This Week In Hubbard Park: December 2024

Sunday, December 29, 2024

End of 2024 Tally

Let's get the 2024 stats out of the way:

Miles hiked: 234.3

Litter: 407.5 lbs.

Fallen trees and branches removed from trails by chainsaw: 25

Visit #1511, Sunday 29 December 24, 8:00-10:25AM, 5.5 miles, 3.2 lbs. of litter.

Temps in the 40s, very cloudy/foggy with occasional light rain.

This week I had the pleasure to use up the second half of my Christmas gift from pal Elmer- his assistance on the trail. And boy, did I take advantage of it. I turned him into a sherpa, schlepping my chainsaw for some trail maintenance, and more.

But first, let's catch up on last week.

Last week I removed some graffiti from signage at the gate across the road, but was stymied trying to remove a stubbord sticker. I pondered the problem and visited Hubbard Park on Christmas Day morning with my solution.

The sticker and metal sign were too cold for the sticker adhesive to be pliable. So I added heat in the form of my pencil torch. I was concerned about the paint on the sign melting but watching carefully I didn't have to worry. The sticker was scraped off quickly and easily. A Christmas gift to me!

Finished with that brief task, I walked a lap around the playscape and picked up litter. Among the finds were a knit hat, and a virtually brand new insulated flask, both of which I'll clean and bring to Goodwill.

But the special find was this 30+ page Connecticut Traffic Incident Scene Management Field Guide, presumably lost by police or fire personnel. Pocket sized on heavy, waterproof stock and spiral bound, it will come in handy whenever I happen to investigate an accident! I doubt it would be a quick sale at Goodwill.

This morning, with Elmer lugging the chainsaw and getting a taste of what I do maintaining the trails in Hubbard Park, we hiked up to the south end of Merimere Reservoir with his first task; removing graffiti from the sign on the gate.

We walked around the reservoir and picked up the trail enroute to two fallen trees which I wanted to remove from the trail. But like a dog that refuses to get in the car to go to the vet, Elmer refused to man the chainsaw to cut the fallen trees and demanded I do some work.

Okay...

And like the last few weeks, I continue to find tchotchkes and junk from our park's current vandal in residence.

Done with our hike, and for the year 2024, Elmer unburdens himself of the chainsaw admitting that lugging it around is certainly a workout in itself.

Happy New Year!

Sunday, December 22, 2024

Just A Dusting

The trails received a confectioner's sugar coating, just in time for the holidays although not enough to make things festive.

Visit #1510, Saturday 21 December 24, 10:15AM-12:25PM, 5.4 miles, 1.0 lbs. of litter.

Temps in the teens, sunny but breezy. It was actually quite enjoyable if sheltered from the wind like in the woods.

So this confectioner's powder snow- if it was so light and dusty, and so easy to move, tell me why someone is using a leaf blower rather a brush and old fashioned muscle power? Am I out of touch? Am I a luddite?

If someone could overdress on such a cold day, it was me. Hiking generated enough warmth that I had to shed a jacket during the hike.

I was heading to the spot where last week I found more graffiti on trees. I couldn't even get out of my vehicle without spotting Season of the Missing Glove 2024/25 #3.

Picking up the trail, I removed more of the constantly reappearing foam leaf stickers I find on the trees. I removed what I could and painted over what's left.

I reached my target tree and true to my personality ignored their request, while the graffiti vandal ignored spelling rules.

Hiking the Red Trail I spotted footprints leading directly into the woods. I followed them expecting to find perhaps a homeless camp. Instead I found this...

...more of the same junk from our park vandal that I've found in the past.

I also see our vandal purloined a legitimate trail marker from the established trails and used it to mark their new trail through the woods.

I took this one home in case someone wants to repatriate it on an established trail.

On another trail I found two downed trees awaiting removal, hopefully next week.

At the end of the trail I see the Meriden Water Department STILL hasn't replaced the lock on the gate at the Maloney Canal which has been missing since at least the end of October, despite my attempts to remind them.

The road back around Merimere Reservoir was icy...

...until in the sun at the north end; you could feel the warmth and there was shelter from the wind. Yum!

This is the shortest day of the year-it can't help but get warmer from here on! I'm only kidding myself...

Alas, the Christmas tree at Echo Point is not decorated this year, which is understandable after reading newspaper articles explaining the detriment to wildlife.

