, 1 mile, 30 minutes.
Parking is available at the reservation entrance on Prospect Road, east of Route 125, in Andover. People can follow signs to the nearby activities.
For more information, call the Trustees of Reservations at 978-682-3580, or email arollfs@ttor.org.
- Judy Wakefield
About the Charles W. Ward Reservation
A release from Adam Rollfs, property manager, offers this description of the area:
The Ward Reservation is an emerald quilt of fields, forests, and uplands, stitched together from more the 40 distinct parcels across two Merrimack Valley communities. Trails link three major hills (Shrub, Boston, and Holt) and, looking out from their summits, you can see how the property melds with the surrounding landscape. The "Solstice Stones" on Holt Hill assist in determining your sense of place. More important, some of the 14 miles of trails here are part of the Bay Circuit Trail, a regional greenway linking the North Shore and South Shore.
