TA Report: Mansfield Hollow State Park

Date: October 13, 2012
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Mansfield Hollow State Park
Town: Mansfield
Trail Conditions: N/A

Observations/Information: I represented NEMBA at the Mansfield Hollow Cyclocross On Saturday. I competed in the single speed race and, despite being totally under geared on my Monocog I did alright. Racing cyclocross on a mountain bike is fun. There are places on the course where you'll have an advantage over the riders on cyclocross bikes (due to both your bike and your skill set), and places where you'll be at a disadvantage, and you'll need to base your strategy on that. It takes brains.

Cyclocross is fun and generally pretty low-key (although the fastest racers are as serious as any you'll ever see), and it's a good way to try out racing. One guy wore a chicken suit (see photo). In my race the winners were awarded not trophies but beer. I was a lot closer to last place than first (DFL minus two), but I won a six pack for being the first and only finisher on a mountain bike.

Trail Ambassador Name: Glenn Vernes
Trail Ambassador E-mail: glennvernesatgeemaildotcom
How did you use the trail? MT Biking
Trails Ridden: N/A
Time of day: Morning
Time/Duration (hours): .75
Approximate Distance (Miles): About 10

TA: Report: Mansfield Hollow State Park

Date of Activity: 10/3/10
Trail Ambassador Name: Lon Hultgren
Condition of Trails(s): Dry and a little leafy
Observations: Was pressed for time today, so I stuck to the yellow trail and cut out the Ridge (Jay) trail, the Red trail on the South side of Bassetts Bridge Road and the Blue trail. This takes about 2 miles out of the reservoir loop. Trails were bone dry, even after last week's rain, and there was a suprising absence of blow downs given the winds that accompainied the rain. Picked up a few water bottles at the football field parking lot (start and stop location).
Trail Maintenance hours:0
Work accomplished:Minor trash removal.

TA Report: Mansfield Hollow State Park

View through the trees down to the reservoir from the Eastern Ridge Trail 

Date of Activity: 9/6/10
Trail Ambassador Name: Lon Hultgren
Condition of Trails(s): Excellent -- dry and lovely. I even made it up a few spots I usually have to walk.
Observations: Encountered a few folks walking on the more popular yellow trail -- as usual, no one on the blue, red or J trails; however, the blue trail was all flagged up for what appeared to be some type of a trail (foot) race. Despite the flagging I still missed the last turn off the blue trail up to the parking area and ended up having to walk up a 60 foot embankment where the trail used to go up to Rte 89.
Trail Maintenance hours: One goodsized (new) blowdown on the yellow trail -- will need help to move it or build bigger ramps.
Work accomplished: Stopped for all walkers and dogs and gave them a pleasant hello.

TA Report: Mansfield Hollow State Park

Date of Activity: April 30, 2010
Condition of Trails(s): Dry, leafy and full of blow down sticks. Some trees.

Trail Ambassador Name: Lon Hultgren
Trail Ambassador Email: HultgrenLR@MansfieldCT.org
Town: Mansfield
Location: Mansfield Hollow State Park
Trail(s) Ridden: West shore: Unmarked singletrack beginning at the Southeast School baseball fields, to the marked blue singletrack shoreline trail to the main picnic area off Bassetts Bridge Road to the boat launch, returning on the wider yellow trail through the woods to the point of beginning. See photos 1-6.
How did you use the trail: Mt Bike
What was the time of day: 4 PM
Duration (Hours): About 1.5
Distance (Miles): About 3

Observations: It is early in the season and after two big wind days, so there is lots of stuff on the trails.

Trail Maintenance hours: 1/2
Work accomplished: removed some of the intermediately sized blow down from the trails.

TA Report: Mansfield Hollow State Park

Date of Activity: October 9, 2009

Trail Ambassador Names: Glenn Vernes, Al Tinti
Trail Ambassador Email: glennvernes33athotmaildotcom
Town: Mansfield
Location: Mansfield Hollow State Park
Trail(s) Ridden: White, Yellow, various unmarked.
How did you use the trail?: Mountain Bike
What was the time of day?: Morning
Duration (Hours): 2.5

Distance (Miles): 15ish

Condition of Trail(s): Good, leafy, rooty in places.
Observations: Trails are in good condition with the exception of a few rooty steep slopes and muddy areas. Removed a lot of blowdowns that were brought down by recent high winds.