Trail Maintenance Work Day @ Hartman Park

April 10th 2010*

Hartman Park

Lyme, CT

9AM- 12:30PM

Email: Thom(at)ectrr(dot)com

* Please note the date change due all the liquid sunshine we have been having lately

Well, the Town's folk were really pleased with last bridge and all the extra work we did!! (thanks again guys)

SO.... Now we're going to do another one :) (two actually, just at the same river crossing)
Bridge is on the orange Trail just under the Big Scramble. We're going to try and get a vehicle to get everything up the fire road and that way we can hike it in on the blue-yellow-orange trail. This is by far the easiest way to the spot.
If you have a 4x4 Pickup and am willing to help get the boards in that would be great.

Please E-mail me if you plan on coming, I'll bring hot dogs for lunch again :)

Trail Ambassador Eric

Eric shows everyone how to get it done!

TA Report: Brooksvale Park & Naugatuck SF

Date of Activity: 3/28/2010

Condition of Trail: Mud here and there, especially in the low spots. Trails, where they are ridden a lot were nice, though.

Trail Ambassador Name: Mark Lurie, Eric Mayhew, Bryan McFarland, Javier Hernandez, Mike LeFevre, Daren Casey, Chris Fields, Vincent Lore - yes, the whole crew are Trail Ambassadors


Email: eatsleepfish[at]gmail
Town: Hamden

Location: Brooksvale Park & Naugatuck State Forest

Trail(s) Ridden: Red Trail to the Forest. Stuntry Trail to the stream trail, crossed the stream, rode the western stream trail and headed north to the Croamie Rd. Up the Croamie to the Forest Boundary Trail, past the gas line and back down to the four corners intersection with Brooksvale Park, and then back down the red trail to the parking lot.

How did you use the trail? Mountain Biking
What was the time of day? Noon

Hours: 2
Distance: 5

Encounters & Observations: 5 newly trained CT NEMBA Trail Ambassadors, and three more from years gone by, started up the Red Trail at Brooksvale Park and by half way up the climb we already lost one. It might have been his first ride of the new season and it just wasn't happening for him today. The rest of us continued the climb where we regrouped at the four corners. The lead pack of riders missed the next turn into the forest and had to back track only to learn that someone in our group had a mechanical. Hey, it would not be a good Trail Ambassador Training ride without at least one mechanical. Unfortunately, Chris' rear hub blew and luckily for him it would be mostly a downhill ride back to the lot so no real walk of shame for him!

At the stream we lost two in the group who blazed on up head but didn't cross the stream as it was intended. I learned personally that the Brooksvale Stream was really cold when I took a bad line at the ford and had to dab! We found the two missing riders and then rode up the stream trail to the Croamie.

Trail Maintenance: Cockaponset SF

Date: April 10th
Where: Cockaponset SF

Trail Boss: Bryan McFarland - czimborbryan[at]sbcglobal[dot]net
Time: 9 AM
Parking: Pattaconk Lake
Follow RT 9 (south or north) and take Exit 6. Go west onto RT 148 for 1.5 miles and turn right onto Cedar Lake RD (just passed YMCA Camp Hazen). Follow Cedar Lake RD for 1.5 miles and then turn left onto a paved entrance to Pattaconk Lake. Follow this to the left gravel lot at the top of the drive.

View Larger Map

What you will be doing: Rerouting a trail, cutting and removing fallen trees and gathering stone for armoring a muddy section of trail.

A led ride will follow.

