Upper Paugussett State Forest

Pond Brook with Water

2011-11-17T03:30:00.000-08:00

Boat Ramp is back to normal

The Re-Route is cleared

2011-11-16T06:30:00.000-08:00

Before (above) and After (below)

What happened to the water?

2011-11-15T18:29:00.000-08:00

Looks like someone forgot to close the Shepaug Dam

Not sure I have ever seen it this low before but that's probably the original stream bed.

Trail Maintenance on the Gussy

2011-11-11T16:59:00.000-08:00

Snotober Carnage

2011-11-03T17:02:00.000-07:00

The Poly Brody and Upper Gussy Trail
are FUBAR!

Driveway to the Echo Valley Lot

This was easy

Before the turn off to the Beach

At the Zig Zag

First tree down on the Gussy of many.

This will make a good little up and over

Even the new re-route wasn't spared

I never intended on closing the fall line descent

Snotober Storm Albert did it for me!

More hunter detritus

The Wet Spot is definitely wet

Any doubt that the cleavage will be by passed has now been erased

More Benching on the Trail Re-Loc

2011-10-16T15:56:00.000-07:00

I enlisted a fellow rider, Rick, who frequents the Gussy to come out and do a little more benching with me on Sunday.

Still have to finish this one section and build a rock bridge

I blocked off this section of the trail whit hopes

that people won't ride it until it's complete

The water collecting here has dampened my hopes

of quickly crossing here.

So we have to say to this side and connect back

to the trail further up

Trail Maintenance and Re Routes

2011-10-09T16:34:00.000-07:00

Back to Business on the Gussy

2011-08-01T18:51:00.000-07:00

The Gussy has been reopened thanks to Nathan Hale of DEEP

Just when I thought I was going to have reroute the trail
the State comes through!

Widow Maker I is down and now we have Widow Maker II
I have started rerouting around this

Summer at Gussy

2011-07-22T06:24:00.000-07:00

Blue Trail Entrance from the Echo Valley Lot

Someone forget something?

This looks kind of intentional to keep horses out?

Oak Tree is still Blocking the trail

People are cutting in front of the blow down

Got an idea for a re-route

Replace one Widow Maker for another?
Did we have another Tornado that wasn't a Tornado?

The Mulikin is Blocked!

2011-07-07T17:45:00.000-07:00

The Tornado that wasn't a Tornado had an impact on the Mulikin Trail as well. I found this blow down after the muddy stream crossing today.

You couldn't curb your horse?

2011-07-06T21:35:00.000-07:00

Not for nothing but there is no way the rider could not have know that their horse wasn't dropping this load on the trail and then to continue on with dismounting and kicking it off the trail. C'mon! It may be chewed up grass to you but it's still horse shit to everyone else!

Trail Maintenance @ Upper Paugussett

2011-06-16T02:17:00.000-07:00

Opened up the Jeep Trail off of Sandford Rd.

Re-Route around the big blowdown at the hairpin turn before the Wetspot. Still need to re-route the trail on the other side of this but that will be a bigger project that I want to get permission from the State of Connecticut first. It will result in an interesting technical descent/climb with some nice rolling grade dips.

I opened up the leafy section of the trail before the new blow down. This section needs to be cut back about every two years.

This was a tough old tree. First I started sawing then spent some time on it with the hatchet. Finally back to sawing till I got it to a point where I could jump on it and it broke. If I can get someone in to help me, we can probably move the log and ride it as another skinny.

The last blowdown on the Gussy just needed a few branches removed to open the trail back up. Another future skinny in the making, however it this one will probably require a chainsaw. There is also another tree down nearby, whether it was caused by this last storm is uncertain but it too is great skinny potential. It's located north of this position in an area where I was thinking of rerouting the trail at some future point.

This barberry shrub has been nagging at me for quite sometime, and scrapping at my legs as I ride by it each time. Since I had the right tools on my I took care of it. Still need to go in and dig it up because after all it is an invasive.

Also took care of this branch blocking the Poly Brodie. There is a lot of poison ivy here so I had to be careful not to step in any of it. I would rather step in dog shit because that will come off but if I get poison ivy on me it will wind up all over me in a matter of days. No thanks!

Upper Paugussett got hammered, too!

2011-06-13T18:53:00.000-07:00

After Sunday's ride at George C Waldo State Park I had to check out Upper Paugussett and it received it's fair share of blowdowns as well. In fact there are there is one section of forest road that leads down to the lake that is blocked and three section on the Upper Gussy Trail that are blocked as well.

If it weren't for the poison ivy, this would be an easy fix

Forest Road to the Lake is blocked

This area is marked for a firewood cut and one of the trees was felled already

3/4s of mile into the Gussy, the first blockage - can be fixed with a hand saw

No impact to the trail here but up from here is an old dead tree about waist high
blocking off the whole trail. Handsaw will fix it.

A Chainsaw is needed here!

Done right, could get another nice skinny out of it

Saturday Morning on the Gussy

2011-06-04T09:10:00.000-07:00

The Gussy is looking pretty good

This Up-and-Over needed a little fixing

Nice to see a shared use trail getting used by our Equine friends

Couldn't tell whether this was a natural fall or some feeble attempt
by a hiker to slow mountain bikers down. Well it got moved.

Spring is quietly unfurling it's presence

2011-05-05T19:09:00.000-07:00

Top of the Gussy

Spring 2011

2011-05-04T05:13:00.000-07:00

Armored Stream Crossing

Upper Gussy Training Circuit

The Right of Way (ROW) - the former extension of Albert's Hill Road

My daughter riding on the Poly Brody Forest Road

Katie and I at the top of the Poly Brody

The Wet Spot

Once Flooded Stream

Log Ride & Huck

Log Ride Short

Taco Stand

Snow Shoeing at Upper Paugussett

2011-03-06T10:28:00.000-08:00

I know it's been a while since I was last in Upper Paugussett State Forest, in fact the last time I was there I was riding my mountain bike down the Upper Gussy when I hit a hole in the trail that I have hit a thousand times before, only this time my front wheel taco'ed. For the longest time I have been looking for a good name for this section of the Gussy trail and now I think I have it, Satan's Taco!

