Talcott Mountain

Infobox Mountain
Name = Talcott Mountain
Photo = Talcott Mountain.jpg
Caption = Talcott Mountain cliffs from the Farmington River floodplain. Heublein Tower top right.
Elevation_ft = 950
Elevation = ridge high point
Location = Farmington, West Hartford, Avon, Bloomfield, and Simsbury, Connecticut
Range = Metacomet Ridge
Prominence =
Coordinates = coord|41|43|32|N|72|48|43|W|type:mountain to coord|41|54|09|N|72|45|51|W|type:mountain
Type = Fault-block; igneous
Age = 200 Ma
Last eruption =
First ascent =
Easiest route = Metacomet Trail
Listing =
Translation =
Language =
Pronunciation = Talcott Mountain of central Connecticut, with a high point of convert|950|ft, is a convert|13|mi|adj=on long traprock mountain ridge located convert|6|mi|0 west of the city of Hartford. The ridge, a prominent landscape feature, forms a continuous line of exposed western cliffs visible across the Farmington River valley from Farmington to Simsbury. Talcott Mountain is part of the narrow, linear Metacomet Ridge that extends from Long Island Sound near New Haven, Connecticut, north through the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts to the Vermont border.Farnsworth, Elizabeth J. [http://www.mmmtrail.org/NaturalResourcesAssessmentFinal.pdf "Metacomet-Mattabesett Trail Natural Resource Assessment."] , 2004. PDF file. Cited Nov. 20, 2007.]

A popular outdoor recreation resource, Talcott Mountain is known for its microclimate ecosystems, rare plant communities, and expansive views from cliffs that tower up to convert|700|ft|m|0|lk=on above the surrounding landscape. DeLorme Topo 6.0. Mapping Software. DeLorme, Yarmouth, Maine]

Talcott Mountain encompasses two state parks, several municipal recreation areas and reservoirs, a science center and school, a demonstration forest, and the historic Heublein Tower. The convert|51|mi|adj=on Metacomet Trail traverses the ridge. Connecticut Walk Book: A Trail Guide to the Connecticut Outdoors. 17th Edition. The Connecticut Forest and Park Association. Rockfall, Connecticut. Undated.]

Geography

, just north of the centerpoint of the mountain.

Talcott Mountain is an important aquifer serving metropolitan Hartford and several other communities. Notable reservoirs and other bodies of water on the mountain include: Wash Brook Pond; Lake Louise, a glacial kettle pond with a swamp boardwalk, observation platform, and waterfall; Hartford Reservoirs #'s 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6; Hoe Pond; Ely Pond; Dyke Pond; and Woodridge Lake.

Talcott Mountain is traversed by the following roads (from south to north), Connecticut Route 4, U.S. Route 44, and Connecticut Route 185. A network of suburban streets climb the southern slopes of the mountain, and a number of communications towers sprout from the summit peaks.

The Metacomet Ridge extends north from Talcott Mountain as Hatchet Hill and south as Farmington Mountain. The north and west sides of the mountain drain into the Farmington River, thence into the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound. The Farmington River runs along the east base of the mountain, cutting through the Metacomet Ridge between Talcott Mountain and Hatchet Hill at the Tarrifville Gorge. The east side of the mountain drains into the Park River, thence into the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound. DeLorme Topo 6.0. Mapping Software. DeLorme, Yarmouth, Maine]

Geology

. The resulting "layer cake" of basalt and sedimentary sheets eventually faulted and tilted upward. Subsequent erosion wore away the weaker sedimentary layers a faster rate than the basalt layers, leaving the abruptly tilted edges of the basalt sheets exposed, creating the distinct linear ridge and dramatic cliff faces visible today. The best way to imagine this is to picture a layer cake tilted slightly up with some of the frosting (the sedimentary layer) removed in between. [Raymo, Chet and Maureen E. "Written in Stone: A Geologic History of the Northeastern United States". Globe Pequot, Chester, Connecticut, 1989.]

