Report Type: TM Report:
Trail Name: West Rock Ridge SP
Town: Hamden
Trail Conditions: Generally dry with some blowdowns
Observations/Information: I rode my bike and took along a handsaw to review post-snowstorm damage. I rode the entire White Trail. There were a few minor blowdowns that I cleared. I also rode the Red Trail, which was clear along Lake Wintergreen, and up to the Purple Trail. From the Purple Trail to the evergreen tunnel there were three major blowdowns, and two medium-sized ones. I took care of the two medium-sized ones, and let the state know about the other tree, so they will come in with chainsaws to take care of them. The trail is passable, but you have to lift your bike over the trees. There were a few minor blowdowns on the Red Trail between the two sections of Mountain Road, which I cleared. There is one large one about one-quarter mile south of the northern end of Mountain Road. I cut an 8-inch tree away with my handsaw, impressing a mountain biker who came upon me. I will let the state know about the 12-inch tree. It's too bad people are already cutting a path around it, which will only increase erosion. I encountered a man carrying a chainsaw, who was clearing a blowdown on the Purple Trail (currently closed to bikes). I let him know that he should call the park office to get permission to use a chainsaw, which is the state's policy. If anyone sees a blowdown in a park, be sure to call the park office. The phone numbers for parks are on the state website. The phone for West Rock (out of the Sleeping Giant unit) is 203-287-5658. I had previously expressed concern about a washout under the evergreen tunnel on the Red Trail. I saw that the state had enlarged the drainage ditch, which will hopefully address the problem. I will also recommend that the state put down gravel on the Red Trail south of the evergreen tunnel, as this section of trail is getting increasingly muddy. The White Trail was surprisingly dry, considering how muddy it can get. The GPS track for what I rode can be found at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/128352203. The low pace reflects all the stops I made to clear blowdowns. I deleted an additional 2 miles of walking I did to drag brush off the trail. If my orange NEMBA TA jersey was a website, I would have registered lots of hits on this ride as many people were out: mountain bikers, runners, dog walkers, and hikers. The picture I took last week off Baldwin Drive, showing West Rock's resident peregrine falcon.
Trail Ambassador Name: Tom Ebersold
Trail Ambassador E-mail: bikehikekayak123 [at] sbcglobal [dot] net
How did you use the trail? MT Biking
Trails Ridden: Red, White
Time of day: Morning
Time/Duration (hours): 4
Approximate Distance (Miles): 7 miles
Images/Photos: Peregrin falcon, 11-11.jpg
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