May Newsletter 2021
Greylock from Phelps Trailhead, pic by M Waldman
Grafton Lakes State Park (GLSP): Trail Improvements and Trails Advisory Committee
The recently reconvened Trails Advisory Committee met on April 21, 2021. The committee includes GLSP management and staff, the Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park, the Taconic Hiking Club, Grafton Trail Riders and Grafton Trail Blazers. We were updated on trail improvements currently underway and discussed improvements planned for 2021. There will be four new volunteer docents at the park this year. The bad news is the Park has a shortage of staff available this year. The good news is the Park employees are not letting the staff shortage keep them from trying to achieve their goals for trail improvements this year!
Two long “turnpikes” and new bridging will be completed within the next month or so on the very eroded and wet sections of Long Pond Trail, bringing new life back to the trail! The pictures to the right show the large rocks used for the base and the rock dust used for the tread of the turnpike. Expect to see more of this reconstruction on typically wet and eroded sections of trails throughout the park. This work was done by Park staff and volunteers. You should plan a hike there this summer!
The park has a new stock of trail markers to upgrade all the trails within the park. Groups will be doing trail clearing and installing new markers on trails throughout the park throughout the spring, summer, and fall.
National Trails Day is June 5. Please join the THC at Grafton Lakes State Park for a morning of trail work! We will be clearing blowdown, side trimming and installing trail markers. If you feel more ambitious, the Park may still need help completing the turnpikes that day. See the Outings page for more information.
Building a turnpike: dirt is excavated from the eroded trail bed and a rock base is installed. Logs are used to edge the new trail bed.
Building a turnpike: 2 - 3 inches of rock dust is compacted on top of the rock base. Long Pond Trail, GLSP. Pics provided by GLSP.
THC works with and supports its partners, like the Vermont Land Trust
Our continuing overview of nonprofits and agencies working to protect the Taconic Ridge focuses this month on the Vermont Land Trust (VLT). Started in 1977 and now with more than 3500 members, this state-wide land trust with offices throughout the state adheres to the mission “Current and future generations are deeply connected to the land and benefit from its deliberate protection and responsible stewardship.” Their goal is to “save the land that makes Vermont special” by protecting farmland and forestland from subdivision and development. They look to a future where children, grandchildren, and future generations can enjoy local food, farming, clean air and water, hiking, hunting, forestry, and sugaring.
VLT differs from other land trusts by working exclusively through a legal tool called a conservation easement that permanently restricts development and protects natural features. The land can be privately or publicly owned. They have conserved more than 1,950 parcels of land covering 590,000+ acres, which is about 11 percent of the state! Their website at www.vlt.org has a map of protected properties.
Making farmland more affordable to farmers and protecting community recreation areas like parks, gardens, and swimming spots is central to their work as is the stewardship of natural features. Conserved lands are monitored, and landowners are educated about conservation values like habitat protection, water quality, and invasive species.
Where to hike?
VLT recommends the Paran-Frost Trail, which is a 4.3 mile (with 285’ vertical) moderately trafficked out and back trail that features Paran Lake and a wetland complex and is good for all skill levels. It extends from North Bennington to Rt. 7A in Shaftsbury. Almost half of the trail passes through woods on the farm once owned by Robert Frost, and where in 1923 he wrote "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." Robert Frost lived on the property from 1920 to 1928. The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, nature trips, and fishing and is best used from April until November. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
See a trail map here: https://www.trailfinder.info/trails/trail/fund-for-north-bennington
Paran Creek Bridge, credit northbennington.org
This map features other trails in the vicinity on the grounds of Bennington College as well as the Mile Around the Woods Trail. In addition, Bennington Area Trails System (BATS) has some great mountain bike and hiking trails. https://batsvt.org/wp content/uploads/2016/11/BATS_Trailmap_20170713-2.pdf
A very interesting feature of this network is Everett Cave (marked on the map). This is a deep, three-room cave that is easily accessible with just a flashlight, no special gear needed. It is a great example of Taconic Mountain caves and not too well known.
So, load up the backpack and head east to Vermont to enjoy a day of great hiking!
Taconic Crest Trail Work
Trail work is well underway on the Taconic Crest Trail and its access trails as volunteers strove to dodge the wintry days and take advantage of the spring-like days! To date we have recorded 56 trail work hours on the TCT in April. We also received help from our NYS DEC Ranger, Steven Jackson. He was able to chainsaw some trees that had fallen across the trail that were beyond what our hand saws could tackle! Thanks to all the trail workers!
Outings: Refer to the THC website outings page for details about the outings and how to register. As more people become fully vaccinated, we will slowly relax our outings Covid protocols in accordance with CDC and state recommendations. We are scheduling on a short-term basis rather than seasonally, so check the website periodically.
Wednesday, May 12: Snow Hole, Petersburg Pass B-
Monday, May 17, Tyringham Cobble, Tyringham, MA C
Thursday, May 20: Albany Hudson Electric Trail Cycle B-
Friday, May 21: Sarah Tenney Loops North, Williamstown, MA B-
Wednesday, May 26: Hand Hollow C
Wednesday, May 26: Midweek Paddle B
Wednesday, June 2: Midweek Paddle B
NATIONAL TRAILS DAY, Saturday, June 5: Grafton Lakes State Park, Trail Work
Saturday June 5: Alcove Reservoir Cycle B
Snow Hole, pic by M Waldman