TM Report: Quillinan Reservoir

Date: 4/20/2016

Report Type: TM Report

Trail Name: Quillinan Reservoir

Town: Ansonia

Trail Conditions: Fine (now)

Before

Observations/Information: Observed on earlier ride major blowdown (big tree taking down a half dozen or so others) on the south end of Purple (returning north from the reservoir, up past the brook crossing and Bill The Cat graffiti, and just after the next sharp curve to the right).

Two hours or so to remove.  The old proverb about how to eat an elephant ("one bite at a time") came to mind.  Not picture postcard perfect, but it is open and won't inspire a braid.

After

Trail Ambassador Name: John Joy

Trail Ambassador E-mail: jmj [at] savagejoy [dot] com

How did you use the trail? MT Biking

Trails Ridden: Purple (up from the southern lot)

Time of day: Afternoon

Time/Duration (hours): 2:15

Quillinan Reservoir

Date: 2/27/2016
Report Type: TA Report
Trail Name: Quillinan Reservoir
Town: Seymour/Ansonia
Trail Conditions: Mostly frozen

Observations/Information: It was sub-20 at sunrise, so I figured I'd climb into the flight suit and have one of the last cold-weather rides of the season. By noon I'm guessing the temperature will be sufficiently high to cause mud.

From the Rimmon lot, down the fire road, left at the logging site and up the hill, right (west) side purple branch down to the reservoir, then back up the purple branch farther down, all the way back to the lot.

Trails were for the most part frozen, except for a patch of the fire road just north of the brook crossing with the downed tree (see photo), where water is running down and across. The tree's a split trunk, and the other half is hung up and will probably come down next windstorm. (Don't be under it.)


Bits of the singletrack had that frozen crunchiness that freeze/thaw will do. And yes, there's evidence someone's been riding there wet. I also saw another "Please contact me to coordinate trail work" sign Travis has up.

TM = kicking branches off trail, and dragging off a small tree that was down near the reservoir.

No other people this morning - a couple of wild turkeys were about, though.

Trail Ambassador Name: John Joy
Trail Ambassador E-mail: jmj [at] savagejoy [dot] com
How did you use the trail? MT Biking
Trails Ridden: Fire Road, Purple
Time of day: Morning
Time/Duration (hours): 1
Approximate Distance (Miles): 4.1

Quillinan Reservoir

Date: 1/31/2015
Report Type: TA Report
Trail Name: Quillinan Reservoir
Town: Seymour/Ansonia
Trail Conditions: Snowy/Frozen ***

Observations/Information: I took a (very) quick sunrise ride @ Quillinan: purple up from the Rimmon lot to the four-way purple junction, right and down to the fire road, then back to the lot. (Hey, I said it was quick.)

Only complaint was some bumpiness due to frozen boot tracks, and some icy patches here and there. TM = kicking the odd branch off trail.  Some hikers (not us folk) made a couple of shortcuts.

One item of note: logging adjacent to the fire road by the spur that runs out to Clinton Rd. (i.e. by the double logover, which BTW is now just a single logover).  Also, the purple trail teepee is flat (and has an odd tote that looks like it contains remnants of someone's picnic lunch).

*** Temps are coming up rapidly and will likely stay warm over the next few days, so if you haven't gotten today's ride in by now, you're probably SOL until late next week or the weekend.

Trail Ambassador Name: John Joy
Trail Ambassador E-mail: jmj [at] savagejoy [dot] com
How did you use the trail? MT Biking
Trails Ridden: Purple, Fire Road
Time of day: Morning
Time/Duration (hours): :30
Approximate Distance (Miles): 2.5
Image Description(s)/Instructions:

Quillinan Reservoir

Date: 4/13/2015
Report Type: TA Report
Trail Name: Quillinan Reservoir
Town: Seymour/Ansonia
Trail Conditions: Use Caution (mostly firm, but some wet spots)

Observations/Information: Saturday afternoon I happened to be in the neighborhood, so stopped in to Quillinan for a quick walk around to get some idea of the status of the trails. They seemed to be, for the most part, firm but tacky (but with evidence of some earlier too-soon riding on two wheels but especially four hooves - see below).

Sunday I took a quick prelim ride: Rimmon lot, down past the double-logover, up the hill to orange, up past the (second) teepee to purple, then winding down back to the lot.

This morning I made a bigger loop: down the fire road all the way to the reservoir, the up the outermost (?? I'd guess you'd call it) Purple, all the way back around to the lot. Most of Purple has been leaf-blown fairly recently. On both rides, I took the Wo so whatever impact I'd have would be minimal.

The streams are running, of course (albeit not particularly hard), and as the first crossing south of the parking lot isn't armored, I carry over it, using the stepping stones. The first (and biggest) mucky patch encountered is on the fire road shortly to the south of that, just after the fork. It appears the culvert there is plugged and water has come over the trail. It's wet for 20-30 feet or better.