We'll have to make do with the wreath hung near the water treatment plant.

Reaching the gate across the road, I noticed some graffiti on the signs.

If I waited until next week to address this, it would compromise trail plans I already have for then.

So I returned to Hubbard Park early Sunday morning to clean up things.

The sticker was too stubborn to remove and will have to wait until I employ other methods or it warms up.

It was so cold Sunday morning- in the teens to single digits- that my hands were in severe pain within minutes despite my gloves. Rewarming them, I even felt nauseous. After leaving Hubbard Park I headed directly to Lowes and picked up a bag of hand warmers. I had such a hard time locating them on my own after checking all the common departments that I had to ask for help. Aisle 25, to the rescue! But the stock is getting low and the display so minimal you too might overlook them.

But bitter cold is no excuse to not enjoy a hike, or an open sleigh ride; just ask Santa! Merry Christmas!

Sunday, December 15, 2024

Santa's El(mer)f

'Tis that time of year, when Christmas decorations sprout up in Hubbard Park. I'm not talking about the lights but where you might not expect them like this wreath, near the water treatment plant.

Visit #1509, Sunday 15 December 24, 7:00-9:25AM, 3.2 miles, 15.7 lbs. of litter.

Temps in the teens, mostly sunny.

I received an early Christmas gift this year; pal Elmer said his gift to me would be two weekends assisting in Hubbard Park. I couldn't think of a better gift. It hands down beats underwear or a sweater, I could always use it, and there's no wrapping to waste! Best present I could ask for.

On the agenda this Sunday- my annual clean up the slope below Castle Craig, where people tend to toss their cans, bottles, and whatever. You never know what you'll find.

But first, you'll remember last week I cleaned up a lot of graffiti in Hubbard Park. The golden rule of hiking is to leave the trails as clean as or better than you found them and that includes no graffiti, and some people clearly don't get it.

Well, I'm currently reading Everest, Inc.- The Renegades and Rogues Who Built an Industry at the Top Of The World, by Will Cockrell. (If that link is paywalled for you, try this one.)

In it, Yvon Chouinard, founder of the Patagonia outdoor clothing brand, in speaking of the commercialization of climbing Mount Everest, it is written:

"To Yvon Chouinard, the crowds of inexperienced climbers were proof that the fundamental philosophy of the sport of climbing was being sullied. He and his band of Yosemite big-wall merry pranksters would often talk about what they called "clean climbing." Chouoinard even wrote an essay on the subject that was published in one of Patagonia's early catalogs. As an inventor of gear, Chouinard was focused on equipment that would allow climbers to adhere to a leave-no-trace ethic (emphasis mine). He felt strongly that once climbers completed a route, there should be no evidence they were there. "I believe people should have the freedom to do whatever they want , as long as it doesn't negatively impact other people, " he explains. "On these rock climbs today, you're not even looking at the rock, you're looking for bolts, or the next anchor, or the next chalk mark."

So climbing wants to adhere to the same "leave no trace" rule that applies to hiking, or vice versa but seems climbing has the same problem that hiking, and hiking in Hubbard Park, does.

Elmer and I hiked up to that steep slope and crawled around, picking up what we could find. And find we did.

Elmer and I found two 100 foot climbing ropes secured to trees around the base of the rocks below Castle Craig, as a sort of handhold/railing. I guess the climbers who put them there are the ones Yvon Chouinard was speaking about, above.

We each took one of the ropes. They will not go to waste.

Elmer also took home with him a bag of tyraps found on the steep pitch.

Between the rope and the tyraps it seems he made out pretty good for a couple hours' labor!

With him along for the ride, work on this slope was done in short order.

While on the slope, we met three members of the M+M Crew, but they didn't offer to help us.

As we returned to the parking lot, we found more of that recurring graffiti.

Back at the parking lot, Elmer was now in Pavlovian-mode, and couldn't resist picking up any litter as he walked across the parking lot. I know the feeling. As part of this collection he found Season of the Missing Glove 2024/25 entries #1 and 2...

...while I picked up a winter hat, which will eventually make its way to Goodwill.

Elmer weighs our haul.

But that was not all my "elf" gave me. I was treated to tailgate hot chocolate and snacks. It's quite possible I gained more calories than the 300+ I burned today. I may have to stay away from this guy otherwise I'll find hiking a fattening endeavor.