January
2011 began for us in New Haven, CT, where we once again joined other brave souls for the Polar Plunge for Parks. We are convinced that even though running into the ocean from a snow-covered beach may seem crazy, there really is no better way to start the year. Revisit this year’s Polar Plunge by watching our video here.
 

 February
As the winter season continued, Connecticut was hammered with storm after storm, dropping some of the most snow that the state has ever seen! Stepping up our cold-weather survival skills, Trails of Freedom constructed an igloo using the time-tested style of the Inuits. You can check out our team’s igloo masterpiece here with a time-lapse video of our efforts.
 

 March
As we slowly transitioned into the spring season, Trails of Freedom released our first ever feature-film documentary on the Mianus River Gorge Preserve in Bedford, NY, which can be seen here. We would again like to thank the Mianus staff for taking the time to meet and interview with us so we could together showcase this beautiful preserve.
 

 April
Trails of Freedom certainly covered quite a bit of ground this year as well. We enjoyed receiving updates from John while he was in Nepal, and his photo album from the Annapurna Trek is definitely worth revisiting. Avi also did quite a bit of traveling, recounting his fantastic stories from his epic surf trip to Baja. Read through his narrative here, which is presented in three parts.
 

 May
While ToF President Leigh Anne Crocco traveled to Georgia to receive her Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification, VP Jordan Coleman participated in his second Tough Mudder event, this time held at Mount Snow in VT. Both Leigh Anne and Jordan returned to CT to work the Trails of Freedom booth at the 2011 Urban Oaks Green Faire in New Britain, Connecticut. This was a great community-building event and we are so glad we could be a part of it! The busy month continued with the launch of our “Take a Hike” series, where we led nature hikes at three different locations in Coventry, in cooperation with the school system and Coventry Parks and Recreation. Thanks to all those who could join us for this educational series – we hope you enjoyed it!
 
 

 June
This summer we sponsored our first ever Summer Photo Contest, and participants sent in their photos from all across the country! Be sure to check out the 2011 Winner’s Gallery. Trails of Freedom also greatly supported the fight to save the Long Wharf Nature Preserve in New Haven, CT, which thankfully ended in victory!
 

 July
Trails of Freedom was proud to officially launch the Connecticut Hike Database this past July, Each listed hike includes quick facts, a brief overview, ToF photos and videos, trail maps and more! We are excited for this to be a helpful guide for our visitors, and it is still growing!
 

 August
Making the move back to Hawai’i, ToF President Leigh Anne Crocco rejoined the staff members on the island of O’ahu. The first guided hike that she led upon her return was to the top of Makapu’u Point for sunrise, one of her favorites. Check out the beautiful photos from this amazing group hike here.
 

 September
Continuing to lead more group hikes on the island, Leigh Anne guided a group of fifteen up the Three Peaks of Olomana, one of O’ahu’s most challenging hikes. Hikers climbed their way along the narrow trail, pulling themselves up the peaks by a series of ropes hanging off of the rock faces. The epic photos from this trip do not even begin to do the trail justice, but they are definitely worth the look. In late September, Trails of Freedom also released our first multi-seasonal video on the Cathedral Pines Preserve in Cornwall, Connecticut. Incorporating footage that was filmed throughout the year, we were able to capture the towering white pine forest in all its glory. Be sure not to miss this second look at Cathedral Pines, the largest old-growth forest in the state.
 
 

 October
Here at Trails, we encourage others to share their travel stories with us, as it is our love of adventure that binds us all. We were fortunate enough to receive photos from contributor Ingrid Crocco, who captured the majestic beauty of the Himalayas from the window of her mountain plane tour in Nepal. Thank you for sharing, Ingrid!
 

 November
We firmly believe that getting in touch with the environment is not only about knowing your surroundings, but it is also about knowing the history and culture of a place. In November, we visited Pele’s Chair on the Ka’iwi Coast of O’ahu, an ancient site in Hawaiian mythology. Click here to learn more about this beautiful landmark.
 

 December
As 2011 comes to a close, Trails of Freedom is busy preparing what is sure to be an amazing 2012. This December, the Hawai’i staff began working on a time-lapse project from the top of Tantalus, one of the most beautiful overlooks on the island. We are excited to complete this project in January, so stay tuned!
 
