tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619028996914257032024-03-05T00:21:09.358-05:00Farmington Valley Homeschool HikersHiking in the Farmington Valley and northwest Connecticut.dstbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12640426092185071874noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861902899691425703.post-25631890787003643272013-03-29T09:16:00.001-04:002013-03-29T09:16:44.933-04:00Bloomfield - Farmington River ParkDate Hiked: Wednesday, March 27, 2013<br />
Number in Group: 9<br />
Estimated distance round-trip: 2 miles<br />
Weather: 55°F breezy, cloudy<br />
Resources: <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/map/?ll=41.8927,-72.74487">geocaching.com</a> (look at descriptions of caches grouped to the east of 187)<br />
Highlights of the trip: river, some place new<br />
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I had been looking around (on-line) for a place to have our first hike of 2013. Every place I could think of, I was afraid we would end up with either icy or muddy trails. I looked at various sources for ideas, but ended up on <a href="http://geocaching.com/">geocaching.com</a> looking for clusters of caches that might indicate an area with a trail system. That's how I came across Farmington River Park in the northern part of Bloomfield. The geocachers on the site mentioned that this park was little used. Certainly, I had never heard of it before and I only live a few miles away.<br />
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Farmington River Park encompasses 78 acres along the river in an area between the Tariffville Gorge and Rainbow Reservoir. There is a large sign marking the entrance to the parking area. Given how little-used this park is, the parking area is pretty large. There is a kiosk, but unfortunately no map and I have not been able to find one on-line. <br />
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We had a nice sized group show up with a couple of people we hadn't seen in awhile. We headed down the wide gravel trail out of the parking lot with the kids leading the way. Before we got too far, there was a trail going off to the left and down toward the river. It would be pretty easy to miss this trail, although once you are on it, you can see small, metal, Farmington River Park tags on the trees. We followed this trail along the river going in the direction of the Reservoir.<br />
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This area of the river is flatwater and would be a nice place to kayak. I have read that there is a put-in place on the other side of the river under the Route 187 Bridge. The take-out spot, which we noticed last year when hiking in Northwest Park is on the far side of Rainbow Reservoir. (I created a <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=215882174122261561986.0004d8bee13b8b1fcdbf6&msa=0">Google map</a>
showing a rough guess as to the route we hiked, the area covered by the
park, and the put-in and take-out points for kayaking along the river.
More information on using the river can be found on the <a href="http://frwa.org/river-info/recreation-info-maps/recreation-area-6/">Farmington River Watershed Assocation's website</a>).<br />
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We kept to the trail along the river and came to an area that must be a summer hang-out. There was a rope swing over the water, a fire pit, and glass from broken beer bottles laying around. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rope swing.</td></tr>
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The trail started turning in from the river and was joined by other trails. Which way to go?<br />
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We crossed a stream, climbed a small hill, and ended up at a large dirt area that is obviously an ATV or dirt bike track. It was pretty large and trails extended beyond it, but we decided to make this the turn-around spot. (Later, looking at Google maps, I could see we had been in an area behind Griffin Office Park). Since we weren't sure where the other trails would lead us, we returned to the parking lot on the same trail.<br />
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We had a nice walk here and met only one other person on the trail. I think he was a little surprised to see our group. The trails were only muddy or icy in a few spots. Most of the hike was on dry trails. It was nice and quiet along the river and I think it would be fun to come back and get the geocaches. I think it might be even better to do some kayaking in this area.<br />
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<br />dstbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12640426092185071874noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861902899691425703.post-8829808331806441122012-12-13T22:22:00.001-05:002012-12-13T22:22:43.210-05:00West Granby - Holcomb Farm & Diamond LedgesDate Hiked: Thursday, Dec 13, 2012<br />
Number in Group: 4<br />
Estimated distance round-trip: 1.5 miles<br />
Weather: 44°F and sunny<br />
Resources: <a href="http://www.holcombfarm.org/documents/trailmap12_11_06.pdf" target="_blank">Holcomb Farm Trail Map</a><br />
Highlights of the trip: rocks<br />
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One of the great things about organizing these hikes is that I force myself to explore new areas. Today, we hiked at Holcomb Farm, but on trails I had never been on before. Instead of parking at the farm, we drove up Broad Hill Road to a parking area on the left across from a log cabin house. The road beyond this point is dirt and has been closed for the winter. (The road continues all the way over to Route 219, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you have four-wheel drive and good ground clearance).<br />
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We took a short walk up the road to another parking area on the left. This is where the trails for Holcomb Farm can be found. We followed the green trail, and when it branched, we took the right hand trail. A little further along, the purple trail came in on the right, but we stayed on green. We walked along through the woods and one eagle-eyed member of our party found the biggest mass of Witch's Butter that I have ever seen. Very cool.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Witches butter (someone played with the vividness setting on my camera).</td></tr>
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The green trail was again joined on the right by the purple trail and this time we made the turn. We were headed back in the direction we came but a bit higher on the ridge. On our left, was a rocky outcrop and to our right a clearing with a picnic table and bench. With the leaves off the trees, we could see the nearby Barndoor Hills. (Note: The online trail map shows the picnic table farther north on the purple trail. It is really closer to the 90-degree corner of the property line with the McLean Game Refuge).<br />
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Just a short way along on the purple trail, there was a white sign marked "Lookout" and a trail that led around the back and up the rocky outcrop we had just passed. (My printed trail map that is dated 2007 indicates another lookout on the other side of Broad Hill Road. Are they really the same, but just improperly marked on the map? Or is there another nearby lookout?) <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the "Lookout"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just loved these little mounds of moss.</td></tr>
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We continued north on the purple trail until the junction with the orange trail (shown as brown on the on-line map). We took the orange trail west out to Broad Hill Road and started down the road to our cars. On the left side of the road are a couple of Land Trust properties. The first we came to was the Petersen Preserve. A little farther down the road was the Diamond Ledges Preserve. <br />
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From the road, across from where we entered the woods to the Holcomb Farm property, was a trail that took us in to the rock wall of Diamond Ledges. We had come full circle. Diamond Ledges is apparently used by rock climbers. I have seen references to it online. We walked in to the face of the wall and then climbed around to the top. From here, there was a good view of the Barndoor Hills.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUX9xjs04FCXaFIQ-JPe1ndEufhVvPEpLatsGT-R5hLR6r9KArP9kWIhTJ6huFWAECqFuSOSFNTZYoLCYkhi_IKSmD8DUXzaWb6GAHvrjDDXXihdBsFO_8c79UoYVk9OYlOo7K-Z3DtHQA/s1600/DSCN6173+resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUX9xjs04FCXaFIQ-JPe1ndEufhVvPEpLatsGT-R5hLR6r9KArP9kWIhTJ6huFWAECqFuSOSFNTZYoLCYkhi_IKSmD8DUXzaWb6GAHvrjDDXXihdBsFO_8c79UoYVk9OYlOo7K-Z3DtHQA/s320/DSCN6173+resize.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barndoor Hills as seen from the top of Diamond Ledges.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBH7TR7xCor3H0pVcTVHuMg0ZweUkkCOicsFh7G9AyfurlKE21bgUWRMEpEZQJJez1D4JH7GkA1OyTUrf_l9ct6moWNGMhUa_x8btLiG-X9UXRFz6Wa_Bi2-CRo2K3WjCqqgId7mM0pcc/s1600/DSCN6178resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBH7TR7xCor3H0pVcTVHuMg0ZweUkkCOicsFh7G9AyfurlKE21bgUWRMEpEZQJJez1D4JH7GkA1OyTUrf_l9ct6moWNGMhUa_x8btLiG-X9UXRFz6Wa_Bi2-CRo2K3WjCqqgId7mM0pcc/s320/DSCN6178resize.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See the person part-way down on the left for scale.</td></tr>
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The rocks here are pretty cool. Bits of quartz and mica and other neat minerals protrude from the walls. Don't think about rock collecting, though. There are signs along the base letting you know that this is a nature preserve and is used by rock climbers so you are not allowed to damage the rocks and break off specimens.<br />
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How long have I lived in the area? How could I not have known about Diamond Ledges? This place is fabulous. This is why organizing these hikes is so great. It forces me to try out new places.dstbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12640426092185071874noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861902899691425703.post-41802457064419476242012-12-07T18:18:00.004-05:002012-12-07T18:19:08.358-05:00Canton - Uplands PreserveDate Hiked: Monday, Dec 3, 2012<br />
Number in Group: 6<br />
Estimated distance round-trip: 1.5 miles<br />
Weather: 57°F and sunny<br />
Resources: <a href="http://www.cantonlandtrust.org/trails.html" target="_blank">Canton Land Conservation Trust</a>, <a href="http://www.cantonlandtrust.org/maps/topo/UplandsWithDir.jpg" target="_blank">Uplands Preserve Trail Map</a><br />
Highlights of the trip: stone walls, quartz<br />
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When a beautiful December day like this comes along, you have to get outside! As I told others in the group, I had originally planned a different hike. But after reading the description of the rugged trail and feeling a little sluggish after too much good Thanksgiving food and not enough exercise, I chose this hike as a way to get moving again. We'll work our way up to my more strenuous plans.<br />
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The trail for the Uplands Preserve starts at the end of Westwood Drive, a neighborhood of very nice homes on a hill in Canton. The car ride took care of most of the "up" in Uplands, so the hike was as easy as described on the Land Trust's website. When you first enter the woods, you pass through a recently made break in the stone wall and come to a kiosk. We turned to the right on the yellow trail. There was a little confusion at first because the blazes were small and hard to see, but we soon found our way. I suspect the trail is more obvious when there are leaves on the trees and bushes. With the leaves down, everyplace you look seems like it could be the trail.<br />
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There were a couple of things we noticed as we walked along the beginning part of the trail. We saw a large nest, out on a limb, near the top of a tree. I would say it was a squirrel's drey, but it just looked too well formed. Most of the ones I see around my own house seem a lot "messier". <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It just didn't look like a drey.</td></tr>
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The other thing we saw were a lot of trees along the stone walls that had very shaggy bark. I am familiar with shagbark hickory, but this didn't seem the same. I will have to come out here again once the trees are leafed out and figure out what it is.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Does anybody know what kind of tree this is?</td></tr>
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We went past the first left-hand turn for the yellow trail and took the next. The trail ran along one of the many stone walls on this property. Given all the trees, it is hard to imagine that this was all cleared land at one point.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of stone walls on this property.</td></tr>
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The trail also had some interesting rock outcroppings. I don't know why we didn't explore them. The kids didn't seem that interested even though there was a little cave up there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikp5SIGehlOLPoDt6GJskMfOVROuYVLJ17mnPrFO4bA6Cu583OANMb-0W0-D_m_a1cprjU-NuQWdGys4ZIlkrp1XspESWw-7VtXM_Dz5tnXwChg5DZKEp06e2tRdsD7bzmPGGjHXUUs4TS/s1600/DSCN5961+resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikp5SIGehlOLPoDt6GJskMfOVROuYVLJ17mnPrFO4bA6Cu583OANMb-0W0-D_m_a1cprjU-NuQWdGys4ZIlkrp1XspESWw-7VtXM_Dz5tnXwChg5DZKEp06e2tRdsD7bzmPGGjHXUUs4TS/s320/DSCN5961+resize.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We should have climbed up there to survey the area.</td></tr>
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We also saw a lot of quartz. In some of the pieces, there looked to be feldspar, as well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIbWVQxsfuqWoHteM2Hhg1H6Nd531XZhpbexCVbvz6LZeVdvys6yfOxmw9Negadmg3XLLTLtOCcTJoPtYYevYNQXeBTbtZnVF87ywdmk44NPNih4hgPCk55SYZ_NvKq8cZ4q7avWx_Q_V/s1600/DSCN5964+resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIbWVQxsfuqWoHteM2Hhg1H6Nd531XZhpbexCVbvz6LZeVdvys6yfOxmw9Negadmg3XLLTLtOCcTJoPtYYevYNQXeBTbtZnVF87ywdmk44NPNih4hgPCk55SYZ_NvKq8cZ4q7avWx_Q_V/s320/DSCN5964+resize.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We connected with the blue trail and went around it a counter-clockwise direction back to the kiosk. Just be on the lookout near where the yellow and blue trail connect as there is another unmarked, but easy to follow trail that goes down the hill. On the trail map, it appears as the dashed black line that just sort of ends. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQ6-yv9sDLGj_UxE9IkjChFJ0VkgtvCfK4KqLobjadDEJFN8DUidNx0Q8AMEVi_9soDFQ4yRRwIVJV3P_XgKNwO6MKXkOfuSHZoJnhyphenhyphenaRKAsXz0MQqw2qlvbt5zbLJR9ZJJQZ3cdoxuA4/s1600/DSCN5966+resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQ6-yv9sDLGj_UxE9IkjChFJ0VkgtvCfK4KqLobjadDEJFN8DUidNx0Q8AMEVi_9soDFQ4yRRwIVJV3P_XgKNwO6MKXkOfuSHZoJnhyphenhyphenaRKAsXz0MQqw2qlvbt5zbLJR9ZJJQZ3cdoxuA4/s320/DSCN5966+resize.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larger trees growing in a line against the stone wall.</td></tr>
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This was an easy hike that got us outside to enjoy a beautiful day. We'll have to check back in the spring and see if we can identify those trees.dstbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12640426092185071874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861902899691425703.post-20756326142699549892012-11-12T08:50:00.000-05:002012-11-12T08:50:32.749-05:00Windsor - Northwest ParkDate Hiked: Friday, November 9, 2012<br />
Number in Group: 6<br />
Estimated distance round-trip: 3 miles<br />
Weather: 54°F and sunny<br />
Resources: <a href="http://northwestpark.org/" target="_blank">Northwest Park</a>, <a href="http://northwestpark.org/pdf/New_NWP_Map.pdf" target="_blank">Trail Map</a><br />
Highlights of the trip: Views of Rainbow Reservoir, farm animals, nature center<br />
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We had a beautiful day for our hike at Northwest Park. In fact, some of the kids even wore shorts. Do they know it is November?<br />
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<a href="http://northwestpark.org/images/NWP_Map.gif" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://northwestpark.org/images/NWP_Map.gif" width="272" /></a></div>
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Northwest Park is a beautiful park with varied and well maintained trails. Today, we decided to hike along Rainbow Reservoir. We started at the nature center and headed west along a farm road until we came to the reservoir. We were standing on a concrete structure (An old dam or bridge? Old topo maps didn't provide any clues) that juts out into the reservoir and we were surprised to see a bunch of people canoeing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbAFgaTqEitIA0qNxDnl6OTB6MngfwL9KXxa8O9gubRe_izrUgL9LpxrwfuddtsHUxCaUvABnWizMiN2YX2nLssMYgVi6tV-u8dy9iQaTXHywagZtbbseyVQkFT5jizoG_iZeiTQBD9IB/s1600/DSCN5824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbAFgaTqEitIA0qNxDnl6OTB6MngfwL9KXxa8O9gubRe_izrUgL9LpxrwfuddtsHUxCaUvABnWizMiN2YX2nLssMYgVi6tV-u8dy9iQaTXHywagZtbbseyVQkFT5jizoG_iZeiTQBD9IB/s320/DSCN5824.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canoes on the reservoir.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Across the reservoir is the Mandell JCC's Camp Shalom.</td></tr>
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As we backtracked to the yellow Wetland Forest Trail, we went by a pond. The trail here is pretty wet, but solid enough that we were able to cross. On the far side of the pond, we could see a beaver lodge.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSXACzzcbltM3aVzrk9T7W5Uf0o983P78BVfqfzWLZgoEoQtregAlOILrYaWdOss23uwfjz5xvkx3wuEC5H5hMgNWduWYSlFbUOfjYzE2ML9if8uSvmn8MFQ53mN8qD9y7bqPEJ1R7ER5/s1600/DSCN5827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSXACzzcbltM3aVzrk9T7W5Uf0o983P78BVfqfzWLZgoEoQtregAlOILrYaWdOss23uwfjz5xvkx3wuEC5H5hMgNWduWYSlFbUOfjYzE2ML9if8uSvmn8MFQ53mN8qD9y7bqPEJ1R7ER5/s320/DSCN5827.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hard to see beaver lodge on the far side.</td></tr>
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We turned north on to the yellow trail and then continued north along the edge of the reservoir on the pink-blazed Rainbow Reservoir Trail There were several areas that we could get down to the water again and the kids enjoyed practicing their rock-skipping skills. We were at one of these spots when a plane took off from nearby Bradley International Airport. The reservoir is nearly at the end of the runway, or at least it seemed that way, as a very large jet roared by overhead. We could also see the public boat launch where the canoes were being taken out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8C5JdiA6JzW0LCN690Ojk1yZsIt-HHj5ROR7HHSJf3xGw-R0Gn9CSw1mH3OOZQA6aIvw5IpAImWdZvieugqqyHa1KpUBnUWPtzubURZ8M0y6ufHQbRykYuKzX4Uz2D5wrh9HkeR2QklI/s1600/DSCN5830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8C5JdiA6JzW0LCN690Ojk1yZsIt-HHj5ROR7HHSJf3xGw-R0Gn9CSw1mH3OOZQA6aIvw5IpAImWdZvieugqqyHa1KpUBnUWPtzubURZ8M0y6ufHQbRykYuKzX4Uz2D5wrh9HkeR2QklI/s320/DSCN5830.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erratic.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor tree.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rainbow Reservoir Dam.</td></tr>
