Stewardship Team Leader Jim Caffrey cuts pieces off of large broken branches in order to more easily remove them from the trails at Notchview Reservation in Windsor.
In a perfect combination of unfortunate events, last weekend’s snowstorm left branches across the 3,000 acre property laden with snow. Wednesday’s freezing rain and plunging temperatures encased the branches in ice, making many of them too heavy for the trees to withstand, which caused them to crack and fall onto the 25 miles of groomed ski trails.
A team of caretakers from the Trustees of Reservations and volunteers have been working to clear the trails, though according to Caffrey, there is still weeks' worth of cleanup left to go. In Caffrey's 34 years at Notchview, he says this storm rates among his top five in regards to damage done to the trees due to winter ice.
Volunteers interested in helping in the effort are welcome and encouraged to call ahead before arriving … and to bring a metal rake.
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Stewardship Team Leader Jim Caffrey cuts pieces off of large broken branches in order to more easily remove them from the trails at Notchview Reservation in Windsor.
Stewardship Team Leader Jim Caffrey cuts pieces off of large broken branches in order to more easily remove them from the trails at Notchview Reservation in Windsor.
Stewardship Team Leader Jim Caffrey cuts pieces off of large broken branches in order to more easily remove them from the trails at Notchview Reservation in Windsor.
Stewardship Team Leader Jim Caffrey straps on protective leg coverings before heading out to cut fallen branches and remove them from the miles of cross-country skiing trails at Notchview Reservation in Windsor.
Stewardship Team Leader Jim Caffrey drives an off-road vehicle to a location where branches have fallen across the trails at Notchview Reservation in Windsor.
Stewardship Team Leader Jim Caffrey cuts pieces off of large broken branches in order to more easily remove them from the trails at Notchview Reservation in Windsor.
At Notchview Reservation in Windsor, fallen branches are littered over the extensive 25 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails.
A cross-country skier maneuvers around one of the many fallen branches on the trails at Notchview Reservation in Windsor.
At Notchview Reservation in Windsor, fallen branches are littered over the extensive 25 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails.
At Notchview Reservation in Windsor, fallen branches are littered over the extensive 25 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails.
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Stephanie Zollshan
Photojournalist
Stephanie Zollshan has been a photojournalist for The Berkshire Eagle since 2011. She is a Boston University graduate whose work has been featured in publications around the world. Stephanie can be reached at szollshan@berkshireeagle.com.
