Follow the Blazes

Ridgefield open space has nearly 60 miles of trails ranging from the simple to the extremely challenging. They require constant maintenance and care. Commissioner Jim Liptack is an expert in blazing, building, and maintaining trail systems not just in Ridgefield but in surrounding areas. Jim will explain the ins and outs of how to build a trail and do it in harmony with the existing topography. 

Jim has been actively working with the Appalachian Mountain Club, as trail crew since 1978 and trail section manager since 1984. He has been a trail maintainer for the Connecticut Forest and Parks Association since 1984. For the last ten years, he has also been the overseer of trails for the Connecticut Appalachian Mountain Club, scheduling and overseeing all maintenance and construction on the trails.

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