Like for many, Christmas was scaled down this year. With the exception of the Wii that Santa brought, gifts were modest and thoughtful. And that's just fine for me.
Gifts for me (and relating to the outdoors) included AMC's Best Backpacking in New England and The Book of Forest and Thicket. I intend on having these books thoroughly demolished before the spring thaw. Also on my wish list include titles by Les Stroud, Paul Rezendes, and Aldo Leopold.
I've mentioned before how I wish to start backpacking, so this spring I will make my first jaunt. At first I set sights on Mount Greylock. It isn't very difficult and should be a good introduction to the subject. On second thought, I decided to leave that one for my second trip. Pachaug State Forest (which I've been meaning to do a day hike in for quite some time) has one where the lean-to is less than a half mile from the parking lot. Doesn't sound too adventurous, but it will serve as a proof-of-concept. And if something goes wrong, a midnight stroll back to the car is not out of the question.
The plan is to go to the forest for a day hike, land at the designated overnight spot for the night, then do another day hike in the morning. If planned correctly, I could leave the heavier equipment at the lean-to. If that goes well, Mount Greylock will still be there in July.
My shopping list includes a backpacking stove and something (besides chemicals) to purify water. I could get away with using a propane stove as I don't need to walk very far, but the water is a must. Tax refund time.
Oh, yea, and I'll need to buy a backpack.
Also coming up: my annual January Cub Scout Hike. This year will be in Parker Woodland.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Ken Weber, nature writer
Peter, my oldest, is twelve. A month after his forth birthday Peter became the victim of the unfortunate condition known as LBS, or, Little Brother Syndrome. Evan was born and the condition appeared chronic.
I tried to find activities Peter and I could do together to reassure him that he wasn't going to be forgotten. When he was five, we started hiking.
A co-worker of mine, an avid naturalist, turned me on to Ken Weber's Walks and Rambles in Rhode Island. It is the definitive book of Rhode Island day hikes.
A couple years later I learned that Ken was doing a talk on animal tracks at the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. There was a talk one night and a walk the following weekend. The walk was booked up (I seem to find out about these things too late) but I got the chance to sit in on the talk. Before hand lots of people were milling about. It seems to me that I always end up at events where everybody already knew each other. I tried to blend in.
Some guy came up to me and started a conservation. After a few moments he introduced himself as Ken. I was taken aback. His manner was so easy going I hardly expected him to be the speaker. He is a published writer. He wrote a weekly nature column. He was famous. But it seemed he sought me out to make me feel comfortable, welcome. It was blown away.
Needless to say the talk was awesome. Frustrated that I couldn't participate in the walk, I promised myself I would someday hike with him.
On August 2nd of 2007, Ken Weber died.
During his life, I had never once read his weekly nature column. I didn't get the Saturday paper it was in, but that shouldn't have stopped me. Life is very busy for me. A good friend of recently mine gave me a copy of Wanderings, a collection of his weekly articles from the mid to late 1980's. His writing in his hiking books is very informational. But his nature stories, inspirational.
I met Ken just that once. He's been gone over a year now, but his writing still influences, still inspires my passion for nature. The more I get to know him through his writing, the more I feel I've lost a good friend. His knowledge, his passion, his curiosity. In no small part has his writing inspired me to create this blog.
There is much more about him than is contained in his Wikipedia entry. I created that in part to memorialize him, part to learn more about his life.
If Ken touched your life, please share.
I tried to find activities Peter and I could do together to reassure him that he wasn't going to be forgotten. When he was five, we started hiking.
A co-worker of mine, an avid naturalist, turned me on to Ken Weber's Walks and Rambles in Rhode Island. It is the definitive book of Rhode Island day hikes.
A couple years later I learned that Ken was doing a talk on animal tracks at the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. There was a talk one night and a walk the following weekend. The walk was booked up (I seem to find out about these things too late) but I got the chance to sit in on the talk. Before hand lots of people were milling about. It seems to me that I always end up at events where everybody already knew each other. I tried to blend in.
Some guy came up to me and started a conservation. After a few moments he introduced himself as Ken. I was taken aback. His manner was so easy going I hardly expected him to be the speaker. He is a published writer. He wrote a weekly nature column. He was famous. But it seemed he sought me out to make me feel comfortable, welcome. It was blown away.
Needless to say the talk was awesome. Frustrated that I couldn't participate in the walk, I promised myself I would someday hike with him.
On August 2nd of 2007, Ken Weber died.
During his life, I had never once read his weekly nature column. I didn't get the Saturday paper it was in, but that shouldn't have stopped me. Life is very busy for me. A good friend of recently mine gave me a copy of Wanderings, a collection of his weekly articles from the mid to late 1980's. His writing in his hiking books is very informational. But his nature stories, inspirational.
I met Ken just that once. He's been gone over a year now, but his writing still influences, still inspires my passion for nature. The more I get to know him through his writing, the more I feel I've lost a good friend. His knowledge, his passion, his curiosity. In no small part has his writing inspired me to create this blog.
There is much more about him than is contained in his Wikipedia entry. I created that in part to memorialize him, part to learn more about his life.
If Ken touched your life, please share.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Huge disappointment
September 8, 2008
Walking on a wooded trail brings me such pleasure. I can't explain it. But of all the hiking I've done, I've never been backpacking. Ever.
The Boy Scouts of America announced backpack training for leaders. My curiously was sparked. Of course, I had to fit it into my schedule and budget. I agonized over my decision for the entire summer. Just days before the deadline, I found a backpacking tent for $18 at the Sports Authority. A 25 degree mummy sleeping bag was also on sale. I borrowed an external frame backpack and signed up for training.
Then I learned that the training was cancelled.
Huge let down. Only one other person signed up. The leader promised to offer it again next year. Man, I hope so. I am aching to go.
Other than a Cub Scout overnight in October and a Cub Scout hike in January, I have little on the agenda. Maybe I'll take one of my boys to Pachaug this Sunday. Or maybe I'll grab two days on the North-South trail. Campmor has a frame backpack on sale ...
Walking on a wooded trail brings me such pleasure. I can't explain it. But of all the hiking I've done, I've never been backpacking. Ever.
The Boy Scouts of America announced backpack training for leaders. My curiously was sparked. Of course, I had to fit it into my schedule and budget. I agonized over my decision for the entire summer. Just days before the deadline, I found a backpacking tent for $18 at the Sports Authority. A 25 degree mummy sleeping bag was also on sale. I borrowed an external frame backpack and signed up for training.
Then I learned that the training was cancelled.
Huge let down. Only one other person signed up. The leader promised to offer it again next year. Man, I hope so. I am aching to go.
Other than a Cub Scout overnight in October and a Cub Scout hike in January, I have little on the agenda. Maybe I'll take one of my boys to Pachaug this Sunday. Or maybe I'll grab two days on the North-South trail. Campmor has a frame backpack on sale ...
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Vin Gormley Trail, Burlingame
August 24, 2008
As I've mentioned before, my oldest boy is in Boy Scouts. I had been a cub scout volunteer for several years, so helping the troop seemed natural. Mostly I help out by going on overnights and attending committee meetings, but what I look forward to doing is taking the boys out on a nature hike.
Earlier I had suggested we work towards the hiking merit badge. This went over well with most of the boys. The requirements include five 10-mile hikes and one 20-mile hike. We've hiked around Yawgoog pond, around the Blue Hills, and on the cliff walk. This latest hike, suggested by another parent, was the Vin Gormley trail in Burlingame State Park.
My boy and a tenderfoot needed some map and compass skills for rank advancement, so I stopped by the Map Center in Providence. Great Swamp Press, publishers of the definitive book of the North South trail, produces wonderfully high quality topographic maps of many natural areas in Rhode Island. I picked up Burlingame/Carolina and Pachaug forest.
The Vin Gormley trail is a little over eight miles, so I added a bit around the halfway point to bring it to ten. The hike circles Watchaug Pond. We head off counter-clockwise on the advice of the parent who suggested the hike. His reasoning was it's better to get the mile and a half of road travel out of the way at the start rather than the end when the boys were tired. I concurred.
Vin Gormley is an easy trail. Well marked with very little vertical. The group essentially splits in two: the older boys race ahead and the younger two straggle. We pause every now and again to take a closer look at nature. Many frogs and toads. A small black snake. A monarch butterfly Caterpillar. Oak wasp gall. Our tenderfoot had never been on a nature hike before. His trekking poles were used to smash mushrooms and swat at dragonflies, but he took away something valuable from the hike. If nothing else, he learned that he could do it.