 
And coming in 2012…
Get ready for some serious breakthroughs for ToF in the coming year. Upon the completion of our Tantalus time-lapse project in January, founders Leigh Anne Crocco and Avi Duckor-Jones will embark on a three-week journey across the island of Kaua’i. The footage and stories from this trek are sure to be epic, and you will not want to miss the documentary from this trip. The Hawai’i team will also be releasing the O’ahu Hike Database, which is very similar to Trails of Freedom’s existing CT Hike Database, but will provide information for the hikes all over the island. Look for more nature preserve documentaries in the coming year, as well as a full schedule of group hikes in both Hawai’i and Connecticut. And watch our Someday Starts Now campaign reach a whole new level, as we hear from our viewers on how this philosophy has changed their lives.

On behalf of all of us here at Trails of Freedom, thank you for your continued support throughout the year. We wish you all a wonderful New Year, and we look forward another year of amazing adventures with you.

Until then, Happy New Year!

Most revered perhaps of all the Hawaiian gods, Madam Pele is the center of much Hawaiian mythology and folklore. Goddess of fire and volcanoes, Pele’s power is seen throughout the creation and history of the islands. Her temper at times has erupted, therefore commanding respect for herself and for the land she rules. Pele’s presence is still felt in today’s culture, where locals and residents are careful to abide by her “laws” as not to offend her, or else risk the wrath of her curse.

Before Madam Pele claimed her place amongst the volcanoes of Big Island, she traveled throughout Hawai’i searching for a suitable island to call home. Stories of her journey have led to the acknowledgement of many ancient sites that exist today. For instance, “Pele’s Chair” (seen in the photo above) is believed to be the last place that Madam Pele sat before departing the island of O’ahu.

This large volcanic rock formation, resembling a throne of sorts from certain angles, gazes out over the ocean on the Ka’iwi Coast of O’ahu’s south shore. The chair itself is quite massive, only further eluding to the power of Pele. The throne creates an awe-inspiring image of the mighty goddess staring out over the islands, as if she knows she owns it all. The greatness that is often associated with Pele can definitely be felt at this location, with the combination of Hawaiian culture and beauty.

The hike out to this iconic landmark is a quick mile (if that), but is certainly worth the trip. Beginning at the parking area for the Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail, the flat path veers off through the brush on its way to the shore. Upon reaching the coast, hikers can enjoy the small but beautiful beach that sits beneath Pele’s Chair, or can choose to climb up the lava rocks to get a closer look at the throne. On the opposite side of the chair are numerous tidepools, which are usually stirring with all sorts of life. This excursion is a great way to spend the afternoon, and is certainly family friendly.

As you can see, Hawai’i is steeped in culture and tradition, and I find that the more I learn about these incredible islands that I live on, the more I can truly appreciate their beauty. Visiting places such as Pele’s Chair not only allow people to connect with nature, but with its history as well, providing an even richer experience for those seeking to be part of the land.

The Steep Rock Association is a land trust that works to purchase, protect, and administer open space and conservation land in Washington, Connecticut. Steep Rock Preserve, the association’s first preserve and the parcel from which its name derives, is probably their most well-known property and certainly a long-time favorite of Trails of Freedom. But Steep Rock Association protects other parcels of land throughout Washington, such as Macricostas Preserve (pictured above), which offer hikers some beautiful and varied landscapes that are sure to satisfy.

Macricostas Preserve is the newest of the Steep Rock Association’s preserves and was established only 11 years ago; a mere blink-of-an-eye when you consider that Steep Rock Preserve has been around for nearly 90 years (albeit at a smaller acreage than it currently encompasses). Nonetheless, the 368-acre property at Macricostas Preserve fits snugly into the fantastic holdings of the Steep Rock Association and boasts a wide range of interesting habitats that benefit wildlife just as much they impress visiting hikers.

The 98-acres of Meeker Swamp are located in the center of the Preserve and essentially split the remainder of Macricostas in two halves: the rocky ridge and woodlands in the north and the meadows in the south. The swamp itself acts as the headwaters of Bee Brook, which emerges from the wetlands to meander throughout the southern half of the Preserve on its way to feed the nearby Shepaug River.

Hiking trails in the northern section of Macricostas Preserve ascend the slope of Waramaug’s Rock, a forested ridge that rises to an elevation of 1250 feet and rewards those who reach the summit with an excellent overlook of picturesque Lake Waramaug in the distance.

