TA Report for Nassahegon State Forest

In my last report I detailed the need for increased TM efforts following the rains of summer. I'm happy to report that much of this work has been accomplished through the efforts of several individuals. Existing trails have been regroomed and some older, little or unused trails have been brought back to life. A estimated ton or more of rock has been placed on several trails to armor streams and wet areas this month. Perhaps the inability to ride due to bad weather has had a hidden side effect by increasing TM efforts.

Also reported previously was the New Britain Water Commission's warnings to stay off their property and parking areas. One reason for this became evident as logging of the woods between Scoville and East Chippens Hill Roads has begun. About a third of the Scoville Twisties trail has been destroyed but riders,never to be denied, have already developed two routes around the logging area. Many of the trails users have already developed alternative parking areas in an effort to minimize the conflict with the Water Commission.

This report covers the month of August and includes 24 hours of TA work and 11 hours of TM work.

IMBA update on Eisenhower Park, Milford, CT

On August the IMBA Trail Care Crew arrived in CT. Kelly and Collins Bishop arrived in Milford just in time for some lunch on Thurs August 13th. After a quick lunch we sat down and discussed the trail challenge that they were there to help us solve.

As you may know we have been working a project in Milford with Joe Woyciejes to restore the trails in Eisenhower Park. It started as an extremely ambitious project to restore the entire system in Eisenhower Park for shared use. There is about 9 miles of trail. As we reviewed the project we helped Joe to narrow down the scope to a pilot project to demonstrate NEMBA's capabilities to the stakeholders in the park. We put together a nice one page summary explaining what our intentions are and how we approach restoring a shared use trail to a sustainable format.

Thursday night we met at the Milford Elks for our monthly meeting. In lieu of the normal meeting we had the Kelly and Collins give us the IMBA Club Care workshop. It was a great motivator for how to grow a club and most importantly motivate people and have a good time.

On Friday morning Joe, Art Roti, Kelly and Collins attended a meeting with the Mayor of Milford and several town committees involved in the decisions to allow us to go ahead. We explained in detail over the next 1.5 hours how we build and maintain trails and the resources that we have available. It was a success! The mayor gave his blessing to the pilot project. Now we have to put together the proposal to have all of the committees sign off on it.

Friday evening we headed out to West Rock State Park in New Haven for a group ride. We had a great ride and rode most of the trails in the southern end of the park and even had a great view of the city from the lookout at the top. Afterword we went to Damato's for pizza. I had never been there before and the food was great. We had originally wanted to go to Modern but they were closed for vacation.

On Saturday we host the IMBA Trail School at the Milford YMCA. About 15 people attended. It was a great mix of people from Joe's relatives, horse enthusiasts, mountain bikers and even my 21 month old son. Everyone left with some new tools for trail maintenance and some even left with schwag for getting quiz questions correct. That's right there was a quiz.

On Sunday we capped off the visit with a ride at West Hartford Rez. We rode for about 2 hours and covered the best trails there.

All in all it was a successful weekend!

Thanks to the IMBA TCC and Joe Woyciejes for all of their hard work.

--Art

Pond Brook Connector completed!

Many thanks to all those that showed up today to help me finish the Pond Brook Connector for the Gussy Trail. We built a new connector trail, benched the remaining sections and blocked off the old trail. Above is where the old trail went and the new benching. Attending today's event were Paula Burton, Eric Schonenberg, Rick Brodsky, Tren Spence, and Mark Lurie (me).

We transplanted a few shubs and trees that had to be removed from the connector from the trail head in order to break up the view and block the old trail. Below is the trail heading to the stream bed.

Rick and I cut a nice bench from the top the reroute to the section that benched earlier this month.

Paula and Eric built this little connector trail from the trail head to the stream crossing so that there is a smooth flow.

Afterwards, we did a loop in the Forest. After riding down the Gussy Trail both Rick and Tren headed back to the cars. I took Eric onto some more singletrack, the Mulikin Trail and then we headed back to the parking area.

TM Report: Where's Waldo Trail

Saturday August 22

George Waldo State Park, Southbury CT

8:30am to 12:30pm

The rain wasn't too bad. In fact the sun came out a couple of times. But it was very humid and warm. The three of us ( Eric and Joe are in the picture) finished the last 1/2 mile of trail. It is raked, benched, the stone wall is breached. I was going to use the Bob trailer, but it was pouring this morning when I was packing up the tools. We got an amazing amount of work done.

The Where's Waldo Trail is very well drained, there were no muddy spots after last nights rain. As usual someone was interfering with the trail, and had removed a fair number of pin flags! I am so tired of this nonsense. When I rode the trail a couple of days ago, the pin flags were there, but someone had brushed in part of the Hunters' Trail. I am hoping to get more of the trailed blazed so that the trail isn't lost over the winter. We need riders! That will help harden the treadway and establish the trail.

