Photos on Google Earth

I would love to see more people post photos of the Pumpkinvine on Google Earth.  I have three posted, one between SR 4 and CR 28, and two between CR 35 and CR 31.  Check it out.

Searches for the Pumpkinvine

Google has a tool called Adwords that you can pinpoint the number of searches for specific phrases.  I put "Pumpkinvine Trail" into their search bar and it showed that in a 12 month period the average monthly search for that exact phrase was 210 times per month!  I was excited for you guys to see how much interest the trail has in the digital world. 

-Spencer Short 

Cross-country skiing and the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail

The best places to cross-country ski in this area are Ox Bow and Bonneyville Mill Parks where the trails are groomed. None of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail is groomed. 

In addition, skiing on trails with an asphalt surface like the Pumpkinvine has the potential to damage the surface from the ski poles. Consequently the only recommended place to cross-country ski on the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail is the limestone section of the trail from State Road 4 to County Road 28 north east of Goshen.

Note:  You can rent cross-country skis at the Goshen Park Dept., 607 Plymouth Ave., Goshen. Phone: (574) 534-2901.

Pumpkinvine section	When there is snow
Goshen Park and Recreation	·         The city plows the Pumpkinvine one plow-width wide from State Road 4 to County Road 28 (the limestone section) and from State Road 4 to the water plant on 5th Street. That leaves the other half of the trail open for cross country skiing. ·         The unplowed portion of the trail is not groomed. ·         Plowing the trail is a low priority.
Middlebury	·         The town plows half the width of the Pumpkinvine from York St. to Wayne St. ·         The trail is not groomed.
Elkhart County Parks	·         Elkhart County Parks plows the Pumpkinvine from County Road 28 to County Road 33. ·         They also plow the Pumpkinvine from the Middlebury DQ to County Road 1150W. ·         The trail is not groomed. ·         Plowing the trail is a low priority.
Shipshewana	·         Shipshewana does not plow the trail from County Road 850W to 1150W. ·         The trail is not groomed.

Annual dinner grand door prize

The grand door prize at the annual dinner April 26 is a Specialized Live 1, one-speed light-duty utility bike offering classic urban style and functionality to carry groceries, a laptop, art supplies, or anything that suits your mood donated by Pumpkinvine Cyclery in Middlebury. 

Twitter update

This blog now has a Twitter update gaget on the right side of the screen.  I've made a Twitter post every day since Jan. 20.  Not many followers at this point. We'll see what happens when we announce it in the next newsletter.

There is a story in the Goshen News today about the donation of 2.04 acres in Middlebury from Jerry and Marie Corliss to the Friends of Middlebury Parks. This land is behind the Chalet Party Shop and adjacent to the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail and Krider World's Fair Garden park. At this time, there is no decision on how the land will be used, but it will at the very least increase the park land adjacent to the Pumpkinvine -- a great gift to the Middlebury community and the trail. Does anyone have a picture of this area?

A Friends of the Pumpkinvine twitter account

Friends o Pumpkinvine Nature Trail have had a Twitter account for some time: @fopnt. We have not publicized it because we weren't sure how useful it would be. What would we tweet about? We'd be interested to know if our blog and Facebook fans thinks it would be useful and, if so, how it would be useful. We can think of one use, i.e., posting useful links, but that works on Facebook, too. Give us your feedback on the value of Twitter for trail advocates.


One use I did think of is posting notes about trail conditions. For example, it's too wet or there is a tree down at mile 2 or look for the Trillium wildflowers between CR 33 and the open field to the west.