Sunday Morning Stroll - 2024 Shelton Trails Challenge

It was a beautiful Sunday morning so my wife and I did one of the Shelton Trails Challenge Hikes together, sorta.  It was Level 2 Paugussett Trail from Indian Well State Park to Buddington Road hike; a distance of 4 miles.  To avoid spotting a car she started at Indian Well near the falls, and I started at Buddington Rd.  We passed and drove each other's car home.  I got the better part of the deal because I was hiking downhill, without a big pack.

I parked at the trail kiosk near the powerlines, then went downhill and crossed Josh's Bridge.  The neighbor had their goats out mowing the grass and brush.  We waved and he made sure the goats stayed out of the road.  

The first part of the hike was very peaceful and quiet.  There wasn't even much road noise once I got a little away from Buddington.

The Woodpecker Staircase is a funny landmark tree along the trail - still standing.

Vernal pools were filled up due to all the rain.  The frogs were not making as much noise now that they've laid their eggs in the pools.

The scout bridge over the J Pond was in good shape.

Eklund Native Garden was clear and getting ready for Spring growth.  The trail then crosses Oak Valley Road and heads along the west side of Hope Lake.

The Paugussett Trail joins with the Recreation Path near Hope Lake.  Traffic started to pick up and I went past the Dog Park and Trail Barns at Nells Rock Road.

Families were out enjoying the RecPath.  This portion of the hike was on the handicapped-accessible gravel Path.

People were fishing at Silent Waters, jogging, or strolling along the RecPath.  The Paugussett then turned uphill after the dams and followed the Powerlines north toward Independence Drive.

Crossing Independence Dr. - Eversource is still working on the gulch.

There were trout lilys and other spring wildflowers poking up along the streams.

Passing the area that we were working on yesterday.  It was much nicer to walk on today.

The section thru Wiecek Woods was extremely muddy.  Somebody thru these silly sticks in the mud which actually made it harder to walk on.  The sticks can roll when you step on them - just wear good waterproof boots this time of year.

Crossing Meadow St. and there's a short road walk down Mayflower Road.  The neighbor's are using the trail head at the cul-de-sac to dump their yard waste in the trail, again.  SIGH.   Why can't everyone just be good citizens and either have a compost pile in the own yard or take the bush to the City yard.

It was an easy walk downhill to Rt. 110 and Indian Well State Park.  Watch for traffic at Rt. 110.

Passed an old shovel head along the trail.  Maybe we could fix this up?

There were some step-over blowdowns on the old road.

The trail pops out into a meadow with pretty wildflowers.

And there's my ride at the Falls Parking Lot - with some Dutchman's Breaches.  Now if I can remember how to drive a stick shift I should make it home.  

This spotting of cars with a friend or relative is an easy way to do some of the longer Trails Challenge hikes.  You can see a lot of nice features along the Open Spaces along the way.