From Cycle Snack

While it really doesn't look like a taco the fact that I taco'ed there is why I am calling it this.

So I headed out for a 2 hour romp in the snow. Started out following some hunter/game trails I found last fall but that turned into a big bushwhacking trip. Still there are some neat things in the woods between the Poly Brody and the Blue Trail.

I know the picture below doesn't look like much but what I found interesting in these rocks that were arranged here is that the look like they might have been part of a foundation. If you are wondering why that is unusual is with the exception along Alberts Hill, there is not one visible foundation that I have come across in the 800+ acres that make up Upper Paugussett State Forest. This could be plausible because it's off the old road that goes down to the water.

Back on the Poly Brody, it looks like there have been some walkers but surprisingly, no a lot of traffic.

This looks like there might have been ATV through here at one point.

And it appears there have been some XC skiers.

Parking at Echo Valley is nearly non-existent so it's no wonder there is so few traffic.

Autumn pictures along the Gussy

2010-11-03T03:40:00.000-07:00

Armoring on the Blue Trail

2010-10-19T06:41:00.000-07:00

While walking with the Newtown Conservation Commission on Saturday, we hooked around on the Blue Trail to circle back onto the Gussy Trail for more examples of benching and armoring when we came upon this crude armoring on the blue trail. My guess it was done by mountain bikers that ride the western side trails, which is a mixture of blue blaze and horse trails.

Newtown Conservation Commission Trail Walk

2010-10-18T10:06:00.000-07:00

Went out on Saturday with the Newtown Conservation Commission to show them examples of trail benching and armoring to give them idea of what to expect when I am building a trail on Town Open Space. I am working on my first trail on Town land called the Point of Rocks Preserve and the Commission isn't quite up to speed yet on trails even though they have a mandate to acquire more open space for the purpose of building trails.

Paula Burton is explaining the benching process.
She benched this section of the trail.

Fall on the Gussy

2010-10-17T21:04:00.000-07:00

Went for a walk on Saturday at Upper Paugussett State Forest with the Newtown Conservation Commission to show them examples of how single track trail are built and I couldn't get over how vibrant the fall colors were in the forest that morning.

Clouds and Blue sky made for excellent color combinations

Looking down the Gussy from ROW

Looking the other way down the Gussy along the ROW

Before the trail gnomes

2010-09-20T17:29:00.000-07:00

Here is the blow down on the Gussy Trail that is about 50 yards past the double stream armoring section. Paula did a fine job cutting the log into two usable pieces. Only, they are mighty heavy and rolling them into position will be a chore.

Haven't quite decided how to set them up. A lot depends on how far I can move them. The larger of the two, which is the heaviest, too, is probably the easiest to maneuver because it will roll. The other one, with the bough sticking out will not be.

Didn't your drill Sergent ever teach you the proper way to camo something?

2010-09-18T04:59:00.000-07:00

Found this deer blind about 30 yards from the corner where salt block was placed. I wonder if that really got the deer to track through here. Fortunately, the orientation is away from the trail and over looks a little clearing (made by the hunter perhaps?). Guess it's perfect for bow hunting and I appreciate the hunters forethought in making the kill zone away from the trail.

Not sure about the legality of this structure, though. If anything, cutting the brush for camo is probably illegal and clearly the person responsible for building this never learned that you don't use dead leaves to camo a structure. Maybe deer can't see it but to me it sticks out like a sore thumb.

I wonder what the DEP will say?

Sunday Observations

2010-09-14T04:37:00.000-07:00

Haven't been down the Brody in a while so I road the basic Echo Valley Loop Sunday evening before it got dark. First thing I noticed rolling into the Echo Valley lot was it appears there has been some more ATV usage. It would appear that they are staying on the fire road. Of course if the state did a proper job blocking the opening across from Silver City Lane then there probably wouldn't be a problem at all.

Hippy Stack

Blockage - didn't look like anyone has been using this part where it was logged last year. If they are using it, they usually come in from the intersection with the white trail, so this doesn't make any sense.

Early Morning on the Gussy

2010-09-08T18:27:00.000-07:00

While riding the Gussy Trail at Upper Paugussett Wednesday morning I came across an interesting thing - a reflector tab. Looks like hunters are starting to use the trail by putting reflector tabs in the trees. Of course, at 6:30 in the morning I decided to have a little illumination myself.

Rick pointed out in his Trail Ambassador report from last weekend that there was another blowdown and it's between the second and third stream crossings (if headed north). Trail gnomes have already made it into an up-and-over, however, this has great skinny potentional.

Anyone reading this post who has a chainsaw and would like to help, please contact me: eatsleepfish[at]gmail[dot]com.

The Hunter Dumper

2010-09-02T06:33:00.000-07:00

Rick submitted this picture of one of the regular hunters at Upper Paugussett State Forest. This is the guy that I ran across a few years ago taking a dump in his van while parked at the Echo Valley Lot. I remember riding up into the lot one fine day only to find the side of his van wide open with him in it. After chatting him up a bit I realized that he was sitting on a bucket and his trousers were bunched at the knees. I quickly bade him good day and rode off!

Sept 1: Orange Season has begun

2010-09-01T07:05:00.000-07:00

Got a note from Rick this morning that said he had a good ride at Oh Dark Thirty on the Gussy but as he was hitting one of the stream crossings he heard a gun shot. At the Wet Spot he encountered a hunter hunting squirrels. Time to break out the Orange!

Early Morning Eeries

2010-08-27T06:25:00.000-07:00

Got out to the Gussy for a little early morning ride before work. The drought effect is in full effect making it look like fall on the Gussy. Hopefully, the 4 or 5 inches of rain we just got will change that. Gussy is seeing a lot more knobby activity but very little horse. Everything is riding nice and smooth.

More trees down on the Gussy

2010-08-18T04:09:00.000-07:00

I think this tree was leaning for the longest time and now it's down.

Perfect skinny material, just need to ramp the end.

This tree went down near the blowdown that is off the trail down from Blue Trail Cross Roller.

