Fagin: Following a trail into lesser-known places in N. Stonington

We followed a yellow-blazed trail that meandered in a lasso loop through corrugated, rocky terrain, toward Lantern Hill Brook, which tumbles downhill toward Lantern Hill Pond near the Ledyard border and empties into Long Pond. Long Pond drains into Whitford Brook, which flows into the Mystic River, which empties into Fishers Island Sound, which ties into Long Island Sound, and then, the Atlantic Ocean.

Thus, this small parcel in North Stonington is connected to the rest of the world by water.

The trail extends for about a mile and a half, rising and falling 190 feet while passing moss-covered glacial boulders, impressive outcrops, vernal pools and extensive, ubiquitous stone walls.

Once occupied by Native Americans and later farmed by European colonists, the property was donated to ALC in 2016 by Mimi and Brad Borden, who named the preserve in honor of Benedict Bengt Benson, Mrs. Borden’s grandfather.

A sign at the entrance describes a man I would have enjoyed meeting. Born in Sweden in 1862, he immigrated to the United States at age 17, and eventually settled in North Stonington in 1914, where he and his wife, Betty, raised a family while running a farm.

A skilled carpenter, Mr. Benson crafted fine furniture as well as a violin, which he played, along with several other musical instruments. He also could hand-split a cord of wood when he was well into his 90s. He died on the farm in 1957 at age 95, survived by his wife, seven children, 17 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

After paying homage to the Benson family, Marco, Andy, Phil and I drove north on bumpy, rutted Swantown Hill Road for almost two more miles to Northwest Corner Road, near the site of the Mitchell Preserve/Reed Woodlands.

Along the way we took a short detour onto 600-acre Meechooôk Farm, operated as a partnership between the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the University of Connecticut.

Whatever they feed their pigs seems to be working. We gazed in wonder at one hog that was about the size of my Mazda hatchback.

“I’ve never seen one that big,” Andy remarked.

Two miles west of the Swantown Hill Road/Northwest Corner Road intersection, we arrived at a grassy parking area leading to the Mitchell Preserve/Reed Woodlands trailhead.

We followed a 2.6-mile loop that led us past a meadow, through dense woodlands, over ridges, into valleys and along fast-flowing Main Brook, where a fallen tree formed a makeshift bridge.

“Phil, here’s a challenge: I bet you can’t walk across it,” I said.

“With my eyes closed,” he bragged.

Sure enough, Phil sauntered across and back, though he did keep his eyes open to avoid tumbling about 6 feet into the drink. The rest of us strolled more prudently on stepping stones a short distance from the tree bridge.

The preserve comprises six contiguous tracts: 111-acre Eleanor & Flood Reed Memorial Woodlands; 9-acre Gibson / McKain Songbird Preserve; 75-acre Jean & Hobart Mitchell Preserve; 24-acre Green Falls Five Tract; 5-acre Greenwood Tract; and 20-acre Main Brook Preserve.

More information about the preserves is available on the ALC website: Avalonia.org.