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2020

2020 – Year in Exploration

Stats:

  • 1 website complete crash
  • 6 months rebuilding
  • 99 locations explored
    • Coming back to update this with a breakdown
  • 150,878 website views
  • 1,017 hours of YouTube movies watched
Story of 2020

  • exploreCT.org’s 2020 mirrored the tumultuousness of the real world. I had the stirrings of server problems at the end of 2019 continuing through January and February until [The Great Crash] came in March.
  • I was forced to delete my site, lose my backups, and rebuild from square one
  • Rebuilding was much slower than I expected taking a full six months to get [Back to 100%]. But, the site was stronger, faster, better; or so I thought.
  • In the Fall, cleared from rebuilding the site, I had a list of changes accumulated that I was looking to fix. I would update one aspect, fix a gap, tweak and customize only to realize doing so had broken elements of my site and exposed weaknesses I didn’t know where there.
  • These broken elements and weaknesses were technical jargon filled messes. But, I treated it like a puzzle in a video game. I had to solve this puzzle by reading notes left by others (questions in online forums) piecing the disparate information together while figuring out how it applied to the unfamiliar style of puzzle in front of me. Let me tell you, it was SO satisfying to finally unlock the puzzle and fix the issues.
  • Heading into 2021, the site is (for now) at its best point ever and well positioned to in breadth, depth, and usefulness.

Lower Bolton Lake

★★☆☆☆

17 Keeney Drive, Bolton, CT, USA

Lower Bolton Lake Connecticut State Boat Launch 175 acres in Bolton, CT Parking: Medium sized lot near 17 Keeney Dr, Bolton, CT Map          Trails:… Read more…

Duncan Preserve

★★☆☆☆

14 Porges Rd, East Haddam, CT, USA

Duncan Preserve East Haddam Land Trust 19 acres in East Haddam, CT Parking: Shoulder parking near 14 Porges Rd, East Haddam, CT Trail Map        … Read more…

Bulkeley Hill Preserve

★★☆☆☆

247 Bulkeley Hill Rd Colchester, CT

Bulkeley Hill Preserve Colchester Land Trust 130 acres in Colchester, CT Parking: Small lot near 247 Bulkeley Hill Rd Colchester, CT Trail Map         … Read more…

Sweetheart Mountain

★★☆☆☆

80 Dunne Ave, Canton, CT, USA

Sweetheart Mountain Canton Land Trust 20 acres in Canton, CT Parking: Medium lot behind apartments near 80 Dunne Ave Canton, CT Trail Map         … Read more…

Mohegan State Forest

★☆☆☆☆

41.665027, -72.086363

Mohegan State Forest Connecticut State Forest 956 acres in Scotland, CT Parking: Room for car or shoulder parking north of 489 Devotion Rd Scotland, CT Hunting Map … Read more…

Cossaduck Bluffs

★★★☆☆

41.461780, -71.906116

Narragansett Trail: Cossaduck Bluffs / Gladys Foster Preserve CFPA Blue Blaze Trail / The Nature Conservancy / Connecticut State Forest 755 acres in North Stonington, CT Parking:… Read more…

Tankerhoosen WMA

★★☆☆☆

41.841233, -72.445106

Tankerhoosen Wildlife Management Area Connecticut WMA 449 acres in Vernon, CT Parking: From the north at Walker’s Reservoir near 129 Reservoir Rd, Vernon, CT From the south… Read more…

Walker’s Reservoir

★★☆☆☆

129 Reservoir Rd, Vernon, CT, USA

Walker’s Reservoir Natural Area Vernon Town Park 12 acres in Vernon, CT Parking: Medium lot near 129 Reservoir Rd, Vernon, CT Trail Map       Trails: 0.9… Read more…

About

Hi, I'm Matt. I'm building ExploreCT to be the guide for all your outdoor adventures. All the trails, views, and waterways this great state has to offer. Now get out and explore!

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