Rick told me about this one and he did a great job putting some smaller logs on both

sides to ensure riding over the log doesn't impact the flow of this part of the trail.

It rides smooth as buttah!

Here it is from the other side.

Trees are still in shock and dropping leaves.
We got at least an inch of rain Sunday night
and more rain on Monday night, too
hopefully it will help

More Stuntry

2010-08-15T05:50:00.000-07:00

While it may look like fall, the drought conditions in this part of Connecticut send the trees into a premature leaf drop, it's really just the middle of summer and by the hefty amounts of waffle prints on the trails it appears the Gussy Trail is getting a lot of use now. There were tire marks in the leaves at the base of the roller pictured above, something I haven't seen yet, except for my own. The skinny, built by the trail gnomes, seems to be getting a lot of attention too with this new and improved ramp built. Yes, it seems the Gussy Trail is becoming a popular trail when riding at Upper Paugussett State Forest.

An Up-and-Over for how much longer?

2010-08-14T06:08:00.000-07:00

While Rick was fixing a flat I noticed this Up-and-Over needed a little fixing although we have been riding it this way for some time now. I simply moved the flat rock that used to be right before log back to it's original position. Looking at what used to be the first of two logs, it has been ground down and I wonder how much longer till other one gets ground into wood chips.

The New Up-and-Over

2010-08-13T06:01:00.000-07:00

Finally got back to the forest, with Rick this time, for a little early morning ride before work and we tried out the new Up-and-Over courtesy of some trail gnomes. Here is a good picture of the feature. The middle log provides a little kicker: first on your chainring or bashguard and then the rear wheel that you need to be prepared for but as long as you have good momentum it's a no brainer. If you haven't seen it already, I posted some video on Cycle Snack of Rick and I riding this feature.

De-pooping the Line

2010-08-12T17:44:00.000-07:00

Last week I wrote about this serious pile of road apples that some equestrienne left right in the best line to ride at the Wet Spot. It's actually the hardest line to take but the most fun. Well, after looking at it for almost two weeks I decided to take matters into my hands by using a stick to push the crap off the trail.

Pooping the Line

2010-08-10T05:07:00.000-07:00

I think I posted this on the Snack last week but thought I would make mention of it here after riding through here again. Here is a good example of when an equestrienne doesn't curb their horse what it does to the trail. The best line in the wet spot starts where that mound of road apples happily sits.

So I found a new line last night, just a little to the left. If you go too far to the left and not over the rocks then you are hitting the P-Path/Loser Line. You have to roll over the big rock just to the left of the poo. Make sure your speed is up because those rocks will stall you out.

Thanks to some poo, it just got harder to clean the wet spot.

More Trail Gnomes at Work

2010-08-09T10:05:00.000-07:00

A little handiwork was accomplished at this log cut in the past week and unfortunately I didn't bring my camera to get a shot of it so I am going to have to give you a written description instead.

What they did was move the cut pieces shown in the picture above and use the log itself as the up-and-over. It's really nice and rides great but make sure you have your weight back when going over it. It's now fun to ride in both directions and appears to be getting some use evidenced by the outer ring marks in the log.

New and Improved terrain feature

2010-07-31T18:05:00.000-07:00

On my ride up the Gussy this morning I came across the new up-and-over in a state of dissaray. Not sure if this was an intended or unintended act. It could be been done by a mountain biker trying to huck or wheelie drop on the down side which could make the smaller log roll out of position. I found another rock to wedge it in better and it rolls even better now.

Another blow down

2010-07-18T07:30:00.000-07:00

Only, it's not blocking the trail rather just off it. Rick and I were thinking that if you were to cut the tree that it's leaning against and were to roll it up hill and cut off the other end (or not) you could get a really cool skinny out this one. It would be like a crescent.

Upper Gussy in 3D

2010-07-06T05:01:00.000-07:00

Making lemonade

2010-07-03T09:45:00.000-07:00

When mother nature hands you lemons it's time to make lemonade. Blowdown on the Gussy about 50 yards above the log ride short. Didn't have time to cut it so we built up a little ramp to hit. Nice huck or roll on the back side, too.

Another view of the new Skinny

2010-05-30T17:10:00.000-07:00

Made some adjustments today. Helps if you loop out a bit and I had to move the Tranny over.

From Blowdown to Skinny

2010-05-29T10:38:00.000-07:00

A trail user that I ran into at Upper Paugussett State Forest last fall, Andre Artois, contacted me last week about helping out on the Gussy Trail. Turns out his father, Richard, is pretty handy with a chainsaw so we arranged to meet at Echo Valley at 8 AM to take care of the tree that was blown down and blocking the trail. A friend of mine that I work with and fellow Newtown resident Rob Goyda met us as well. From the Echo Valley lot, we hiked in on the blue trail to where it hits the Gussy and then went in from there.

We surveyed the area and decided that the old up and over would have to come out so Richard cut that old log in half and me cleared out the area. By rearranging this area, the Equestrienne users of the trail can now negotiate this section without having to dismount or for that matter go really slow because now it's completely open for them as well. Bikers have a clear shot coming up the trail and also three ways to descend through here, too. The first way is to roll off the rock near the stump, descend on dirt or as you will see further in this post roll an excellently crafted skinny.

Rich cut two sections of the tree off first, the broken end by the stump and then another four foot section that could be used at a later date as a nice up and over feature further down the trail (it would mean rolling it but it's pretty manageable).

The last section, which is about twenty feet long, was cut and positioned perfectly so that you could roll it as a skinny. Rich sliced off a section for the tranny that matched perfectly to an existing rock we had for a ramp.

Then he made perpendicular cuts so that we could chop out a treadway using hatchets. We braced it rocks on both sides so that it wouldn't roll and covered up a section near the top where the tip of a big rock protruded from the ground and if you were to fall off and hit that it would be nasty.

Did a little benching leading up to the tranny, basically removed the duff to get to the mineral soil so that it would be firmer as you lined up for the log ride.

