West Rock Ridge SP

Date: July 3, 2012

Report Type: TM Report:
Trail Name: West Rock Ridge SP
Town: Hamden
Trail Conditions: Mostly dry and firm
Observations/Information: I reblazed portions of the White Trail between Lake Wintergreen, and the Purple Trail. I reblazed all of the Red Trail between the Purple Trail and Lake Wintergreen. I did pruning, as needed, along both trails. The blazing of the White and Red Trails in this area does not always follow the common practice of being able to see one blaze from another. I did fewer blazes because the Red Trail is a 15 foot wide woods road with a ditch on one side and a stream on the other. There's absolutely no way someone can get lost on this trail. Parts of the White Trail are straight and wide, as well.

I did not reblaze portions of the White Trail that I plan to relocate further up the slope. The relocation is essential because these portions are a muddy mess too many months out of the year. I walked one section of the slope to examine a possible relocation. I need to return when there has been a heavy rainfall to see how dry this area remains.
One of the photos shows the mess that trail users can cause when they are trying to get away from a slippery trail. The rock slope to the left is actually the relocation of the White Trail (about 1/3 mile north of Lake Wintergreen) that has steadily eroded and can be very slippery after a rainfall, between the mud and the slick rock. The trail to the right is a user-generated relocation that only further compounds the problem. The original trail (not visible in this picture) is always muddy in this location, and was muddy today, at a time when most of the trail was dry, even those portions that are often wet.
Another photo shows a combination of armoring and rock waterbar that I created in 2008 on the White Trail about 1/4 mile north of Lake Wintergreen. As the photo shows, the left side of the trail (when heading north) is muddy, even after a dry spell. The water runs off the slope and collects in this area. The rock waterbar is designed to channel the water off the trail, while the armoring keeps people on firm footing. Someone had rolled one of the rocks out of the waterbar, which meant that water could flow down the trail, further eroding it. I rolled it back. Even a novice biker could easily roll over this waterbar, so I am not sure why someone disturbed it.

  

The last photo shows a fresh white blaze on the trail. The older blaze from 5 years ago was weathered and cracked, so this is much more visible.
My next project will involve blazing the rest of the White Trail from the Purple Trail up to its junction with the Red Trail near Mountain Road., and blazing the Red Trail from Mountain Road back to the Purple Trail. I will leave the existing blazes on the White Trail in those areas that need a relocation, and only reblaze the White Trail where I am maintaining the existing trail.
Trail Ambassador Name: Tom Ebersold
Trail Ambassador E-mail: bikehikekayak123 [at] sbcglobal.net
How did you use the trail? Hiking/Walking
Trails Ridden: Red and White
Time of day: Afternoon
Time/Duration (hours): 4
Approximate Distance (Miles): 1 mile
Images/Photos: White Trail, Armoring, 7-12.jpg
2nd image: White Tr., split at washout, 7-12.jpg
3rd Image: White Tr. new blaze, 7-12.jpg
4th Image: