Overview and some personal observations
My observations and impressions on my walk from the trail head to Smith's Lane on Friday, August 20, 2010. Based on them and my 'grapevine' intake, I believe that everyone involved would best be served by not at this time responding to the latest reactions from Mr. Himes or others in a heavy-handed manner, but to rather adopt a "We'll take your concerns under advisement, maintain a close watch for littering and disturbances and take appropriate action" type of response. I see no immediate need to force anyone to counter-attack and prolong this indefinitely, which threats would almost certainly do. As of now, the only valid point that the Himes' have is that they don't want the trail there. I would just leave it at that, and the next move is theirs. You could even offer to erect more 'no littering/no dogshit' signs.
The opinions and impressions are solely mine, as are the comments regarding the included pictures. I was particularly interested in assessing any damages or misuses of the trail property by either adjacent neighbors or trail users. You can preface each comment with "In my opinion", since that is all they are.
Briefly, the trail does not show any significant evidence of malicious or deliberate acts on anybody's part.
Logging
In particular, I looked for signs of damage by the underway logging operation
by Mr. Himes. He has cut a 'skid trail' from the hiking trail just above his
rental trailer, curving up on his property and proceeding parallel to the trail
all the way until it intersects the access road he has from the trail to his
hunting cabin. At the lower end of this skid trail is a large building
apparently for the logging or for wood storage, but is on his property and
barely noticeable. From my experiences with a similar logging operation at
Bellwood Sportsmen's, this skid trail provides a means of dragging cut trees
from the source to a 'landing zone', where they are cut to length and loaded on
logging trucks. These trucks are not intended to pick up the trees in the woods,
but in such landing zones. There is no impact on the trail by this skid trail,
other than it being visible from the trail, if anyone cared to look for it.
Once loaded, the logging trucks are backed down onto the trial far enough to
permit them exiting onto Route 865. Since that part of the trail is paved, the
only impact to date is a red clay coating that does not present any problem for
users of the trail, and which will wash off by weather in time. My feeling is
that trail users won't even pay any notice of this, and in fact it didn't really
catch my eye until on my way back down the trail, when I was specifically
'nit-picking'.
Access from and across the trail
I believe actions or threats to close off the 'hunting cabin access' because of the logging road would be counter-productive and surely deepen the resentment and animosity of all parties.
One thing of possible note was that the rubber mats have been moved off of the gravel and placed across the grass on the side of the trail.
These pictures are at the 'hunting cabin' trail, including views up and down from the trail. The last picture shows where the access road intersects the 'skid trail' -
ATV operation
- There are visible signs of a four-wheel vehicle, but at no place on the stretch from Igou to Smith's Lane are there tracks on the gravel trail itself. The access to the trail could have been at Smith's, Himes' 'hunting cabin' access, and very possibly the properties at the lower part of the trail near the wooden fence, although I saw no tracks on the trail from there at this time. The 'end run' around the gate at Smith's does not appear to present a convenient access for such vehicles.
This picture shows the ATV track.
Equipment parking
Another observation involved the parking of equipment on rail trail property, and there is in fact a trailer on the grass margin at the point where the 'skid trail' enters Mr. Hines' property. While indeed on trail property, it is not impacting the trail either by damaging the trail, or detracting from the users' enjoyment of the trail. I did ask one walker, who hadn't taken any note of that trailer or the other equipment outside of his barn adjacent to the trail. It's not for me to say how the rail trail management should deal with the intrusion, but if a peaceful co-existence with the neighbor is a significant issue, my thought would to be to take no drastic actions that further erode the relationship, and closely monitor that area to ensure no deeper incursions are forthcoming. This neighbor is obviously deeply sensitive about this particular stretch of trail, from the gate to probably the 'easement' for his access to his hunting cabin.
Here are pictures of equipment on trail property, but not impacting trail use -
Cleanout pipe vandalism
I looked at this small pipe aand find it very implausable that of all the acts by anyone that might have been perpetrated, this was chosen. I have no possible answers to this, other than downright meanness, or attempting to fuel discord. Honestly, if I were looking for suspects, I would look for people with differences with Mr. Himes outside of the trail issues, making it look like a trail problem. And this could have been done even if the trail was not in existence. And I am certain the average trail user would not even be aware of the pipe. I mow the trail - I never noticed it before!
Signage regarding littering and pet handling
As a responce to the remarks that 'Bilka' needs to post signs, here is one at the entrance to the trail. Sign can be posted - hikers can't be forced to read them -
Cave
I did take a look at the 'cave' behind the pavilion, and took a couple of pictures. I also talked to Dave Hescox, who stated that the cave was built by R. A. Sneath, ostensibly to store garden/farm products. I feel it is like an abandoned refrigerator, and needs the door securely locked or removed, if not dismanteled entirely. In the meanwhile, I will put a lock on it and keep a watch for tampering. If any, a decision can be made what further action is required. As for its size, it was apparently made from 55-gallon drums.
