Chasing Utley Utley Hill Preserve & Recreation Park, Columbia July & September 2019 At the risk of making this page more confusing than it needs to be, I’ll try to explain what’s going on here as succinctly as possible. Joshua’s Trust owns a parcel of land called the Utley Hill Preserve that protects the Columbia … [Read more...]
JT: Potter Meadow
Puttering Around Potter Potter Meadow, Columbia July 2019 Joshua's Trust owns, maintains, and oversees a ton of properties in northeastern, Connecticut towns that the majority of Connecticutians don't know exist. While I have many still to explore, I've been impressed with those that I have hiked already. Potter … [Read more...]
JT: Friedman Forest Preserve
I'm Not Yet Fried, Man Abraham R. Friedman and Samuel H. Friedman Forest Preserve, Ashford May 21, 2017 Aha! You were expecting the title of this page to be "I'm Fried, Man," but I changed it up on you! After all, Joshua's Trust has many dozens of properties in over a dozen northeastern Connecticut towns. I … [Read more...]
JT: Church Farm Preserve
Hozier is the Worst Church Farm Preserve, Ashford & Mansfield April 30, 2017 About that title just above... Sorry. I can’t help it. Hozier’s “Take Me to Church” is just awful. I hate that song with a seething passion. How in the world did that dirge become so popular? Seriously, can someone please explain that … [Read more...]
JT: Josias Byles Sanctuary
The Outlaw Josias Byles Josias Byles Sanctuary April 30, 2017 Back before Clint Eastwood became a bumbling loon, he made some pretty great movies. One that often gets lost in the mix is The Outlaw Josey Wales.” It’s so good. The Josias Byles Sanctuary is pretty good too, but not as memorable as the movie. … [Read more...]
JT: Fliegel Farm Woods
Blow Your Fliegel Horn Fliegel Farm Woods April 30, 2017 The following page is entirely unfair. I’m sure this is a lovely little trail in late May through July. Before the ferns unfurl? Not so much. Part of the allure of these little trailed properties all over Ashford is just finding them. This one … [Read more...]
JT: Iron Mine Valley
I’ll Preserve What’s Iron Mine Iron Mine Valley Preserve April 30, 2017 Joshua’s Trust has seven trailed properties in Ashford. They do a great job not only in this town, but across all the towns in which they manage properties. Iron Mine Valley was the first of several for me on this pleasant spring … [Read more...]
JT: Tinkerville Brook Preserve
He Prefers LEGO to Tinker Toys, But... Tinkerville Brook January 2, 2017 I’m not sure what I was thinking, shuffling my five-year-old into the car for the trip out to Ashford to do some short hikes within some Joshua’s Trust properties. There was barely any snow on the ground in West Hartford, sure, but Ashford … [Read more...]
JT: The Ashford Oak
”This Place is Dead Anyway” The Ashford Oak January 2, 2017 There’s a line in 1996’s Swingers that my wife and I love so much we use it anytime we can. The boys are at an absolutely packed club and a suggestion is made to leave and go to a party in the Hills. “Yeah man, this place is dead anyway.” It’s … [Read more...]
JT: Rankin Preserve
I Be Rankin This Hike Pretty Low Rankin Preserve January 2, 2017 The Rankin Preserve is one of those “in-between” places that don’t really deserve a page on CTMQ, but here we are. What I mean by that is that Rankin isn’t “officially” trailed, but it has a wide, short, easy to follow trail to a little set of … [Read more...]