Date of work: 9-25-2011
number of workers : 2 Jim de Friess, and Ken Crump
time spent : 22 hours includes commutes
Work done: We clipped from Mossy falls (where we got to last Tuesday) all the way past Tee shirt point and into the back of the next canyon. We clipped thoroughly that section. 4 hours or so of clipping. At about 2pm, we continued heading north, clipping less and moving faster. We through hiked RJ all the way to old Conley. We took our time on the one brief section in Blue Jay where the growth was so thick at the top of the loose rocks.
The southern 1.5 miles is in good shape, the northern 1.5 miles is in good shape. Its a little thin in the middle but its followable.
All our work was clipping, we do know where some trees are across the trail though. There is a big one between Zen creek and split rock. We were beat though, and decided to save it for another day. The truck at the north end looked good. It was a great day Ken
My pictures are at
https://picasaweb.google.com/110028009052849072738/September252011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
south RJ 9-20-2011
Date of work: 9-20-2011
number of workers: 4 Ken C, William F, Karen B, and Jim d
Time spent: 11 hours travel, 26 hours on the trail - total
Work done: We clipped growth and chopped a few trees from the ridge where RJ turns north from the south entrance all the way to mossy falls.
We met at Pinch In, William did some side exploring, and surveyed upper Pinch In. There are some trees across it. Then he joined the other three of us on RJ, and we worked through the back of Mossy Canyon and around to Mossy Falls. Ken and William went further and I know they made it to tee- shirt point, we saw Williams shirt. Very appropriate name. One of them will have to comment on the amount of clipping they did beyond the falls. The falls by the way was running, very slowly, but enough we filled water bottles.
The work was mostly clipping back the summer growth, there was one maple on the south side of Mossy that would be real awkward to cross so we took the time to remove it. There was also some new dead fall across the part of the trail down the first hill from the road we cleared on the way in.
There is a good crop of Poison Ivy just on the north side of the back of the canyon at the trail for those with that allergy. I clipped it back as best I could, so its out of the trail for now.
Couldn't ask for a better group of workers. They made sure of their footing first, then clipped accordingly. It was a great day in the woods, the leaves were mostly green, but definitely already some color
Thanks.
number of workers: 4 Ken C, William F, Karen B, and Jim d
Time spent: 11 hours travel, 26 hours on the trail - total
Work done: We clipped growth and chopped a few trees from the ridge where RJ turns north from the south entrance all the way to mossy falls.
We met at Pinch In, William did some side exploring, and surveyed upper Pinch In. There are some trees across it. Then he joined the other three of us on RJ, and we worked through the back of Mossy Canyon and around to Mossy Falls. Ken and William went further and I know they made it to tee- shirt point, we saw Williams shirt. Very appropriate name. One of them will have to comment on the amount of clipping they did beyond the falls. The falls by the way was running, very slowly, but enough we filled water bottles.
The work was mostly clipping back the summer growth, there was one maple on the south side of Mossy that would be real awkward to cross so we took the time to remove it. There was also some new dead fall across the part of the trail down the first hill from the road we cleared on the way in.
There is a good crop of Poison Ivy just on the north side of the back of the canyon at the trail for those with that allergy. I clipped it back as best I could, so its out of the trail for now.
Couldn't ask for a better group of workers. They made sure of their footing first, then clipped accordingly. It was a great day in the woods, the leaves were mostly green, but definitely already some color
Thanks.
Monday, September 5, 2011
9-5-2011 Southern RJ
Date of work: 9-5-2011
Time spent: 8 hours includes commute
number of workers: 1 - Jim de Friess
Work accomplished:- in a nutshell clipping along the trail, some waterbars cleaned others made, removed or worked around major obstacles.
Well after much hem hawing I decided to go out and do some trail work, sorry Billy- didn't tell him. I watched the rain and decided it would be light until sometime in the afternoon. So I proceeded out to the south end of RJ and picked up where Ken and Michael left off last week. It was misty with limited visibility all the way up Kistler and lightly raining when I parked, so I decided to clip my way down the hill to the cliffs, and actually got down the ridge to where it turns off the ridge. I clipped slowly and thoroughly, and stopped a couple times to pull out the pulaski to chop trees that were in the way. The first of the trees was the pine that has been hanging a while, and most people are going under, I helped it to go ahead and fall, and trimmed the end up so people could easily get around.
