Trail Maintenance - Armoring some muddy sections

After adding a flow section on the north end of the Upper Gussy Trail (Cyclesnack: Adding Some Flow to the Gussy) I headed down the trail to fix some issues.

There is this low spot in the trail just past the new skinny that was created after the tornados that has been OK in the past. However, the combination of the wet spring, the increased usage due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the fact that people won't let the trail system dry out after a heavy rain, this section needed an armoring.

 

I pulled out as many flat rocks as I could find, including one really big one to cover the big wet spot. It needs some work.

I also armored this low point on the original part of the Gussy that was closed for some time due to trees blocking the trail as result of one of the past hurricanes.  The is a big rock right next to the trail. It's not pretty but it works for now until I decide whether or not to reroute this section all together.

Earth Day at Upper Paugussett

I got down to the boat launch around 8 AM only to find that the parking area was totally filled with cars.  Turns out there was some running event taking place called Trail to Trail.  The guy who puts it on, Tom, uses places where there is plenty of Blue Trail for the runners to use. He said he had permission from the State, but I find that funny because I know of other groups that wanted to have an event here but State DEEP was adamant about the boat launch being used for the boat launch.  

There are some additional trouble spots on the Mulikin that need to be address still

I have never seen it this wet before, even after the snow is gone.

I spent 3 hours clearing the new re-route

Afterwards, as I was walking out I discovered a little water fall.

Trail Maintenance @ Upper Paugussett

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!

Trek Bicycles / NEMBA Trail Care Series Upper Gussy Season Opener

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.

We Came, We Saw, We Benched!

And fixed the mud wallow at the third stream crossing. We had a great turnout of Mountain Bikers from the area that included Paula Burton, Rob Goyda, Rich Stinchcomb, and Rich Coffey who came all the way from Stamford! We hit the trail and hiked up to the off camber climb/descent in the rerouted section of the trail. Found some discarded propane canisters which tells me a hunter has camped in this area (not allowed).

My plan for the morning activities was to bench this section of the trail, fix the mud wallow at the third stream crossing, and open up the go-around for the horses at the new up-and-over that the trail gnomes built. Not only were we able to do that, but we also benched the switch back section of the trail which lies between Via Roma and the Wet Spot. Not bad for three hours worth of work!

Here is what the mud wallow looked like before at the third stream crossing. Funny, I thought we would have this problem at the second stream crossing.

Rich is standing above our handy work. The nice thing is that we left the right side open for the horses to use because they prefer softer terrain.

Wish I had brought my hand truck because that first rock was heavy and it took Rich and I to carry it together with a few breaks from where we found it.

Here is the re-routed section that we benched. It's south of the new up-and-over I mentioned earlier.

Here is the whole crew after the work was done. It's amazing how much you can get done with a great group of people. I am going to ride through again next week and take some shots of the other spot we worked on.

Also, during the ride following the TM work we ran into Tom Ramsdell who came out to take out some the sharp rocks in the trail. He made some changes to the Wet Spot to make it more conducive to horse travel - which I now understand is necessary. I made some spot corrections so that it's still challenging but I need to go back and take a longer look at it and arrange some more of the rocks. Still, it was very ride-able.

Memorial Maintenance Weekend

I had originally planned to have a maintenance day this weekend but I removed it from the schedule because it was Memorial Day Weekend. It seems, though, there is a lot of interest to do some trail work this weekend.

Since I have a commitment at 11 AM on Saturday, this what I am proposing:

Any early risers, meet me and Tom at the Echo Valley lot at 7 AM. We are going to see what we can do to give horses a better crossing at the Via Roma due to the Trail Braiding that has already started. I want to finish what I started at the Third Crossing, shoring up the banks on either side of the crossing.

At 9 AM, Cindy Miller will be leading a group of people that will be clearing the trail. There are places where the woods needs to be cut back. I am thinking three to four feet to either side of the tread way.

Send me an email if you have any questions. eatsleepfish@gmail.com.

Tree Work - Before and After

Here is some of Tom's handiwork.

The old downed tree along the Right Of Way (ROW)

That tree after. Going to roll some of those big pieces over to the stone wall and make a big up and over. There will also be a stone wall breach, there, too.

Blow downs that created the Tunnel of Love. In order to keep the trail on state land, it has to pass through this area. The Tunnel of Love is technically on the Town's ROW for Echo Valley Road that ends at the forest boundary. Additionally, immediately to the right of the Tunnel is a stone wall cut that I want to block with logs so as to prevent any motorized vehicles from entering the forest at this point. That's the beauty of the Tunnel, instant block, so it's imperative that the other opening is blocked as well.

After the saws! And the Tunnel of Love still rocks! Have to make sure that the stone wall after the breach that we need to block doesn't have any other access points that an ATV could use.

Trail Maintenace - Tree Work

Paula got Henry Edmonds, a Master Sawyer, from AMC to come out cut some wood. We cleared out the section by the two stream crossings. We also rerouted a part of the trail. Paula's chain saw was on the fritz but it was good she was on hand because we also made the final decision on the stream crossings.

We also took care of a dead tree over looking the big Vernal Pool that might be a good location for a bench.