Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

 It was that kind of week.

Visit #1525, Saturday 29 March 25, 6:55-8:55AM, 3.1 miles, 1.0 lbs. of litter.

Temps in the low 40s, partly sunny.

Visit #1526, Sunday 30 March 25, 7:00-9:15AM, 3.6 miles, 4.3 lbs. of litter.

Temps in the 40s, cloudy after a night of light showers.

I took a mountain bike ride through Hubbard Park early in the week to address some graffiti and found two newly fallen trees. I have yet to catch up to clearing the damage from the ice storm on all the trails and I keep finding new trees on the ground. Sheesh.

I did cover the graffiti I found at the Halfway House.

I did this on the mountain bike trying to save time better spent removing the fallen trees I found.

One of these trees was big, which necessitated switching out my chainsaw bar to...

...the Big Johnson!

Heading up the trail Saturday morning I found this gate at the water treatment plant is unlocked and wide open. I don't know whether it was vandalism or forgetfulness but I thought it was worth noting.

I told you this tree was big!

In fact, it took all the gas in my chainsaw so I didn't finish, nor did I manage to clear the other fallen tree on my To Do list.

As a plus for Saturday's trouble I did find a pair of work gloves. I can always use a pair for park work so I'm keeping them.

I couldn't leave that first tree in a state of half-removal so I returned Sunday morning to complete the job. Taking a slightly different route to the south end of Merimere Reservoir, I found this car part, whereupon I backpedaled and dropped it off at the water treatment plant.

THEN I finished removing the fallen tree. Act Two took mere minutes.

On to that second tree.

I continue to trim this widowmaker branch as it nears the ground, hoping it will eventually detach from the tree under its own weight.

Now, at this point I had planned on hiking up to another trail where I discovered more tree damage in the aftermath of February's ice storm. But I barely made it up the Blue Trail when I found ANOTHER fallen tree, which wasn't on the ground two weeks ago.

The hiker you see in the background and I had a good chat. He relayed to me an experience a few weeks ago he had hiking with a group at Crescent Lake in Southington when one member sprained an ankle while clambering over a fallen tree. (Kinda makes me think I'm saving sprained anklers in Hubbard Park by removing fallen trees!) The group was woefully unprepared to deal with the situation and as a result the fire department had to be called, and all sorts of drama ensued.

My drama was limited to removing this last tree. 

I abandoned trying to reach the trail I intended to, for more fallen branch and tree clearing. I was out of my alotted time so it will have to wait for another week.

Side Trip

 

Suiting up for my annual special operation, although I'm not invading Ukraine.

Visit #1524, Saturday 22 March 25, 7:30-10:30AM, 3.3 miles, 63.0 lbs. of litter.

Temps in the 40s, sunny.

But first...

After discovering some graffiti on the trails last week, I returned during the week on my mountain bike to address it.

The runny graffiti was my attempt last week to use graffiti remover.

Once a year I clean Crow Hollow Brook as it flows through Hubbard Park.

I start where one branch originates and follow one bank all the way to Notch Road/West Main Street then return via the other bank. 

During the early morning as I worked the eastern bank, a regular visitor to Hubbard Park drove by. This person supplied the ladies who put up this Christmas wreath during the holidays and I promised the wreath supplier I would take it down and hold on it until I could catch him in the park to return the wreath. They were happily surprised and I got the wreath out of my truck!

Among the unusual finds today...

...a paper shredder, multiple shoes, an automobile oil filter, a gallon of automobile fluid, electrical components, a full quart of spackling compound; some items were so heavy I had to make multiple trips to the trash bins.

I've commented before that this walkbridge is in disrepair and in need of a renovation. If funds are not available I got the idea that perhaps a "Buy A Brick" program to replace the gravel approach on either side could defray costs. I'd also hope there would be a concerted effort to duplicate or restore the ornate iron railings in keeping with the authentic appearance. It would be a shame to do otherwise.

Crow Hollow Brook at the lower end of West Main Street.

The earliest blooming daffodils?

While sitting on the tailgate of my truck, removing my special operation suit, a woman drove by, stopped, and thanked me for my work. That made that last three hours worth it.

I'm Lovin' It

 

Makin' chips, that is. My apologies to McDonalds for co-opting their famous slogan.

Visit #1523, Saturday 15 March 25, 1:30-4:20PM, 4.6 miles, 1.9 lbs. of litter.

Driving to Hubbard Park Saturday, I got this good feeling about what I would be doing. Maybe it was the manly anticipation of chainsaw use.

I picked up where I left off last week. My first broken branch was going to be dicey since it was still attached to the tree, it was a large branch, and it was tall.

There was pressure on the branch as you can see it's touching the ground. I was concerned the branch would let go from the tree as I cut because I was working directly underneath. Best I could do was remove that pressure and hope the unsupported branch would eventually fall on its own in time. It's now floating freely about three feet of the ground. I would prefer to drop the entire tree under supervision; that may or may not happen in the future.

Moving on, I found some recent graffiti on a rock, which I'll address soon.

This was NOT my doing and I don't endorse it. Besides; it doesn't emphasize my best features! It will go soon as well.

Hiking down to the I-691 walkbridge, I found this sticker which I've found before this year and which I removed.

Another recent repeat offender was this graffiti I found on the walkbridge.

It was while removing this that a mountain biker stopped by.

He jokingly asked if I was polishing the bridge (!) then, probably because I had a chainsaw on my back,  told me there was a fallen tree on a certain trail back up the hill. So I reversed course.

Well yeah, that's in need of removal. Note the Blue Trail marker on the tree in the background. Thanks to the mountain biker for that info. Merely identifying where the trail needs maintenance saves me a lot of time.

Hiking back toward the walkbridge, I came upon my Find of the Week. How I missed it on the way up is beyond me, and why someone carried them so far just to discard them here beside the trail is another mystery.

I couldn't reach the other end of the bridge without finding more graffiti, obviously done with the same wax pencil and therefore the same people as that above.

It received the same facial treatment.

One last fallen tree was discovered on the trail across the street from Belmont Avenue.

Next week: A brief rest from the trail maintenance. 

Sit Back And Enjoy The Ride

 

Those ain't headphones baby-it's a Power Tool Weekend®!

Visit #1522, Saturday 8 March 25, 12:25-3:15PM, 3.6 miles, 1.0 lbs. of litter.

Temps in the low 40s, sunny with strong gusty winds.

This week I began in earnest cleaning up after the recent ice storm reported in recent past blog posts.

I managed to clear roughly one half of the trails below Castle Craig, trails that are most frequently used and I will continue doing so next week.

Sit back and thumb through a bunch of Before and After photos.

I started on the trail approaching the water treatment plant.

The trail behind the water tank.

On to the trail adjacent to Merimere Reservoir.

It was just as I was beginning to clear this fallen branch when a passing hiker introduced himself as Wayne and offered to help clear this branch. It was much appreciated and made for quick work.

On to the Yellow Trail.

This tree, on the top most section of the Yellow Trail, is one of two widowmakers as a result of the ice strom. Unfortunately I had to drop the entire tree.

Hiking to what I call the Green Trail even though it's unmarked. It was the only color left! This trail heads back toward the reservoir.

Done for this week-more to come!