In stark contrast, the bulk of the southern half of the Preserve treats hikers to idyllic views of an expansive, gently-rolling meadowland. Totaling about 50 acres, this sprawling field of grasses and wildflowers is a charming throwback to the pastures of 19th-century Connecticut. There are few places left in the state where you’ll find such a large meadow nestled in an otherwise natural setting; most have either been overtaken by forest, been developed for housing and business or become so crowded by human habitation that they cease to feel like the country-side of old. This author can attest that the meadowlands of Macricostas are his favorite corner of the Preserve.

Macricostas Preserve, like so many parcels of modern conservation land, was rescued from potential development plans that would’ve covered this precious landscape with a few hundred condominiums. In 2000, the combined efforts of the Steep Rock Association, the Town of Washington, and Connecticut’s Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Program managed to amass enough money to purchase the property and protect its natural and bucolic character. At that time, the property totaled just under 250 acres. Subsequent adjacent land acquisitions have added more than 100 acres to expand the Preserve to its modern size.

While Steep Rock Preserve may still be the flagship property of the Steep Rock Association, the diverse lands of Macricostas Preserve will surely gain more popularity as time goes on. This patchwork of contrasting terrains -forest, ridges, swamplands, meadows, and running water- encompasses a taste of all those landscapes that Connecticut hikers have come to love… all miraculously within walking distance from a single trailhead tucked away in the hills of Washington.

The Himalayas, Nepal

“There is a true peace and serenity that can be felt while floating amongst these majestic mountains,” Trails of Freedom follower Ingrid Crocco reports. On her recent visit to Nepal, Ingrid had the opportunity to take a mountain plane through the great Himalayas, and has thankfully shared her pictures and stories with us.

“The first glimpse of the mountains held some deep emotional component for me. It was a truly humbling experience. You hear and read so much about the Himalayas, and then all of a sudden you are there, you are actually seeing it with your own eyes. All of the amazing stories of greatness, of survival; and then all of the horrible tragedies. It is all there, right in front of you, and you realize that you are gazing at history – it is very grounding, and very meaningful.”

The mighty Himalayas have long been revered by mountaineers and travelers alike, the bravest of whom attempt to conquer its peaks. The unique combination of both incredible beauty and danger is so captivating and so compelling, somehow making the risks worth the reward of being part of the landscape. From the window of her mountain plane, Ingrid also felt this same pull to learn more about them. “The Himalayas are holy to those who reside beneath them. They are a place of the gods, and a place where the heart and will of a person can truly be tested.”

To the people of the Himalayan range, these peaks truly are kept sacred. Many of these mountains’ summits, along with the one seen in the picture above, are off-limits to climbers. These are the home of the gods, and they are not to be disturbed.

Between Mount Everest, K2 and Annapurna, the Himalayas include some of the most notable expeditions in the world. These stories have only furthered our wonder and awe of this mountain range, in hopes to one day be able to experience them for ourselves.

Trails of Freedom would like to thank Ingrid Crocco of West Haven, CT, for the above photo and interview. Ingrid was working in Nepal as part of a medical mission, and had the opportunity to fulfill her dream of flying amongst the Himalayas.

]]> http://www.trailsoffreedom.com/the-holy-himalayas/feed 0 http://www.trailsoffreedom.com/green-frog-survival-of-the-fittest http://www.trailsoffreedom.com/green-frog-survival-of-the-fittest#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:00:37 +0000 Justin Coleman http://www.trailsoffreedom.com/?p=6488
Green Frog (Rana clamitans)

Frogs and toads are certainly a common find along Connecticut trails and every hiker has surely come across plenty of these amphibians. What hikers may not realize is that the vast majority of the frogs and toads that they find represent only the few dominant species found in the state. These include many familiar creatures such as the the American Toad and the Common Bullfrog, but perhaps the most common of them all is the Green Frog.

Green Frogs (Rana clamitans) are truly ubiquitous throughout Connecticut. They can be easily discovered within or nearby just about every lake and pond in the state as well as around brooks and streams. You’ll even find these frogs in swamps or some of the longer-lasting vernal pools. Wherever some measure of freshwater can be found, the Green Frog is likely to make an appearance. But why are these frogs so common? How did they come to be some of the most successful frogs in the entire state?

