Number of workers: 1 Jim de Friess
Time spent: 11 hours- includes commute.
Work done: shear work on Rockjock hiking from north to south. I also
moved a couple small trees that had fallen across the trail.
Now the story. Well I was going to go regardless. After what Ken did
Tuesday and the way the weather looked - I might have made the same
decision in his shoes. I left later than I thought but got to old
Conley about 8:30. There was a white US government plated vehicle
parked where we normally park to work on the southern part of RJ. It was
a small SUV. There was no occupant. From what I could tell driving by
Tuesday was a success.
I continued on and was passed by two USFS vehicles, a small ranger and a
small green SUV behind it- this was on Dog Back they were heading south
and me north. Maybe our forest service friends will enlighten us as to
their mission(s).
I parked at old Conley, didn't see Allen figured he wasn't coming since
Ken wasn't so I took my coca cola and was going to put it in the first
stream -so it would be cold on exit. Found the first stream not
running. So I decided to carry it to Jason's puddle. There was a tree
across the trail just past the first creek, I was able to push it out of
the trail. There was another on the decline toward Jason's puddle a
Rhodo, fortunately it broke easily, and I cleared it too.
Jason's puddle was dry. I was only clipping worst offenders, but
generally what Ken and I had done was looking pretty good. I decided to
carry my coke to Bluejay Falls.
At Bluejay Falls there were a couple drips, but no puddles. The coke
went into the pack, yes I carried it the rest of the way.
Now that both hands were free, I started clipping wider, I worked up the
boulder field which was passable then turned left at the top. The trail
was pretty thin, so I clipped it wide. All the way to split rock was
thin- not any more. At split rock I made a mental note that it would be
a good place to retreat to if a thunderstorm came along. The sky was
still threatening, I had seen some mist in the gorge. After split rock
it was still a little narrow so I kept clipping.
When I rounded the corner by the turn for one bat cave the trail was in
good shape. I clipped but I was able to make good time and distance.
When the trail turned uphill a few hundred yards before the next creek
crossing (which was only dripping too). I noticed a bunch of wasps.
Evidently I had disturbed their nest, and they were buzzing and crawling
out like they were drunk. I backup up about 10' and watched, they never
showed any interest in me, I guess they are used to a downed tree
disturbing their nest and having to relocate. In just a minute or so I
quickly went by them, then carefully clipped back to where I stopped
which was about a foot from their nest. There is also tree across the
trail before this point. I had it in my mind to try for tee shirt, so I
didn't take out the pulaski for it. It can be gotten under easily.
Beyond the wasps I clipped, and went through the next creek. The growth
was bad in patches, some of the trail looked good, other places it took
a while to clip through.
I passed the turn to razor's edge, which looked more used than the trail
beyond. I clipped the growth back going up the hill and through the
next drainage area (creek- which was also dry). The south side of that
canyon if that is what is is had some dense growth as well. I also
noticed now I had more sun than clouds.
Then it got better out of the canyon. Here another wasp landed on my
shear handles and started crawling up toward my hands. I put them down
suddenly and he was still on there. I was about to squash him when he
flew to a nearby tree and took off. Within a minute or two a hornet
landed on my handles. I was thinking mad wasps or hornets could be
worse than a snake, cause you couldn't get away if they decided to sting
you, and now I had a third encounter. I did notice at a break several
wasps crawling on my clippings, maybe they were grateful for sap access.
The trail started turning into the next canyon which I believe is
moonshine canyon. It looks like it has two (northern one is now dry)
stream crossings according to the map. It really got thick here. There
was evidence that someone had passed not too long ago, but they had to
swim through the growth. Right in the middle was a burnt tree trunk
across the trail (6" maybe) and probably hard as a rock. There was no
way (as fatigue was setting in) I was getting out the pulaski, so I
clipped around it and it can be stepped over- hopefully its one cut for
next time.
I really slowed at this point, fatigue and thick brush, but was
determined to get to a common reference point. I decided the stream bed
would be an appropriate stopping point but it was 200 yards away. I
clipped, I rested, I clipped, I rested. I finally walked to the stream
bed, clipped across it and slowly worked back.
The northern most stream bed in Moonshine is as far south as I got Ken-
sorry to say. I think that is right anyway - two stream beds south of
the turn to razor's edge. This one had the loose white (light colored)
rocks.
My back was hurting, my arms were tired, and I reasoned I had enough
liquid left for the walk out. So I turned around. I took four breaks
coming out. One just south of the turn to razor's. One where I slipped
coming down a hill - 600-700 yards south of the approximate turn for One
bat (that turn wasn't obvious). One at Bluejay Falls. I laid down on a
rock there. One at hacker's point.
With all the snake sightings I was a little on edge. I startled several
lizards, and when the took off I jumped too. That must have happened
5-6 times. I did not take my camera though. At hacker's the views were
great, the humidity had gone down, and there was only a hint of haze. I
watched two buzzards float up on an updraft.
I headed for the truck. Got there and drove home. When I got to lower
elevation the heat started getting to me. I made it home, cleaned up.
Got some ice and drank that coke.
It was a good day in the woods. I think we will have RJ more hiker
friendly and sooner than last year for the Fall show. Get the word out.
There is a hint of color along the trail (the low stuff where I cut). I
hope its an indicator that growing season is winding down, and the dry
weather now is hurting growth also.
Jim d
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