Trail Work

We can always use some work on trails, especially those found along a slope like these going to the north part of the WSU campus.

See the NPS site and ATC for more details.  Thhe USDA - FS has a neat guide too.

Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee Disbanded By NPS

Any surprise?

read the news here.

Bear Hole Watershed Field Work

Some of my research in resource management of parks and protected areas is local in West Springfield and the Bear Hole Watershed.  Today I toured some of the northern end with colleagues from the University, trying to field inventory some of the features.

So, the northern end of the watershed has several impounded water bodies.  These may have been dammed to create water power for mills in the area.  From 1871, note the paper mills.

Twenty years later, the Holyoke - Westfield RR is noted on the maps.  There are quarries in the area, and trunk lines are found.

But the real neat stuff shows up in 1831, from this map from the LOC.  Are we looking at Rufus S.Paine's House?

The area is littered with illegal off-road trails, and the community is trying to promote passive recreation in the watershed but not motorized. 

National Take a Hike Day, 17 Nov 2019

On Sunday, November 17, 2019 hit the Trail with fellow hikers, outdoor enthusiasts, conservationists, and everyone in between to celebrate National Take a Hike Day.

I might suggest the Appalachian Trail but if not, try any local trail.

Kay Wood, AT Hero

Kay Wood was an amazing Trail volunteer who served as Chair of the very new AT Committee during the time when the AT was being moved from roads onto newly purchased NPS lands--particularly in south County.  She was also a 2000 miler, and was an AT Communities leader long before the program was even thought of.

Watch a video about this Hero.