Houghton 2021 Reports

Houghton Section Trail Work Reports – 2021

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Date	Name	Trail	Hours	Work	Volunteers	Remaining Work	Comments
2021-01-06	John Hahnfeld	Doe Hollow Path	1.5	Trail recently assigned to me - basically an initial walk-through. About 100 yards or so from Old 128, I cleared up a large branch that was somewhat obstructing the trail, although not making it impassable by any means.
2021-01-16	Bob Flagg	Bouncing Brook Path	0.5	Walked trail performing minor brushing.
2021-01-16	Bob Flagg	Bugbee Path	1	Cleaned grader reversal at Pig Rock Path intersection. Removed branches and large rocks from side ditch heading down the hill.
2021-02-03	Chris Mullin	Athol Path	0.25	removed fallen tree
2021-03-03	Chris Mullin	Buck Hill Path	0.25	Brushing.		Lots of small pine trees to remove along this trail!! Could be plenty of work for a small crew combined with brushing on Skyline and other trails which intersect.
2021-03-09	John Hahnfeld	Boyce Hill Trail	0.5	Not a lot to do - evidence that some clearing of deadwood was done by someone who got there ahead of me. Still snow and ice on sections.		Minor debris, some still trapped under snow or ice.
2021-03-09	John Hahnfeld	Burnt Hill Path	0.5	Only minor debris to deal with.		Still a large tree across path just short of left turn toward Old Rte. 128. Been there since mid-autumn.	I regard that large tree trunk just mentioned as "an area of concern".
2021-03-09	John Hahnfeld	Doe Hollow Path	0.5	Some debris cleared. Only second time on trail - spent as much time navigating as clearing!
2021-04-10	Pete Tierney/AMCSEM	Skyline Trail	15	Clean clogged grade reversals, throw small rocks and branches off trail, clean staircases on Buck Hill. Section from Rte. 28 to intersection 2117 is done, remainder will be done 4/14/21	Skip, Lars, Steve, Bill	See above
2021-04-14	Pete Tierney-AMCSEM	Skyline Trail	15	Completed spring clean-up of Skyline from Hillside St. to Rte. 28	Skip, Jean-Pierre, Sam, Eric	Trash along Rte. 28 needs to be cleaned up. We will do that as part of a FBH event.
2021-04-08	Pete Tierney	Skyline Trail	18	Cleaned up 31 bags of trash from Houghton's Pond parking lot and Route 28 near Skyline Trail crossing. Contacted DCR to collect them.	Patricia, Nancy, Debby, Devin, Lynn, Mike, Rick, Skip	More trash (especially near Rte. 28) needs to be bagged and collected. A date has been set for this to take place.
2021-04-20	John Hahnfeld	Boyce Hill Trail	0.33	Just a walk-through. Nothing required significant attention.		Nothing at this time.
2021-04-20	John Hahnfeld	Burnt Hill Path	0.33	Walk-through - nothing of significance.
2021-04-20	John Hahnfeld	Doe Hollow Path	1	At 2146, foot of Doe Hollow Path, there was considerable pooling of run-off, enough to discourage the average walker from turning off of Old Rte. 128 and taking the trail. Without tools, the best I could do is scoop detritus from the blocked trench running parallel to Old Rte. 128, allowing the large pool to drain somewhat. It was still draining when I left, and I will need to go back very soon to check the situation and to bring a rake and shovel to do the job right.		This was only a sort of emergency intervention. More needs to be done. Don't know whether it's worth suggesting a genuine grade reversal be built at base of trail. Should be able to get back to it within a few days.
2021-04-24	Pete Tierney	Hoosicwhissick Path (FBH)	9	Picked up six bags of trash on path leading from parking lot to northernmost picnic area, picnic area, then yellow dot trail around pond.	Jim, Karen	Ball field and picnic area on Blue Hill River Road
2021-04-24	Pete Tierney	Skyline Trail	12	Picked up 20 bags of trash along Route 28	Skip, Joyce, Jerry, Greg	More trash along Route 28.
