Photo link for Wolfpit work 2-22-2011

https://picasaweb.google.com/jdefriess/Wolfpit?feat=email#

Wolfpit Trail 2-22-2011

Date of work: 2-22-2011
number of workers: 1 - Jim de Friess
time spent: 6.5 hours -includes commute
Work done: Lopped back trees and built waterbars from where I had finished continuing up the hill until the trail intersected with MTS.  At MTS, I hung flagging saying "MTS to river" at the start of that path, "MTS to summit" at the start of the proper trail up, and "trail to wolfpit parking" back along the trail I had been working on.  The gully (old jeep road) or whatever it is up shortoff has also been getting traffic.  All the trails looked like they had been getting regular use.  On a dead tree at the intersection of the trails someone had wrapped orange duct tape around a dead tree.  I put notes and arrows on it indicating what trail goes what way.  Its hard to believe anyone gets confused there - but I still hear an occasional story of someone heading to the river when they meant to go to the parking lot.

I don't believe MTS has been worked in that area since what little I did starting down the ridge last Fall.  When Spring springs- the trail to the river will be briery and narrow.  Up to the top probably gets enough day hike traffic.

I then sheared back down to where I had started.

The waterbars from previous trips seem to be working and I cleaned them out with my foot as I walked.  Where I had sheared previously it seems the hikers are walking on the grass beside the two foot bare area that the trail used to be, so the trail width is widening to about what it needs to be.  There were a couple trees across the trail but they definitely encouraged hikers to walk and cross them at a better area than they might otherwise- so I left them.

There is a spring active, and I guess it crosses the trail a couple times actually on its way down.  In two sections the spring runs down the trail about 20' before being diverted off, not the best scenario, but its a project for later. 

Near the bottom there is some additional work I'd like to do in terms of rebuilding a dip or two, that are no longer effective.  Just one or two of those would be a trip all by themselves.

I did take pictures, but it might be a while (like tomorrow) before I get them posted.  It was a great day in the woods.

Time spent :9 hours -including commute
Workers: 1, Ken Crump
Work: Clean logs and fallen brush from Rockjock to Razor Creek area.

Jim and I had a good day out there today. Like he said, I lost count, but I think we removed
4 to 6 small trees before we made it to Bluejay. There was some trimming of limbs encroaching from
the sides too and fallen limb removal.

At Bluejay we worked at getting the butt end of the large fallen Hemlock off the trail. Up until
now it was necessary to practically crawl over it. Now only the lower portion is left, and it creates
a step. As it decays we'll be able to clean it all out.

From there, there was one tree at Split Rock we've been going under for a while. It is no more.
Between there and Razor Creek there were several more, along with the ones Jim mentioned
in the creek drainage and just beyond it. On the way out we took out one "widow maker" that
was leaning over the trail, and did some more 'sprucing up'.

The weather was just right, and the ground was mostly frozen. It was a great day to be on the
trail, and it was nice to get back to work out there. Thanks for a good time, Jim!

Photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ojc/sets/72157625765804763/

Ken

Northern RJ 1-23-2011

Time spent :8 hours -includes commute

Number of workers: 1 (Jim de Friess)

work done: 

I met Ken at the old Conley entrance and we hiked south on RJ using our Pulaskis to clear trees off the trail.  We didn't clear everything, but we got some of the worse ones.  We worked on a few trees prior to Blue Jay canyon, but spent a lot of time in Blue Jay on the trunk of the big tree, I had previously cleared.  It was good to have two to move some of the cuts.

We continued south, and cleared as we went, Ken was counting but lost track I think.  There was a tree at split rock, around the corner there were more.  One big hemlock we left, its hard to cross but its 16" in diameter or so and would require two cuts, it can be gotten around.  It seemed there was always another tree.  We made getting to Zen creek a goal and cleared brush out of the trail there.  We went further south checking the bypass around the huge tree that fell in the trail, and tweaked it some.  We checked conditions at the razor point turn and went on to razor creek.  At razor creek there was an 8" hemlock 3' high across the trail requiring two cuts so we did that, another trunk was in the low spot mostly blocking the trail and just south was a leaner that was hard to go around.  We got it, then turned around, and headed back toward the trucks.  

Rock Jock is much easier to hike, a few bigger trees remain.

We took our time and did a few tweaks coming out.  It was a good day in the woods with good company.

