Showing posts with label Meshomasic State Forest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Meshomasic State Forest. Show all posts

Friday, September 1, 2023

A Return to the Mesh

In the fall of 2021, I hiked a bit of the "Mesh" - this time Kevin joined me. It was a very enjoyable hike and its always a thrill to see the old Nike Missile stuff...

AllTrails Map

It was a rocky and steep trail in....

At the old Nike Launch Site
Oops!
Continuing on to the Abandoned Nike Control Area

Kevin using app to determine tree type:
Beech
Soon the trail turned into an old paved road and there were crumbled cement block ruins all around
Berries everywhere (Russian Olive Tree) - too bad its an invasive plant
Steps!
?? Memorial ??
The way back out was very scenic and varied!
Tarzan's Swing :-)


Tuesday, March 29, 2022

The Things You See in the Woods!

My friend Al gave me a tour of a small part of the Meshomasic Park in East Glastonbury that I hadn't yet explored. It was ridiculously cold to start but as we hiked, the wind and the cold improved a bit.

What's so usual about this bush?
It's Holly - very rare throughout most of Connecticut...
Gotta love it! :-)

Here's where we hiked - Off Goodale Hill Road....

Phillips Indian Rock Shelter

Over 400 artifacts were found in this area when it was excavated in the 1950s.


Saturday, October 2, 2021

The Mesh - Nike Missile Site

Today I hiked a bit of the "Mesh" (Meshomasic State Forest). I parked at the end of Clark Hill Road and used the AllTrails map app.

The Adventure

The trail in was mostly old eroded double track with some nice slick rock sections.
large glacial erratics
I somehow got off the trail indicated on the All Trails map so when this offshoot northward-bound trail appeared on the left, I took it. It was a climb!
Once I neared the cross trails section indicated on the map, lots of building ruins started appearing...
...and the trails turned to asphalt!
There was also this interesting round metal ruin:
inside
At the "T" on the map, I took a short left on the asphalt trail but the best was yet to come!
.I shortly came to a huge open field where I could see the silo! Yeah!!
I gingerly walked thru the tall meadow (there are rattlesnakes here--truthfully I was a little scared)! which brought me to the silo...
....where I snuck thru the fence :-)
Sign: "Caution Radiation"
10 second self timer!

-Short video-
Google Aerial Views

It was once again a fascinating but chilling reminder of the 60s and what ii was like living during the cold war.

Further Info

The launch site housed a guard station, barracks, missile battery area, and a medical office. The control site also housed guard stations, barracks, and a large metal tank suspected to hold water.

All that remains at both sites today are foundations, concrete stairs, floor tiles, hatchways leading underground, and scraps of metal equipment.