2021-04-23	Ruth Bigio	Hoosicwhissick Path (FBH)	4.5	Removed a blowdown near the edge of the woods, grassy area, across the path from picnic area #2. A small sitting area consisting of a few big rocks and a log is now useable again.	Pam Birkenfeld, Frank Donovan, Joan Byrne, Maureen O'Hagan, Reva Levin	DCR used leaf blowers to blow leaves to the edge of the woods. Therefore the rocks are still surrounded by banks of leaves. With one small rake, we uncovered the rocks but could not clear the entire area. With time and use of this little sitting area, the leaves will hopefully disperse. I don't expect to make this a trail maintenance session.
2021-04-23	Ruth Bigio	Paddock Trail	7.5	Starting near marker #2053 we worked to cut back brush and branches from the trail. Also attempted to cut back greenbriar growing into the path. Removed one big log that diagonally partially obstructed the trail. We completed about 2/3 the distance to where Paddock meets up the paved Bugbee Path.	Pam Birkenfeld, Frank Donovan, Joan Byrne, Maureen O'Hagan, Reva Levin	Brushing remains. At this time, foliage hasn't grown aggressively. Could wait to finish the 1/3 portion of Paddock later in the season. We also picked up trash but this trail is remarkably clean. Greenbriar is very aggressive all around the reserve. Loppers are not very effective. However, I thought we made a difference because we worked before major growth will occur.
2021-04-24	John Hahnfeld	Doe Hollow Path	1.5	Where the trail meets Old Rte. 128, there was a problem with significant flooding across the base of the trail after heavy rain. I spend about an hour clearing out the channel that leads away from the trail, and making sure that the end that meets the trail was open to allow free flow. I think this will solve the problem, but I will check it out after the next heavy rain.
2021-04-27	Pete Tierney-AMCSEM	Skyline Trail	9	Re-painted blazes on the Skyline Trail from Route 28 to intersection with Dark Hollow Path.	Skip	Complete re-painting blazes from Dark Hollow Path to Ranger Headquarters.
2021-04-27	Joanne Newton	Monatiquot Path	1.5	I cut one small pine tree leaning into the trail, cut green briar and cleared sticks from the trail.	Bob Vogel, Karen Foley	There is a tall dead 8-10' hardwood tree leaning over the trail which should be removed as it will fall on the trail eventually.
2021-05-06	Ruth Bigio	Paddock Trail	1	Completed brushing on Paddock Trail. (I had a group of 5 people on April 23, 2021. We worked on Paddock Trail but did not finish work.) I spent one hour completing brushing the trail, up to the point where Paddock joins the paved road.
2021-05-07	Ruth Bigio	Andover Path	0.45	Spent 45 minutes walking and brushing Andover Trail. Minimal growth of foliage at this time, mostly blueberry/white pines.
2021-05-07	Ruth Bigio	Bolton Foot Path	0.45	Cut back new growth of low shrubs, mostly blueberry/huckleberry, oaks, white pines.			Trail in excellent condition. Very happy to discover emergence of a few lady slipper plants, just green leaves now. Saw a scarlet Tanager, very bright and beautiful!