Eisenhower Park in the News

As many of you know, the IMBA Trail Crew paid Eisenhower Park a visit this past weekend and it appears that their visit, along with all the work Joe Woyciesjes and Deanna Baker have put into organizing the weekend, has made a big impact by giving the project the green light to begin working on a pilot project. Feel free to read more in an article from the Milford Mirror: Bike group to submit plan before fixing park trails.

The BOB Trailer

This trailer has been sitting in my garage for the past couple of months and I finally put it together for Paula. She needs it to be able to do Trail Maintenance in areas that it takes forever to walk to. It's pretty cool with it's own shock however on closer inspection there appears to be nothing to hold tools to the trailer. I will probably have to make something that will mount towards the back of the trailer that will hold at least 4 trail building tools.

Click Read more to see the movie and additional pictures

I mounts with a QR adapter with external pivot points. There is a locking mechanism that holds it in place on the mounts.

IMBA TCC visit to Eisenhower Park

International Mountain Bicycling Association

Trail Care Crew

visit to Eisenhower Park

Milford, CT

August 13-16, 2009

Please RSVP

The International Mountain Bicycling Association is coming to Connecticut. Kelly and Collins Bishop of the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew will be in Milford for a Trailbuilding School. The Crews teach “sustainable” trail building, which means building trails that last a long time and require minimal maintenance. This helps reduce trail damage, protects the environment, and enhances visitor enjoyment.

Agenda


Thursday, August 13th


1 pm - Meet Kelly and Collins at Eisenhower Park for a walk through of the trail system
Eisenhower park main entrance
725 North St
Milford, CT 06460
7 pm - club care workshop


Friday, August 15th


10 am - Plan trail work for Saturday
6 pm – ride at West Rock SP


8 pm – dinner at one of the famous pizza places in New Haven


Saturday, August 16th


9 am – IMBA trail school at The Milford YMCA 631 Orange Ave Milford, CT ( Lunch is included)
2 pm – afternoon trail work on the four project areas
6pm – dinner and the Milford Oyster Festival for those interested


Sunday, August 17th


10 am - Wrap up
11 am – Group ride at West Hartford Reservoir. We will meet in the first parking lot on the left.

TA Report : Hurd State Park

Date of Activity: 8/9/09
Condition of Trail(s): Great!

Trail Ambassador Name: Eric M
Town: Haddam?
Location: From the lot just off 151

Trail(s) Ridden: Many!
How did you use the trail?: Mountain Bike
What was the time of day?: Afternoon
Duration (Hours): 2
Distance (Miles): 6

Observations & Encounters: Nothing notable. Trails in decent shape as far as wetness goes. Saw some horsies in there and could tell what trails they were on because they post-holed down the middle of all the singletrack.

TM: Upper Paugussett State Forest

Spent a three of hours on Sunday working on the Pond Brook Connector Trail at Upper Paugussett State Forest. Part of the agreement with the DEP for allowing the Upper Gussy Trail to be built was to fix this trail. Hikers, Horses, and bikes climb right up the bank from the stream and have created this hideous scar. So I started a massvie benching effort to redirect the trail in a series of switch backs that will tie into the existing fisherman's trail. I will probably build a connector trail to the main trail head because everyone is used to starting from there. For more pictures, check out The Upper Gussy Trail Blog.

On stream side I layed down logs and created a bank in which to support the tread way.

TA Report: West Hartford Reservoir

Date of Activity; 08/08/2009 Observations; No questions, No asstistance just pure enjoyment! Trail Ambassador Name; Mike Lefevre Trail Ambassador E-mail; lfvmi@sbcglobal.net Town; West Hartford, CT. Location; MDC Reservoir Trails Ridden; Reservoir rd., Rock rd., Newton brainard rd., Dyke pond rd., North West rd. How did you use the trails; MTB'ing! What was the time of the day; 12pm-15:00 Duration; 3 Hours Distance; Approx. 10-15 Miles. Condition of the trails; Except for some wet spots, all is dry.

TA Report: West Hartford Reservoir

Date of Activity; 08/06/2009 Observations; Was a great week day, day to ride and enjoy. Hardly noone was around on trails with few questions of what is NEMBA. & inquries to MTB and Equip. Trail Ambassador Name; Mike Lefevre Trail Ambassador E-mail; lfvmi@sbcglobal.net Town; West Hartford Location; West hartford Reservoir Trails Ridden; Reservoir rd., Canal rd., & Overlook rd. How did you use the trails; Mountain biking! What was the time of the day; 10am-13:00 Duration; 3 Hours Distance; Between 10 & 12 miles Conditions of trails; Few wet spots, otherwise all dry with little Erosion/Decay noted.

