Carson Valley Trails Association auction April 22

More than 100 silent and live auction packages have been donated by local businesses and individuals for the Carson Valley Trails Association's silent and live auction, 5-8 p.m. Thursday, at the Genoa Town Hall. The auction is free and no tickets or reservations are required.

Thursday is the first day of CVTA's Hike for Health Trails Challenge, a month-long event of weekly guided hikes, walks and trail adventures for registered participants.

Among the auction packages are a week-long vacation at a historic Chesapeake Bay farm, golf at Edgewood Tahoe and Genoa Lakes Golf Courses, Lake Tahoe sailboat cruises, a 2011 Kirkwood season ski pass, Reno Aces tickets and gift baskets of certificates provided by area restaurants, businesses and individuals.

"We appreciate the generous support of the businesses and individuals who have donated items for this year's auction," said CVTA president Kerstin Wolle. "We hope a lot of people will join us on April 22 and have fun bidding on the auction items. They can also sign up for the Trails Challenge and learn more about the Genoa Foothill Trail System project that this fundraiser will support. The Genoa Foothill Trail will be something for everyone in our community to enjoy for years to come."

The Genoa Foothills Trail System project is funded by a Question 1 grant from the Nevada Division of State Lands. The 22-mile Genoa Foothill Trail will be located in the foothills of the Carson Range west of the Town of Genoa and to the north and south from Adams Canyon to the Kingsbury Grade. CVTA has paid for all of the environmental studies for the project, which were initiated in 2009 and will continue this year. Funds raised by the 2010 Hike for Health fundraiser will be used to pay for trail construction, expected to begin in 2011.

The 2010 Hike for Health events have been funded by donations from GE Energy and Clif Bar & Company. Information about the auction, the Trails Challenge or the Genoa Foothill Trail System project at www.carsonvalleytrails.org

The Carson Valley Trails Association is a nonprofit, volunteer based organization working with partners to provide access to public lands through a recreational trail system for present and future generations to enjoy.