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!