Alton native creates hiking patch to encourage people to explore nature

ALTON — Tara Lamper earned more than 20 hiking patches, first inspired by programs through Lakes Region Conservation Trust, before deciding to engage with the hobby in a different way.

Lamper completed her associate's degree from Lakes Region Community College this spring, focusing on graphic design. As an Alton native and hiking patch enthusiast, for her final project, Lamper thought, "why not make a patch for Alton?"

“It’s been in my head for a couple years, and I never really got to finishing it. I kept trying, and I never really got it,” she said. “It ended up going in a different direction than my original sketches, but using it as my capstone was really good incentive to finish it and get it out there.”

The circular patch features a view of Lake Winnipesaukee from the peak of Mount Major. Lamper worked with a company that produced scout patches to get a box of Alton Trail Chaser patches produced, which are waiting to be earned.

Lamper said she wants the patch to be a celebration of Alton, and encourage people to engage with local nature. There are 14 public trails around town, ranging in difficulty from the challenging Mount Major to a casual stroll through B&M Railroad Park.

She wants the challenge to be accessible and encourages people to hike within their ability. As such, she made it a choose-your-own-adventure style patch.

“Obviously Mount Major is on the list, they can go up any trail they want,” Lamper said. “One of the trickier hikes is Precipice Path, which is out in the Belknaps. There’s this really awesome waterfall — it’s somewhat seasonal though, so right now it’s probably not very good because of the drought. But the trail actually goes up the waterfall.

"If people have physical issues, I’m not going to make people climb up the waterfall, and then they have to go traverse this cliff rock, which is somewhat dangerous.

"Everyone has their own preferences and their own physical abilities.”

The main goal, she said, should be to reach a hike's destination, such as the waterfall itself on Precipice Path, or the pond at Track Swamp.

The trail and destination list includes B&M Rail Trail; Quannippi Trail; Trask Swamp; Levey Park; Knights Pond; Cotton-Hurd; Gilman Pond; Burke Trail; Pine Mountain; Blueberry Pasture Trail to Straightback Mountain; Anna Goat Trail; Precipice Path; Mount Major; and Steinwachs Trail to Quarry Mountain.

So far, along with Lamper and her cousin, 11 people and two pets have completed the challenge to earn the patch since it launched in June. Once somebody completes the challenge, they can mail or email Lamper a completed form — available on Lamper’s blog at dragonflyhikes.blogspot.com.

“It’s really fun to earn a hiking patch, because you’re getting out there and enjoying the hiking, but at the same time you have a goal,” Lamper said. “You discover trails that you didn’t know about necessarily. It keeps you motivated to get out there. Whether there’s a time limit or not, you’re like ‘Oh, I have to get a checkmark.’”

Other trail patches available around the Lakes Region include LRCT Castle in the Clouds Hiker Achievement, LRCT Explorer, Belknap Range through Belknap County Sportsmen’s Club, and Belknap Range Red Liner through Belknap Range Trail Tenders.

Hiking-patches.com lists 20 insignia from New Hampshire, such as Bear Brook Redliner, New Hampshire Fire Tower Challenge, and 52 With a View. Each patch has different requirements. For example, red liner patches are for completing all the trails within a specific hiking area.

For beginners, Lamper said it’s best to start small, learn what they can handle and study safety tips. The New Hampshire Hike Safe program through the Fish and Game Department offers a lot of resources, she said, and those with a Hike Safe card are not responsible for repaying costs if they need rescuing.

Lamper also recommended people know the weather conditions before heading out and invest in the proper shoes.

“Don’t go up Mount Major in flip-flops, its not safe.”