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
Sunday, August 29, 2010
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#
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#
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