12-21-2010 Blue Jay blockage removed and 105 road conditions

http://picasaweb.google.com/jdefriess/SolsticeTrailWorkBlueJayCanyon#

Pictures at link above.

Date of work:12/21/2010

time spent: 6 (includes commute)

number of workers: 1 Jim de Friess

Work accomplished: we had heard that there was a tree down in Blue Jay canyon effectively blocking Rock Jock Trail.  Unsure of exactly where and what I decided to go investigate.  I took tools.  The road conditions on 105 until just below pinnacle were clear, after Pinnacle there were icy spots.  But enough clear to get me through to the top of Dogback mountain.  At the top and just about ready to descend two hunters stopped me and advised me to turn around.  The road was slick on the North side of dogback, 4wd vehicles were getting stuck.  Somebody with four wheel drive and chains was able to pull them up yesterday but they had no intentions of going back down.  They asked if I had chains, which I did and they said I'd probably be all right.  A couple hundred yards beyond them I stopped and put on the chains, and the truck skated down the mountain.  Steering was an adventure and my worry about getting out started.  I did ride the brakes down so my fronts probably did skate.  There were several place where the ditches had been cleaned out, and culverts found and tracks off the normal roadbed.

Anyway I made it to old Conley and parked.  Gathered my gear and headed for Blue Jay.  The north facing hills had a couple inches of snow, the south facing hills were almost completely clear.  I made good time.  I was using my pulaski as a walking stick.  Shears and loppers in pack.  At the bottom of the boulder field I saw no sign of blockage (little did I know it was just above- had I known what to look for) so I carefully negotiated my way up it.  I was so glad to see that narrow spot widened by Michael, Ken and the others.  At the top there was a tree down.

It was laying parallel to the trail and probably just on the downhill side of center.  I could see the trail on the other side.  As I was walking in there were two sets of footprints, a big and a medium.  They did not go up the boulder field, I did find them on the other end of the tree and then could make out the bypass that was being used around the blockage.  Basically a scramble from the lower end of the boulders to the trail at the south end of the blockage- about 40' of path and 20' elevation gain.  Lots of blackberry through there too.

I started throwing limbs out of the trail, clipping what was still attached with loppers or chopping with pulaski depending on how big it was.  Some stuff got stacked beside the down trunk to make for better footing.  The rest tossed over the side.  I moved a few rocks into position just below the point where you have to step up on the trunk to continue.  It all cut and chopped more easily than I would have expected, and I got the trail clear to where the footprints rejoined it.  Split rock is very near, but I didn't go to it due to snow covered trail.

At the stump end there is still a pretty good step over, but there are two ways to get up to the position to step.  Anyone that can get through the boulders won't have any problem.

The trail is open for business.

The work went quicker than I expected, but having extra time to get out (and back up Dogback) was a good thing I decided.  I worked my way back to the truck, stopping in a few places to catch my breath and take pictures.  

At the truck I got in put it in one, about 1/3 to 1/2 gas pedal, and the truck never stopped climbing.  Got pretty slow in the steepest part, but it kept pushing me up.  At the top I took off the chains (prior to the paved part) and drove the rest of the way out.  

It was a great day in the woods

Jim d

Southern RJ 11-10-2010

Date of work 11-27-2010

Number of workers: 1 Jim de Friess

time spent:9 hours- includes commute

Work accomplished: Worked RJ from the back of Mossy canyon around to past Mossy falls with shears and pulaski as needed.

I had intended to camp at the Mossy falls- well sometimes you get the gorge and sometimes the gorge gets you.  I arrived with aspirations of finding suitable poles and pitching my hammock in that area.  The wind was whipping up when I parked, and there just isn't a place out there, without dead trees threatening.  I could have slept on the ground but that would have been under a widomaker too.  I don't think any of them will fall immanently but if you are wrong you are dead or hurt.

I did start a small fire before I gave up.  It was scary how fast and easy that wood burned.  I match started it, and consequently I kept the fire quite small.  I threw some of wood over the cliff.  The wind kept it fanned at times, even in the canyon.

I cleared the branches at the falls leaving just the trunk over the falls, its now much easier to get to the falls to get water.  The falls was running by the way it took about 3 minutes to fill up a quart canteen at the best spot, there was probably 20 similar to less streams.

