From collection Place
A difficult and lightly used woodland path built in 1903 from Stone Church off Giant Slide Road through notch between Sargent and Parkman, then south to intersection with Maple Springs Trail. Trail crosses carriage road twice and intersects Sargent North Ridge, Parkman, and Grandgent Trails. It begins on former farm road in woodland, then follows along streamside over great rock formations. It is difficult to tell what steps were set as trail scrambles over and between boulders. Existing steps and paving are slab-laid and as small as 1x1 foot. Crossings depend on what appear to be natural rows of stones across the stream, and one set of stepstones in notch are deteriorating. Drainage consists of one 4’ wide closed stone culvert with multiple stone cover, and one open stone culvert. There is one retaining wall at the intersection with Maple Springs. Trail does not have feel of highly crafted trails, yet is clearly defined by significant amounts of stonework, and there is a Pulpit Rock near Maple Springs with old, obscure set of steps leading to it. Trail is unique and offers the experience of traversing under giant boulder slide. One feels presence of geologic history and power. KJ, DK, SB, MB, GJS