A while later a tree was more than knee high across the trail so the pulaski had to come out again for it. Also on the way down I used trunks at angles across the trail to start waterbars. I would finish them on the way out. A log someone steps over is a great way to protect a waterbar.
Nearing the bottom there was two trees blocking the trail, a Pine and a hardwood. I chopped the pine to separate it from its stump, which made it lower. The hardwood can be stepped over. At this point there was no "clearing the trail" but a route around the blockage was easy enough and in the trail corridor.
The rain was off and on, and the camera was tucked inside a plastic bag in my pack. After a couple hours it was probably the only dry thing I had. I even removed my glasses very early on since they fogged up and I could see better without them. I did get some pictures near the bottom when the rain stopped and the fog cleared briefly. The fog rolled in and out at that point and the rain was anywhere from none to heavy. I didn't care, an open ended day of trail fun is a rarity for me, all I had to do was get out by dark.
In one part of the trail it looked like a dead pine was hanging over the trail being propped up by a dead rhodo. It appeared that when it fell it would fall along the trail. So I cut the rhodo, and the pine didn't fall, it was still hanging on - but now it was even more likely it would fall, so I cut the pine down. It proceeded to arch across the trail. At that point I cut the top of it off, and then I really had a blockage arched very low across the trail. Well the third cut on the pine got it on the ground finally- whew.
Further down there was a hole in the ground on the uphill side of the trail. I looked in and didn't see anything while it was raining. On the way out I looked again, and saw the gold and black yellowjackets looking back. I actually think they were relieved to see me rather than the bear that dug the hole.
Well I cut through the locust down the ridge to finish, but it wasn't that bad. I think the trail is discernible, beyond where I stopped, but it needs some clipping too. On the way back out I cleaned out waterbars, and moved some dirt to help finish making the ones I started on the way down. It was a great day in the woods, and the weather was perfect for trail fun.
Photos at:
https://picasaweb.google.com/110028009052849072738/September52011RJ#
Time spent: 8 hours includes commute
number of workers: 1 - Jim de Friess
Work accomplished:- in a nutshell clipping along the trail, some waterbars cleaned others made, removed or worked around major obstacles.
Well after much hem hawing I decided to go out and do some trail work, sorry Billy- didn't tell him. I watched the rain and decided it would be light until sometime in the afternoon. So I proceeded out to the south end of RJ and picked up where Ken and Michael left off last week. It was misty with limited visibility all the way up Kistler and lightly raining when I parked, so I decided to clip my way down the hill to the cliffs, and actually got down the ridge to where it turns off the ridge. I clipped slowly and thoroughly, and stopped a couple times to pull out the pulaski to chop trees that were in the way. The first of the trees was the pine that has been hanging a while, and most people are going under, I helped it to go ahead and fall, and trimmed the end up so people could easily get around.
A while later a tree was more than knee high across the trail so the pulaski had to come out again for it. Also on the way down I used trunks at angles across the trail to start waterbars. I would finish them on the way out. A log someone steps over is a great way to protect a waterbar.
Nearing the bottom there was two trees blocking the trail, a Pine and a hardwood. I chopped the pine to separate it from its stump, which made it lower. The hardwood can be stepped over. At this point there was no "clearing the trail" but a route around the blockage was easy enough and in the trail corridor.
The rain was off and on, and the camera was tucked inside a plastic bag in my pack. After a couple hours it was probably the only dry thing I had. I even removed my glasses very early on since they fogged up and I could see better without them. I did get some pictures near the bottom when the rain stopped and the fog cleared briefly. The fog rolled in and out at that point and the rain was anywhere from none to heavy. I didn't care, an open ended day of trail fun is a rarity for me, all I had to do was get out by dark.