Pinch In check, 1-8-2011

Date of work: 1/8/2011

Time spent: 7 hours includes commute

Number of workers: 1 (Jim de Friess)

Work accomplished:  This was a pulaski only trip, cut the smaller trees across the trail out of the way on the way down.  Make and clean waterbars, pick up trash on the way out.

On the way out I had to put on chains once I got to the dirt part of 105.  I barely made it up to the first curve to the left.  In that curve I put on chains.  The federal law enforcement officer passed me as well as a black 4wd truck.  With chains I had no trouble getting to Pinch In Trail head and parking.  The snow got deeper as I went up being about 3-4 inches deep at the parking lot.

I started down the trail and cut or moved a few knee high trees on the way down.  Cold wood chops well.  Below Falcon rock I started looking to implement water features, and created a few easy ones.  At the turn off the ridge into the woods great care was taken and I mostly paralleled the trail.  At the bottom I made a mental note of the turn that cuts over to LGT south, and then went to the trail head at the bottom.  Beyond that there was debris on LGT so i cleared some of that and went to the creek which was running well.

I think I slipped twice on the way down.

On the way up I looked for trash, I had fished a dog food can out of the woods leaving it on the trail going down, and was looking for the bottled waters someone had discarded off to the south side of the trail.  I found two empties but not the fulls, maybe the snow had it covered.  I tried not to take long breaks coming up, maybe a couple breaths and look for the next step.  I think I put in a waterbar or two on the way up as well.  

An icy wind blew across the ridge, I asked it to come back in August.  The trail seems to be getting shorter for me.  I made it to the truck and headed out, the road had improved and I was able to take the chains off just below pinnacle.

I'm glad I went and except for cold feet on the way home it was a good day.  The slushy snow melted through my shoe, and then caked on ice on the way out.  They finally thawed out about 1/3 of the way home.  Need dry shoes and socks for next snow hike- mental note.

Pictures below.

http://picasaweb.google.com/jdefriess/PinchInWork182011#

Lower Pinch In 1/3/2011

http://picasaweb.google.com/jdefriess/PinchInWorkTrip132011#

Photos above

Date of work: 1/3/2011

time spent:9 hours, includes commute

number of workers: 1 (Jim de Friess)

Work accomplished:  I descended Pinch In trail, having always wanted to walk further down the ridge to the trees.  This is beyond where the trail turns and descends into the woods.  Winter was the time to do it, no snakes to worry about, and better visibility without leaves.  Its about 200 yards from where the trail turns off the ridge down the ridge to the trees.  There is actually two low spots with some up hill following the ridge.  The brush is about 8' tall and is mostly devil's walking stick.

I finally arrived at the ridge top to find some survey flags laying on the ground, and some stakes with flagging on them- one of those study plots.  Its probably 150' above the river and it is steep down all the way around, except back up the ridge.  I think the growth to the south might be minimal enough to find an easier path off of it, I continued heading east and it got really steep.  I made it down with no problems, there were lots of deer tracks but they mostly side-hilled.  There were oaks on top, with acorns all over the ground.

At the bottom, finding LGT was easy.  I came out just north of where the river comes back together after splitting in high water.  I threw some brush off of LGT and hiked north.  Seeing some flagging to the west I investigated, and found another study plot.  Since the brush was minimal further west I investigated by heading over the next rise.  I found a fire circle on the south east of a cleared circle, maybe 75-100' in diameter.  Off to the northwest there appeared to be what looked like a trail.  No brush no debris and about 8' wide fairly straight.  I ascended this path and finally got to some trees down partially blocking it.  Threw them out of the way and it got narrower still.  A fresh de-branched pine limb was beside it further up, and about 50' further I popped out on Pinch In.  I'm guessing I was about 100-150 yards from the bottom of it, and did not walk to the end to check.

Rather I started ascending.  Came to a hemlock across the trail, and de-branched a path around it and back to the trail.  There were a few other trees, I made it passable, and not completely clear, certainly back-packable. I found another study plot- well I knew it was there -south of Pinch in and looked for flagging that might lead back to the ridge top, but didn't see anything.  At that point I got to the steep section.  

I've been re-thinking trees across the trail, I think if angled well they can make waterbars and trap sediment keeping the trail from washing away.  I certainly am going to try and keep the step over to less than a foot.  A de-branched step over trunk is a good thing.  So using tree trunks and some digging I water barred all the way up the steep section- where convenient.  Up on the ridge I need about three burned trunks brought down and place across the trail in a couple places in the steep part, there were no trees to use there.  I think what I've done has held up well on that steep part.  

