Carroll County Independent, Wednesday, August 30, 1995

Wonalancet Club member is NH Volunteer of the Year

Wonalancet -- Peter Smart of Chocorua, trails chairman of the Wonalancet Out Door Club, has been selected as New Hampshire's "Volunteer of the Year" in recognition of his role in clearing and maintaining hiking trails.

The award was given to Smart Sunday at the annual meeting of the Club.  It is sponsored nationally by the Quabaug Corporation; one award is given to a volunteer in each state.

Smart was cited for his outstanding work in 1994.  He coordinated cooperative work on trails in the Sandwich Range with other organizations including Trailwrights, the Chocorua Mountain Club, Tin Mountain Conservation Center, Wonalancet AMC Cabin, the US Forest Service and the Over-The-Hill hiking group.  Working together with the Wonalancet Out Door Club volunteers, such groups racked up 2137 hours of club trails in 1994, up from 1188 hours in 1993.

Smart and other trails committee members also helped with construction of the Bearcamp River Trail in Sandwich and Tamworth, and maintenance of several US Forest Service trails including Downes Brook and Flat Mountain Pond trails in Sandwich, Waterville and Albany.

The Wonalancet club maintains over 50 miles of White Mountain National Forest trails and three shelters as well: Camp Shehadi and Camp Heermance on Mt. Whiteface and Camp Rich on Passaconaway.  The original Camp Shehadi was built by the club in 1899, 15 years before the National Forest was created.

Smart served as acting club trails chairman in 1992 and was elected chairman in all subsequent years.  During his period in office, there has been an increased awareness of trail issues among club members and an encouraging growth in the number of members and nonmembers participating in trail stewardship.  Smart can give additional information at 323-8666.

Smart is owner-operator of Applied Microcomputer Systems, a company that produces and distributes computer software for use of civil engineers in designing and building storm water systems for towns, cities, and commercial businesses.

Quabaug Corp, is a charter sponsor of National Trails Day.  Among its products are Vibram soles on footwear manufactured by major companies in the United States and wherever outdoor apparel is produced.