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We came to the end of the pink trail and took the short (and kind of hard to see) black-blazed Triassic Trail through the woods toward a farm road that would lead us back to where we started.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHeQgCSmi-csnbJ-EUNfuoECcidyoQndtz3-cdwThVECVHkCXiVMCtCBzqQhjFVr3gcpVeL1qF0QYVNpdVCjTzzmDPFrWkBlQoh4ui3mTHl2bgARgws3xK7zYVmmmGR8ScvlYiaN_-Pb0p/s1600/DSCN5842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHeQgCSmi-csnbJ-EUNfuoECcidyoQndtz3-cdwThVECVHkCXiVMCtCBzqQhjFVr3gcpVeL1qF0QYVNpdVCjTzzmDPFrWkBlQoh4ui3mTHl2bgARgws3xK7zYVmmmGR8ScvlYiaN_-Pb0p/s320/DSCN5842.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the fields.</td></tr>
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After we got back to the nature center, we went to the animal barn. We all enjoyed looking at the animals. There were sheep, goats, a turkey, and a donkey. There were also cows in a nearby enclosure.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QwyBkBAY4fjeBn8Hl23Ty_wk7g-uQCt84onbdDdvp6bPoSM2wXPNczRXQ035Ylg0ap6NkUU6W3c3q7s5K_8KrgwQzP-ieRnkQQSF2D6WAovBE1idxzTlTFUqLPLbWY16uimrNcg7pDf2/s1600/100_7527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QwyBkBAY4fjeBn8Hl23Ty_wk7g-uQCt84onbdDdvp6bPoSM2wXPNczRXQ035Ylg0ap6NkUU6W3c3q7s5K_8KrgwQzP-ieRnkQQSF2D6WAovBE1idxzTlTFUqLPLbWY16uimrNcg7pDf2/s320/100_7527.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey! Don't stick your tongue out at us!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the Billy Goats Gruff?</td></tr>
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The nature center has quite a few nice displays. The only thing that was a little bothersome was that most of the mammals were not labeled. This is generally not a problem because I can tell a bear from a porcupine, but when it came to the fox and coyote, it would have been helpful. Plus, just having a little placard with extra information about range, habitat, etc. is always nice. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBf5oMUn3wiwNXV3Nw-EM8u_Uv1v-dckrgRgRaqWpHf99TZQwEMN5VBzJgEAWZT3hEjkzhQMp4XGJ-ohzmwwlxr0-_N_mSP94aiHfyPzqM1OlffAZfnOakMZ1NfnNixDz6-M4aPPGfCSxT/s1600/DSCN5853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBf5oMUn3wiwNXV3Nw-EM8u_Uv1v-dckrgRgRaqWpHf99TZQwEMN5VBzJgEAWZT3hEjkzhQMp4XGJ-ohzmwwlxr0-_N_mSP94aiHfyPzqM1OlffAZfnOakMZ1NfnNixDz6-M4aPPGfCSxT/s320/DSCN5853.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two coyotes and a gray fox (I think).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6gKQJFytgCoYizwuomEEHFzYTCGE58HeTdvWnupV4U8z-tw3HbEh7mB3OSNuFWNbtusnuYgET6AdHOZAMnZY9GIKT3ha3sOqa-J780EwdprnEYdfjqFBYVENiEtJBAxCgxTTEE0wLpKR/s1600/DSCN5855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6gKQJFytgCoYizwuomEEHFzYTCGE58HeTdvWnupV4U8z-tw3HbEh7mB3OSNuFWNbtusnuYgET6AdHOZAMnZY9GIKT3ha3sOqa-J780EwdprnEYdfjqFBYVENiEtJBAxCgxTTEE0wLpKR/s320/DSCN5855.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black bear and a porcupine.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOeUL_s1soa-KQJx7QzNqC58luIEs4_LRNWDmBXffsPm212rhAcWbXSSvci3m2andc17esczkxtKtqtDNq6iInbNF4YJ_ZtzOJFr8he-mugLqF_u-OMZaPQnD-kbHCalrKH8S_TUvqoc2/s1600/DSCN5857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOeUL_s1soa-KQJx7QzNqC58luIEs4_LRNWDmBXffsPm212rhAcWbXSSvci3m2andc17esczkxtKtqtDNq6iInbNF4YJ_ZtzOJFr8he-mugLqF_u-OMZaPQnD-kbHCalrKH8S_TUvqoc2/s320/DSCN5857.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bobcat.</td></tr>
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One of the displays that I should have spent more time on was the one titled "Birds of Prey from Below". There was a nice board showing the different birds and how to distinguish them, and then when you look up, there are painted birds for you to identify.<br />
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In the pond display, there were a couple of live turtles (Box turtles and Painted turtles) and a stuffed beaver and heron.<br />
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Northwest Park has a lot to offer. In addition to hiking, the animals, and the nature museum, there is also a <a href="http://www.tobaccohistsoc.org/" target="_blank">tobacco museum</a>. They offer summer camp, classes, and other nature activities (there was an owl prowl this weekend), as well as a <a href="http://northwestpark.org/concerts.htm" target="_blank">coffee house concert series</a>. In the winter, you can rent skis and snowshoes (or bring your own) and enjoy the trails. <br />
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Check out Steve Wood's very informative page on the <a href="http://www.ctmuseumquest.com/?page_id=1639" target="_blank">Northwest Park Nature Center</a> and the tobacco museum at his CT Museum Quest website (my go-to guide for all things CT).dstbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12640426092185071874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861902899691425703.post-78649368707828098882012-10-27T22:34:00.001-04:002012-10-27T22:34:04.369-04:00West Simsbury - Hedgehog TrailDate Hiked: Thursday, October 25, 2012<br />
Number in Group: 4<br />
Estimated distance round-trip: 3 miles<br />
Weather: 60°F and overcast<br />
Resources: <a href="http://www.simsburylandtrust.org/images/content_images/west_mountain_large.jpg" target="_blank">West Mountain Trails Map</a>, <a href="http://www.simsburylandtrust.org/pdf_files/slt_wlkbk_western_hilands_05.pdf" target="_blank">SLT Walk Book Western Highlands</a><br />
Highlights of the trip: Views across Farmington Valley<br />
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There were only four of us today, but that was okay because we had other commitments that wouldn't allow for much dilly-dallying. We parked at The Master's School and took the red trail into the woods from the northeast corner of the parking lot.<br />
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Off to our right, we came across this little a-frame with a corner missing. I have hiked this way before and never seen it, probably because the leaves usually block it from view. We did not investigate it, so I don't know what it was used for.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No idea.</td></tr>
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When we had a choice of the green or red trail, we stayed on red. The green loops back into the red trail farther on.<br />
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Eventually, we came to the overlook. This has to be one of the best vistas around. According to the Simsbury Walk Book, on a clear day, you can see Mount Tom to the north. Far to the left, we could see a rather large hill, but I am guessing it was not Mount Tom. Could it be Sodom Mountain in Southwick? I wish I had that <a href="http://www.peakfinder.org/" target="_blank">PeakFinder app</a> for my iPhone (but first I would need an iPhone).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View north looking at Barndoor Hills and beyond.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking east over the Simsbury Bog.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Metacomet Ridge in the distance.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The colors on the sumac were beautiful.</td></tr>
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We left the overlook and continued on the red trail down, down, down to the stream where it changes from the Hedgehog to the Cathles Trail. At the bridge, we left the red trail and headed west on the white trail.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FPGKnHnhxhpC2obbp9x7kwsf414jB6hTNXpTgZIlDQHHelkAqSyDW6eVp_TpEAJAn3zs4CMv_t5bfpBSr-ofC_H2C5ccksZWVH02rglpSHTnuRubBncib0J2C57tKChK72Ls6PAsOnWU/s1600/DSCN5770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FPGKnHnhxhpC2obbp9x7kwsf414jB6hTNXpTgZIlDQHHelkAqSyDW6eVp_TpEAJAn3zs4CMv_t5bfpBSr-ofC_H2C5ccksZWVH02rglpSHTnuRubBncib0J2C57tKChK72Ls6PAsOnWU/s320/DSCN5770.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridge at junction with white trail.</td></tr>
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We crossed another bridge and headed south on the blue trail. The trail is fairly rocky here and I suspect it is pretty wet in the spring. You can see the talus slope to your left. One thing I noticed is that the rocks are quite a bit different from the Metacomet. The traprock on the Metacomet is basalt. Here, there seemed to be more schist. Many of the rocks we were walking over had large crystals of quartz and other minerals. They were really interesting and I wish we had a geologist with us to explain what we were seeing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Western side talus slope.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herb Robert (<i>Geranium robertianum</i>)</td></tr>
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As we continued south on the blue trail, we could see the Simsbury Reservoir through the trees to our right. We wound our way along the trail and could see some of the buildings of The Master's School to our left. After connecting with the red trail again, we eventually returned to the parking lot.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Beech</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A colorful carpet of leaves.</td></tr>
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This is a great fall hike with spectacular views of the Farmington Valley. I highly recommend it.<br />
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<br />dstbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12640426092185071874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861902899691425703.post-36849066548930046872012-10-18T22:11:00.000-04:002012-10-19T11:18:27.908-04:00East Granby - Cowles Park to Metacomet to Tariffville GorgeDate Hiked: Wednesday, October 17, 2012<br />
Number in Group: 8<br />
Estimated distance round-trip: 2+ miles<br />
Weather: 60°F and sunny<br />
Resources: <a href="http://fvhomeschoolhikers.blogspot.com/2012/05/east-granby-cowles-park-to-tariffville.html" target="_blank">FVHH previous hike</a>, <a href="http://boxingthenet.blogspot.com/2012/10/tariffville-gorge-east-granby.html" target="_blank">Along the New England Trail</a><br />
Highlights of the trip: View from Metacomet, Farmington River<br />
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With foliage season in full swing, it was time to climb up high somewhere for a view. This week, we ventured back to Cowles Park. We had visited Cowles Park in the spring, but hadn't climbed up to the Metacomet Ridge and the lookout over Tariffville Gorge and the Farmington River.<br />
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We hiked through Cowles Park and crossed the power lines to get to the Metacomet. Sitting on one of the power lines as we came out of the woods was some sort of hawk. It was very light colored, at least from the front. It flew away as one of the large dump trucks working on CL&P's power line project rumbled by.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going out on a limb (sorry) and saying Immature Red-Tailed Hawk?</td></tr>
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I had just read the <a href="http://boxingthenet.blogspot.com/2012/10/tariffville-gorge-east-granby.html" target="_blank">blog post</a> by Teresa on Along the New England Trail of what she ran into when she was about to take the trail across the power line cut. CL&P was stringing the cables on the new towers and the cables were whizzing along the ground - with no warning that they were there! Scary. We stopped for a moment just to make sure all was clear (and to let two dump trucks pass) and then we headed across.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0pVoAr2Xc-ZO8kM2VoQ18x1GYo9APyaNyGuWf5bUk1NVwZJzkRPAzTvAO6OeJBG_XESx431OaM8xaRDK_o8w4Yt4q6WT49dqAJTCVnjsUKJVjvUm5pmdYsdMFvM9Z9YZz6yiKxg5TpA6/s1600/100_7356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0pVoAr2Xc-ZO8kM2VoQ18x1GYo9APyaNyGuWf5bUk1NVwZJzkRPAzTvAO6OeJBG_XESx431OaM8xaRDK_o8w4Yt4q6WT49dqAJTCVnjsUKJVjvUm5pmdYsdMFvM9Z9YZz6yiKxg5TpA6/s320/100_7356.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new towers (on the right) and a dump truck that just went by.</td></tr>
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<br />
We climbed up to the Metacomet and headed left/south to the view point over the gorge. Fabulous!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFjbFXgX9u48pncgIVzDgL8rJxuJEoT3Pf3NsS5bpm9j8fNIRV19tFh4UlfXir_bLSOVq39sshtn19o0VQQYHoOkPGyxqFYS1cgPWS0BMbPkE3TUWkQwfy6OIuhbSd0cPP5FMdrVSD4p7/s1600/DSCN5486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFjbFXgX9u48pncgIVzDgL8rJxuJEoT3Pf3NsS5bpm9j8fNIRV19tFh4UlfXir_bLSOVq39sshtn19o0VQQYHoOkPGyxqFYS1cgPWS0BMbPkE3TUWkQwfy6OIuhbSd0cPP5FMdrVSD4p7/s320/DSCN5486.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overlooking Farmington River.</td></tr>
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After a few minutes taking in the view, we hiked down the somewhat confusing trail to Tunxis Avenue and walked to the end. The ridge we had just been on was just above us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_RTs5XBQsETqG5KliynhcJeCvAzZ5TK_aKwFEkjGO5t8RVzIuRqEJAwRmWLp1hwwHOj7S9ZDKRSM47PVM94nZsDNpNQTCSn31qzGxv1NNjt1e-OO-xRt_zKr-6SUa9oGuGXzF6cmIHO8/s1600/DSCN5495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_RTs5XBQsETqG5KliynhcJeCvAzZ5TK_aKwFEkjGO5t8RVzIuRqEJAwRmWLp1hwwHOj7S9ZDKRSM47PVM94nZsDNpNQTCSn31qzGxv1NNjt1e-OO-xRt_zKr-6SUa9oGuGXzF6cmIHO8/s320/DSCN5495.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking north along Farmington River.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNEEHqMWVwYEUfHyZwOIUqm62pR3bvfZ1eujNMFaJw-zVuew87bM-zFB4E3w5T3pESxUvSPqR9oeoqrF_djPdHqeBfCrCun2ChyphenhyphenOuMgYMEshZqsqaAxJ3Hx7vd0yJt41LpXROvTqAgc7W/s1600/100_7396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNEEHqMWVwYEUfHyZwOIUqm62pR3bvfZ1eujNMFaJw-zVuew87bM-zFB4E3w5T3pESxUvSPqR9oeoqrF_djPdHqeBfCrCun2ChyphenhyphenOuMgYMEshZqsqaAxJ3Hx7vd0yJt41LpXROvTqAgc7W/s320/100_7396.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No kayakers today.</td></tr>
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<br />
We walked back along the road to the area where the old Spoonville Dam had been. The dam had been damaged in the flood of 1955 and was in two pieces. The river was forced to flow between the broken end of the dam and the shore and the volume of water it made it hard for fish to navigate upriver to spawn. The dam was removed this summer.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimN_VsiUNkGctckiYVm50c_p1aw5hTjmyi58YKEgR-Ku3hXmmkGf9_Un3YcQPwGhZVA-G44edMG9CZbDQnrSlm_8bm4f8-7FroUu6onHafd5nvzj8mSZoOQAxUxl2GUFLeOfqGYGTPsmD9/s1600/DSCN5510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimN_VsiUNkGctckiYVm50c_p1aw5hTjmyi58YKEgR-Ku3hXmmkGf9_Un3YcQPwGhZVA-G44edMG9CZbDQnrSlm_8bm4f8-7FroUu6onHafd5nvzj8mSZoOQAxUxl2GUFLeOfqGYGTPsmD9/s320/DSCN5510.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Area near the old Spoonville Dam.</td></tr>
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We left the river and crossed the street to the orange trail leading us back into Cowles Park. This was a great hike to do on a beautiful fall day.dstbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12640426092185071874noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861902899691425703.post-45699739386561162472012-10-09T09:29:00.000-04:002012-10-09T09:29:22.589-04:00Granby - McLean Game RefugeDate Hiked: Monday, October 1, 2012<br />
Number in Group: 8<br />
Estimated distance round-trip: 2+ miles<br />
Weather: 70° and sunny<br />
Resources: <a href="http://www.mcleangamerefuge.org/" target="_blank">McLean Game Refuge</a>, <a href="http://www.mcleangamerefuge.org/Visiting_the_Refuge/McLean_Refuge_Map_2011-03.pdf" target="_blank">Trail Map</a><br />
Highlights of the trip: Nearly dry Kettle Pond, foliage starting to turn at Spring Pond<br />
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McLean Game Refuge is a place we have all hiked many times before, but what's not to like? Instead of using one of the main entrances on either Route 10 or Barndoor Hills Road, we used the entrance on Canton Road near Spring Pond.<br />
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We proceeded downhill, but before getting to the pond, we turned right and followed the woods road as if we were headed to Trout Pond. We soon came to a bridge over the Bissell Brook.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlqyMIXQXcSEe2Q_gi7a_I8gd0EyuHQXTBxp5AivEI8XZahtSxMz4Se_6iXpE4Ycza1LUzJaRb4rdoRGj3pF3-S7XsqePVd1YA0gwpPTpYdfU7mOGaVVK-SW8Z59CDYZiw7JwJ1E7KugD/s1600/DSCN5294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlqyMIXQXcSEe2Q_gi7a_I8gd0EyuHQXTBxp5AivEI8XZahtSxMz4Se_6iXpE4Ycza1LUzJaRb4rdoRGj3pF3-S7XsqePVd1YA0gwpPTpYdfU7mOGaVVK-SW8Z59CDYZiw7JwJ1E7KugD/s320/DSCN5294.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bissell Brook.</td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
We remained on the woods road until it intersected with the purple-blazed North Trail. Here, we took a left and climbed the hill and took another left at the top and followed along the ridge (an esker?) This trail meets up with another woods road that we followed until it the North Trail went left by Kettle Pond.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2s_TkUp_ooXFfxuxSy6B2mlHcHQtFOoCemsbE3F0J_k1Tp-yDM4I1fLNTfwos65n1IadlBiAGZmXv0L0-heOI6dyaT-2pfzY6TuFIkmicAjAzA7HKmU9SHxqcXvhVxUNcw3Woush45yUn/s1600/DSCN5302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2s_TkUp_ooXFfxuxSy6B2mlHcHQtFOoCemsbE3F0J_k1Tp-yDM4I1fLNTfwos65n1IadlBiAGZmXv0L0-heOI6dyaT-2pfzY6TuFIkmicAjAzA7HKmU9SHxqcXvhVxUNcw3Woush45yUn/s320/DSCN5302.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cottonwood trees fell into Kettle Pond after October storm in 2011.</td></tr>
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Kettle Pond is several feet below its usual level. I think it is fun to take advantage of times like this to go out towards the middle of the pond and look around. In addition to being able to see what is normally covered by water, I also like to turn and look back at my usual vantage point.<br />
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After a little exploring we headed up the hill toward the field. We walked in the pine forest around the edge of the field and turned left off the North trail to go down to Spring Pond. The colors are only just starting to show on the trees.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIQZOVAKFAmUuVUW7e6uYSjDXnWFPTg1tokC5aDlysK68dk_4oNOePWhvaKwQZrsGzRSqfIATNod2TIpdft6mcF9-WrfgNGPFKUCT0mIq9_4f04MzMZsmZpPAFd3ra8rAMgMocQ_amHJz/s1600/DSCN5316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIQZOVAKFAmUuVUW7e6uYSjDXnWFPTg1tokC5aDlysK68dk_4oNOePWhvaKwQZrsGzRSqfIATNod2TIpdft6mcF9-WrfgNGPFKUCT0mIq9_4f04MzMZsmZpPAFd3ra8rAMgMocQ_amHJz/s320/DSCN5316.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring Pond.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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From Spring Pond, we headed back to our starting point, passing once more over the Bissell Brook.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYB8DbNP8ZQRm5_5rMiC65Zixnw5p8cg4-FFRdLCIYF5u-XYHrzyPBrFLNDGZQU8q6BI0SCGT84w8tXTnMcZpMJRkMtTCWK_E8kK0iFlZHxyxG4in_LFvdElNXDOJf9hCngM3zYq7ePSR/s1600/DSCN5324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYB8DbNP8ZQRm5_5rMiC65Zixnw5p8cg4-FFRdLCIYF5u-XYHrzyPBrFLNDGZQU8q6BI0SCGT84w8tXTnMcZpMJRkMtTCWK_E8kK0iFlZHxyxG4in_LFvdElNXDOJf9hCngM3zYq7ePSR/s320/DSCN5324.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bissell Brook near Spring Pond.</td></tr>
