George Washington Management Area – February 2, 2022

Frank at Bowdish Lake

With rain and sleet in the forecast, I decided to take some time off to join Henry, Earl and Frank for a snowshoe hike in the George Washington Management Area.

With over 4,000-acres, the George Washington Management Area is Rhode Island's second largest state property. The land was acquired during the 1930's by the US government and developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps. During WWII the land was turned over to the State of RI. There are two blazed trails on the property. The white blazed Angell Loop follows the shore of Bowdish Lake and then passes through a section of the campground.

Henry, Frank, Earl and Erik

The longer Walkabout Trail was created in the late 1960's by Australian Navy sailors on temporary duty in Newport. The trail consists of a series of three loops blazed Orange (8-mile), Red (6-mile) and Blue (2-mile). Some of the Walkabout Trail is also the route of Rhode Island's North-South Trail.

We started at the parking lot, headed up the Washington Trail and bush-wacked through the woods to Wilbur Pond before heading back. From there we went down to check out the snow-covered beach on Bowdish Lake. Not a long trip – probably 1.5 to 2-miles, but it sure beats working.

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My Pictures
George Washington Management Area Trail Map
George Washington Management Area
North-South Trail
George Washington Management Area from Explore Rhode Island

Older George Washington Management Area Trail Map

Blackall Family and Ballou Farm Preserve – January 30, 2022

Steve and Bill at the trailhead

The Blizzard of 2022 dropped 18 to 24-inches of light fluffy snow across much of southern New England. I knew that I wanted to take advantage of the snow and go snowshoeing, so when Bill suggested the Blackall/Ballou Preserve just a mile from my house, I jumped at the opportunity. This would be my third hike at a Cumberland Land Trust property. It was nice to have Steve join us as well.

When most people think about the early development of the Blackstone River Valley, they usually think about the development of textile mills along the Blackstone River. It is easy to forget that for generations before the development of the mills the people in the Blackstone River Valley were primarily farmers. The old farmland land that is part of this this Cumberland Land Trust property was previously owned by the Ballou and Blackall families.

Heading out on unbroken trails

As early as the seventeenth century, this part of Cumberland was known as the Ballou Neighborhood. The patriarch of the Ballou family was Maturin Ballou who was recorded as a settler in Providence as early as 1646. At his death around 1685 his estate included his Providence homestead that was left to his daughter Hannah, and a large parcel in the “Outlands” of the “Attleborough Gore” in what is now Cumberland that was left to his sons John, James and Peter.

Settlement of the “Outlands” increased dramatically after the end of King Philip's War in 1678. James, who lived in what is now Albion, owned the west side of the parcel on the border with what is now Woonsocket. We know this because he donated the land for the Elder Ballou Meeting House that was located there. The Elder Ballou Meeting House was erected in 1732 and was one of the oldest churches in the state when it was destroyed by fire in the 1960’s. His son Obadiah Ballou settled on the property and in 1749 donated land for the cemetery across the street that contains the graves of generations of the Ballou family.

Back at the trailhead

Today, the Blackall Family and Ballou Farm Preserve consists of 184-acres with about 3.3-miles of trails. Based on its location just southwest of the Elder Ballou Meeting House it was no doubt part of Obadiah Ballou's original homestead. For most of the 20th century the Blackall family owned and farmed the northern section of this property. The western half of the Blackall property was sold and developed as Highland Corporate Park. The eastern half of the property was conserved as open space.

We started at the trailhead on West Wrentham Road (there are also trailheads at the Dollar Tree Plaza and Old West Wrentham Road), and headed west through the woods on the blue blazed trail. The trail was unbroken until we reached the west side where people had hiked in from the Dollar Tree Plaza and the Highland Hills Apartments. There is another 1.5-miles of trails to the north on the on the red and yellow blazed trails, but we saved that for another day. We stayed on the blue trail and looped back to the cars. We did about 1.5-miles, but that was enough. I forgot what a workout snowshoeing can be!

Links:

My Pictures
Cumberland Land Trust
Trail Map
Trail description from Explore Rhode Island

Hiking in a Winter Wonderland – Blackstone Gorge – February 6, 2016

Rolling Dam

It doesn’t happen very often, and when it does it doesn’t last very long, but on Friday we had the perfect storm for turning everything white.  It can’t be windy; it has to start off with rain, then turn to snow to coat the branches, and then turn cold enough to freeze everything is place. The result is a winter wonderland, and lots of power outages as tree branches come crashing down.