I took turns pondering hammock set up and doing trail work.  I worked from the falls north up to the first hill top.  Then back to check the fire and I worked the scramble part we refer to as Underwood's stairs.  They are much better now.  One trunk across the trail there, but easy to step over.

After doing Underwood's stairs I left the tools on top, and went back for the backpack.  The fire was about out, but I put about 4 quarts of water on it and the rearranged the rocks to improve footing over toward the falls.  This decided it for me to hike back out to the truck- putting my water on the fire.  I watered the rocks too.

Then I snipped and walked south by the cave.  I de-branched a pine trunk to make one area easier to pass. I got the little hemlocks near the big trunk I notched.  At the back of Mossy I just walked out.  A couple of trees that need to be straddled but I was tired and had a hill to climb. 

I took a few pictures, very few, nearly lost my Rat Hat in the wind.  I did see a laurel bloom (November bloom)- pretty neat.  It was at the top of Underwood's stairs.  I saw some icicles hanging from the falls when I got there- about 10am.

Next time I'll plan to go where there are suitable trees. 

Jim d

Work day, 11nov2010, Rockjock trail

Date of work: 11/11/2010
Workers: 1 Ken Crump
Time spent: 9.5 hours including commute
Work performed: Sheared Rockjock from back of Mossy Canyon to Zen Canyon.  Removed fallen debris from trail.

Jim pretty much covered it, but like he said our goal was to make sure the trail was open and easy enough to follow.
Shearing involved anything that was hanging over the trail, and as much of the uphill side that we could get at a slow
walking pace.  There were also a few decayed fallen trees that we were able to upend and flip out of the trail along
with associated limbs.

Overall the summer growth seems to be less heavy each year as the brush and small trees get larger and provide
more shade. 

Hopefully we will be able to make a trip through soon and remove all the smaller logs.  Most were easily stepped
over, but a couple are almost waist high and require sitting and swinging over. 

Thanks for another great day in the woods Jim.

My photos are here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ojc/sets/72157625243454689/

Ken

southern two-thirds of official RJ 11-11-2010

Date of work: 11/11/2010
number of workers: 1 (Jim de Friess)
Time spent:9 hours- includes commute
Work done: Shear work along Rock Jock trail from southern entrance to Zen creek, we also threw the light brush out of the trail.

The story:  I met Ken at 8am at the south end of Rock Jock trail along NC 105.  We started hiking down into the gorge and turned North through Mossy Canyon.  Our plan was to try and get somewhere near the middle of RJ and then clip back south on the way out.  We clipped minimally, but some as we progressed North.

At Mossy Canyon we looked for a way to avoid the really steep and tricky section we have named "Underwood's Stairs".  There was a cliff preventing easy access to the saddle on the west side of Mossy point.  We followed the trail to the top of the stairs.  Coming down one section of the stairs we then headed North crossing the area above the Falls.  We continued a slow descent and were able to work our way back to the trail without having to descend the part that must be scrambled up.

Once back on the trail I stopped briefly to get to flat rock below the trail to take some of the pictures of the mossy canyon area.  It is fabulous.

Back on the trail we continued to Tee shirt point, clipping a narrow path to make the trail easier to follow.  At tee shirt we began the climb I had realized was there from tee shirt to the back of the canyon when I backpacked South two weeks ago.  I took a few pictures, and paced myself arriving at the back of the canyon along Rockjock.

From there the terrain is up and down, but no long sustained climbs or descends.  We could see we were progressing toward Sunshine because it has some live big trees.  We clipped the briers, the blackberries and the devil's walking sticks, mostly.  Some grass when the sticker bushes were minimal. 

Once above Sunshine point we saw a path out to it.  Someone had de-brushed about a 10' corridor for a while and the path was well worn.  In some respects the path down to Sunshine looked better (clearly more used) than the trail south that we had just come through on.  We dressed RJ to make sure it looked like the primary trail.  Hopefully people study their maps. 

We went down to Sunshine point and took a break there, and lots of pictures.  There was a chain bolted to a rock near a cliff, and the path had been well worn.  Nice little plateau below the trees right at the cliffs.  It would be hard to hammock camp there, but mature live trees and hammock camping possibilities exist up the hill from the plateau but still below Rock Jock (RJ).

