TA Report: Penwood State Park

Date:3/26/2011
Report Type: TA Report
Trail Name: Penwood State Par
Town: Simsbury
Trail: Conditions:good
Observations/Information: It was my first time out on the MTB this year and boy was I surprised at how good the trails were. We certainly need to get into the woods and cut up some blow downs and clean up some the the trails that have been eroded by the winter. Even with this work to be done the trails are in good shape with little mud.
Trail Ambassador Name: Arthur Roti

CT NEMBA & REI West Hartford Trail Maintenance Day at Penwood State Park

We came, we re-routed, and we benched!  CT NEMBA and REI joined up to do trail work at Penwood State Park on crisp, cool, windy fall Saturday.  The entire CT NEMBA board was present along with volunteers from REI's West Hartford store employees and even some customers came out.  We set out to do two projects:  (1) a re-route on the Yellow trail (map above) and (2) rock armoring on an unmarked trail in the back of park.  Paula led the rerouting efforts which most of the volunteers helped out with, while Ryan and Art led the armoring project.

Ryan explains the Circle of Death

Paula briefs everyone on the projects

Cleanup was pretty fast - only one tool was lost.  If anyone comes across a grading rake, let me know

Lunch was donated by the Flatbread Company of Avon

NEMBA and REI TM at Penwood State Park, 10/23

Join NEMBA and REI as we spend a day on the trails at Penwood State Park in Bloomfield! This is your chance to help maintain these beautiful paths and enjoy free pizza from the Flatbread Company in Canton, CT.

We need your strength and kindness to join us as we "get dirty" to clean up the trails!  Participants will be divided into groups lead by NEMBA Trail Ambassadors. Bring your family, friends, youth groups and neighbors! There will be jobs for all ages.  Registration will begin at 9:30am in the parking lot at the entrance off of Rt. 185 in Bloomfield. Groups will leave to hike to their project areas by 10:30am.  Performance t-shirts available from REI while supplies last. Please bring your own gloves and dress appropriate for outdoor work. Boots and layers and water bottles are encouraged. Lunch will be provided by the Flatbread Company in Canton, CT.

REGISTER TODAY!

Trail Ambassador Report - Penwood State Park

Date of Activity: 5/5/10
Condition of Trail: Well worn, some braiding on blue and yellow

Trail Ambassador Name: Kris Ridgeway
Email: kristopheridgeway@sbcglobal.net
Town: Bloomfield
Location: Penwood
Trail(s) Ridden: Rode paved trail from parking lot to yellow along ridge to lookout, further down yellow around swamp and reconnected with paved trail took to area near peak then blue to next lookout. Followed blue and check out greenish/yellow new reroutes which are OK. Followed to Wintonbury road then circle back on Bloomfield side of the ridge.
How did you use the trail? Mountain Biking and popping tires on sharp rocks
What was the time of day? Evening 5-7:30PM
Hours riding: 2.5

Encounters & Observations: Rode with 2 people from work and saw hardtail on yellow and 2 people heading out towards Tariffville at Wintonbury Rd.

TA Report: Penwood State Park

Date of Activity; March 18
Condition of Trail: Mostly dry except for a couple of wet spots in the low areas

Trail Ambassador Name: Art Roti
Trail Ambassador Email: Artrotiathotmaildotcom
Town: Simsbury
Location: Penwood SF
Trail ; Most of them
How did you use the trail? Ride
What was the time of day: evening
Duration: 2 hours
Distance: 18 miles
Observations: An awesome day! Sun shining, temps in high 60's. I rode with my buddy Mark for my first dirt ride of the year. OK I have been on my MTB but only in the snow. Condition were great. I did see some new trails that someone put in over the winter. They looked like they were well laid out. I will have to check into them. Also someone has been in Penwood with a chainsaw cleaning up deadfall. Thanks. It makes for a nice start to spring.

Big Ride Report: Penwood State Park

I arrived about nine as was posted and met with Art and his two friends. We started out on a uphill climb that warmed me up for some nice rolling uphill and downhill single track trails. We got about 2 miles into the run and unfortunately one of our riders had a case of derailer stickectomy it snapped his derailer in half probably should have taken a pic of this but felt the patron of this mishap might not appreciate this.

Art tried in a valiant effort to turn bike into a single speed but this did not work so the rider had to walk out of woods. We were now three and we started off again and headed to the lookout which was some gnarly hill climbing roots angling out to catch tires. We got to the top and was amazed by the view of the Simbury valley. 

Art and Myself standing at attention

We started out again and we hit some nice downhill and some more techy uphill climbs, but during all this uphill and downhill riding I went over handlebars once and caught a nice strong sapling to do a pole dance around saving me from tumbling down the hill.  I got up and started out again Art and his friend where competing along the trail I was content to just stay on my bike at my pace . It was nice workout with some challenging areas one log jump twisted my handle bars around so my brakes where facing up, very hard to ride downhill this way.  We ended up back at parking lot about 11:30 and we went on our way. 

Bill