Thursday, October 22, 2009

10/22/2009 Upper Pinch In

Date of work 10/22/2009
Number of workers 1 (Jim de Friess)
time spent 6 hours (includes commute)

I've started a waterbar project for Pinch In. My goal is to make the
trail down to Falcon rock marvelous. With this in mind I go out there
and look for places with evidence of water running down the trail, and
then waterbar accordingly. Calling them dips would not fit the
definition, but I do try and make a nice wide berm- they seem to hold up
far better.

I was just on Pinch In last week and two trees had fallen across the
trail in that time. One was 100' from the trail entrance. When it hit
it shattered (from brittleness) and no cuts were necessary. It was just
a matter of clearing the brush from the trail.

I cleaned out/built waterbars where I thought they were needed. Some
are as close as 20-30' apart, but the trail should hold up better.

Near the place where several trees had fallen across the trail and I had
it temporarily re-routed for a time - finally getting it open again
recently- there was yet another tree across the trail. It too was hard
and brittle, so it was easy to clear.

I looked at standing leaners on the way down. One being beside the
trail I weakened it in a direction I ultimately wanted it to fall. It
was hard wood, and I did no more chopping on standing deads. It is my
hope they will fall and break up as the one near the trail head did.
There are multiple that will eventually fall across the trail. I can't
count and walk up and out- sorry- I lose track. I would need to mark
something as I count. For that reason the number of waterbars put in is
a guess. I'm guessing 10-12 majors ones. 6-8 minor ones. The
difference being some parts of the trail a mound of dirt is all that is
required, the runoff is there. Other parts the water has been running
down the trail eroding it. To get the water off and berm, you need more
dirt and you have to dig further for drainage.

I didn't get as far as I wanted to, but I did make progress. I'm
pleased with it.

The maples are really showing off - green, yellow, orange and red all on
the same tree. Green is about gone higher up.

A wonderful day in the woods.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

October 15, 2009 upper Pinchin

Date of work: 10-15-2009
number of workers: 1 Jim deFriess
time spent:5.5 hours - includes commute
Work accomplished: I hiked down to Falcon rock and worked the trail up
from there. I focused on waterbars, and getting water off the trail as
fast as possible. I also widened a little the trail in places.

I worked up to the point where some people cross Pinchin on what they
like to call Rockjock. Did a few waterbars above that, and then hiked
out.

Part of that section is the low spot and a natural drainage. I built a
few waterbars to get water off the trail, but if the volume is enough it
will come back on further downhill. Hopefully some will soak in off the
trail. I need to bring the trail just up hill on the north side of the
way it exists now, and then provide escape paths for water back to the
low spot.

It was very foggy, I took two pics, all they show is fog. A hunter
walked by, he was letting his dogs run up the gorge, and went down
Pinchin to try and cut them off. Trucks with dog cages were plentiful.

The temp was perfect, the rain was gentle, another great day in the
woods.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Work Report Conley Cove 1oct2009

Date: 1oct2009
Workers: 1 Ken Crump
Time:   8.5 hours including travel

Work Report:

I was about to forget to write this report.  Been busy.  Like Jim said, the
weather was much improved over the previous Thursday. 

We clipped down the trail, and sawed off the snags that were reaching out trying
to grab backpacks, along with a couple across the trail.  The trash detail took
a bit of time, but now things are nice and clean, at least to the south of Conley.

Like Jim said, there is a mess of stuff down immediately north of Conley.
It is crosscut work though, and won't be easy with that.  Also at least a couple
trees across Conley itself that will need to be cut at some point. 

We worked slowly back to the top, clipping as we went.  The small vegetation
is now very much under control.

So, we trimmed up and trashed out.

Another good day in the woods.

Thanks Jim.

Ken

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Conley Cove Oct 1, 2009

Date of work: Oct 1, 2009
number of workers:1 ( Jim de Friess)
time spent: 8 hours (includes commute)

Work done: What a difference a week makes. After a hot, physically
draining, buggy trip on RJ last week. Ken and I met at Old Conley in a
cool gentle breeze. Leaving Gatorade in the creek to keep it cool we
clipped and sawed our way down Conley.

At the bottom we gathered trash to carry out, and enjoyed a snack
watching the river.

Then we clipped our way back up Conley, rescued the cool Gatorade from
the creek and drank it. I would say Conley is in good shape for fall
and winter. There is also less trash in the campsites at the bottom.

Ken pointed out that the big tree I thought was hemlock across the LGT
about 50' from Conley was an Oak (about 2' diameter). There is also a
new fallen Hickory (1.25 ') across the trail on near the bottom. Its a
low duck to get under, but possible. Everything else can be easily
stepped over- well- There is a uprooted trunk and a large log near it on
the uphill side that is hard to squeeze through.

We were in the woods 6 hours and I don't remember a bug buzzing me at
all. I was also able to mostly be in the shade.

Another good day in the woods, thanks Ken.

Jim d