Now every thing is nice and opened with three choices to ride, the roller, a pass through, and the skinny. We piled some rocks at the end of the skinny so that you could also roll it if hucking it isn't your style.

from left to right: Richard, Andre, Me, Rob

The finished product

More Ploppage

2010-05-28T18:26:00.000-07:00

Don't recall if I had seen these last week or not. They do look like they were dropped while the horse was in motion so I will have to give the rider the benefit of the doubt. Now, if another rider came through and didn't get down from their horse to kick the crap off the trail, then shame on them! A shared use trail doesn't mean it's a communal toilet.

Trail Ploppage

2010-05-15T12:58:00.000-07:00

The equestriennes are back after a long winter hiatus they seem to have found the Gussy Trail again. I had noticed hoof prints on the Brody a few times earlier this spring but they seemed to have stayed off the Gussy during the winter.

I am going to give the rider the benefit of the doubt and assume they didn't know that Mr Ed was droping apples as they were getting along with the doggies, unless of course there was more than one horse. By the number of tracks in the trail I think there was only one.

Trail Blockage

2010-05-13T20:01:00.000-07:00

Big tree went down blocking the trail at one of the up and overs a long the trail. Going to need a chainsaw to get through this one. If I can't get someone to help I might have to do it the old fashioned way.

It's Official - The Upper Gussy is on the State Map!

2010-05-13T15:24:00.000-07:00

Jerry Milne from the State DEP Forestry division emailed me the link to Paugussett State Forest, Upper Block, with the new map showing all the recoginized trails in the forest. You will note that there seems to be a lot of emphasis on the fact that the blue trail is for hiking only.

Rainy Saturday

2010-04-19T21:32:00.000-07:00

Even with the rain, the Gussy drains really well. Shot above is looking down the incline towards the rock and log up and over.

Below is the opposite direction. There is a soft spot right before the rock wall that I am going to have to cordoroy. It will be interesting to see how the horses will get through there. Might have to cut a P-path for them on the otherside, which I bet they would like because I imagine that little technical section is not their cup of tea.

Deer Bone?

2010-04-12T06:36:00.000-07:00

It's just chewed up grass, right?

2010-04-10T06:33:00.000-07:00

And it breaks down really quick

Rest Stop

2010-04-09T06:30:00.000-07:00

Moss

2010-04-08T06:29:00.000-07:00

First Stream Crossing

2010-04-07T06:26:00.000-07:00

First Stream Crossing

2010-04-07T06:14:00.001-07:00

More Trail Shots

2010-04-06T06:22:00.000-07:00

This Spot is still Wet

2010-04-04T05:43:00.000-07:00

Hiking back on the Right of Way

2010-04-03T05:01:00.000-07:00

Trail Re-Route on the Gussy

2010-04-03T04:16:00.000-07:00

Re-routed a section of the Gussy Trail on Friday to get around a wet area near the third stream crossing (if you were headed north). Ironically I had re-routed this section two years ago to take advantage of a rock garden but found out later that run off collects in low point and it has become rutted out.

Benched Before/After

Benched Before/After - Close up

The Magic Carpet Ride

The WET Spot

2010-03-25T14:35:00.000-07:00

There is a nice trickle of water running throught the wet spot now. Of course the 2.5" rain we had earlier this week seems to be the main culprit.

While it is wet there is no mud so riding through one shouldn't be worried about making any ruts.

The Bucket: A Close up.

2010-03-09T15:26:00.000-08:00

Climbing up the Gussy this afternoon and noticing the bucket again got me thinking that this rock outcropping might have some potential roller opportunities. When I have more time, I will have to explore that opportunity. Besides the three sisters due west of this point there is another rock out cropping that I need to explore that at one time I was going to include in the trail routing but ended up going round. I think it's time to revisit it.

How did the bucket get up there?

2010-02-20T16:25:00.000-08:00

Virgin corn snow on the Gussy this morning. Slow but manageable going up and lots of fun coming down.

Riding up the Gussy found the old tin bucket that was near the the three sisters roller sitting on the back of this rock out cropping.

Tracks in the snow heading west from the Trichter (funnel). I have ridden back that way once. Could be interesting but wouldn't want to miss the Trichter.

Slipped off the skinny?

2010-02-15T17:43:00.000-08:00

Tire tracks in the snow on the skinny. Looks like a little slippage.

Winter Riding on the Gussy Trail

2010-02-14T20:36:00.000-08:00

Can't ask for better conditions than this in the middle of winter. Snow is the right consistency for plenty of traction with a added benifit of buffing out the trail! ATVs are staying off the trail, too.

The wetspot is riding really nice, too!

Raped on the Gussy Trail ... by ATVs!

2010-01-06T17:23:00.000-08:00

ATV tracks came off the Poly Brody and headed in on the Gussy.

This up-and-over didn't deter them one bit.

After that little up-and-over rather than continue to follow the trail the tracks head west towards the Blue Blaze trail.

They must have come up from the Blue Blaze trail and picked up the ROW. From here they went through a stonewall break and headed behind Sidney's house and the Blue Blaze trail that goes to the Echo Valley Lot.

I wish DEP would do something about the gaping hole in the perimeter down by Silver City Lane. It's because of this they have open access to the forest and are destroying the trails.

Looks like I will have to spend next spring ATV proofing the trail.

ATVs in Upper Paugussett State Forest

2009-12-26T08:43:00.000-08:00

After skiing I drove down to the other trail head to see where the ATVs came from. The first thing I noticed was that the No Motorized Vehicle sign was torn down. It appears one set of tracks may have come from the north and the other set of tracks came from the south, which I would have to assume came from Bramble Trail.

Close up of the torn off sign

This is were the ATV(s) appear to be coming from

Intersection of Bramble Trail and Hanover Rd

Following the tracks they seem to be coming from the first house on the left

Cross Country Skiing on the Gussy

2009-12-24T11:17:00.000-08:00

Finally got out and took advantage of the last snow fall to blanket Upper Paugussett State Forest with 6 inches of powder. I should have skied on Sunday when we got the snow but just wasn't feeling it, not to mention it was 20 degrees and pretty windy. Above is the route I took today. The grey line is the approximation of the logging road because I forgot to turn on the GPS.