There is a small covered bridge crossing a stream. I am told that it was at the annual Flower and garden show in Providence one year and was donated. It was helicoptered in. We stopped for lunch.
The hike took about six hours. Back at Burlingame Picnic Area, most of the troop goes for a swim. Around five we pack up and head North.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Franconia Ridge Trail
July 26, 2008
The plan was to camp alone with Peter, my 12 year old, and do the ridge. Then it became a family event, with just Peter and I hiking. Then my wife's sister and her husband wanted to come along, with their two young children. Camping alone with one boy could have been a very special time. I'll have to plan another next summer.
We camped at Lafayette campground. After much dallying, Peter, Bro-in-Law Mike, and I started our ascent. It was about 10 AM. I notice right off that my boy was wearing blue jeans. Seems he forgot his hiking pants. Be prepared, hmmm. Weather reports indicated a warm day, at least.
We followed the Falling Waters trail up to Little Haystack (4840). Gordon back at the camp store said about three quarters of the hikers travel the loop in this direction. Falling Waters is so named because it follows Dry River, a very ironically named body of water. Because of tremendous rain recently, Dry River roared. There are three main falls on this trail and they are spectacular. My son couldn't contain his enthusiasm. This part was, by far, the most beautiful hike I've ever been on. Sadly, we couldn't follow the river forever.
Near the first peak there is a sign that read Shining Rock 0.1 miles.
Shining Rock is a 200 by 800 foot granite ledge that is visible for miles. It shines because of it's angle to the sun and because water trickles over it. Shining Rock is very visible from camp, and the view from Shining Rock is amazing. We met up with a young couple, Kyle and Melissa, who chose to hike with internal frame backpacks that must have weighed fifty pounds each. Melissa was not as eager to travel two tenths of a mile out of her way to see a rock, but once there she seemed glad she did.
We paused there for a while, then continued our way to Little Haystack. This part seemed to take forever. As the summit was barely above the tree line, we could not see our destination. When we finally got there, I was surprised by two things: how late it had gotten, and that my phone had three bars. There is little or no service back at camp.
The ridge line runs due North to Mount Lincoln (5089) then
Mount Lafayette (5260), a distance of just under two miles. Despite a couple humps to get over, this part was fairly easy. There was some wind but the temperature was comfortable, about 60. It's nice when you can actually see your destination.
At Lafayette the ridge trail continues North, but we turn left, down towards the Greenleaf hut. The Appalachian Mountain Club has several "huts" along the Appalachian Trail in the White Mountains. I had never visited one before. In reality, this hut is a small hotel at an elevation of 4000 feet. For about $80 you can stay the night. Included are two meals: dinner and breakfast. Now that I've seen the facility (and the meals), it's not that bad of a deal. Still, out of my price range.
From Greenleaf down to Lafayette Place is 2.9 miles. Walking down doesn't bother me. I frequently hear people say how they hate the walk down. I suppose my knees aren't too bad yet. This final leg did seem to take forever. There was one part, somebody called Agony Ridge, that was tricky. There was a three foot wide vein of mineral in the granite bedrock. It was smooth and slippery. We had to take extra care. Other than that, it was a "when will this be over?" scene. It was growing dark and I forgot my headlamp.
7:40 PM we walked off the trail. The showers at the camp store had a line, so I found another shower on the opposite side of the campground. When done, I heard the rain. The skies had opened. I stepped out and realized that it was dark and I didn't know where my campsite was. I put my shirt into a plastic bag with my dirties and walked blind in the direction I thought I had come. In fact, I walked exactly in the opposite direction. Finally I asked directions to the camp store and found my way back. Dinner, of course, was ruined. When the rain let up, I got another fire burning and sat out a bit.
In the morning we headed for North Conway. After shopping, we took route 16 South. Travelling through Ossipee, NH we discovered where a tornado had touched down. The tops of some trees were sheared off and a trailer was crushed like a soda can. People were stopping to take pictures.
The plan was to camp alone with Peter, my 12 year old, and do the ridge. Then it became a family event, with just Peter and I hiking. Then my wife's sister and her husband wanted to come along, with their two young children. Camping alone with one boy could have been a very special time. I'll have to plan another next summer.
We camped at Lafayette campground. After much dallying, Peter, Bro-in-Law Mike, and I started our ascent. It was about 10 AM. I notice right off that my boy was wearing blue jeans. Seems he forgot his hiking pants. Be prepared, hmmm. Weather reports indicated a warm day, at least.
We followed the Falling Waters trail up to Little Haystack (4840). Gordon back at the camp store said about three quarters of the hikers travel the loop in this direction. Falling Waters is so named because it follows Dry River, a very ironically named body of water. Because of tremendous rain recently, Dry River roared. There are three main falls on this trail and they are spectacular. My son couldn't contain his enthusiasm. This part was, by far, the most beautiful hike I've ever been on. Sadly, we couldn't follow the river forever.Near the first peak there is a sign that read Shining Rock 0.1 miles.
Shining Rock is a 200 by 800 foot granite ledge that is visible for miles. It shines because of it's angle to the sun and because water trickles over it. Shining Rock is very visible from camp, and the view from Shining Rock is amazing. We met up with a young couple, Kyle and Melissa, who chose to hike with internal frame backpacks that must have weighed fifty pounds each. Melissa was not as eager to travel two tenths of a mile out of her way to see a rock, but once there she seemed glad she did.
We paused there for a while, then continued our way to Little Haystack. This part seemed to take forever. As the summit was barely above the tree line, we could not see our destination. When we finally got there, I was surprised by two things: how late it had gotten, and that my phone had three bars. There is little or no service back at camp.The ridge line runs due North to Mount Lincoln (5089) then
Mount Lafayette (5260), a distance of just under two miles. Despite a couple humps to get over, this part was fairly easy. There was some wind but the temperature was comfortable, about 60. It's nice when you can actually see your destination.At Lafayette the ridge trail continues North, but we turn left, down towards the Greenleaf hut. The Appalachian Mountain Club has several "huts" along the Appalachian Trail in the White Mountains. I had never visited one before. In reality, this hut is a small hotel at an elevation of 4000 feet. For about $80 you can stay the night. Included are two meals: dinner and breakfast. Now that I've seen the facility (and the meals), it's not that bad of a deal. Still, out of my price range.
From Greenleaf down to Lafayette Place is 2.9 miles. Walking down doesn't bother me. I frequently hear people say how they hate the walk down. I suppose my knees aren't too bad yet. This final leg did seem to take forever. There was one part, somebody called Agony Ridge, that was tricky. There was a three foot wide vein of mineral in the granite bedrock. It was smooth and slippery. We had to take extra care. Other than that, it was a "when will this be over?" scene. It was growing dark and I forgot my headlamp.
7:40 PM we walked off the trail. The showers at the camp store had a line, so I found another shower on the opposite side of the campground. When done, I heard the rain. The skies had opened. I stepped out and realized that it was dark and I didn't know where my campsite was. I put my shirt into a plastic bag with my dirties and walked blind in the direction I thought I had come. In fact, I walked exactly in the opposite direction. Finally I asked directions to the camp store and found my way back. Dinner, of course, was ruined. When the rain let up, I got another fire burning and sat out a bit.
In the morning we headed for North Conway. After shopping, we took route 16 South. Travelling through Ossipee, NH we discovered where a tornado had touched down. The tops of some trees were sheared off and a trailer was crushed like a soda can. People were stopping to take pictures.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Scouting Outings - Camp Yawgoog and Cubbies at PawSox
This blog is for nature hikes. Not nature outings. That, at least, was my intention. Here are some outdoor activities I have been occupied with, even though no actual hikes were involved. I'll try to keep it brief.
July 6 to July 13, 2008
Camp Yawgoog, Rockville, RI
Peter is twelve and in Boy Scouts. This was his second year at Camp Yawgoog. I took the opportunity to (made the mistake of) spending the week at Yawgoog with the troop.