The rock armoring of the stream crossing just below the logged area (i.e. the beginning of the gnarly section) is holding nicely, but the approaches are wet as are some patches in that section.  (Advice would be to avoid going down that way for now.)

The wet seems to be mostly isolated to the fire roads (and gnarly section), as opposed to the new singletrack. Copious horse prints, even on the singletrack (and in that cliffside rock feature up top that I'm too chicken to ride, one left a horse-sized "calling card" so be advised). Horse impact definitely has bike impact easily beat.

TM = cleared some branches (not as many as I expected, though). One car in the lot as I left, but didn't see anyone, but it was first thing in the morning.

Trail Ambassador Name: John Joy
Trail Ambassador E-mail: jmj [at] savagejoy [dot] com
How did you use the trail? MT Biking
Trails Ridden: Fire Road, Purple
Time of day: Morning
Time/Duration (hours): 1:15
Approximate Distance (Miles): 4

Quillinan Reservoir

Date: Jan. 11, 2015
Report Type: TA Report
Trail Name: Quillinan Reservoir
Town: Seymour/Ansonia
Trail Conditions: Blown clear or icy

Observations/Information: I led an AMC hike today. I had explored this area last winter and created a GPS map for myself with waypoints. Since last year, I see that the mountain biker trail to the left of the map board has been blazed. It was helpful to have that, but it was confusing to come to other trail junctions and see purple heading off in four directions. Our group ended up looping back on ourselves because it was hard to know which way to go.

I'm reluctant to criticize anyone's work, as I know how much is involved with maintaining trails, but a basic rule of a good trail system is to have a trail go in two directions, not four. I hope someone will update the blazes and blaze the cross trails in some other color, as they used to be blazed.

I did the IMBA Trail Building School at Huntington State Park a few years ago. I explained to the hikers the skill involved with the building the trail, which follows the contour lines to prevent erosion. I also pointed out the various armored surfaces. They appreciated the gentle flow of the trail.

As I hiked, I flicked numerous branches off the trail, as I always do. The Purple Trail up on the ridge from the parking lot on Rimmon Rd. (Rt. 313) had been blown clear of snow. Other trails were icy, but easy to hike.

GPS track: http://ridewithgps.com/trips/3971455

Trail Ambassador Name: Tom Ebersold
Trail Ambassador E-mail: bikehikekayak [at] sbcglobal [dot] net
How did you use the trail? Hiking/Walking
Trails Ridden: Purple and Blue
Time of day: Afternoon
Time/Duration (hours): 3
Approximate Distance (Miles): 6

Quillinan Reservoir

Date: 1/1/2015
Report Type: TA Report
Trail Name: Quillinan Reservoir
Town: Seymour/Ansonia
Trail Conditions: Fine

Observations/Information: My first light of the year ride, just after sunrise. Took the Wo out for the second time for some "time in type" (maiden voyage was yesterday AM @ Waldo).

Quick down, up and around, a.k.a. the "two teepee tour" (fire road down to double logover, then left and up the hill, left on orange, out to purple back to the lot). TM was the usual kicking branches off trail.

Had the place completely to myself (the again, it was early morning on New Years Day, so...)

Trail Ambassador Name: John Joy
Trail Ambassador E-mail: jmj [at] savagejoy [dot] com
How did you use the trail? MT Biking
Trails Ridden: Orange, Purple
Time of day: Morning
Time/Duration (hours): :30
Approximate Distance (Miles): 2

Quillinan Reservoir

Date: 10/26/14
Report Type: TA Report
Trail Name: Quillinan Reservoir
Town: Seymour
Trail Conditions: Excellent

Observations/Information: I took a ride on the Quillinan Reservoir trails after trail work last Saturday along with Ian from Thule, his dog, and Bob on a fat bike. People at the Thule HQ in Seymour built and maintain these trails, with CCT NEMBA's help, and they did a fantastic job. The trails are well built, very well maintained, and continuously improved. We had just finished a rock armoring project that morning.

The trails are rocky and the terrain hilly. If you've ever ridden the XC loop at Millers Pond these trails will remind you of it, although they're a little more friendly to intermediates. There are some long climbs and descents. About the first 1/2 mile of trail had been raked clear of leaves, revealing the rocks and roots. The trail flows well, call it rocky flow. Some suspension will make the ride more comfortable.

Trail Ambassador Name: Glenn Vernes
Trail Ambassador E-mail: glennvernesatgmaildotcom
How did you use the trail? MT Biking
Trails Ridden:
Time of day: Morning
Time/Duration (hours):
Approximate Distance (Miles):
Image 1: Quinilan 102614 018.JPG
Image 2: Quinilan 102614 020.JPG
Image 3: Quinilan 102614 024.JPG
Image Description(s)/Instructions:

Reminder: Trail Day @Quillinan Oct. 26

Central Connecticut Chapter and Thule, Inc. are teaming up for a trail work day at the Quillinan Reservoir trails (Quillinan Block, Naugatuck State Forest), Sunday, October 26, 2014, 8:30 AM.

