The Paugussett "Indy Link" Improved

A better tread for the wet season

The "Indy Link" section of the Paugussett Trail is probably no one's idea of a hiking destination, but it's an important connection between Shelton Lakes and other open space properties like Housatonic Woods and Indian Well. It now has a better treadway that will hopefully remain dry during the wet season and have fewer annoying roots and rocks.  

The Indy Link section of the 
Paugussett Trail

The woods are poorly drained and we've had lots of problems with the trail over the years. Parts were previously relocated and we have several Scout bridges. North of the bridges, the treadway became confusing the past few years. It was originally routed on higher ground covered with tree roots, but summer trail users took the lower ground instead, packing in a treadway over temporarily dry wetlands and up drainage gullies. The higher ground grew over with vegetation and the lower ground became a morass during mud season. 

Treadway (right) separated from
drainage gully (left)

The trail tread has now been reestablished back on higher ground and clearly delineated, with material added to help with the tree roots. Another reason for excess mud was people placing rocks in the middle of a drainage channel, damming it up. That keeps happening around town.  If the trail is wet, please don't screw up the drainage even more with logs or rocks. Anyway, the dam was removed, the drainage channel reclaimed, and large stepping stones were placed in a few muddy spots. The one remaining low spot was then given an 8-foot section of bog walk. 

New bogwalk

Some of the existing Scout bridges have decking boards that are rotting out. The worst boards were replaced for the winter, but the remaining decking is getting spongy and will need to be replaced within the next year or so. We've learned that 1" boards rot too fast, so they'll be replaced with 2" boards. 

Rotting boards

OK now until next year

The next section of the Paugussett requiring attention is the Meadow View section just south of Meadow Street, which last winter was covered in mud for a few hundred feet. This probably needs a long bog walk. Stay tuned!