Heading down the Pine trail Duffy doesn’t seem concerned about widow-makers. This looks like one to leave for DEC.

With spring coming, we are going to be doing some basic trail maintenance – trimming, checking for downed trees, etc.  If you have hiked the Wheaton Hill trails recently or if you joined us in December as we battled snow, you know that the roses need to be cut back to make these trails more enjoyable.  Come join us on the Wheaton Hill Trails this Sunday and help us push the roses off the trail.  And, of course, plan to enjoy a sunny spring day (Pati promises). take the opportunity to explore this wooded area.  We are going to focus on cutting the roses hanging over the trail, right back to the ground, and removing any smaller trees that have fallen across the trail (larger trees will be noted so that the DEC can remove them when funding and schedule permit).

Wood across the trail. This is also my best picture of the roses and raspberries that make hiking a challenge, even for Mac.

If you have cordless hedge trimmers, you may bring them. We will be trying to see how those work on the roses.  (An extra battery might be needed)  Hand clippers, long and short handled will also be used.

What to bring:

• Clippers, long and short handled for clipping half inch stems.
• Power hedge trimmers for cutting roses.
• Hand saw for trees too large for clippers.
• Good shoes.  (Hiking boots) The ground is wet from all of this rain.
• Draw shoes for after work.
• Warm clothes in layers

The Pine Trail is on the north west side of Wheaton Hill.  We will work on the two branches working north to the gully.  We can hike from the end of one branch to the other along the rim of the gully.  Please expect to move slowly on these trails, because there are a lot of rose bushes and raspberries, plus more trees than we can handle without chain saws.

Here is a tree that we may be able to move now that there is no snow.

If we are a large enough group, a third work detail will head across Wheaton Hill to the Redbud trail.  The roses are also encroaching on this trail.  During this work we will want to avoid the Redbud trees, so our easy rule will be – if it doesn’t have thorns, let it blossom when real spring weather comes.

Please park headed down hill on the right hand side of the road.  Avoid getting stuck, but pull off the road as far as possible.  We will place the Springwater Trails sign above the curve to warn drivers.  If you prefer, parking is available at the South Hemlock Access parking area and you can car pool from there.  In any case, be on the alert for cars on Wheaton Hill Rd!  Directions are available to the South Hemlock Access parking area and to the Wheaton Hill trailhead.

After the trail work, we will meet at about 4:30 or 5:00 at the Hemlock Grill for food and conversation.