Trail Crew Reports

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… Read more: May 19th

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… Read more: May 12th

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… Read more: May 7th

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… Read more: April 16th

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… Read more: April 9th

Last week we cleared the trails at Carrington Lowell which also involved removing quite a few downed limbs and several trees.   This week we are going to Mednells Folly to get it ready for the Poetry in the Woods walk on April 13.  We need to: Install the 2 poetry plaques that are on stakes; Install the poetry plaque on the bird stand (which will require a couple screws and a screw gun); Secure the base of the railing at the bird stand, which is a little wobbly; (Joe?) Possibly remove some limbs blocking the view from the bird stand; Clear the White… Read more: April 1st

Last week at Whispering Pines all the downed limbs from the recent storms were moved off the trails.  At Hidden Brook, a stone crossing was established on Atwater Road where a stream has developed.  On the Sisyphus Trail a major stone crossing was greatly enhanced at the point where the trail parallels the stone wall, and was very mucky and there weren’t enough stepping stones. This week we are going to clean up Carrington Lowell and also work at Split Rock where the sign needs reposting and the trail probably could use a clean-up. Useful tools will be a chain saw, probably… Read more: March 24th

Last week we had a huge crew and prepared for the April Poetry Walk at Mendell’s Folly.  We cleared the trails and checked to make sure that the QR code on the plaques we will be installing worked in our wooded locations, and cited where the readings will take place.  We also noticed a lot of recent beaver activity…including the recent downing of the huge yellow birch tree they had been working on for over 2 years.   This week we are going to work on clearing the trails at Whispering Pines and on through to Hidden Brook.  Plus at Hidden Brook… Read more: March 17th

t’s been a long time, but last Friday we were finally able to finish putting in the trail at Hershman’s Hollow and now it looks like we will be back on our regular Wednesday schedule. This week we are going to work on the trails at Mendell’s Folly, getting them in shape for the hike on April 13 when we will also have the drama of members of the CT Poetry Society doing  readings of certain select poems.   To clear the trails after the last ice storm useful tools will be leaf blowers, loppers, hand saws and possibly a chainsaw.  We… Read more: March 12th

Last week we worked at Hershman’s Hollow and carved out an additional section of the trail, bringing it to an interesting loop that crosses a stone wall and skirts the stream, but looks like we will have to wait until the snow melts to finish it.  

Last week 6 brave, hearty and indomitable members of the field crew tackled the wilds of Hershborn Hollow despite the 20 mph winds and freezing temps.  But everyone quickly warmed up with the physical effort of carving a path. We slashed through tall thickets and downed trees and were able to open up a trail along the boundary line to allow markers to be posted.  This week we plan to return and continue cutting in a trail, following the lines of a previous trail.   For this work brush cutters, a chain saw and loppers are the most useful tools. We will meet… Read more: Week of January 6th

Last Wednesday there was no field work but that afternoon, quite a few folks joined the hike snaking through Whispering Pines, Carrington Preserve and Hidden Brook. This week we are planning to tackle Hershman’s Hollow.  This preserve took a direct hit from both of the tornados and the trail was totally decimated.  After the first tornado we cleared some of the downed trees that fell onto the neighbor’s property and a short amount of the trail, but then the second tornado brought down more and we haven’t been back since.  Our job on Wednesday is going to be to try to… Read more: January 1st

Since we got rained out last week, I had hoped that we could spend Wednesday morning clearing the trails at Whispering Pines, Carrington Preserve and Hidden Brook in anticipation of a New Year’s Day hike from 1-3.  But that was before we got 2 inches of snow.  I guess it is possible that with rain tonight and warm weather tomorrow the snow will be gone by then.  If so, everyone with a leaf blower, bring it.  In addition, a few rakes to loosen leaves will be helpful.  Plus there may be branches down across the trails so loppers and saws would be helpful.  … Read more: Week of December 16th

