Date of work: 6-19-2012
Number of workers: 3 (Jimd, Hikerman, and Ken)
Time spent: 26.5 hours combined (includes commutes)
Work accomplished: Hiked down Cabin trail clipping as needed, turned North on LGT clipped as needed, cleared one area with multiple trees across the trail, clipped to Bynum Bluff, ascended Bynum out.
The trail was a little narrow, but its better now.
Video at:
http://youtu.be/SKFimMS_nEY
Pictures at:
https://picasaweb.google.com/110028009052849072738/CabinLGTBynumBluffJune192012
A great day in the woods.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
6/12/12 Lower Conley
Date of work: 6/12/2012
Number of Workers: 1 (Jim de Friess)
time spent:8 hours - includes commute
Work done: Clipped lightly with shears to the bottom of Conley Cove trail, removed two logs blocking the trail. At the bottom I sling bladed to a good width coming up until I got tired, and then clipped with shears the upper part some more as I headed out. The trail isn't shorts hike-able yet but it has been started,
I think poison Ivy is a non-native plant to the gorge, Its getting more and more prevalent on the lower part.
Video at
http://youtu.be/4EYkokmQ4D0
I hope in a little while, it said 33 minutes left and there is a t-storm in the area. If my power blinks I'll lose internet.
Great day in the woods,
Off to make supper now
Number of Workers: 1 (Jim de Friess)
time spent:8 hours - includes commute
Work done: Clipped lightly with shears to the bottom of Conley Cove trail, removed two logs blocking the trail. At the bottom I sling bladed to a good width coming up until I got tired, and then clipped with shears the upper part some more as I headed out. The trail isn't shorts hike-able yet but it has been started,
I think poison Ivy is a non-native plant to the gorge, Its getting more and more prevalent on the lower part.
Video at
http://youtu.be/4EYkokmQ4D0
I hope in a little while, it said 33 minutes left and there is a t-storm in the area. If my power blinks I'll lose internet.
Great day in the woods,
Off to make supper now
Saturday, June 9, 2012
6/9/2012 Upper Pinch In
Date of work: 6/9/2012
Number of workers: 1 (Jim de Friess)
Time spent: 7 hours (includes commute)
Work accomplished: Went to where I stopped last Wednesday and clipped to the top of the hill/trail. Pinch In has had a summer haircut. My clippers had a stop to prevent the handles and knuckles from crunching when clipping. It broke off about half way up, but I was able to continue by adjusting the way I held them. I made a few small waterbars, and carried the pulaski all day but only used it once. My insect repellent wore off and the flies got a bite knee and elbow but not bad. A sling blade would have been more effective for the last 100 feet.
Two people and dog started down the trail ahead of me with fishing poles and packs. The wife then left with the car. A couple later came by on the way down, and passed me again on the way out. They only went to falcon rock. Another lone backpacker went down as the previously mentioned couple was going up. Finally passed a couple heading down with a dog. Three vehicles were in the parking lot when I left VA, TN and NC plates.
It was a great day in the woods.
Number of workers: 1 (Jim de Friess)
Time spent: 7 hours (includes commute)
Work accomplished: Went to where I stopped last Wednesday and clipped to the top of the hill/trail. Pinch In has had a summer haircut. My clippers had a stop to prevent the handles and knuckles from crunching when clipping. It broke off about half way up, but I was able to continue by adjusting the way I held them. I made a few small waterbars, and carried the pulaski all day but only used it once. My insect repellent wore off and the flies got a bite knee and elbow but not bad. A sling blade would have been more effective for the last 100 feet.
Two people and dog started down the trail ahead of me with fishing poles and packs. The wife then left with the car. A couple later came by on the way down, and passed me again on the way out. They only went to falcon rock. Another lone backpacker went down as the previously mentioned couple was going up. Finally passed a couple heading down with a dog. Three vehicles were in the parking lot when I left VA, TN and NC plates.