TM Report: Cockaponset State Forest

Date: 3/27/2010
Condition of Trails(s): eroded

Trail Ambassador Name: Bryan McFarland
Trail Ambassador Email: czimborbryan@sbcglobal.net
Town: Chester
Location: Cockaponset State Forest
Trail(s) Ridden: Red Trail
How did you use the trail: Marked proposed reroute for approval.
What was the time of day: 4pm
Duration (Hours): 1
Distance (Miles): 1/2

Observations: eroded slope due to use and water
Work accomplished: marked proposed reroute with flags and surveyor's tape

TA Report: Mianus River Park

Saturday, March 27th, 2010
Condition of Trails: Wet and soft everywhere, standing water pooling up in many places, fallen tees still blocking a few of the trails and loose debris (busted branches, etc.) hinders smooth riding in many spots

Trail Ambassador Name: Rich C,
Trail Ambassador Email: mtnbikerdad[at]yahoo[dot]com
Town: Stamford/Greenwich
Location: Mianus Park
Trails Ridden: Various
How did you use the trail?: Mountain BIking
What was the time of day? Afternoon
Duration (Hours): 3 1/2 hours

Observations:
I rode most of the park (joined on occasion by my son and his friend) and was astounded at how much damage from the storm still exists. Although our crew was in last week and--in conjuction with a Treetops crew--cleaned up a lot of the damage and have rerouted many of the trails as a result of tree falls; the park was hit really bad by the storm and the constant wet weather has taken it's toll.

Almost every major trail had either standing water, mud for miles or large trees blocking the flow. This park will take a while to recover. Any help is always appreciated (TM every 1st Sat of the month)

TM Report: Bradley Park

Saturday, March 20th, 2010
Condition of Trails: Leafy, fairly Dry

Trail Ambassador Name: Rich C
Trail Ambassador Email: mtnbikerdad[at]yahoo[dot]com
Town: Wilton
Location: Bradley Park
Trails Ridden: Orange and Yellow (south side of park)
How did you use the trail?: Hiking, TM
What was the time of day? Mid Afternoon
Duration (Hours): 1 1/2 Hours

Observations
Last Sat was an absolutely beautiful day: shorts and T-shirt weather!


I bought a telescoping rake and tried it out, lightly raking a few leaf-obscured trails in the east section of Bradley.

A cohesive trail network is starting to take shape here. Dave F's plans for a second loop by connecting the yellow offshoot trails at the east section of the park should enhance the riding choices. I'll be creating a iMap for this spot soon as well (the map on the kiosk doesn't really cover all the updated trails in the park)

TA Report: Roosevelt Forest

Date of Activity: 3/27/10 Trail Ambassador Name: Ed Perten Trail Ambassador Email: edperten@sbcglobal.net Town: Stratford Location: Roosevelt Forest Trail(s) Ridden: A lot How did you use the trail?: Mountain bike riding What was the time of day?: Late morning Duration (Hours): 1 Distance (Miles): A bunch Condition of Trail(s): B E A U T I F U L ! ! ! Observations: Never a lot of people in this forest, rolling cross country, nothing too technical, room to play.

TA Report River Highlands State Park

Date of Activity: March 24, 2010

Condition of Trail(s): Good

Trail Ambassador Names: Glenn Vernes
Trail Ambassador Email: glennvernes33athotmaildotcom
Town: Cromwell

Location: River Highlands State Park.
Trail(s) Ridden: Red, yellow, white, green, unmarked.
How did you use the trail? Mountain bike

What was the time of day? Afternoon

Duration (Hours): 1.25

Distance (Miles): Around 7

A quick ride proved what I had suspected- the trails are dry despite the recent rain, although the river has overflowed its banks and partially flooded the Blow Hole (see photo). It should be pointed out that a few places do retain water, namely the green trail through the swampy area, but they are easy to get around. Wind has blown the leaves off the white trail along the river, allowing for high cornering speeds.

4/2 West Rocks State Park Trail Maintenance

Tom Ebersol will be doing trail work at West Rock on Friday, April 2 and invite people to join me. I will get there at 10 a.m. and work for a few hours. Participants can certainly leave or arrive as their schedules allow. The leader does not plan to ride, but can certainly give out maps and suggestions if others want to ride on their own.