We had that storm on Friday, so I got out early Saturday morning to take pictures at one of my favorite spots along the Blackstone River – the Blackstone Gorge.  Granite cliffs covered with Mountrail Lauren and Hemlock trees tower over the river, which runs though a rocky set of rapids below.  The river was running pretty well – 8 feet, 500 cfs on the Route 122 gage.

Trail through the woods

I got out just after sunrise and hiked down to the bottom of the Gorge and back. I brought my snowshoes, but I didn’t end up using them.  Although we got about 8” of snow, there was only a couple of inches on the ground in the woods – most of it was still up in the trees.  I hiked along the river for the first half-mile, then had to climb the cliffs that run along the river. The views were great – pictures don’t do it justice. 

As I was heading out at around 8:00, the sun was already starting to melt the snow on the highest branches, which would come crashing down.  I took a couple of direct hits – including one down the back of the neck.  By noon, only the evergreens were still coated with snow.

Snow in the trees

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Route 122 Gage

I need to get skis - Manville - February 14, 2015

My father's old Hurons

I need to get skis. Tommy has been saying that for a while, but the point really came home to me yesterday.  

I decided to do some snowshoeing in the morning before the snowstorm started up in the afternoon.  I have a pair of traditional wooden Huron snowshoes that are pretty good for deep snow and covering ground.  I went down to the bike path in Manville and was moving along at what I thought was a pretty good pace when I heard a couple of skiers coming up behind me.  They were gone before I could get my gloves off and my camera out of my pocket.    

I think it’s time to get some cross-country skis.

Ski trail in the bike path - the skiers are long gone...

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Diamond Hill with Bill - February 8, 2015

Bill climbing to the cliff

Bill and I were supposed to do a RICKA message board hike in Chepachet, but it got cancelled due to weather.  Fortunately Bill was still up for a trip, so we met at Diamond Hill for the loop around the “rock”.

Bill said that he was looking for something with "a little elevation", so this seemed like a good choice.  We took my usual route through the woods to the right of the bandstand and headed down to the old quarry.  The snow was unbroken, and in places waist deep as we worked out way up to the cliff.  It was definitely a workout, but worth it for the views.

From there we headed back down and took the switchback road up to the top of the hill.  Fortunately, the trail along this section was broken or it would have been a real workout.  It also made it easy to find the trail along the road that I can never find on my own. 

View from the top

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Mount Tom Trail - February 1, 2015

Mout Tom Cliffs

I headed out with the RICKA crew to do some snowshoeing on the Mount Tom Trail in the Arcadia Wildlife Management Area.

The Arcadia Wildlife Management Area is located in southwestern Rhode Island and includes over 14,000 forested acres.  It has and extensive system of trails including more that 30 miles maintained by the Narragansett AMC and RIDEM. We did an out-and back of about 3 miles on the Mount Tom Trail that took us out to the Mount Tom Cliffs that provide great view of the surrounding area.

Barbara, Judy, Sharon, Lori, Linsey, Mike, Erik and Bill

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Mount Tom Trail

A Hike at the Blackstone Gorge - January 17, 2015

It was another cold day, and ice has accumulated at many of my usual paddling spots, so I decided to take a hike down at the Blackstone Gorge.  The ice above the dam was thick enough to support a couple of determined ice fishermen.  Below the dam, ice shelves lined the banks.  I was able to hike along the river to the base of the cliff at the gorge drop, and then climb to the top before heading back.

Fishing on the ice above the Rolling Dam

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Snowshoeing at Diamond Hill – February 8, 2014

Taking a break at the top

I couldn't get out to do the RICKA trip this morning, but I headed over to Diamond Hill in Cumberland this afternoon. It’s a short hike (1.5 miles), but it’s a good climb up the hill (350 feet).

From the bandstand, the trail heads south into the woods.  At the base of the old quarry, the trail cuts back north to the top of Diamond Hill.  I took a side trip up to the top of the quarry to get some pictures of the cliffs.  Once up at the top of the hill the views are great and you will find remnants of the old ski lifts.  There is a trail down the north side along the road, but I missed it and came down the sledding hill.

Cliffs at the old quarry

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First Snow of 2014 - Ashton Snowshoeing - January 3, 2014

Fresh snow on the Bike Path

The first big snow storm of 2014 turned out to be a dud.  We got 6” to 8” instead of the 12” that was forecast.  Still. after shoveling out the driveway, I decided to head down to the bike path in Lincoln to do some snowshoeing.

I accessed the bike path at the Visitor Center on Route I-295.  This is a good starting point because it is always plowed. The temperature was around 15° when I arrived, but as long as you stayed out of the wind, it didn’t seem that cold.  I was the first one on the bike path and got to break a trail through the fresh snow. 