In one part of the trail it looked like a dead pine was hanging over the trail being propped up by a dead rhodo. It appeared that when it fell it would fall along the trail. So I cut the rhodo, and the pine didn't fall, it was still hanging on - but now it was even more likely it would fall, so I cut the pine down. It proceeded to arch across the trail. At that point I cut the top of it off, and then I really had a blockage arched very low across the trail. Well the third cut on the pine got it on the ground finally- whew.
Further down there was a hole in the ground on the uphill side of the trail. I looked in and didn't see anything while it was raining. On the way out I looked again, and saw the gold and black yellowjackets looking back. I actually think they were relieved to see me rather than the bear that dug the hole.
Well I cut through the locust down the ridge to finish, but it wasn't that bad. I think the trail is discernible, beyond where I stopped, but it needs some clipping too. On the way back out I cleaned out waterbars, and moved some dirt to help finish making the ones I started on the way down. It was a great day in the woods, and the weather was perfect for trail fun.
Photos at:
https://picasaweb.google.com/110028009052849072738/September52011RJ#
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
8-30-2011 Northern RJ
Date of work: 8/30/2011
Number of workers3: Jim d, Ken C, and Michael H
time spent: 29 hours includes commutes
Work done: We thoroughly clipped the Northern end of RJ from Conley Cove trail to one of the side routes out to Fern point. This also involved removing two newly fallen trees, and the hemlock across the trail in fern canyon (at least partially). Any trees remaining across the trail are below knee height for an average adult.
Heading south out of fern canyon after the steep climb where its starts to level but is still not to the top, Ken found a yellow jacket nest on the uphill side of the trail. He immediately upon noticing them quit clipping on their front porch and was not stung. The nest is along the trail, and we passed it going out and coming back without incident. That is probably the only area of North RJ that could use some more minimal clipping.
On an earlier trip Ken and I had worked from Hackers back to fern, so we're confident the trail is in great shape on the north end at least to Hackers. Its ready for the fall hiking season, and we saw a few maples turning along with the sourwood trees.
Ken and Michael may have done additional work since I had to leave early (1:30), so this may need amending. It was a great day in the woods with two wonderful people, and swinging that Pulaski in Fern canyon did my spirit a world of good. Almost as much good as getting to spend time with Ken and Michael.
Number of workers3: Jim d, Ken C, and Michael H
time spent: 29 hours includes commutes
Work done: We thoroughly clipped the Northern end of RJ from Conley Cove trail to one of the side routes out to Fern point. This also involved removing two newly fallen trees, and the hemlock across the trail in fern canyon (at least partially). Any trees remaining across the trail are below knee height for an average adult.
Heading south out of fern canyon after the steep climb where its starts to level but is still not to the top, Ken found a yellow jacket nest on the uphill side of the trail. He immediately upon noticing them quit clipping on their front porch and was not stung. The nest is along the trail, and we passed it going out and coming back without incident. That is probably the only area of North RJ that could use some more minimal clipping.
On an earlier trip Ken and I had worked from Hackers back to fern, so we're confident the trail is in great shape on the north end at least to Hackers. Its ready for the fall hiking season, and we saw a few maples turning along with the sourwood trees.
Ken and Michael may have done additional work since I had to leave early (1:30), so this may need amending. It was a great day in the woods with two wonderful people, and swinging that Pulaski in Fern canyon did my spirit a world of good. Almost as much good as getting to spend time with Ken and Michael.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Upper Babel tower trail 7-16-2011
Date of work : 7/16/2011
number of workers: 3 - Jim and Jared de Friess and Ken Toole
time spent: 6.5 hours each (includes commute)
Work done: Shear, lopper, and Pulaski work as needed in the upper 1/4 of the trail. We initially talked of walking to the bottom and cutting our way out, but soon discovered the trail had closed in somewhat, and our light clipping became full blown. We worked our way to below the twin trees across the trail that I call the "gateway to the gorge". One bigger trunk was across the trail around the corner below that. People had found a bypass, and we just widened it. Further down I saw yellow jackets swarming on the up hill side of the trail so I clipped mostly to the down hill side and just a little on the uphill side. An old hornets nest was there above the swarm, so it seems to be a popular spot for stinging insects. When we got to the place with the first good view we noticed a waist high tree across the trail, that had to be either awkwardly gone over or crawled under. One cut later and Ken T was able to stand the lower trunk back up such that it is off the trail. 100 feet further another double tree was blocking the trail. People were getting through, but could easily slide off trail down the trunk as it rotted. The smaller tree was on top and we soon had it cut and laying on the downhill edge of the trail, and then notched out the stump of the bigger tree for a foot hold. We clipped about another 100 feet or so and checked just a little further ahead for more trees across the trail, but didn't see any. Two tricky places were either removed or made better. We had clipped about 4 hours - which flew by so we were having a great time.
