Unexpected

 

This year's Three Peaks Challenge was full of unexpected surprises for me. I got mine; did you get yours?

Visit #1561, Saturday 8 November 25, 9:45AM-3:00PM, 10.2 miles (for me), 26.0 lbs. of litter. My mileage was higher than the Three Peaks Challenge and if you read on you'll see why.

Temps in the 50s, early morning clearing from overnight rain, sunny and mild.

I had planned on joining this Meriden Parks and Recreation event and do nothing but hike. Instead, I'll let John Candy explain it...

At the pre-start briefing, Kathy Matula, Recreation Coordinator, presented to me on behalf of Mayor Scarpati, this:

Yeah, well, to say I was humbled is an understatement. I was at a loss for words and didn't want to ramble on aimlessly so I just smiled out of gratitude and embarrassment. I had to hold back a couple tears, too. Thanks.

So that I wouldn't co-opt this group event with my weekly maintenance duties and bring undue attention on me (the proclamation put and end to that, no?!), I didn't bring any of my tools for trail maintenance, graffiti removal, etc. Or, at least I brought everything but left it all in my truck. If someone brought up the subject I was ready to oblige.

It didn't take long for things to change.

A long conga line of hikers went up the Soap Box Derby track and behind the water tank, picking up the White trail to the Halfway House. Just shy of the gazebo on the side of the trail were two large trash bags. I was near the tail end of the group, and in a Pavlovian response, and having just been essentially proclaimed "Hubbard Park Jesus" 😀, what was I to do?

I abandoned all thought of continuing on with the group, picked up the two bags and headed back toward the south end of Merimere Reservoir.

And just what was in those two large trash bags-

-two Bose 301 Series V speakers. What they were doing near the Halfway House was beyond me and everyone else that saw them. I looked up the specs - they weigh 12.5lbs. each which is why my weight tally this week was so high.

Here's an internet photo I gleaned of them. They cost around $300 new.

Kathy got on the horn and called Rhaelene, the parks and rec department's version of Radar O'Reilly who met me in a van at the south end of the reservoir to pick up this load.

My hike was over, or was it?

Heading down to rendezvous with Rhaelene I developed a Plan B.

I hiked back to the parking lot and picked up my chainsaw. I figured I'm on my own now so I won't annoy any of the hikers and hopefully won't appear too showy if they did see me. I was past modesty; I was now on a mission. But I had to hustle.

I reached the first fallen tree ahead of the group. In my haste, I forgot to take an After photo so just imagine it removed. There's a Three Peaks Challenge sign pointing the way.

I did bump into the lead group just as they were leaving Castle Craig and I had finished removing the tree.

While the second tree was not on the Three Peaks route, it was close, passing by in the background of the After photo.

I did more hustling and caught the tail end of the group at Castle Craig.

I told them to not wait for me as we headed toward the third tree, near the north end of Merimere Reservoir.

I rejoined the group at the north end of the reservoir, where Radar Rhaelene was waiting with supplies and a ride for anyone who had enough trail for the day.

And she did have some takers for that ride back to the finish.

And it was there that Kathy came up with a generous idea; for those taking that ride back to the park, she made them an offer - she would gladly give them their Three Peaks patch when/if they returned some day and joined her to hike just the last leg, the South Mountain leg, of the route.

Hubbard Park Jesus wouldn't have thought of that.

I continued with this last group on the South Mountain loop and the one redeeming thing about my bringing the chainsaw is some hikers got to see that the trails do need maintenance, and what it takes to accomplish it-there was another fallen tree on the South Mountain loop and the group stopped briefly while I did my thing.

If I Only Had a Chain(saw)

 

I thought of this week's title while humming the tune, and hearing Ray Bolger's voice.

Visit #1560, Sunday 2 November 25, 7:05-9:25AM, 5.2 miles, 1.0 lbs. of litter.

Temps in the upper 30s/low 40s, sunny.

Week Number Two without my chainsaw.

Those of you that are following my escapades in Hubbard Park know that my chainsaw is in the hospital.

While I borrowed a chainsaw last week, I promptly returned it which was a foolish move, although considerate to the owners.

In preparation for next week's Three Peaks Challenge, I wanted to ensure the trails were clear of fallen trees.

If I only had a chainsaw...

The stickers on the blackened birch tree continue unabated.

So does the popularity of posting stickers on this fence post.

It's tough to see but on the upper left edge of the sticker is handwritten, "Take it off". Obviously the poster knows the fate of this, at least as long as I'm around.

I hiked up the Blue Trail and found my first fallen tree. Although not on the route of the Three Peaks Challenge, it's close - it passes by on the road in the background.

Passing Castle Craig, or as Walter Hubbard called it merely, "The Tower", I picked up the Three Peaks Challenge route again and instantly encountered a second fallen tree.

And nearing the north end of the Blue Trail near Merimere Reservoir (I wonder if Walter Hubbard had another name for IT), yet another fallen tree.

Walking on the road around the reservoir, and back to the park, lo and behold, a tree has fallen across the road.

While I couldn't move it (IF I ONLY HAD MY CHAIN(SAW!)), I was able to clean it up a bit. Hopefully word will get passed on to either the parks or water department to remove this. Bring a broom!

Well that's it; things go to hell in a handbasket without my chainsaw. I can't get it back soon enough.

With A Little Help From My Friends

 

I'm not a fan of The Beatles, nor of the song, but the title is appropriate for this week.

Visit #1558, Saturday 25 October 25, 7:20-9:20AM, 3.1 miles, no litter.

Temps in the upper 30s, partly sunny.

Visit #1559, Sunday 26 October 25, 7:20-10:20AM, 

As I reported two weeks ago, my chainsaw crapped out. I brought it to the repair shop where it sits to this day. Without it I can't clean up the storm damage in Hubbard Park or worse, prepare the trails for the upcoming Three Peaks Challenge. I was fretting about this until I told myself to just relax, there's always next week, and it's not the end of the world. It'll get done sooner or later.