Meet at the Hill St. parking area, 610 Hill St., Hamden, 0.15 miles south of W. Shepard St. If the lot is full, park on the OPPOSITE side of the street facing up the hill. Directions: Rt. 15 to Exit 60 and head south on Rt. 10 to the first light. Right on Benham St. for 1 mile. Right on Paradise Ave. at the light, then quick right to stay on Paradise Ave. for 1.5 miles. Left on Hill St. at stop sign and go 1.2 miles to parking lot. You can download a map in advance by doing a search for West Rock Ridge State Park. If interested, email the leader, Tom Ebersold, at bikehikekayak123@sbcglobal.net. Please click the Read More link below for more information.

From the parking lot, follow the Red-White Dot blazes across the field and into the woods. The work will be taking place about 100 yards into the woods. The location could not be more simple.

The plan is to deal with water issues on the Red Dot Trail that comes out of the Hill Street parking lot. There are two streams that feed into Farm Brook Reservoir and I have a future plan to install bridges over each water course.

Friday will be the preparation stage for that project. I would like to line the sides of the streams with rocks in the area where the bridges will go to prevent any further erosion. There is also a section of trail beyond the bridges that needs to be hardened with rocks.

If you have tools to bring, that would be helpful, including crow bars, a handtruck or wheelbarrow, and shovel. We will need to locate rocks in the woods (of which there are many) and move them to the location.

If I have the luxury of getting too many people (!), there also would be time to work on clearing out invasive plant species, of which there are way too many in this area.

TA Report: Upper Paugussett State Forest

(Looking west on the forest road)

Date of Activity: 3/265/2010
Condition of Trail: Soft and wet in some places.

Trail Ambassador Name: Mark Lurie
Email: eatsleepfishatgmaildotcom
Town: Newtown
Location: Upper Paugussett State Forest
Trail(s) Ridden: Upper Gussy Trail, Poly Brody Forest Road
How did you use the trail? Mountain Biking
What was the time of day? Afternoon
Hours: 1
Distance: 5

Encounters & Observations: The Upper Gussy has a few new wet spots that will need taking care of later this year. Stay off the Poly Brody Forest Road if you can. If you want to ride the Gussy, park at the Echo Valley lot and head back down the driveway, take a right onto Sanford Rd and ride the Gussy up and down from the Jeep Road.

Looks like a dirt bike is coming in, too, by looks in what you can see in the picture below. A friend of mine mentioned that he road last weekend and saw signs of an MXer on the forest road.

(Looking east on the forest road)

Pequonnock River Valley Land Manager Walk

Met with the Land Manager on Friday at Trumbull to discuss some enhancements and changes to the trails at Trumbull. Over all, he was very receptive to the whole idea. The major changes that we are going to propose will require submissions through the state. Fixes and minor stuff we'll be able to accomplish on our own.

We walked with Jim for two hours and talked about bridges, trail reroutes, new trails, and enhancements along the way, all of which he was really receptive of. In the coming months good things will be happening to Trumbull.

There were many hikers out.

Nothing like running into a troupe of hippies on a beautiful Friday afternoon.

TM Report: Mianus River Park

Date of Activity: March 21, 2010
Condition of Trail: Highly erroded and in need of a serious re-route

Trail Ambassador Name: D Francefort and R Tucker
Email: rrtucker@gmail.com
Town: Stamford
Location: Mianus River Park
Trail(s) Ridden: Cabin Trail
How did you use the trail? Hiking
What was the time of day? Morning, 9-10:30am
Hours riding: 1.5

Encounters & Observations: We met with the Stamford Land Conservation Trust, the land owners of the Cabin Trail parcel, to discuss re-routing two serious fall line trails. We walked the Cabin Trail and identified the issues related to and caused by the two fall lines, and the new routes, as well as the rationale for the re-routes, with the SLCT President and Parcel steward.

Re-route is tentatively planned for April 3rds regular Friends of Mianus River Park Trail Maintenance session that meets at 9am the first Saturday of every month at the Stone Bridge on Marriebrook Ln in Stamford.

Trail Maintenance @ MRP

Date of Activity: March 20th

Condition of Trail: Low Trails are still to be avoided, high trails are fine. Keep an eye out for falling limbs, trees, and derailier killing twigs.