I never went to camp. Always wanted to, but it never happened. I think somewhere in the recesses of my memory I recall going to day camp, maybe with church. Doesn't count. By the time I saw the movie Meatballs, I felt I missed something. I wasn't in scouts, not really. I started as a Bear scout and I don't know if I ever saw a pack meeting. I remember seeing the PC Friars play at the Providence Civic Center. My closest friend made it to Eagle, but he never told me what went on with the troop or at Yawgoog. Last summer I found out.
Scouts and Scouters sleep on raised platforms, under canvas tents with the sides rolled up. Something akin to what Hawkeye Pierce used, but without the bug netting. We sleep on cots.
The energy and chaos at camp is impossible to describe. I was glad when I could have a meal without screaming. From Wednesday morning to Thursday afternoon I took some leader training. Outdoor Leader Skills (OLS) teaches some basic outdoor skills and demonstrates how to do some standard scout activities, like knots, cooking outdoors, and perform a flag ceremony. Nine of us were sequestered in the back woods, far from the regular camp. We formed the Owl patrol. I was the assistant senior patrol leader.
About half of the sessions were taught by camp staff: 18 to 20 year old former scouts. They did a great job. One thing to note: leaders drank water from polycarbonate bottles, taught us to cook scrambled eggs by boiling them in a ziploc bag, and to remove ticks with a burnt match head. Scouting, for better and worse, is very out of date. All in all, it was good instruction and I learned a lot.
Back at camp I did a Trek-on Safely seminar, which teaches how to plan and execute a scout outing. I didn't learn anything new, but it was a good review.
I did a very small part of the challenge course (rock wall and obstacle course) and tried my hand at archery at 30 yards. I didn't do too well, but I did hit the target once. I did the scoutmaster splash, where a scout leader from each troop does a belly-flop into Yawgoog Pond. Rather than a standard face-plant, I jumped, tucked, and landed on my pack. One judge didn't think it was safe. They boys liked it.
No photos because I hadn't recharged the camera battery in time, but I had a good time. Peter earned four badges. One morning, I woke at 5:30 to see a deer not more than six feet from my cot. It stood for a moment, then ran through the camp. It's good to be home.
July 19 an 20th, 2008
Pawtucket Red Sox Cub Scout Sleepover
This is the forth time I've done this event. Once we couldn't sleep the night because a hurricane was coming through, so we had to vamoose. That was my first time, I think. My younger two boys are cub scouts and I brought them both.
For $25 a ticket the boys can participate in a clinic run by the players, get autographs (both are open to the public), participate in the opening ceremonies, watch the game, see a baseball themed movie on the big screen, then sleep the night on the field. We've seen The Sandlot, The Rookie, and Field of Dreams. This year they showed The Sandlot again. It's by far the best movie for cub-aged boys. Because of a birthday party, we arrived less than an hour before game time, missing the clinic and autographs.
The PawSox got slaughtered. They are tops in the International League this year, but it's hard to win games when your starting pitcher gives up nine runs in the first two innings. Final score was 13 to 5. They lost last year as well. The boys didn't seem to mind. Or notice. What they did notice was the special guest. Returning from injury was none other than David Ortiz! We lucked out by catching his third of a three game rehab assignment. He hit a homer in each of his PawSox games. When he came to the plate, the energy was almost fenway-esque.
I didn't get much sleep. Never do on these things. They kept the full stadium lighting on until 2:00 AM. I was up before seven to pack up. The PawSox offer a danish, cereal, and coffee breakfast.
Back home my wife decided we had to go swimming. I'm not a swimmer, but it was a hot day. We go to Burlingame Picnic Area. It was nice. They boys love being in the water. I splashed around for a bit then got some reading done. A camping book, of course.
July 6 to July 13, 2008
Camp Yawgoog, Rockville, RI
Peter is twelve and in Boy Scouts. This was his second year at Camp Yawgoog. I took the opportunity to (made the mistake of) spending the week at Yawgoog with the troop.
I never went to camp. Always wanted to, but it never happened. I think somewhere in the recesses of my memory I recall going to day camp, maybe with church. Doesn't count. By the time I saw the movie Meatballs, I felt I missed something. I wasn't in scouts, not really. I started as a Bear scout and I don't know if I ever saw a pack meeting. I remember seeing the PC Friars play at the Providence Civic Center. My closest friend made it to Eagle, but he never told me what went on with the troop or at Yawgoog. Last summer I found out.
Scouts and Scouters sleep on raised platforms, under canvas tents with the sides rolled up. Something akin to what Hawkeye Pierce used, but without the bug netting. We sleep on cots.
The energy and chaos at camp is impossible to describe. I was glad when I could have a meal without screaming. From Wednesday morning to Thursday afternoon I took some leader training. Outdoor Leader Skills (OLS) teaches some basic outdoor skills and demonstrates how to do some standard scout activities, like knots, cooking outdoors, and perform a flag ceremony. Nine of us were sequestered in the back woods, far from the regular camp. We formed the Owl patrol. I was the assistant senior patrol leader.
About half of the sessions were taught by camp staff: 18 to 20 year old former scouts. They did a great job. One thing to note: leaders drank water from polycarbonate bottles, taught us to cook scrambled eggs by boiling them in a ziploc bag, and to remove ticks with a burnt match head. Scouting, for better and worse, is very out of date. All in all, it was good instruction and I learned a lot.
Back at camp I did a Trek-on Safely seminar, which teaches how to plan and execute a scout outing. I didn't learn anything new, but it was a good review.
I did a very small part of the challenge course (rock wall and obstacle course) and tried my hand at archery at 30 yards. I didn't do too well, but I did hit the target once. I did the scoutmaster splash, where a scout leader from each troop does a belly-flop into Yawgoog Pond. Rather than a standard face-plant, I jumped, tucked, and landed on my pack. One judge didn't think it was safe. They boys liked it.
No photos because I hadn't recharged the camera battery in time, but I had a good time. Peter earned four badges. One morning, I woke at 5:30 to see a deer not more than six feet from my cot. It stood for a moment, then ran through the camp. It's good to be home.
July 19 an 20th, 2008
Pawtucket Red Sox Cub Scout Sleepover
This is the forth time I've done this event. Once we couldn't sleep the night because a hurricane was coming through, so we had to vamoose. That was my first time, I think. My younger two boys are cub scouts and I brought them both.
For $25 a ticket the boys can participate in a clinic run by the players, get autographs (both are open to the public), participate in the opening ceremonies, watch the game, see a baseball themed movie on the big screen, then sleep the night on the field. We've seen The Sandlot, The Rookie, and Field of Dreams. This year they showed The Sandlot again. It's by far the best movie for cub-aged boys. Because of a birthday party, we arrived less than an hour before game time, missing the clinic and autographs.The PawSox got slaughtered. They are tops in the International League this year, but it's hard to win games when your starting pitcher gives up nine runs in the first two innings. Final score was 13 to 5. They lost last year as well. The boys didn't seem to mind. Or notice. What they did notice was the special guest. Returning from injury was none other than David Ortiz! We lucked out by catching his third of a three game rehab assignment. He hit a homer in each of his PawSox games. When he came to the plate, the energy was almost fenway-esque.
I didn't get much sleep. Never do on these things. They kept the full stadium lighting on until 2:00 AM. I was up before seven to pack up. The PawSox offer a danish, cereal, and coffee breakfast.Back home my wife decided we had to go swimming. I'm not a swimmer, but it was a hot day. We go to Burlingame Picnic Area. It was nice. They boys love being in the water. I splashed around for a bit then got some reading done. A camping book, of course.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Wickaboxet Management Area
June 28, 2008
[Edit: Photos are in!]
My plan was Pachaug trail, which is eight miles and listed as strenuous, but if either of my younger two boys were willing to go, Wickaboxet was my backup plan. As it turned out my oldest came down with a serious illness whose symptoms can only be treated by a playstation paddle. After a lengthy discussion, Colin, my six year old, agreed to go. It was 1:00 pm before we left the house and about a quarter to 2 by the time we got onto the trail.
The Wickaboxet trail is number 23 in Ken Weber's Walks and Rambles in Rhode Island. The Access section says to take RI 102 in West Greenwich to Plain Meeting House Road. My main criticism of this book is the directions. How about take exit 5b on route 95 to RI 102 North? I am adding footnotes to my copy, one hike at a time. Sometime I will take a look at the new edition to see if it's better.
