Past Events
Past Events are listed below.
Pisgah Trail Maintenance - December 12, 2015
10 volunteers, Kim Nilson, Jon Knickerbocker, David Weisel, Matt Edson and his ATV, John Herrick and his tractor, Abe and Gabe Howe, Krister Raasoch and dogs Art and Harry, Doug Favreau and dog Hermes and John Hudachek and Pisgah State Park Manager Whip Newell met on a warm Saturday, December 12th at 10 am at the Kilburn trailhead in Hinsdale. The goal of the day was to clear as many culverts and trails as possible.
We split into four groups.
David, John Hudachek, Doug and Hermes hiked the Kilburn loop opening all culverts. We also removed all branches and trees from the trail including three 8"-12" diameter trees that we cut with handsaws. Lunch break was taken on a sunny rock overlooking a pond on the southeast side of the loop. We returned to the parking lot at 2:20 pm.
John Herrick, his tractor and Whip drove down to the Kilburn loop where they were last seem ditching a pond in the trail.
Matt, Abe and Gabe drove the ATV up the Davis Hill and Hubbard Hill trails returning via Reservoir Trail and Baker Pond trails.
Kim, Jon Knickerbocker, Krister, Art and Harry drove up to the Horseshoe trailhead where they cleaned culverts and trails.
Thanks to all for a very productive work day!
John Hudachek
FOP Annual Meeting November 10, 2015 Minutes and Pictures
The FOP met at the Community House in Hinsdale on Nov 10 for its Annual Meeting. About 2-dozen members and guests attended. President Matt Edson called the meeting to order at 7:03 pm. Matt gave about a 10-minute summary of the activities of the FOP, particularly in trail work, this year.
October 2015 Trail Maintenance
New Bridges Grace the Pisgah Ridge Trail
Over the course of the last few weeks, volunteer crews have disassembled and rebuilt several new spans on the Pisgah Mountain Trail, added a long board walk alongside a wetland along that same pathway, and raised and firmed up a bridge on the Dogwood Swamp Trail, a span whose northwestern footing had been undermined by the stream beneath causing the deck to pitch and fall Several weeks ago, volunteers hauled a good deal of new pressure treated material, sufficient for two separate spans, from the Kilburn parking lot and up to the Pisgah Mountain Trail worksite, using pickups, and an ATV machine and cart. Sometimes utilizing the winch on the ATV, the crew was able to get all the materials and tools up to the lower construction site without too much additional hand-carrying.
28th Annual Friends of Pisgah Picnic
The twenty eighth annual Friends of Pisgah picnic was held Saturday, October 3 at the Visitor Center and barn complex. Approximately 30 people enjoyed hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and beverages provided by the Friends as well as a variety of salads and desserts brought to share.
We did move the picnic tables into the barn because of the cool breeze; it made it easier to visit.Patrick Hummel, the Volunteer Coordinator from DRED joined us and after lunch spoke about the importance of volunteers in maintaining state properties. He thanked Friends of Pisgah for our service.
Harry Prouty donated several items to the barn/museum including a bow saw, a double headed ax and a special chain for logging. He showed us several other logging tools and shared publications detailing logging operations in the park including a photo of the largest tree ever cut in Pisgah.
After lunch the mums and pumpkins used to decorate the barn were raffled off. Everyone decided it was too cool for canoes or kayaks on Fullam Pond.
Laura Sussman
Pisgah Bridge Projects - September 2015
Over the last few weeks, volunteer crews have disassembled and rebuilt a large new span on the Pisgah Mountain Trail, and raised and firmed up a bridge on the Dogwood Swamp Trail, a span whose northwestern footing had been undermined by the stream beneath causing the deck to pitch and fall.
Pisgah Trail Maintenance - August 8, 2015
David Weisel, Laura and Art Sussman, Matt Edson, John Herrick, John Hudachek, Adam Moffit and Pisgah State Park Manager Whip Newell met at 10 am on Saturday, August 8th at the Pisgah Visitors Center in Winchester. The goal of the day was to build ramps on the South Woods Trail bridge that we rebuilt June 20, 2015 and to install new wear boards on the Fullam Pond Trail bridge.
Matt Edson had already ripped the ramp risers and cut the ramp decking into 5' lengths with material the Friends of Pisgah had purchased.
Laura and Art Sussman rode their ATV while Matt, John Herrick and Whip drove their trucks and trailers down Old Chesterfield Road to the Nash Trail. There Matt unloaded his ATV and ATV trailer. Whip drove his truck and Matt and Art their ATVs down the Nash Trail to the Fullam Pond Trail. Matt's ATV & trailer and Art's ATV transported the tools and lumber from there to the bridge site on the South Woods trail.
We split into two groups. Matt, David, Art and John Hudachek built the ramps on the South Woods bridge while John Herrick, Laura, Whip and Adam replaced the wear boards on the Fullam Pond Trail bridge.
After lunch we all drove down to Fullam Pond and continued the brush clearing that we worked on last November and July. We were done by 2:00.
Thanks to all for a very productive work day!
John Hudachek
Pisgah National Trails Day Event - June 6, 2015
Thirteen Monadnock Happy Trails Association riders rode out from the Snow Brook Trail head on Saturday June 6, 2015 to celebrate National Trails Day. Weather was sunny, breezy and cool - perfect riding weather! Very few bugs to annoy the horses. Trail conditions were great. Riders enjoyed a brown bag lunch at the Visitor Center and chatted with a few park guests. The four wheeling park guests we encountered were very courteous and curious about the horses. A few stopped to chat and admire a couple of times. Many thanks to Park Manager Whip Newell for his assistance with this ride. Pisgah Trail Maintenance - July 11, 2015
Jim Schofield, Laura and Art Sussman, John Hudachek and FOP trail chief John Herrick met Pisgah Park Manager Whip Newell at the Visitor Center at 10:00am. Whip, Art and John Herrick with tractor on his trailer drove down the recently improved road to Fullam Pond where we cleared brush and limbs to open the view of the pond. We continued the work started last November around the pond nearly to the dam. Using John Herrick's tractor and chipper all the small branches were ground into wood chips. This also opens the shoreline for fishing. We finished shortly after 2:00pm and were back at the Visitor Center before 2:30.
John Hudachek
South Woods Bridge Rebuilding - June 20, 2015
Abe and Gabe Howe, David Weisel, Laura and Art Sussman, Doug Favreau and
dog Hermes, Matt Edson, Krister Raasoch and dogs Art and Harry, John
Hudachek, Adam Moffit and Pisgah State Park Manager Whip Newell met at
10 am on Saturday, June 20th at the Pisgah Visitors Center in Winchester. The goal of the day was to rebuild the bridge on the
southern end of the South Woods Trail.
Monadnock Happy Trails Association May 16, 2015 Work Day
The Monadnock Happy Trails Association (MHTA) work day was a big success! Sharon and Phil Thomsen plus Laura and Art Susmann worked with Park Manager Whip Newell and cleared the Snow Brook trail from Old Spofford Rd to Old Chesterfield Rd. The weather was cool but got warmer as the day progressed. We worked 9 am - 2 pm. Bugs weren't too bad in the beginning but became annoying when the temp increased. Spray was a necessity! Several culverts do need to be replaced; Whip added them to his list. We expected more damage after such a nasty winter but were pleasantly surprised that there were no huge trees down. The Trail is ready for use and MHTA is looking forward to June 6 National Trails Day ride!
Phil Thomsen and Art Susmann using the pole saw:
Sharon Thomsen clearing the edge of the trail:
Article and pictures by Laura Susmann