Trail Ambassador Name: R Coffey, D Francefort, K and R Tucker and 6 other volunteers
Email: rrtucker at gmail dot com
Town: Stamford
Location: Mianus River Park
Trail(s) Ridden: Second Loop, Pine Hill Rd, Inner Rd, Main Rd, and River Rd
How did you use the trail? Trail Maintenance
What was the time of day? 9am-1pm
Hours of TM: 4 hours

Encounters & Observations: Man vs. Trees Day:We had a great showing of regular and new Mianus volunteers to clear a bunch of the big downed trees.

We had one tree that was "special" and required about 2-2.5 hours of dedicated efforts by our crack team of TMers. The tree didn't want us to remove it, think a toddler trying to move a sumo, but the efforts of 5 or 6 10'' hand saws, a couple pry bars, and a waning group sense of humor won the day. Pictures of our conquests were included in my previous post. We won the battle, but there's still a war as we have a couple more bigguns here and there to take out, watch out for them.

Please note: the East Spur of Oak Trail has been closed due to proximity to a vernal pool.

TM Report: Wilton Woods

Date of Activity: 03/21/10
Condition of Trails(s): Mainly Dry, some minor muddy sections

Trail Ambassador Name: David Francefort
Trail Ambassador Email: dfrancefort@excite.com
Town: Wilton
Location: Wilton Woods
Trail(s) Ridden: N/A
How did you use the trail?: Trail Maintenance
What was the time of day?: 11:30AM
Duration (Hours): 2
Distance (Miles): N/A

Observations: Hiked out blue trail to the black diamond trail to various areas that pooled water because of leaf fall and branches, raked out areas to permit water to flow and hopefully dry out those sections of trail. Hiked all 2 miles of that trail and cleared branches and raked areas where the trail was undetectable. Came across a drainage pipe from an adjacent road that is cutting into the entire hillside from the extreme waterflow and at one point crosses the blue trail and about 20 feet across of water and mud. I am going to bring this up with the WCC to make sure that that pipe is permitted to drain on the Wilton Woods property.

TM Report: WIlton Woods

Date of Activity: 03/20/10
Condition of Trails(s): Mainly Dry, some minor muddy sections

Trail Ambassador Name: David Francefort
Trail Ambassador Email: dfrancefort@excite.com
Town: Wilton
Location: Wilton Woods
Trail(s) Ridden: N/A
How did you use the trail?: Trail Maintenance
What was the time of day?: 2:00PM
Duration (Hours): 2
Distance (Miles): N/A

Observations: Hiked out blue trail with my son to complete white trail alternate trail, at a very steeply eroded section, which will provide an alternative when it is wet or snowy. Required chain saw to remove one fallen tree and some minor armoring and hung laminated signs indicating the alternate trail. Then we hike to the end of the Black Diamond trail to complete a trail re-route in a muddy area.

TA Report - Haley Farm/Bluff Point

Date 3/21/10
Condition of Trail(s): Perfect!!

Ambassador Email: Thom(at)ectrr(dot)com
Town: Groton , CT
Location: Haley Farm/Bluff Point State Park
Trail(s) mixed
How did you use the trail: biking
What was the time of day: 9:30 am
Duration (Hours):3 hours

Observations: Weather was perfect, not to hot not to cold. Trails were perfect, not to dry and dusty, not to wet and muddy.

Someone has gone through and cleaned a lot of the trails up, cut back briars, cleared most of the dead wood fall from the storm. Place is, well, PERFECT!! :) Leaves are pretty much gone form the main trails so speed is up with out the slipping and sliding and the incessant noise of them stuck somewhere on a wheel. Only stopped once at the point for a drink and snapped a few pics.

Waldo after the Storm: TM Report

Date of Activity; March 19, 2010
Condition of Trail: Waldo is mostly dry, but there are still a few wet and/or soft spots.