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The Game Refuge is one of my favorite places to hike. There are plenty of trails and if you choose one of the less used entrances, you almost feel like you have the place to yourself.dstbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12640426092185071874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861902899691425703.post-87993975243944479892012-09-30T16:03:00.000-04:002012-09-30T16:03:13.859-04:00Canton - Roaring Brook Nature CenterDate Hiked: Monday, September 24, 2012<br />
Number in Group: 5<br />
Estimated distance round-trip: 3.5 miles (didn't seem that long to me)<br />
Weather: Beautiful, crisp, fall-like day, 67°F<br />
Resources: <a href="http://www.roaringbrook.org/" target="_blank">Roaring Brook Nature Center</a>, <a href="http://www.roaringbrook.org/publications/trailmap.pdf" target="_blank">Trail Map</a><br />
Highlights of the trip: Streams, old quarry, Jerry & Blueberry<br />
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When the boys were little, we were at Roaring Brook Nature Center (RBNC) quite often. The boys took weekly classes, we attended the Hobgoblin Fair, and we brought Pop-Pop to wander the trails with us. However, in all the times we visited, we never ventured much beyond the red-blazed Werner Pond Trail. It always just seemed like the perfect length for those little legs.<br />
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Now that the boys are older, and their legs longer than mine, I hadn't thought of the RBNC trails as offering much of a hike. I was wrong. As I tried to find a hike for our homeschool group to do this week, something made me look at the RBNC trail map. That was when I noticed the trails on the other side of Bahre Corner Road. There are around three miles of trails over there, making it just right.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5vpZ1nyvjjS8iVZtkQI2MsUdCbYmJEkbVZsMEkNLwkLS4AmjPn8UX0N1L0U1TeMTTSRkgnr1LBMK6Rf09zCBN6Y75ZpRRsxDZb7UIo6fOtRtP9Ch3UnDimRg-IUg0KgnJXDdF-MVibXc/s1600/DSCN5206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5vpZ1nyvjjS8iVZtkQI2MsUdCbYmJEkbVZsMEkNLwkLS4AmjPn8UX0N1L0U1TeMTTSRkgnr1LBMK6Rf09zCBN6Y75ZpRRsxDZb7UIo6fOtRtP9Ch3UnDimRg-IUg0KgnJXDdF-MVibXc/s320/DSCN5206.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stream leading to Werner Pond.</td></tr>
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We started on the Werner Pond Trail, going clockwise from the Nature Center. We stopped to take a look at the stream and the pond, but before long we were passing over the dam. After the dam, we turned left onto the start of Quarry Trail and crossed Bahre Corner Road.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc97oCqmCf7KovlCgRHRLQkA5m2p2AJ2z2NaL81i4EGmByxQRTcmu3aOPFaCzLjpvmCdoormcjxNZNCwOssQmNDM_IGmXJqrTNXL1LsepBVhBO38x0Ho-d_tK_Z93ygRII9KfM0RkuIi7R/s1600/DSCN5207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc97oCqmCf7KovlCgRHRLQkA5m2p2AJ2z2NaL81i4EGmByxQRTcmu3aOPFaCzLjpvmCdoormcjxNZNCwOssQmNDM_IGmXJqrTNXL1LsepBVhBO38x0Ho-d_tK_Z93ygRII9KfM0RkuIi7R/s320/DSCN5207.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back at trail going over dam.</td></tr>
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We walked along the very picturesque Jim Brook. How could I have not known about this section of RBNC's trails? The rock outcroppings over the brook, while not huge, were impressive none-the-less. Though not quite a chasm, the rocks were high enough above the stream to make it interesting. The water flow is quite low now, but in the spring, this would be a great place to visit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AIRhY3CXO5LlbX9_RvNr9xFfepwUT2QnZk2nkHoSmghCxZgqEGKmHCGJYqxbixz_38h4RX2_wLn5nahKxf05n1P7RWu18PYstOoTLNOKkavxSX1PjVAgma0EzMmPthKeF4yeDCbS86OU/s1600/DSCN5208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4AIRhY3CXO5LlbX9_RvNr9xFfepwUT2QnZk2nkHoSmghCxZgqEGKmHCGJYqxbixz_38h4RX2_wLn5nahKxf05n1P7RWu18PYstOoTLNOKkavxSX1PjVAgma0EzMmPthKeF4yeDCbS86OU/s320/DSCN5208.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock outcroppings along Jim Brook.</td></tr>
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The Quarry Trail leaves the brook and climbs a bit to an old quarry. In my mind, quarries are those giant holes in the ground that become the dangerous swimming spots you see in movies. This is not the case here. The quarry was an area of vertical rock faces in the middle of the woods.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBgRE1eMqiLmus04chfJl3vucsnCPP8YeY2BwfVTqmIJ-oLMkLyu_xDbwr7CjkJqzz_eRAC1DEp7u3lT5QygBHxOpGN6iLu9r5pEBozn1n9Zl4A_uPcmscnbFEJt1B-6ftTS_yQgrNWDe/s1600/DSCN5213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBgRE1eMqiLmus04chfJl3vucsnCPP8YeY2BwfVTqmIJ-oLMkLyu_xDbwr7CjkJqzz_eRAC1DEp7u3lT5QygBHxOpGN6iLu9r5pEBozn1n9Zl4A_uPcmscnbFEJt1B-6ftTS_yQgrNWDe/s320/DSCN5213.JPG" width="247" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quarry.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As we climbed from the Quarry Trail to the Orchard Trail and finally the Plantation Trail, we passed through and along several fields. All the trails were well maintained and recently mowed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIU8oUVtkDKLueU-Ud5tnb8EpuRM3V5001EyYrQt9YMmXa5Inp24qIGl9Qzz08I7HEjFSrw7VisNG63WD6vvnY4JbqdFYztDR-Da3wwfXveEtRTgrpKBF8-ucRIRMyHLjXznBq2PyHrMQ/s1600/DSCN5215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIU8oUVtkDKLueU-Ud5tnb8EpuRM3V5001EyYrQt9YMmXa5Inp24qIGl9Qzz08I7HEjFSrw7VisNG63WD6vvnY4JbqdFYztDR-Da3wwfXveEtRTgrpKBF8-ucRIRMyHLjXznBq2PyHrMQ/s320/DSCN5215.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Field on the Orchard Trail.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPaKQbXNpC2uO2VC30VCG0UwOhXzxBmq55us5Aov8UipAFaOjlBBvaKYt2WqO5-ILwdE9JyjR4cmj6uBKM_j8LF5iPiD2t_Pg6H2Tf-WS6TQ-WrTlLuGcXzfgC0fqCIpZgPx_mRwS8uof/s1600/DSCN5217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPaKQbXNpC2uO2VC30VCG0UwOhXzxBmq55us5Aov8UipAFaOjlBBvaKYt2WqO5-ILwdE9JyjR4cmj6uBKM_j8LF5iPiD2t_Pg6H2Tf-WS6TQ-WrTlLuGcXzfgC0fqCIpZgPx_mRwS8uof/s320/DSCN5217.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As yet, unidentified insect.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Znusad6mpnY9obw7ooNkskaIAvLfFIys6MhMyqPAfjhULR3OJWTD8kVpDwOCiJp60CUgl0pIRnxoOD5H4pZysIJDprUzr1KfQNFs8x8ehtxQa3HXiyp8005rt9JKeppIKSGSGV4Wujd-/s1600/DSCN5220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Znusad6mpnY9obw7ooNkskaIAvLfFIys6MhMyqPAfjhULR3OJWTD8kVpDwOCiJp60CUgl0pIRnxoOD5H4pZysIJDprUzr1KfQNFs8x8ehtxQa3HXiyp8005rt9JKeppIKSGSGV4Wujd-/s320/DSCN5220.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Impressively large oak tree.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxuVwDJNNzBwPIZqrMnKpNbhjGqnnS5_RLWNLK_TcvTCq3QrvLANBIsISST1gvFbjF5OcXfuyROB31r8gG_u8w7V8JzdqazU8gEWJ6GA4fhTBxqMdcW3SbSTdhSc1o8qIRkNPniBfSpdA/s1600/DSCN5229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxuVwDJNNzBwPIZqrMnKpNbhjGqnnS5_RLWNLK_TcvTCq3QrvLANBIsISST1gvFbjF5OcXfuyROB31r8gG_u8w7V8JzdqazU8gEWJ6GA4fhTBxqMdcW3SbSTdhSc1o8qIRkNPniBfSpdA/s320/DSCN5229.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American (or Crusader) Carrion Beetle (<i>Necrophila americana</i>)</td></tr>
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At the end of the hike, we stopped for awhile in an area to the right of the main building that had information on geology. They have some large rocks that are labeled and arranged according to whether they are sedimentary, igneous, or metamorphic. The kids were most taken with playing and petting Jerry, a young Tom Turkey. He also had a friend, a Bluebird named Blueberry, that stopped by for a visit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYxw3pX5h7eHx71bRxfFVcdpva0yhpFvwUpnqNVcrMCVSJ5yDPiH6WBnVgHYuaaxNSaELzQEyQBA-IMgpAHYVr34Tcke5XAASkS0qVAqYTGZS7uFi7Cokb__MxXn4VbUuda2nQ6O6lsVR/s1600/DSCN5233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYxw3pX5h7eHx71bRxfFVcdpva0yhpFvwUpnqNVcrMCVSJ5yDPiH6WBnVgHYuaaxNSaELzQEyQBA-IMgpAHYVr34Tcke5XAASkS0qVAqYTGZS7uFi7Cokb__MxXn4VbUuda2nQ6O6lsVR/s320/DSCN5233.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jerry the young turkey.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPK1MVfJz4XbRYxEnJo4cL3YH0DCkxbDWgJ7cAAktlZyI8SW37FbP2k7bcE2A2ROlMal7WDdQxcJ5RbrI1kgvwDyRuZIiIyNIktVQo_f3qALr4-iQEGS8LljpU0H3ucTAYxjZEc3pg7ent/s1600/DSCN5248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPK1MVfJz4XbRYxEnJo4cL3YH0DCkxbDWgJ7cAAktlZyI8SW37FbP2k7bcE2A2ROlMal7WDdQxcJ5RbrI1kgvwDyRuZIiIyNIktVQo_f3qALr4-iQEGS8LljpU0H3ucTAYxjZEc3pg7ent/s320/DSCN5248.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jerry's friend, Blueberry.</td></tr>
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I was unexpectedly pleased with this hike. I had no idea that Roaring Brook offered such a variety of hiking options. It is not just for little kids.dstbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12640426092185071874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861902899691425703.post-53486387792014748622012-09-21T10:20:00.002-04:002012-09-28T07:24:28.427-04:00Canton - Sweetheart MountainDate Hiked: Thursday, September 20, 2012<br />
Number in Group: 2<br />
Estimated distance round-trip: 2 miles<br />
Weather: Beautiful, crisp, fall-like day, 73°F<br />
Resources: <a href="http://www.cantonlandtrust.org/trails.html" target="_blank">Canton Land Conservation Trust</a>, <a href="http://www.nelsap.org/ct/canton.html" target="_blank">New England Lost Ski Areas Project: Canton Ski Club</a><br />
Highlights of the trip: Views of the Nepaug Reservoir, old ski area<br />
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B and I were the only two for the hike today. Too bad, because it was an interesting spot.<br />
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B was a little hesitant when we pulled into the grassy parking area and saw the overgrown weeds/wildflowers that led to the trail. The plants had also overtaken the area in front of the trail kiosk making it a little difficult to take a look at the maps. I had intended to print a map before we left, but a computer glitch prevented that. (Okay, someone had put matchbox cars in the printer paper feed area and managed to jam the printer - no major damage, just didn't have the time to fix and reprint.) I had looked at the trail map online and knew I wanted to do yellow, to red, to blue (they all connect).<br />
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We went through the weedy, sort of overgrown area and up the hill. I remember there was some confusion because there seemed to be trails coming in from the side, but we stuck to the yellow marks and were fine. As we climbed, we could see remnants of the old Canton ski area. There are still pulleys on poles and old machinery. There are also swaths of younger trees and ferns where the area had been cleared for skiing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Younger trees and ferns.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not part of the ski area, I hope.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old ski tow equipment.</td></tr>
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We ran in to a couple of women who were on their way down. They said the trail got a bit confusing, but said that we wanted to leave the yellow trail and follow a pretty well worn trail to get to the overlook. <br />
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Following the yellow trail to the left, we eventually came to a little gully with an unmarked trail to the left. We followed that. We could see chain link fence that came to an end on the ridge above us. I assume to keep hikers out of a neighborhood that is built over there. We followed the trail until we came out on a rock outcropping with a nice view of the southern end of the Nepaug Reservoir.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHZk_Swr9GnaJbIhAmCJu8QI9b3DUw7DKX5N7oQUsoQ7llL__l_ZnyCPs9DZPEclXETEDGpKyHPcajPKWkdeLa9TlXWQerSw9hh-2l_ULZnhqHYmZKZPNyEk4k9d1RIAq7KPWKKmmziNp/s1600/DSCN5186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHZk_Swr9GnaJbIhAmCJu8QI9b3DUw7DKX5N7oQUsoQ7llL__l_ZnyCPs9DZPEclXETEDGpKyHPcajPKWkdeLa9TlXWQerSw9hh-2l_ULZnhqHYmZKZPNyEk4k9d1RIAq7KPWKKmmziNp/s320/DSCN5186.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nepaug Reservoir overlook.</td></tr>
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As we headed back to the yellow trail, I pointed out some purple arrows I had seen on some trees. My original thought had been that these might mark the way to the overlook. Maybe there is another overlook or maybe it goes to the neighborhood. We didn't check it out, so I don't know.<br />
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When we got back to the yellow trail, there was a bit of confusion. The trail looked like it was going to double-back on itself. We stuck with the yellow blazes (and blue tape - trail maintenance?) and found our way. There was a short little yellow spur (10-20 steps) that went up to what I am assuming is the peak of Sweetheart Mountain?<br />
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When the red trail went off to the left, we followed it, and again when the blue trail went off to the left, we followed that. There was some confusion here, and perhaps the map would have helped. The blue trail seemed to go in two directions, one looked like it was headed downhill back to the cars. We took the other one, but did not follow it completely. We went to where we could see a house. The trail continues, but we headed back and hooked up with the red trail again. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading back along the blue trail.</td></tr>
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Taking the red trail back toward the cars, was a good move. Along here is the clearing that allows you a view of Collinsville and the Farmington River.<br />
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This was a nice hike with a good companion (even if he did talk too much about cars). It will be worth a trip back when more people can join us.dstbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12640426092185071874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861902899691425703.post-9585209895806152382012-09-11T21:55:00.000-04:002012-09-11T22:00:04.352-04:00Torrington - Burr Pond State Park<br />
Date Hiked: Monday, September 10, 2012<br />
Number in Group: 7<br />
Estimated distance round-trip: 2.5 miles<br />
Weather: Beautiful, crisp, fall-like day, 71°F<br />
Resources: <a href="http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?A=2716&Q=325180" target="_blank">Burr Pond State Park</a>, <a href="http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/stateparks/maps/burrpondgis.pdf" target="_blank">Trail Map</a><br />
Highlights of the trip: Views of the pond, rocks to climb on<br />
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What an absolutely perfect day for a hike. The sun was bright, there was a little breeze and the temperatures were in the low 70's. Our group met in the parking lot for the boat launch (no parking fee) and we proceeded counter-clockwise around the pond.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the boat launch parking area.</td></tr>
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The first thing we noticed before we left the parking lot was a purple box hanging way up in a tree.<br />
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I had seen other, similar boxes, but this was the first time I had the opportunity to go to the base of the tree and see if I could find out what it was. Sure enough, there was a tag attached to the rope.<br />
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There were so many interesting things to see, and we proceeded so slowly, that I think we have to say it was more of a saunter than a hike. We would walk a little, then stop to look at rocks or trees, walk a little more and stop to look at mushrooms or ferns. We also let the kids take some time to climb on some of the bigger rocks we came across.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpk6EaIGLmxA-HcOTQyLvoNFgsp6kiJKW9lYFcUU1IxL7BYA2vhjbQqJEMN5AIeqku4KGmGoyZZo1EFJidJWf09HGr1cTvXUBRNp5ZyCGi4DBeluUWxfwe8ZAbOSXe0wfY3dzaIfi7ZpaK/s1600/DSCN4865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpk6EaIGLmxA-HcOTQyLvoNFgsp6kiJKW9lYFcUU1IxL7BYA2vhjbQqJEMN5AIeqku4KGmGoyZZo1EFJidJWf09HGr1cTvXUBRNp5ZyCGi4DBeluUWxfwe8ZAbOSXe0wfY3dzaIfi7ZpaK/s320/DSCN4865.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can't even venture a guess.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zCpVipMEn1xGIE-pbb-LL1hJIX9fHY_Jwz6myzCHhswTJ1Bt4F-8A57X-4-9KY-rnKi5sSDjuCM5nRjPwIIyClvDRDQF2xcNNRg9nJyZWwSpmXaRgW-fEvCZjhqwAfJh9atZPE-I_jxT/s1600/DSCN4899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zCpVipMEn1xGIE-pbb-LL1hJIX9fHY_Jwz6myzCHhswTJ1Bt4F-8A57X-4-9KY-rnKi5sSDjuCM5nRjPwIIyClvDRDQF2xcNNRg9nJyZWwSpmXaRgW-fEvCZjhqwAfJh9atZPE-I_jxT/s320/DSCN4899.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I believe this and the one below are birch polypore.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRE2CWt3Hl2E5ZANkve8wCsz9HXjWlAXiztG9pzLls7qbsJAxPbawNTZOJd5rOeB3EEZfemaINJHM1T0onHglm1X8t-bJ8N-RK2siJyYuCbhLVkO5ad_owOnW3ysAzUyvnLCwr916XnjyR/s1600/DSCN4905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRE2CWt3Hl2E5ZANkve8wCsz9HXjWlAXiztG9pzLls7qbsJAxPbawNTZOJd5rOeB3EEZfemaINJHM1T0onHglm1X8t-bJ8N-RK2siJyYuCbhLVkO5ad_owOnW3ysAzUyvnLCwr916XnjyR/s320/DSCN4905.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That is just so cool!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8ykXYFe99FpqkpIK9G_azsUIbH0VVUSLQoSlp8OAaW6T7SaHbi0rqaiY9Jv72finb0-eV4cUx-kT_KHroIJ3JYpTCRySE9UhztlTv0qjH3JNc5m0fjzbqB8rlrVdE5nmEsW7JJN2zBvl/s1600/DSCN4910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8ykXYFe99FpqkpIK9G_azsUIbH0VVUSLQoSlp8OAaW6T7SaHbi0rqaiY9Jv72finb0-eV4cUx-kT_KHroIJ3JYpTCRySE9UhztlTv0qjH3JNc5m0fjzbqB8rlrVdE5nmEsW7JJN2zBvl/s320/DSCN4910.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More I don't know.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTbEWdXwi5qcCOHJf7O7jS7j31l9CqCrzgr2kAyJvy3coRif6jfmkJLB6dvFRX19f__OJxbbEXz-EyvCpEVSx-n1RWnKbT6gFnm_yxTRNKvXE-nwnXkxEAT4Nj263yCKoZx125dsNpi1b/s1600/DSCN4879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTbEWdXwi5qcCOHJf7O7jS7j31l9CqCrzgr2kAyJvy3coRif6jfmkJLB6dvFRX19f__OJxbbEXz-EyvCpEVSx-n1RWnKbT6gFnm_yxTRNKvXE-nwnXkxEAT4Nj263yCKoZx125dsNpi1b/s320/DSCN4879.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas Fern.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfytbN-O5Kd89J4Gw9UCqVTU1C-AA_h2TEQktI_LpVBeu6m-u95gHmrx4_KpP75T0ofipMuwPJ4SAqTa-refQD8Iwq9rKnLukUG3OzDF-tpDRJtL-bBKZuZTbX0sUvBG3jETi3V3ytWc4/s1600/DSCN4890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfytbN-O5Kd89J4Gw9UCqVTU1C-AA_h2TEQktI_LpVBeu6m-u95gHmrx4_KpP75T0ofipMuwPJ4SAqTa-refQD8Iwq9rKnLukUG3OzDF-tpDRJtL-bBKZuZTbX0sUvBG3jETi3V3ytWc4/s320/DSCN4890.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids had a blast climbing around on these huge rocks.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVf6vmvkUAC6rRHRkyRPcPJMkJUE9ztRMF3quzLB0Dzgzmb0zGuMAeGG7oX28jqYaJf_1zaN0g9tCJmfiACgoTJONJRDzn3hQv25GHAnsBmdeiFFENJwBk0SqbsMIvoE1pZjx5lzOQKDc0/s1600/DSCN4915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVf6vmvkUAC6rRHRkyRPcPJMkJUE9ztRMF3quzLB0Dzgzmb0zGuMAeGG7oX28jqYaJf_1zaN0g9tCJmfiACgoTJONJRDzn3hQv25GHAnsBmdeiFFENJwBk0SqbsMIvoE1pZjx5lzOQKDc0/s320/DSCN4915.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xo3Rc7Nr3ryVOIf-Y53pjA3h-PaVmaPH1qXGGTz9ey2tEu0R_dx9irDyxAaaH2DZte-rL6Y9A6U7r5SUjgVPwjO-R_1SfsBrbW-v9gEnC8XhbFLsuYHkJSs3QRUhU2gktSZXNIf8_Fu3/s1600/DSCN4919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xo3Rc7Nr3ryVOIf-Y53pjA3h-PaVmaPH1qXGGTz9ey2tEu0R_dx9irDyxAaaH2DZte-rL6Y9A6U7r5SUjgVPwjO-R_1SfsBrbW-v9gEnC8XhbFLsuYHkJSs3QRUhU2gktSZXNIf8_Fu3/s320/DSCN4919.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The octopus tree.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiya-h-uUv03v0p-eAIf2QXaqMr9_g7EDLTDCc4Jsz2BgaNpQiE-TOrOSDTCMMvRulvvqMVI8CCJx6-f-BRpIf6PTMGtjw0WmkSlUG7G4EWIoQYlO3sYT9S5L-9wiaOyplWTOJpZREzM69K/s1600/DSCN4921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiya-h-uUv03v0p-eAIf2QXaqMr9_g7EDLTDCc4Jsz2BgaNpQiE-TOrOSDTCMMvRulvvqMVI8CCJx6-f-BRpIf6PTMGtjw0WmkSlUG7G4EWIoQYlO3sYT9S5L-9wiaOyplWTOJpZREzM69K/s320/DSCN4921.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dam near picnic area and beach.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here is a little information about the dam from the DEP <a href="http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?A=2716&Q=325180" target="_blank">website</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In 1851, Milo Burr placed a