2021-05-08	Pete Tierney, AMCSEM	Skyline Trail	27	Made a slight re-route of trail to keep it out of perennially boggy area near the intersection with the Dark Hollow Trail. Placed stepping stones to allow crossing of stream at its narrowest point to avoid further "work-arounds" that have cropped up as hikers try to stay out of the mud. Reblazed trail to indicate correct route. Closed off old trail.	Skip Maysles, Steve, Joanne Newton, Bill, Dan, Lars, Mark, Richard
2021-05-11	Pete Tierney, AMCSEM	Skyline Trail	8	Re-blazed Skyline Trail from Hillside Street to intersection with Dark Hollow Path. Re-blazing of Skyline in the Houghton section is now complete.	Skip Maysles
2021-05-22	Bob Flagg	Buck Hill Path	15	Removed two wooden waterbars that were rotting and repalces with stone based grade reversals.	Joe Woodman, Joe Greeley, Dan Slavin, Jim Del Monaco
2021-05-24	Ruth Bigio	Fern Spring Foot Path	1.5	Section of Fern Spring Foot Path (from beginning off Beech Hollow Path) to Bugbee path. Brushing and cutting back new growth		Remainder of Fern Spring FP will be completed within next week	Pink Lady's slippers in bloom now, but fewer than last year
2021-05-25	Ruth Bigio	Fern Spring Foot Path	2	Continued brushing and cutting back foliage (scrub oak) from Bugbee Path to marker #2162		Last section up to Buck Hill will be done shortly (mostly low blueberry shrubs)
2021-06-02	Ruth Bigio	Fern Spring Foot Path	1.5	Last section of Fern Spring FP. #2161 to top of Buck Hill. Brushing and cutting back small shrubs and scrub oak. Picked up some trash.
2021-06-10	Bob Flagg	Oblique Path	0.5	Walked trail removing branches growing over trail, cleaned culvert on trail.
2021-06-10	Bob Flagg	Fells Path	0.5	Walked trail performing minor brushing.
2021-06-10	Bob Flagg	Bugbee Path	0.75	Walked trail removing branches from trail, cleaned grade reversal at Pig Path and side ditch down to Bouncing Brook Path.
2021-06-03	John Hahnfeld	Doe Hollow Path	0.33	Removed saplings beginning to seriously crowd trail near the intersection with Skyline Trail.
2021-07-04	John Hahnfeld	Boyce Hill Trail	0.4	Checked trail for drainage problems after five inches of rain over a few days.		Large dead tree has fallen over trail near its southern terminus at the Red Dot trail. Will require chain saw, so it will probably be there awhile.
2021-07-04	John Hahnfeld	Burnt Hill Path	0.4	Checked trail for drainage or debris problems.		The large dead tree between 2092 and 2085 as you approach Old Rte 128 is still there almost two years after it fell. Another good use for a certified chain sawyer.
2021-07-04	John Hahnfeld	Doe Hollow Path	0.5	Inspection regarding drainage and debris.		I need to come back with proper tool and improve drainage at the Old Rte 128 end of the trail. Will try to get to that soon.
2021-07-23	Ruth Bigio	Angle Path	0.5	A few weeks ago a large oak fell across Angle Path (at intersection of Bugbee Path (green dot, #2075). I cut down and removed the smaller branches so that hikers can easily go under the tree. It needs a chainsaw to be removed.		Tree remains across the path. Shall I contact Tom Bender and let him know?
2021-08-06	Joanne Newton	Monatiquot Path	1.25	Cleared brush along path. No hazards to report at this time. Path is in good shape.	John Schepis
2021-08-18	John Hahnfeld	Doe Hollow Path	0.4	Merely hiked trail - found nothing requiring attention.		STILL an old large tree trunk down across trail near Red Dot trail.
2021-08-18	John Hahnfeld	Burnt Hill Path	0.3	Routine walk-through. Nothing needing attention.		STILL an old log across trail near intersection with Old Rte 128
2021-08-18	John Hahnfeld	Boyce Hill Trail	0.3	Routine inspection - no attention required.
2021-09-08	John Goldrosen	Forest Path	2	Sawed and removed several small downed trees on Buck Hill Path and Forest Path.		There is a large downed tree across the Forest Path just north of the intersection with Bugbee Path at 2190, about 15" in diameter (so bikers have put logs against it to create a way to ride over it). A chainsaw crew will be needed to remove it.
2021-09-17	Ruth Bigio	Doe Hollow Path	0.5	Just before trailer marker #2132 , a culvert under the trail is always flooding the path. Also downed branches across the flooded area. For weeks now, as I walk by there regularly. I removed the branches, they didn't actually cause any flooding. I raked dead leaves to the shore of the "pond", the opening of the culvert was not obstructed, water flowing out on the other side.		When water level is low, a thorough cleaning out of the area near the opening of the culver might prevent flooding.
