Bad Intel

Visit #1245, Saturday 2 May 20, 6:40-9:40AM, 5.5 miles, 15.5lbs. of litter.

Temps in the mid-50's, sunny.

Last week I told you I'd enlisted my scout recon platoon to check out trails I had not traveled, and to report where I would find any more fallen trees.

Well, my recon platoon got lost/forgot/overslept so I had to rely on intel from hikers I met last week, in forming my itinerary for today.

Like last week, I started early to ensure I would find a parking spot, and to spook as few hikers as possible. Well, overcrowding and insufficient social distancing continue to be a problem in Hubbard Park as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and city officials are considering even stricter park rules to control the problem.

My solution is to start early, get out early. This is the parking lot when I was done at 9:40AM.

I gathered my chainsaw and hiked around Merimere Reservoir, picking up the trail at the north end.

The longer I hiked, the more I failed to see any fallen trees. I was beginning to think the hikers I talked to and my recon patrol were one and the same. It was only when I was close to Castle Craig that I encountered my first fallen tree.

It's a poor photo, but the branches on the right are from the top of a hemlock which had snapped off.

I cut it up and tossed it aside. The second photo better shows the tree, after I began to cut it up.

The second tree is easier to visualize.

It was easier to cut up, too.

I descended from Castle Craig and hiked trails back toward the parking lot.

Near the Soap Box Derby track, I found my second discarded traffic cone in the past month. It was in a state of disrepair so I picked it up and planned to throw it in the dumpster. It was clumsy and heavy to carry along with my trash bag and other items. But shortly, a woman came along and kindly offered to carry it for me. I obliged. Thanks!

I dropped off my litter for the day, which included a plastic lens cover for one of the klieg lights for the flagpole at Castle Craig. Long ago cracked, it also had what looks like a bullet hole in it.

Remember; start early, when the rest of Meriden is still in their pajamas.

Marathon Man

You have to get up early if you're going to run a marathon. The sun's just rising over East Peak and Castle Craig at 6:35AM and I'm already at work.

Visit #1244, Saturday 25 April 20, 6:10-11:25AM, 8.8miles, 17.4lbs. of litter.
Temps in the low 40's, sunny.

I started early on Saturday morning to clean up recent storm damage to some of the trails. Starting early would ensure I would find a parking spot in Hubbard Park. Also, assuming I finish in a reasonable time frame, there would be fewer "Covid-19 Hubbard Park Visitors" alarmed by the sight of someone carrying a chainsaw in the park.

Neither plan worked.

Speaking of Covid-19, even Covid-litter has infected Hubbard Park.

I noticed the supermarkets have placed trash cans at the carriage return corrals in the parking lots as customers otherwise discard their masks and gloves on the ground. Sad.

Earlier this week, I scouted some trails on my mountain bike, entering Hubbard Park through the gate at the Berlin side. I noticed some new graffiti on the outside of the gate.

On this morning I had planned to spray paint over the graffiti, but when I reached it early Saturday, the gate was still wet from Friday night's rain. I didn't have anything to wipe it dry so I moved on hoping it would be dry on my return leg.

I reached the first trail and hiked up toward Castle Craig, clearing fallen trees as I hiked. Here are Before/After photos.

Someone lost their copy of "God's Master Key" near the top of the trail. I hope they can still get in.

Reaching the end of the first trail near Castle Craig, I walked the road toward West Peak and the next trail in need of clearing.

Along the way, it seems God provided me NOT with a master key but with something to wipe off the gate to paint over the graffiti. I wonder if they were HIS Master Boxers, or someone else's?

I started down the other trail and found this small collection of things, long lost to history in Hubbard Park.

I actually found them all in one spot on my bike ride earlier this week and conveniently piled them next to a tree to pick up today.

Now more tree clearing.

I was done with the second trail.

And now that I had a pair of God's Master Boxers, I could wipe the gate dry and spray over the graffiti.

Nearing the water treatment plant, my trash bag was getting heavy, so I left it there and started another.

I returned to the park via the Soap Box Derby track and set about another trail which parallels I-691. Here I came upon my Find of the Week.

A car bumper?! I can't believe I found this, as the highway is 300 yards away and this was virtually trailside.

I removed a couple more trees.

The car bumper was too large to leave in or near a trash can; it would just look unsightly in the park. So I walked over to the parks and recreation garage and deposited it and my second trash bag in their dumpster.

If you look at the stats at the top of my post you'll see it was truly a marathon session.

I have a few more trails to clear. I've dispatched my volunteer scout recon platoon to check the trails and report back where work is needed, hopefully before next weekend, when I can complete the job.

Trail Inspection

 After last week's rain and 50mph wind gusts, I was expecting to find some fallen trees, etc. across the trails. I wasn't disappointed.

Visit #1243, Saturday 18 April 20, 3:30-5:40PM, 5.1 miles, 10.9lbs. of litter.

Cloudy and clearing from rain, with temps in the 40's and a raw wind.

Friday night rain continued through much of Saturday but clearing in the mid-afternoon signaled it was time to get out on the trails and see what, if any, wind damage was done.

I reached the south end of Merimere Reservoir and found this sign posted on a tree.

I googled "Sour Stone Podcast" and came up empty. At least the price was reasonable.

I also found Season of the Missing Glove 2019/20 entries no.'s 16 and 17.

Reaching the Halfway House, I noticed some graffiti which needed attention. A little sandpaper and I called it good.

 Finally, just past the White Trail up to Castle Craig, I came upon the first evidence of storm damage.

Small stuff. I swung it aside.

I hiked the steep Blue Trail up to the road toward Castle Craig. At that altitude, there was still some snow from Friday/Saturday's preciptation, which was mostly rain at Meriden's lower elevations.

I picked up another trail which meanders down all the way to Merimere Reservoir.

On this trail I found what I was looking for.

That means next my next trip to Hubbard Park will be a Power Tool Weekend®! I still haven't inspected the remaining trails. That should occur in the coming weeks.

Down at Merimere Reservoir, the spillway was doing its job bleeding off the excess water due to the rain.

 Til' at least the end of the month; don't be like the daffodils; maintain a safe social distance.