Trail Ambassador Name: Paula Burton
Trail Ambassador Email: peburtonataoldotcom
Town: Southbury
Location: George Waldo SP
Trail (hiked, TM) : Where's Waldo
How did you use the trail? TM
What was the time of day: late afternoon
Duration: 2.5 hours
Distance: not far

Observations: I intended to get some blazing done. Darlene and I painted about 1/2 a mile in the fall, but the rest of it needs to be done too. I also intended to get one annoying blowdown cut. Instead I spent most of the time cutting a bunch of blowdowns left by last weekend's storm near the junction of the Hunter's Trail. Most of them were cedar, which is a very hard wood. Cedar is also very rot resistant and good to use for bog bridges. It smells sweet too. I did get some blazes done, but it was getting late and I needed to head out. I met some hikers who thought the trail was a great addition to the park. The trail should be good to ride this weekend.

Trumbull-Pequonnock

Date of Activity; March 20
Condition of Trail: Mostly dry except for the usual wet spots and the Serengetti.

Trail Ambassador Name: Paula Burton
Trail Ambassador Email: peburtonataoldotcom
Town: Trumbull
Location: Pequonnock Valley SF
Trail ; lots
How did you use the trail? Ride
What was the time of day: late morning
Duration: 2.5 hours
Distance: ?
Observations: An awesome day! Sun shining, temps in low 70's. I rode with Heather and company and it was great to hang out with folks who have been hibernating all winter. The trails were not wet, except for the Serengetti, which is a mudhole right now.

After the Storm - Mianus TA & TM Report

Date of Activity: March 18&19
Condition of Trails(s): Dry High, No Go Low.

Trail Ambassador Name: R Tucker and K Mistretta-Tucker
Trail Ambassador Email: rrtucker at gmail dot com
Town: Stamford
Location: Mianus River Park
Trail(s) Ridden: All over
How did you use the trail: Trail Maintenance hike and ride
What was the time of day: 18th 6-9pm, 19th 5-7:30
Duration (Hours): 5.5 hours
Distance (Miles): 9 miles

Observations:Lots and lots of downed trees all over the park messing with the flow, rumor has it a clean up crew is going in Saturday 20th of March.

Trail Maintenance hours: 5 hours
Work accomplished: Cleared a number of downed trees through out the park using hand saws and clyde power; closed East Spur of Oak Trail and benched in a West Spur of Oak Trail to avoid vernal pools.

TA Report: Penwood State Park

Date of Activity; March 18
Condition of Trail: Mostly dry except for a couple of wet spots in the low areas

Trail Ambassador Name: Art Roti
Trail Ambassador Email: Artrotiathotmaildotcom
Town: Simsbury
Location: Penwood SF
Trail ; Most of them
How did you use the trail? Ride
What was the time of day: evening
Duration: 2 hours
Distance: 18 miles
Observations: An awesome day! Sun shining, temps in high 60's. I rode with my buddy Mark for my first dirt ride of the year. OK I have been on my MTB but only in the snow. Condition were great. I did see some new trails that someone put in over the winter. They looked like they were well laid out. I will have to check into them. Also someone has been in Penwood with a chainsaw cleaning up deadfall. Thanks. It makes for a nice start to spring.

TA Report Hurd State Park

Date of Activity: March 17, 2010

Condition of Trail(s): Good; Trails were dry considering the recent rains with only a few wet areas and no mud.

Trail Ambassador Names: Glenn Vernes
Trail Ambassador Email: glennvernes33athotmaildotcom
Town: East Hampton
Location: Hurd State Park.
Trail(s) Ridden: Red, yellow, blue, pink, white, green.
How did you use the trail? Mountain bike
What was the time of day? Morning
Duration (Hours): 2
Distance (Miles): Around 10

I hadn't been here in over ten years, and the trail system has grown exponentially since then. There is a whole inventory of new trails not on the official park map. They are accessed from the various sections of the white trail, and all are well built, blazed, and fun for mountain biking. You can also ride old favorites like the Split Rock (green) Trail, which takes you to an overlook with good views of the Connecticut River (see photo).

