Red Cutlass Sierra

A Board member sighted what looked to be a red cutlass sierra down along the cart road in Nick's Woods from Rte. 122A.

The call was sent out to the Volunteers and Rangers and Ranger Kim took up the charge and headed out.

Kim's Report:

Viewing from most cart roads, I find no cars in Nicks Woods or Sargents Brook parcel. I collected about 20 beers cans and 60-80 cups and some trash, mostly at the fire pit near the hydrant. Some partially burned old railroad ties were there, with no obvious creosote now, and probably not much when they were burned. The gate near the RR was gone, and the gate near the power line was still mangled on the ground, but all 4 posts seemed fine. As usual for 24-hours after a storm peak in summer, all streams were very clear. There were some (recent?) backhoe ruts on the roads near the sewer meter box, but no obvious excavation. Someone had lost a 5x8" spiral notebook climbing under a fallen tree on the water-line easement. It had general strategic planning notes, like from a class, apparently not project-specific, and it was ruined by rain, so it's in my basement trash can until pickup Monday (Tuesday?). The washouts in the road at and east of the Esta Brook culvert looked worse, but probably still passable in a zigzaging 4WD (not a cutlass sierra, even before the storms).

Thanks to the passing by board member for looking, and to Ranger Kim for the report!

Bancroft School Help

The Bancroft Middle School were out on the Nick's Woods property this past Thursday the 8th.
They were cutting trail west of the Sargent's Brook running south from the dam and brook crossing. They got as far as the north-north-east corner of the boulder field, which ic a whole lot farther than I would have thought they could have cleared.

On the way out we caught sight of a giant "have a hart trap." It was large enough for a coyote, or possibly a deer, or a squatter. The paper sign on it said that there was an escapee from the Worcester Animal Rescue League and they were trying to get it back. Run, boy, run!

The Bancroft kids were great, did great work, and the trail they were working on is presently flagged with orange flagging tape.

Additional work to complete the trail length will hopefully come this spring.

Sugaring

GWLT staff were out at Nick's Woods today, setting up a small sugaring operation with some middle school students from the Bancroft School. Taps are set up in the big maple grove, and will be checked by staff and volunteers over the next few weeks. Periodical boils will take place as people are available.

If you're interested in being a part of it, contact anne@gwlt.org

This may be the last sugaring for some time, as the USDA will be treating maples up at this end of the city with insecticide to prevent infestation by the Asian Longhorn Beetles, thus making the sap unfit for human consumption. Enjoy it whist you can!

skiing

See http://sevenhillswheelmen.org/index.php?a=currentschedule for ski dates.
Woods are beautiful. Trails are reasonably clear of storm damage, except many large trees accross steep unskiable water line easement, and 1 tree across trail sloping from water line down to breached dam. Snowmobiles made crusty snow a little more skiable by Jan 31, 2009. Most of our new fences are down, and a few of our trail markers are damages.