Ecosystem

slopes are especially rich in nutrients and support a number of calcium-loving plants uncommon in eastern Connecticut. Because the traprock ridges generate such varied terrain, they are the home of several plant and animal species that are state-listed or globally rare. [ [http://www.connix.com/~harry/twep.htm The Traprock Wilderness Recovery Strategy] . Cited Dec. 13, 2007]

Infestation by an invasive species, the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, resulted in the death of large stands of mature eastern hemlock in Penwood State Park on Talcott Mountain. The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection began a program of removal of dead trees and contaminated living trees in 2000. The infestation and subsequent tree removal dramatically impacted the character of the forests on that part of the mountain.

The massive Pinchot Sycamore, a champion tree candidate with a trunk convert|25|ft|m|0|lk=on in diameter, is located at the foot of the mountain next to the Farmington River in Simsbury. [ [http://www.nativetreesociety.org/ Eastern Native Tree Society.] Cited Dec. 21, 2007]

Talcott Mountain is also an important seasonal raptor migration path.

Recreation

Talcott Mountain is a popular outdoor recreation resource among residents and visitors of the metropolitan Hartford region. The mountain boasts a substantial network of hiking trails, clifftop overlooks with expansive views over the rural landscape to the west, rugged woodlands, two small waterfalls, a highland swamp boardwalk, scenic ponds and reservoirs, and a number of active recreation facilities.
Penwood State Park and Talcott Mountain State Park offer miles of paved and dirt park roads (open to pedestrian use only) and a network of trails including the 51 mile (80k) blue-blazed Metacomet Trail (maintained by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association). The parks are open to hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, picnicking, and other passive pursuits. Penwood State Park was donated to the state by Curtis H. Veeder, an industrialist, inventor, and outdoorsperson. Veeder wished the property to "be kept in a natural state so that those who love nature may enjoy this property as I have enjoyed it." He blazed many of the original trails in the park; Lake Louise, a scenic kettle pond atop the ridge, also called Gale Pond, was named after his wife. [ [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325248&depNav_GID=1650 Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection] . Cited Dec. 21, 2007]

The Metropolitan District (MDC), a non-profit municipal corporation chartered by the state of Connecticut, manages more than 3,000 acres on Talcott Mountain as public water supply, watershed, and open space. Besides providing drinking water, the MDC manages hiking trails and dirt roads (non-motorized use only) and practices silvaculture in the property's forests. MDC lands are open to hiking, picnicking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, bicycling, mountain biking, and other passive activities. The MDC also manages an interpretive trail and has been active in helping to establish bald eagle populations on the property. Swimming, boating, hunting and fishing are prohibited on MDC lands. [ [http://www.themdc.com/talcottmountain.htm Metropolitan District] . Cited Dec. 21, 2007]

"Batterson Park", an urban park located on the southeast side of the mountain in West Hartford next to Hartford Reservoir #1, offers a baseball field, picnic areas, playgrounds, a fresh swimming pond, and a boat launch. [ [http://www.healthy.hartford.gov/OpenSpace/osParks.htm#Batterson City of Hartford Health Dept] . Cited Dec. 21, 2007] The towns of Bloomfield and Simsbury own considerable acreage on the northeast and northwest sides of the mountain including town parks and watershed lands. [ [http://www.simsbury-ct.gov/Public_Documents/Departments/SimsburyCT_ParkRec/parks Town of Simsbury] Cited Dec. 21, 2007] [ [http://www.bloomfieldct.org/Pages/BloomfieldCT_Leisure/parks Town of Bloomfield.] Cited Dec. 21, 2007] The town of Farmington owns part of Burnt Hill on the southeast side of the mountain; a rough trail navigates it. [ [http://www.farmington-ct.org/downloads/WalkingTrailsDescription.pdf Brochure of trails in Farmington.] Town of Farmington, Cited Dec. 20, 2007] The town of Avon owns park space on the west side of the mountain as well as significant frontage on the Farmington River at the base of the mountain. [ [http://www.town.avon.ct.us/Public_Documents/AvonCT_Recreation/parks Town of Avon] Cited Dec. 21, 2007]