Hurd Park is located on a steep bank of the river, and there is not much in the way of level ground. The trails are relatively free of rocks and roots, but there are a lot of logs across the trails. Add in the constant elevation change and you have a challenging ride that will leave you tired, especially if done on a single speed. 29er traction will allow amazing feats of climbing. I plan to ride here more often.

Thanks to Gary Nicol of Pedal Power for showing me the place.

Trail Ambassador Report - Mianus River Park

Date of Activity: March 13
Trail Ambassador Name: R Tucker and R Coffey
Condition of Trails(s): Damp, wet ground


Trail Ambassador Email: rrtucker at gmail dot com
Town: Stamford
Location: Mianus River Park
Trail(s) Ridden: Stamford Trails
How did you use the trail: Trail Maintenance hike
What was the time of day: 10:30-1:30
Duration (Hours): 3 hours
Distance (Miles): 4.5 miles

Observations: Park didn't look too bad early in the day on Saturday morning. Need to get back into the park for greater assessment of park conditions and down trees. The area of the park was decimated and should be avoided until dead fall and hazards are removed.


Trail Maintenance hours: 3 hours
Work accomplished: Assessed several re-routes and upcoming projects. Removed down trees, knicked sections of trail, cleared drains, and checked armoring from earlier March project (can confirm its holding up well).

Trail Ambassador Report - Mianus River Park

Date of Activity: March 13

Trail Ambassador Name: R Tucker

Condition of Trails(s): Damp, wet ground

Trail Ambassador Email: rrtucker at gmail dot com

Town: Stamford

Location: Mianus River Park

Trail(s) Ridden: Stamford Trails

How did you use the trail: Trail Assessment and Advocacy

What was the time of day: 9-10:30

Duration (Hours): 1.5 hours

Distance (Miles): 2.5 miles

Observations: Pre-storm walk through, didn't look bad on Saturday morning.

Trail Maintenance hours: 1.5 hours

Work accomplished: Assessed trails with Stamford Land Conservation trust for potential issues and projects.

TA Report: Wadsworth Falls, SP

Date of Activity: March 10, 2010

Trail Ambassador Names: Barry Burke, Paula Burton, Willie Feuer, Mark Lurie, Glenn Vernes

Condition of Trail(s): Good

Trail Ambassador Email: glennvernes33athotmaildotcom

Town: Middletown

Location: Wadsworth Falls State Park.

Trail(s) Ridden: Purple, yellow, red, orange, unblazed

How did you use the trail? Mountain bike

What was the time of day? Afternoon

Duration (Hours): 1.5

Distance (Miles): Around 4.5

This was our pre-meeting group ride. We rode the Laurel Brook trail, the unblazed singletrack between the red and orange trails, and the singletrack up behind the houses. I decided to pull out the Cannondale just for yuk yuks, and found it to ride surprisingly well. Twenty six inch bikes perform better than us 29er zealots might want to admit, although the reduced log clearance takes some getting used to. Trails were all in good condition, although fallen leaves kept down cornering speeds. There were no mechanicals, possibly a CT NEMBA group ride first, and only one crash (Mark went down on a log, thanks to a mistimed bunny hop).

Everything went fine- notwithstanding the crash-until after the ride, when we learned that we couldn’t use our meeting venue, CFPA Headquarters, forcing us to convoy to Glenn’s living room a few miles away. Though space was cramped, the meeting was productive and the carpet suffered only one spill.Our next meeting is tentatively planned for Wednesday April 14 at CFPA headquarters with a ride before, time and location TBD.

Proposed Bill No. 5417: Force DEP to provide land for off-road riders

Bill would force DEP to provide land for off-road riders

BY BUD WILKINSON | REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

Dirt bike and quad enthusiasts yearning for places to ride in Connecticut may get their dreams fulfilled by summer if the state legislature acts on a new bill specifically designed to end 24 years of growing frustration on the part of off-road riders.

