Join the Squam Lakes Association (SLA) for a morning hike around the Five Finger Point loop on Squam Lake. Participants will join Lakes Region Conservation Corps (LRCC) AmeriCorps member, Kyle Salmons, and learn how to identify New Hampshire trees during the winter. The group will enjoy the natural beauty of the shores of Squam Lake and debrief at the trailhead, with a new appreciation for the lake during the winter.
While tree identification is an added bonus to the normal guided hike, it still grants a deeper understanding of the forested landscape in and around the Lakes Region. During the summer trees can be easily identified by their leaves, but this becomes more difficult in the winter. Tree identification is an important skill no matter the season, and if you can identify trees during the winter, it becomes that much easier to identify them when they have their leaves.
When returning to the trailhead, participants will have learned to identify the common trees seen in the area by their bark and have gained a greater appreciation for the diversity of the trees in the forest. The hike is a 3 mile loop and conditions will be cold, so appropriate attire is necessary. The SLA can provide up to six pairs of snowshoes in the event a participant does not have their own. As trail conditions tend to be icy in the winter, spikes are also recommended but not supplied. The program is designed for anyone with the ability to hike in the winter time. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