After that detour we continued North on RJ.  The trail here had been well used  for a while.  When we started our descent on the North side of the hill toward razor creek the growth was thicker.  Ken wondered how the people going out to Sunshine had gotten there.  Just then practically we saw a well worn path to the left up the hill.  Ken investigated and found a fire circle.  We would later see where this path goes.

We noticed that the north sides of hills seemed to have the thickest growth along RJ.  We decided after discovering the side path to try and work RJ further north to the place where a 70' hemlock fell along the trail.  The area has plenty of devil's walking stick, and we wanted to make sure people could find an easy way through.  This took us to Zen creek. 

We made it to Zen Creek meaning we had hiked from the South 2/3s of RJ.  The path to Razor's edge was also well worn.  We again tried to make sure RJ trail would be clear to anyone trying to follow it.  We then worked our way back to the path heading west up the mountain.

A quick check of GPS showed that this path would need to gain 700' of elevation in about 0.3 miles (1500') of horizontal distance.  We realized it would probably have parts steeper than Pinch In.  We decided to follow it.  There were regular rock stacks and as we ascended the brush had been cleared.  A nettle thicket had been clipped back, it had briers and blackberries and it was steep- straight up the grade in places.  As we progressed there started being switchbacks.  Easy to follow once we ascended to the brushy part.

Eventually we popped out on the road near where the road starts to seriously descend Dogback toward Conley.  Knowing now what to look for the path is clearly visible from the road, and there is a place to park about two cars across from it.

Once I had worked on an official trail, I think RJ, and tried to block a side path someone had created with brush, only to come back for the next work session and find the brush moved from where I had put it back into the official trail.  Since that experience, I have only tried to make the official trails more inviting, and not block.

As we walked over Dogback along the road I considered the effort that someone put in to create those paths- too bad we can't get that kind of help for legal trail work.  If the cliffs at Sunshine were the goal then the path from the road to Sunshine would be about 1/2 mile total.  To get to Sunshine from either end of RJ would require about 2 miles of hiking, and require negotiating the loose rocks and Underwood's stairs in Mossy, or the loose rocks in Blue Jay canyon.  I can certainly see why they did it, and it has been pointed out to me that the trails in the gorge were at one time a path that somebody took to some feature, and then came back to show someone else. 

It was a great day in the woods, RJ is discernible all the way through.  There are some trees that need to be removed from the trail, but that will be a later trip.  The 60 degree weather helped my stamina.  At 80 or above we wouldn't have gotten nearly as much accomplished.  All days in the woods are good, but this one especially so.

Thanks Ken.

Pictures are at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/jdefriess/RockJockVeterans2010#

Trail up Shortoff

Date of work: 11/6/2010
number of workers: 1 (Jim de Friess)
time spent: 7.5 hours- includes commute

Work done:  Continued from where I left off.  I made or opened water bars, lopped the bigger trees, then sheared the trail and pushed uphill.

I went out there today thinking I was close to a turn west switchback, and then not far from MTS.  As it turned out there are two abrupt left (west) turns and I started out below the lower one.  I ended up at the upper one, and then walked up to the MTS intersection.  293 times my right foot touched on the way back to where I stopped.  From there I covered about 270 right foot touches then coming back down the hill to where I started the day, and from where I stopped work back down to the truck was 1080 right foot touching.  So I'm three fourths of the way up.  Anything else up to now has been a guess, now I have data.

Very interesting day, there was horseshoe prints in the trail, but no trail apples.  One place where the horse appeared to have done the other.

Several middle aged men passed by "been hiking up Shortoff for 25 years", all were appreciative and said they were glad the trail was getting some attention.  It was several groups, that said the same thing, all from the triangle (Raleigh Durham Chapel Hill area).  One wanted to know where he could send money to support trail work.  Had I been thinking - I should have said I would take his donation- just kidding.  Seriously if I can get some business cards with an AAT contact number, email address, etc- I could just pass them out to anyone that expresses interest.  Lots of middle aged (50s) men camping on Shortoff tonight.

I think working that trail on a weekend as busy as it is, is great exposure for the AAT program.

I had two guys pass me, one is a neighbor of my first WPCC boss.  We talked about him in a good way.