The General Assembly's Environment Committee plans a hearing at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford to get public comment on newly proposed Bill No. 5417. If passed, the bill would finally force the state Department of Environmental Protection to set aside state land for use by all-terrain vehicles "not later than July 1, 2010." The new bill effectively gives the DEP a hard deadline for actually implementing a law the legislature passed in 1986 that ordered that the agency "shall make available" state land for ATV use, but which the D.E.P. has failed to do.

"This bill piggybacks on the original law that was passed," Lewis I. Davidson explained Friday, calling it a "fairly good proposal" that can potentially "bring closure" to the situation. Davidson is president of the Connecticut Motorsports Business Association.

Proposed Bill No. 5417, which was introduced this week, also requires that all ATVs be registered with the receipts being used "for the purpose of establishing trails" and that all riders using those state trails be required to be certified.

As a consequence of this bill being introduced, an earlier bill, Proposed Bill No. 5078, which would have created an all-terrain division within the D.E.P. for the creation and maintenance of trails, has been scrapped.

The C.M.B.A. is now urging that a two-tier registration be enacted. Off-road riders would pay $70 for a two-year registration, enabling them to ride on state land, while those who operate ATVs on their own property, on constructions sites or for municipalities would pay $20.

The two-year registration would provide the seed money for getting whatever land that's selected in shape for use by ATVers.

The organization is also pushing for trail use fees of $10 per day or $50 annually.

The C.M.B.A. is urging all of its members as well as off-road riders desiring legal places to ride in Connecticut to attend Friday's hearing and to speak out in favor of the bill.

"We'd like to see all ATV enthusiasts come to the hearing to listen to what the Environment Committee has to say, to listen to what C.M.B.A. has to say. Everybody can come and voice their opinion and voice their frustrations for not having a place to ride for 24 years," said Davidson, who expressed optimism that ATVers may finally get land to ride on. "We are a lot further than we have ever, ever been," he said.

However, should the bill fail and land not be set aside, Davidson said the C.M.B.A. won't give up. "We do have a backup plan," said Davidson. "We are looking at different legal issues. One would be to bring suit against the commissioner of the D.E.P."

Trail Ambassador Action

Trail Ambassador Report - Mianus River Park

Date of Activity: March 10

Trail Ambassador Name: R Tucker

Trail Ambassador Email: rrtucker at gmail dot com

Town: Stamford

Location: Mianus River Park

Trail(s) Ridden: River Road, West River Spur,

How did you use the trail: Advocacy and TM Meetings/Planning

What was the time of day: 8am-10:30am

Duration (Hours): 2.5 hours

Distance (Miles): 3.5 miles

Condition of Trails(s): Stay off river side trails. High trails were good with several soft spots, mud in a couple locations

Observations: Everything above/away from the river was good, riverside trails aren't in condition for riding. Other trails looked good, re-routes looked good as well.

Optional

Trail Maintenance hours: 2.5hours

Work accomplished: Assessed river bank restoration project with Trout Unlimited, Stamford, Greenwich, Mianus River Watershed Council, and Friends of Mianus River Park. Assess Deer Trail/Stainless Pot re-route options with Greenwich and MRWC.

TA Report: Dingle Brook Trails

Date: 3/09/2010
Condition of Trails(s): Lots of mud
Trail Ambassador Name: Mark Lurie
Trail Ambassador Email: eatsleepfish_at_gmail_dot_com
Town: Newtown/Brookfield
Location: Dingle Brook Trails
Trail(s) Dingle Brook & Pond Brook Horse Trails
How did you use the trail?: Mountain Biking
Duration (Hours): 1
Distance (Miles): 5

Observations: Stay away from this place! Most of the dual track is either very soft or very muddy. Tree down running parallel to the ROW that has taken out a Brookfield Openspace sign. Single track down to the bench is rideable but half way up the hill there is quite a bit of run off using the trail as a drainage ditch.

Lots of blow downs all over the place. The one pictured below is blocking the trail on the Newtown side.

