In Before The Lock

 

I beat the snow.

Visit #1572, Wednesday 24 December 25, 7:00-10:15AM, 4.0 miles, no litter.

Temps in the 30s, rising to near 40, mostly sunny

Visit #1573, Thursday 25 December 25, 7:00-9:50AM, 5.8 miles, 2.0 lbs of litter.

Temps in the mid-30s, rising to near 40, mostly sunny.

First, My annual offer: If you want to be removed from my e-mail list of blog updates, please send me an e-mail. If you prefer to remain subject to such painful drivel, do nothing.

Friday night into Saturday morning saw Meriden receive seven inches of snowfall. I spent enough time shoveling snow on Saturday to qualify as a workout, and my bicycle (on the trainer, naturally) misses me so I am taking the weekend off from hiking in Hubbard Park. Besides; I met my quota on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day so let's call it even.

There were a number of fallen trees etc., that needed removal from the trails so I used those days off from work as well as the bare ground, to catch up with the recent wind damage.

On Wednesday I started the hike, with chainsaw, and soon found this tree across the trail.

This only required muscle for removal, but what puzzles me is, this tree did NOT fall across the trail but as you can see from it's initial resting place below and to the right in the photo above, someone PUT IT across the trail. With the snow cover we have now, I don't expect this to recur for a while, if at all.

I continue to get love notes left for me in this tree.

And this fence post continues to get stickers plastered on it. Between the two, I might keep a public, running tally of both in 2026, for my and your amusement.

The focus on Wednesday's hike would be to remove this enormous tree which fell across the Blue Trail leading up to the road to Castle Craig, which I reported finding last week.

Removing this tree took up just about two hours of cutting and dragging. I'd like to return and trim lower to the ground but for now it's plenty passable.

Here's a wider view of the debris field.

And the love notes just keep comin'.

There's that lingering question, what is a tree "huger"? I hope the author gets spelling lessons for Christmas.

Speaking of lingering questions, I did receive an answer from the Meriden Parks and Recreation Department as to why the Christmas lights in Hubbard Park remain on twenty-four hours a day: "Leaving the lights on continuously actually helps preserve the lifespan of the bulbs, as frequent on-and-off cycling causes drastic temperature changes from heating and cooling, which damages the bulbs more quickly." Seems valid as I imagine the lights are probably intended for indoor use only. But as an electronic technician I am obligated to inform you they are not bulbs, but LEDs. 😉

For some, getting out on the trails in nature isn't enough of a high.

I ran out of chainsaw gas removing that tree so that was the end of Wednesday's fun, but there were still trees to be removed so I returned with the chainsaw on Christmas morning before all the festivities and 

soldiered on.

This tree was on the Blue Trail leading up to West Peak. Surprisingly, the two cut pieces rolled downslope to their eternal resting place without so much as a stern look.

Heading to my next appointment I found this religious themed bracelet hanging on a hemlock.

It was just prior to this, while leaving West Peak and walking on the road, that I encountered a man, walking alone, carrying a bouquet of flowers. I didn't have the courage to ask him what the backstory was.

Further down this extremely seldom used trail I found this.

I can't fathom what it would be like to lose the sole of my shoe so far from the park and having to walk back. But then again, if I continue to wear my current pair of low cut hikers, I might just find out.

Second to last tree for the day.

Nearing the park, on the Soap Box Derby track, I took the time to remove this newly fallen tree.

This hike wouldn't be complete without Season of the Missing Glove 2025/26, entries #9 and 10.

Finally, here is my report card for 2025:

Miles hiked: 261.8

Litter collected: 406.5 lbs.

Chainsaw usage: 38 times.

Holiday Prep?

 

It was not as cold as it looks.

Visit #1570, Saturday 20 December 25, 7:25-10:05AM, 5.8 miles, 4.1 lbs. of litter.

Temps in the 30s, sunny.

Visit #1571, Sunday 21 December 25, 10:45AM-12:00PM, mileage and litter n/a.

Temps in the low 40s, partly sunny and breezy.

Rain along with windy conditions led me to suspect I might find tree damage if I hiked the trails so that's what I set out to do early Saturday morning. I wasn't disappointed. I will be able to remove everything in the next week or so, particularly with the extra holidays I will have off from work. Lotsa fun!

I barely started and found this fallen tree on the Soap Box Derby track.

I found Season of the Missing Glove 2025/26, Entries 7 and 8.

