LGT- (Cabin to Babel) June 26, 2012

date of work: June 26, 2012
Number of wokers: 1 Jim de Friess
time spent :10 hours (includes commute)
work done:  Parked at Babel Tower Trail head- walked up 105 to the Cabin Trail head.  Descended Cabin trail- clipping very minimally.  At LGT turned South and clipped (over several hours) all the way to about 100 yards north of where the trail crosses a creek.  At that point I was at a place with a tree trunk across the trail and was pretty well exhausted.  The tree trunk was resting on a boulder and I was able to slide it off and get it to the ground.  I then chopped a tree down, and cut one off that the trunk had pinned making it far easier to get by for hikers.  At that point I clipped I clipped a little less wide than I had been until I got to the spur trail leading to the river.  North of the river turn I clipped a little wider hoping future hikers wanting to follow LGT would realize the trail goes uphill there.

I took the spur trail to the river for a relaxing swim.  The water was pleasantly cool and not shockingly cold and was able to get right in.  I drank some water and ate a snack and rested.

After the refreshing break I climbed back up to the LGT and clipped south toward Babel Tower.  Trying for 2' wide and making sure anyone going through the boulders (in the trail) could easily see foot placement.  I reached Babel tower, and took another break drinking half a quart of water.  Then started up Babel Tower trail, clipping those things that were most prominent, but clipping with the idea of "keep moving" or stay at almost hike speed.  Some things got missed.  The lower 2/3rds of Babel Tower could use more clipping for sure.  The upper 1/3 (where Muttly and I worked -a year ago?) was still in good shape except for a few places where quick growing blackberries had intruded.  I only clipped some of them as the sun was nearing its setting point and I was pretty well spent.  Babel clearly is getting traffic, so even though its narrow at the bottom its obvious.  The LGT is getting less traffic, so I felt my time was well spent clipping wider along it and saving Babel for another time.

LGT since Father's day has had some clipping done between the North end and Babel tower.  Minor clipping on LGT happened in March, so its a little easier to follow, but there are still narrow spots.

On the way out (dusk) saw rabbits in the road, having to almost stop before three of them would scatter.  Saw a full grown Black bear in the road south of the turn to Dobson's knob - the low spot before Unnamed route- I was heading south.  It was a beautiful bear and probably would tip the scales around 300 pounds- just guessing.  It ran off when I closed within a 100 yards in my truck.  There was a camera on my dashboard- but the surprise kept me from thinking about it. Saw a box turtle crossing the road too.

On the way in (11 am) a deer crossed just after the pavement turns dirt, and a turkey about 150 yards further up.  The road had recently been scraped and I actually had to back down and carry more speed up the hill to the first sharp left hand turn.  In the process of that a rock or something got between a rotating and non-rotating part of a wheel and made a terrible racket- for about a mile - finally vibrating out or wearing down. weird.

Three hikers had just come out Babel as I parked and were resting.  They were hiking to their car at Cabin.  They had parked at Cabin and hiked through- didn't ask where they stayed but it was at least one night.  I told them where I was planning to clip- which sounded like the same route.  They were done I was starting.  They asked about finding out trail conditions.  I told them about LGN (linvillegorge.net) with its forum and trail work blog.  Maybe they'll register.

I think the bear was the highlight, made a couple videos and will load them and pics to the usual spots at some point.  It was a great day in the woods.