2022-4-6, R.H. Collins Preserve, Portland, CT

 On 2022-4-6, I visited the R.H. Collins Preserve in Portland, CT.  The preserve is owned and maintained by Middlesex Land Trust, https://middlesexlandtrust.org/preserves-maps/ .

I made an interactive map of the preserve.  Here's a link to the interactive map: https://arcg.is/1rD9yj0 .  I put in location numbers on the interactive map.  Here's a static screenshot of the interactive map.


1.  I parked on Isinglass Hill Road in Portland, CT, near the intersection with Thompson Hill Road.

1. A nice map kiosk.



2.  The Orange Trail crosses Hales Brook here on rocks.



2.  The crossing from the other side.



6.  This looks like it was the support for a center chimney in what the Middlesex Land Trust map labels the "Hale Homestead Foundation."  Was this Hale family related to State Hero Nathan Hale?



8.  The Orange Trail goes around the roots of a fallen tree here.  There are stepping stones through the water.



9.  The Orange Trail crosses a tributary to Hales Brook using large, flat rocks.



9.  The other side of the crossing on flat rocks.



10.  A stone bridge over Hales Brook.



11.  A view from near the Red Trail.  Is this an old dam, or just a stone wall that crosses Hales Brook?



3.  A wooden bridge with an anti-slip wire mesh covering.



3.  Another view of the bridge.  There is some sort of man-made material supporting one end of the bridge.



4.  Evidence of recent blow-down cutting.



5.  I thought this was a barn foundation.



7.  A stone bridge over a small stream.














David Reik

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2022-6-5, Metacomet Trail, East Granby, CT.

Image
On 2022-6-5, I hiked a section of the Metacomet Trail in East Granby, from CT-189 to Holcomb Street. I made an interactive map of my route --- my GPS track is shown in pink.  I put in location numbers to show where the pictures below were taken.  Here is a screenshot of the southern part of the map. Here's a screenshot of the northern part of the map. Here's a link to the interactive map, where you can zoom in and out, and turn on and off various layers. https://arcg.is/1aDPiq 4.  The view of Tariffville Gorge. 6.  I don't think there was ever a structure connected with this chimney. 8.  A large Striped Maple leaf. 9.  Carolina Rose (Rosa carolina), I think.  A wild native rose. 11.  Evidence of some recent mowing of plants in the sunlit power cut. 12.  The first blow-down I came to.  This was about 100 feet south of the cemetery. 12.  The cemetery.  As I recall, the three grave stones are reproductions of the original grave st...
Read more

2022-6-30, Compounce Ridge Trail, Bristol, Southington, CT

Image
 On 2022-6-30, I hiked a section of the Tunxis Compounce Ridge Trail, starting at the northern end of the trail.  Except for the road section, I hiked the entire section to the intersection with the Compounce Cascade Trail.  This section of the trail appeared to have been neglected for a few years. I made an interactive map with location numbers showing where the pictures below were taken.  Here's a link to the interactive map:  https://arcg.is/9maXb  .  Here's a static screenshot of the interactive map. 1.  I parked in a commuter parking lot.  This is looking back at the parking lot along the trail through a stand of mugwort. Near 1.  I found a lot of poison ivy at various places along the trail I hiked. Near 1.  I crawled under this blow-down.  2.  A blow-down. 3.  A blow-down. 4.  Overgrown. Near 4.  A blow-down. 5.  Multi-flora rose growing in the trail. Near 5.  A very overgrown section. Near ...
Read more

2021-1-28, Ironwoods Preserve Trail, Madison, CT

Image
 On 2021-1-28, I visited the Madison Land Conservation Trust Ironwoods Preserve Trail in Madison, CT.  I made an interactive map on which I put location numbers that I will refer to.  Here's a link to my interactive map:  https://arcg.is/1PSj4D    You can turn on and off various layers on the interactive map including aerial imagery, LIDAR, contour lines, and USGS historical maps.     Here's a static screenshot of my interactive map. 1.  Where I parked, in a long gravel parking lot provided by Madison Land Conservation Trust. 2.  I found that the configuration of the trails had been substantially changed since the maps on the Madison Land Conservation Trust website had last been updated.  I took a picture of the ravine here with a dam at its northern end. 2.  Tom Ebersold led a hike to on Ironwoods Preserve Trail on 2021-2-21.  Here's a picture of me and Mark from Orange. 3.  A closer view of the ravine near the ...
Read more