Two weeks ago I was sweating and hot out there doing trail work. Today I looked out and would have sworn I saw snow squalls off in the distance.  Guess what one came over me and, it was snow.  I worked in a couple of brief flurries.  The cooler weather helped my stamina as well.  The wind picked up at sunset, and it was a low hanging sun, and chilly in the shade walking out.

This now makes two consecutive Saturday adventures in the gorge.  Totally awesome.  On next Thursday I hope to do some work on Rock Jock - the South end.

Good days in the woods.

Wolfpit toward Shortoff

http://picasaweb.google.com/jdefriess/ShortoffWork1024#

Pictures at this link, I captioned them.

Date of work: 10 -24- 2010
Number of workers: 1 Jim de Friess
Time spent: 6 hours (includes commute)
Work done:  Continued up the trail from Wolfpit toward Shortoff.  This involved lopping a section and removing the debris, putting in waterbars when and where I could- some just required cleaning out, and then finishing it off with shears.

Some of the debris sticking over the trail was dry (bone dry) and I removed it to the down hill side in most cases.  Then passed some smokers on my way out.  I hope they aren't careless with their butts.  May I make a suggestion that signs be posted reminding people to be careful with fire at trail heads.

I was passed by 5 children less than 4' tall, so I'm glad 'm doing this section.  Number of adults: about 12, a very popular trail.

Another good day in the gorge.

Trail up south Shortoff 10-17-2010

Date of work 10-17-2010
number of workers:one Jim de Friess
time spent 7 hours, includes commute.

Work accomplished:  Built or opened water features (pulaski), removed larger trees in trail corridor (loppers), clipped the smaller stuff (shears).  from the point I left off about another 300 yards up the trail.  After reviewing maps, I'm a little past halfway to the MST intersection.  The top of Shortoff looks closer in terms of vertical distance than the field at the house just before the parking area.

It was hot and buggy, the flies missed you Jason. Now I'll have welted elbows, I left repellent at home thinking "its cooler now".

I kept changing tools, and I believe in only having one tool per person, but I'm trying to be comprehensive in my trail work.  What I've accomplished should be easier to maintain in the future.

Saw many people going up and then down, very popular trail,  most spoke to me and thanked me, one offered to share water.  I should have drank some and then let him top my canteen off.  I eventually ended up with a headache, working after I ran out of water "just a little bit more".

One guy made the statement "Bridge should be out doing this". I should have countered with "whats wrong with you ?" but I didn't.  Turns out he was a Nebo postal carrier, and I've seen how some of them can be.  He said "all the guides state that the way to get to Shortoff is to come down from Tablerock".  Postal workers???

An older couple walked by, I was taking a break, and he asked me if I was lost.  She said he was kidding.  When they came back down I asked him if he was lost, and I got a big grin.  He then asked me if I was intending to clean off the whole mountain.  I said I was going to just do the trail, and I wouldn't try and finish it today.  He said that was a good plan.

Right before I quit 6 climbers came down, it was heading to dusk.  Two were running down the trail.  It was a shaded and cool walk back down the hill, which helped my headache.  I was sore all over and tired getting in the truck, and the one climber (one of the runners) was doing stretches in the parking lot. 

Stopped at 3-point for a drink, and one of my former students was working there.

No pics, I had the camera but didn't bother.

Jim d

Trail up Shortoff 9-18-2010

Date of work: 9/18/2010
Number of workers: 2 - Jim and Jared de Friess
Time spent :6.5 hours total includes commute
Work done: Kept clipping up the hill.

We started late, and we didn't stay long. I worked about 2 hours and Jared worked about 30 minutes. He went up to the top of Shortoff, and mistakenly took MTS down the ridge for a while, before backtracking. There really needs to be a sign there, I'm considering putting some flagging up and using a sharpie to write notes stating where the trails go.

I clipped, cleaned out and water bars. There was a locust thicket on the trail and I did 2' on each side of the trail for about 100 yards. I left the hardwoods to grow and cut back what was shading them. There was a red oak trunk across the trail, I was able to cut it once and move it down the trail. One end is still in the trail (but can be walked around), the other makes a good place to sit and rest.

I still haven't made it as far as Ken and I did that one day, but the trail is in good shape where I've been.

