TM Report: West Rock Ridge SP

Date: Jan. 17, 2015
Report Type: TM Report
Trail Name: West Rock Ridge SP
Town: Hamden
Trail Conditions: Generally clear

Observations/Information: I cleared various invasive plant species along the Red-White Trail near Farm Brook Reservoir with help from a friend. We cut about 100 Asiatic bittersweet vines, plus plenty of Lycra-tearing multi-flora rose, and autumn olive. While clearing the invasives, we discovered an old road paralleling a large stone wall near the reservoir. I am asking the state if I can relocate the Red Trail to this location. More invasives needs to be cleared so this project would not be completed for another few months, plus i can't blaze until the weather is much warmer.

The Red Trail currently heads north from Mountain Road along a gravel road. The gravel road ends at Farm Brook Reservoir, but the Red Trail continues across the field and up the ridge. The problem is that people can't follow the Red Trail easily because there are no blazes in the field between the end of the gravel road and where the Red Trail enters the woods to head up the ridge. The field gets overgrown in the summer, so it is hard to follow and there is the risk of lots of ticks.


I also collected three buckets worth of litter from the trails and the Hill Street parking area. Afterwards I led a hike on the Red-White trail up to the ridge on Yellow and returning on the Red Trail. The trails had minimal ice and snow, except for occasional patches. There was a crust of ice and snow on Baldwin Drive. There were some dramatic ice flows across the rocks. We saw ice fishermen on the reservoir and a group of college students playing hockey.

Trail Ambassador Name: Tom Ebersold
Trail Ambassador E-mail: bikehikekayak123 [at] sbcglobal [dot]net
How did you use the trail? Hiking/Walking
Trails Ridden: Red-White and Red
Time of day: Afternoon
Time/Duration (hours): 7
Approximate Distance (Miles): 5
Image 1: West Rock, old road by Farm Brook Res. w. vines, 1-15.jpg
Image 2: West Rock, Farm Brook Res. ice fishermen, 1-15.jpg
Image 3: West Rock, Red Tr., ice flow on rocks, 1-15.jpg
Image Description(s)/Instructions: An old road near Farm Brook Reservoir, ice fishermen on the reservoir, and ice flows by the Red Trail.