I started with a blaze orange, windstopper fleece jacket that I normally wear during hunting season but that got too hot, 15 minutes in. Went to a vest for another 15 and then took that off too. Stayed with the sweater, zip jersey, and riding shirt underneath. Couldn't find my long johns so I went with my riding tights and BDUs.

To give you an idea the route I took compared to how the trail is normally ridden I overlayed my last mountain bike ride on the Gussy and I have to say while it's a great trail to ride, it is not conducive to Cross Country Skiing. Still, it was worth spending two hours in the forest and getting an outstanding aerobic workout!

Doesn't look like that No Motorized Vehicles sign is having any impact! Looks like the kid on Bramble Trail had a field day on the Poly Brody. At least, that is my guess because I drove by the other end later and found ATV tracks leaving the forest in the direction of Bramble Trail. Also the first house on the left, on Bramble trail has quite a few ATV tracks around, not to mention on particular set exiting the property onto the road.

Yesterday, I saw a bunch of cars parked at the Pond Brook Boat Ramp and quite a few of them had bike racks. Looks like they had a great day of riding, too.

No ATVs on the Mulikin Trail so I went this way for the fresh powder and then took the little connector trail back to the Poly Brody. No way was I going to take it all the way down, that descent would be deadly on the skis.

At the Gussy Trail head (above) you can see where the bikes went in (or came out). The ATVs seem to have churned up a lot of leaves. They probably came through on Sunday, just after the snow.

No this is interesting. It would appear that the riders took the connector trail that NBLA made back in the day to the blue trail but all the signs that I saw further down pointed to riders coming up the Gussy Trail rather than riding down it. Could be they went both ways.

Snowshoes tracks

Snow on the Gussy

2009-12-09T20:04:00.000-08:00

I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.

-- Mae West

One more tweak before blazing!

2009-11-26T02:17:00.000-08:00

Well it's high time I finish up the Gussy Trail so that I can move on to bigger and better things. I recently joined the town's Trail Committee and going to look at building an extension or feeder trail to the Gussy on some nearby, town open space. I am also looking at helping someone built a trail on some state land, also in Newtown, and if that isn't enough making an extension to the CT NEMBA's Rock & Roll Trail so that it links up with the Blue Trail that goes into South Pond.

As for the Gussy, it's high time I get out and blaze the trail because I am getting complaints from visitors that they can't find the trail to start or once on it, they can't follow it. I guess these riders shouldn't try riding the trails at Nassahegen then because they will be in for a shock.

Wednesday's ride was really fun because I rode up the trail on my Single Speed for the first time and I think I am going to start riding it this way more often because it certainly gives you a different perspective. The short climb past the armoring, that Tren and I did this spring, has been bugging me since day one and I think I have it figured out now.

When you pass through the two pines there is a nice swale with maybe a 3% slope heading up to a little hillock above the trail. On the other side of the hillock it's really flat with some nice rocks that could be fun to roll off of - kind of like a miniature golf course, only for bikes.

Going the opposite direction, I want to bring the trail through the two pines and then cut diagonally across the lower swale and bring the trail around the little basin to meet up with the existing trail right at the start of the bypass for the horses. Hopefully, I'll be able to move that tree to create a nice skinny and use some of the pieces Tom cut up as an up-and-over or an elevated corduroy.

The Leaves are down

2009-11-04T14:45:00.000-08:00

It seems like it's been a month or so since the last time I was on the Gussy Trail. Did a quick spin on it and it's looking great. With all the leaves down, though, it's really slippery. Also of note, I have heard through the grapevine that some trail riders came up to Newtown the other day but couldn't find the Gussy so it looks like I am going to have to finally blaze the trail. Look for that sometime this month or early next. Probably be green to stay constant with what has already been done.

Fall on the Gussy

2009-10-17T17:16:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of leaves down on the Gussy but it's still pretty dry. The leaves make things a little slippery though. Also, it looks like the Western Connecticut Orienteering Club is using the Gussy for one of their meets. I found three points on the trail.

Last time I went down the Gussy on a rigid bike I was on my Fetish 69er. This is my Soul Cycles Dillinger on it's innaugural ride.

Tire Tracks on the Gussy?

2009-09-30T17:33:00.000-07:00

Doesn't look like an ATV and it while it wouldn't be difficult to get a car up to this point, which is about 50 yards in from the Poly Brody, I think I would have noticed matted down grass on the way that a car, ATV or a tractor would make. Now that I think about it, my guess is that this mark belongs to some sort of hunter's contraption used to haul dead deer.

Not far from those tracks there was an Oak Tree limb down across the trail. At first I was wondering if I could make it into some sort of natural blocker but it wasn't shaped right.

Instead, I did what any good CT NEMBA Trail Ambassador would do, I cleared it away and opened the trail back up.

Seems there has been quite a bit of horse traffic lately and they are doing a much better job at curbing, too. In fact at one point it appears some piles were recently kicked off the trail.

Almost only counts in horsehoes and handgrenades ...

2009-09-13T17:15:00.000-07:00

but it appears curbing your horse appears to be a new contender to that category. Perhaps it's the relationship to horseshoes that made the rider feel that they only needed to get off the trail a little bit. I appreciate the effort but next time I hope that rump is further off the trail.

By the way, the armoring on the stream crossing is really sweet!

Stream Armoring

2009-09-12T18:50:00.001-07:00

I took my daughter, Katie, with me today to do some work on the Gussy Trail. I really wanted to finish the Pond Brook Connecter by armoring the stream crossing. First we went deep into the forest to a Rock Store to get a few flat rocks.

Then began the process of arranging them and getting them to fit just right. I found a few flat rocks nearby to supplement, too.

Not only were my boots and gloves wet from working in the water, I was drenched with sweat.

Two hourse later it was done. Now your disc brake rotor won't get wet crossing this stream.

Not the right way to block a trail

2009-09-03T05:04:00.000-07:00

I ran into a neighbor on his quad yesterday while driving home from work and asked him where he rides that thing, of course the simple fact that he was riding it on the road was illegal, and he knew it, but when he said the State Forest, I had to go see for myself. I don't know where he was thinking but I couldn't see any signs of ATV usage in my area of the forest.

