Dec. 20—An outdoor challenge will return to Otsego County.
Otsego Outdoors, a collaborative program of Otsego 2000, Otsego Land Trust, the Otsego County Conservation Association and the Butternut Valley Alliance, has announced the return of its Winter Octet challenge. The group has offered 15 seasonal Octet Challenges since February 2021.
“The Winter Octet Challenges are our most popular,” said Peg Odell, program and communications manager of Otsego 2000. “Some people love the snow and year-round recreation, for some, when cabin fever hits they are looking for something to do and get some exercise and fresh air. People tell us the Otsego Octet Challenges are a great motivator.”
According to a news release from Otsego 2000, Otsego Outdoors started the Otsego Octet Challenges to connect people with year-round opportunities to enjoy the outdoors in and near Otsego County. The Otsego Outdoors Winter Octet Challenge will run from Dec. 21 through March 19.
For the Winter Octet challenge, participants can choose eight of the 13 featured trails at state parks (Glimmerglass, Gilbert Lake, Robert V. Riddell, and Betty and Wilbur Davis), state forests (Arnold Lake, Goodyear Lake Waterway Access, Texas Schoolhouse), an Otsego Land Trust property (Parslow Road Conservation Area), a town park (Fortin Park), private property open to the public (Clark Tower Trail, the Silas Lane Loop, part of the Oneonta Susquehanna Greenway and the Wilber Lake Trail). Also included is the Rogers Environmental Education Center in Sherburne. There also is a “choose your own” option that includes any outdoors activity in Otsego County, including ice skating, winter biking, sledding, tubing, making a snowman or ice fishing, as well as hiking, snowshoeing or skiing on other trails.
After completing eight of the activities, participants will receive a special embroidered Winter Octet patch and a waterproof sticker.
People also can get credit toward the Otsego Outdoors Winter Octet Challenge by attending an outdoor event. There are First Day hikes at Glimmerglass State Park, Gilbert Lake State Park and the Rogers Center on Jan. 1. OCCA has multiple upcoming events, and the Susquehanna Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club leads a hike every Tuesday morning. For information on those and other events, see otsegooutdoors.org.
To participate in the Otsego Outdoors Winter Octet, go to www.otsegooutdoors.org for more information on the featured trails and a registration form. Anyone with questions about the program or suggestions for other trails to include in future challenges can call 607-547-8881 or email outdoors@otsego2000.org.