While clipping down multiple people passed us, and most of our clippings were landing in the trail to mulch it. One commented that they thought the cuttings on the trail made it more slippery. The day's weather consisted of a misty rain, 65F, and all the rocks were wet already, most were wonderfully appreciative as the trail was wide enough where we had worked, they weren't getting wet walking through the bushes. On the way out we flung clippings out of the way in what we would consider the trickiest areas. Coming up the hill was a little less slippery anyway.
It was great working with Ken T, he got to see what we normally do, and worked cautiously. I hope there are many other work trips. Babel might be my work destination for a while until cooler temps come along.
Thanks Ken and Jared.
number of workers: 3 - Jim and Jared de Friess and Ken Toole
time spent: 6.5 hours each (includes commute)
Work done: Shear, lopper, and Pulaski work as needed in the upper 1/4 of the trail. We initially talked of walking to the bottom and cutting our way out, but soon discovered the trail had closed in somewhat, and our light clipping became full blown. We worked our way to below the twin trees across the trail that I call the "gateway to the gorge". One bigger trunk was across the trail around the corner below that. People had found a bypass, and we just widened it. Further down I saw yellow jackets swarming on the up hill side of the trail so I clipped mostly to the down hill side and just a little on the uphill side. An old hornets nest was there above the swarm, so it seems to be a popular spot for stinging insects. When we got to the place with the first good view we noticed a waist high tree across the trail, that had to be either awkwardly gone over or crawled under. One cut later and Ken T was able to stand the lower trunk back up such that it is off the trail. 100 feet further another double tree was blocking the trail. People were getting through, but could easily slide off trail down the trunk as it rotted. The smaller tree was on top and we soon had it cut and laying on the downhill edge of the trail, and then notched out the stump of the bigger tree for a foot hold. We clipped about another 100 feet or so and checked just a little further ahead for more trees across the trail, but didn't see any. Two tricky places were either removed or made better. We had clipped about 4 hours - which flew by so we were having a great time.
While clipping down multiple people passed us, and most of our clippings were landing in the trail to mulch it. One commented that they thought the cuttings on the trail made it more slippery. The day's weather consisted of a misty rain, 65F, and all the rocks were wet already, most were wonderfully appreciative as the trail was wide enough where we had worked, they weren't getting wet walking through the bushes. On the way out we flung clippings out of the way in what we would consider the trickiest areas. Coming up the hill was a little less slippery anyway.
It was great working with Ken T, he got to see what we normally do, and worked cautiously. I hope there are many other work trips. Babel might be my work destination for a while until cooler temps come along.
Thanks Ken and Jared.
Friday, July 8, 2011
July 7th 2011 Brushy Ridge Trail
The wife and I hiked Brushy Ridge trail to the point where it starts descending steeply into the gorge, just before we did a little off trail exploring to the north. On the way back we took the side route to reference rock where we took a break. While on BRT and when I had the loppers I actively cut some of the briers and and lower hanging fauna to make the trail even a little more friendly. Don't get me wrong it was easily discernible and had no major obstructions, I just lightly clipped as we went.
It was a good day in the woods, the gnats were bad initially, on the way out the nearby t-storm had caused more breezes and they were not noticeable. We did not get rained on.
It was a good day in the woods, the gnats were bad initially, on the way out the nearby t-storm had caused more breezes and they were not noticeable. We did not get rained on.
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