Quickie at Wilton

Fresh snow last night - went for a quick hike around the north section of Wilton Woods...

there's a faint trace of a bike

virgin snow - no tracks here yet

At the cool overhang

great spot for a beer :-)

Wilton Woods - Retracing the "Hidden" White Trail

I decided to head over today to Wilton and try and find the "hidden" White trail loop. It was officially deemed "unofficial" a while back and it thought it might have disappeared. Fortunately its still there and shows off Dave F's great trail and stunt handiwork.

I hiked rather than biked as I wasn't sure if it would be too icy. Also, I wanted to try out my repaired crampons - the tightly wound steel wire worked! :-)

I remembered these stone steps!

This is the famous Deception half pipe. There are 3 ways to get across it...

Today I choose to hike across #1 in the opposite direction of the trail flow. The one-handed video I took is hilarious as my arms go flailing to keep me balanced but I didn't fall off! Hah!

Wilton Woods - May 4th

Stream sounds and checking out the moved bridge

 It was another wet and dreary day and I felt it would not be a good day to mountain bike (trails would be too wet) so I decided to take a hike in Wilton Woods instead. I entered at the main lot at Branch Brook and ascended the Blue Trail on the East.

What a great job the trail crew did moving this bridge! Gotta get back here on a sunny and dry day to ride it :-)

Never noticed this but there is a rusted wreck is off the the side of the White Trail when ascending the nasty hill just after the main stream crossing.

Wilton Woods - The sounds of streams...

Lastly, I will be creating a musical composition from these stream sounds (another addition to my Nature Suite). Stay tuned!

Duh - bring your crampons dude!!

I took a hike over at Wilton Woods today - but stupidly didn't take my crampons!  I hiked the Orange to the White Trail and realizing it was almost impossible to ascend the cliff on the White, I turned around and went out on the Blue.

 It was super icy and I even took a spill on this iced-over section of the Orange along the cliff  CWAZY!!

Blue Trail in Northern Wilton Woods

It was wet and gloomy so I thought it best to hike rather than ride the mountain bike today. I headed to the northern section of Wilton Woods and revisited the Blue Trail, which - if truth be told - I couldn’t ride some of these sections anyway!

Mini Waterfalls at the first footbridge 

I hopped on the fallen log across the river (top) to take the bottom photo

Rock gardens (so many!!!)

First Snow - Hiking Wilton Woods

Being in between mountain bikes (old one,dead - new one, on order), I popped over for a hike at Wilton Woods after the first real snowfall we had this winter. Sure it was just a dusting but at least it stayed on the ground and didn't melt right away!

The famous red trail was virgin at the top where it starts...

At the top

Skinny at the Deception Drop

What a great trail! 

Panorama at the Skills Area (3 Skinnies and a Drop!)

Picturesque
(looking back while traipsing out on the Orange Trail)

The sun came and went a few times but when it was out - it was gorgeous (even tho' it was cold).

Pequonnock Valley Trail Day Hike and Wilton Woods on Foot

National Trails Day Scenic Hike  - Pequonnock River Valley 

In Celebration of National Trails Day, I co-lead a  Scenic Hike thru Pequonnock River Valley (Trumbull CT), The weather was a little sketchy - rain and drizzle to start out and overcast until the end. Despite the foreboding weather, a  few families and interested folks showed up and we had a good time showing them the valley.

A few folks knew the Park decades ago and marveled at the changes  - fields were now forests - nature reigns supreme!

The hike was intended to be a dual scenic hike and clean up and everyone chipped in: picking up discarded tin cans, plastics, etc, and other litter along the way (especially Sophie, the little girl in the pictures!).

Colorful mushrooms and lots of varied plant life were enjoyed by all and the vista looking over Rt 25 was the highlight of the hike (as always :-) ).

Wilton Woods

After the hike--being a bit of a FitBit fanatic--I was seeking more steps for the day, so I ventured over to Wilton Woods and hiked the less traveled north side. The trails in both parks were a little wet and muddy so I am glad I stayed off the bike for a day...
.

Snowshoeing at Wilton and Trumbull

Six inches of snow on the 2nd day of spring! Yikes! I went snowshoeing instead (altho' I was jonesin' to bike).

Wilton Woods

I went in from the north parking lot I and hiked on the Blue south to the Red. I got a little disoriented on the Red when I could no longer find the blazes and I ended up on the White. I came back via the Yellow.

 

Virgin Snow!

Looks like candy...

Bizzarre Tree "Wart"

On my return - the de-viginized view :-)
The sun was out now as well...

Trumbull (Pequonnock Valley)

After a Meatball Grinder for lunch at Giove's Pizza Kitchen, I parked at the Dog Park and snowshoed in on the Red. Once on the Red, there were ample signs that the Fat Bikes had already blazed the trails in the morning. The melt was already starting and the tread was getting mushy and water often dripped from the trees.

I snowshoed thru the Central Maze and came back via the Yellow  - the slab rock trail thru the hemlocks. I didn't see a soul except for one trail runner.

Fat Bikes preceded me...

Snow Berm!

Ther'es always a special vibe here! :-)