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HEROES OF THE TRAILS

text and photos by Stephen Denham

Who are they, these men and women of our arboretum's trails, who weekly take it upon themselves to clear, mark, tidy and clean out our Medford Leas Trail System? They who brave blizzard and thunderstorm, heat and cold, tick and tiger (well, a bit over on that one), falling temperatures and falling trees, deep puddles and deep mud, roots, rocks, and rattlesnakes — hasn't been one sighted here forever, but if they did come, our men and women of the Trail Group would tame them as pets . Who are they, then, these unhonored, unsung, ubermenschen of the underbrush? They are the

HEROES OF THE TRAILS!!!

Knights to the rescue. Untangle them, dump out any water, scrape out most of the leaves, get them back up on the racks. Subject quotes: (Sorry ladies and gentlemen, but I feel the language used during THIS battle would be a bit strong for some of your delicate ears).

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Canoes, after the flood. Red trail, near the dock. What a mess. Subject quote: Probably all the canoes crying for help.

Pause now, and see these lionhearted knights and dames of the paths as they see to their appointed dedications — clearing the routes of fallen trees, weedwacking back the encroaching jungle, doing battle with the infamous ailanthus, phragmites, multiflora rose bushes, and poison ivy, all so those who wish can stroll the beauties of the forest in safety and in wonder. These are they that make Medford Leas what it is today. These are they that join with Mother Nature, but also do her battle — the never-ending, ongoing, Battle of the TRAILS!

John Caughey, with Holger and Virginia, hunting Ailanthus. Subject quote: "Yep, it's an Ailanthus. (A. glanduloss). Ya better hang back — if it figures we're out to get it, it might charge!"
Note: Ya gotta be brave to be a Hero of the Trails.

Gordon Clift — Rain or shine — in this case, rain. Gordon cutting back something. Subject quote, "@#*^^%!"

 

John Caughey, leader of the Knights, in mufti, AM meeting, wherein the plans of the day's battles are discussed. Subject quote: "These are MY battle plans! Get your dukes away from MY battle plans."

The bunch, repairing (actually, replacing) a board bridge on one of the Yellow paths. The stream had widened the banks of the stream and the old bridge didn't have enough overlap — hence — the new bridge. John is getting ready to screw down the board to the cross supports. Ruth is waiting to see if John can figure out the drill bit. Bill is getting ready to kick the bridge, and Holger is way over there, giggling. Subject quote: "Finish the bridge, turn it over, haul away the old bridge, chain up the new bridge, and we'll have a nice, safe, overlapping bridge that someone can fall over the side of. Heh heh! Heh heh!"

Ruth Spendelow – The Tuesday morning meeting (8:30 am). Subject quote: "Stale cookies, instant coffee, – there's gotta be a better way to get some exercise.

Ted Gordon – Expert in Pinelands and New Jersey flora, giving a lecture of Med Leas Arboretum trees and wildflowers, spring of 2008. Subject quote: "Yup, right up there, between that Spruce and that Black Oak. 'Twas hardly moving'. Big. sorta flat, and looked like one of them saucer things.."

Ruth Blattenberger – Summer.
Bridge 6 on the Red trail. Subject quote:

Fall. Gordon Clift, John Caughey, Holger Stub, and Dave Sleeper, with two Medford Leas Rescue Searchers from Fitness and Aquatics. Gordon (a long ago Aussi) subject quote: "Aya mate!! We weren't really bonkers, ya know. Jus' squatted by a billabong for a bonzer a billy tea, an these blokes pop up an' try to tell us we're lost! Hafta be a pretty drongo for that, eh? Good blokes, thos, so no agro. Well, g'day!" Subject quote: (Aside to the trail troops) "Les make like a 'roo and quick hop outta here!!"

Spring 2008. Dens 11 & 12, Pack 47, Indian Mills Cub Scouts. The Trail Group took a bunch of the Rug Rats (with some of their leaders) on a short tour of some Yellow, Orange, and Red Trails. Subject quote: "I'm tired!!" "I wanna Ice Cream" "I gotta GO!!" Well, go, you've got a thousand trees!!!! "It's not THAT kinda GO!!!"

Ruth Blattenberger, late fall. Cutting back brush and multiflora roses in readiness for the coming spring. Subject quote: "Take that, Mr. Rosebush, and if you show your little head next spring, I'll blow it off with an ATOM BOMB!!!" (Aside to the world — "I don't really have an Atom Bomb, but sometimes they actually believe it and don't come back.")

Steve Denham, dressed for winter on Red Trail. Yep, we work year 'round. Subject quote: "Burrrrrr!" Articulate, isn't he?

John Caughey — Winter attire, still toting the anti-mosquito club: Subject quote: "Eh, anybody see a trail marker recently?"

Ruth Blattenberger, Holger Stubb, Steve Denham, and Bill Heisler (poking the log to make sure it's dead). Subject quote "Phew!!"

Summer, clipping overhanging bush. Subject quote: "Overhanging!!! What, am I hanging from my heels or something'"

Virginia Mattice — Appears to be spring. Practicing her putting with a long-handled grass cutter. Subject quote: "Fore!!! Or is it Five??? Oh drat !!!, WATCH OOUUUUTTTTTTTT!!!"

John Caughey -- Weedwhacking Yellow 13 trail after a bit of growing period. The Red trail and a few Yellow trails are generally mowed by Med Leas Landscaping. The Trail Group (Heroes All) have to tend to the sides, which rapidly grow to barriers of thorns from the wild rose bushes. They also cut back the overhead branches for the safety of the mower operator. Subject quote: John: "Gee this job is really glowing slow!!" From the group: "Hey John, you it'd go faster if we put the Whacking Cord back in???"