In my last blog entry, I mentioned my Cub Scout Pack's annual winter hike. This year it was held at the George B. Parker Woodland in Coventry. Later that day I actually walked the hike with my 12 year old son, Peter. I met the caretaker (what a sweet gig!) after he locked me in. We ended the hike about a quarter to five and the parking lot closes at 4:30. He suggested I let ASRI know that I was going to have a large group, which I did. I was guessing about 20, adults included. He was real nice. I wish I remembered his name.
That hike was today. There was talk of below zero wind chill, but I don't pay much attention to weather forecasts. It wasn't going to rain, and that was good enough for me. Eleven scouts, plus assorted parents and siblings caravaned down to Coventry, with one family meeting us there. I started by giving them regular Leave No Trace speech. Then, off we went!The plan was to follow the standard path to the Caleb Vaughn farm site (now just a cellar hole), then follow Biscuit Hill Road about half way to a side path, which leads towards parking lot #2. When that trail hit the brook, we banged a right towards the mysterious cairns. Then we meet up with our original trail, bang a left, and head to the car. Two miles total, maybe. We, in fact, followed this plan.
The way to the Vaughn farm took way longer than I expected. The snow, even though packed down from foot traffic, made the going slow and difficult. Deer tracks were everywhere. Tracks made by field mice and squirrels were also present. Scat with fur was found very near the trail. The scouts yelled "Poop!" with excitement. I cautioned them not to take souvenirs. Fox or coyote, I would guess. Coyote prints were also in evidence.
Part of my leave no trace bit was to talk about planning ahead. One thing I found out in planning was that dogs were not permitted, and I mentioned that to them. When we reached the Vaughn farm, the other family arrived, along with their family dog. The boys saw them and shouted "No dogs allowed!" Wow, they listened! The family is a very responsible bunch and the oversight was easily forgiven. They managed their dog very well, which is another LNT principle.
Back in December, I continued the regular trail, but in order to shorten the hike a bit, I decided to take the cubs down Biscuit Hill road, so named because a cart of biscuits destined for General Rochambeau's army supposedly overturned there. Biscuit Hill road is less a road and more a slightly wider, straighter foot path. In fact, due to the lack of maintenance and that no previous foot traffic to flatten the snow, the regular trail may have been easier. One benefit of the road was that it avoided some ridge walking that would have been treacherous with ice. I was concerned for a bit that I would not find the right turn, but it was quite clear once we came apon it.We walked down to Turkey Medow Brook, which we had crossed early in our hike. The boys paused to take a look. We turned right towards the cairns. There was a hike put on by the RI Wild Plant Society that talked about these structures, but I was busy that weekend. I did my best to explain what I knew of them.
A couple from our group sped ahead. I decided to walk so that I could still see the last member of our party, so my speedy friends left my sight. I learned later that a 15 year old sibling was wearing thin sneakers and had some major foot freeze going on. Ah, the lessons nature teaches us. No harm done.
Back in the parking lot we had hot chocolate with marshmallows. Near boiling hot chocolate was put into my car back home and two and a half hours later, it was still too hot to drink.