dam across the confluence of several mountain streams impounding water
for power. The tannery and three active sawmills erected downstream
consumed the finest pines and oaks for miles around to meet the needs of
lumber production. The clearings became homesites and Connecticut's
industrial leadership was further strengthened. Burr Pond was designated
as a state park in 1949.</span></span></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Gail Borden, discoverer of
the process of milk preservation by evaporation and condensation, built
the world's first condensed milk factory here, in 1857. The new milk
product proved to be of great value, particularly to the Union Army
during the Civil War. Fire destroyed the mill in 1877. A bronze tablet
marks its site, just below the falls.</span></span></i></blockquote>
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We did not notice the bronze tablet.<br />
<br />
We continued down the trail past the dam, crossed a stream and went up the trail to the other side of the dam near the picnic area.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJSpsm5Q_58NBTYdfdyIl2kk692ex15TXfLiZWk1RnAJjeVoAaQYo9G3_tFFexIdtyVMZcdtwJJXuqX9psRlpJD30tdfTwKdsllBgoNhUS8gozG6uVtd6sm1FSVVBINHfM6Ys4cA6xdzT/s1600/DSCN4925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJSpsm5Q_58NBTYdfdyIl2kk692ex15TXfLiZWk1RnAJjeVoAaQYo9G3_tFFexIdtyVMZcdtwJJXuqX9psRlpJD30tdfTwKdsllBgoNhUS8gozG6uVtd6sm1FSVVBINHfM6Ys4cA6xdzT/s320/DSCN4925.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stream below the dam.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On the other side of the dam, we came across a few more interesting items that required a closer look.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sAzT2WIXRK9mhMmGARzKZ41yeh3rPAGDkAOfhszex_qe2vATeczWA6GURTMaSY29jQGbLSopFRyIl-r_IsQECI6-3ZUvkUjcDg9T_4aMcBabau4glpzyO5yObJSEQ2KI_oqN6bL4Enjn/s1600/DSCN4929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sAzT2WIXRK9mhMmGARzKZ41yeh3rPAGDkAOfhszex_qe2vATeczWA6GURTMaSY29jQGbLSopFRyIl-r_IsQECI6-3ZUvkUjcDg9T_4aMcBabau4glpzyO5yObJSEQ2KI_oqN6bL4Enjn/s320/DSCN4929.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Asiatic dayflower.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxztjjM3R0MUHamuTDni8Y5BTixF6gynDuQWVL6u2NFFRKCmUugI6Uty7A0U1TsusEIpkhQpzVD3sYZ_TNtVIUpG8lAUS1VZse5AHlui5a34CpwytXIxcfJHrjLqLEqi5itgQXUFW_MXNW/s1600/DSCN4931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxztjjM3R0MUHamuTDni8Y5BTixF6gynDuQWVL6u2NFFRKCmUugI6Uty7A0U1TsusEIpkhQpzVD3sYZ_TNtVIUpG8lAUS1VZse5AHlui5a34CpwytXIxcfJHrjLqLEqi5itgQXUFW_MXNW/s320/DSCN4931.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large snail found at the dam.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMnO4sW_XSKTccVUKRfHsVd1V15H-_LliuCLKLCd2YcXRQ7axoTBSHjFCJA2TDt532d4ID3HMwlY61eQagESM2fhqo7Nfw9k00pVZQ919wHJQbxMojWbwSuIvDCFIi8o_UO5SWUia-lqX/s1600/DSCN4934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMnO4sW_XSKTccVUKRfHsVd1V15H-_LliuCLKLCd2YcXRQ7axoTBSHjFCJA2TDt532d4ID3HMwlY61eQagESM2fhqo7Nfw9k00pVZQ919wHJQbxMojWbwSuIvDCFIi8o_UO5SWUia-lqX/s320/DSCN4934.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of pond from dam.</td></tr>
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We left the area of the dam and walked past the picnic and beach areas back to our cars at the boat launch. The beach area looked nice. There was a large sandy stretch and the area around it was lightly wooded and had pavilions and picnic tables. <br />
<br />
Near the edge of the boat launch parking lot, there was a tall oak tree that caught my eye. It grabbed my attention because all the leaves at the top of the tree were dead. When I walked over for a closer look, I understood why. The tree had obviously been hit by lightning. The scar extended up the tree as far as I could see and long strips of bark had been blown off and were scattered around on the ground.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsaZ9vtJRhi21D_aNOVOZ1ejScAee5CzH46Ox-WdvkxoIQQUdolheSlISVC6Bt_SIUIcBRLDIB4ELkO1CgleRTON_LrXUrl4hyphenhyphenbbq6akoRWGQxgXZYw5nNXvmWxEE-8wxGpRXDLBwRrop/s1600/DSCN4956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsaZ9vtJRhi21D_aNOVOZ1ejScAee5CzH46Ox-WdvkxoIQQUdolheSlISVC6Bt_SIUIcBRLDIB4ELkO1CgleRTON_LrXUrl4hyphenhyphenbbq6akoRWGQxgXZYw5nNXvmWxEE-8wxGpRXDLBwRrop/s320/DSCN4956.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wouldn't want to have witnessed that!</td></tr>
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This hike is definitely worth doing again. I suspect that autumn might be the best time to visit. There were areas, especially in the first half of our hike, that I could see being pretty muddy/impassable in the spring. I may have to come out again in a month when the leaves have changed color, maybe bring the kayaks.<br />
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dstbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12640426092185071874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861902899691425703.post-76006439906314242572012-08-28T16:18:00.000-04:002012-08-28T16:18:11.559-04:00Norfolk - Dennis Hill State Park<br />
Date Hiked: Monday, August 27, 2012<br />
Number in Group: 9 plus 1 dog<br />
Estimated distance round-trip: 2.5 miles<br />
Weather: Cloudy, 86°F<br />
Resources: <a href="http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?A=2716&Q=325186" target="_blank">Dennis Hill State Park</a>, <a href="http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/stateparks/maps/dennishill.pdf" target="_blank">Trail Map</a><br />
Highlights of the trip: Views, stone pavilions <br />
<br />
In the week before school officially starts, we strayed a little farther afield. We went to Dennis Hill State Park in Norfolk. This was a place none of us had been before.<br />
<br />
There is a road that allows you to drive all the way to the top, but we parked in a lower area near some picnic tables and walked up along the single-lane road. At the top of the hill is a large pavilion with a standing seam metal roof. The view is spectacular. At one time, there had been stairs up to an observation deck that allowed you to see even more, but the observation deck is no longer there. According to information found by Steve Wood at <a href="http://www.ctmuseumquest.com/?page_id=11646" target="_blank">CT Museum Quest</a>, there was a fire there in the 1980's. Perhaps the observation deck was not replaced when the new roof was put on.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-m2wRSwsLRK86j-uWXl7eZa-oMREr_Q-VNPP-HKjWo_EMmufbQIvO-ilIEnebvEq6XbfIPeyat1ZG6Wg-z5tQUZr4YmYH4aHm4AZZ6kmJzfKOqUeeLOKOPaEllSvvWlsG0JOwAkC44q-N/s1600/DSCN4725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-m2wRSwsLRK86j-uWXl7eZa-oMREr_Q-VNPP-HKjWo_EMmufbQIvO-ilIEnebvEq6XbfIPeyat1ZG6Wg-z5tQUZr4YmYH4aHm4AZZ6kmJzfKOqUeeLOKOPaEllSvvWlsG0JOwAkC44q-N/s320/DSCN4725.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here is some information I found about the pavilion from the <a href="http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/77001499.pdf" target="_blank">application</a> put forth to add it to the National Register of Historic Places:<br />
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<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Commanding
an impressive view of Norfolk's wooded hills, this stone bungalow was built in
1908 on the summit of Dennis Hill (elevation 1627’). The hill is completely
forested except for the land immediately adjacent to the building, which is
cleared. The building's original purpose was as an adjunct to "Tamarack Lodge,"
a large summer estate at the foot of the hill. Today, its rustic construction,
its open design and its advantageous setting can still be appreciated by hikers
in Dennis Hill State Park, for which the building serves as a shelter. Although
there is no glass in the window openings, nor any interior furnishings, the
arcadian ambience of the place remains, a kind of democratization of its original
function. At the time of this report, the bungalow was inhabited only by an
escaped kestrel in jesses, an appropriate reminder of the lifestyle of the building's
first owners and of the fact that Norfolk continues as an exclusive summer
retreat.</span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4Hs1gD0Sv4HT49b6_RSJ0VBrDeRt0eKl_lAWhPorGackZUqlKTk9BsM0Q_2vbZPpmKI7qfMw_O9iYwzdqQE1BcrgqNu7LSE7VkJei4mQDX0zcGifCjHkCrC2_Px-1OAEWAAH31InMfLS/s1600/DSCN4712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4Hs1gD0Sv4HT49b6_RSJ0VBrDeRt0eKl_lAWhPorGackZUqlKTk9BsM0Q_2vbZPpmKI7qfMw_O9iYwzdqQE1BcrgqNu7LSE7VkJei4mQDX0zcGifCjHkCrC2_Px-1OAEWAAH31InMfLS/s320/DSCN4712.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out at the hills from the entrance.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXIeqv7x_jH58KANAx2Zu8hqnmCFd4kvjEY3_u4w-QmPzGMH5K834JnmRfBoHR3f4qquA9d09LzVVbDQvXG_otwPnao0vsskbZEp8oQWvUtmCpbkdOYDPQ8eza-ruQhvilLd-W4F5XekG/s1600/DSCN4722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXIeqv7x_jH58KANAx2Zu8hqnmCFd4kvjEY3_u4w-QmPzGMH5K834JnmRfBoHR3f4qquA9d09LzVVbDQvXG_otwPnao0vsskbZEp8oQWvUtmCpbkdOYDPQ8eza-ruQhvilLd-W4F5XekG/s320/DSCN4722.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the pavilion.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXCVPdnjfHDONuyhkmDUz9A9vvgUUNFqR82ftzbr2VuNQXhpx6MoWnT6MvOmDjQnAAZNyXpvYYMEj6Er4ZYVmhXxgztjYZR8Ep1-rfN_J8enxtccjZUg7I8CGFw5YhEKBK0YQAdV0S5w6/s1600/DSCN4724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXCVPdnjfHDONuyhkmDUz9A9vvgUUNFqR82ftzbr2VuNQXhpx6MoWnT6MvOmDjQnAAZNyXpvYYMEj6Er4ZYVmhXxgztjYZR8Ep1-rfN_J8enxtccjZUg7I8CGFw5YhEKBK0YQAdV0S5w6/s320/DSCN4724.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from in front of the pavilion.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This location would be a great place to view the fall foliage. There are picnic tables inside the pavilion.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUpnTnhNSWr0qpiEXRTfhLKA0ll6JnBHbTfXF0lHE1QAsTa3P_KUdnE46Fl1cRpAn2K68Ksl_Tu0ZZMPTQ-S8cGrixWkocIoWrYP0p59N38dOtynII7xBS0Ej2RMKnrgFYsyPyUFwCzk8/s1600/DSCN4726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUpnTnhNSWr0qpiEXRTfhLKA0ll6JnBHbTfXF0lHE1QAsTa3P_KUdnE46Fl1cRpAn2K68Ksl_Tu0ZZMPTQ-S8cGrixWkocIoWrYP0p59N38dOtynII7xBS0Ej2RMKnrgFYsyPyUFwCzk8/s320/DSCN4726.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saw these along the road. I think they are blue cohosh.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We walked back down along the road until we came to a small parking area where the white trail heads into the woods. The trail entrance was a little overgrown, but we gamely pushed through. There were burrs and other prickers, but there were also stinging nettles. It felt like we were being pricked by pins. Once through this initial area, the trail again seemed to close in. We decided to turn around and head back down to where the yellow trail came out by our cars. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burdock, idea for Velcro. Note the shield bug between the burs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stinging nettle. Sorry, not a very good picture.</td></tr>
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Interestingly, stinging nettle can be used as a treatment for other ailments including joint or muscle pain. My husband (who had an unpleasant experience with nettles in England) thinks that the sting of the nettles simply takes your mind off of your other problems. Relief from the effects of stinging nettle can be found in plants that may be growing near by. One is called dock plant and the other is jewelweed. We did see jewelweed as we walked on down the road. <br />
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Once back at our cars, we took the yellow trail into the woods. This was wider and allowed several of us to walk abreast. We went around the yellow loop to the right and ended up at a small pavilion that offered another fantastic view. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Metamorphic rock - schist?</td></tr>
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Leaving the pavilion, we continued on the loop and returned to our cars. There was one place on the loop where it looked like another trail went off to the right. Make sure you continue following the yellow blazes. The white trail that we had abandoned was supposed to join the yellow trail, but I never noticed where. <br />
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There are a few things I am going to do the next time I come out here - and I will be out here again. The pavilion would be a perfect place to have a picnic, so I am going to bring my lunch and enjoy the view. I am going to read the information in the pavilion as mentioned at <a href="http://www.ctmuseumquest.com/?page_id=11646" target="_blank">CT Museum Quest</a>. I am going to follow along with the information available on <a href="http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325124&depNav_GID=1650" target="_blank">The Geology of Dennis Hill State Park</a> as I hike.<br />
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This was a great little park. Other parks nearby include Haystack Mountain and Campbell Falls. I highly recommend both of those. Haystack has a stone tower you can climb with fabulous views and Campbell Falls is just up the road from there.dstbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12640426092185071874noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861902899691425703.post-60106522583548900632012-07-27T12:39:00.000-04:002012-07-27T12:39:29.365-04:00Simsbury - Talcott Mountain State ParkDate Hiked: Thursday, July 19, 2012<br />
Number in Group: 8<br />
Estimated distance round-trip: 2.5 miles<br />
Weather: Sunny, 83°F<br />
Resources: <a href="http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325272" target="_blank">Talcott Mountain State Park</a>, <a href="http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/stateparks/maps/talcgis.pdf" target="_blank">Trail Map</a><br />
Highlights of the trip: Views, Heublein Tower<br />
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This is always a nice hike, and the fact that the Heublein Tower was open made it even better. We started from the parking area off of 185 and headed up to the ridge. From there it is an easy walk along the ridge to the tower.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View looking west over the Farmington Valley. <br />
You can see the Farmington River below.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking north.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids enjoyed climbing to the top of this.</td></tr>
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I have not been in the tower in, well, I'd rather not say how many years. It seems to me they have done quite a bit of work. We took a look at some of the displays downstairs and also looked at some of the rooms.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This looks like a nice little place to read.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking south from the tower. You can see the reservoir.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking east with Hartford in the distance.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the tower. I think it has been renovated since I was last here.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking north.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dining room.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwMeXtvMRR7QjWY1y27-4Kf1Fxv5x2sGgdILyY6vr21Fl_HjCfXC7kISrD0JSFyvRVneXEv27RS8xVXWPGPS_75TqicGND2XbtsR-YEuytG6RQFiUygVa7aOouHoe-ZJrdLCftn8mGFy4/s1600/DSCN4306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwMeXtvMRR7QjWY1y27-4Kf1Fxv5x2sGgdILyY6vr21Fl_HjCfXC7kISrD0JSFyvRVneXEv27RS8xVXWPGPS_75TqicGND2XbtsR-YEuytG6RQFiUygVa7aOouHoe-ZJrdLCftn8mGFy4/s320/DSCN4306.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common name: Selfheal or Heal-all<br />
Scientific name: <i>Prunella vulgaris</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And just because I was curious, from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunella_vulgaris" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Self-heal is edible: the young leaves and stems can be eaten raw in
salads; the whole plant can be boiled and eaten as a potherb; and the
aerial parts of the plant can be powdered and brewed in a cold infusion
to make a tasty beverage.</i><br />
<i>Medicinally, the whole plant is poulticed onto wounds to promote
healing. A mouthwash made from an infusion of the whole plant can be
used to treat sore throats, thrush and gum infections. Internally, a tea can be used to treat diarrhea and internal bleeding.</i></blockquote>
I am very glad we went on this hike. I'd like to go back this fall when the sky might be a little more clear and the leaves have turned color.dstbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12640426092185071874noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861902899691425703.post-27760431725889767402012-07-13T08:43:00.000-04:002012-07-13T19:24:09.977-04:00Hartland - Falls Brook TrailDate Hiked: Thursday, July 12, 2012<br />
Number in Group: 5<br />
Estimated distance round-trip: < 2 miles<br />
Weather: Sunny and warm, 91°F<br />
Resources: <a href="http://www.ctwoodlands.org/node/167" target="_blank">Connecticut Walk Book: West</a> put out by CT Forest & Park Association<br />
Highlights of the trip: Stream with falls<br />
<br />
We had a small group on a day that was a little more humid than I was expecting. We headed down into the woods with the kids in the lead. (The kids are now timing us to see how long it takes us to catch up with them. Hey, if that makes the trip more interesting for them and gives them a little something to bond over, then that's okay with me! To my son I'll say, Just remember who is carrying the water.)<br />
