David Reik, Photo Blog

 On 2021-4-10, 2021-4-17, and 2021-4-20, I visited Paugussett State Forest, Lower Block, in Newtown, CT.  Below should appear a map I made with location numbers that I'll refer to.  Here's a link to an interactive version of the same map:  https://arcg.is/1e90K80  . First, I'll address where you can park. 1.  Russett Road, Newtown, 41.418165,-73.223516.  There were maybe ten cars parked near here when I visited on 2021-4-20.  I broke in on a group of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection employees showing a group of New England Mountain Bike Association members that the existing trailhead on Russett Road was not within the official Town of Newtown trail easement.  The CT-DEEP .pdf map shows the trailhead as being where I found it.  Here's the link to the CT-DEEP .pdf map:  https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DEEP/stateparks/maps/PaugussettSouthpdf.pdf  . 2. Charter Ridge Drive, Newtown, 41.411917,-73...

 On 2021-4-6, I went back to the American Legion State Forest in Barkhamsted.  Here's a link to an interactive map that shows location numbers that I will refer to:  https://arcg.is/1Wmq1f  .  I'll put in a static screenshot of the interactive map. I walked up Legion Road, over the beaver dam to the end of Legion Road and onto a path going westerly.  I went back to the mill ruins that I had recently visited.   1.  Mill Ruins.  Below is a detail map I made of the mill ruins.  The rectangle to the southwest of the mill ruins is what I thought were the remains of a low dam.  I thought there may have been a wooden trough that took water from the dam, over the top of the mill, to a waterwheel. 1.  At the top of the waterfall. 1.  Looking at the dam remains from the eastern end of the remains. 1.  Looking easterly from the western end of the dam remains. 1.  Looking to the northeast down towards the mill ruins fro...

 On 2021-4-3, I visited American Legion State Forest in Barkhamsted, CT.  I made an interactive map with location numbers that I will refer to.  Here's a static screenshot of the interactive map. Here's a link to the interactive map  ---- you can turn various layers on and off, zoom in and out, and pan around:  https://arcg.is/1GHqCW 1.  I parked at 1, next to the entrance to what is now a campground and what was once a Civilian Conservation Corps camp. 2.  I explored some spur trails which apparently had been used for timber harvest projects.  I took pictures of a shrub near where a spur trail became overgrown with saplings.  I think the shrub is a hobblebush, scientific name Viburnum lantanoides. 2. 2. 2. 2. 3.  I explored several other similar spur trails that petered out.  I continued up Legion road.  At 3, I walked along a beaver dam.  The beaver dam is on top of the road. 4.  I walked to the end of Legion Road...