2021-09-17	Ruth Bigio	Doe Hollow Path	0.5	Just before trailer marker #2132 , a culvert under the trail is always flooding the path. Also downed branches across the flooded area. For weeks now, as I walk by there regularly. I removed the branches, they didn't actually cause any flooding. I raked dead leaves to the shore of the "pond", the opening of the culvert was not obstructed, water flowing out on the other side.		When water level is low, a thorough cleaning out of the area near the opening of the culver might prevent flooding.
2021-09-17	Ruth Bigio	Fern Spring Foot Path	1	On the lower section of the Fern Spring FP, leaves get caught on the rocks and pile up. causing the water to run onto the trail. I raked out a few sections, removed branches and tried to direct the flow of the water away from the trail.		Regular raking is needed in this area, once or twice a year.
2021-09-20	John Hahnfeld	Boyce Hill Trail	0.5	Routine Clearing of very minor debris
2021-09-20	John Hahnfeld	Burnt Hill Path	0.4	Clearing of minor debris on trail.
2021-09-20	John Hahnfeld	Doe Hollow Path	0.75	A short distance from the base of the trail at Old Rte. 128, there is a tree down across the path. Less than a hundred feet further up the trail there was a branch over the trial that I DID manage to clean up, but the tree is beyond a pruning saw, and will need to be addressed by a chain saw or a concerted party of strong backs.		The downed tree mentioned above.
2021-09-14	Joanne Newton	Monatiquot Path	0.1	There are several large trees down on this trail. Chainsaws are required. Hikers can climb over but bikers would have more trouble. I didn't do any work as I have recently inspected this trail in August. These trees have recently fallen.		Remove several large trees that have fallen across the trail.
2021-10-29	Judy Lehrer Jacobs	Bugbee Path	10.5	Raked and deepened the side ditch. Cut brush.	Tyler Campo, Michelle Cunniff, Brian Gilbert, Jennifer Holmberg, Chuck Kantner, Christine Kelly, Julie Mulkerrin	Continue raking/digging the ditch and brushing.
2021-10-29	Judy Lehrer Jacobs	Oblique Path	7	Cleared out a drainage ditch until we realized it was collapsed and needs work. Cut brush.	Tyler Campo, Michelle Cunniff, Brian Gilbert, Jennifer Holmberg, Chuck Kantner, Christine Kelly, Julie Mulkerrin	This path still needs brushing. Culvert needs repair.
2021-10-23	John Hahnfeld	Boyce Hill Trail	0.33	Brushing
2021-10-23	John Hahnfeld	Burnt Hill Path	0.33	Brushing			Being picky, I guess, but someone did yeoman's work moving the fallen tree near the foot of the trail (the Old RTE. 128 end) so that it lies laterally on the trail instead of blocking it. Ideally, it would be nice to have it cut up and off the trail. BUT KUDOS TO THOSE WHO DID WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE!
2021-10-23	John Hahnfeld	Doe Hollow Path	1.33	Cut, and removed, an 8 inch tree trunk that had fallen across the trail - with my trusty pruning saw. Took a good hour, but I was in the mood.
2021-10-23	Ruth Bigio	Fern Spring Foot Path	2.5	Fall clean-up and brushing. Trail in excellent shape.
2021-10-21	Ruth Bigio	Andover Path	1	Fall clean-up and brushing. Trail in excellent shape.
2021-10-21	Ruth Bigio	Bolton Foot Path	1	Fall clean-up and brushing. Trail in excellent shape.
2021-10-31	Jennifer Mehigan	Dark Hollow Path	4	Walked entire adopted trail: Bugbee Path, Dark Hollow Trail and Tucker Hill Path. Removed hundreds of small blown down limbs, adjusted blow downs to make trail passable, and collected trash. Also, noted several mud and standing water areas. Will return next week with handsaw to remove blow downs encroaching trail. *There are 5 trees down across the trail - 2 together after 2094 (all going counterclockwise), and 3 past 2112.	Talia S.	Will return next week with handsaw to remove blow downs currently encroaching trail. Will do minor brush clearing as well.	There is a large standing water section (10 yards long) before 2112 where you need to completely walk around. Between 2072-2070, trail would benefit from a water bar.
