Storm Henri Leaves A Surprise

 Visit #1324, Sunday 29 August 21, 8:00AM-12:50PM, 6.9 miles, 21.9lbs. of litter.

Temps in the 70's, cloudy but pleasant.

Hurricane Henri was dowgraded to a tropical storm by the time it reached Connecticut. I agreed, because while it rained a reasonable amount, the wind wasn't impressive.

While not impressive, it turned out to have dropped a good number of trees in Hubbard Park.

I originally planned on painting over graffiti this week but changed my priorities due to Henri.

Earlier in the week, on Thursday, I took a mountain bike ride in Hubbard Park to see if there was any storm damage, and there was. I wouldn't be able to address all of it in one week, maybe three. I would start close to the park proper and work the most used trails.

Starting behind the water tank, I found this fallen tree on my Thursday mountain bike ride. Not exactly something I could bunny-hop on my bike.

On Sunday I came equipped for anything, including an extra chainsaw bar and chain, just in case the bar got stuck. Fortunately, that didn't happen.

Further up the trail, near the Merimere Reservoir end-

Safety was the operative word when dealing with this tree, which was still attached to the trunk about fifteen feet above ground. I would have to "walk" the tree across the trail as I cut it.

And just when I thought there were no more large trees, I found this beast on the steep trail up to Castle Craig. The chainsaw should give you a sense of the relative size of this tree.

In the photo above, I had already dropped a good section of it. The oak was truly dense, and I had to cut the tree into manageable pieces in order to remove it from the trail, using up precious fuel.

One passing hiker was skeptical I would succeed. Hah!

I couldn't spend any time cleaning up around Castle Craig; The large trees I encountered consumed a lot of time.

Taking a trail down toward Merimere Reservoir, I removed another tree, reported to me earlier in the week by an alert hiker.

At the bottom of the trail, I pointed myself back up the road toward East and West Peak, picking up litter I spied on that mountain bike ride earlier in the week.

Along the way I found these two soaked to the bone books. I've found abandoned books before; I wonder if they came from the Little Library adjacent to the playscape?

Adding two waterlogged books to my bag made it very heavy. Then I found this cardboard box and packaging from a five cubic foot freezer, all too large to fit in a trash bag, so I left it roadside, intending to retrieve the items with my car. When I returned with my car, I was surprised to discover a good samaritan had already taken them.

I did retrieve a second bag, which I left further up the road but forgot to document. I'm sure you're disappointed...

I hiked the trails down toward I-691, finding my last chainsaw candidate for the day.

I was pleased I didn't run out of fuel.  Hubbard Park hikers; please be patient as it will take at least a couple more weeks to clear the remaining trees from the trails.

Hurricane Henri and My Change of Plans

Visit #1322, Saturday 21 August 21, 2:00-3:40PM, 3.7 miles, 5.4lbs. of litter.

Temps in the low 80's, mostly cloudy and very humid, in advance of Hurricane Henri.

My plan this week was to enter Hubbard Park on Sunday before 7AM to paint over some graffiti, which would give it a chance to dry before any hapless hiker touched it.

Alas, Hurricane Henri's predicted arrival on Sunday put an end to that idea.

A combination of factors left me knackered even before I started Saturday's hike, leaving me with little energy so my session was under two hours. Needless to say, I was even more toasted when I finished.

I hiked west, toward the I-691 walkbridge and found a fallen tree across the trail. Fortunately, it didn't require tools to remove.

On the short trail leading to the parking area off West Main Street, was a fallen tree which would require power tools to remove, on another day. My hedge clippers weren't going to make a dent in it.

At the parking area off West Main Street, I came upon my Find of the Week.

Curious as to what IG-322 is for? Look HERE. My question is, if this is a legitimate prescription cannabinoid, why isn't the doctor's name, patient's name, and issuing pharmacy on the label? It makes me wonder how well medical cannabis is regulated. And NO, I didn't try them or sell them on Craigslist!

I found yet another of the increasingly common painted signs, nailed to a tree.

I took a brief break at the Halfway House, and watched someone standing high on the parapet wall of Castle Craig.

I also watched this lightweight search for food.

I dragged myself back to the park and dropped off my trash for the week.

Leaving Hubbard Park was no easy feat. This conga line of at least one hundred Canadian Geese created a ten minute delay while they toddled across the road.

But of course, I couldn't leave well enough alone. I figured I could still beat Hurricane Henri on Sunday morning and remove that fallen tree. I also had another idea.

I arrived very early at the parking area off West Main Street, while it was merely sprinkling, and made the two minute walk to the fallen tree, removing it with my chainsaw.