I worked up the ridge, one brief section had crept off the ridge, and draining it was an issue, so at that point I went up the ridge,  but did not block the existing path.  

At another point there is a very brief and steep section with stumps.  The trail and the water go straight downhill, but the ridge is wide at that point, so I angled up and back to see what a switchback might look like there.  It would be easier to channel water off the trail, with it for sure.  Again nothing but considering an option.  The existing trail almost needs trunks about every two feet 

The rest of the way up I think the trail is in marvelous shape, I do want to place some trunks across it at angles to effectively make waterbars.  Even though the trail is on the high ground, it has a slight channel maybe an inch or two deep allowing water to run down the trail.  I dug out waterbars in a couple places and made some, but fatigue was setting in.

I sat on a stump taking a break and was passed by a hiker heading down.  A younger fellow wearing shorts, he came out to Pinch In for exercise evidently, as he said he was going down and back, it was all he had time for.  I continued up taking rest breaks frequently.  About 200 yards from the top the hiker passed me going up.  He said he turned around where the trail left the ridge.  That would be about a mile and a half walk all totaled, quite an exercise.  When I reached the parking lot he was cooling down, I guess.  I drank the half quart of water I left in my truck, and cooled down some myself, but the truck seat was cold.

It was a wonderful day in the woods, too bad I couldn't have gotten more done over my Christmas break.

12-21-2010 Blue Jay blockage removed and 105 road conditions

http://picasaweb.google.com/jdefriess/SolsticeTrailWorkBlueJayCanyon#

Pictures at link above.

Date of work:12/21/2010

time spent: 6 (includes commute)

number of workers: 1 Jim de Friess

Work accomplished: we had heard that there was a tree down in Blue Jay canyon effectively blocking Rock Jock Trail.  Unsure of exactly where and what I decided to go investigate.  I took tools.  The road conditions on 105 until just below pinnacle were clear, after Pinnacle there were icy spots.  But enough clear to get me through to the top of Dogback mountain.  At the top and just about ready to descend two hunters stopped me and advised me to turn around.  The road was slick on the North side of dogback, 4wd vehicles were getting stuck.  Somebody with four wheel drive and chains was able to pull them up yesterday but they had no intentions of going back down.  They asked if I had chains, which I did and they said I'd probably be all right.  A couple hundred yards beyond them I stopped and put on the chains, and the truck skated down the mountain.  Steering was an adventure and my worry about getting out started.  I did ride the brakes down so my fronts probably did skate.  There were several place where the ditches had been cleaned out, and culverts found and tracks off the normal roadbed.

Anyway I made it to old Conley and parked.  Gathered my gear and headed for Blue Jay.  The north facing hills had a couple inches of snow, the south facing hills were almost completely clear.  I made good time.  I was using my pulaski as a walking stick.  Shears and loppers in pack.  At the bottom of the boulder field I saw no sign of blockage (little did I know it was just above- had I known what to look for) so I carefully negotiated my way up it.  I was so glad to see that narrow spot widened by Michael, Ken and the others.  At the top there was a tree down.

It was laying parallel to the trail and probably just on the downhill side of center.  I could see the trail on the other side.  As I was walking in there were two sets of footprints, a big and a medium.  They did not go up the boulder field, I did find them on the other end of the tree and then could make out the bypass that was being used around the blockage.  Basically a scramble from the lower end of the boulders to the trail at the south end of the blockage- about 40' of path and 20' elevation gain.  Lots of blackberry through there too.

I started throwing limbs out of the trail, clipping what was still attached with loppers or chopping with pulaski depending on how big it was.  Some stuff got stacked beside the down trunk to make for better footing.  The rest tossed over the side.  I moved a few rocks into position just below the point where you have to step up on the trunk to continue.  It all cut and chopped more easily than I would have expected, and I got the trail clear to where the footprints rejoined it.  Split rock is very near, but I didn't go to it due to snow covered trail.

At the stump end there is still a pretty good step over, but there are two ways to get up to the position to step.  Anyone that can get through the boulders won't have any problem.

The trail is open for business.

The work went quicker than I expected, but having extra time to get out (and back up Dogback) was a good thing I decided.  I worked my way back to the truck, stopping in a few places to catch my breath and take pictures.  

At the truck I got in put it in one, about 1/3 to 1/2 gas pedal, and the truck never stopped climbing.  Got pretty slow in the steepest part, but it kept pushing me up.  At the top I took off the chains (prior to the paved part) and drove the rest of the way out.  

It was a great day in the woods

Jim d