At the start of my ride, I headed down to the Pond Brook to check out the reroute and it's looking good. Figuring I would loop back on the new section of trail and the old section of trail I came across this trail block. While I appreciate the thought just putting logs that way probably won't deter a lot of people. If you want to block the trail you have to put a lot more brush down in order to get your point across that this section of the trail is closed. And what about the other end? Not sure if I mentioned this when I was doing the reroute but I left a spot open for people who might still use the old section.

We'll see if it holds.

It's done!

2009-08-24T03:51:00.000-07:00

I finished working on the Pond Brook Connector reroute. I held CT NEMBA trail maintenance day and had four people from the chapter show up to help me finish the rerouting and we got it all done in two hours. We even planted shrubs taken from the new bypass/connection to restablish the hillside.

All that is needed on the Gussy at this point is a horse bypass that marked out with red tape a couple of weeks ago and a little more rock work there. I want to bench one more section, I need to blaze the trail, and lastly put in a Kiosk or two.

Trail Maintenance: 8/23

2009-08-14T10:09:00.000-07:00

Work continues on the Pond Brook Connector for the Gussy Trail on Sunday, August 23rd. Need to finish benching the trail reroute, create a bike trail connector from the trail head to the start of the reroute and block the old trail (scar).

Meet at the entrance to the Pond Brook State Boat Ramp (park back in the grass from the driveway) . I will be parked in the little parking at the trail head.

Meet a 8:30 AM.

Bring your Bike!

CT NEMBA's Big Ride Series continues after the TM with a Tour de North Hanover. 10 to 15+ miles in North Newtown.

Pond Brook Connector Trail

2009-08-09T09:41:00.000-07:00

Here is what I did today on the Pond Brook Connector Trail. First I layed it out with pin flags. Then I raked the path, cut branches that were sticking out and moved all the dead fall. I moved logs and downed trees on the outside of the switch back curve and then I stared benching. There was probably a inch or two of duff and then I was already at the mineral soil.

I started benching from the top of beginning of the switch back curve and stopped at the current trail.

Below is the switch back curve.

I made a little grade reversal and cut a drainage trench.

Where did all the crap go?

2009-07-23T19:19:00.000-07:00

Did a quick spin on the Gussy this morning and besides noticing how nice the trail is another thing I noticed was that all those piles of horse poo were gone. When I rode through last weekend it looked like the Governor's Horse Guard went down the Gussy Trail. I hope it was an equestrienne that did the work because that means that are taking a more active interest in this trail, but if it wasn't then my helmet is off to whom ever did it.

Trail Work Day: August 9th

2009-07-20T17:51:00.000-07:00

Sunday, August 9th

8:30 AM

Pond Brook Boat Ramp

Now that the main part of the trail is essentially complete it's time to fix the lower section of the Upper Gussy Trail. For those that use the trail from the other end of the forest, Echo Valley, you probably seldom ride the connector trail that leads from the Boat Ramp at Pond Brook to the Poly Brody Forest Road. One of the conditions for allowing the Upper Gussy Trail to go in was the inclusion of the connector trail and thus fixing the ugly scar along the stream bank that you see from the road. Below is an overview of the area.

The existing trail is in red and where it goes down the bank and the path it takes up the bank is in green. The orange line is where the trail will change into a benched desent.

As you can see, the existing route goes right up the fall line of the slope and the pictures below show you the ugliness of the scar that it creates.

I originally had to two proposals for tackling this problem. The first one was to go the opposite direction of the second proposal (below) but after looking at the rock sticking out of the bank, which is probably shelf, it seems going the other way will be much easier. The actual benching will be easy. The hard part will be finding a suitable Rock Store in which to armor the stream bed at the crossing.

Please ensure that you wear sturdy boots, bring water, and bug spray.

More Trail signs of the Gnomes

2009-07-12T12:19:00.000-07:00

The Trail Gnomes beat me to it, they made a very nice up and over on the blow down on the upper part of the Gussy. Rides really well and hills in that little dip in the trail. Thanks guys, I owe you a few frosties!

Horse Dootie

2009-07-11T18:16:00.000-07:00

The Upper Gussy is seeing a lot of horse traffic evidenced by the copious amounts of road apples. Above is a good example of what happens when a horse drops a load while in motion. Not sure what's worse, a big mound or several little ones that you have dodge. But don't let the road apples discourage you from the Gussy because it's a sweet riding trail.

Greasy Gussy

2009-07-05T04:11:00.000-07:00

This is an old pile of road apples still in the middle of the trail from the last time I rode through here. I wish the equestriennes would just get off their horse anytime they pass kick the crap off the trail. Is that too much to ask for? It's funny that at the mere mention of making a stink about it gets me labeled as hater from coast to coast. However, when you ask why don't they do something about it, all I hear are crickets. I think the key is just awareness, keep drawing attention to it and when it finally starts happening, bring it everyone's attention.

Haven't been on the Gussy for a month and there were quite a few blowdowns along the way, like this one here. At first I thought I might move it but it appears people have been riding over it. I want to bench in this section, too, so this will make a good control point.

This up-and-over needed fixing so I spent a little time working on it. What it really needs is a big, flat rock on the side closest to me in this picture.

More horse poop

Curb your Horse?

2009-06-07T16:55:00.000-07:00

I encountered no less that 4 piles Equine Excrement on the Gussy Trail this weekend. I thought the proper way for equestriennes for stopping along the trail is to point the rump of the horse off trail in the event that Trigger drops a massive so it doesn't land on the trail. These examples don't appear from a walking horse more like one that was stopped. Now before you all get into a huff and tell me it just chewed up grass, please ride through on a bike sometime and let all that check up grass cover Your fourth point of contact and hydration pack, and then report back to me whether it's a pleasant experience try to clearn it off.

While it's great to see more signs of trail useage from both mountain bikers and equestriennes alike, it would be nice if the latter user group cleaned up a little after their animals. Please kick the crap off the tail!