A former student walked by, he said he had been wondering how to get in touch with me. I told him to just come to the gorge and hike. He saw my pic on lg.net (I'm guessing at Hackers)- he asked how hard that was to get to. He wants to do the loop down Pinch In, up LGT and out Conley. If we can get people on RJ its a good little loop.

Another good day in the gorge

14Sep2010 Rockjock

Date: 14Sep2010
Workers: 1 Ken Crump
Trail: Rockjock (from south entrance)
Time spent: 8.5 hours including commute

Work Done:

Last time Jim and I worked a short way into the southernmost part of Mossy Canyon. My plan today was to hike straight in as far as the Mossy Cave, or possibly on around to just above Mossy falls, and work my way back out. Well, everytime we say we'll hike in and work out, we end up breaking that plan. I did it today too. I started clipping when I got to the point we left off last time. There were a few places that didn't need much. Over all, I think there are
fewer weeds and briars this year than last year. Maybe the fact that the bushes are getting taller is helping to shade out the briars and weeds. I sure hope so. I hit a patch of the spiny locust stuff just before Balanced Rock that was quite thick. A lot of the bushes on the side needed some trimming back, and this is only normal. The path across the flat "blueberry ridge" above Balanced Rock was fairly clear, but I trimmed a lot of the bear grass and it's flower stalks.

From there you head back into the deepest, darkest, wettest part of Mossy. Things were looking good at first, but then I started hitting more and more nettle and briars. This slowed things down quite a bit. The nettle was thick, and it took many cycles of the shears just to move along a foot or two. By the time I had cut to the far side of the canyon where the trail turns east toward the cave, I was at my turn around time and my left elbow was complaining quite a bit. So, since I was within a few hundred feet of my possible goal for the day, I decided that was close enough. I knew I'd find things to clip on the way out. It always looks different going in the other direction, and I had a hill to climb. I turned, and slowly worked my way out, stopping to take a break and eat a snack, just before heading up the hill.

I guess the big event of the day is the fact that the road is being graded. I noticed going up that the ditches had been pulled out. Then just north of Dobson road there was a grader parked in a pull off, and everything north of that had been graded. I heard them up there working all morning, even going up on Dogback for more work. As I came down the road, a second grader had worked well south of Pinnacle, and trucks had brought in new gravel for the bad places. I'd say they'll finish up down to the pavement tomorrow.

I saw no hikers today. Saw two different groups of turkey while going up the road this morning. Just the usual birds and lizards while in the woods.

I took some pictures. PHOTOS



Oh, the weather! It was cool this morning, but I left the truck with only a T shirt. I was feeling the sun before I was half way down the hill, but there was a good breeze. It became hot later, but the humidity was low, and the breeze kept up all day. Not too bad. Nuther great day in the woods.

Ken

trail from wolfpit parking

Date of work: 9/12/2010
number of workers: 1 -Jim de Friess
Time spent: 6 hours includes commute
Work done: clipped and cleaned out waterbars on the lower part of the trail from wolfpit up toward shortoff.

I was late getting out there but I went. It was hot but it felt good to be out there. I clipped and cleaned out waterbars going up. When I ran out of water I did a little more then walked down hill to the truck. What a nice trail to work on.

Its clipped nice and wide in the section I did. I did not get up the hill as far as Ken and I did last summer when we did some. Pictures are posted at the link below. It was cooling down on the way home- very pleasant.

http://picasaweb.google.com/110028009052849072738/LowerWolfpitTrail#

MST and wolfpit (east) 9-6-2010

Date of work: 9/6/2010
number of workers: 1 (Jim de Friess)
Time spent: 6.5 hours - includes commute

Work accomplished: cleaning out waterbars, establishing new ones, using loppers on larger trail obstructing growth.

I started out with the idea to hike to the MST and wolfpit trail intersection and then work a little down MST toward the river and end up working back down toward wolfpit.

On the way up I cleaned out waterbars with my feet as I went. I regretted that I had left the shears at home. I knew I was getting close but was also getting tired so I found a good sitting rock and rested. As it turns out I was about 100' from the intersection.

I took three before pics at the intersection- one each way (link at bottom). Then I worked about a 150' section back down toward wolfpit. There were about 5 cars in the parking area when I got there.

