Wachusett Greenways March/April, 2001Activities

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Snowshoeing trip in Holden Town Forest

On Saturday 3/24/01 a group of Wachusett Greenways members, led by Sue Hall, toured the Holden Town Forest on snowshoes. After the recent warm weather and heavy rains,the snow was reduced to "Spring Corn" which was easily negotiated with even the smallest snowshoes, so the going was quite easy. The warm partially sunny afternoon also helped.

We entered via the gate on Harrison St and spent a little under 2 hours touringaround the area. The stream that runs through the property which we followed for a while was a real gusher at this time of year so we did not attempt a crossing. We proceeded up the hill to the nearly level top and circumnavigated the forest property through a young forest of white oak, and hemlock, with views off to East and North.

In attendance for this tour was Sue Hall, Rick Adshead, Sharon Ellis, Chris Hugo, Mike Wronski, Jim & Colleen Abrams

Examples for the Kaplan bridge near River St., Holden, MA

Airline Rail Trail near Marlborough, CT

Members of the Wachusett Greenways ( Bob Elms, Dave Kaplan, Dick Williams and Hank Ouellette) visited the Airline Rail Trail located near Marlborough, CT on Wednesday, April 4, 2001. The purpose of this trip was to examine a newly installed pedestrian bridge across the Jeremy river. This bridge was built by Continental Bridge Co. and a similar type could be used for the new "Kaplan bridge" across the Quinapoxet River near River Street in Holden.We met with Steve Martinet and a DEP ranger who led us to the bridge. Bridge is 60 feet long and 6 feet wide with 54 inch high rails. The bridge is made of weathering steel with a rain forest wood deck.

Continental Bridge in Ashland, MA

This bridge, also built by Continental, is located in Ashland Center and is painted green.

Tom Wessels walking tour of the White Oak Trail in Holden and the Mass Central Rail Trail in Oakdale, MA on April 8, 2001

Tom is the author of "Reading the Forested Landscape" and is professor at Antioch NE Graduate School.

During the tour Tom discussed stone walls, tree stumps and different shaped trees in the woods.

 

Ed Yaglou (left) and Dick Williams (right) examine the MCRT in Rutland MA to determine what additional trail work remains.