Wickaboxet is a fairly small (679 acre) DEM management area due North of the Arcadia management area and URI's Alton Jones campus. Back in the 1950's it was the site of a tremendous forest fire so there are few fully mature trees. On Plain Meeting House Road we pass Big John Leyden's Tree Farm where we occasionally get our Christmas trees. After parking, we noticed tiny toads (or frogs) hopping around the lot. They were barely a quarter inch long, if even. We had to be very careful not to step on them. The closer we looked, the more we found.
The trails are dirt roads, wide, level, and dry. Despite being unmarked, unlike Durfee hill, they were very easy to follow. We were greeted by dragon flies, some strange iridescent green beetles, and large flies that were dive-bombing our heads. Mosquitoes were not bothering us much.
The beetles, looking something like this, would take flight when we approached, only to land ten or fifteen feet ahead of us on the trail. We couldn't get too close. The flies smacking us on our heads had one set of wings and a horizontally striped abdomen. They were after our salty sweat, I would guess. Both of these little guys were too small for me to photograph.
There was a motorcycle on the trail. We heard him from the onset. When he past us, I pulled my boy to the side. On his way back he asked if I knew were the big climbing rock was. I had never been there before but knew he was referring to Rattlesnake Ledge. I showed him the photo in my book and where approximately it was. He said he hoped he wasn't disturbing us. I said "Not too much" which unintentionally implied that he was a little. I regret saying that. Point of fact, however, his riding did disturb me. The noise and smell was inescapable, and there was a safety concern. Also, motorcycles and ATVs are forbidden on this property. He was polite enough and I'm sure he was unaware of the damage his tires were doing.
Before too long I noticed that the trail is covered in ants. Large, almost carpenter ant sized, half red and half black. They blanket the path, entirely leaving us alone. We come across an enormous ant mound on the left side of the path. I position Colin next to it for a photo. Next he finds his feet swarming with ants. He freaks out and runs down the path. They didn't bite him but gave him quite a fright. [Edit: Allegheny mound ants. Native and mostly harmless.] I told him of my youth summering in Texas. I had a nasty encounter with a family of red fire ants that I shall never forget. He wanted to go home. He started stamping at the ants, but there were millions of them. We were headed in a dead end section of the trail and I decided to simply turn around there and skip that mile of the trail.
We take a left fork towards a mostly uninteresting site of a now-gone fire tower and wholly uninteresting ledges. Colin, recovered from his ant experience, was cheerful but growing weary. We took an extended break at the site of the tower. Refreshed, we pushed on.
There is listed a side trail that leads out to a small brook. I had it in my head that this was a significant flowing stream. Instead I find the smallest trickle, barely large enough to feed moss. We continued on because I was certain this was not the brook Ken wrote about. Also on this section I find some scat. I did not photograph it because my camera batteries were dead at this point. I didn't think to use my cell phone camera. I think it was bear. It was very fresh. [Edit: Not bear. Not even close. No idea what it was, but not bear!]
Back on the main path we look for Rattlesnake Ledge. We find the path and see an outcropping of granite peppered with graffiti. We try climbing the front but find it impossible. We circle around the side and climb. The view, extending miles into the distance, was quite impressive. Mount Tom trail has a similar overlook, but I think this might beat it. Something truly to behold.
My erstwhile exhausted companion now decides that we are going to climb down so that we can climb up again. I indulge him, but I'm growing tired now. Back on top, we walk the ledge to the other side. It is much longer than I expected. We find the section where teenagers like to smash their beer bottles and leave greenish puddles. Charming. Here, the walk down to Terra Firma is quite easy. Noticing tread marks, I see my motorcycle buddy found his rock.
Soon we are back at the car. Colin could not stop talking about the ledge. He wanted to go again Sunday. He wanted to call Mom and tell her all about it. We stop for ice cream.
[Edit: Photos are in!]
My plan was Pachaug trail, which is eight miles and listed as strenuous, but if either of my younger two boys were willing to go, Wickaboxet was my backup plan. As it turned out my oldest came down with a serious illness whose symptoms can only be treated by a playstation paddle. After a lengthy discussion, Colin, my six year old, agreed to go. It was 1:00 pm before we left the house and about a quarter to 2 by the time we got onto the trail.
The Wickaboxet trail is number 23 in Ken Weber's Walks and Rambles in Rhode Island. The Access section says to take RI 102 in West Greenwich to Plain Meeting House Road. My main criticism of this book is the directions. How about take exit 5b on route 95 to RI 102 North? I am adding footnotes to my copy, one hike at a time. Sometime I will take a look at the new edition to see if it's better.Wickaboxet is a fairly small (679 acre) DEM management area due North of the Arcadia management area and URI's Alton Jones campus. Back in the 1950's it was the site of a tremendous forest fire so there are few fully mature trees. On Plain Meeting House Road we pass Big John Leyden's Tree Farm where we occasionally get our Christmas trees. After parking, we noticed tiny toads (or frogs) hopping around the lot. They were barely a quarter inch long, if even. We had to be very careful not to step on them. The closer we looked, the more we found.
The trails are dirt roads, wide, level, and dry. Despite being unmarked, unlike Durfee hill, they were very easy to follow. We were greeted by dragon flies, some strange iridescent green beetles, and large flies that were dive-bombing our heads. Mosquitoes were not bothering us much.The beetles, looking something like this, would take flight when we approached, only to land ten or fifteen feet ahead of us on the trail. We couldn't get too close. The flies smacking us on our heads had one set of wings and a horizontally striped abdomen. They were after our salty sweat, I would guess. Both of these little guys were too small for me to photograph.
There was a motorcycle on the trail. We heard him from the onset. When he past us, I pulled my boy to the side. On his way back he asked if I knew were the big climbing rock was. I had never been there before but knew he was referring to Rattlesnake Ledge. I showed him the photo in my book and where approximately it was. He said he hoped he wasn't disturbing us. I said "Not too much" which unintentionally implied that he was a little. I regret saying that. Point of fact, however, his riding did disturb me. The noise and smell was inescapable, and there was a safety concern. Also, motorcycles and ATVs are forbidden on this property. He was polite enough and I'm sure he was unaware of the damage his tires were doing.
Before too long I noticed that the trail is covered in ants. Large, almost carpenter ant sized, half red and half black. They blanket the path, entirely leaving us alone. We come across an enormous ant mound on the left side of the path. I position Colin next to it for a photo. Next he finds his feet swarming with ants. He freaks out and runs down the path. They didn't bite him but gave him quite a fright. [Edit: Allegheny mound ants. Native and mostly harmless.] I told him of my youth summering in Texas. I had a nasty encounter with a family of red fire ants that I shall never forget. He wanted to go home. He started stamping at the ants, but there were millions of them. We were headed in a dead end section of the trail and I decided to simply turn around there and skip that mile of the trail.
We take a left fork towards a mostly uninteresting site of a now-gone fire tower and wholly uninteresting ledges. Colin, recovered from his ant experience, was cheerful but growing weary. We took an extended break at the site of the tower. Refreshed, we pushed on.There is listed a side trail that leads out to a small brook. I had it in my head that this was a significant flowing stream. Instead I find the smallest trickle, barely large enough to feed moss. We continued on because I was certain this was not the brook Ken wrote about. Also on this section I find some scat. I did not photograph it because my camera batteries were dead at this point. I didn't think to use my cell phone camera. I think it was bear. It was very fresh. [Edit: Not bear. Not even close. No idea what it was, but not bear!]
Back on the main path we look for Rattlesnake Ledge. We find the path and see an outcropping of granite peppered with graffiti. We try climbing the front but find it impossible. We circle around the side and climb. The view, extending miles into the distance, was quite impressive. Mount Tom trail has a similar overlook, but I think this might beat it. Something truly to behold.My erstwhile exhausted companion now decides that we are going to climb down so that we can climb up again. I indulge him, but I'm growing tired now. Back on top, we walk the ledge to the other side. It is much longer than I expected. We find the section where teenagers like to smash their beer bottles and leave greenish puddles. Charming. Here, the walk down to Terra Firma is quite easy. Noticing tread marks, I see my motorcycle buddy found his rock.
Soon we are back at the car. Colin could not stop talking about the ledge. He wanted to go again Sunday. He wanted to call Mom and tell her all about it. We stop for ice cream.Thursday, June 26, 2008
Time to Make Time
It's been a while since I've updated the blog. June is a busy month for me, what with Father's Day, my Mom and wife's birthdays, plus my wedding anniversary (today), so it's no surprise I can't find time to wonder in the woods. Every weekend was either an event or rain, it seemed.
