Number of workers: 1 Jim de Friess
time spent: 5 hours- (includes commute)
Work accomplished: I knew from a previous hike that there was a
blockage on Pinch In about 1/4 of the way down it. The goal was to
remove it, so I hiked with shears out down to the blockage cutting
minimally.
The blockage consisted of three different trees, one was a hardwood, and
was low enough it could be stepped over. It got left in the trail.
Another was a dead (hemlock or pine) it was removed in two cuts and they
were both fairly easy cuts- nice soft wood.
The third tree was the top of another hardwood and required a lot of
cuts. I essentially had to de-branch it - four cuts through pieces the
size of my upper arm, and many more cuts and breaks of annoying smaller
stuff that still stuck out over the trail. I considered carrying a bow
saw, but didn't- all work was with a pulaski and some cuts were tougher
that they should have been.
Anyway except for the step over trunk across the trail, I finally got
the obstruction cleared. The bypass route that hikers had been using
was blocked- I had plenty of material for that. There is another
tree-dead right beside the trail- soft wood and its leaning such that it
will probably fall lengthwise down the trail blocking it yet again. I
think it should come down, but a rope and some help may be needed.
While working I heard a tree fall to the south of the trail- I'm
guessing a 100 yards or so- I heard a crack, then the thud. There was
occasionally a breeze but no real wind.
Below the blockage I removed I saw a prime sight for a mini trail dip,
so I went and dug it in. Some of the mini dips I have put in are really
holding up well. Others not so good. It appears to me if I can trail
dip to at least 2' of tread reversal maintenance becomes very minimal.
I started working back up the hill looking for places to start/clean out
more dips. I think having one about every 50' or so on that trail would
be good, Eventually I think I'll get there- adding a few on every trip.
Modifying or enhancing others.
I also sheared meticulously going up the hill. Non-grass was my primary
target, there is a lot of grass on Pinch In and its knee high in places.
There was another place with a tree trunk across the trail and I dug a
dip just above it, and used the trunk to hold the dirt. On the downhill
side the trunk off the trail becomes the water bar channel.
After several rounds of digging, and looking at my watch, I put the
pulaski away, and continued my slow walk out shearing. All the way to
the truck.
I saw nobody on the trail, the white (with camper shell) truck (USFS)
was the only other vehicle in the parking lot.
I did not take pictures, It was a great day in the woods, I accomplished
what I set out to do, and actually did more.
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