I had a second today to talk about my conversations with John and Dave about the new trails at Koulas. I have been working on trails in Chelmsford for over twenty years and about ten more before that in other places. Over time you learn that trail building is part technical skill and part creative design, and the creative part needs different sets of eyes and different ways of thinking. Yes, the technical side is something I can do cold, but creating a good trail is always collaborative. It goes through many layers, from the design crew to the conservation agent, to the full Conservation Commission, and of course to the residents who will walk it. The more boxes you check early, the better, because once a trail is built, it tends to stay the same for decades.
Presently, the crew led by John is focusing on a trail by the wetlands that wraps around the perimeter and connects to the main blue trail just below the hill near the paper road. We now see this in two phases.
Phase one is clearing the rest of the old farm road from the blue loop to just before Pine Hill Road. What is there today is nothing but a tangle of rose, bittersweet, and what I like to call a forest of invasive junk. I suggested we clear this as soon as possible so we have clean and easy access to phase two from both ends.
Phase two runs from the area near the old house foundation to the edge of the uplands, wetlands, and the vernal pool. This part is delicate, fragile, and full of wetland requirements. It will take time to lay it out correctly. Some clearing is needed, and having access from the old road on one end and the old house area on the other end will matter a lot. Anything removed from what we are calling the wet trail zone must be done by hand. Being able to get material to the closest road point helps reduce even slight dragging damage. Most of the downed trees and brush are up in the uplands near the old road, which is good for minimizing disturbance.
I hope that John, Dave, and Bill Vines agree that we can start phase one now before snow arrives. With a small tractor, we could pull the invasive bushes and get them to a burn pile in a few hours. Once that is done, the art of trail design truly begins. We have already found some great anchor points out there and two high, dry overlooks. One looks over the vernal pool, and the other faces the area that feeds that pool.
Residents who have been walking the site (and there are more every week) are very excited about a safer way to get in from Pine Hill Road near the paper road. Not on the paper road itself, but about fifty feet down the main road. Cars sometimes treat it like a raceway, and with no sidewalk, it can feel a bit risky. A proper entrance solves a lot, and to be clear for the neighbors, this will NOT be a parking area. It will be a simple walk-in access point, most likely without even a sign. What we call a social trail, meant for the nearby residents who already walk into the property.
That is where we are and what we are working on. The Koulas work party resumes the first week of December. I would be over the moon if that first workday is clearing the old road section. Now we wait for word from above.
Phil