TA Report: Upper Paugussett State Forest

Date: 3/09/2010
Condition of Trails(s): Leafy, soft spots, a little mud
Trail Ambassador Name: Mark Lurie
Trail Ambassador Email: eatsleepfish_at_gmail_dot_com
Town: Newtown
Location: Upper Paugussett State Forest
Trail(s) Ridden: Upper Gussy & Poly Brody
How did you use the trail?: Mountain Biking
Duration (Hours): 40 min
Distance (Miles): 2.5

Observations: The Gussy hasn't changed since Sunday. The wetspot no longer has free standing water in it. Entrance off of Sanford Road (below) is still a quagmire. Lower section of the Brody Forest Road was wet in the usual places during this time of year. The lower section of the Gussy was very nice.

Trail Ambassador Report - Mianus River Park

Date of Activity: March 9

Condition of Trails(s): Stay off river side trails. High trails were good with several soft spots, mud in a couple locations.

Trail Ambassador Name: R Tucker

Trail Ambassador Email: rrtucker at gmail dot com

Town: Stamford

Location: Mianus River Park

Trail(s) Ridden: Outer loop

How did you use the trail: Ride

What was the time of day: 6:00pm-7:00pm

Duration (Hours): 1 hours

Distance (Miles): 6.0 miles

Observations: Everything above/away from the river was good, riverside trails aren't in condition for riding. Other trails looked good, re-routes looked good as well. Swamp Trail has a 10 foot muddy section, might be possible to armor and deberm to get water out; Pine Hill Rd between Oak Trail and New Trail has a muddy section, also, needs armoring, or a drainage solution similar to Pine Hill Rd/Inner Rd junction.

TA Report Wadsworth Falls State Park

Date of Activity: March 8, 2010

Trail Ambassador Names: Glenn Vernes
Trail Ambassador Email: glennvernes33athotmaildotcom
Town: Middletown
Location: Wadsworth Falls State Park.
Trail(s) Ridden: Purple, yellow, red, orange, blue, unmarked
How did you use the trail? Mountain bike
What was the time of day? Afternoon
Duration (Hours): 2.5
Distance (Miles): Around 12
Condition of Trail(s): Good

I had work to do, but sunny skies and temps in the sixties convinced me to suspend responsibility for an afternoon and go riding. Time to put away the tights, mittens, and wool hats for good? Maybe not, but winter was definitely on vacation this afternoon-It was shorts and t-shirt weather.

I wanted to assess the condition of the trails, mainly their dryness, in preparation for the group ride on Wednesday. Trails were dryer than I expected, only a few places on the carriage roads were wet, and they were easy to get around. The Middletown area got less snow in the last two storms than other parts of the state, and I think the trails are drier as a result. They were also clear of sticks, twigs, and fallen trees, thanks to the work of other trail ambassadors. And I was not the only one seduced by the weather- the trails were busy with hikers, runners, dog walkers, and at least two other mountain bikers.

Feel free to come to the pre-meeting group ride, Wednesday March 10 at 4:30 in the main parking lot on Rt. 157.

TA Report: Wadsworth Falls State Park

Date of Activity: 03/08/10
Trail Ambassador Name: Barry Burke Jr.
Trail Ambassador Email: barry@bburke.com
Town: Middletown
Location: Wadsworth Falls
Trail(s) Ridden: Yellow, unblazed, white, orange, blue, unblazed, Rockfall trails
How did you use the trail?: Mountain bike riding
What was the time of day?: Late Afternoon
Duration (Hours): 2 hours
Distance (Miles): About 6

Condition of Trail(s): Good. Top of red trail still very muddy and should be avoided. I picked up some sticks, closed some braids, and tossed some rocks into some mud.
I ran into Glen Vernes and we rode together for about an hour. We discussed a plan to build a bridge or two over some mud and delicate trail. I started the process of obtaining permission from State officials.
Once we have a plan, Glen and I will schedule some TM days.

More Pictures from Hartman Park