I have had time to plan, however. July 25th I will take my eldest boy on a hike over Franconia Ridge. In August my brother-in-law and I will climb Mount Mansfield in Vermont, my fourth of the six highpoints in New England. Connecticut and Massachusetts are left, and I probably could hit them both on a fall weekend.
July will also be Boy Scout camp. I will be spending the whole week at Camp Yawgoog with Peter's troop and I expect that will mean a sturdy hike. Perhaps a trip to Long Pond would be in order. The Boy Scouts always have some adult leader training worth looking into, so I'll be doing some of that. Outdoor Leader Skills (OLS) is on the agenda. I've already taken the Cub Scout version, OWLS. Back home I will attend a Leave No Trace awareness workshop on July 17 at REI in Cranston. They also will be doing PEAK training (Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids).
I hope to take the hike this Saturday I've been postponing. Pachaug Trail from Ken Weber's book sounds great. It'll be a new one for me.
One last thing for this time, I'm officially listed on the Hiking Blogs! Maybe I will achieve my goal of having another reader other than myself! I don't want to get ahead of myself ...
That's it for now. I hope to have some good stuff to add this weekend!
I have had time to plan, however. July 25th I will take my eldest boy on a hike over Franconia Ridge. In August my brother-in-law and I will climb Mount Mansfield in Vermont, my fourth of the six highpoints in New England. Connecticut and Massachusetts are left, and I probably could hit them both on a fall weekend.
July will also be Boy Scout camp. I will be spending the whole week at Camp Yawgoog with Peter's troop and I expect that will mean a sturdy hike. Perhaps a trip to Long Pond would be in order. The Boy Scouts always have some adult leader training worth looking into, so I'll be doing some of that. Outdoor Leader Skills (OLS) is on the agenda. I've already taken the Cub Scout version, OWLS. Back home I will attend a Leave No Trace awareness workshop on July 17 at REI in Cranston. They also will be doing PEAK training (Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids).
I hope to take the hike this Saturday I've been postponing. Pachaug Trail from Ken Weber's book sounds great. It'll be a new one for me.
One last thing for this time, I'm officially listed on the Hiking Blogs! Maybe I will achieve my goal of having another reader other than myself! I don't want to get ahead of myself ...
That's it for now. I hope to have some good stuff to add this weekend!
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Sprague Farm, Chepachet
May 18, 2008
The Rhode Island Wild Plant Society puts on many walks and lectures over the course of the year, and I have not had the opportunity to do any of them. Until today.
Today's walk and talk, on a beautiful piece of land just west of Chepachet center, deals with the transition between the Northern Hardwood and the Central Hardwood forest types. Typical of the Northern forest are trees like Striped maple and Atlantic White Cedar, otherwise unknown in Rhode Island. Leader Garry Plunkett's encyclopedic knowledge, energy, and enthusiasm made for a wonderfully interesting and informative walk.
Sprague Farm is an abandoned farm turned forest, managed by the Glocester Land Trust.
Jedediah Sprague purchased the 
property in parts starting back in the Revolutionary War. Jedediah was a tavern owner and patriot. There are quite a few references to him on the internet. May have been a General. The foundation remains of his son's houses are still present. There is a well hole that still looks usable. I am told another foundation has a 175 year old tree growing out of it, showing how long ago this property was abandoned. We did not pass by it.
The Rhode Island Wild Plant Society puts on many walks and lectures over the course of the year, and I have not had the opportunity to do any of them. Until today.
Today's walk and talk, on a beautiful piece of land just west of Chepachet center, deals with the transition between the Northern Hardwood and the Central Hardwood forest types. Typical of the Northern forest are trees like Striped maple and Atlantic White Cedar, otherwise unknown in Rhode Island. Leader Garry Plunkett's encyclopedic knowledge, energy, and enthusiasm made for a wonderfully interesting and informative walk.
Sprague Farm is an abandoned farm turned forest, managed by the Glocester Land Trust.
Jedediah Sprague purchased the 
property in parts starting back in the Revolutionary War. Jedediah was a tavern owner and patriot. There are quite a few references to him on the internet. May have been a General. The foundation remains of his son's houses are still present. There is a well hole that still looks usable. I am told another foundation has a 175 year old tree growing out of it, showing how long ago this property was abandoned. We did not pass by it. The paths are wide but mostly unmarked. ATV tracks, not allowed without special permission, 
are seen throughout. There is significant trail damage because of it. A couple times we had to trek off trail to avoid a large and deep puddle caused by the ATVs. On one such excursion I saw some unusual scat. Checking through my Scat and Tracks of the Northeast (Halfpenny, Bruchac) it appears to be Canada Lynx. I'm not saying it is, but that's what the scat looked like. I wish I took a photo. It also resembles the drawing for mountain lion. No, I simply do not want to go there.
are seen throughout. There is significant trail damage because of it. A couple times we had to trek off trail to avoid a large and deep puddle caused by the ATVs. On one such excursion I saw some unusual scat. Checking through my Scat and Tracks of the Northeast (Halfpenny, Bruchac) it appears to be Canada Lynx. I'm not saying it is, but that's what the scat looked like. I wish I took a photo. It also resembles the drawing for mountain lion. No, I simply do not want to go there.Last summer I met a man who was convinced there were mountain lions in Rhode Island. In the greater Providence area, no less. I'm not a believer. This could have been ATV rider's scat for all I know. There was no fur evident.
My boy was quite through with the woods for the day after an hour and a half, so I paid Garry for the talk (five bucks a person for non-members, cheap!) and we headed out, not stopping to identify the wildflowers.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Take Steps for Crohn's & Colitis
May 17, 2008
Dean Brooks, my Brother-in-Law, suffers from Crohn's Disease. I know little about it, so here's the web page:
http://www.cctakesteps.org/Home.htm
Take Steps is a fundraising and awareness event put on by the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America. The local event was held at Colt State Park in Bristol, not far from where he and my sister live. It involved a three mile walk around the park. I brought Peter, my 12 year old Boy Scout, and Colin, my 6 year old. We met up with my parents, my other sister, and my niece and nephew. We all pitched in some donation money at the start.
The walk itself is rather uneventful. Three miles
, mostly over paved walkways. My feet hurt, I think because of the pavement. Peter disappeared to the front of the pack while I hung back with Colin, who wasn't entirely enjoying the experiencing.
What he DID enjoy was the inflated bouncy-thingie (what are those things properly called?) He also got a temporary tattoo, which was free of charge. (I got a Chinese pictogram for the word 'Clarity', but told my parents I got a tramp-stamp saying 'Juicy'.)
Everything was free of charge except the raffle. We were offered sandwiches, bottled water, coffee, fruit, cookies, and other snacks after the walk, and we all got t-shirts and bandannas. I bought five raffle tickets with my remaining five bucks. I didn't win anything. We were talking about which raffle item we wanted but didn't get. PawSox and Trinity tickets were what I put in for. Dean said he was hoping for a cure, so I guess we all went home empty-handed. Except for the snacks and water and use of the bouncy-thingie and the t-shirts and 
the ... with all of the free give-aways, it appears like they gave away all the money they raised. In reality the stuff was all donated by companies like (reading back of T-shirt) Starbucks, Rite Aid pharmacy, and Citizens Bank.
This was a well run event and the weather was great. I feel like I got a lot of the little I donated. I will ink this on my calendar for next year, and next time bring a little more money to donate.
Dean Brooks, my Brother-in-Law, suffers from Crohn's Disease. I know little about it, so here's the web page:
http://www.cctakesteps.org/Home.htm
Take Steps is a fundraising and awareness event put on by the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America. The local event was held at Colt State Park in Bristol, not far from where he and my sister live. It involved a three mile walk around the park. I brought Peter, my 12 year old Boy Scout, and Colin, my 6 year old. We met up with my parents, my other sister, and my niece and nephew. We all pitched in some donation money at the start.The walk itself is rather uneventful. Three miles
, mostly over paved walkways. My feet hurt, I think because of the pavement. Peter disappeared to the front of the pack while I hung back with Colin, who wasn't entirely enjoying the experiencing.What he DID enjoy was the inflated bouncy-thingie (what are those things properly called?) He also got a temporary tattoo, which was free of charge. (I got a Chinese pictogram for the word 'Clarity', but told my parents I got a tramp-stamp saying 'Juicy'.)
