News
Creek Walk Improvement - Fall 2023
We have obtained funding to make improvements to the Creek Walk. The work will involve replacing some of the decking boards on a bridge, building a ramp up to one of the bridges, and replacing the 4x4 supports under the bog walkway. The work will be done this fall when the weather cools. If you are interested in helping on this or other work projects let me know. jbpierce649@outlook.com. I will add your name to our "work crew" list and contact you when various projects come up.
Summer 2023 Trail News
Trail Maintenance
This has been a busy summer for trail maintenance. This seems to be the summer for trees to fall on the Woodside trails and bridges. Several trees fell or were about to fall, in many places on the Hollow Creek trail; one fell on the pedestrian bridge over Hollow Creek near hole 7 of the HC golf course. Thanks to the diligence of Scott Lycett and his Development Company crew all but one has now been removed. The remaining tree near the green of hole 8 of the HC course is quite large and will take some special care to remove. However, some WTG members did clean up around and under it. There is a 5-foot clearance under it so hikers can now get through. Scott has also arranged to have the grass cut on several occasions on the entire HCT.
A tree fell on the zig zag bridge of the Oakman trail and took out a section of railing. In another area on the same bridge someone took out another section of railing with a golf cart. This bridge is for pedestrian traffic only! Any of you that are golfers, please remind your friends of this. We will post a sign. In any case, thanks to the efforts of the WTG “carpenters” both sections are now fixed. Our gratitude to David Day, Paul Ciochon, Felipe Nunes and the Oakman trail captain Ron Jones.
This has been a busy summer for trail maintenance. This seems to be the summer for trees to fall on the Woodside trails and bridges. Several trees fell or were about to fall, in many places on the Hollow Creek trail; one fell on the pedestrian bridge over Hollow Creek near hole 7 of the HC golf course. Thanks to the diligence of Scott Lycett and his Development Company crew all but one has now been removed. The remaining tree near the green of hole 8 of the HC course is quite large and will take some special care to remove. However, some WTG members did clean up around and under it. There is a 5-foot clearance under it so hikers can now get through. Scott has also arranged to have the grass cut on several occasions on the entire HCT.
A tree fell on the zig zag bridge of the Oakman trail and took out a section of railing. In another area on the same bridge someone took out another section of railing with a golf cart. This bridge is for pedestrian traffic only! Any of you that are golfers, please remind your friends of this. We will post a sign. In any case, thanks to the efforts of the WTG “carpenters” both sections are now fixed. Our gratitude to David Day, Paul Ciochon, Felipe Nunes and the Oakman trail captain Ron Jones.
Cart Damage on the Oakman Trail
Fixing the damage
Everything is good now!
Gerald McDonald reports that some of the supports under the bog bridge on the Creek Walk need to be replaced. If we can obtain funding that will be a job for this fall/winter when the weather cools.
This summer, we also did some further work to clean up the new trail connecting the Mill Road trail to the azalea trail system. Several new posts and signs were installed and a tree was removed that fell on this trail. Thanks to Jim Parker, David Day, Paul Ciochon, Felipe Nunes, Jim Lefebvre, and Ken Moses.
Fall 2023 Hiking Program
I am now working on this program. Some people have suggested hikes but I am looking for more hike leaders. If you would like to show members a place where you enjoy hiking, please contact me [jbpierce649@outlook.com]. Hikes should be from 2 to 5 miles and members enjoy a mixture of nearby and other hikes within about 50 miles of Woodside. Please help me out!
Happy trails to you! Have a great summer.
Jim Pierce
This summer, we also did some further work to clean up the new trail connecting the Mill Road trail to the azalea trail system. Several new posts and signs were installed and a tree was removed that fell on this trail. Thanks to Jim Parker, David Day, Paul Ciochon, Felipe Nunes, Jim Lefebvre, and Ken Moses.
Fall 2023 Hiking Program
I am now working on this program. Some people have suggested hikes but I am looking for more hike leaders. If you would like to show members a place where you enjoy hiking, please contact me [jbpierce649@outlook.com]. Hikes should be from 2 to 5 miles and members enjoy a mixture of nearby and other hikes within about 50 miles of Woodside. Please help me out!
Happy trails to you! Have a great summer.
Jim Pierce
A Special Hiking Achievement.
Jim Parker walked all of our trails in one day. Let him tell you his story. It follows below.
Jim Parker walked all of our trails in one day. Let him tell you his story. It follows below.
Walking the Woodside Trail System
Before getting into my story, I’d like to give a big Thank You to all persons involved in the planning, creation and maintenance of the walking paths/trails inWoodside. We are so fortunate as a community to have safe and comfortable places to enjoy walks and meet other walkers.
Prior to relocating to Woodside Plantation in October of 2020, I was a pretty consistent walker for fun and exercise, especially after retiring in 2014. That included my previous neighborhood streets, many Hitchcock Woods visits and about 1,500 miles of the Application Trail. Since moving into Woodside Plantation, it has been my pleasure to experience all streets and walking trails.
Just a few weeks after moving and settling in, I told my wife Wendy “what better way to see all of Woodside, than to walk all of its streets?” So, I got a street map from the POA office and inquired how many of miles of streets there were. I was told there were more than 70 miles in total. Over the course of 58 calendar days, I walked 32 times and completed 232 miles to get all the streets completed. There are neighborhoods in Woodside I never would have seen without undertaking this adventure. Also, I thoroughly enjoyed checking out all the beautiful homes, landscaping and scenery at a slower pace rather than in a quick drive-by manner.