TA Report: Wilton Woods 8-8-09

TA Report: Wilton Woods Saturday, August 8, 2009 Condition of Trails: Dry Trail Ambassador Name: Rich C Trail Ambassador Email: mtnbikerdad[at]yahoo[dot]com Town: Wilton Location: Wilton Woods Town Forest Trails Ridden: Various How did you use the trail?: Mountain Biking, Photography What was the time of day? Morning and Afternoon Duration (Hours): 3 Observations: Gorgeous weather - Trails were dry. AM In the morning, four of us rode the east Blue Trail to the Black Diamond in the morning. (1) On the side path to the long rock ledge, I cut a fallen tree that was suspended at eye level across the trail. PM I returned late afternoon and rode around the north end. (2) First time on the northeastern part of the Blue Trail - very scenic but long stretches of fairly unforgiving rock gardens - ended up a lot of hike-a-bike! Finally got a better sense of direction in the whole north section after riding most of trails and taking snapshots of the intersections. (3) When leaving, noticed the south entrance off the parking lot was completely overgrown. Trimmed it back (See before and after photos)

TM Report: George C Waldo State Park

Date of Activity: August 6, 2009
Condition of Trail(s): dry
Trail Ambassador Name: Paula Burton
Trail Ambassador Email: _peburton@aol.com_
Town: Southbury
Location: George Waldo State Park
Trail(s) : Where's Waldo Trail
How did you use the trail?: Trail building
What was the time of day?:afternoon
Duration (Hours): 2

Observations: Finally, I cut and raked the last 1/2 mile of trail. There is still a lot of work to do such as benching, rock work, painting blazes, and few minor modifications of the treadway. Although parts of the treadway are soft, and not benched, there are 4 miles of sweet singletrack for your riding pleasure. There are three access points to the trail. The first is about 75 feet from the parking lot on the left. The trail is blazed with red rectangles for the first 1/2 mile. The second is the Hunter's Trail, and that is about 1/2 mile down on the left, just past a culvert. You do need to ride through a small muddy area. The last is just above where the access road makes a Y before the river.

TA Report: Millers Pond State Park

Date of Activity: August 1-2, 2009
Condition of Trail(s): Wet and slick, heavily used.

Trail Ambassador Name: Glenn Vernes
Trail Ambassador Email: glennvernes33athotmaildotcom
Town: Durham
Location: Millers Pond State Park
Trail(s) Ridden: Red, red/white
How did you use the trail?: Hike/Mountain Bike
What was the time of day?: Morning/afternoon
Duration (Hours): 3
Distance (Miles): 12

Observations: A Saturday afternoon hike was followed by a Sunday morning ride. The trails remain in good condition despite heavy use and heavy rain. Incorporating rock and avoiding wet areas whenever possible, they appear to be designed for long term sustainability.

TA Report: Case Mountain

Date of Activity:08-2-09
Condition of Trails(s): Damp and mud in low lying areas


Trail Ambassador Name: David Francefort
Trail Ambassador Email: dfrancefort@excite.com
Town: Manchester
Location: Case Mountain
Trail(s) Ridden: Too many to count
How did you use the trail?: mountain biking
What was the time of day?: 10am
Duration (Hours): 3.5
Distance (Miles): 11.8
Observations: Large crew of 14, covered alot of terrain, came across very few other bikers/hikers

Trail Maintenance: Mianus River Park

Date of Activity:08-01-09
Condition of Trails(s): Wet, Buggy
Trail Ambassador Name: David Francefort
Trail Ambassador Email: dfrancefort@excite.com
Town: Stamford-Greenwich
Location: Mianus Park
Trail(s) Ridden: N/A
How did you use the trail?: Trail Maintenance
What was the time of day?: 9AM
Duration (Hours): 3
Distance (Miles): N/A

Observations: Had a small crew of 7 for the monthly trail maintenance day. Headed out along the West River trail for a couple of muddy spots that required knicks to be installed, also took the time to repair the stream crossing armoring project that was completed earlier in the year. While a small group stayed to complete those task, the remaining crew hike out further down to relocate part of a trail that had a sharp turn and continued up a fall line which was creating an erosion/mud issue. We moved about a 100 foot section of trail over 15 feet, which now is up on the hill-side and goes across the fall line at all points. It required some minor benching and tree trimming. Much time was spent closing off the old foot path with logs and leaves. By the time we finished a few pleased hikers came through and thanked us for the work.

With time still on the clock we hiked back to the car dropped off all the tools and picked up a rope, pry bar and come-along for another task on the other side of the park where a large diameter tree came down across the trail; One option was to cut up with chain saw, Second option, which we decided was better, was use the come-along and move the tree off adjacent to the trail and make a log ride out of since it was 40-50 feet long and 16" in diameter at the one end. We ran out of time to get the tree at its final reseting spot but we will be back to get it secured and rock entrance built for the log ride.