TM: West Rock Ridge SP

Date: Nov. 5, 2011
Report Type: TM Report:
Trail Name: West Rock Ridge SP
Town: Hamden
Trail Conditions: Lots of blow downs
Observations/Information: Wearing my Blue Trail manager hat, I had three people from the West Rock Ridge Association help me for three hours pulling out bittersweet and barberry on Baldwin Drive. We untangled a few trees, which means they won't be ready to fall on Baldwin Drive anytime soon. Baldwin Drive is an obstacle course of blowdowns. Putting on my NEMBA TA "hat," I drove the length of Baldwin Drive putting up "No Bikes" signs on the Blue Trail crossings at Baldwin Drive. I also cleared some blow downs on Baldwin Drive, enough to let me pass through, and on the Blue Trail. Baldwin Drive is now passable by bike, but certainly has much clean up left. I also pulled a couple of blowdowns off the Park Road. The state plans to deal with all of these in the next week. Cyclists can enjoy the Park Road car-free until next Memorial Day weekend, excepting maintenance vehicles like myself who have the secret code to gain entry to the road.
There were numerous users in the park today, some of whom stopped me to ask for directions along the road. There were people walking their dogs, walking with friends, and some road bikers. None of them had trail maps with them. Full color maps are available at the state website at http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?A'16&Q25276. Simply download and print. Detailed park info is available on my blog at http://westrocktrails.blogspot.com.
In my last posting, I reported dropping a tick down the sink. He climbed back out, so I gave him the royal flush, and he didn't come back from that. No ticks this trip.
Trail Ambassador Name: Tom Ebersold

Trail Ambassador E-mail: bikehikekayak [at] scglobal [dot] net
How did you use the trail? Other Trail use
Trails Ridden: Baldwin Drive and Park Road
Time of day: Afternoon
Time/Duration (hours): 7
Approximate Distance (Miles): 7
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