<br />
From the map in the Walk Book, we could see that this was a loop trail, but I must admit we had some trouble with that.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59ECFUtT-iFQMCTNLuKpkxr5NvY6eMbJ1tpXs3hyphenhyphenW1vMolqvptgJuDXsV55WEgesUKOhDqN0vgQTR0fxZImHWibC-Hg7Bi4sME9NkSH0WZrAU5Sjy5TltEwW0XMuOcNN9LZKTK1MxoM9L/s1600/DSCN4190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59ECFUtT-iFQMCTNLuKpkxr5NvY6eMbJ1tpXs3hyphenhyphenW1vMolqvptgJuDXsV55WEgesUKOhDqN0vgQTR0fxZImHWibC-Hg7Bi4sME9NkSH0WZrAU5Sjy5TltEwW0XMuOcNN9LZKTK1MxoM9L/s320/DSCN4190.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading in. Blue blazes clearly marked.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOli-kaG3rHDK3JLt4F864c_5xWbcY2IskOk0Poof4spbg67I5WFaZi2BWgMPnar0V60NDfziEgB8BnDt2hgxf3sQWC3IuiK1K9tHhPgttfmlCEXPL_W0d65WQ9WWtul0xGg2oRHNWddz/s1600/DSCN4192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOli-kaG3rHDK3JLt4F864c_5xWbcY2IskOk0Poof4spbg67I5WFaZi2BWgMPnar0V60NDfziEgB8BnDt2hgxf3sQWC3IuiK1K9tHhPgttfmlCEXPL_W0d65WQ9WWtul0xGg2oRHNWddz/s320/DSCN4192.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty little stream.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSkOTch62Oo7uQItCWTq_Qi5IxpuR27JHe2fqzmZ0x1VVlTAJOTC3dPXSqEgTDSBLykDHs7E_M8p5w_M8bYYOW1k0wwjPvlXgJ2zKBUomkH23FaoMoHHnB5jYfh82GHp9CT4oBNkzgjsc/s1600/DSCN4196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSkOTch62Oo7uQItCWTq_Qi5IxpuR27JHe2fqzmZ0x1VVlTAJOTC3dPXSqEgTDSBLykDHs7E_M8p5w_M8bYYOW1k0wwjPvlXgJ2zKBUomkH23FaoMoHHnB5jYfh82GHp9CT4oBNkzgjsc/s320/DSCN4196.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ferns, and I am not sure what the plant with the long, thin leaves is.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
We kept following the trail down and along the stream until we came to the falls view point and this kind of funny sign. Funny to me because it had an unofficial look to it. Verboten Trail? Really?<br />
<br />
Is it:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Closed. No. Anything Allowed. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Or is it:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Closed. No Anything Allowed.</div>
<br />
I suspect it is the latter.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5EZjazaTw-z9P7J2bgn3nnWtSj3U8qlP2hYB_U-UNQMo-dXKo-470jr6IiBbWyT1fr3zPzEKSoOOqDDegWW04rhRVyf_WeY12-EiVO10hswy6vlGbmzPfrT8L3dpSyVb5LJB64V6MDgjs/s1600/DSCN4202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5EZjazaTw-z9P7J2bgn3nnWtSj3U8qlP2hYB_U-UNQMo-dXKo-470jr6IiBbWyT1fr3zPzEKSoOOqDDegWW04rhRVyf_WeY12-EiVO10hswy6vlGbmzPfrT8L3dpSyVb5LJB64V6MDgjs/s320/DSCN4202.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alles erlaubt. Nein!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Where the blue trail circles back at the top of the falls, it is supposed to connect to a white trail that leads to a better view of the falls down below. The sign was telling us not to go there, I presume because of damage left from the October snowstorm. I will admit I went a few steps down the trail just to see. I also looked for white blazes without success.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffRrMXjEb7MEb_I0cQ6tba2b6T3Pw7-dl9wEPjrQGH3hX79Mrtc8dUg87lAcPVV02gk886vznoXunUQRVLukS2Rg4v8VWDklFwZL0xpEKmuzMBWSojdblbt3o0sPIp8-aZGslHjcakXXM/s1600/DSCN4203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffRrMXjEb7MEb_I0cQ6tba2b6T3Pw7-dl9wEPjrQGH3hX79Mrtc8dUg87lAcPVV02gk886vznoXunUQRVLukS2Rg4v8VWDklFwZL0xpEKmuzMBWSojdblbt3o0sPIp8-aZGslHjcakXXM/s320/DSCN4203.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sure enough, trees across the trail.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So we went to the falls view point. There was not much water flowing, but the moss covered rocks were pretty. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgFavrs-K3f3WmRo5kiaIo8SYQhA8v821IW65QoJ27gvl-niKyYC6Oe5S2hlO37JtS09NiHiHQ1OJw78oEs_LenzEinKWd05UveDbwM-xeakaJCpZ4piH2EDfNQwj7OzzB-k3esLSY7G5/s1600/DSCN4198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgFavrs-K3f3WmRo5kiaIo8SYQhA8v821IW65QoJ27gvl-niKyYC6Oe5S2hlO37JtS09NiHiHQ1OJw78oEs_LenzEinKWd05UveDbwM-xeakaJCpZ4piH2EDfNQwj7OzzB-k3esLSY7G5/s320/DSCN4198.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down over the falls to a pool below.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZo4RSTp_Wvk4lO5L8C2Rg20DMaFMFCj1Dpgs0mtMNhbregOJzTkmttXjmuXgcC5bhDrVxWY6JmZl9qtlYyF9oZycT3HTN-yXCnQ-O5uL7c9U_9REh01ov_nlxX9v5clTD5pZ12bUyst06/s1600/DSCN4201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZo4RSTp_Wvk4lO5L8C2Rg20DMaFMFCj1Dpgs0mtMNhbregOJzTkmttXjmuXgcC5bhDrVxWY6JmZl9qtlYyF9oZycT3HTN-yXCnQ-O5uL7c9U_9REh01ov_nlxX9v5clTD5pZ12bUyst06/s320/DSCN4201.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moss covered rocks at the top of the falls.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, we never made it to the bottom of the falls. We also missed the return on the loop. The funny sign seemed to indicate a crossing, and I think there may have been another sign that said something about a crossing without a bridge, but we got sidetracked. We started back on a different blue trail, but very shortly came back to the trail we had been on on the way in. My guess is that we were supposed to cross the stream, but we somehow missed that.<br />
<br />
As we headed back towards the car, we saw where the loop came back in and a small bridge over the stream. We had completely missed seeing this on the way in.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcY90p3eENdOILOH7hfpt1hF6T6KNzYpjg1dTUtFBugfOK0E0b0gJZvBoI2rDwZ-9is0s1Y-JSL1kmYDpRTVrBWWpZPMd8illL0-VmFVKtAjeZTOqXyEL9Lxc-saKBJAGmwG5xq3oNa-0u/s1600/DSCN4204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcY90p3eENdOILOH7hfpt1hF6T6KNzYpjg1dTUtFBugfOK0E0b0gJZvBoI2rDwZ-9is0s1Y-JSL1kmYDpRTVrBWWpZPMd8illL0-VmFVKtAjeZTOqXyEL9Lxc-saKBJAGmwG5xq3oNa-0u/s320/DSCN4204.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small bridge near where the loop rejoins the trail in.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
In the final stretch back to the car, we ran into some other people and I asked them if they knew where you were supposed to cross the stream to do the loop. Apparently, they had done it only once before and had had the same problem. Today, they were going to reverse direction and see if that made it easier to figure out where to cross. Those had been my thoughts, too. Next time, maybe in the fall when there aren't so many mosquitoes, I'll come back and try the loop in the other direction.<br />
<br />
On the way home, we stopped at the overlook for the Barkhamsted Reservoir. A nice view, but I bet it is really stunning in the fall.<br />
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<br />dstbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12640426092185071874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861902899691425703.post-92127205851886762942012-07-08T18:52:00.001-04:002012-07-08T18:52:45.773-04:00Avon/Simsbury - Farmington River PaddleDate Paddled: Sunday, July 8, 2012<br />
Number in Group: 13<br />
Estimated distance: 3.3 miles<br />
Weather: Sunny and warm, 85°F<br />
Resources: <a href="http://frwa.org/river-info/recreation-info-maps/recreation-area-5/" target="_blank">Farmington River Watershed Association</a>, <a href="http://www.huckfinnadventures.com/" target="_blank">Huck Finn Adventures</a><br />
Highlights of the trip: Wildlife, views, just enjoying the water<br />
<br />
Although this was not a trip officially planned by the Farmington Valley Homeschool Hikers, most of the people who went on this trip do hike with us, so I thought I'd post about it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://frwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/map5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://frwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/map5.gif" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the Farmington River Watershed Association website (see above).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
We started our paddle at Alsop Meadows in Avon (access point 22) and paddled to Route 185 and the giant Pinchot Sycamore Tree in Simsbury (access point 23). Huck Finn Adventures has their base at Alsop Meadows and I appreciated that they were willing to help me get my kayak in the water even though I wasn't renting from them. Others in the group did rent canoes and kayaks and were picked up at the Sycamore tree when they were done.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyJvudBQccVa5MlBwBsXWd5UY54Ltgr3TlzffQifG-x9kOahmMuTN8NYlBRt5OaSuuyO6s5gv2O6qfDLpekFcl8C-61npHeoN7Y9uFAwfLjaV1Xd7WJCArULE8G0I8nVeGRUG3jcxbYP_/s1600/DSCN4143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyJvudBQccVa5MlBwBsXWd5UY54Ltgr3TlzffQifG-x9kOahmMuTN8NYlBRt5OaSuuyO6s5gv2O6qfDLpekFcl8C-61npHeoN7Y9uFAwfLjaV1Xd7WJCArULE8G0I8nVeGRUG3jcxbYP_/s320/DSCN4143.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting out. Route 44 bridge ahead.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Shortly after we started, we passed the Route 44 bridge. We soon came to another small bridge decorated with flowers. After seeing a golf cart pass overhead, it became apparent that we were passing Blue Fox Run. <br />
<br />
A little further on, on the western side of the river, we could hear gunfire. The gunfire comes from the Nod Brook area noted in the <a href="http://www.simsburylandtrust.org/pdf_files/slt_wlkbk_wetlands_05.pdf" target="_blank">Simsbury Walk Book</a>. This area is used for hunting dog training and field dog trials.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehsq_qFrb8ViPqsGMBiRm7Nor-owoS4XNjFKP0pehSnlEhMcTC19YvGGqh-Ld4RKWBMMKHa_453diFC0inwqJp40Z5ZQCTHQJLi6SvGJxLqQy-6nKtkLaEgVpGgD3PaHh3_rU7hBJ-v91/s1600/DSCN4149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehsq_qFrb8ViPqsGMBiRm7Nor-owoS4XNjFKP0pehSnlEhMcTC19YvGGqh-Ld4RKWBMMKHa_453diFC0inwqJp40Z5ZQCTHQJLi6SvGJxLqQy-6nKtkLaEgVpGgD3PaHh3_rU7hBJ-v91/s320/DSCN4149.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mama and some ducklings.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2QWFYpeEl4t7Sr3ACIJGCL160aWcw3E5HX9i5KaKszVpm7OBMAdnwm4uuc-KwZMqnD25Z3y36_rk-kzQwovpgYj4z_nh4npHi_2ogEkHnUWP0IbdCPvFsgWlfn3g6Slg_O6ij27iFBvI/s1600/DSCN4152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2QWFYpeEl4t7Sr3ACIJGCL160aWcw3E5HX9i5KaKszVpm7OBMAdnwm4uuc-KwZMqnD25Z3y36_rk-kzQwovpgYj4z_nh4npHi_2ogEkHnUWP0IbdCPvFsgWlfn3g6Slg_O6ij27iFBvI/s320/DSCN4152.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adult female and juvenile Common Mergansers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Even for the middle of the day, we saw a fair amount of wildlife. In addition to the ducks and mergansers noted above, we also saw a Green Heron, a Great Blue Heron, and quite a few fish. We had a fisherman with us, and he caught a few. Maybe he can tell us what kind they were.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">B decided to swim part of the way.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A perfect day to be on, or in, the water.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkefupa3FhGyF0LCCwEtUw28atHDDL2d5DiMCcAFi4j3vE4yY_RZ2FSnMNRdyGvtGZTOaZYEd6RqJmMdHyhuU-NhsZUtoOgLzwodW03tCCmRNdKAmehd67XQjmxwQkjZ1g8Z69x6nj98G/s1600/DSCN4165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUkefupa3FhGyF0LCCwEtUw28atHDDL2d5DiMCcAFi4j3vE4yY_RZ2FSnMNRdyGvtGZTOaZYEd6RqJmMdHyhuU-NhsZUtoOgLzwodW03tCCmRNdKAmehd67XQjmxwQkjZ1g8Z69x6nj98G/s320/DSCN4165.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heublein Tower on the Metacomet Ridge.</td></tr>
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We passed the Heublein Tower and could hear more gunfire, this time from the eastern side of the river. We were passing the CT State Police firing range. Eventually we came to the Route 185 bridge and our take out point at the Pinchot Sycamore tree. There were quite a few people swimming in the water here and the parking lot was pretty full. Someone had helped me shuttle my car here, so I loaded up. Others had parked on Nod Road, just across the bridge (good to remember if the lot is full). Huck Finn came and picked up the rest to take them back to their cars. The entire trip, taken at a pretty leisurely pace, took about 2 hours.<br />
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This was a fabulous trip. I think we should plan another one as part of our hiking group this fall.dstbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12640426092185071874noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861902899691425703.post-33665473516799037772012-06-29T21:12:00.000-04:002012-06-29T21:12:20.382-04:00Barkhamsted - Indian Council CavesDate Hiked: Thursday, June 28, 2012<br />
Number in Group: 9<br />
Estimated distance round-trip: 2 miles<br />
Weather: Sunny and warm, 92°F<br />
Resources: <a href="http://www.ctwoodlands.org/node/167" target="_blank">Connecticut Walk Book: West</a> put out by CT Forest & Park Association<br />
Highlights of the trip: Ginormous boulders to climb on<br />
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On Thursday, we took a hike to the Indian Council Caves in Barkhamsted. There were several places we could have parked along Route 179, but we decided to park on Legeyt Road about a mile north of where Routes 179 and 219 intersect. This makes for a relatively short and easy hike.<br />
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Crossing to the west side of 179, we went past a yellow gate and onto the trail. I believe this part of the trail used to be an extension of Legeyt Road and skirts the edge of Tunxis State Forest. While it still looked like a roadbed, there was only a single-person track through the grass and weeds. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_44Pv97-a23kzaThzQrCAVuY_YJniuaB2jCS1HHxtrfeOqctEZasptRysl-AHIbRhCJYSTRsbpPd3N-HAk0Jn0TG05Ix1DQ2j8u4s8BI3VwV_YCRQoxUB-XU9nSpJABQkg68JK6QdwFv/s1600/DSCN3961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_44Pv97-a23kzaThzQrCAVuY_YJniuaB2jCS1HHxtrfeOqctEZasptRysl-AHIbRhCJYSTRsbpPd3N-HAk0Jn0TG05Ix1DQ2j8u4s8BI3VwV_YCRQoxUB-XU9nSpJABQkg68JK6QdwFv/s320/DSCN3961.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Majestic looking tree.</td></tr>
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Before too long, the trail became very rocky. It resembled a dry stream bed.<br />
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Along the way, we came to two ponds. The first one was right by the trail and easy to access. We didn't see a lot, but we could hear the bull frogs. The second one could be glimpsed through the trees and there appeared to be a beaver lodge.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First pond.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Any idea what this is?</td></tr>
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There were also a number of cellar holes. I think we came across at least three. This one appeared to have stairs. The flat rock in the foreground of the picture also had what appeared to be a circular opening. Not sure what that was.<br />
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We had already gone past a trail on the right that was blazed blue. This was the Tunxis Trail heading north toward the Massachusetts border. A little further on, we came to another blue blazed trail on the right. The Tunxis Trail turns in here for the Indian Council Caves. (I think if you continued along the old road, you might connect with the Tunxis Trail south of the caves).<br />
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The kids had gone on ahead of us and were already on top of the boulders by the time the adults got there.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near the top.</td></tr>
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There is really no view to speak of other than the tops of lots of trees. Still, it's fun to sit way up on top of the boulders.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rocks form a protective circle.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jewel weed.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The route we took made this a short, but enjoyable hike. If you don't have a lot of time, or are with young kids who may not be able to hike from some of the other trail heads, I would recommend taking this route. Details on the other parking areas are listed in the <i>Connecticut Walk Book: West</i> which you can find in most libraries.dstbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12640426092185071874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861902899691425703.post-32138884927382502642012-06-19T20:31:00.003-04:002012-06-20T07:36:02.260-04:00Simsbury - Walker's WoodsDate Hiked: Tuesday, June 19, 2012<br />
Number in Group: 9<br />
Estimated distance round-trip: 2.5 miles<br />
Weather: Overcast and humid, 75°F<br />
Website: <a href="http://www.simsburylandtrust.org/pdf_files/slt_wlkbk_sand_plane_05.pdf" target="_blank">SLT's Walkbook</a>, <a href="http://www.ethelwalker.org/about-walkers/campus/walkers-woods" target="_blank">Walker's Woods Trail map</a><br />
Highlights of the trip: View from Ethel Walker Property<br />
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According to the Simsbury Land Trust's Walkbook, there are a number of different places you can park to start a hike in the Ethel Walker Woods. We decided to park near the picnic pavilion in Town Forest Park. From there we had easy access to both the Town Forest and Ethel Walker Trails.<br />
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There are lots of interconnecting trails here and it would have been helpful to have a map. Unfortunately, I had neglected to print one. I am not sure how helpful it would have been if I had, because I would have used the map from the Walkbook which is not color coded (my one gripe with the very nice Walkbook). I later learned from my son that he had found a color coded map on the Ethel Walker website. It definitely would have been nice to have.<br />
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I know we started our hike on Orange, but that may have been just a short stretch until we hit the Green and doesn't seem to appear on the map. We went south on the Green, to the Blue, then Blue/Yellow, then Blue all the way to the observatory. On the way back, I think we took the same Blue trail, but took a right on to the Yellow, then to Blue, then Green and finally, Orange. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bridge leading into the Woods from Town Forest Park.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidkV6G6IvghqimH5ngYFvg70f3XwTsQ7UOFNPXK8N-f6VJ3PD1sa5IFyAFBS6_krnhHkML6vsn-NbJS0hFvrYDbR2jfk2T0d0vej0VP0-FuwFgX54-kJenTaSkYBpBWmiuB_WzlVUFOSG6/s1600/DSCN3901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidkV6G6IvghqimH5ngYFvg70f3XwTsQ7UOFNPXK8N-f6VJ3PD1sa5IFyAFBS6_krnhHkML6vsn-NbJS0hFvrYDbR2jfk2T0d0vej0VP0-FuwFgX54-kJenTaSkYBpBWmiuB_WzlVUFOSG6/s320/DSCN3901.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking at the water from the bridge. Although it doesn't show well in the picture,<br />