Subsequently in the fall both 2021 and 2022, I made it an annual ritual to repeat the “all the streets of Woodside walk”. Concentrating on planning my walks, I was able to condense it into 118 total miles in 2021 and 98 miles in 2022.(i.e.
smarter, not harder philosophy). Going forward, I’m planning on this being an annual personal challenge and Fall endeavor.
Over the last few years, I’ve been introduced to the Woodside Trail Group [WTG] led by Jim Pierce. Wendy and I have been on several group walks led by various WTG members. I’ve been on all of the trails listed on its web site multiple times. One day I came up with the idea of trying to do all nine trails in one outing. Picking a good day to fit my schedule and proper weather conditions (before hotter weather arrived), my hike occurred on May 2 nd . Setting out at 5:30 am with a bottle of electrolyte infused water, a snack bar and a flashlight, I was off. Seven hours and 21.06 miles later the walk was completed. During the walk I questioned whether I was going to be complete it. But, I persisted and consider it an accomplishment. Afterwards in discussing this hike with two longtime activists with the Woodside Trail Group (Jim Pierce and Jim Lefebvre), neither has ever
heard of anyone hiking all these trails in one day. Maybe I’m the first; but, no way of knowing for sure.
In any event, I encourage all Woodside residents to take advantage of the 9 trails. We are fortunate to have trails in Woodside with varying degrees of length and difficulty and available and open to all residents.
See you down the trail, Jim Parker
Prior to relocating to Woodside Plantation in October of 2020, I was a pretty consistent walker for fun and exercise, especially after retiring in 2014. That included my previous neighborhood streets, many Hitchcock Woods visits and about 1,500 miles of the Application Trail. Since moving into Woodside Plantation, it has been my pleasure to experience all streets and walking trails.
Just a few weeks after moving and settling in, I told my wife Wendy “what better way to see all of Woodside, than to walk all of its streets?” So, I got a street map from the POA office and inquired how many of miles of streets there were. I was told there were more than 70 miles in total. Over the course of 58 calendar days, I walked 32 times and completed 232 miles to get all the streets completed. There are neighborhoods in Woodside I never would have seen without undertaking this adventure. Also, I thoroughly enjoyed checking out all the beautiful homes, landscaping and scenery at a slower pace rather than in a quick drive-by manner.
Subsequently in the fall both 2021 and 2022, I made it an annual ritual to repeat the “all the streets of Woodside walk”. Concentrating on planning my walks, I was able to condense it into 118 total miles in 2021 and 98 miles in 2022.(i.e.
smarter, not harder philosophy). Going forward, I’m planning on this being an annual personal challenge and Fall endeavor.
Over the last few years, I’ve been introduced to the Woodside Trail Group [WTG] led by Jim Pierce. Wendy and I have been on several group walks led by various WTG members. I’ve been on all of the trails listed on its web site multiple times. One day I came up with the idea of trying to do all nine trails in one outing. Picking a good day to fit my schedule and proper weather conditions (before hotter weather arrived), my hike occurred on May 2 nd . Setting out at 5:30 am with a bottle of electrolyte infused water, a snack bar and a flashlight, I was off. Seven hours and 21.06 miles later the walk was completed. During the walk I questioned whether I was going to be complete it. But, I persisted and consider it an accomplishment. Afterwards in discussing this hike with two longtime activists with the Woodside Trail Group (Jim Pierce and Jim Lefebvre), neither has ever
heard of anyone hiking all these trails in one day. Maybe I’m the first; but, no way of knowing for sure.
In any event, I encourage all Woodside residents to take advantage of the 9 trails. We are fortunate to have trails in Woodside with varying degrees of length and difficulty and available and open to all residents.
See you down the trail, Jim Parker
Jim Parker gets ready for the all Woodside trails hike
Map showing all 21 miles of Woodside trails
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Stats for Jim Parker’s hike
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Woodside Trail Group News March 10, 2023
In February 2023 the WTG realized the completion of a long-term goal when the Mill Road Trail was converted from an IN and OUT trail to a circular route. This was done by connecting the trail to the Azalea trail. Hikers now have an option to
use the Mill Road trail and the two loops of the Azalea trail to create several nice hikes varying in length from 1.3 to 2.75 miles. The various loops are depicted below.
The new section of the Mill Road trail was blazed with blue paint and new signage will be installed in a few weeks. Many thanks to the work crew of David Day, Felipe Nunes, Paul Ciochan, Ken Moses, Jim LeFebvre and Jim Pierce who cleared the route, and built the bridge and stairs that made this possible. Also, many thanks to Scott Lycett and the Development Company for buying the lumber and transporting it to the site. This is a very nice addition to Woodside’s trail system!
use the Mill Road trail and the two loops of the Azalea trail to create several nice hikes varying in length from 1.3 to 2.75 miles. The various loops are depicted below.
The new section of the Mill Road trail was blazed with blue paint and new signage will be installed in a few weeks. Many thanks to the work crew of David Day, Felipe Nunes, Paul Ciochan, Ken Moses, Jim LeFebvre and Jim Pierce who cleared the route, and built the bridge and stairs that made this possible. Also, many thanks to Scott Lycett and the Development Company for buying the lumber and transporting it to the site. This is a very nice addition to Woodside’s trail system!