I returned my chainsaw to my car. This parking area off West Main Street has a lot of low hanging branches. With my new pole saw, I now had the means to improve clearances. And the car in the background-he apparently slept there overnight, and left once my presence woke him up.

Sorry for the blurry photos; it was still somewhat dark, and my camera was using a slow shutter speed.

These photos are after I finished. The trees sheltered me from the increasing rain while I worked. You can see one cut branch in the left of the photo.

You can see the pile of branches I cut on the left side of this photo. It's not my best trimming job as I was hastened by the rain, but at least the trees won't be hitting cars for a while.

Tools of the Trade

 

The view west from West Peak on a perfect Sunday summer morning. After a week-long heatwave, the cooler, drier air was champagne to the senses.

Visit #1321, Sunday 15 August 21, 7:00-8:45, 11:00AM-12:15PM, 3.7 miles, 9.1lbs. of litter.

Temps in the 70's, reaching the 80's, sunny and dry.

I entered Hubbard Park early to work under cooler temps. I reported last week of finding a fallen tree on one trail:

I brought my old reliable toy, my chainsaw, and on Sunday morning I returned and removed it.

I turned around and returned to the West Peak area to pick up litter. I found more fallen trees and branches which my chainsaw was more than eager to feast on.

There's a trail through there somewhere...

Ahah, I found it!

I also found some new graffiti at West Peak, which I'll deal with next week.

I would now like to introduce you to my new tool:

A lightweight, 15 foot extendable tree pruner. I'd been hankering for one of these for a long time, as many tree branches along the roadsides in Hubbard Park hang low to the ground. I brought it today merely for test purposes, trimming one side of roughly 1/4 mile near Castle Craig. Wildly exceeded my expectations!

Trimming the roadside will be a special project for me, separate from my usual jaunts in Hubbard Park. I will report on my progress as it develops.

After finishing my chores on West Peak, I drove over to Castle Craig. A kind hiking regular in Hubbard Park called me earlier this week to report of another tree fallen on a trail near Castle Craig. I parked the van and as I kitted up, I received an after hours service call so I left the park and headed to New Haven. Fortunately, the service call was not too involved, so I was able to return to Hubbard Park and tend to this last tree.

This was easy.

I performed some more chainsaw trimming while returning to the parking lot, then grabbed the new tree pruner for its initial testing.

Until next week, maintain.

How Many Times

 

A light breeze rippled the waters of Merimere Reservoir Sunday. Intermittent sprinkles taunted us all day but didn't deter.

Visit #1320, Sunday 8 August 21, 6:50-9:35AM, 5.1 miles, 10.4lbs. of litter.

Temps in the high 60's, mildly humid, with a light breeze.

Bernie Jurale is best known as a Platt High School teacher who celebrated healthy living by running up to Castle Craig once a year on his birthday month. The tradition has continued after Bernie's passing, as The Tradition Run.

I have a friend who, as an amateur bike racer once trained by riding up to Castle Craig ten times in one day.

And today, there was Mark.

Mark started a tradition of his own, riding up to Castle Craig once a month. Today, at the defiant age of 70, he would ride up to Castle Craig for the 200th consecutive month!

I decided I would ensure the road to Castle Craig would be pretty for his landmark ride.

But first:

Earlier this week I rode my mountain bike through Hubbard Park to check for downed trees, etc. on some trails. My ride paid off.

At the Merimere Reservoir spillway, I discovered some new graffiti, from someone not quite prepared for the Scripps Spelling Bee.

On the trail, I found this fallen tree, which will have to wait until next week.

I returned early Sunday morning and walked to the north end of the reservoir to take care of the graffiti.

On the adjacent guardrail, I found some graffiti and used other means to remove it.

On the northern bank of the reservoir, I found the broken pieces of a plate. I was dying to read the entire message but alas, it was too difficult to piece together. I guess we'll never know.

The sister plate was found nearby.

Strangely enough, I found this very similar plate at the far southern end of Hubbard Park back in March of this year. Hmmm...

As I reached the fork in the road to East/West Peak, I found the remnants of caution tape which was strung across the road, from the likely rescue of a woman who had "fallen" off the cliffs of East Peak earlier in the week. Details are sparse on her identity or her condition.

I did the usual trail cleanup and dropped off the trash for the week.

Later that afternoon, I joined Mark (holding the sign) and friends to celebrate his landmark ride, and to wish him many more.

A bit of trivia: Mark was actually at Woodstock and had to move his tent because he was too close to the stage!