BLT Field Work Report/December 11 Cancellation Due to Rain Last week we continued work cutting down barberry and a hydra of bittersweet vines (see below) to put in a trail through Luke Hill Preserve.  We were able to reach the stream which feeds into the Sargent River.  One tool that has proved very useful for getting under barberry and other brambles is the long handled hedge trimmer. The boundary marking crew started in on Hershman’s Hollow, which was ravaged by the macroburst in 2018 and again took a direct hit the following year. This is our only preserve where the fallen trees… Read more: Week of December 9th

Last week we continued to make progress installing a trail at Luke Hill Preserve, removing Japanese Barberry, Euonymous, Multi-floral Rose and many downed trees and limbs.  We got a little distracted when we came across a vine suitable for Tarzan and Jane and of course everyone had to try swinging on it.  In addition, the boundary at Podgewaite Preserve got marked.  This is the one at the intersection of Rt 69 and Rt 42.  The paint is fading on the wooden sign and it could use a little resoration work.  It could be removed to do this indoors.  Anyone want… Read more: Week of December 2nd

Last week we were joined by 2 members of the Woodbridge Land Trust and had a whole crowd clearing a swath at Luke Hill Preserve.  Downed trees and branches got removed and barberry got dug up.  We made quite a lot of progress but there is still more to do to cut a trail all the way to the stream so we are going back this week to take up where we left off. Useful tools will be loppers, pick mattocks, rootslayers, hedge trimmers, small saws and a chainsaw. We will meet at 9 AM on Wednesday, November 27 on Luke… Read more: Week of November 26th

Last week the marque sign was installed at Rodell’s Roost, issues were addressed at Donnelly, and we finished the new trail leading down to the stream at Hall Preserve. This week we are going to work at Luke Hill Preserve.  It will be similar to Hall, in that there is no trail and there are quite a few invasives.  Norm and Bob H will be marking the boundary and the rest of us will be cutting a trail down to the stream which ,rads to the Sargent River.  Useful tools will be lopers, hedge trimmers, and shovels for digging up… Read more: Week of November 20th

Last week we worked at Hall Preserve.  We enlarged the fencing protecting the hybrid chestnut trees, pulled barberry and mowed down the brush surrounding them.  We began cutting a new trail through the nearly impenetrable thicket of multifloral rose, barberry and downed trees and made it to the end of the stone wall, where it opens up a bit more. This week we will take up where we left off cutting the trail, only now it will be mostly barberry and downed trees here and there.  Useful tools will be loppers, brush cutters, hedge trimmers, leaf blowers and a chain… Read more: Week of November 13th

Last week the trails throughout the Welch Parcels were cleared, trees blocking the trail were cut and the stone steps coming off the stone wall were improved.  This week we are going to Hall Preserve.  Our 2 young hybrid chestnut trees need to have their protective fencing removed and replaced with a much large fence, the area needs to be brush cut to allow passage, and we are going to try to cut a trail down to the stream through the barberry.    Useful tools will be lopers, hedge trimmers, shovels, leaf blowers, rootslayers, brush cutters, etc.  Note: this is… Read more: Week of November 2nd

Last week we worked at Carrington Lowell.  We had a huge crew and a lot hot done. The marquee sign was replaced, blazes were fixed, poison ivy and stilt grass was pulled, barberry was dealt with, trails were widened and cleared and downed trees were cut.  This week we are working at Whispering Pines. Bart will be bringing the 2 Marquee signs and we have 2 more trail signs to install. Bart will be starting at 8:30 but needs to leave at 10. He will bring the gas post hole digger.  Can anyone come at 8:30 to help with the… Read more: Week of October 14th

Last week we worked at the Whispering Pines.  The 2 marquee signs got erected and the trail sign at Briar Lane got installed.  The trails off Village lane got cleared and invasives along the red-blazed Cowpath Trail were dug up, but there are a lot more, so this was more of a containment exercise.   This week Bart and Bob H and possibly Norm will meet at 8:30 at the end of Village Lane to install the remaining trail sign.  The rest of us will work at Woodward Preserve off of Mesa Drive, where the trailhead steps need a little… Read more: Week of October 21st