Training Log Archive: JHen

Nipmuck Trail north from Perry Hill Rd. almost to Westford Rd. and back. Sunny, mid 20's. Postholing in 6 - 8" of snow with a 1" crust. Might have been more enjoyable with snowshoes.

Pre-dawn neighborhood tour.

Much more strenuous than the pace would indicate. Temp near zero at the start - up to +10 when finished. Walked the boundaries of the Liberty Croft Open Space parcel (aka Comtessa Woods). 6 to 8 inches of old snow with a crust that broke under every step. Started by walking north from Broadway across a frozen swamp. Unfortunately, not as frozen as I'd thought and I broke through into muddy water over the top of one boot. Not long after that had my first stream crossing to deal with. Went to where the deer cross in winter and found where one had crashed through the ice. Crossed elsewhere. Found open space boundary markers all the way around but some were hard to locate and will be nearly impossible to follow with leaves on trees. I am now the Coventry Conservation Comissions official overseer of this land.

Late afternoon hike from River Park on Plains Rd. in Mansfield north on trails along the Willimantic River to Merrow Rd. and back.