This Week In Hubbard Park: 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.