French's Hill Winter Work Party

2025 is off with a bang.  The groundhog sees his shadow and we start getting a snowy winter in February.  Saturday we met at French's Hill to cut back brush before it snows tonight.

We had a good crew to work on cutting barberry and blow downs.  The parking lot was a bit icy, but passable.  Thick pants and sturdy work boots are encouraged, along with warm gloves, hats, and safety gear.

It took a little while to get started, but we got squared away and broke into groups.  Mark & Ray went over to Granderson Place to clear a blow down and cut stuff going out on the Red Trail.  They also cut stuff later at Oak Valley Trail.  Bill, Aidan, and Kaden cut back brush and cleared debris along the entry drive and parking area.  Ellen, John, Danny, Bodie & Larry worked their way in along the trails.  Terry took the brushcutter away from the other folks so it was safer.

John is clearing briars along the trail entry.  The sickle bar attachment is good for getting the brushy stuff, and prevent an explosion of briars in the spring.

There were newer blow downs from recent storms.  We'll need to come back for this one on the White Trail, but it's passable for now.

Barberry was cut next to the trails, and a lot of clumps cut off trail.  The barberry will re-sprout in the spring, but it'll be smaller green growth that can get cut more easily with lighter tools.   This will make it less of a crisis during April to June when everything needs to be cut at once, and it may allow some native species to sprout and compete for space and help the forest environment.  

The 3-bladed brush knife and smaller guard are a better combo for cutting barberry.

The White Trail was nice and peaceful (when we weren't working with power tools).

Helpful Trail Tip:  Micro-spikes on your boots are great for packed down trails that are icy.  Mine, of course, were home resting in a nice dry warm drawer.

Judging from the tracks, a lot of local residents have been using the trails.  One of the reasons for preserving Shelton's Open Spaces.

Near the end of the end of the work party, a couple of younger volunteers wanted to try out traditional clearing techniques on a dead snag which normally we leave up for the woodpeckers (but we have a few snags to spare at French's Hill), so here's Bodie.

And Danny going at it.  Apparently, it was warm work.

Timber! (nice thumb)

Team work - The End.  Hopefully, they can shovel tomorrow.

Thanks to everyone who came out on a chilly morning; Mark, Ray, Ellen, Larry, Danny, Bodie, John, Aidan, Kaden, Bill, Terry.  There's more to cut, but this was a good start on our Pre-Spring Clearing.

Now we just wait for snow tonight and then the Super Bowl.  Have fun exploring French's Hill and bring your tracking guide. 

Well, Nobody Got Hit by Lighting

An overcast Saturday morning with storms in the forecast.  Another great day for our second work party at French's Hill.  We had another great turn-out for the work party.

I have no idea what Bob is doing with his arms though.

 

One crew started clearing the remainder of the brush around the parking lot off East Village Road.  Others headed down into the woods to remove saplings in the trail and brush along the edges.

The Three-bladed knife on the brushcutter worked well on removing the barberry.

The Spicebush was just starting with it's yellow blossoms.  The spicebush is one of the native shrubs that is crowded out by invasive species like barberry.  That's one of the reasons for removing the barberry along the trails where we can.

One section of the cutting crew was heading back to the parking lot as the rain was hitting.  There was also a lightning alert, and since we were near the top of a big hill we decided not to chance it.

The storm came thru, got everybody wet, then the sun came out.  On the plus side nobody was struck by lightning.  And some volunteers saw a herd of 9 deer.

Thanks to everyone who helped out today; James, Thomas, John, Madeus, Jeff, Nat, Joe, Devin, Bob, Sam & Myishaylo, Ellen, Matt, Graham, Mike, Mark, & Terry.