Armored Section By Pass

2009-05-21T18:55:00.000-07:00

I finally got back to the Gussy Trail today after the ill fate ride Tuesday morning where my bike had some mechanical issues and I couldn't lay out the by pass that I originally intended to do. This evening, the same bike was working better and I got out and marked the new bypass.

Upper Gussy in the News!

2009-05-17T08:28:00.000-07:00

The Upper Gussy was written up in the Newtown Bee, the local paper. The name of the ariticle is Upper Gussy opens for Hoof and Tread. If that link doesn't work then click on the Newtown Bee link, got to the features tab and look for the title of the story.

Did a little trail ride this morning and once again the trail did not dissapoint even after all the rain we just got. This trail drains really well and the muddy spots are few and far between now that this section of the trail is finally fixed. The armoring needs a little tweaking because coming down there is a big root that throws to the left of the trail and your really need to be heading right down the middle.

Probably going to need to create a by pass for our four legged friends -- maybe that could be a good project for NBLA on May 31st when they come for some trail work.

Before

After

Here is a little video of what it's like to ride the armoring. It needs some work but for now it will make this muddy section no longer muddy.

I Should Have Known!

2009-05-13T03:47:00.000-07:00

Except for the Deer Bait that some hunter placed on a rock lower down on the Gussy Trail by the third stream crossing seeing actual garbage on the trail has been non-existent. However, looking at the DEP Website, I see that the 2009 Spring Turkey Season opened on May 6th, which means time to start wearing blaze orange again. I guess I will just have to keep mum on the huge Tom I saw during my ride.

DEP recommends the following: Eliminate the colors red, white, and blue from your hunting outfit. These colors are associated with a gobbler’s head and could be mistaken as such. To any bikers, hikers, and equestriennes this also pertains to you!

Up and Over repairs

2009-05-10T07:43:00.000-07:00

Fixed a couple of up-and-overs along the Gussy this morning. Hopefully they will last a little longer.

New Roller

2009-05-08T19:35:00.000-07:00

Finally got out on the Gussy today for a quick afterwork ride and got to sample the goods on the new roller Rob and I opened up. It has a much more smoother transition at the bottom. Only drawback is the run up from behind. Ground is very soft and it gets really technical. Then you are up and on the point of no return.

More Benching

2009-05-05T16:28:00.000-07:00

Rob and I did some more benching on the southern section of the Gussy. We benched around the rock outcrop where the trail intersects with the Blue Trail.

There are few more places further in that I want to bench as well but the trail for the most part is complete. The last major project will be rerouting the trail up from Pond Brook. That could be a major undertaking but it will be worth while.

Trek Bicycles / NEMBA Trail Care Series Upper Gussy Season Opener

2009-04-21T21:30:00.000-07:00

The Trek Bicycles / NEMBA Trail Care Series at Upper Paugussett Season Opener will be on May 3rd, starting at 9 AM. All participants, provided they sign the waiver, will be eligible for a Trek Bicycle drawing at the end of the season. You can read about last year's winner, CT NEMBA's very own Paula Burton, over on the CT NEMBA website.

We'll meet at the parking lot at the end of Echo Valley Rd and we'll concentrate our efforts on the sections of the trail between the old Right of Way (ROW) and the Jeep Trail that starts off of Sanford Rd (see map above).

Areas that I want to concentrate on is benching the small climb behind Roller at the second intersection with the blue trail. There is some dead fall atop that boulder that needs to be moved, too. Widen a turn down from the stone wall breach and maybe adjust the trail through there, too, as well as take care of a dead tree that is still standing and finish the benching that was started last year near the Jeep trail. The work areas are marked in red on the map below.

Please ensure to bring water, sturdy shoes, gloves and bug repellent. Please try to arrive before 9 AM so we can get everybody signed in and tools handed out. If you are running late or lost, please call my cell and I can guide you in: 203-733-6240.

If you arrive late, just head west on the Blue Trail. It starts in the north west corner of the parking lot. Follow the trail until you hit the second intersection with the Gussy. If you don't see anyone as you come upon that intersection, then take the Gussy (heading north) till you find us.

Also please note, there is active logging taking place at Upper Pauggussett so if the lot is full, please try to park along Sanford Road or near the triangle at Albert's Hill/Sanford/Echo Valley. Do not park along the driveway leading to the parking lot because the logging trucks might have hard time getting through.

Good Friday TM Postoned

2009-04-06T08:53:00.001-07:00

Have to post pone this event until May. Trying to set something up for early May.

Been a month and it's looking good!

2009-04-03T05:42:00.000-07:00

Last time I was on the Upper Gussy Trail was about a month ago and it's holding up great. Really looks like a trail now. I don't know how anyone could miss a turn now. The treadway in most places is well compacted and there are no signs of erosion. I think the main section of the trail needs two more days of trail maintenance. Then I can tackle the lower section which will be a project!

This section of the trail needs some armoring. It's soft and will turn into a wallow if left unchecked.

Tree fell down and I thank who ever moved it to the side.

The Wet Spot got me again.

Early morning climb

2009-03-02T18:43:00.000-08:00

First climb on the Gussy heading north

Still some snow on the Gussy

2009-02-22T10:45:00.000-08:00

Got out early Sunday morning for some riding at Upper Paugussett and worked in a ride on the Gussy. It's been two months since I have been down the trail and it's holding up pretty well. There is a bigger obstacle on the trail where a tree fell atop an existing tree being used as an up-and-over (below). I built it up some more and it's really good now.

This was what I found at the new benching by the Log Ride Short. Someone broke a sapling where the green engineer tape marks the trail, thus blocking the trail. Further up is another branch blocking the trail. I admit that this benching could use a little more work but I hope this doesn't continue to be a problem like what's happening over at Waldo.

Upper Paugussett State Forest is on the Map!

2009-01-07T07:13:00.000-08:00

On Wikimapia, that is. Found this site the other day and didn't see a reference to Upper Paugussett so I thought I would add it. Check it out!

