Rock, Root & Trail June 2023, Joy in Nature Because of You

5 Things You Should Know About Wayne Fogg

Meet Wayne Fogg: the extraordinary volunteer giving thousands of hours to our Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails and how you help him.

There are good volunteers. There are great volunteers. And then there is Wayne Fogg.

Wayne is quirky, different, and fun, consistently giving over 1,000 hours a year (frequently 2,000 hours) in volunteer service to the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails. He is perennially the volunteer with the most hours.

Wayne, together with the Rock Stars, uses a pulley system to place a rock for a stream crossing.

These rocks can weigh several hundred pounds!

Wayne only started hiking in his early 40s. As he hiked the Blue-Blazed Trails in the early 2000s, he was disturbed by conditions on some trails.

Not one to sit idly by or not express himself, he volunteered to help, became a Trail Manager, and joined the Trails Committee.

Wayne is best known for his work in creating and managing the Rock Stars, a group of volunteers who use block and tackle (and brute strength when needed) to move large rocks. They improve trail safety and access by building stone staircases, retaining walls, and stepping stones. And he shares his knowledge by helping train others—including the Connecticut Woodlands Conservation Corps.

Because of selfless people like Wayne, the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail Network is maintained and safer. Your ongoing support makes it possible for volunteers to do their great work.

Thank you for continuing to support our trail volunteers and Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails, and thank you, Wayne.

Fact #5: Wayne loves to wear bright colored shirts on the trails! That’s how he got his trail name “Parrot”.