Ending The Year With A Big Bang

 

Visit #1459, Saturday 30 December 23, 7:15-11:30AM, 6.7 miles, 4.0 lbs. of litter.

Temps in the 40s, cloudy but comfortable. Heck; I even saw a couple hikers in shorts and t-shirts!

After spending two days last week cleaning up the trails from the recent storm damage, I still needed to recon the remaining trails. I didn't want to do this piecemeal and drag things out for weeks, so I chose to load up the chainsaw, hike the remaining trails, and just assume I would find fallen trees and limbs. It would be a long hike considering the time, distance, and carrying the saw etc. but a workout is a workout, no?

Repair work on the I-691 overpass looks to be nearing completion. It also appears the workers have permanently removed the fencing which used to lie in a state of disrepair.

At the water treatment plant, the workers FINALLY removed that wood board I'd been trying to bring to their attention. It took FOUR WEEKS but at least it's gone.

A fallen tree, likely a victim of the recent weather, has floated its way to the north end of Merimere Reservoir.

I reached the Blue Trail and started climbing along the ridgeline above the reservoir.

I reached my first fallen tree. This reassured me it was worth the gamble carrying my chainsaw.

After finding another fallen tree I felt even better!

Near Castle Craig I began my descent and came upon more fallen wood.

I was certainly making wood chips today. I just wasn't paying attention to where they were landing!

After a little over two hours of this fun I had to stop and refuel. I don't usually hike this long so I don't normally bring food. If I didn't, today would have gotten ugly.

I picked up yet another trail and hiked back up toward East/West Peak where I removed a small leaning tree.

Reaching West Peak, I changed jobs and put on my graffiti removal hat. That sticker, which I removed, first appeared elsewhere in Hubbard Park in early November.

I found more "EDC" graffiti elsewhere on the fencing surrounding the microwave tower.

Following the Blue Trail down from West Peak I encountered more storm damage, and I made more wood chips!

I've come to the conclusion that the Connecticut Forest and Park Association's idea to replace painted trail blazes with metal markers was a poor decision. Prying fingers can't keep themselves off the signage.

I've found vandalized markers in several spots in Hubbard Park.

Heading back to the park I had no more use of my chainsaw but had one more encounter with graffiti. Or the graffiti had one more encounter with me, and lost.

For 2023, here are my stats:

Miles hiked: 215

lbs. of litter: 230

Trees or branches cleared from the trails: 67

Lastly, I offer this at the end of every year: If you want to have your e-mail removed from my distribution list, please send me a note. Thanks!

My Christmas Gift To You

 Visit #1457, Saturday 23 December 23, 12:30-4:10PM, 4.9 miles, litter < l. 0 lbs.

Temps in the high 30s, cloudy.

Visit #1458, Sunday 24 December 23, 11:30AM-2:15PM, 5.3 miles, 10.0 lbs. of litter.

Temps in the low 40s, cloudy.

Rain with high winds passed through the area on Monday. I had no doubt I would find fallen trees and branches so I packed my chainsaw by default.

My Christmas gift to you dear Hubbard Park hiker are clear trails, although I still have a few trails to inspect in the coming weeks.

I'm just gonna post almost all the photos; many of the fallen trees and branches before and after, some in mid-removal. I posted them to give you an idea of the magnitude of storm damage. Hang on...

Here you can see the remainder of the vine hanging in the air.

Hard to tell from the photo below, but those are off-road motocyclists on the trail in the background. I don't know how they are accessing the trails since the gate at the end of Merimere Reservoir is secure.

Now for the fun stuff!

Season of the Missing Glove 2023/24, entries #2 and 3.

Up at West Peak I found a large bag of what I believe to be litter collected by some unknown person(s).

It weighed 27lbs.! It was likely strategically placed so parks employees would find it. They won't, because I put it in my van and drove it away.

The employees at the water department are STILL not getting the hint and taking away the found board I placed at the water treatment plant OVER THREE WEEKS AGO. Each week I place it against the fence and the following week I find it cast aside, like this week when I hung my first trash bag on the fence.

So I upped my game this week. Let's see if the knuckle draggers get the memo and take it away after I've slid it under the fence. Anyone want to place a bet?!

At the Halfway House I found Juan was practicing his rock carving skills.

While I didn't need practice to remove it.

I found and removed some graffiti from the I-691 walkbridge.

Merry Christmas!