Marshmallow March 2023 Edition

It was SUNNY, and DRYER, and WARMER today, than it was YESTERDAY.  Which made for an overall BETTER day to hold the Marshmallow March, than Saturday is the rain, wind, and cold.  We should plan for rain dates more often.  It was a SPLENDID AFTERNOON at the Shelton Land Trust's Nicholdale Preserve for the annual Marshmallow March.

These 2 guys managed to carry a log almost as big as they were using teamwork.  We need more of that in Shelton - good job. The Marshmallow March was postponed from Saturday till Sunday due to rain, and it was a much nicer day and better weather conditions.

 

 Ellen, Bill, and Terry got the party started by hauling in firewood, then using a propane torch and a cavalier attitude toward fire safety, to get the fire ring set up at the Nicholdale campsite prior to the hikers arriving.  Ellen even brought a couple of buckets to haul water and put out fires, if necessary.

 

Trail Safety Tip:  Next year get the water buckets ready first, then start the fire.

The first group of hikers arrived at the Scout camping area and Bill Dyer spoke to them.  The marshmallows are on the way.  Sharpen your sticks and wait a bit (actually not sure Bill said that, but that's what happened).

 

The rest of the party arrived and started toasting marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers (sometimes known as S'mores).  We wound up having 24-30 hikers, including a number of younger marshmallow toasters and eaters.

 

It was fun.  Luis, Bill, Ellen, and Mark had a pleasant discussion on fire safety and muddy trail conditions.

A lot of families had a good time toasting marshmallows.  I think a lot of kids outsourced this task to the 'rents.

Time to go.  Some people know how to leverage their parental riding time just because of their cuteness.  Mary, I hope you and your family had a good time out today.

It was a good afternoon, sunny skies, dry weather, multiple families sent home with overdosed sugar highs among certain members due to graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate.  There were no forest fires.  Hope that everyone had a good, it somewhat muddy time.

Thanks to the Shelton Land Conservation Trust for again allowing us to host this hike on their Nicholdale Preserve.  

Joe Welsh, President of the Shelton Land Trust, for showing us the operations of their Sugar Shack afterwards.  It's amazing how boiling up sugar maple tree sap in the spring leads to wonderful maple syrup down the road.  One of the great delights of living in New England.

Joe & Ryan Welsh have a sugar shack at their house and were currently boiling sap from this Spring's run.

The wood fired evaporator pan was keeping the shack toasty and steamy. 

It was neat seeing how maple syrup is locally made and graded for sale.  We even got some warm samples of the sap being boiled down.

And the sweet finished product - from Connecticut sugar maple trees - locally sourced.  Thanks for the tour Joe.