2021-1-7, Hammonasset River, Madison, CT

 On 2021-1-7, I re-visited the Hammonasset River in Madison, CT.  Here is a link to a blog post I published about my 2021-1-5 exploration on trails near the Hammonasset River to the north of where I was on 2021-1-7: https://davidreikphotos.blogspot.com/2021/01/2020-1-5-hammonasset-river-madison-ct.html  .

I made another interactive map with location numbers that I will refer to.  Here is a link to the interactive map: https://arcg.is/1Cjm99 .   

Here's a static screenshot of the interactive map:




I parked at 1 on Concord Drive, a quiet residential Street.  I walked southerly on what a sign at the trailhead labelled "Cider Mill Spur Trail" to a bridge over the tributary to the Hammonasset River that the spur trail had been following, and then northerly along the Hammonasset River.

2.  A large chestnut oak.  I was surprised to find this chestnut oak in this wet, riverside environment where I would have expected to find cottonwood trees which have bark similar to the bark of chestnut oaks.



Near 2.  A stonewall ran along the riverside near here. 



3.  A yellow birch with exposed roots.  I believe saturated soil tends to produce exposed roots.


4. A view of the Hammonasset River.


5.  I found no trail going up-river to connect with the trail I had followed on 2021-1-5.


Near 5.  The blue-blazed trail went across a lawn to a road called Georgetown Circle.  I asked a father playing with his kids on the lawn if the trail in fact went across his lawn.  He said yes.  There was a sign that said I was on Bailey Trail South.

6.  I went back southerly on Bailey Trail South.  There were several large hemlock trees.



7.  Why was this shell sitting at the base of a tree?  Was this from a freshwater mussel? 


8.  There were lots of mountain laurel plants along the river.


9.  Here, I found a breached dam from an ancient mill.  People who are more daring than I am could probably have crossed the Hammonasset River here.


9.  There was what appeared to be a stone culvert that took the water for the millrace through the dam.


10.  The trail went between the river and the now-mostly-dry millrace.  This was near where the waterwheel must have been.


10.  Was the stonework that rises above the level of the millrace part of the mill itself?


11.  Another river view, looking downstream.


12.  The trail went across a rocky area here.


Near 12.  There was evidence of extensive recent blow-down clearing here.


13.  The southern end of the trail connected with Summerhill Road.  There was a dirt pull-off for parking.  There was another "Bailey Trail South" sign. 


11.  I made my way back to 11.  The camera is facing upstream this time.



10.  In this picture, you can see both the millrace and the stone structure which was above the millrace.


9.  Here, you can see both the culvert and the dam.


14.  This is the stream that the Cider Mill Spur Trail runs along.  "Cider Mill Brook" is the name that someone from the Madison Land Conservation Trust uses to refer to this brook. 

Here's a link to a Madison Land Conservation Trust document about the Bailey Trail South area:Here's a link to a Madison Land Conservation Trust document about the Bailey Trail South area:



David Reik

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