Everything was free of charge except the raffle. We were offered sandwiches, bottled water, coffee, fruit, cookies, and other snacks after the walk, and we all got t-shirts and bandannas. I bought five raffle tickets with my remaining five bucks. I didn't win anything. We were talking about which raffle item we wanted but didn't get. PawSox and Trinity tickets were what I put in for. Dean said he was hoping for a cure, so I guess we all went home empty-handed. Except for the snacks and water and use of the bouncy-thingie and the t-shirts and 
the ... with all of the free give-aways, it appears like they gave away all the money they raised. In reality the stuff was all donated by companies like (reading back of T-shirt) Starbucks, Rite Aid pharmacy, and Citizens Bank.This was a well run event and the weather was great. I feel like I got a lot of the little I donated. I will ink this on my calendar for next year, and next time bring a little more money to donate.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Durfee Hill
May 11, 2008
When I come to the hunter checking station I realize I've been here before. Many years ago I tried this hike. I had parked and and searched for the trail behind the station. There is a large circled P on the map where you are to park, but for some reason I expected the start to be the "X" at the bottom of the map. I couldn't find the trail, and headed back to the car discovering that we were covered in ticks.
My wife went shopping with her mother and two sisters, so I took the boys to my parents to wish my Mom a Happy Mother's Day. I had originally wanted to get on the trail in the early afternoon, but you know how it is when visiting the 'rents. I head North on 146 looking for where it crosses route 44. Sometime around North Smithfield I finally come to the realization it DOESN'T cross. It does, but way back in Providence. The plan should have been to take 6 West to 295 North to 44. I make my way to Durfee Hill, number 27 of Ken Weber's Walks and Rambles, if a later than was strictly necessary.
I apologize for the quality of the photos. I forgot the Sony camera back home and used the old LG cell phone camera. They get the point across, I suppose.
When I come to the hunter checking station I realize I've been here before. Many years ago I tried this hike. I had parked and and searched for the trail behind the station. There is a large circled P on the map where you are to park, but for some reason I expected the start to be the "X" at the bottom of the map. I couldn't find the trail, and headed back to the car discovering that we were covered in ticks.
Today I make the same mistake, but I am less impatient. I actually read the text describing the trail and discover my error. You must go back out to the main road, cross, and follow it for two tenths of a mile. Then you enter the woods. We find it just fine.
The text describes a rock wall where people climb and repel down, and sure enough, we find four people doing just that. My boys make a bee-line for them. I'm not keen on intruding on their private moments, but they don't seem to mind. We head back on our way and I soon notice I have guests. There are two ticks crawling on my pants. We check ourselves out and remove a total of five on the four of us. Colin, my youngest, is the only one without any. I go back to the climbers to warn them.
There are hemlocks here, which I knew, but I was surprised to see that they are free of the Wolly Aldegid, an insect wiping out hemlocks throughout the East. I scan many small hemlock saplings throughout the hike, and never see a single bug.
We continue to a marsh that is said to be home of 
many songbirds, but we hear none. We continue on until we find the unpaved road (actually paved, but crumbling) and the grist mill. The mill is privately owned and the owners were quite friendly and invited us to look inside the old mill.
many songbirds, but we hear none. We continue on until we find the unpaved road (actually paved, but crumbling) and the grist mill. The mill is privately owned and the owners were quite friendly and invited us to look inside the old mill.We don't linger too long and double back where w
e came. The text describes a fork in the trail where you head back towards route 94 just South where we entered the woods. I think we take the right path, but the trail we see does not match the description. We pass a wet part not described in the book. We make it back to the main road but it's not where we are supposed to be. There is a side road that is much further South. We turn around and go back where we came. The boys are excited to see a family riding minibikes. I rush my boys off the trail to give the riders a wide birth, but am relieved that these are courteous people and slow down for us.
e came. The text describes a fork in the trail where you head back towards route 94 just South where we entered the woods. I think we take the right path, but the trail we see does not match the description. We pass a wet part not described in the book. We make it back to the main road but it's not where we are supposed to be. There is a side road that is much further South. We turn around and go back where we came. The boys are excited to see a family riding minibikes. I rush my boys off the trail to give the riders a wide birth, but am relieved that these are courteous people and slow down for us.We follow the path back past the marsh and I hope to cross to the correct trail just before we get to the rock wall. Without knowing it, we do leave the original trail. We hike for a short while and end up ... back at route 94 south of where we are supposed to be. Not happy. Instead of hunting for the trail again I have the boys follow 94 North until we find utility pole 35, the proper exit point. Here we cross the road to finish the last leg.
Rig
ht off the road we find the first item of interest: Uncle Owen?
ht off the road we find the first item of interest: Uncle Owen?
Aunt Beru? Deer, actually. Notice that the head is missing. The trail then passes an old graveyard. We don't go in.
Here the text starts to scare me: "Beyond the graveyard, the going gets a little tricky, with several side paths that can be confusing." There isn't a single blaze in these woods and apparently there are way more side paths here then there were a decade ago when the book was published. It refers to a clearing and we find it with no problem. Then it says to reenter the forest at the left edge. There a
re many side trails everywhere except at the left edge. One sid
e note about this clearing that Ken didn't write about: apparently the DEM uses it to dump deer roadkill. It is literally littered with bones and fur plus several articulated skeletons. It reeks of death. I don't know if it is clear but the second photo here shows a pit full of fur. My oldest was majorly creeped out by it. Can't say I blame him. He says he saw a bear print in the sand but we couldn't it again.
re many side trails everywhere except at the left edge. One sid
e note about this clearing that Ken didn't write about: apparently the DEM uses it to dump deer roadkill. It is literally littered with bones and fur plus several articulated skeletons. It reeks of death. I don't know if it is clear but the second photo here shows a pit full of fur. My oldest was majorly creeped out by it. Can't say I blame him. He says he saw a bear print in the sand but we couldn't it again.The boys are 
impatient. I turn around away from what I presume to be the path to the direction I believe the main road is only to find the pond we are to circumnavigate. We can see the car. I try to get they boys to continue around the pond, but the younger two are out of patience. There's a beaver dam visible on the other side and I wanted to see it close up, but they are finished hiking. We head back through a path Ken said "tends to be wet" and I say "is flooded and impassible". The boys go on ahead anyhow and we all end up soaking our sneakers.
impatient. I turn around away from what I presume to be the path to the direction I believe the main road is only to find the pond we are to circumnavigate. We can see the car. I try to get they boys to continue around the pond, but the younger two are out of patience. There's a beaver dam visible on the other side and I wanted to see it close up, but they are finished hiking. We head back through a path Ken said "tends to be wet" and I say "is flooded and impassible". The boys go on ahead anyhow and we all end up soaking our sneakers.We get back to the car and remove our shoes and socks. I found a couple more 
ticks on the way but was surprised to find no more at this point. My oldest finds one on him during the ride back and my youngest says he sees one on the middle child but I am unsure if he is serious or not. Back home during a tick check we find a huge tick attached to him. All the boys are scooted into the shower with instructions to lather up very well. When I first sit down to start this entry, I find another tick on my arm. Attached. Only the one on Evan was a dog tick. All the rest, I believe, were deer ticks.
ticks on the way but was surprised to find no more at this point. My oldest finds one on him during the ride back and my youngest says he sees one on the middle child but I am unsure if he is serious or not. Back home during a tick check we find a huge tick attached to him. All the boys are scooted into the shower with instructions to lather up very well. When I first sit down to start this entry, I find another tick on my arm. Attached. Only the one on Evan was a dog tick. All the rest, I believe, were deer ticks.Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Narragansett, near Bonnet Shores, again
My plan was to hike Durfee Hill last Sunday, but the weather wasn't shaping up. Today I decide to walk out to where I saw the animal jaw and recover it. I brought a grocery bag with me. I didn't have much time, so I made a bee-line to where I saw it. Before I got there I was startled yet again by a ribbon snake. Of all the hikes I've been on I've never seen so many snakes! This one I got a close look at. A little over a foot in length. Cool.
I got to where I saw the jaw bone and I was unsurprised to find it missing. I spent a few minutes scanning there are, but to no avail. I head back to work. Just before I get to the office I realize my identification badge is missing. The holder was empty. I make a plan to retrace my steps right after work.