On the ridge overlooking the Ashton Dam

Once on the bike path, you can head south down around the Kelly House and the Blackstone Canal, or north along the river under Route I-295.  I decided to go north and was surprised to see the Blackstone River frozen over above the dam.  Along this section thickets of mountain laurel grow on the rocky slopes that lead down to the river – very pretty.  I always find lots of deer tracks when I come here, and today was no exception.  Maybe sometime I’ll see the deer.

I did a loop from the Visitor Center, down to the Blackstone River and back.  Enjoy it while you can!

Snow and ice on the Ashton Dam

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Snowshoeing at River Bend Farm - March 9, 2013

With today’s warm temperatures 8 - 10 inches of nice light powder turned into 4 – 5 inches of heavy slush, but it was still a nice day to be out. We took the Goat Hill Trail up the lock, and then went up along the canal about half way to Pummers Landing.

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Cheryl's Pictures on Flickr

Lysa's pictures on Facebook

Blackstone River and Canal Heritage Park

Blackstone Gorge Snowshoeing - February 17, 2013

It was windy and cold, but I did do the loop from the Rolling Dam down to the open field where the Branch River joins the Blackstone. Unfortunately, the wind blew all the snow off the trees, so it wasn’t particularly scenic. Still a good workout though.

Rolling Dam at the Blackstone Gorge

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Ashton Snowshoeing - February 10, 2013

Seven brave souls (Jim K, Don and Jan, Peter S. and Angela, Susan and me) broke a new trail in 24” of nice light powder on the Bike Path today in Lincoln.  We did about 2 miles from the rest area on I 295 to the Kelly House and back.  It was a great day to be outside. 

The crew - Jim, Jan, Peter, Angela, Don Susan and me

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Blackstone Gorge - February 27th

I would have liked to paddle this weekend, but I’ve been fighting a cold, so I didn’t think that would be good idea. Instead, I decided to hike the trail along the Blackstone Gorge – with today's new snow I thought it would be pretty, and it was. It also has the only class III/VI rapids on the river.


Blackstone Gorge from Erik Eckilson on Vimeo.

In higher water, there is supposedly a sneak route through the first ledge on river left. The second and third ledges wash out. The route through the big drop at the end is just left of the big rock in the middle. Its supposedly a straight shot down the middle. I’d like to try it sometime. At today's level it looked a little low - maybe around 1,500.

Following the Deer Tracks - January 22nd

I had some free time today, so I decided to do some snowshoeing down at the bike path in Lincoln. I started at the visitor center on Rt. 295 since I wasn’t sure if the parking lot down by the Kelly House would be open. I hadn’t been there before, but the visitor center is a great place to access the bike path - and there's a Dunkin Donuts.

The bike path was well traveled with a couple of well-compacted paths right down the middle. I stayed in the fresh snow off to the side, and followed the bike path down to the river to check out the Ashton Dam. Conditions were great - I'd say 6' of light powder on top of a foot of slightly more packed snow. Temperatures were in the 20's, but it didn't seem that cold. The Blackstone Canal was frozen over, but the river was running below the dam. Above the dam, the river was iced over.

From the Ashton Dam, I went up the Lincoln side of the river as far as Rt. 295. This area is absolutely covered with mountain laurel - it must be beautiful when its blooming in the spring. Wikipedia says that mountain laurel grows in large thickets on rocky slopes in forested areas. Well, this area definitely fits the bill. I followed some deer tracks up the slopes and through the mountain laurel. Those deer are very sure-footed - it was quite a climb. I saw lots of tracks and a couple of bedding spots up on the slopes, but no deer.

I was only out for a couple of hours, but it was a good workout. One of my snowshoeing books says that you burn 1,000 calories per hour in powdery snow on hilly terrain, and I believe it.

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Snowshoeing at Purgatory Chasm - January 15th

With all the snow we received last week, conditions were perfect yesterday for the RICKA snowshoe trip at Purgatory Chasm State Reservation in Sutton, MA.  

Temp's were in the 20's, but it didn't seem that cold.  Most of the trails were unbroken with 18" to 20" of nice light powder.  The Chasm itself was closed, but there were plenty of other trails to keep us occupied. 

We started on the east side of the Chasm Loop Trail.  This trail meanders through some pretty hemlock groves before meeting the Forest Road Trail below the Chasm.  From there, we hiked up Little Purgatory to the waterfall and back.  We stopped  on the Forest Road Trail for lunch, and headed back to the cars on the Old Purgatory Trail.

 The trip took us a couple of hours, and was only a couple of miles long, but it was still a good time.

Links:
Purgatory Chasm State Reservation
Purgatory Chasm Trail Map