Heublein Tower

The centerpiece of Talcott Mountain State Park is Heublein Tower, accessible by trail only (convert|1.25|mi, 30 to 40 minute hike). The tower, convert|165|ft|m|0|lk=on tall and convert|1040|ft|m|0|lk=on above sea level, built for Gilbert F. Hueblein in 1914 as a summer retreat and home, was designed to withstand winds of 100 mph (160 km/h). Ownership of the property passed to the "Hartford Times" newspaper during World War II, and, in the 1950s, was used primarily as a radio beacon. Put up for sale in the 1960's and slated for residential development, the tower became part of the Talcott Mountain State Park in 1965 through the efforts of conservation non-profit groups, the state of Connecticut and the United States government. The tower has been renovated as a museum with period artifacts and furnishings. Visitors may climb to the top of the tower for a 360&deg: view encompassing four states. The tower is open for tours Memorial Day to Labor Day, Thursday through Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm; Labor Day through the end of October, 10 am to 5 pm. [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325272&depNav_GID=1650 Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection] Cited Dec. 21, 2007] [http://www.friendsofheubleintower.org/ Friends of Heublein Tower.] Cited Dec. 21, 2007]

Conservation and education

Talcott Mountain and its ecosystems are most threatened by suburban sprawl and ridgetop home building. Although extensive tracts of the mountain have been conserved as state park, municipal water supply, or conservation easement, private landowners also hold significant acreage, particularly on the southwest side of the mountain where upscale homes dot the ridge crest, and also on the lower slopes of the north and west sides of the mountain.

In 2000, Talcott Mountain was included in a study by the National Park Service for the designation of a new National Scenic Trail now tentatively called the New England National Scenic Trail, which would include the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail in Massachusetts and the Mattabesett Trail and Metacomet Trail trails in Connecticut. [ [http://www.mmmtrail.org/ Monadnock, Metacoment, Mattabesett National Scenic Trail Study] . Cited Nov 4, 2007.]

The Talcott Mountain Science Center, a regional non-profit education and research facility, located atop the ridge, offers a variety of programs including geology, ecology, astronomy, and meteorology geared toward children. [ [http://g3.tmsc.org/outreach/ Talcott Mountain Science Center] Cited Dec 21, 2007]

A number of regional and local non-profit organizations are active in conserving the landscape and ecosystems of Talcott Mountain, most notably the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, [http://www.simsburylandtrust.org/ Simsbury Land Trust] , [http://www.avonlandtrust.org/ Avon Land Trust] , and the [http://www.farmingtonlandtrust.org/Index.html Farmington Land Trust] .

ee also

* Metacomet Ridge
* Metacomet Trail
* Heublein Tower
* Farmington River
* Adjacent summits:

References

Links

* [http://www.ctwoodlands.org/ Connecticut Forest and Park Association]
* [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.1528: U.S. Congress "New England National Scenic Trail Designation Act."]
* [http://www.mmmtrail.org/DocsForLinks/MMMExecSummary.pdf NPS brochure for National Scenic Trail proposal.]
* [http://www.friendsofheubleintower.org/ Friends of Heublein Tower]
* [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325272&depNav_GID=1650 Talcott Mountain State Park]
* [http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/stateparks/maps/talcgis.pdf Talcott Mountain State Park map]
* [http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/stateparks/maps/penwood.pdf Penwood State Park map]
* [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325248&depNav_GID=1650 Penwood State Park]
* [http://www.themdc.com/images/talcmap.pdf MDC Talcott Mountain Reservoir area map]
* [http://www.farmington-ct.org/downloads/WalkingTrailsDescription.pdf "Farmington Walking Trails" brochure.]
* [http://www.themdc.com/talcottmountain.htm MDC website]
* [http://www.themdc.com/talcottregs.pdf MDC rules & regulations page]
* [http://www.simsbury-ct.gov/Public_Documents/Departments/SimsburyCT_ParkRec/parks Town of Simsbury Parks]
* [http://www.town.avon.ct.us/Public_Documents/AvonCT_Recreation/Facility%20Map.pdf Town of Avon parks map]
* [http://www.avonlandtrust.org/x/trails/Skyline.pdf Avon Land Trust map of Hazen Park]
* [http://www.avonlandtrust.org/ Avon Land Trust]
* [http://g3.tmsc.org/outreach/ Talcott Mountain Science Center]
* [http://www.simsburylandtrust.org/ Simsbury Land Trust]
* [http://www.farmingtonlandtrust.org/Index.html Farmington Land Trust]