there is a large patch of light blue Forget-me-nots on the other side of the water.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdqz7b-4TEZq6Q6l43w9EC-mJJ0PZ6wRA5wbjIQBgBqliDzUy0XHHTz5Cxn5p02PQdoTldNqwZzuiMg9fCQAF6ZkZVwwUmKXyn9wxPkK093gX-dtN_ilxn987QUMOMZ0CCNilv28eYK4E/s1600/DSCN3898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdqz7b-4TEZq6Q6l43w9EC-mJJ0PZ6wRA5wbjIQBgBqliDzUy0XHHTz5Cxn5p02PQdoTldNqwZzuiMg9fCQAF6ZkZVwwUmKXyn9wxPkK093gX-dtN_ilxn987QUMOMZ0CCNilv28eYK4E/s320/DSCN3898.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forget-me-nots. Sorry, not in focus.</td></tr>
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As we walked along, we saw quite a few of these cement objects. They were only on one side of the trail. One end was round, but the other end was square. The hole went all the way through.<br />
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A short distance later, we came to more of these objects, but this time they were planted in the ground. Although they were spaced fairly far apart, our guess is that they were for some kind of fence post. The distance between them may have been strung with wire. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3Ugd-UTWHIDRlT5Yj3rmz_xqZt-wNOroanMs045dDPBbL8Jupzr_ZbfbiXicKZNoMN9IVeQQxUZdGQeoj8DGgW_tNxSf3NskJ_ASTCUyYCEn5XLnlDWqOJ3mFzcTbqEB25P_XlZHokDW/s1600/DSCN3874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW3Ugd-UTWHIDRlT5Yj3rmz_xqZt-wNOroanMs045dDPBbL8Jupzr_ZbfbiXicKZNoMN9IVeQQxUZdGQeoj8DGgW_tNxSf3NskJ_ASTCUyYCEn5XLnlDWqOJ3mFzcTbqEB25P_XlZHokDW/s320/DSCN3874.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice open area of ferns.</td></tr>
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At the end of the Blue trail, we came upon a field. At the top was the Van Gemeren Observatory and a picturesque look at Ethel Walker's fields and chapel. The observatory is just a small shed, but I wish now that I had taken a picture of it. One of the things we noted was that above our heads, to one side of the building, there were tracks and a chain, like you would have for your garage door. In looking at the <a href="http://www.ethelwalker.org/about-walkers/campus/observatory" target="_blank">Ethel Walker Website</a>, it is clear that the roof of the observatory retracts.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ks4zz2IHHXU5N4fAUL3lgO3Mp71QMsv8T3FF4MCoaqAVPjsis0RdSflWnzA0PdR2NtEepq45_Fhvb98byM0PD9y0dAlVbj0bGSbD4RxGINjmXZuKX9OjMo9zYSvpRUfDaFKiMpUovN0N/s1600/DSCN3879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ks4zz2IHHXU5N4fAUL3lgO3Mp71QMsv8T3FF4MCoaqAVPjsis0RdSflWnzA0PdR2NtEepq45_Fhvb98byM0PD9y0dAlVbj0bGSbD4RxGINjmXZuKX9OjMo9zYSvpRUfDaFKiMpUovN0N/s320/DSCN3879.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ethel Walker's chapel.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstHBeWhC5pI1gzqzR3o7h8yqfDfqlHxio_dSvfddpv6D74wzw6_tV3FqG445r_69zQ5fxHPeLIzBKzbymi4pBVfmjlYponA7jxpOum1eQdkMRrVSnzcCckUwo1_qunj4j-BYTLHAxfDby/s1600/DSCN3895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstHBeWhC5pI1gzqzR3o7h8yqfDfqlHxio_dSvfddpv6D74wzw6_tV3FqG445r_69zQ5fxHPeLIzBKzbymi4pBVfmjlYponA7jxpOum1eQdkMRrVSnzcCckUwo1_qunj4j-BYTLHAxfDby/s320/DSCN3895.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heublein Tower on the Metacomet Ridge.</td></tr>
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This was a nice hike, not nearly as strenuous as our last couple of hikes. And now that my son has pointed out the color-coded map, I can see that there is more exploring to do here. So, we will be back!dstbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12640426092185071874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861902899691425703.post-82812499787353600442012-06-16T11:58:00.001-04:002012-06-16T11:58:57.574-04:00New Hartford - Jones MountainDate Hiked: Friday, June 15, 2012<br />
Number in Group: 12<br />
Estimated distance round-trip: 2.5+ miles<br />
Weather: Sunny, 81°F<br />
Website: <a href="http://www.newhartfordlandtrust.org/Jones/JonesMtn.html" target="_blank">New Hartford Land Trust</a><br />
Highlights of the trip: Foam dome, view, stone bridge<br />
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Another perfect day for a hike. This week we headed to the Jones Mountain Property managed by the New Hartford Land Trust. Starting from the small parking area on the side of Steele Road, we headed past the kiosk and up the hill. We turned right at the first junction and took the Vista Trail to Vista Road, an old carriage road that winds around the property.<br />
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As we walked along the Vista Road, we encountered numerous orange signs reminding us that the Jones Mountain Property is bordered by a hunting area. In addition to the signs, there was also a rope strung along the boundary. The rope seemed like overkill given the number of signs posted and was an impediment to those pristine nature pictures I so want to include in the blog. Of course, wait until you see what's coming...<br />
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We continued on the trail to the right around the peak. Part way around, a little side trail goes up to the "foam dome". From what I have read, this unusual structure, which was also referred to as a hobbit house by members of our group, was built as part of an architectural assignment by one of the daughters of the Jones clan in the 1970's. Much of the foam has been broken off, and what remains has been gouged with initials and names. There are a few plexiglass windows still in place, but most are gone.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4dgdJukvOO-SjVGgqCtpRpV4X24L-1UwGIzMeYfE0PCFZyzQYbJ7ANLaU9YxOMiSs6AkvW5qzw2w0cC7vzwk7N8WPtaeANP-YbtNZ3HeHoH8q3nMnmO3GqCvxklNPlLUtIM0VeevTyXS/s1600/DSCN3623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4dgdJukvOO-SjVGgqCtpRpV4X24L-1UwGIzMeYfE0PCFZyzQYbJ7ANLaU9YxOMiSs6AkvW5qzw2w0cC7vzwk7N8WPtaeANP-YbtNZ3HeHoH8q3nMnmO3GqCvxklNPlLUtIM0VeevTyXS/s320/DSCN3623.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "foam dome". Strategically taken photo avoids the most offensive graffiti.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGrYOWmpoy-dzikhl5EmeQgwt_UVOSOM2u_0kfCWGyr5ewQd6V8B-cyylzZbCjMi2K-ep_CriQozmAiBT1OLHLRWSk18KJ1gNcHowkh22z-VZX30Pauj4SvLIBOK3OGGe050eZo0VsONY/s1600/DSCN3602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGrYOWmpoy-dzikhl5EmeQgwt_UVOSOM2u_0kfCWGyr5ewQd6V8B-cyylzZbCjMi2K-ep_CriQozmAiBT1OLHLRWSk18KJ1gNcHowkh22z-VZX30Pauj4SvLIBOK3OGGe050eZo0VsONY/s320/DSCN3602.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CG looks like she left her mark here, as well.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvLxbjjk_Cd65AfFt7iLE22yuItvG6tKBMB6Mht3-Bh5-30KCDYTzc01xgYM7qrIe5FVYRTftbm0WKf2kWn-r5qLXbA6cA8HuKy6uKJR6QWJkCCReb0SCClQMdjLoMJIOUwsfznZCF-6O/s1600/100_6434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvLxbjjk_Cd65AfFt7iLE22yuItvG6tKBMB6Mht3-Bh5-30KCDYTzc01xgYM7qrIe5FVYRTftbm0WKf2kWn-r5qLXbA6cA8HuKy6uKJR6QWJkCCReb0SCClQMdjLoMJIOUwsfznZCF-6O/s320/100_6434.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scientific name: <i>Ganoderma tsugae</i><br />
Common name: Hemlock varnish shelf</td></tr>
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As we were leaving the "foam dome", the kids saw this cool looking fungus. I have tentatively identified it as Hemlock varnish shelf. It can be dried and turned into a powder and made into a tea. It is supposed to have medicinal properties including inhibiting tumors and relieving asthma.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7MMAiS76wVVVbQzlbNFJFS-62ZMTcXBrlRx8rUC__bCXQFrXImH-OWxcMv8KP-TqDx-leLnrQJ2hbR5CwcDrUdqWsBB7qboEUGltK-8L4S13HqPvlQlCWBy6tmSJipUJ4Blvnh2_UMEFU/s1600/DSCN3626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7MMAiS76wVVVbQzlbNFJFS-62ZMTcXBrlRx8rUC__bCXQFrXImH-OWxcMv8KP-TqDx-leLnrQJ2hbR5CwcDrUdqWsBB7qboEUGltK-8L4S13HqPvlQlCWBy6tmSJipUJ4Blvnh2_UMEFU/s320/DSCN3626.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scientific name: <i>Actius luna</i><br />
Common name: Luna moth</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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One of the kids also found a dead Luna moth. I had never seen a Luna moth before. It's size is quite impressive. <a href="http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/luna_moth.htm" target="_blank">This website</a> has more information, including the fact that the adults live only about a week.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwA5lRDLxO_f2zLvrPNrFI5LcZCkrXZDkefsprzfspLXD4N0a-lHJ7eumcNwI9b5tYyX4RbYjiN6YjkHzmwQxqvzqjZhOkpMV4SIVGlg3pC4UMfnbrzkR4eUFZ7D8XgHkfHYKwrBtht4H/s1600/DSCN3627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwA5lRDLxO_f2zLvrPNrFI5LcZCkrXZDkefsprzfspLXD4N0a-lHJ7eumcNwI9b5tYyX4RbYjiN6YjkHzmwQxqvzqjZhOkpMV4SIVGlg3pC4UMfnbrzkR4eUFZ7D8XgHkfHYKwrBtht4H/s320/DSCN3627.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scientific name: <i>Monotropa uniflora</i><br />
Common names: Indian pipe, Corpse plant, or Ghost plant.</td></tr>
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Not too far along from the "foam dome" we came to the viewpoint. From here we could see a little bit of New Hartford and, I assume, Route 44. The view was nice, but not expansive. I am sure if my father owned the property, he would be clearing some trees for a better view.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBVBCv3kZ9ArakIRPvPoywIWNqglzaTEi_-lLMut3dqqKGNRroPDTzxPY_EzQRqbUmvL8HjcUhYg0fRwWuaIh1lJ3YjZIKkrPXgAPqE8Adeb-ih3CK5OUtxYGE02mUj8nX-12oY4Cq-VC/s1600/DSCN3635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBVBCv3kZ9ArakIRPvPoywIWNqglzaTEi_-lLMut3dqqKGNRroPDTzxPY_EzQRqbUmvL8HjcUhYg0fRwWuaIh1lJ3YjZIKkrPXgAPqE8Adeb-ih3CK5OUtxYGE02mUj8nX-12oY4Cq-VC/s320/DSCN3635.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The viewpoint.</td></tr>
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At some point along here, we went from being on the Vista Road to being on the Carriage Road or Main Mountain Road. We came to a stone bridge that had been built at the beginning of the 20th century. The stones are all covered with moss and the little stream flowing underneath is very picturesque. This time there were no ropes to interfere with my picture taking.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some kind of hawkweed?</td></tr>
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We came to a sign indicating that the carriage road was closed, so we turned left onto the white trail and then right onto the yellow trail. I don't actually remember seeing blazes, but they could have been there.<br />
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The next point of interest was a small pond formed by a little earthen dam. Here we saw frogs and lots of tadpoles. Behind us were the remains of an old barn or shed. The walls are all that remain and there is a piece of old farm equipment nearby.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small pond. You may be able to see the dam at this end.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvenile green frog, I believe.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tadpoles.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remnants of old shed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdPDVv4vVdkljBOc1tUn8dLr8QErz1m2tGUDr4iMMySpUVFZmirZCpi-aNSCWLl6BIXfnmQVSlKx-nmed0OWGwQ85rQcoRbguBqU8cxhq8jJTuU51rL_YUuTHsRScs1x_MGaTcMuyAU0S/s1600/DSCN3648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdPDVv4vVdkljBOc1tUn8dLr8QErz1m2tGUDr4iMMySpUVFZmirZCpi-aNSCWLl6BIXfnmQVSlKx-nmed0OWGwQ85rQcoRbguBqU8cxhq8jJTuU51rL_YUuTHsRScs1x_MGaTcMuyAU0S/s320/DSCN3648.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty and functional (at one point in time).</td></tr>
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The trail connected back up with the red-blazed trail and we returned to our cars. Some of the blazes are quite faint, but the trails are obvious and there are signs at the junctions of trails, plus a few trail maps along the way. If you print off the <a href="http://www.newhartfordlandtrust.org/Jones/JonesMap2010.jpg" target="_blank">trail map</a> before you go, you should have no troubles. This was definitely an interesting piece of property and well worth the hike.<br />
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For more information I recommend the following websites:<br />
<a href="http://www.newhartfordlandtrust.org/Jones/JonesMtn.html" target="_blank">New Hartford Land Trust</a> - includes a trail map and an article from the Hartford Courant's Peter Marteka<br />
<a href="http://davidkleff.typepad.com/home/2010/06/new-england-forest-magic.html" target="_blank">David K. Leff </a>- blog he wrote about his visit, includes pictures<br />dstbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12640426092185071874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861902899691425703.post-6091176146933091922012-06-08T23:14:00.000-04:002012-06-08T23:14:28.886-04:00Barkhamsted - People's State ForestDate Hiked: Thursday, June 7, 2012<br />
Number in Group: 9<br />
Estimated distance round-trip: 2.5+ miles<br />
Weather: Sunny, 75°F<br />
Website: <a href="http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325054" target="_blank">People's State Forest</a><br />
Highlights of the trip: History of Barkhamsted Lighthouse community, tremendous views, Veeder Boulders<br />
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Looking at the <a href="http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/stateparks/maps/peoples.pdf" target="_blank">trail map</a>, we had agreed to meet at the Whittemore Grove parking area to begin our hike on the Jessie Gerard Trail. However, when we arrived we found that there was a small parking area on East River Road just opposite the trail head.<br />
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The plan had been to hike up the Jessie Gerard Trail until it met the Robert Ross Trail, head north to the various lookouts, and then return via the Falls Cut-off Trail. Part way up the Jessie Gerard Trail, we stopped to read about the Barkhamsted Lighthouse Cemetery. We met a couple coming down the trail who suggested that we, instead, go up the Falls Cut-off Trail and down Jessie Gerard. This turned out to be good advice as the Falls Cut-off Trail was much steeper and would have wreaked havoc on the knees on the way down.<br />
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Rather than backtracking, we were able to use the Lighthouse Trail (not shown on the trail map) to cut back over to the Falls Cut-Off Trail. Along the way we got a little history lesson on the Barkhamsted Lighthouse Village. A strange name for a place in the middle of the woods, but it got its name because it was a beacon for travelers on the road below. The light from the village served as a mile marker of sorts. Rather than rewrite what has already been written about the Barkhamsted Lighthouse, I will direct you to Steve Wood's <a href="http://www.ctmuseumquest.com/?page_id=1160" target="_blank">Connecticut Museum Quest</a> website for more information.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmkpa0-zEaU6k790Stg0BsNxTHbo_zQxZ7T0G6bfEPjYoxNPde3Q13h0eauclS00T2M1erMmf2d-xghAZ01RjSDVrjLmzrhKCESVTV4vESHB6Vj0JcZTEoDytL33esLS90JQKaOIAsGgG/s1600/DSCN3541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmkpa0-zEaU6k790Stg0BsNxTHbo_zQxZ7T0G6bfEPjYoxNPde3Q13h0eauclS00T2M1erMmf2d-xghAZ01RjSDVrjLmzrhKCESVTV4vESHB6Vj0JcZTEoDytL33esLS90JQKaOIAsGgG/s320/DSCN3541.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Description of Lighthouse Cemetery with one of the stones to the left near the flag.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More gravestones.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cellar hole at the base of the tree.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quarry.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This grind stone was pretty cool.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hard to see, but the slightly raised area in front of the sign was a charcoal kiln.</td></tr>
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After taking the time to read about this settlement, we arrived at the Falls Cut-off Trail and started to climb. In some areas, I had to use my hands to help me over a rock. It was pretty steep, but we weren't in any hurry. Plus, I have found that if you stop to take pictures for your blog, you can take a breather. (By the way, on the trail map, the Falls Cut-off Trail is supposed to be blazed blue/red, but it is blazed blue/yellow like the Jessie Gerard Trail).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going up, up, up.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FH3mqzUaY2xALhQGUOziupV-a-PN1Cn0JWOsn6-mmGpNwdB_6COd3qrjdvx_4thqutt2Nzn10DeJDnBY0Tuo2Xev5knoL-zuPMaCDRoqgTm7EKTda-DsNknQvSE41q3-A7gAh9RR8_mu/s1600/DSCN3560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FH3mqzUaY2xALhQGUOziupV-a-PN1Cn0JWOsn6-mmGpNwdB_6COd3qrjdvx_4thqutt2Nzn10DeJDnBY0Tuo2Xev5knoL-zuPMaCDRoqgTm7EKTda-DsNknQvSE41q3-A7gAh9RR8_mu/s320/DSCN3560.JPG" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cliff on one side of the trail.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5ZZ0RKKYKmfzeuTZYiRmi8-ChXv8CeqMLMAZWAcx_Ch-tE2yzPrNxCYTVjKr5_SxvHmHEEWrpYjUHI5iEjmnbKoF8DzU5RLV2UVvyAVkNArDKBF3XNlvUl6JVa0xehkP4x0KQ1N8QvKt/s1600/DSCN3563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5ZZ0RKKYKmfzeuTZYiRmi8-ChXv8CeqMLMAZWAcx_Ch-tE2yzPrNxCYTVjKr5_SxvHmHEEWrpYjUHI5iEjmnbKoF8DzU5RLV2UVvyAVkNArDKBF3XNlvUl6JVa0xehkP4x0KQ1N8QvKt/s320/DSCN3563.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"X" marks the spot. Buried treasure, Becca?<br />
There is a little trickle of a stream, but it is hard to see.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBgbN4HlXSG5Lyv7I2KYtTO8J-EiKBSgSfCmQyhh6dGItzmIncV8rRqIgPxtwbqHy5nZlEl1flwJvAGQLNN7Zs8hDcpJoioD_5NPjxB-OZbCMXZl_53QMqjm5fRMdxrs_0CfSmYuEYGC4/s1600/DSCN3570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBgbN4HlXSG5Lyv7I2KYtTO8J-EiKBSgSfCmQyhh6dGItzmIncV8rRqIgPxtwbqHy5nZlEl1flwJvAGQLNN7Zs8hDcpJoioD_5NPjxB-OZbCMXZl_53QMqjm5fRMdxrs_0CfSmYuEYGC4/s320/DSCN3570.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back down from the top.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Though the climb to the top was a bit of a workout, it was worth it. The views were tremendous. We really lucked out with the weather. There had been rain predicted all week, but instead, we got fabulous cloud formations that added to the view.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4oK0lgIA05AeemqZ7PB4mRiYT0_3k-RjEg1dru2YZ2RJRaa39SGyzPRbHI-_9T9yZc9V4KeTHcZ0BT_ARzUJwu7kYrsTBrUEoOcDdumCGgsamvkoRUaDG8uu03v4eZArQ5Ai2NgX41qM4/s1600/DSCN3576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4oK0lgIA05AeemqZ7PB4mRiYT0_3k-RjEg1dru2YZ2RJRaa39SGyzPRbHI-_9T9yZc9V4KeTHcZ0BT_ARzUJwu7kYrsTBrUEoOcDdumCGgsamvkoRUaDG8uu03v4eZArQ5Ai2NgX41qM4/s320/DSCN3576.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking south along the West Branch of the Farmington River.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLruLEot6Is179H2mPp0v-9QCIAqIXrhAutDHKvyHOVsR-9NaNbaouGxT8qGJ7F85J4qJABVk8on4v6ATmKcQ5pCHQnN7wZTs90zezdcJMPaAoUwEjqYyAAVFP8zNym4UqEDcJdRsByO-/s1600/DSCN3572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLruLEot6Is179H2mPp0v-9QCIAqIXrhAutDHKvyHOVsR-9NaNbaouGxT8qGJ7F85J4qJABVk8on4v6ATmKcQ5pCHQnN7wZTs90zezdcJMPaAoUwEjqYyAAVFP8zNym4UqEDcJdRsByO-/s320/DSCN3572.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Along the river, across from the lookout,<br />
