Babel tower and LGT south 7-20-2012

Date of work 8-20-2012
number of workers: 1 Jim de Friess
time spent: 12 hours includes commute
Work done: clipped Babel (what remained) after clipping LGT south of Babel all the way past the switchbacks.

Details: hiked in clipping minimally only those things fully across the trail - OK and some others.  The plan was to hike to at least blasted rock (where LGT was chiseled across the rock south of Babel), and then work back to the vehicle.  It was overcast most of the day and I felt good so I continued south.  Ken made a log chopping video on LGT -last time we worked together on it.  The log is just north of the switchbacks, and we had come in from Spence to get there, so I knew anything south on LGT from where I stopped could be gotten from Spence.  That was a major goal.

I clipped minimally in except around what we call hobo camp, getting through initially was more involved, and I knew it would be.  I tried to make it passable on the way in.

At the turn around point I started back clipping more thoroughly.  Back by camp hobo to the popular camp by the stream I clipped a little wider.  From the popular camp back to Babel tower trailI clipped a little thinner since this part is getting more traffic than the trail to the south.  In the ditch part of Babel tower I clipped very minimally just enough to keep open.  It appeared someone has checked out the ridge, and hopefully official permission will be given to move the trail at least uphill some.  At the last ridge overlook where the trail was built (I'm guessing by CCC) with a rock bed, I went back to clipping wider until I hit my exhaustion wall.  I was about 200' below where I had stopped clipping on Babel descending on previous trips, and I didn't care if I clipped again today.  I did though and that section is slightly narrower. Then I hiked out.

People:

Saw a group of boys in the popular camp on the way in, they were mostly in hammocks, and instead of pitched rainflys, they just laid polyethelene over the ridge line.  Must of been two groups because they were in different parts of that camp.  

On the way back clipping met a lone male backpacker just south of Hobo camp.  He said 20 years ago getting lost on gorge trails was part of the adventure and that overall the trail now are easy to follow and he really appreciated it.  He also asked if I was a gorge rat.  Lets see 2+ miles from nearest TH clipping trail- mmmmm  plus the patch on my hat.  Took the canvas one.

Then I went back through popular camp and seeing all the boys had left, and seeing two younger boys with gear for about 4 playing at the fire pit trying to burn their fingers.  I figured parents were at the river, I did not speak to them I usually don't speak to campers.

Further north a group of teenage women and two leaders passed me heading north.  All backpacking all sweating and seeming to enjoy it.  They thanked me that they had got to hike on clipped trail.  The hobo area wasn't quite a brier patch but to follow the trail you had to look at the tread, and not the clearing in front of you (there wasn't any).  I told them ahead was thinner.  I would later see this same group near the TH at Babel.  They were on the east side two nights ago, in the gorge last night and staying on the west side tonight (3 night trip).  They thanked me again the second time I passed them.

On the way up Babel three male backpackers were coming down, one had a knee brace on each leg and was going extremely slowly- descending.  I wasn't ascending very fast because I was clipping, and they weren't descending very fast because of him.  I heard them 5 minutes before we met.

I took a video of the creek running in the popular camp, and some of the river without me talking where I took my break for lunch.  I did get in the river, its gone back to cool- takes some getting used to, but I got used to it.  A few pictures as well.  

It was a great day, and I surprised my self at how much i got done.  I had two quarts of water and a 20oz gatorade.  A little more hydration I think would have been better.

upper Babel Tower trail

Date: July 2 2012
Time spent: 6 hours- includes commute
number of workers: 1 Jim defriess

Work done: clipped Upper Babel Tower trail, cut one log, across the trail making it easier to cross.  Clippings were left to mulch the trail.  6 hikers expressed thanks.

photos at: https://picasaweb.google.com/110028009052849072738/July22012BabelTower

Great day in the woods.