At work's end I drive to the old church. I walk back out to where I was before and on my return I find the jawbone. It had travelled several yards. I no longer had the bag, but I happened to find a paper towel in my pocket. I was pretty sure this was is a deer jaw. I had checked the internet earlier. I wonder what took it down? I saw coyote scat on the trail. Deer are all through this area. Deer tick central. Back in March I decided to follow a critter trail for a bit and back at the office I discovered an adult deer tick crawling on my pants. Not very comforting.
Back at my car I put the bone into the back seat. Still without my ID, I decide to walk a small piece back to the office. Halfway back I find my badge. Apparently I discovered it missing not 100 yards from where I dropped it. Go figure.
I got to where I saw the jaw bone and I was unsurprised to find it missing. I spent a few minutes scanning there are, but to no avail. I head back to work. Just before I get to the office I realize my identification badge is missing. The holder was empty. I make a plan to retrace my steps right after work.
At work's end I drive to the old church. I walk back out to where I was before and on my return I find the jawbone. It had travelled several yards. I no longer had the bag, but I happened to find a paper towel in my pocket. I was pretty sure this was is a deer jaw. I had checked the internet earlier. I wonder what took it down? I saw coyote scat on the trail. Deer are all through this area. Deer tick central. Back in March I decided to follow a critter trail for a bit and back at the office I discovered an adult deer tick crawling on my pants. Not very comforting.
Back at my car I put the bone into the back seat. Still without my ID, I decide to walk a small piece back to the office. Halfway back I find my badge. Apparently I discovered it missing not 100 yards from where I dropped it. Go figure.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Narragansett, lunchtime walk
May 1, 2008
I walk in the woods at lunchtime once or twice a week, but only some are worth writing about. These woods are not spectacular. They are nice, but far from the better walks in Rhode Island. Today I start in the woods behind the old church near the scene of the crime (read my first blog entry about that).
The weather is a bit too chilly and breezy to walk comfortably in a T-shirt, but that's what I do. The cemetery is unoccupied today, as expected, and the walk to South Ferry Road is uneventful. I cross and start on the dirt access road in order to distance myself from the URI construction noise. What I discover is that the wind whips unhindered down the wide path, so I turn into the woods at the first trail. This is a good decision. The wind is lower and the scenery is better. The Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense) has spread quite a bit and is even invading the footpath. I notice that the green carpet disappears deeper in the woods. I guess the ground away from the paths gets less light. Mayflower goes where it's wanted. Flower buds are starting to appear.
I stop to take a closer look at some of the other plants putting out foliage. The leaves of a shrub are opposite, that is they appear on both sides of each stem at regular intervals, rather than alternating left, right, left, like most plants. There is a handy term "madcap horse" to remember the plants with opposite leaves. MAD is an acronym for Maple, Ash, Dogwood. Cap refers to the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae. Horse refers to the wonderful tree Horse-chestnut. Viburnums were once considered part of the Caprifoliaceae family but have recently moved to the Adoxaceae family. All that aside, Madcap Horse works well if you assume CAP refers to both honeysuckle and viburnums. I see two distinct shrubs with opposite leaves. One with smooth edged leaves and one with serrated leaves. I'm guessing they both are viburnums. The path cycles back onto the access road. I cross the paved road like last time and continue in the direction of Bonnet Shores.
I notice a bone fragment at the along the path. It's about a third of a lower jaw. It's old enough to have been defleshed. It's too large to be rodent or cat. The teeth are very distinctive and certainly not canine. In the absence of actual knowledge, I am guessing deer. Not keen to put body parts into my pocket, I leave it trailside. Maybe I'll come back tomorrow with a bag. I know people who know about such things.
Not twenty steps from the bone I am startled when a snake crosses the path. I try to get a close look but quickly it's in the underbrush. Was it two feet long? Three? I can't be sure. It's dark brown with light brown stripes. I assume it's a garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) but the DEM web page has a good document about native snakes. A closer match is the related Eastern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus sauritus). See http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pdf/risnakes.pdf for a great description of Rhode Island snakes.
I continue further than I had last time but I run short of time and turn around. Past where I found the bone I notice a circle of stones just off the path. Stone walls cross the area quite a bit, giving evidence of it's pastoral and agricultural past. It warrants closer inspection but there is no easy access to it. I'll investigate this later. I continue to the dirt access road, across South Ferry Road, past the old church, past the now infamous cemetery, back to work.
I walk in the woods at lunchtime once or twice a week, but only some are worth writing about. These woods are not spectacular. They are nice, but far from the better walks in Rhode Island. Today I start in the woods behind the old church near the scene of the crime (read my first blog entry about that).
The weather is a bit too chilly and breezy to walk comfortably in a T-shirt, but that's what I do. The cemetery is unoccupied today, as expected, and the walk to South Ferry Road is uneventful. I cross and start on the dirt access road in order to distance myself from the URI construction noise. What I discover is that the wind whips unhindered down the wide path, so I turn into the woods at the first trail. This is a good decision. The wind is lower and the scenery is better. The Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense) has spread quite a bit and is even invading the footpath. I notice that the green carpet disappears deeper in the woods. I guess the ground away from the paths gets less light. Mayflower goes where it's wanted. Flower buds are starting to appear.
I stop to take a closer look at some of the other plants putting out foliage. The leaves of a shrub are opposite, that is they appear on both sides of each stem at regular intervals, rather than alternating left, right, left, like most plants. There is a handy term "madcap horse" to remember the plants with opposite leaves. MAD is an acronym for Maple, Ash, Dogwood. Cap refers to the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae. Horse refers to the wonderful tree Horse-chestnut. Viburnums were once considered part of the Caprifoliaceae family but have recently moved to the Adoxaceae family. All that aside, Madcap Horse works well if you assume CAP refers to both honeysuckle and viburnums. I see two distinct shrubs with opposite leaves. One with smooth edged leaves and one with serrated leaves. I'm guessing they both are viburnums. The path cycles back onto the access road. I cross the paved road like last time and continue in the direction of Bonnet Shores.
I notice a bone fragment at the along the path. It's about a third of a lower jaw. It's old enough to have been defleshed. It's too large to be rodent or cat. The teeth are very distinctive and certainly not canine. In the absence of actual knowledge, I am guessing deer. Not keen to put body parts into my pocket, I leave it trailside. Maybe I'll come back tomorrow with a bag. I know people who know about such things.
Not twenty steps from the bone I am startled when a snake crosses the path. I try to get a close look but quickly it's in the underbrush. Was it two feet long? Three? I can't be sure. It's dark brown with light brown stripes. I assume it's a garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) but the DEM web page has a good document about native snakes. A closer match is the related Eastern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus sauritus). See http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pdf/risnakes.pdf for a great description of Rhode Island snakes.
I continue further than I had last time but I run short of time and turn around. Past where I found the bone I notice a circle of stones just off the path. Stone walls cross the area quite a bit, giving evidence of it's pastoral and agricultural past. It warrants closer inspection but there is no easy access to it. I'll investigate this later. I continue to the dirt access road, across South Ferry Road, past the old church, past the now infamous cemetery, back to work.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Great Swamp, South Kingstown
April 20, 2008
Several years ago a co-worker recommended Ken Weber's Walks and Rambles in Rhode Island. My oldest son was having some difficulty dealing with the fact that he was no longer an only child. This was a good (and cheap) way for us to bond. We did many of the Arcadia hikes plus some other ones over the next several years. That five year old boy recently turned twelve and I took him, his youngest brother (six) and met up with my brother-in-law, his wife, and their two young children. My middle boy and his mom had playstation paddles stuck to their hands, so they stayed behind.
Because we all had other things going on earlier in the day, we got a late start. It was after 3:00 when we finally reached the parking lot. My sister-in-law pulls out an umbrella stroller for her infant son. I didn't consider the logistics of bringing an infant. Luckily I chose one of the few trails one can bring a stroller on. We follow the trail as the book suggests.
I had not re-read the trail description prior to the hike. Bad habit. I tried to get my oldest to read it on the car ride, but he wasn't motivated. The holly was the first thing we noticed at the start of the trail. Most people think of holly as a fairly low growing shrub. Here you will find trees, upwards to thirty feet tall. I remember seeing a giant holly tree at the Scout campground Aquapaug, not far from where we were. Next time I'm there I will make a point to estimate it's height.
