NewsAthleticsUpper SchoolStudent LifeService
Fervent Coaches Forge Trails; Improve Campus
Dec 1, 2000 8:00 AM
By Stefan Eady - Faculty
One of Darlington’s unique qualities is the School’s setting -traditional, brick, gothic buildings nestled in the midst of a mountainous backdrop of woods and trails. It seems as if Silver Lake was an artist’s brushstroke added to the heart of this picturesque scene for a splash of texture.
“Not many schools have such a great natural and athletic resource,” said Ken Wempe, cross country assistant coach. In order to preserve the campus trails and increase their usefulness, Wempe and assistant coach Tom Sorci have repaired, widened, and improved several trails throughout Darlington’s wooded acreage. “Essentially, the Ridge Trail was one long dead end; runners had to turn around to come back. We thought, with all of Darlington's wooded acreage, that we should try to connect the Ridge Trail with another so that we can get the most out of all the trails,” Wempe explained. “Thus, the new half- mile Kudzu Trail, which connects the "Main Trail" with the Ridge Trail.” To accomplish this engineering feat, the Kudzu Trail was equipped with five new bridges.
Last summer, Sorci and Wempe surveyed the hilly terrain, marked trees with surveyor's tape to give a general outline to the trail, then, cut a small portion of the trail. This October, they completed the cutting and connected the trails. "It was like the meeting at Promontory Point, Utah when we finally joined the two trails," Sorci explained.
Improvements have been made to other trails as well. The Cafeteria Trail, so named because it is behind Dodd Banquet Room, has new wood chips, a bridge and has been widened. Big Daddy, the steep trail behind the Middle School, has been pruned and is currently being used by the Swim team three days per week. Most of the trails have been marked by signs and are clearly recognizable.
“Not many schools have such a great natural and athletic resource,” said Ken Wempe, cross country assistant coach. In order to preserve the campus trails and increase their usefulness, Wempe and assistant coach Tom Sorci have repaired, widened, and improved several trails throughout Darlington’s wooded acreage. “Essentially, the Ridge Trail was one long dead end; runners had to turn around to come back. We thought, with all of Darlington's wooded acreage, that we should try to connect the Ridge Trail with another so that we can get the most out of all the trails,” Wempe explained. “Thus, the new half- mile Kudzu Trail, which connects the "Main Trail" with the Ridge Trail.” To accomplish this engineering feat, the Kudzu Trail was equipped with five new bridges.
Last summer, Sorci and Wempe surveyed the hilly terrain, marked trees with surveyor's tape to give a general outline to the trail, then, cut a small portion of the trail. This October, they completed the cutting and connected the trails. "It was like the meeting at Promontory Point, Utah when we finally joined the two trails," Sorci explained.
Improvements have been made to other trails as well. The Cafeteria Trail, so named because it is behind Dodd Banquet Room, has new wood chips, a bridge and has been widened. Big Daddy, the steep trail behind the Middle School, has been pruned and is currently being used by the Swim team three days per week. Most of the trails have been marked by signs and are clearly recognizable.