Not having shears I wasn't able to get the finished look I like to see after working on the trail, but I de-brushed the big stuff fairly wide with the loppers. I also cut a tree trunk across the trail to wolfpit and removed it, I was trying to make it clear which way the trail goes. The first blaze on MST down the hill was obscure again, so I cut back growth so it can be seen.

I had finished the small section back down and returned to the intersection of MST. I started clipping on the MST heading down hill to the river. Surprise surprise a woman hiker appeared coming up the MST. We spoke briefly she wanted to know what the trails were at the intersection, she seemed to have no clue. A few minutes later a man about her age appeared, followed by a cocker spaniel missing hair on its back. The woman asked the guy where the old man was and sure enough a third hiker appeared, an older fellow. The older fellow said that anyone that does trail maint was his hero. He said he does it too, but didn't say where. They were out scouting, and supposedly in a couple weeks they were going to bring a larger group in. All three of the hikers ascending MST were wearing shorts, and I saw a scratch or two, but not tears. They were going to ascend the old trail to the top (I had to take it years ago to avoid falcon closed areas) intersect the MST on top, and then come back through on MST taking the trail to wolfpit. There was sign that the trail up the old way had been used. So all four ways at that intersection looked about the same.

I worked down the MST, clipping back the larger growth that loppers are needed for, I maybe got around 100+ yards, and then decided to hike back up, get water and rest. I remembered what all had been crowding the trail on the way up, so after my rest I started back down toward wolpit, clipping on that.

The days are cooler now, but not enough. In just a few hundred feet I decided to head back for the truck. I had passed a couple of small kids walking up with their parents, so I tried to make it easier for them in a couple places. I was beat.

There is plenty of shear or slingblade work needed all along the trail.
At the lowest end, and where I worked today - loppers may not be of much use, but the trail between those two areas needs some lopper work.
A grouping of dead trees about knee high - saw might be in order. Cutting downed dry wood off the ground with a pulaski is tough, it tends to get hard.
Water bar cleaning/building with a pulaski can continue to be done as well.

Link to pics is below. The views were better than the pictures show. It was too bright and the sun washed out the photos.

http://picasaweb.google.com/110028009052849072738/WolfpitMst#

South Rockjock 29Aug2010

Date: August 29, 2010
Workers: 1 Ken Crump
Time spent: 8.0 hours including commute
Work done: Worked southern end of Rockjock Trail from the road to the drainage just south of Balanced Rock.

I made it to the trailhead a little early. After taking pictures of the signs, I trimmed grass at the trailhead, and cleaned the trail down to the point it starts to turn downhill. At the time I changed tools and started down the hill clipping and chopping back anything in the way. It wasn't long until Jim caught up and we worked together to the cliff edge where we took a break. Last year the ridge out to where Rockjock turns back into Mossy Canyon was just about closed up with low growing spiny locust. It wasn't so bad this year, so we walked on in to the first drainage in the canyon. There Jim cleared some rotten deadfall from the waterway and we
clipped and snipped our way back up the the ridge. Climbing back up the ridge we took an occasional whack at things that were missed on the way down. It always looks different going the other direction. At the top we took more sign photos and soon called it a day.

Photos are here.

Ken

Southern end of RJ work

date of work August 29, 2010
number of workers: 1 (Jim de Friess)- Ken will file his own report
Time spent :7 hours including commute
Work done:  We clipped Rock Jock from the southern entrance down to the Peninsula and beyond to the first hint of water.  At that point we walked out. 

More detail, I met Ken on RJ, he had clipped some near the top, I caught sight of him about 200 yards in.  We worked down the hill clipping and widening.  He had shears, and I tried a fire rake.  The fire rake is pretty good at cleaning out water bars, and cutting - sometimes.  If its a clean cut on the first whack it works well, if it takes repeated blows then shears are more efficient.  We worked down the hill and went out to the cliff edge for a break.  Aside from signs at the trail head- which we were glad to see, thats where I took all my pictures.  From the cliff edge we walked along the trail back into to first sign of water and clipped out.  There was stinging locust crowding the trail on the peninsula, and it got cut back.  I would say the trail beyond can still be followed relatively easily, because it remains the path of least resistance.  Even with growth we found only crowded or narrow areas, and none grown shut.

