8/11/2018 Ricker State Park, Groton State Forest, Groton, VT

ID: 12 ENTRY DATE: 20180811 TIME ARRIVED: 11:00:00TIME LEFT: 19:00:00

DATE COMMENT: 2nd day at Groton State Park

SUMMARY: Fine day, warm, humid. Walked along Cross Vermont Rail Trail starting from Ricker Pond State Park.

WEATHER COMMENT:

WEATHER SKYBLUE SKY PERCENTAGE: 0 WEATHER: SKY CLARITY: 0

WEATHER STATION REPORT: https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=btv

Pictures Taken For:
PICTURE POST: 0 iNaturalist: 1 OTHER: 0

ROUTE TAKEN: Walked on access road and path within Ricker Pond SP and Cross Vermont Trail going north for about a mile (and back).

TERRAIN: Ricker State Park is on gently sloping grade going generally downward from the entrance to Ricker Pond. The Cross Vermont Rail Trail is on a lower grade cutting across variable terrain that is sometimes flat, sometimes at a moderate grade.

PHENOLOGY: Area is a mixed forest that varies in composition. Balsam fir, maples, oaks, white pine were all seen. Several ground plants seen flowering.

CONVERSATIONS: Had a conversation with the ranger about 1. the ash borer signs (see Extra Notes), and, 2. the stand of dead trees as we approached the state forest from Barre through Groton. The stand died about two years ago - don't recall if they knew why.

EXTRA NOTES: Saw a sign posted on the rest room in the campground about the Emerald Ash Borer. It was found within the state forest and was one of two hot spots within Vermont. There was another sign posted on an ash tree near the lake shore that explained that the exposed area on the tree was to detect the presence of the insect.

Posted on 14 de outubro de 2018, 01:09 AM by ceaustin