2021-11-01	John Hahnfeld	Boyce Hill Trail	1.5	Beginning on Doe Hollow Trail and intersecting with head of Boyce Hill Trail, worked my way to the intersection of Skyline Trail with Boyce Hill. Picking up debris associated with recent storms. Felt I'd bent over enough for one day and will go back in a day or two.		Still need to do the remainder of Boyce Hill Trail
2021-11-05	John Hahnfeld	Burnt Hill Path	1	Picked up minor debris and tossed it off the trail. Very little needed doing.		About 100 yards uphill from 2092, just past the very large boulder on the right-hand edge of the trail, there's a very large dead tree right across the trail. It needs two or three guys with a chainsaw.	Grade reversals need minor work. I'll get to that in the near future.
2021-11-07	Jennifer Mehigan	Dark Hollow Path	2.5	Cleared fallen limbs encroaching trail with hand saw, and picked up trash.	Talia S.	4 trees down after 2094 and 2112 (walking counter clock wise) Water bar before 2112 needs clearing.
2021-11-08	John Hahnfeld	Doe Hollow Path	1.5	Finished cleanup on the Doe Hollow Trail from 2151 to the intersection with Old RTE 128.
2021-11-23	Chris Mullin	AMC Footpath	0.5	brushing
2021-11-23	Chris Mullin	Prescott Foot Path	0.25	brushing
2021-11-23	Chris Mullin	Dover Trail	0.5	brushing/ cutting down pine trees
2021-11-09	Skip Mayses	Skyline Trail	3	Finished work on AMC adopted Skyline section, from Buck Hill down to Route 28. This will complete our fall trail maintenance. This was also a post-storm hike following the Oct 27 storm. Removed many branches, rocks, and clean off stairs. There still remains a large tree down and is blocking the trail as you decend Buck Hill towards Rte 28, near junction 2181 and also two leaners adjacent to this downed tree.		Have DCR (chain saw crew) remove trees noted in this report.
2021-12-10	Ruth Bigio	Fern Spring Foot Path	1.5	Late Fall cleanup of downed branches. Raking leaves out of the spring where it flows along the path. It is in the lower section of Fern Spring Foot Path (not marked on the map).
2021-12-12	Bob Flagg	Dark Hollow Path	0.5	Cleaned grade reversal near 2094		Trees down between 2094 and 2112. Large wet areas in the same location - need good plan to fill this area in to prevent flooding.
2021-12-11	Bob Flagg	Burnt Hill Path	1	Cleaned three grade reversals between 2111 and 2092.
2021-12-15	Bob Quinn	Athol Path	1	removed most limbs from trail.		Chain saw is required to remove larger limbs that are still across the trail
2021-12-14	John Goldrosen	Forest Path	4	I cleaned culverts under Forest Path, and cut and removed branches from the trail. Also, I attempted to clear blocked drainage west of 2132 on the Beech Hollow Path, where the stream is overflowing the path and the water is backed up on the north side of the trail, but I was not successful. This has been a problem most of the year due to the unusually heavy rainfall.		There is a tree down across Forest Path at ground level (so can be stepped over) about 0.2M north of the Skyline Path trailhead, and will need a power saw to remove. Also, there is a widowmaker" broken tree that is leaning at an angle across the path 0.3M north of the same trailhead. The "widowmaker" is stable for now, but should be removed when a crew and equipment are available. On the Beech Hollow Path drainage problem: I will check periodically to see if the streamflow is reduced enough to expose the drain for cleaning. Otherwise, it will take someone in waders to stand in the backed-up water and work on the drain.
2021-12-17	Joanne Newton	Monatiquot Path	1.5	Brushed trail along Monatiquot Path and across Pipeline to 2190. Trails are in good condition.	Maria Sestina