It was a great day in the woods.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Mid Pinch In 6/6/12
Date of work: June 6, 2012
Number of workers: 1 Jim de Friess
Time spent: 8 hours - includes commute
Work done: Went to where I left off Monday, and continued up the hill, clipping Pinch In to 4' wide. I did make one or two water features. I had hoped to finish but it wasn't to be. I did get well into the woods at higher elevation, so I can finish on a sunny day without melting. It was a perfect work day, recent rains weighted the stuff over into the trail making it easier to clip. It was overcast and foggy and cool all day. I saw two hikers and three dogs going down the trail, all had packs on even the dogs. My feet got wet but I expected them too, it only misted on me occasionally. On the way up there was a flock of four adult turkeys and about 8-10 little ones on the paved part of 105. I had to stop to keep from hitting the little ones, eventually I got by the little ones without injury.
Great day in the woods
Number of workers: 1 Jim de Friess
Time spent: 8 hours - includes commute
Work done: Went to where I left off Monday, and continued up the hill, clipping Pinch In to 4' wide. I did make one or two water features. I had hoped to finish but it wasn't to be. I did get well into the woods at higher elevation, so I can finish on a sunny day without melting. It was a perfect work day, recent rains weighted the stuff over into the trail making it easier to clip. It was overcast and foggy and cool all day. I saw two hikers and three dogs going down the trail, all had packs on even the dogs. My feet got wet but I expected them too, it only misted on me occasionally. On the way up there was a flock of four adult turkeys and about 8-10 little ones on the paved part of 105. I had to stop to keep from hitting the little ones, eventually I got by the little ones without injury.
Great day in the woods
Monday, June 4, 2012
lower Pinch In 6/4/2012
Date of work: 6/4/2012
Number of workers: 1 Jim de Friess
time spent: 9.5 hours includes commute
Work done: Hiked to the bottom of Pinch In, cut two tree trunks across the trail on the lower part, and then clipped the trail heading up the hill. I clipped to 4' wide in most places and was pleased that there were actually a couple places on the lower part where there is tree canopy over the trail. The lower parts also had some ripe blueberries of which I partook.
I lost track of time and was out there longer than I thought. I had hoped to get all the way back up the trail clipping, but then decided Falcon rock was the goal. I ran out of clipping gas about 200' below falcon rock. The rest of my energy was for walking out. Found one tick on me.
May try to finish the trail Wednesday. It was a good day in the woods. No pictures- but it did happen....
Number of workers: 1 Jim de Friess
time spent: 9.5 hours includes commute
Work done: Hiked to the bottom of Pinch In, cut two tree trunks across the trail on the lower part, and then clipped the trail heading up the hill. I clipped to 4' wide in most places and was pleased that there were actually a couple places on the lower part where there is tree canopy over the trail. The lower parts also had some ripe blueberries of which I partook.
I lost track of time and was out there longer than I thought. I had hoped to get all the way back up the trail clipping, but then decided Falcon rock was the goal. I ran out of clipping gas about 200' below falcon rock. The rest of my energy was for walking out. Found one tick on me.
May try to finish the trail Wednesday. It was a good day in the woods. No pictures- but it did happen....
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Pine Gap -May 29, 2012
Date of work: May 29, 2012
number of workers: 1 Jim de Friess
Time spent: 6 hours includes commute
Work accomplished: I initially was going to look at camping near the river off Pine Gap. When I got there the trees weren't really suitable for hammocks, and there wasn't much wood from over camping. So I went to the log where confusion used to happen and clipped to the south. The trail south of the log is obvious, and the side routes to the river are definitely thinner. I clipped very thoroughly for about 200 yards ascending the hill to the south. At that point I decided to head back to the truck. There was a tree across the trail, and a spring running down the trail. I gave the spring a route directly across the trail, hopefully it will last a while. I lightly clipped as I headed North. The branches across the trail that had to be ducked under but too big in diameter to cut with my clippers I tried to reduce the bush to one branch to duck for. I chopped the tree across the trail, it could be straddled, now its a step over. Made it back to the truck as heavier rain picked up. Took Kistler South through the fog.
I think I may do more day trips and clipping instead of looking to camp. It was a great day in the woods
number of workers: 1 Jim de Friess
Time spent: 6 hours includes commute
Work accomplished: I initially was going to look at camping near the river off Pine Gap. When I got there the trees weren't really suitable for hammocks, and there wasn't much wood from over camping. So I went to the log where confusion used to happen and clipped to the south. The trail south of the log is obvious, and the side routes to the river are definitely thinner. I clipped very thoroughly for about 200 yards ascending the hill to the south. At that point I decided to head back to the truck. There was a tree across the trail, and a spring running down the trail. I gave the spring a route directly across the trail, hopefully it will last a while. I lightly clipped as I headed North. The branches across the trail that had to be ducked under but too big in diameter to cut with my clippers I tried to reduce the bush to one branch to duck for. I chopped the tree across the trail, it could be straddled, now its a step over. Made it back to the truck as heavier rain picked up. Took Kistler South through the fog.