was the bridge abutment we stood on during <a href="http://fvhomeschoolhikers.blogspot.com/2012/06/barkhamsted-american-legion-state.html" target="_blank">last week's hike</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibC6lRiNn2VmLAmBPFtIR0El8azI-1mbVGokyFuKllI70se3US4fbGCAUbG3hv7Q-oTH8X6ZrOyLcokmbkAojbx4vvu5aqL1bAfvrvaXYmwCgiT8ob763igNgqXqqkujIbSPEC3DcLaPda/s1600/DSCN3587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibC6lRiNn2VmLAmBPFtIR0El8azI-1mbVGokyFuKllI70se3US4fbGCAUbG3hv7Q-oTH8X6ZrOyLcokmbkAojbx4vvu5aqL1bAfvrvaXYmwCgiT8ob763igNgqXqqkujIbSPEC3DcLaPda/s320/DSCN3587.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the next lookout, we could see north to Riverton.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The trail then left the ridge and headed off into the woods. Before too long, we came upon the Veeder Boulders. These large glacial erratics just seem so out of place in the middle of the woods (hence, the name erratic, I guess). The kids tried to climb them, but didn't have any luck. I teased them that I would be able to find pictures online of people on top of the boulders, but I stand corrected.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1hzK3mGxCH2weimGjqcQUmyF_cUJga6sYjy0HTPkY6i5mbBsGHNFEurif2N5JVAn9-_Kl2Qbb9v0ShhIujcgFNiOJJTPbTg33y4LrBxgNvHgfO5RIpkMqN4Ez6VHnoXY2l-Gk442AmB-/s1600/DSCN3592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1hzK3mGxCH2weimGjqcQUmyF_cUJga6sYjy0HTPkY6i5mbBsGHNFEurif2N5JVAn9-_Kl2Qbb9v0ShhIujcgFNiOJJTPbTg33y4LrBxgNvHgfO5RIpkMqN4Ez6VHnoXY2l-Gk442AmB-/s320/DSCN3592.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Veeder boulders.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">We continued through the woods, toward Greenwoods Road, but with an eye out for an unmarked trail to the left. Based upon the trail map, it appeared that this would connect to Kiwanis Road and that there would be another overlook at the end. We found the trail. It had snowmobile markers along it, which corresponds with the map, but it was overgrown and very wooded. The trail started to curve back around to the right which made me think we had already connected to Kiwanis Road. There did not appear to be any place that looked like it would offer an overlook, so we decided to turn back. We returned the same way we had come until we got back to the Falls Cut-off Trail. Instead of turning to go down here, we continued straight over a small log bridge on the Robert Ross Trail. We followed this until we came to the Jessie Gerard Trail and headed back down to the cars.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We certainly got a workout on this hike, but it was a lot of fun, too. I suspect we will be back to People's State Forest to check out some of the other trails.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>dstbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12640426092185071874noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861902899691425703.post-60878851549319557672012-06-02T15:34:00.000-04:002012-06-04T15:38:43.012-04:00Barkhamsted - American Legion State ForestDate Hiked: Thursday, May 31, 2012<br />
Number in Group: 8<br />
Estimated distance round-trip: Henry Buck Trail - 2 miles, Turkey Vulture Ledge Trail - 0.8 miles<br />
Weather: Sunny, 81°F<br />
Website: <a href="http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325054" target="_blank">American Legion State Forest</a> <br />
Highlights of the trip: View to Ski Sundown, flowers, West Branch of Farmington River<br />
<br />
After a couple of days of yucky, humid weather, we were treated to a day that was perfect for hiking. Parking on the side of West River Road just past Legion Road, we headed into the woods on the Henry Buck Trail.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPm3tV1yKj2QPr9iv7gOZ2GPFZxGLXzJB5ibFIaSBbnXT38V5V8EtcgmUtg0FPj9zbXyIjOsahyphenhyphenYnj0DszjyLhF0NmyNPJej48KSgLgQIVgmZgrZl3LP44lQ0cTkfgBkMfMmmPplydzZOk/s1600/DSCN3447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPm3tV1yKj2QPr9iv7gOZ2GPFZxGLXzJB5ibFIaSBbnXT38V5V8EtcgmUtg0FPj9zbXyIjOsahyphenhyphenYnj0DszjyLhF0NmyNPJej48KSgLgQIVgmZgrZl3LP44lQ0cTkfgBkMfMmmPplydzZOk/s320/DSCN3447.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The first part of the trail is a relatively easy walk through a hardwood forest. There were lots of ferns and wildflowers on the forest floor. While we unfortunately seemed to be a week or two too late for the trillium, we did see some other wildflowers that I had never seen before.<br />
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Using the <a href="http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/index.html" target="_blank">Connecticut Botanical Society's</a> website, I think I have identified the following plant as <a href="http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/galleries/hydrophyllumvirg.html" target="_blank">Virginia Waterleaf</a>. It is considered rare in CT. Makes me wish I had taken a better picture.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1YXFFPl3UAJKwMIa3-6mK0hY-LSsDgh9jyfY1EJROyvKOsep06zREgHrMcEMKHH6yV0ep02WZsBx45hZBosslm8BoNBFOkbdbIMstfUrMqY8pmS4ho-jgi3QuzJDxMG6HVX-JhGMK8c_/s1600/DSCN3448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1YXFFPl3UAJKwMIa3-6mK0hY-LSsDgh9jyfY1EJROyvKOsep06zREgHrMcEMKHH6yV0ep02WZsBx45hZBosslm8BoNBFOkbdbIMstfUrMqY8pmS4ho-jgi3QuzJDxMG6HVX-JhGMK8c_/s320/DSCN3448.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Virginia Waterleaf</td></tr>
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The trail then becomes much more rugged, and steeply sloped. If it were wet, I would think the footing could be tricky.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DCtO9qivztJncNQkoE2UL8bExDAADwfJ3Tf8zlDespZYX-UrxB5rDswprblzHYnz0n-DenChEPI_XqaG2SkJtwXozTXyBo6ztDZUwNefbI6_4DQIfCGHO20KEP8Lo4tSzNr8CaZ2YVHE/s1600/DSCN3451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DCtO9qivztJncNQkoE2UL8bExDAADwfJ3Tf8zlDespZYX-UrxB5rDswprblzHYnz0n-DenChEPI_XqaG2SkJtwXozTXyBo6ztDZUwNefbI6_4DQIfCGHO20KEP8Lo4tSzNr8CaZ2YVHE/s320/DSCN3451.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbp6EqtJg7Vv6oxwi3pZaL8BmGfILEMDjyVCJpwLJ8AIJQXdu_O1X0Z8gUatsixds_FKmW5KpA1d-5Q5ZBkOTWBtkVQyirwvwUyNtj2v4-QwKBVS-fk5KVBJ36OTt3drSCmaopZRqAoTS/s1600/DSCN3454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbp6EqtJg7Vv6oxwi3pZaL8BmGfILEMDjyVCJpwLJ8AIJQXdu_O1X0Z8gUatsixds_FKmW5KpA1d-5Q5ZBkOTWBtkVQyirwvwUyNtj2v4-QwKBVS-fk5KVBJ36OTt3drSCmaopZRqAoTS/s320/DSCN3454.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ferns are cool.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9cEHihF4kgzUeNMt7HgVqXjdX7SVMY9QHEtH5tsC_oBXykqbtrFXLcUU3iUOgAJ1s7pm3jsywQR9LdD1sOUPMdLPtChiWv74D0Pqmf3w7jEIdKCQ_8_n3-alVRLzXdwhwFkmSr3U1gB_/s1600/DSCN3457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9cEHihF4kgzUeNMt7HgVqXjdX7SVMY9QHEtH5tsC_oBXykqbtrFXLcUU3iUOgAJ1s7pm3jsywQR9LdD1sOUPMdLPtChiWv74D0Pqmf3w7jEIdKCQ_8_n3-alVRLzXdwhwFkmSr3U1gB_/s320/DSCN3457.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So are mushrooms.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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A little way up the trail, we came to the remains of an old cheese box factory. Here is a description from the <a href="http://www.ct.gov/Dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2697&q=322810&depNav_GID=1631" target="_blank">DEP Letterboxing website</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Geneva; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Geneva; font-size: x-small;"><i>The trail turns sharply up
hill following a streambed. Notice many steps in the trail that were
created when the C’s did the construction. After about ¾ of a mile, the
trail somewhat levels out and you will notice an old “cellar hole” and a
large stonewall just behind it. This is not a cellar hole! It is the
remnants of the old cheese box factory that operated in the early
1800’s. They made wooden boxes to store and ship locally-produced
cheese.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Geneva; font-size: x-small;">
<i>The stonewall is actually part of the foundation and the factory
extended out over the ‘cellar hole’! Water was directed into what
looks like a stairway into the cellar hole via a sluiceway. The water
turned a paddle in this ‘cellar hole’ that was connected to a gearbox
that, in turn, provided power up to the factory! The wooden sluiceway
must have been in the area where the trail proceeds to an old, washed
out earthen dam. The small reservoir that was created by this dam
provided the water necessary to power the cheese box factory. </i></span></blockquote>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCU-1aatwqmYrtJ9MD4iJ57jbLLkGYNQGtGKfWrOdtOEc3PkfJkzCxqYjCNvnIooiIT4ncihuGEFm_JvyMI-RNwt4GR_ABLx0sFnZjn7vIhuUfwcoHMv5HTSM1k6PgoEaAuoodPhQ6i1tI/s1600/DSCN3458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCU-1aatwqmYrtJ9MD4iJ57jbLLkGYNQGtGKfWrOdtOEc3PkfJkzCxqYjCNvnIooiIT4ncihuGEFm_JvyMI-RNwt4GR_ABLx0sFnZjn7vIhuUfwcoHMv5HTSM1k6PgoEaAuoodPhQ6i1tI/s320/DSCN3458.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Cellar hole" now has a birch tree lying across it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdBmF_UPzHD_hMnsDPvfx5mSe9YK_E8Lv0fnqdFHhQlB6ypsRNZSk_uCmG8MZ3SbxlxsMr4EM3xx8k4lG3LfnEIncKxGdGPPUmoDkEVBCvzMZrAdzXJGHN8TCMTTolpITXNnntewoA-gf/s1600/DSCN3461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdBmF_UPzHD_hMnsDPvfx5mSe9YK_E8Lv0fnqdFHhQlB6ypsRNZSk_uCmG8MZ3SbxlxsMr4EM3xx8k4lG3LfnEIncKxGdGPPUmoDkEVBCvzMZrAdzXJGHN8TCMTTolpITXNnntewoA-gf/s320/DSCN3461.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"CG" couldn't join us this time, but it appears she left her mark!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1Yyytd2sqg1e-4K2AU1-YwumiZHzxqjAGnkeZFuuvCl0CgzrzHRnFg0c8qfCsJWwbpQ5HnMOUgYs1UpsDQUeNiLYR2SmGxmzEAxu4pKx73JJxu2y-ziuYjR1NFxxCXDMdv1NGW-iC8hM/s1600/DSCN3466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1Yyytd2sqg1e-4K2AU1-YwumiZHzxqjAGnkeZFuuvCl0CgzrzHRnFg0c8qfCsJWwbpQ5HnMOUgYs1UpsDQUeNiLYR2SmGxmzEAxu4pKx73JJxu2y-ziuYjR1NFxxCXDMdv1NGW-iC8hM/s320/DSCN3466.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mountain laurel were in bloom.</td></tr>
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One of the things we were supposed to see as we walked along the "Tremendous Cliffs" was a plaque honoring Henry Buck, the person for whom the trail is named. Perhaps I was distracted by the youngest member of our group, who was thinking of the "cliffs of insanity" when she started quoting Inigo Montoya. "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." Or, more likely, I was spending too much time with my eyes on the ground, so that I didn't end up on the ground, and I missed things. Like the plaque. Anyway, we eventually came to an overlook with a nice view of the valley over to Ski Sundown in New Hartford.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrz_IwG2DRZi4MemZLZbQ3kcTTKw_tM2Q_hj4RrNNPQZCGkjkQRsL9ygndeow1_1qCZTfyCL4eu-2tqVP6NHxJAmPCxYGkPOA4w9E8zDSbuNOO4F1lm16-pC8yR-KEbAnsxzU1AXLYjs-z/s1600/DSCN3468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrz_IwG2DRZi4MemZLZbQ3kcTTKw_tM2Q_hj4RrNNPQZCGkjkQRsL9ygndeow1_1qCZTfyCL4eu-2tqVP6NHxJAmPCxYGkPOA4w9E8zDSbuNOO4F1lm16-pC8yR-KEbAnsxzU1AXLYjs-z/s320/DSCN3468.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ski Sundown in the distance.</td></tr>
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We continued our hike back down toward the road, passing quite a few glacial erratics and this rather odd looking tree trunk.<br />
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When we got back to the road, we crossed over to the other side and walked along the West Branch of the Farmington River. The views were spectacular.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking south.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fisherman.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mama duck and Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack,...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remnants of an old bridge.</td></tr>
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We got back to our cars and headed up Legion Road to the trail head for Turkey Vulture Ledges. Legion Road is a dirt/gravel road, but was in pretty good shape. The sign for the trail head was down, but there is a fairly obvious pull off and the blue blazes are easy to see from the road. A quick 0.4 of a mile and we were at the ledges, again looking over toward Ski Sundown.<br />
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I really enjoyed these two hikes. While there were some more strenuous areas, they were interspersed with flatter areas that allowed us middle-aged folks to catch our breath. I'd like to come back next spring and get a look at more of the wildflowers on the Henry Buck Trail. Across the river is People's State Forest which has a much larger trail system and is on our agenda for future hikes.<br />
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If you would like to read more about these trails, you can look at the website for <a href="http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325054" target="_blank">American Legion and People's State Forests</a>. There is a good <a href="http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/stateparks/maps/peoples.pdf" target="_blank">trail map</a> online. I also recommend reading Steve Wood's humorous and informative account of his hike at his website <a href="http://www.ctmuseumquest.com/?page_id=1137" target="_blank">Connecticut Museum Quest</a>. (That's how I knew about the cheese box factory and the plaque that I missed). Jim Colleran has a nice summary of his hike on his blog <a href="http://hikethegiant.blogspot.com/2010/11/american-legion-trails-barkhamsted.html" target="_blank">A Walk Across the Giant</a>.<br />
<br />dstbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12640426092185071874noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861902899691425703.post-9619556583402075932012-05-25T13:08:00.000-04:002012-06-02T15:35:30.664-04:00Simsbury - Cathles TrailDate Hiked: Thursday, May 24, 2012<br />
Number in Group: 11<br />
Estimated distance round-trip: 1.2 miles<br />
Weather: Overcast, humid, 78°F<br />
Highlights of the trip: Waterfall, expansive views<br />
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This hike is in what the <a href="http://www.simsburylandtrust.org/walkbook.htm" target="_blank">Simsbury Land Trust Walkbook</a> calls the Western Highlands. The Cathles Trail can be done as either an extension of a hike on the Hedgehog Trail or as a separate hike starting at the end of North Saddle Ridge Drive. We decided to do it as a hike separate from Hedgehog. <br />
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Before we even got into the woods, one of the kids spotted a millipede. We took a few moments to observe and take pictures. We needn't have worried about missing the opportunity. We saw millipedes all along the trail.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuphJwPJEtp_FsKUIIs6KvKliwa348SUqY74_bwvKZ189TmBUQy2FhhPQimmrzeS21WWiwcHEgLOiBv9hyoH9GqBH_4xa43L7SjdFBiz_UUUZRQ-393El6WWNQhxEKrN-rXj2VQoCVX9U/s1600/DSCN3386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuphJwPJEtp_FsKUIIs6KvKliwa348SUqY74_bwvKZ189TmBUQy2FhhPQimmrzeS21WWiwcHEgLOiBv9hyoH9GqBH_4xa43L7SjdFBiz_UUUZRQ-393El6WWNQhxEKrN-rXj2VQoCVX9U/s320/DSCN3386.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many millipedes found along the trail.</td></tr>
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A short walk along the white-blazed trail led us to this pretty little waterfall.<br />
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We started climbing the trail through the talus until we reached the bridge over the stream. Immediately on the other side of the bridge is a jumble of rocks that
forms a small cave. The kids climbed around on this while they waited
for us to decide in which direction to go. According to a map located at the bridge, the white trail continues to the west where it connects with the blue-blazed trail. The red-blazed trail follows the ridge line to the south along the Hedgehog Trail or to the north along the Cathles Trail. We decided to stick with the Cathles today, so we crossed the bridge and continued north. We will come back at some point in the future and do Hedgehog.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtjPZgypdjhtbvs8K-rRvGLDl-8wLK_2MCz15tCtA-RB7J7s8-Ea2Y9z5mhAXFQTxyzPbSU3tLi5PQupz6ZbvqTGHvhA8m9cdA6OGckyHMm9LLTFSAbTEVnv3ffE-wVJwSKX7wlFgBqjk/s1600/DSCN3382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtjPZgypdjhtbvs8K-rRvGLDl-8wLK_2MCz15tCtA-RB7J7s8-Ea2Y9z5mhAXFQTxyzPbSU3tLi5PQupz6ZbvqTGHvhA8m9cdA6OGckyHMm9LLTFSAbTEVnv3ffE-wVJwSKX7wlFgBqjk/s320/DSCN3382.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cave.</td></tr>
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The red trail wound it's way up the slope and along the ridge. Some of the area here reminded me of Maine, with bare rocks and lots of blueberry bushes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEviaGXl-bSh2Ph-J9hE2FrImntIUGax30iDIZhzEV09toytuFUcmpvCBZAFkr2y7QuD9fpivUjlfqwzRET8o_15jp7avN9BoOVMaUkozDpuGpt4sODYJttUKeVyQfhqwKceRZtMHYV7f/s1600/DSCN3397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEviaGXl-bSh2Ph-J9hE2FrImntIUGax30iDIZhzEV09toytuFUcmpvCBZAFkr2y7QuD9fpivUjlfqwzRET8o_15jp7avN9BoOVMaUkozDpuGpt4sODYJttUKeVyQfhqwKceRZtMHYV7f/s320/DSCN3397.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cathles Trail.</td></tr>
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Along this red-blazed trail, we had a little discussion about blazes. In general, the trail is marked with a single vertical blaze. When there is a turn, there will be two blazes offset from each other, with the top blaze indicating the direction to take. For example, if the top blaze is set to the right of the bottom blaze, the trail will turn to the right. Then we came to a double blaze where the blazes were not offset, they were aligned vertically. I thought that this might mean the end of the trail, even though it seemed to continue and we did find blazes further on. When we got back, I did a little research on the meaning of the blazes. Some websites indicated that the vertically aligned blazes could mean caution and others indicated that you needed to look for a turn. Here is a little chart I found that summarizes what the various blaze markings mean:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fltconference.org/trails/hike-the-trail/hiking-the-flt/trail-signs-and-blazes/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="97" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlO0qJqYid9UzXgPtuX9MkfhpTAyMspkr5f45zzv4ONeHKrWinkJT3lpLgsg2sHHRF-OdhtS4C0JZnZrvJ0zx_jbsndB1AKIKTYeIeSZje-tJYbj8tBCXDESuALqAkt92w_1cDNAJMuPP-/s400/blazes.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the Finger Lakes Trail Conference website.</td></tr>
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Along the ridge, we saw quite a few different wildflowers. If you can identify them, leave a comment and I will add the appropriate caption.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink Corydalis</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lady slipper.</td></tr>
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The views from the lookouts were quite impressive. We could see well to the north, past the Barndoor Hills in Granby, and east to the Metacomet Ridge and beyond.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barndoor Hills in Granby. What is in the distance on the far left?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking east across the Farmington Valley to the Metacomet Ridge.</td></tr>