At least one reason for their success is that they inhabit terrestrial/aquatic “ecotones”, meaning that they tend to reside in places where drier land transitions into an aquatic habitat such as the banks of a stream or the side of pond. So, while they are comfortable venturing onto land, they are usually only few jumps from water. This may seem like a rather inconsequential trait, but we get a better idea of why this is so beneficial if we compare Green Frogs to another amphibian such as the American Toad. The American Toad is almost strictly a terrestrial creature, so you will rarely find them hanging around ponds or streams except by coincidence. This can sometimes pose a problem for the American Toad because it has little chance of escape once it is discovered by one of its terrestrial predators. Green Frogs, on the other hand, are able to routinely elude terrestrial predators by simply leaping into nearby water and staging a quick getaway. Hikers that have walked beside brooks or ponds along a trail will be very familiar with this habit, for most Green Frogs are only noticed once approaching humans hear them “plop” into the water only a few feet away. You may even hear escaping Green Frogs make a distinctive chirp before they splash to safety, a tactic which warns all nearby Green Frogs of a potential threat.

But while evading predators may be crucial to the success of the Green Frog, its own predatory habits may also contribute the ease with which it manages to survive. The Green Frog is a carnivore and it will literally eat almost any animal it can swallow. This can include many hundreds of species of insects (if not thousands), but these amphibians also dine on more unexpected types of prey such as fish, snakes, crayfish, snails… even other frogs and tadpoles! Thus, almost any habitat available to the Green Frog is bound to provide a bountiful and nearly inexhaustible buffet; starvation is rarely an issue for these opportunistic eaters.

There is no single, “silver bullet” adaptation that has enabled Green Frogs to achieve such strong numbers and secure populations. In fact, in many ways, they aren’t too much different than most other frogs or toads found throughout the state. What really gives Green Frogs an incredible advantage in the lands of Connecticut is simply their enormous degree of flexibility: they can live almost anywhere that water is found, they eat almost anything small enough to fit in their mouths and they possess a natural talent for making split-second escapes. This simple formula means that, in the everlasting struggle we call “survival of the fittest”, they tend to be fit enough to prevail in almost every circumstance. The same cannot be said for many other species of amphibians throughout the state.

Habitat destruction is probably the prime contributing factor for the steady decline in many amphibian populations across Connecticut. Species such as the Wood Frog, for example, absolutely must have access to vernal pools in order to reproduce successfully. As further land throughout the state is developed and these vernal pools are destroyed or disturbed, the Wood Frog finds itself being displaced further and further from places that may have previously provided perfect habitat for thousands of years. Unlike the adaptable Green Frog, many amphibian species throughout Connecticut stand to be severely-impacted, perhaps even eliminated entirely, as we change the face of the landscape to be more suitable for humans.

Hawai’i is a place rich in its history and culture, with its customs and traditions still valued and practiced today. The connection the Hawaiian people have with the islands is very spiritual and very sacred. Yet some have misunderstood these actions, or misinterpreted Hawaiian customs, and in doing so may be unaware of the mistakes they are making. It is important to learn what is acceptable, as to avoid disrespecting the culture.

Nestled along the trails of the islands, or perhaps placed before a majestic waterfall, hikers in Hawai’i may notice rocks wrapped in Ti leaves, as seen above in this photo from Waihe’e Falls. Many recognize this action as a prayer or offering, a sacred tradition of our island nation. They believe it to be a symbol of good luck, and a request for good fortune. But these rock offerings are highly controversial, and this practice which was commonly believed to be part of the island culture may actually be a very offensive gesture.

The Ti leaf is very sacred to Hawaii, and can be used in many different ways. But wrapping a rock in a Ti leaf and using it as an offering is actually a false custom. Hawaiians at times placed these rocks on top a traditional offerings in an effort to keep any rodents or bugs away, but they were not used as actual offerings themselves. But as time went on, visitors to Hawai’i misinterpreted this action and instead began to copy what they had seen, without fully understanding.

I have heard much debate on this topic, and, in an attempt to not offend anyone, I will share my own belief on this subject. I would like to explore this on two levels. The first, and most important thing to remember I feel, is that the traditional prayer offerings were made by those who were trained to do so. These practices are part of the Hawaiian culture, and these leaders and priests of the people were following their sacred customs. When used out of context and performed by someone who has not been trained, these offerings are seen as disrespectful.

The other argument I would like to make is based on sustainable environmental practices. As you know, here at Trails of Freedom we follow the Leave No Trace principles. We feel that interacting with the environment is great, so long as you can visit a place and leave it the way you found it. For this reason, I am against removing the sacred Ti leaves and using them for questionable practices. I feel it is best to just enjoy the time in nature in a way that will help maintain the environment. Leave the traditional offerings for those trained to do so, as to not offend or damage our beautiful islands or its culture.