I think I may do more day trips and clipping instead of looking to camp. It was a great day in the woods
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Trash day -May 22, 2012
Date of work: May 22, 2012
Number of workers: about 20
time spent: about 6 hours each
Work accomplished: see below
I think trash day was a great success. I'd say 20 people worked an average of 6 hours, with the bulk of the volunteers removing trash from below Wiseman's. I was not part of that team, but I heard that three old barrels were removed, a shopping cart, and several bags of bottles and cans- I heard three pick-up loads??, but can't confirm. Wiseman's is closer to the showcase it should be, with the trash out and the FS de-brushing the overlook areas.
Another team checked the campsites along Kistler, fishing non-burnable trash out of firepits.
I heard one team was walking Kistler and picking up trash. Can't confirm and don't know how far they got.
The team I was on went down Conley Cove, we clipped a little both ways. At the bottom of CC we split up with one part going south and another north. We gathered trash and discovered a recently abandoned campsite north of Conley Cove. Some critters had scattered the potatoes the night before, it had the appearance of very recently being abandoned. Not so much gear but just scattered mess where the critters inspected the food. We also checked the campsites above the trail gathering trash there as well. The north team (me)- went all the way to the cave that had a cooler in it, but the cooler was gone. I then backtracked and cleaned up and extremely messy site on the ridge between two creeks. This campsite had been abandoned for a while, the plastic was deteriorating. Two trips of stuff were carried the place we burned from that site alone. I might camp there one day -now.
Stuff was carried to the more recently abandoned campsite from all over the lower Conley area where we burned what we could. Two backpackers said they would finish the site cleanup and let the fire burn itself out overnight for us. They were planning to partake of some of the food that was left as well. 10-15 lbs of canned food easily.
Three of us (the Conley team) split up and carried the non-burnables up Conley Cove, double bagged it for Forest service pick up at the trail head. Don't know the weight of it.
It was tiring and at times I'm sure all teams longed for extra help. No serious injuries, positive fellowship, and the gorge is cleaner.
I heard there will be at least one video....
Number of workers: about 20
time spent: about 6 hours each
Work accomplished: see below
I think trash day was a great success. I'd say 20 people worked an average of 6 hours, with the bulk of the volunteers removing trash from below Wiseman's. I was not part of that team, but I heard that three old barrels were removed, a shopping cart, and several bags of bottles and cans- I heard three pick-up loads??, but can't confirm. Wiseman's is closer to the showcase it should be, with the trash out and the FS de-brushing the overlook areas.
Another team checked the campsites along Kistler, fishing non-burnable trash out of firepits.
I heard one team was walking Kistler and picking up trash. Can't confirm and don't know how far they got.
The team I was on went down Conley Cove, we clipped a little both ways. At the bottom of CC we split up with one part going south and another north. We gathered trash and discovered a recently abandoned campsite north of Conley Cove. Some critters had scattered the potatoes the night before, it had the appearance of very recently being abandoned. Not so much gear but just scattered mess where the critters inspected the food. We also checked the campsites above the trail gathering trash there as well. The north team (me)- went all the way to the cave that had a cooler in it, but the cooler was gone. I then backtracked and cleaned up and extremely messy site on the ridge between two creeks. This campsite had been abandoned for a while, the plastic was deteriorating. Two trips of stuff were carried the place we burned from that site alone. I might camp there one day -now.
Stuff was carried to the more recently abandoned campsite from all over the lower Conley area where we burned what we could. Two backpackers said they would finish the site cleanup and let the fire burn itself out overnight for us. They were planning to partake of some of the food that was left as well. 10-15 lbs of canned food easily.
Three of us (the Conley team) split up and carried the non-burnables up Conley Cove, double bagged it for Forest service pick up at the trail head. Don't know the weight of it.
It was tiring and at times I'm sure all teams longed for extra help. No serious injuries, positive fellowship, and the gorge is cleaner.
I heard there will be at least one video....
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