Half way to Worden pond I tell the boys of the hangar. My oldest has no memory of our first hike. They were excited. The twelve year old asks me what it looks like exactly. Was it sloped on both sides? Yes, I said, with a hook on the top. He looks at me blankly. I drew a picture for him in the dirt. He didn't get it, but my youngest did. We continue on.
When we get to Worden pond, I discover that the hangar is no longer there. I'm fairly sure it was there seven years ago. All that remains is a concrete platform. We linger there before continuing on our way.
We reach the fields described in the book. I came to an intersection and two people on bicycles came by. I ask which way to the marsh and they said something and pointed in the way they were heading (right). It wasn't too long before I figure out that we had made a wrong turn (a hallmark of my hikes). It is getting late so we just pressed on. Soon the younger members of the party will grow tired. No wildlife marsh, no osprey nests. Next time, I promise.
The last leg is rather uneventful. We see dog and horse tracks, horse poop, plus what I'm fairly sure it coyote scat. My sister-in-law guessed it was cat poop, but I show her the illustration from Scat and Tracks of the Northeast and she agrees with me. Cat may have been involved, but merely as an ingredient.
It is just past 6 and we had hiked maybe five miles. The biting insects are not out yet, the weather was great, and the sun was still strong in the sky. Despite not seeing the marsh, it was a good hike. I'm looking forward to my next.
Several years ago a co-worker recommended Ken Weber's Walks and Rambles in Rhode Island. My oldest son was having some difficulty dealing with the fact that he was no longer an only child. This was a good (and cheap) way for us to bond. We did many of the Arcadia hikes plus some other ones over the next several years. That five year old boy recently turned twelve and I took him, his youngest brother (six) and met up with my brother-in-law, his wife, and their two young children. My middle boy and his mom had playstation paddles stuck to their hands, so they stayed behind.
Because we all had other things going on earlier in the day, we got a late start. It was after 3:00 when we finally reached the parking lot. My sister-in-law pulls out an umbrella stroller for her infant son. I didn't consider the logistics of bringing an infant. Luckily I chose one of the few trails one can bring a stroller on. We follow the trail as the book suggests.
I had not re-read the trail description prior to the hike. Bad habit. I tried to get my oldest to read it on the car ride, but he wasn't motivated. The holly was the first thing we noticed at the start of the trail. Most people think of holly as a fairly low growing shrub. Here you will find trees, upwards to thirty feet tall. I remember seeing a giant holly tree at the Scout campground Aquapaug, not far from where we were. Next time I'm there I will make a point to estimate it's height.
Half way to Worden pond I tell the boys of the hangar. My oldest has no memory of our first hike. They were excited. The twelve year old asks me what it looks like exactly. Was it sloped on both sides? Yes, I said, with a hook on the top. He looks at me blankly. I drew a picture for him in the dirt. He didn't get it, but my youngest did. We continue on.
When we get to Worden pond, I discover that the hangar is no longer there. I'm fairly sure it was there seven years ago. All that remains is a concrete platform. We linger there before continuing on our way.
We reach the fields described in the book. I came to an intersection and two people on bicycles came by. I ask which way to the marsh and they said something and pointed in the way they were heading (right). It wasn't too long before I figure out that we had made a wrong turn (a hallmark of my hikes). It is getting late so we just pressed on. Soon the younger members of the party will grow tired. No wildlife marsh, no osprey nests. Next time, I promise.
The last leg is rather uneventful. We see dog and horse tracks, horse poop, plus what I'm fairly sure it coyote scat. My sister-in-law guessed it was cat poop, but I show her the illustration from Scat and Tracks of the Northeast and she agrees with me. Cat may have been involved, but merely as an ingredient.
It is just past 6 and we had hiked maybe five miles. The biting insects are not out yet, the weather was great, and the sun was still strong in the sky. Despite not seeing the marsh, it was a good hike. I'm looking forward to my next.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Narragansett, near Bonnet Shores
April 21, 2008
I enter the woods across from an old church on South Ferry Road. I've got about half an hour. There is a barred dirt road near an historical cemetery marked Narragansett 10. I've walked in these woods several times so I know there is a path behind the cemetery that cuts though the woods and meets back up with the access road. I've followed it into the woods before but today I choose to go in the opposite direction.
This path takes me near the URI campus where construction is going on. I regret the choice. The noise is unpleasant but it's the smell of diesel fumes that bothers me most. I continue on and soon put distance between me and the clamor. I arrive back at the dirt access road where it ends. There is a newly paved road that connects URI with an industrial park. I cross and continue into the woods.
A small group of crows seem startled by my sudden appearance and fly off. They are huge. I wonder if they really were concerned about the arrival of a clumsy, earth-bound primate, or if I simply coincided with their need to be someplace else. I don't claim to know much about crow behavior.
Continuing on I get closer to Bonnet Shores. The trail swoops to the East and meets up with URI again, but I don't follow it that far. I'm running short of time so I turn around.
I began walking in these woods back in February, and have yet to see it during the growing season. Canada Mayflower sprouts everywhere, and princess pines poking through the leaf litter. A shrub I can't identify has started to put leaves out as well. Green is returning and that makes me feel good.
I pause at a point where high school kids apparently gather. There is debris and what looks like an improvised fire pit. Not a good idea. There is a lot of fuel on the ground. A careless fire and a dry August could spell disaster.
I take the dirt access road back to South Ferry rather than walk close to the construction again. I cross and walk behind the old church. There is a path there that takes me past another cemetery, numbered 11. There I see a young college student, a man. He is standing inside the cemetery, behind a rock wall, with his shirt off. I assume he is resting after exercise or getting some sun.
He takes no notice of me as I walk closer. Soon I realize ... he is not alone. I cannot see anyone, but I deduce there is a young woman, behind the stone wall and in a position I cannot imagine. I can hear her. I turn my head away in discretion, but I stick to my path which comes within six feet of them. Soon I am back at work and my hike is done.
My lunchtime goal is to get away for a brief moment, but that is a tall order. The woods I walk aren't very remote or dense enough to offer a sense of true solitude. Signs of Man's Encroachment come in many forms. Today I discover a new one.
I enter the woods across from an old church on South Ferry Road. I've got about half an hour. There is a barred dirt road near an historical cemetery marked Narragansett 10. I've walked in these woods several times so I know there is a path behind the cemetery that cuts though the woods and meets back up with the access road. I've followed it into the woods before but today I choose to go in the opposite direction.
This path takes me near the URI campus where construction is going on. I regret the choice. The noise is unpleasant but it's the smell of diesel fumes that bothers me most. I continue on and soon put distance between me and the clamor. I arrive back at the dirt access road where it ends. There is a newly paved road that connects URI with an industrial park. I cross and continue into the woods.
A small group of crows seem startled by my sudden appearance and fly off. They are huge. I wonder if they really were concerned about the arrival of a clumsy, earth-bound primate, or if I simply coincided with their need to be someplace else. I don't claim to know much about crow behavior.
Continuing on I get closer to Bonnet Shores. The trail swoops to the East and meets up with URI again, but I don't follow it that far. I'm running short of time so I turn around.
I began walking in these woods back in February, and have yet to see it during the growing season. Canada Mayflower sprouts everywhere, and princess pines poking through the leaf litter. A shrub I can't identify has started to put leaves out as well. Green is returning and that makes me feel good.
I pause at a point where high school kids apparently gather. There is debris and what looks like an improvised fire pit. Not a good idea. There is a lot of fuel on the ground. A careless fire and a dry August could spell disaster.
I take the dirt access road back to South Ferry rather than walk close to the construction again. I cross and walk behind the old church. There is a path there that takes me past another cemetery, numbered 11. There I see a young college student, a man. He is standing inside the cemetery, behind a rock wall, with his shirt off. I assume he is resting after exercise or getting some sun.
He takes no notice of me as I walk closer. Soon I realize ... he is not alone. I cannot see anyone, but I deduce there is a young woman, behind the stone wall and in a position I cannot imagine. I can hear her. I turn my head away in discretion, but I stick to my path which comes within six feet of them. Soon I am back at work and my hike is done.
My lunchtime goal is to get away for a brief moment, but that is a tall order. The woods I walk aren't very remote or dense enough to offer a sense of true solitude. Signs of Man's Encroachment come in many forms. Today I discover a new one.
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