The Norman Bird Sanctuary, Part II

So, last week on the 4th of July I took you on a tour of the lower trails in the Norman Bird Sanctuary (see the article here). This time we're back and we're going to climb (and that's literal in most cases) the ridge trails on the other side of the pond.

The most visible and best known feature of the Norman Bird Sanctuary is Hanging Rock, which is visible from Second Beach and a lot of other places on the ocean side of Middletown, RI . This shot was taken from Hanging Rock Rd. just behind the beach. You can see a Norman Bird Sanctuary  sign there in the foreground.

So, up Hanging Rock Rd. to Third Beach Rd., and up Third Beach Rd. to the entrance to the Sanctuary. We sign in at the Visitor's Center and head down the trail to Red Maple Pond. On the other side of the pond we come to this signpost. Remember this from last week? Well, today we're gonna turn right and head up the Gray Craig trail.

The Gray Craig trail wanders about in the lowlands a bit. At one point we cross a little swampy area on a plank walk. These Forget-Me-Nots were frowing alongside on of the two streams that drains the swamp.

On the other side of the swamp we start to climb, and eventually we get to the point where there's a sign that says "Gray Craig Loop". For some reason I always turn right and walk the loop counterclockwise. This shot is of the beginning of the real climb. It doesn't look like it in the picture, but this is a really steep trail. 

Up, up we go and finally get emerge from the trees to the crest of the ridge. Most of the ridges in the Norman Bird Sanctuary are dominated by Red Cedar. And they're all rocky.

So back down the other side of the loop (more gradual and not as interesting or photogenic) and on to the connector trail to the other ridge trails. At the main junction of all the ridge trails stands this old Beech tree. Long ago I named it Hírilorn, after the triple-trunked giant Beech in Doriath in Tolkien's The Silmarillion. this one is certainly ancient enough, as attested by the generations of names carved in the bark.

the next trail we'll hit is the Nelson Pond trail, which overlooks Nelson Pond from a high ridge and offerssome really fantastic views of Middletown. As you can see from the photos below, this is not an easy trail. And that third picture... Yup, I had to climb rocks at that point!

Before you get to that last shot there is an easier alternative route, but I never take it because climbing that little obstacle there leads to the view in the two photos below, the first looking west across Nelson Pond to St. George's School, and the second looking north and down to the Gray Craig mansion. The mansion and it's property were just recently bought by Nicholas Cage; I was informed by somebody back at the visitor's center that it looks like he's here to stay, as he seems to have registered is son in an area school.  I ate my lunch at this overlook and got to watch a pair of Osprey cruising the pond for their own lunch. The third shot is of one of those Osprey.

Okay, a long narrative break here. Twenty years ago this was the scene of one of life's magic moments. I introduced my friend Mirjana (now living somewhere in Minnesota) to the Sanctuary, and on that trip we walked the Nelson Pond trail. We stopped on this very spot and she was enchanted by the view. She commented that we could be in 14th Century France - the power lines on Paradise Rd.are hidden by the trees, so you get no real hint of the 20th Century. Down below is the baronial manse (which does look pretty medieval!) and across the way is the local abbey and its chapel. And just to complete the fantasy, at that moment the herd of miniature Red Deer that live on the Gray Craig property came swarming from behind the house, came down the terrace and across the lawn and disappeared into the woods below the house. We were both speechless!

Okay, back to today's hike. We continue along the Nelson Pond trail to the end. In the two shots below we see the final stretch of the trail, and then the view off the end of the trail. The water in the foreground is the bottom end of Nelson Pond. Then there's the Atlantic Ocean at Second Beach and part of Easton's Point beyond.

Off the end of the Nelson Pond trail there's a connector to the Red Fox trail. As you can see from the shots below, it's a particularly stiff climb down. the climb back up to the Red Fox trail didn't get any pictures here because it's not particularly interesting as the end of the Red Fox trail sits considerably lower than the end of the Nelson Pond trail. But don't worry, once we're on the Red Fox trail there'll be plenty of climbing!

Off the end of the Red Fox trail we can look east across the intervening reed swamp to Hanging Rock.

Heh, heh! Once we get onto the Red Fox trail there's plenty of climbing!

After the Red Fox trail we take the Valley trail. I call this one the Forest Primeval trail because it's so dense and dominated by large trees, ferns, and the occasional dead tree still standing upright, as in the second shot below.

The Valley trail comes to a dead end at the swamp which lies between the Red Fox and Hanging Rock ridges. There were deer tracks in the mud at the end of the trail, but much to my disappointment I didn't actually see any deer. I usually do at least catch a glimpse of a deer along the Valley trail, but not this time... 

The dominant themes of the Valley trail are ferns and the moss that seems to coat everything. It's a very damp trail. It's also a very buggy trail, especially in the hot weather. Thank goodness for Deep Woods Off!

We go back to the beginning of the Valley trail and then head up our final trail for today, the Hanging Rock trail. Yup, you guessed it - we get to scramble up and down more rocks. This is the toughest trail of them all, and by the time you get to the end on Hanging Rock, at least if you're my age, you're winded and panting and soaked with sweat. But my cardiologist loves it when I hike this one!

We reach the end at Hanging Rock, with more spectacular views. The first shot is due south off the end of Hanging Rock, with the Atlantic Ocean and Second Beach. The second shot is southwest, toward first part of Eaton's Point in Middletown, and then beyond that over the water is Doris Duke's Rough Point mansion along the Cliff Walk in Newport. Some view, huh???

Sigh!!! And then we have to climb back up the trail. But part of the way back you can get out of the sun and off the rocks and take a gentler, shadier alternative route back to civilization.

And that's the end of our hike. I reported myself back to the Visitor's Center and signed myself off the trails, then headed back down the road to Second Beach to the bus stop there. There was no way I was walking all the way back to Newport after that hike! While waiting for the bus I took a fond farewell shot of Hanging Rock. 

I hope you've enjoyed our hike. If you want to learn more about the Norman Bird Sanctuary, you can go visit their website.

Well, we're done for today. Maybe next week we'll do the Sachuest Point Wildlife Refuge, seeing as how I have 2 days off in a row again!