We live in an Amazon Prime world (I am NOT a member!) and we've forgotten how to exercise patience. I would exercise patience. I could have asked any of my chainsaw owning friends if I could borrow their saw but maybe it was pride,  maybe it was my pro-patience stance, but I was going to let it be.

Until that is, after hearing my tale of first world woe, my coworker insisted I borrow her husband's chainsaw. In the interest of being sociable, and burying my pride, I accepted.

I'm glad I did.

See, I own a professional level saw. It's bigger and heavier duty than homeowner level saws. Borrowing such a saw would allow me to compare the two to see what how they compare.

I'm pleased to say the Stihl MS 170 performed very well. It's clearly lighter than my Stihl 026 Pro so it's easier to carry in my backpack, it's a bit more difficult to start (the procedure is different and it takes more force) but once you become familiar with those tasks, you're on your way to a good experience as I was.

So now with a saw in hand/backpack and with the calendar creeping toward the Three Peaks Challenge, I wanted to finish clearing the neglected trail.

I arose Saturday and drove to the north end of Hubbard Park.

I hiked the South Mountain trail directly to the tree where my chainsaw failed.

It was while removing this tree that an early morning hiker passed by and exclaimed, "But I LIKE HAVING TREES ACROSS THE TRAIL; I GET EXERCISE CLIMBING OVER THEM!"

I literally told him to walk faster. Geez; I can't please everyone.

Well, I'm not going to show you the rest of the trees I removed from the South Mountain trail which was about half a dozen. I will show you one other large tree.

This homeowner saw was punching above its weight.

So on Sunday I decided to return to the trails I hiked last week to remove the fallen trees I found, with my borrowed saw. Use 'em if you got 'em!

I arrived at Hubbard Park Sunday morning to discover there were TWO events being held; a Soap Box Derby race and a running race.

Walking around Merimere Reservoir I discovered all the speed bumps have been removed. I wonder whether this was the result of my reporting their poor state? Seems pretty early to be prepping for snow.

Up the trail I went in search of the fallen trees. I was disappointed.

Someone had removed all the other, much smaller fallen trees on this trail. Truth be told they only needed to be pulled off the trail, a deed handled by another kind hiker.

Up at West Peak I spied some new graffiti that needed removal.

Descending the Blue Trail from West Peak I began to tackle a large fallen tree when a hiker named Paul passed by. He's a Meriden resident who usually gets his exercise at the YMCA on West Main Street. He assisted me in moving these heavy logs out of the way after I cut them up.

There's also no excuse for placing stickers on public property.

Below the sticker was #17 in the series of cat graffiti since November 2016.

On the walkbridge was some new graffiti. I was surprised at how easy this was to remove. Also, from the writing it looks like they're coming from New York to tag things.

The last tree my borrowed saw was to tackle contained a surprise.

So what's with the nail?

Well, while cutting up the tree I noticed a piece of paper off in the brush. I retrieved it. It obviously was at one time nailed to the tree.

Who is Keith? (I ahem, know who the painter is...😉), and who knew democrats don't pay taxes?

Which reminds me to remind you; don't forget to vote on November 4th.

A note of thanks to Kristen and Steve for insisting I borrow their chainsaw; they had a hand this week in keeping Hubbard Park's trails clear.

Good To Be Back

After a week away from my girlfriend, it felt good to see her again.

Visit #1557, Sunday 19 October 25, 7:00-9:15AM, 4.9 miles, 12.1 lbs. of litter.

Temps in the low 60s, partly sunny.

A week away from Hubbard Park really renewed my enjoyment of hiking there. Maybe there was some voodoo or karma involved as my chainsaw went belly up during that little diversion on South Mountain. It's currently at the repair shop being assessed and hopefully it can be resuscitated as you'll see I truly need it.

I initially had planned on hiking a clockwise loop up to West Peak and back but, arriving at Hubbard Park I noticed they were setting up for what was going to be a fundraising run for Footprints On Our Hearts.

A clockwise route would put my timing in conflict with the runners; I'd be walking on the route in the midst of the event. So instead I walked counterclockwise around Merimere Reservoir and made sure the road was clean of litter for them.

One thing I did notice while walking on the road is that the speed bumps, barely six months old, are coming loose from the pavement whether intentionally or not. I think it's time to go to Plan B or        Rev. 2.0.

I moved this rumble strip out of the way to make it easier to spot.

Every speed bump is affected in one way or another. Time to rethink this; it's a good idea that needs to be developed.

At the north end of Merimere Reservoir I was mooned by a gaggle of Canada Geese. The nerve!

I considered giving them the finger but what would be the point-they wouldn't see it anyway.

So I hit the first trail and expecting to find storm damage. You may recall we had some rain and winds in the 30 mph range last week. I wasn't disappointed.

The trees may look small, but they aren't moving and a chainsaw is the best way to deal with the volume of work.

At West Peak I found what I'm guessing would be the belongings of a homeless person camping in the woods. I had to transfer everything into a 33 gallon trash bag because of the sleeping bag, clothing, and unopened convenience foods and energy drinks. Carrying this heavy load put a halt to most other litter patrol I had in mind today.

But all was not negative at West Peak. The view as I descended the Blue Trail was great.

Hiking the trail heading back to the park, I encountered the largest fallen tree which needs to be removed. Getting my chainsaw back can't happen soon enough for me or all the people that want to enjoy the colors of autumn in Hubbard Park without having to go over or around this.

If I get my chainsaw back this coming week I may do a double session during the weekend, preparing South Mountain for the Three Peaks Challenge and doing some clean up in Hubbard Park.