2024 Microburst Recap

 

Boehm Pond and Shelton Lakes were slammed!

It's been just over a month since the August 3 microburst cut a swath through the middle of Shelton, felling trees and knocking out power to almost half of our residents.  Here's a recap of all the chainsaw work that created. Committee members Mark Vollaro and Terry Gallagher are the only two with the bigger gas-powered chainsaws capable of cutting larger logs (some were enormous), and both have had repeated chainsaw safety training courtesy of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association. Mark often went out with a spotter/helper. Teresa Gallagher (staff) uses a smaller battery-powered chainsaw that was effective in cutting many of the tree crowns and branches that fell on the trails, and for delimbing the larger logs so hikers could step over them while waiting for the larger chainsaws. And then some anonymous freelancer cut up several big logs that were across Turkey Trot and Oak Valley Trails. 

August 4 - September 7 chainsawing hours: 

Mark Vollaro with Ray Hansen:  25 hrs (12.5 hrs each)
Mark Vollaro with Ellen Cramp: 15 hrs (7.5 hrs each)
Mark Vollaro with Luis Isaza: 16 hrs (8 hrs each) 
Mark Vollaro with Bill Dyer and Ray Hansen: 9 hrs (3 hrs each)
Mark Vollaro (solo): 8.5 hrs
Terry Gallagher (solo): 12 hrs
Mark Vollaro and Terry Gallagher: 8 hrs (4 hrs each)
Ray Hansen and Ellen Cramp: 8 hrs (4 hrs each)
Teresa Gallagher (staff - solo): 25.5 hrs
TOTAL CHAINSAWING HOURS = 127

Mark Vollaro and Ray Hansen on Nells Rock Trail

Note that these hours do not include all the work that went into pulling a zillion branches and sticks off the trail (many trail users helped with this), scouting out trail conditions, mapping all the blowdowns, or the anonymous chainsaw work that fell from the sky. Phew! 

All that is to say that some trails are a tad overgrown here and there, but we've been busy! 

Ellen Cramp assisting Mark Vollaro
(Paugussett Trail near Eklund Garden)

Luis Isaza often works with Mark Vollaro

Teresa Gallagher's little battery-saw was great at cutting
branches and small logs so the trail was passable until
Terry or Mark could cut the larger logs.

Mark Vollaro make a tremendous effort cutting up blowdowns

Terry Gallagher finished off a major blowdown across the
Rec Path near Lane Street that Mark and Ray had started. 

RecPath Blowdowns Cleared at Lane St

Following the Upper Wesley Crossing Val asked about we thought about the Lane St blowdown. We said we'd look at at it not knowing what she was talking about.  I took the dog for a walk on Sunday, saw a nice 4 point buck in the Land Trust Meadow; who didn't see a bit concerned about us.  My dog was very concerned about the deer however; he was vibrating and would've chased that deer to Oxford if he wasn't on a leash.  And this is one reason that dogs are required to be leashed on the trails.  

We moved on up the hill into the woods and Holy Crap what a mess it was.

The busted tree top that was hung up during the Microburst, had come crashing down during Tropical Storm Debby, and shattered across the RecPath.  A Large Oak top was shattered in the storm and dropped across the RecPath above Lane Street blocking all access to the RecPath. The oak took our a birch and made a mess of the place.

 There were sections of trunk, big limbs, and lots of acorn laden branches everywhere.

 

Mark and Ray were out there a week later and cleared a bunch of the blowdown, but it was an especially hot week and they couldn't finish the job.  Slackers.  They got the initial clearing done with a lot of work, and fixed it so you could get past the blowdown, but there were still logs and branches blocking part of the RecPath.

So, this morning, after cleaning up the damage at the Winterberry by the Trails Barn, a volunteer went to whittling at the blowdown. After a lot of time and dragging branches, and hauling logs, the area looked like a RecPath once again. 

Public Safety Notes:  Most people were pretty good and appreciative of the work to clear the trails following wicked storms.  One mountain biker however rode right behind the sawyer while he was cutting, scaring the b'jeasus ooute of him, and could've caused a serious accident.  It only only have e taken a quick jerk of the chainsaw when startled to hack off the leg of a passing mountain biker or runner.  Please consider that there's no Undo button for that.  DO NOT RIDE OR RUN PAST SOMEONE WHEN THEY ARE CUTTING WITH A CHAINSAW ALONG THE TRAILS.  YOU COULD GET KILLED.  The volunteers can't always see or hear you coming while wearing ear muffs and a hard hat, steamed up safety glasses, with a loud chainsaw going and wood chips flying.  If you come across someone clearing storm damage on your ride or run on a trail STOP.  It is your responsibility to get off your bike, or stop running, and either get their attention to see if it's safe to pass, or bush whack off the trail and go well, well, well around the work area.  Do not go running or biking through the work zone as fast as you can like it doesn't matter, if you value your life and limb, or the volunteers. 

Also look up while out hiking or riding.  There's still a lot of storm damaged branches that volunteers can't get to that may come crashing down at any time.  That would hurt if you were underneath them at the time.  Walk briskly in those locations.  Have a nice walk but be aware of your surroundings.

I can't say much for the weather forecast accuracy, however we worked thru the rain to clear the big logs off of the RecPath. 

Helpful Trail Tips:   The cant hook/timberjack can be a friend to your back when it comes to rolling heavy logs.  Bring water to drink, always.  Don't believe the weather forecast.

Enjoy.