TM Report: West Rock Ridge SP

Date: Red-White Trail
Report Type: TM Report
Trail Name: West Rock Ridge SP
Town: Hamden
Trail Conditions: Good

Observations/Information: Over three days, I spent about 10 hours hauling a load of process (a gravel/stone dust mixture) onto the Red-White Trail. I used it to raise the level of process at both ends of a bridge built by Boy Scouts, so there is no surprise drop off for mountain bikes. I also used it to cover a set of stepping stones that had been put in by others. I rearranged some of the stones as best I could, but the stones were so uneven, no one was using them, and were instead trampling through the low ground along the stepping stones, allowing nothing to grow. During the spring, this area is very muddy. Even with the recent rains, Farm Brook is still totally dry. I cut up an invasive autumn olive shrub and placed it on the area to keep people out. If you see the wood there, please leave it, so the area can restore itself. I also cut down some dead trees and used them to define the path. I also removed some of the barbed wire along the Red-White Trail, so now there is none near the trail, although there is still some further back into the woods. The state has installed a new fence at the Hill Street parking lot and put down a fresh layer of process. At my request, they also plan to install a sign board. From the Red-White Trail, it is a short ride to the newly relocated section of the Red Trail that I described in a previous post. As always, there is plenty of park and trail information on my website at http://westrocktrails.blogspot.com.

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
Time of day: Morning
Time/Duration (hours): 10
Approximate Distance (Miles): 0.5
Image 1: Red-White Tr. bridge w. full process, 10-15.jpg
Image 2: Red-White rocks w. process, and brush, 10-15.jpg
Image 3: Red-White top rocks w. process, 10-15.jpg
Image 4: Hill St. parking area2, 9-15.jpg

Image Description(s)/Instructions: The photos show the Boy Scout bridge with full ramps, the stepping stones covered with process and the trail defined with brush, and the new fence and process at the Hill Street parking lot.