There is still plenty that can be done.  We hiked up the hill and out.  As we were leaving the peninsula we looked for signs of where people had off trailed to the south and could see none.  Additionally there is a pretty good sized pine tree that has fallen across the route.  Anyone hiking south on RJ will clearly see the trail turn north up the hill to the road.

Photos:

http://picasaweb.google.com/110028009052849072738/SouthRJWork#

Conley Cove 18jul2010

Date: 18jul2010
Workers: Ken Crump
Trail: Conley Cove
Time Spent: 9.5 hours including commute

Work done:

Clipped Conley Cove going down. Scouted the LGT for a bit, and clipped Conley Cove going back up.

Jim sure worked me hard today. I didn't know I had let myself go so badly. Conley whipped us coming up, and
we were moving slowly. Must be really out of shape. At supper earlier my right hand twisted up into a wicked
cramp, and it was all I could do to keep from yelling out in pain. That's what gripping a pair of shears all day
will do for an old man!

It WAS a great day though, and I sure enjoyed getting out there again. The rain missed us except for a few sprinkles, and
there was a nice breeze for a good part of the day. I'll take it over a day at work any time.
Thanks for another good day in the woods, Jim.

Ken

7-18-2010 Conley cove

Date of work 7-18-2010
number of workers :one Jim de Friess- Ken will supply his own report
Hours worked :9 hours (includes commute)

Work accomplished we clipped Conley Cove on the way down and on the way back up.  I would say the lowest third is in the best shape.

Now for the story.
I met Ken at 8:30 at Conley cove proper.  The plan was to take a walk to the river, look at the LGT for signs of work, and then clip Conley on the way up.  We had brought hammocks and planned to lollygag some, maybe not even make it to the river.  So much for plans, about 1/3 way down we were into full fledged clipping and clipped to the bottom.  Then we hiked north looking at cut trees along LGT.  Some were, others not, still some across the trail.  We passed some campers, said we were doing trail work and they asked if we cut the stinging stuff.  We also passed three grateful hikers on the way down and they asked the same question.  Evidently stinging nettle has quite a reputation.  We saw a house sized rock in the river and worked down to it taking a break in the shade.

Then we started back clipping on the way up.  About a third of the way up I think we were spent, I know I was.  We talked coming down, but going up it was relatively silent.  Our clipping got less.  We made it back to the trucks with a couple rest stops.

On the way home there was quite a shower in the lower gorge near Shortoff that I could see from Dogback (where it wasn't raining).  I met two vehicles at the top of the paved part, backing back down myself both times.

It was shears only, thankfully Ken talked me into leaving the pulaski in the truck.

Normally our ambitions outweigh our capabilities- we end up doing less than planned.  This time we accomplished far more than we set out to do.  It was a great day with great company as always.

Ken has pics, I forgot my cam.

Lower Pinch In trailwork July 6-7, 2010

Oh the facts first:
Dates of work July 6 and 7
number of workers: 1 - Jim de Friess
time spent (on trailwork including commute) : 9 hours
Work accomplished: shear work and waterbar cleaning/rebuilding on the lower 1/4 of Pinch In

Now for the story:
Arrived at TH about 9 am and was the only vehicle there. Hiked down Pinch In, I cleaned a few waterbars on the way, in retrospect I wish I had done more. Once off the ridge and into the woods I looked for a route to and across the creek that is north of Pinch In. I off trail hiked to it, looked around and then came back to Pinch In -all with a backpack. My the dead fall was a lot. Considered camping by the trail, then decided I needed to go where I planned and develop a campsite, so I went again. This time I looked for suitable hammock trees, and found the spot I had looked at before. My the dead fall was a lot. So I pushed down hill toward LGT. I saw three 5 gallon bucket containers approximately 100' above the trail, and noticed some flagging. The containers had all been opened and the salt and pepper shakers were laying on the ground, I figured the bears had inspected them. It mostly looked like cooking utensils. I got to LGT and headed north to the first campsite. I had changed my mind and decided camping along the river would be good. In that site there was a camp chair, a tree stand looking thing- (low mounted, I figure they use it as a seat), a garbage bag tied shut. In sitting there resting the bugs found me. This would just not do. So I hiked back up Pinch in looking for hammock trees, and found two too far apart but saw another two about the right distance so went and set up tarp and hammock. Finally getting my pack off. Incidentally where I finally camped and where I first left the trail was about 100' apart.

