Sunday, October 24, 2010

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.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

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