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When we got to what we assumed was the final lookout, we turned around. While the Walkbook indicates that the red trail linked up with the blue trail on the west side of the ridge, some of the other maps indicate that the trail just ends. There did seem to be a narrow trail heading into the woods, but we decided to turn back. An adventure for another day, perhaps. </div>
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This was a great hike and much less strenuous than I feared. The Western Highlands offer tremendous views of the valley and a hike along the Hedgehog Trail is in our plans for the future.</div>
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<br />dstbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12640426092185071874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861902899691425703.post-58593187856693605772012-05-19T19:44:00.003-04:002012-05-19T19:45:59.850-04:00East Granby - Cowles Park to Tariffville GorgeDate Hiked: Friday, May 18, 2012<br />
Number in Group: 8<br />
Estimated distance round-trip: 2 miles<br />
Weather: Absolutely perfect! Sunny, 74°.<br />
Highlights of the trip: The Farmington River as it runs through the gorge.<br />
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I think we need to do this hike again. I'll get to the reason why in a minute.<br />
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I could not find a trail map for this hike on-line. I did find a <a href="http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=1082883" target="_blank">map</a> someone made using their GPS and planned on using that as a guide. When we got to the park, there were some copies of a hand drawn map in the box at the trail head. Trying to mash these two sources together, we headed north on the yellow trail, looped around to the south and after a little bit connected to the orange trail.<br />
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Our walk through Cowles Park itself was a nice enough, although
unremarkable. The trail was relatively flat, with several side trails
that led to places unknown. We followed the orange trail until we came to Tunxis Avenue. The river was on the other side of the road.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABTSNriELVEsdrsuS8qtFOeTe2z1-uk_yHcn0bFZUPZHosRNRybKseb9Q4k2t_2Vn0vEWadXg6H3c9OVZxBZ2Ew1QHV-JufZFGucHz65KKR0GHyK1fGHB1qPfcc0_pNnK7ItZh-8yyh8i/s1600/SCAN0001.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABTSNriELVEsdrsuS8qtFOeTe2z1-uk_yHcn0bFZUPZHosRNRybKseb9Q4k2t_2Vn0vEWadXg6H3c9OVZxBZ2Ew1QHV-JufZFGucHz65KKR0GHyK1fGHB1qPfcc0_pNnK7ItZh-8yyh8i/s320/SCAN0001.JPG" width="247" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">A map I drew to show how to get from Cowles Park </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">to the Metacomet Ridge overlooking Tariffville Gorge.</span></div>
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When we got to the Farmington River (outside Cowles Park boundaries), we followed a trail upriver a bit until we got to an area that looked like an old dam. The water flow was pretty impressive, but I am sure it was nothing to what it could be during the spring thaw. While we were there, two kayakers came through the rapids.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What looks to be part of an old dam.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kayakers coming through the rapids.</td></tr>
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Back up on Tunxis Avenue, we had the choice of returning the way we had come or completing the orange loop by walking down Tunxis Avenue toward Route 187. Since we had already been out for awhile and the map indicated a steep, rocky area if we completed the loop, we decided to simply return the way we had come. (This turned out to be a good idea - see below).<br />
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Now to the reason we need to do this again. If you look at the <a href="http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=1082883" target="_blank">GPS map</a> that I mentioned above, you will see that there are pictures that are synced up to the trail they took. In some of those pictures, they are well above the river and have expansive views to the west with the Barndoor Hills in Granby clearly visible. We did not get to this place. I was kicking myself, because if I had more carefully studied their map before I left the house, it would have been obvious.<br />
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On Saturday, I decided to return to the park with a friend to figure out how to get to the Metacomet Trail. It really wasn't that difficult, especially after running into my mailman on the trail in Cowles Park and getting a few instructions. So here is what we did, so we know for next time:<br />
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We took the yellow trail as we did yesterday. Where it meets up with the orange trail there is a bench. A trail leads off to the right, behind the bench. You cross over a small stream on a wooden bridge, start to climb a little hill until you come to the power lines (lots of clearing done here). Cross the power lines and keep climbing until you reach the blue blazed Metacomet Trail. Turn left and before too long, you will come to a path that goes off to the right (somebody has spray painted arrows on the rocks). This leads you to an overlook where you can see the gorge, Tariffville, and the Barndoor Hills. At this point, we became a little confused because there seemed to be blue blazes everywhere. Do you stay close to the ridge and hope there is a way down, or go back to the area of trail that you left? We kind of took the middle road and kept losing and picking up a/the trail. No matter. We made it down to Tunxis Avenue eventually. From there, we walked north along the road until it dead-ended (there used to be a bridge across the river, which I assume came down in the flood of '55). Here, we were able to get close to the water and see the gates that are used in the kayak competitions. There were also several kayakers practicing their rolls.<br />
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(Note: At the end of the road, there was a red trail that went north under the area where the lookout was. Does this trail climb up to the ridge?)<br />
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We returned to Tunxis Avenue and walked south. Yesterday, we had returned on the orange trail the way we had come. My friend was willing to be adventurous, so we decided to complete the orange loop. We continued down Tunxis toward 187 looking for a trail marker to lead us back into Cowles Park. We saw a metal signpost with the top painted orange, but when we looked up the slope, there just didn't seem to be any clear trail. We continued, but quickly got to 187. There was a trail that seemed to go up here, but it essentially took you up to the highway. I think the trail is at the orange-painted post, but it wasn't that clear, so we returned to the trail I had taken yesterday.<br />
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I think we need to revisit this hike on a clear, crisp day this fall.<br />
<br />dstbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12640426092185071874noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861902899691425703.post-11037732022134892672012-05-12T16:19:00.000-04:002012-05-12T16:19:05.557-04:00West Granby - Enders State ForestDate Hiked: Friday, May 11, 2012<br />
Number in Group: 7<br />
Estimated distance round-trip: < 1 mi.<br />
Weather: Absolutely perfect! Sunny, 68°F with a breeze that kept away the bugs!<br />
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The rain over the past few days made for good flow over the waterfalls. From what I have read, there are six waterfalls, numbered 1-6 from top to bottom. I think we saw all of them, but I can not tell you which is which.<br />
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Photo credit for picture 1 and 5: Billy<br />
<br />dstbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12640426092185071874noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861902899691425703.post-41005497727471938462012-05-05T20:07:00.000-04:002012-05-05T20:07:50.569-04:00North Granby - Mary Edwards Mountain PropertyDate Hiked: Thursday, May 3, 2012<br />
Number in Group: 3<br />
Estimated distance round-trip: 1.5 mile loop<br />
Weather: 54°F, misty and overcast<br />
Websites: <a href="http://www.granbylandtrust.org/MaryEdwardsTrailGdFinal2.pdf" target="_blank">Granby Land Trust's Mary Edwards' Mountain Property Trail Guide & Map</a><br />
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There were only a few of us for this hike and the weather didn't allow for views of Springfield, but it was still a pleasant hike along Ring Brook.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ring Brook.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red eft, the juvenile stage of the eastern newt.</td></tr>
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<br />dstbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12640426092185071874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861902899691425703.post-72406803971773439322012-04-28T15:03:00.000-04:002012-05-05T19:08:39.185-04:00Burlington - Sessions Woods WMADate Hiked: Friday, April 27, 2012<br />
Number in Group: 9<br />
Estimated distance round-trip: 2.6 mile loop, plus spurs to tower and falls<br />
Weather: 55°F, sunny and breezy<br />
Websites: <a href="http://www.ct.gov/DEP/cwp/view.asp?A=2723&Q=326220" target="_blank">Session Woods Wildlife Management Area</a>, <a href="http://www.fosw.org/" target="_blank">Friends of Sessions Woods</a><br />
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The kids spent a few minutes in the education center before we headed out on the <a href="http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/wildlife/pdf_files/maps/maps_other/swtrail.pdf" target="_blank">Beaver Pond Trail</a>. The exhibit space is very nice and I highly recommend a visit. For more information, check out what Steve Wood has written on his <a href="http://www.ctmuseumquest.com/?page_id=4373" target="_blank">Connecticut Museum Quest</a> website.<br />
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The loop trail is wide and well maintained. (The DEEP closed the trails in January for clean-up after the October storm). Our first stop was the beaver pond. There is a boardwalk out to a viewing platform, and while we did not see any beaver, we did see an Eastern Painted Turtle, Northern Water Snake, Red-spotted Newt, and a pair of Canada Geese. (See the tab at the top of the page for links to wildlife identification guides.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beaver lodge.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMUIIxoyNRV7R1L1Q18orZFAy86PYkfn4KmZmder86DdS14n-_DtX_3Gmar0hVcisxqZc5ycnb8PFUySTsbYO1hXMyaw2-xVlnYQokLNGW0ptAJmXVWoC0SxdH2yOGgc0DtkCtMH7Rlvi/s1600/DSCN3169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMUIIxoyNRV7R1L1Q18orZFAy86PYkfn4KmZmder86DdS14n-_DtX_3Gmar0hVcisxqZc5ycnb8PFUySTsbYO1hXMyaw2-xVlnYQokLNGW0ptAJmXVWoC0SxdH2yOGgc0DtkCtMH7Rlvi/s320/DSCN3169.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Painted Turtle.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30Rbo_CUsHrVowaV_uLLRn71nDhOWtDBIlKKyLaYZETMLCKQ7X8T9OMLCnh49e89Z6kW9sroQ8G05wRL7GzuvR18R-hkaIyrI5_GWxZtWqmlY-e3-2oa6nu8vz_EBLmmNvNpeVK-DWFt2/s1600/DSCN3172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30Rbo_CUsHrVowaV_uLLRn71nDhOWtDBIlKKyLaYZETMLCKQ7X8T9OMLCnh49e89Z6kW9sroQ8G05wRL7GzuvR18R-hkaIyrI5_GWxZtWqmlY-e3-2oa6nu8vz_EBLmmNvNpeVK-DWFt2/s320/DSCN3172.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Water Snake.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5U9Pd-09Q3a1JgPGAps2YyQ_zgvtoDHvSHc2WsSk9MwVHxHl85vN1kYKAFopDfhCMCskbOP8oifjJ22nw-2tBNU6raK4LfhCWpeTq0F8FXauKNo2-okJkROuHM-MOEmiOHxgJVZ8Sj-o/s1600/DSCN3174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5U9Pd-09Q3a1JgPGAps2YyQ_zgvtoDHvSHc2WsSk9MwVHxHl85vN1kYKAFopDfhCMCskbOP8oifjJ22nw-2tBNU6raK4LfhCWpeTq0F8FXauKNo2-okJkROuHM-MOEmiOHxgJVZ8Sj-o/s320/DSCN3174.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-spotted Newt.</td></tr>
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We continued on the loop trail until we came to the spur for the fire tower. The tower, which was airlifted into place a number of years ago by an Air National Guard Helicopter (that would have been a sight to see), provides views to the north, east, and south. Using the profile map provided on the tower, it was easy to identify Rattlesnake Mountain in Farmington.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGbwfL15E-Y80ALxODis6hr9YWHHPDW2N_XncQ4QoO3zNwyVrXaFL6g2MB80tm8B6dArux-1SHXd6XMwj_0C7gT7B8JEaRQFMiYKd3FoeiCPuh4gI5g6HyvjFK6hoYA0XrZ7G0JNVzk9W/s1600/100_5391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGbwfL15E-Y80ALxODis6hr9YWHHPDW2N_XncQ4QoO3zNwyVrXaFL6g2MB80tm8B6dArux-1SHXd6XMwj_0C7gT7B8JEaRQFMiYKd3FoeiCPuh4gI5g6HyvjFK6hoYA0XrZ7G0JNVzk9W/s320/100_5391.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking north.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5aHP2IdptZugWNSZlj-uZVOhRG0Rz6qG8QW8e97CeevNXgw5uwDl2vM0SfHnkYyOFHY-tjeBTfO43mM2KM6I3BJ96YcNPPrMGzAqh0ECJVixwXxoblhyphenhyphenXW_J0tFRGxIjmwd_ZXBek62E/s1600/DSCN3181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5aHP2IdptZugWNSZlj-uZVOhRG0Rz6qG8QW8e97CeevNXgw5uwDl2vM0SfHnkYyOFHY-tjeBTfO43mM2KM6I3BJ96YcNPPrMGzAqh0ECJVixwXxoblhyphenhyphenXW_J0tFRGxIjmwd_ZXBek62E/s320/DSCN3181.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">East with Rattlesnake Mountain visible.</td></tr>
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The final stop on our hike was the waterfall along the Negro Hill Brook. With a pretty mild winter and dry spring, there was not a lot of water, but enough to make it interesting. The kids enjoyed climbing across the stream and up to the top of the falls on the jumble of boulders.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiK7DLeo01LPHp_iBKb9f4M4fY3BAWIU4oPGaT3FPeW3X_A_Pek1I55jNWDOX1Bc0_OfFCdmzum5PaOZYOzQhMWhWcuU2KDQwb0vClbO-DmUlXnQ55cdILWpAJqPs8xP1SfZkXhIF2ujos/s1600/DSCN3189.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiK7DLeo01LPHp_iBKb9f4M4fY3BAWIU4oPGaT3FPeW3X_A_Pek1I55jNWDOX1Bc0_OfFCdmzum5PaOZYOzQhMWhWcuU2KDQwb0vClbO-DmUlXnQ55cdILWpAJqPs8xP1SfZkXhIF2ujos/s320/DSCN3189.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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This was a great hike and I think it would be nice to hike again in the fall. The autumn colors around the beaver pond and from the fire tower would probably be spectacular.<br />
<br />dstbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12640426092185071874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861902899691425703.post-3793555602589833632012-04-11T22:19:00.001-04:002012-09-28T07:26:12.084-04:00Bloomfield - Penwood State ParkDate Hiked: Tuesday, April 10, 2012<br />
Number in Group: 10<br />
Estimated distance round trip: 4.1 miles<br />
Weather: 62°F, a few drops from some clouds, but that was it<br />
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Although the Metacomet Trail cuts through the <a href="http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325248">Penwood</a>, we decided to stay on the old paved road for the majority of our hike. We went north from the parking lot, along Gale Pond, past the picnic area and Shadow Pond, to Lake Louise. From there, we took a trail - very steep, with stone steps - to the Pinnacle Overlook where we could see down the ridge to the Heublein Tower in <a href="http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325272&depNav_GID=1650">Talcott Mountain State Park</a>. We also had a nice view of the center of Simsbury. We returned to the parking area using the road that runs along the west side of the park.<br />
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We saw quite a few wildflowers along the way including Wild Columbine, Dutchman's Breeches, Early Saxifrage, and Leatherleaf. Unfortunately, my pictures of them leave much to be desired.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RYGS4XJPpGGiIf1i8AlLNzjtESALtSdVbs-pT2xC_DdL2ygishy-KB8MyBK7-fo3zXZTWZvA3_MjYypNHKzYLir_F5mWiwKkhcTVDBEeuovZ4_0oXvgzQGneikryffowYqVKdjTEw5M5/s1600/DSCN2763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RYGS4XJPpGGiIf1i8AlLNzjtESALtSdVbs-pT2xC_DdL2ygishy-KB8MyBK7-fo3zXZTWZvA3_MjYypNHKzYLir_F5mWiwKkhcTVDBEeuovZ4_0oXvgzQGneikryffowYqVKdjTEw5M5/s320/DSCN2763.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hawk seen near Gale Pond.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xhYsUCtcqpVUPLGeeBz2rclRh_s1vL7gDDI9Pz_dCLoEWc8tKQ4qW8q5rz5J_EwgRjRxWvHRUCrXqNFnWnz-HjzsSnEg_EDCPkbAQmQBd3Ziw8eoa0jMUCdDHpJ1kpr3F0jdsVx_PGAS/s1600/DSCN2782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xhYsUCtcqpVUPLGeeBz2rclRh_s1vL7gDDI9Pz_dCLoEWc8tKQ4qW8q5rz5J_EwgRjRxWvHRUCrXqNFnWnz-HjzsSnEg_EDCPkbAQmQBd3Ziw8eoa0jMUCdDHpJ1kpr3F0jdsVx_PGAS/s320/DSCN2782.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leatherleaf at Lake Louise.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjzM9FePpYTKndw4pIOu0Yn1YRU_u0XBj267fmQlQdtPvQV_k5T4v5q5OYULCk__jiGYR07FxtZMHGgf8L3nUFm-eUTPhIpkw-N_XOgWfCNlpVeWZToCZj5oqkkTyMIzvMJk84lm2-wxm/s1600/DSCN2784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjzM9FePpYTKndw4pIOu0Yn1YRU_u0XBj267fmQlQdtPvQV_k5T4v5q5OYULCk__jiGYR07FxtZMHGgf8L3nUFm-eUTPhIpkw-N_XOgWfCNlpVeWZToCZj5oqkkTyMIzvMJk84lm2-wxm/s1600/DSCN2784.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Louise.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvDIJxTFc_olPJJNV0iUfED74v1YX7VpPNagaUzyUhgUMxeoByK3BLSoX4FSvbur1jmz-etR36g4tS8F-TDvqZrsAibXn4sVOMYVAiLdxwFCESCOFNhco_9EOYnffYOubChXJk_gRmzM_/s1600/DSCN2787a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvDIJxTFc_olPJJNV0iUfED74v1YX7VpPNagaUzyUhgUMxeoByK3BLSoX4FSvbur1jmz-etR36g4tS8F-TDvqZrsAibXn4sVOMYVAiLdxwFCESCOFNhco_9EOYnffYOubChXJk_gRmzM_/s320/DSCN2787a.JPG" width="201" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steps up to the Pinnacle.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XIT_yfMz6llCHqhDm4gmTPCjmEijxQDKMyybszFOZTArPMrTEKdCtNj3Sk6BYY5xkuoBqiX3Ql3KArO2rS34xndd7bbjJk8oTcygC6AXCRELi5TR3KDdvfOOJqtEIi5Qp2qNaGxwBJBk/s1600/DSCN2788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XIT_yfMz6llCHqhDm4gmTPCjmEijxQDKMyybszFOZTArPMrTEKdCtNj3Sk6BYY5xkuoBqiX3Ql3KArO2rS34xndd7bbjJk8oTcygC6AXCRELi5TR3KDdvfOOJqtEIi5Qp2qNaGxwBJBk/s320/DSCN2788.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heublein Tower to the south.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgty-kDSgzf6B6ka7LTn_qqEDie62Fd6Uu_U3hoBc_bUtz0j3m6xSLJYiJ04K7BQPVxkn5f91bTn1AGiiaIQnb7SkyPSKBlve4nk4gaU2Ka7GY_NwGKcFLIowXpNJn_zqgcV7ZUovkyZF5O/s1600/DSCN2792a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgty-kDSgzf6B6ka7LTn_qqEDie62Fd6Uu_U3hoBc_bUtz0j3m6xSLJYiJ04K7BQPVxkn5f91bTn1AGiiaIQnb7SkyPSKBlve4nk4gaU2Ka7GY_NwGKcFLIowXpNJn_zqgcV7ZUovkyZF5O/s1600/DSCN2792a.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simsbury center.</td></tr>
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dstbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12640426092185071874noreply@blogger.com2