I ate lunch and I rested, I'm sure I took a nap.

When I woke I grabbed the tools and headed for the steep section that climbs to the ridge, and worked on water bars and shearing. I had plans to get up to the ridge top but I got hot, tired and about halfway (as it turns out). I rested and then left my water bottle there at a good sitting log. The log is across the trail, but it sits good, and can be stepped over so I left it. Once back at camp I discovered I had left the water bottle, so I took a break before retrieving it (it was probably 300 yards away).

With the water bottle retrieved I filled it up and headed for the river. Remembering the state of the campsite to the north, I decided to go south on LGT- which needs work- it could use brushing out. I wasn't sure there would be a campsite, and I remember looking down on the river from a bluff with Ken once, but I kept going and the trail headed downhill to a campsite on the river. The fire pit must have had 15-20 cans in it, all the food was burned out. There were egg shells nearby, I thought at first glimpse it might be toilet paper, so I was glad to see it wasn't. Anyway down the bank was the river. The water was moving here, it was below rapids but it felt good to get into. I brought my creek shoes, so slipping wasn't an issue. I just sat there in some of the lighter current. The water was very refreshing. I had to keep moving though or the trout would come nibble on me. Little 1" trout (I think that is what they were) look like guppies.

I watched the water for about an hour -almost getting too cool, and then decided I was hungry, so I got out and headed back to camp. Ate in my hammock and felt really good and refreshed. Too early for bed but not for note reviewing and snoozing. Realizing I was snoozing I went ahead and got the over sheet/tarp Ken gave me and the sleeping bag. No bugs and perfect temp. A person walked by near dark, no pack and carrying a sleeping bag, I said Hi. I must have snoozed through others passing.

Well it was finally dark enough for bed 8:30, so I got out and in the sleeping bag, well it mostly just covered me - no foam pad under, and it was very comfortable. I turned the flashlight on once in the middle of the night, just to check my tarp which was fine- other than that my flashlight was not needed. Dead weight for the trail.

I woke up sometime after 6 as it was getting light. Ate breakfast and broke camp. It was comfortable and no sun. I started the days trailwork where I left off yesterday. Shearing and using pulaski working up to the ridge- with the backpack on - so I know it can be done. I was eventually in the sun. At the ridge I put the pulaski on the pack and just used the shears. I was hoping to get to Falcon rock, but fatigue told me to put the shears away (about 300 yards below Falcon Rock).

At that point it was hike out. I took multiple breaks and drank my water gator-ade mix. It was still brutal in the sun, and I took two rests in the full sun. Finally I got up to shade (small at first- tucked in beside a tree) but then bigger. It covered the trail in places. I hiked stopping in the shady places, and sometimes even taking off the pack (about every third stop). I knew I didn't have far to go, but was pretty well spent at this point. About 200 yards from the parking lot I quit stopping and made it out. There was breezes at times the whole way up, and as the day progressed they were less refreshing, although having the air stirred helped.

I figured I left camp about 7am and made it to the truck at 1pm, not a speed record I realize. It was a great time in the woods.

Upper Conley blockage cleared

I arrived at Old Conley at around 8 am and hiked down to the double blockage of Conley, just below the intersection with RJ. Upon reflection, there were 11 different tree trunks across the trail from the ice storm, some effectively had crossed/closed the trail twice since it was at a switchback.

I started cutting the largest trunks on the uphill side. I got two cuts on the top tree of the first blockage, and had started the bigger trunk below on the uphill side when Ken called out "save some for us". I replied "there is all you want", and he and Michael then showed up.

Over the next two hours the three of us then chipped away at the blockages. It is always good to work with Ken and Michael, and we had a good time. Resting and talking as needed. When we were finished, there were no tree trunks across the trail in that area. Ken cut two more further down the trail that were in sight.

I don't know how Michael and Ken felt, I had a family obligation to go to, but I was sore the rest of the day. It felt good to get that section of trail cleared, and maybe it was a little more than we thought it would be, but its done.

I worked three hours and had two for commute.

I've done trailwork since I updated

As of June 27, 2010

I'm confident that RJ is through hike able

I'm confident Pinch In is in good shape.

LGT from Pinch In to Conley Cove had light clipping.

Some clipping was done on Conley Cove. It does need more work though.