The best hikes happen when you least expect them. With an unexpected free Monday morning stretching before me, I grabbed my Sorel boots and headed to Trout Brook Valley Conservation Area, a gem in Easton and Weston that once nearly became a luxury golf course.
Saved by the Aspetuck Land Trust, with help from Paul Newman, this land teems with wildlife instead of golf carts. I parked my car in the lot on Bradley Road in Weston. Frozen leaves lay silent underfoot, but the snowy trail crunched with each step. Yesterday’s dusting of snow provided welcome traction over the compacted ice.
Familiar with the trails, I set out immediately on the White Trail. Not far along, a snapped tree hung precariously over the trail, the kind that makes neck hair stand on end. I quickened my pace beneath it.
Further up the trail, after passing a meadow on the right-hand side, is Hawley’s Brook Fishway. I stopped to admire the crystal-clear water on either side of the fishway and listened to the sound of the water rushing beneath. I continued up the trail, which is mostly gravel at this point, until I spotted what I thought was a new sign on a tree. It turned out to be a perfectly round circle of lichen up in the branches.
The trail climbed gradually to the first frozen vernal pool. These seasonal pools are critical habitat and a signature feature of the preserve. I took my time now, as this hike is both a workout for my body and my soul. Like other hikes, I paused to appreciate as much as I could along the way, such as the moss that looked like the shag carpet in a 1970s living room.
After I passed another vernal pool, this one seemingly less frozen since it’s more exposed to the sun, I took a break on a rock to check my blood sugar and look out over a ledge into another vernal pool below. Nearby, a perfectly straight branch caught my eye, a rarity in the forest’s chaos of curves.
After resting on the rock for a while, I continued up the well-marked trail. The Aspetuck Land Trust, as with all their properties, has done a great job marking the trails so you don’t get lost. At the intersection with the Red Trail (Ordway Trail), I crossed from Trout Brook Valley into Jump Hill Preserve.
A footbridge carried me over a small stream, and the trail climbed through Jump Hill to the parking lot on Black Rock Turnpike. I’ve gone the whole way now.
Peter’s Trail offers a loop option, but I stuck with the full out-and-back for the satisfaction of completing it end-to-end. There’s a lot to see here.
On the return, sunlight had completely thawed one vernal pool. Soon I reached the Red Trail intersection again. The sun shone brightly through the trees, and I appreciated the shadows cast by a stand of pine trees as I hiked through.
For those who want to try this hike, check the weather and make sure you have good footwear and are comfortable walking on ice. Winter hikers should wear boots with good traction. Crampons aren’t necessary for the White Trail, but some side trails may require them.
My trek through the woods took about two and a half hours, almost three including breaks. I certainly felt those seven-and-a-half miles in my legs, but also in my soul. Sometimes the unexpected mornings make the best adventures. I’ll see you on the trails.
The Cultural Easton 