Rock Jock 3-3-2011

Date of work: 3-3-2011
Number of workers : 2 Jim de Friess, James Kirby
Time spent: 8 hours each  (includes commutes).

Work done:  Well basically we through hiked Rock Jock, and removed major obstacles and clipped here and there.

We found Rock Jock just where we left it.

The plan was to work the south end, hike in and out that way, but I got to thinking - why not through hike it.  If the obstruction Muttly reported was far enough north it would be easier to come out that way anyway.  So I met him James just before 8 and we ferried my truck to Old Conley.  From there we drove back and entered from the south end.  Several trees were down on the initial descent to the cliff but we were able to clear them. 

On around through Mossy canyon we stopped as needed to throw stuff out and cut a few as needed.  One tree in Mossy we cut the end off and the trunk slid down the hill blocking the trail in a worse fashion, so we had to cut it again.  James' daddy called him "lightening" when he was growing up, cause he couldn't hit the same place with an axe twice.

We took a break at mossy falls, and then headed toward Tee-shirt.  That log I across the trail about half way was two cut and now it can be backpacked through.  James wound up with the shears and clipped a lot through there.

At tee shirt we started the climb toward the turn in the back of that canyon, and I clipped some- while James removed brush.

We went through the next two canyons clearing trees that couldn't be stepped over, and clipping, and I pointed out the turn down to sunshine point.  James said that would be a good camping spot.  I did not recognize the path climbers have used to ascend to the road, all I saw was brush, I probably walked right by it thinking we had to be further south.

In Moonshine canyon just north of the creek we found the tree Muttly did.  Two limbs were head high and we cut them, and removed a piece of trunk that was free.  One of the limbs required two cuts and James joked about carrying it out for firewood.  He said the tree itself would last someone a whole year, I reminded he'd need a long winch to get it to the road.  The tree can be negotiated, James made a nice foot notch in the biggest part of the trunk.

Less than 500 yards easy we got to the point Ken and I stopped on our last trip, when we worked just south of razor creek.  Up the hill from razor creek we cut some- but not through on the burnt pine log where I lost trail and headed up to the road once upon a time. 

Very little was done all the way to split rock and past.  Where the hemlock had fallen and I cleared in December there were branches across the trail.  We started clearing them and I noticed the hemlock had a hardwood tree laying on top of it.  The tree in the corner on the downhill side was missing its top, as it fell right on top of the hemlock from middle to downhill side.  So we cleared limbs through there again.

We took a break at Blue Jay Falls- I warned him of the upcoming climb. 

At Hackers I took his picture.  We saw hikers out by the edge near lost dog pond.  One had on a dark blue shirt that stuck out.  We continued our climb up beyond hackers and caught our breath on the flat spot that looks down on Hackers from the North. 

Then through fern, where I told James that big hemlock needed to "season" more.  We hiked by Jason's puddle, up and around, and I showed him the side trails as we passed and described where they went.

We made it back to the truck, and I drove us back to his truck. 

It was a great day in the woods.  I think James enjoyed himself, and I think he'll want to hike with other gorge rats.  From seeing him swing the pulaski and clip briars I think he's another gorge rat.

Rock Jock is in good shape, there are some obstacles, but nothing major.  The ruts on Kistler have mostly been filled in and it was easy driving.