Thule will be providing lunch and we'll be riding the trails afterwards.

Parking/lunch @ Thule, Inc. 42 Silvermine Rd., Seymour, CT.

Quillinan Reservoir

Date: 9/3/2014
Report Type: TA Report
Trail Name: Quillinan Reservoir
Town: Seymour/Ansonia

Trail Conditions: Tacky (but not muddy) in spots from the rain

Observations/Information: I had heard from my family yesterday afternoon that someone dumped some junk over in the Rimmon parking lot, so I informed DEEP and said I'd head over in the morning to see if it was so. Sho nuff:

Anyway, since I was there, and the orange beast was still in the back of the truck, a ride it was. I started off on basically the same loop as last week. The backside log ramp on the first log coming down the hill had been blown out - which I didn't see until I was on my way over (and almost dumped it).

Quillinan Reservoir

Date: 8/29/2014
Report Type: TA Report
Trail Name: Quillinan Reservoir
Town: Seymour/Ansonia
Trail Conditions: ST=great; fire roads=usual state forest mixed bag

Observations/Information: Since we're going to be doing work over there in a few weeks, I did a little exploring over in Quillinan. In at the signpost at the Rimmon Road lot, down just past the double logover and left up the hill, stopping now and again to clear a branch. Ended up finding a piece of singletrack just before a culvert starting to wash out, hung a right and headed down that to come out by the reservoir.

Not sure why, but the fire road down by the reservoir parking area has a ton of brush across it.

Went back, right up the interminable hill (walked it cuz lazy), and somewhere up top found a tree across.

Eventually made it to the trails up top that dance along the property line. Some seriously neat stuff there. Pretty tricky in some places - a couple times I had to stop out of sheer sensory overload with the lots-o-rocks. (I also walked it over that rocky cliffside section.)

Quillinan Reservoir

Date: Dec. 22, 2013
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Quillinan Reservoir
Town: Seymour
Trail Conditions: A bit soggy
Observations/Information: This was my first time in the Quillinan Reservoir area, but I plan to be back soon. The area is beautiful with large pine trees, interesting rock formations, and the reservoir. The trails are a mixture of wide woods roads with some single track. The main lower road is blazed Blue, and there were also trails blazed Green, Yellow, and Orange. Some industrious person had blown the leaves off some of the trails. I saw a map at the trailhead that is not on the state website, but I plan to contact the state to get it posted. In the meantime, an overview map (with no trails listed) may be found here: http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/wildlife/pdf_files/maps/maps_hunting_area/map9158a.pdf. A map with lines drawn showing most of the trails may be found in this trails book: http://www.seymourct.org/pdf/Seymour%20Land%20Trust%20Trail%20Guide.pdf
The most visible entrance is on Rt. 313 in Seymour by Maple Street/Clinton Road. The trails were a bit soggy in the lower elevations, but dry higher up. I didn't have any tools, but I certainly tossed plenty of branches off to the side. There were a few blowdowns, but they were easy to get around.
Trail Ambassador Name: Tom Ebersold

Quillinan Reservoir

Date: 12/4/13
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Quillinan Reservoir
Town: seymour
Trail Conditions: tacky
Observations/Information: Finally starting to see some other folks on the trails. dog walkers - hikers - other MTB's.
Trails are leafy - tomorrow will be a clean up day.

Trail Ambassador Name: Travis

Quillinan Reservoir

Date: 9/27/13
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Quillinan Reservoir
Town: seymour
Trail Conditions: a little leafy
Observations/Information: new trail section - to avoid rutted out area by stream on southern end of property is finished- rake and ride for the most part with some stone work.
Ride it in!!
Trail Ambassador Name: Travis

Quillinan Reservoir

Date: 9/6/13
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Quillinan Reservoir
Town: .
Trail Conditions: dry
Observations/Information: Great weather for a trail ride- and clean.
trails are nice - worked on the sketchy "cliff" ride.
Picked up a truck load of deck material- what is wrong with people.
a little pressure washing and an hour with a claw hammer and its $400 worth of PT 2x8's.

Trail Ambassador Name: .
Trail Ambassador E-mail: .
How did you use the trail? MT Biking
Trails Ridden:
Time of day: Morning
Time/Duration (hours): .75
Approximate Distance (Miles): 3
Images/Photos: IMG_20130906_132242.jpg
2nd image: IMG_20130906_132500.jpg
3rd Image:
4th Image:

Quillinan Reservoir

Date: 7/25
Report Type: TA Report:
Trail Name: Quillinan Reservoir
Town: ansonia/seymour
Trail Conditions: dry to tacky
Observations/Information: excellent conditions for an evening trail ride. new trails in Quillinan coming along nicely.

Trail Ambassador Name: Travis