Rounding the corner at the north end of Merimere Reservoir I found this hoodie. It was frozen solid, indicating it wasn't placed there the same day by a runner, which I've experienced before. I had plans to wash it and take it to Goodwill but later inspection revealed what looks like bleach stains. This thing was so stiff it fought me when I tried to stuff it into my backpack. And of course since it was frozen that also meant is was wet, and heavy.

Further up the road I found this:

These were actually bifocals, although not prescription. I wear prescription bifocals; these did not work for me. 😖

The last time I found one of these painted pieces of gravel was last April.

Up one trail I began discovering fallen trees from Friday's blustery winds and rain.

Reaching West Peak, I addressed some graffiti after first cutting away the brush in front of it.

Hiking down the Blue Trail from West Peak, I hit the fallen tree jackpot again.

At the beehive fountain, I found a religious tract stuffed in to a gap in the stones. I have found similar tracts there in the past.

I also found another religious item further along the trail. Would the Virgin Mary approve of posting these publications on the trails? The second nail in the tree should tell you this is not the first time.

Down at the walkbridge over I-691, I found and removed the latest sticker additions.

Last time I found stickers posted here was in November.

Returning to the park, I see registration for the Tradition Run has begun. No need to be a runner to participate. Hmmm; maybe hikers will participate? 😊

But hiking the trails, it would take several weeks to canvas all the trails then return with a chainsaw to clear them. With Sunday temperatures climbing above 40, the weather would be perfect to recon many other trails efficiently on something other than feet. So on Sunday I rode my mountain bike to Hubbard Park.

I headed directly to Castle Craig because a park regular found a knife there Saturday and left it for me.

Alas, I arrived a day late and the knife was not there. However, as a consolation prize, I found this stainless waterbottle nearby, which I'll clean and take to Goodwill. The price tag was still on the bottom - $18.50!

I walked my bike down the steep, Blue Trail where my good decision to recon the other trails on my bike paid off.

This is a huge tree, but very manageable. Again, with the holiday schedule I will be able to restore this trail within a week.

Back down of flatter ground, I continue to find these foam stickers. Between Saturday and Sunday I must have found a dozen.

It was at this point I ran into the person who has been putting these stickers up, as well as painting all the rocks and hanging all the toys from trees, and creating a new trail. Suspecting something was up, I passed by on my mountain bike and picked up "his" trail from a location he would not see me.

He still thinks I'm a jerk for trying to keep the trails in a natural state which is common trail etiquette. I'll remove this later.

But the coup de grace was this:

I know it's blurry, so I'll tell you what it says: "If you remove I will paint your truck" (I own a truck).

Ooh, a threat! Intimidation! Of course I removed it! I love a challenge...

To end my ride I did find something I can take to Goodwill along with the waterbottle, a balaclava.

I can't wait for the short week so I can fire up my chainsaw.

Back to Back

 

The scene in my back yard Sunday morning. I made a wise decision to hike on Saturday.

Visit #1569, Saturday 13 December 25, 3:15-4:40PM, 4.0 miles, 5.7 lbs. of litter.

Temps in the 30s, darkly cloudy, with snow developing overnight.

Last week I performed an annual cleaning of the slope behind the playscape. Another annual cleaning I do is the slope below Castle Craig, where people strangely enough like to toss their cans, bottles, and whatnot. My Saturday schedule precluded my typical early morning jaunt so late afternoon, with dwindling daylight, would be all that was available. I also knew that if the forecast was accurate I wouldn't be able to see any litter on the slope if the snow stuck around so I had to take advantage of the ground while I could see it.

Down by Merimere Reservoir I found this jar.

What it says on the top is, "Take A Look- Leave a Remember (sic) Look In Gnome". What it says on the jar is, "Leave Me Something For Someone Else To Find".

Here are the contents.

The coupon was for a free taco from Taco Bell; The pink coin was for a free ice cream cone from Ryder's Ice Cream on West Main Street; the silver coin had the Ten Commandments printed on it, and the multi-colored thing on the upper left was the gnome.

I didn't collect much litter from the slope because I was pressed for daylight.

My keen eyes spotted a candy cane inked on a rock.

More of the endless stream of foam stickers mentioning me. This is just one of many removed today.

Season of the Missing Glove 2025/25, entry #6.

These religious tracts were protected from the impending snow and conveniently resting on a rock.

And I found not one, but TWO unopened cans of Mad Elf Ale. Sorry for the blurry photo. I wonder who they hire to design the can's artwork?

I returned to the parking lot at almost dark, and with the line of cars queueing up to view the Christmas lights extending quite far.