text
and photos by Stephen Denham
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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!!!
![](Denham/HEROS/02Canoe400.jpg)
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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.![](Denham/HEROS/01Canoe400.jpg)
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, "@#*^^%!"
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![](Denham/HEROS/05John299.jpg)
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."
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![](Denham/HEROS/06TheBunch598.jpg)
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!"
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![](Denham/HEROS/07RuthSplendelow299.jpg)
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. |
![](Denham/HEROS/09TedGordon498.jpg)
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.."
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![](Denham/HEROS/08RuthBlat398.jpg)
Ruth
Blattenberger – Summer.
Bridge 6 on the Red trail. Subject
quote:
![](Denham/HEROS/clipartgirl.jpg)
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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!!"
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![](Denham/HEROS/12CubScouts448.jpg)
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.") |
![](Denham/HEROS/14WinterCold240.jpg)
Steve
Denham, dressed for winter on Red Trail. Yep, we work year 'round.
Subject quote: "Burrrrrr!" Articulate,
isn't he? |
![](Denham/HEROS/03JohnWinter240.jpg)
John Caughey — Winter attire, still toting the anti-mosquito
club: Subject quote: "Eh, anybody see a trail marker recently?"
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![](Denham/HEROS/15group240.jpg)
Ruth
Blattenberger, Holger Stubb, Steve Denham, and Bill Heisler (poking
the log to make sure it's dead). Subject quote "Phew!!"
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![](Denham/HEROS/17Heisler570.jpg)
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!!!" |
![](Denham/HEROS/18JohnWacker650.jpg)
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???"
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