Trail Crew

Last week, many hands made light work of clearing the area at 101 Russell Road in order to provide off-road parking.  This week we are returning to continue clearing roots, moving heavy boulders, transplanting, and refining the area to prepare it for surfacing.  For this, useful tools will be a small chainsaw, root digging tools, a shovel, a rake, leaf blowers, rock bars, and a sledgehammer.  This group meets at 101 Russell Road at 9 AM. We also need 3-4 people to work with Bob Harrison clearing the trails at Van Epps in preparation for the monthly hike on April 12.  For that leaf blowers, loppers and rakes would be useful.  You have your choice of which project you would prefer to work on, but please let me know so that we can ensure both projects have volunteers.  This group meets at 390 Beacon Road at 9 AM.

Last week we made more progress on a trail through Simpson Preserve, providing a direct connection from the Woodward Trail.  We put in stone steps through a unique area of large stone slabs which create a small enclosure (see photo), continued cutting in the trail and began blazing.  This week, weather permitting we will continue on the same route. Useful tools will be a chainsaw (Joe), loppers, weed whackers, rakes, leaf blowers and shovels for removing invasives.  We will meet Wednesday at 9 at the end of Northrup Road, however currently there is a 50% chance of rain, so we may have to cancel.  We usually make that decision around 8 AM and let everyone we think might be coming know by text.

Last week we made a lot of progress on the new streamside trail at Simpson Preserve, cutting in a long leg of it and establishing a stone crossing.  This week we are going to continue there.  Useful tools will be a chain saw, rock moving equipment for a 2nd stone crossing, leaf blower, loppers, hazel hoe etc. We will meet Wednesday at 9 AM in the Veterans Park parking lot. Hope to see you then!

Last week a huge crew began tackling the new Simpson Preserve.  Invasives were dug up and removed; a new trail was temporarily laid out and the first sign was put up.   This week we will return and start cutting in a new trail.  Useful tools will be loppers, small saws, chainsaws and as well as tools to even out the terrain and put up blazes. We will meet at the Veterans Park parking lot, 9 AM on Wednesday.

Last week we completed the bridge at Mendell's Folly.  This week we have 2 projects.  The first is to clear the Spirit Rock Trail (part of the Van Epps Preserve) which meets the Whittemore Trail in the Naugatuck State Forest.  This will be part of our route on the big hike, June 8, and that area of the trail needs to be cleared of brush growing up on the trail, and along the sides.  Useful tools will be a weed whacker, leaf blower and loppers. The second project will be walking the new Simpson Preserve to determine which trails to keep, which to shut down and which to reroute.  There has been off road vehicle use which has damaged some areas. There are also some invasives that are still small and will be possible to pull. We will meet for both projects in the parking lot of Veterans Park, at 9 AM on Wednesday. Hope to see you then!

Today we finished the bridge crossing Hockanum Brook at Mendell's Folly. Using a rope and sling we were able to repurpose several of the large stones that had been part of the previous crossing and turn them into a ramp leading up to the bridge. And Bart and Ed were able to add the rope banister and finish the steps. We finally have a solution that we think (hopefully) will last years and won't get overrun every time we have a big rainstorm.  And it means that all the trails on Mendell's will be connected and in shape for a 5 mile hike June 8. Next week we will resume our normal schedule of Wednesday mornings from 9 - 11 for field work.  Stay tuned!

Last week we continued on our epic bridge project at Mendell's Folly below the beaver dam,  floating the heavy support beams on a boat down to the site, carrying in the decking, unloading everything from the boat, and constructing the base.  The next step is putting on the decking and attaching steps  on the north side and a ramp on the south side to reach the bridge.  Apparently we are going to get quite a lot of rain between now and Wednesday morning, but at least at this time, it looks like there may be a dry window to continue the work on the bridge.  For the decking we need 4 people to bring battery drills and screwdrivers.  Bart will supply drill bits and screwdriver bits and materials.  If you would like to volunteer for this, reply to me.  We also will be building a ramp of stone on the southern side to span the bridge and the trail.  Bart is fashioning steps for the northern side.  For the ramp work heavy gloves and stone moving tools will be helpful, plus waterproof boots. In addition, invasives as well as poison ivy are starting to emerge along the trail near Beacon Road,…

Last week the remaining poetry kiosks got installed at the Van Epps and Hidden Brook Preserves, and trails at Bethany Farms and Carrington Preserve got cleared. This week we are going back to Mendells Folly for the next stage in our bridge building project.  We will be bringing in the heavy beams, probably by boat, and carrying in other items for the installation.  Useful items:  waders if you have them, gloves, (plus bug spray and drinking water suggested.) We will meet at the Van Epps parking area, 390 Beacon Road, 9 AM Wednesday.  

Last week the Cliff Trail at Whispering Pines got cleared, and much of the Big Tree Trail at Bethany Farms got reblazed and cleared and several trails were leaf blown. The poetry plaques were installed at Mendell's Folly (and yesterday was the big poetry walk and it was quite a wonderful event.) This week we are taking on another bridge construction.  This one will be below the Beaver Dam at Mendell's Folly and will replace the stone crossing that keeps getting inundated.  Instead we will use gabions (wire cages filled with stones) as supports like we did at Three Sisters and raise it well above the current level.  On Wednesday we will be carrying in the gabions, which have already been constructed by Bart and Bob, leveling them and filling them with stones.  Waders or high waterproof boots will be very helpful. A few buckets to use for carrying stones to the gabions will be useful. For this we will meet at the Van Epps parking area, 390 Beacon Road, 9 AM on Wednesday April 16. If last week's blazing crew would like to continue blazing the Big Tree Trail and go onto the Ridge Trail, you are welcome to do that…

Last week we swarmed over Mendell's Folly, clearing trails, repairing the bird stand and improving visibility from it, and siting the poetry plaques. This week we are going to turn most of our attention to Bethany Farms and the Carrington Preserve area.  The trails need clearing and the Big Tree Trail needs blazes where the old painted ones are faded.  Useful tools will be leaf blowers, lopers and small hand saws. Chuck and hopefully Joe, will return to Mendell's to install the poetry plaques. For those going to Bethany Farms and Carrington Preserve, we will meet at 30 Briar Road, 9 AM Wednesday, April 9. Hope to see you then! Carol A few photos from last week:  Kevin's signs of spring; Sheila's shot of some of us; and a vintage intact Knudson Dairy bottle (now cleaned up) found emerging along a trail.