Virgin powder on the Gussy ... sort of

2009-01-05T17:46:00.000-08:00

A few shots on the Gussy with a couple of inches of snow on the ground

North end trail head
One set of knobbies heads in and another leads out

Back side of Blue Cross/Blue Shield Roller

Just past Blue Cross/Blue Shield Roller

ATV Damage

2008-12-27T14:18:00.000-08:00

The gate to the Forest Road was wide open the other day. I called the DEP police and they relocked the gate some time between last night and this morning but the damage was already done. Granted, the ATV arsehole already wreaked havoc on the trail by destroying the up and over at the big pine tree.

I think I will have to step up the efforts in creating blocks in the trail to discourage the ATVs as much as possible.

What gets me is that they purposefully destroyed the up-and-over so that they could through in the future knowing full well that what they are doing is illegal.

The Wet Spot was wet!

2008-12-14T17:01:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday there was an inch of snow in the forest and a week later the snow was gone yet everything was frozen. We must have got somewhere in the neighborhood of 4 to 6 inches of rain all day Thursday and Friday morning and the deluge certainly had some interesting effects on the Gussy Trail that may require some more tweaking. There were certainly some surprises.

It looks like some more stream armoring may be necessary where the trail comes down from the funnel and cuts across the little vale over to the Log Ride Short. This wasn't really a surprise and it will be an easy fix because there are plenty of flat rocks on the side of the vale. In fact it could turn into a neat stunt - a rock skinny.

Surprisingly, there was a pool of water near the Three Sisters Roller that is completely blocking the trail. I ended up cutting around to the west. While that is doable if you roll the Sisters but I think I will create a bypass more to the south encompassing a rock outcropping that might have some drops and additional rollers to ride.

Via Roma is holding it's own especially with the increase in water flow. I would have liked to have gotten more footage but I was running short of time.

No surprise here, nor at the other stream crossings. Just more water than usual flowing. All three crossings are holding up nicely.

Makes me thirsty just looking at it.

The Wet Spot, after 9 months of being bone dry was actually pretty wet. Which means more armoring will be required.

And finally, the DEP put up a no motor vehicles sign at the trail head off of Sanford Road. Hopefully, some of the ATV riders will have enough of a conscious to head this sign.

First Snow on the Gussy

2008-12-07T10:05:00.000-08:00

Here are a few shots from this morning's ride, part of which included the Gussy. I was surprised to find that despite the snow most of the up and overs were really rideable. If you want to see more of what the forest looked like with it's first blanket of light snow take a look at this post on Cycle Snack.

These two pix are on the existing feeder trail off of the Forest Road on the north side of the forest. Above looking south where I haven't been, below looking north where I rode.

The snow really helps visualize where the trail goes and where it should go. Last ride on the Gussy in which I rode north I realized there was the potential for another re-route, nothing major, but I think makes the trail flow alot better. Below is a map depicting this re-routed section. It's after the third stream crossing.

After making that crossing the trail heads south winding in and out of big trees and then abruptly turns to the right (west) and hooks up with the bench climb CTNEMBA created during the summer. This re-route extends the curve farther south around a little hummock/rock outcropping where there is some drop and roller potential. The added benefit of this re-route is if you are coming the from the other direction the turn north is not as abrupt and thus flows better.

The latest on the Upper Gussy

2008-11-03T06:37:00.000-08:00

If you have been following my blog Cycle Snack you will see that I have been riding the Gussy quite often. I also regulary receive feedback from other riders that are on the trail on the weekends, too. The biggest issue right now, with the leaves down, is being able to follow the trail. I have added more green engineer tape to mark parts of the trail however it seems it is still difficult, especially if you are not used to following the impressions bikes leave in the leaves.

Depending upon the temperature and whether the ground is frozen I might try to do another trail maintenace day on November 23d. I think I want to concentrate on the lower end of the trail near Sanford Road that got some initial attention but hasn't been touched since. As with every TM, I hope to have ride afterwards.

The latest obstacle to be introduced to the trail is called the Short Log Ride.

Remember, if you are riding in the fall Monday through Saturday to where blaze orange because it's hunting season. I have not encountered any hunters on the Gussy, in fact all my interaction with hunters so far has been on the fire road. Also, it would behoove you to wear a bell as a way to further announce your presence to the hunters.

Short Log Ride

2008-10-16T20:20:00.000-07:00

The short log ride is found in a draw on the northern section of the trail. At one time there was this old, dead tree blocking the trail route. Below is a little map of where this is and that of the reroute that Tom and I did last weekend.

To give you some perspective of what we did to this section last weekend I have quite a few before shots. The first three were obviously taken last winter. Where I decided to run the trail there was an old tree down next to some boulders and blocking the route of where I wanted to run the trail. To the left it was too wet (year round) and to the right too steep.

In the picture below, you are looking back up (North) the proposed route of the trail and you can see how this part is kind of a draw. Down the center of the draw is an intermittent stream so the proposed trail sticks to the sides of the draw and cuts diagonally across just once.

Come spring, Tom came through with his chain saw and cut the tree blocking where the trail would go. Apparently he got one good cut at the top of the tree and was in the middle of cutting the top part to clear the trail but ran out of gas.

Tom and I came back two weeks later to finish what he started. After finishing the second cut we carefully maneuvered the log into position so that it was abutting one of the boulders.

As you can sort of see, the rock that the log abuts is angled and creates a ramp. A perfect beginning for a log ride. Call it a beginner's stunt.

So, here are some shots of the work that we did last weekend. This section needed to be benched because it was just and open slope. We pulled out two really big rocks from the treadway. One was used on the southern section of the log ride and acts as a ramp. The other one was used in creating the ramp on the top part of the stunt.

Below is the rock we pulled out that was blocking part of the treadway. It must have weighed over 500 pounds. We were able to move it into place at the end of the stunt to create a nice ramp.

Another rather large rock was pulled out near the treadway and was used to create a ramp up to the rock before the log. It took a few tries and different combinations of the rocks to get the ramp just right.

Trail Reroute

2008-10-12T18:05:00.000-07:00

Rerouted a section of the Gussy Trail today. Didn't have my GPS so instead I made a little video walk through.