Lower Pinch In May 29 and 30

Dates of work: May 29 and 30

Number of workers: 1 Jim d

time spent: 18 hours (includes commute)

Work done:

Hiked down Pinch In clipping below Falcon rock, built a few waterbars, was trying to get to where the trail turns off the ridge and concentrate on that part, but it was slow going getting there, a couple places needed additional attention.  Finally got to the top of the turn off the ridge worked the upper part.  Heard thunder getting serious so I surveyed and clipped minimally to the bottom then north on LGT to the first campsite.  South along the river just slightly to camp,right beside the river.  Tarp was up and hammock as the rain started.  Got in the hammock to listen to God speak.

Double obstruction across LGT at that campsite.  One tree over the other both about 2' in diameter Hemlock on bottom and red oak on top.  Another of those existed across Pinch In but I was able to cut a route around to the up hill side.  There was another double obstruction and it too was routed around.

Concentrated on the section going up to the ridge this morning by adding water features, then clipped up the ridge today.  At the top of the ridge I rested and saw rain in the gorge all I got was a sprinkle.

Hiked up in the sun then near the top another front hit and the thunder was picking up, made it to the truck before the rain got me.

Good days in the gorge.

Pinch In again

date of work: 5/20/2014

number of workers: 1 Jim d

time spent: 9 hours - includes commute

Work done: worked from where I quit previously down to Falcon rock, putting in waterbars and clipping.  It was a great day in the gorge.  Pinch in is in good shape to falcon rock don't know when I'll get the lower third.

Pinch In 5-13-2014

date of work 5/13/2014

number of workers: 1 Jim d

time spent: 10 hours includes commute

Work done: Continued from where I left off last Friday clipping down the hill on PI.  Got to the place where the trail goes right (going down) but a camp site and creek access are left - at the top of the cliff area.  Creek was flowing nicely - I got water from it.  Continued the waterbar project.  Some of my dug waterbars from previous fun trips were filled in and it was obvious the trail was the drainage.  Using logs where I could on top of the dirt - seems to help them last longer I built I don't know how many but got them down to the cliff area.

In one particular section 2 fire dead hemlocks had finally fallen across the trail, one I had made a waterbar before but its a large tree very difficult to cross just up the trail another fell.  I was able to cut it once and scoot it then let the trail go around the trees to the north side.  That actually sort of gives trail reversion (to the extent PI allows).  While resting I noticed there are about 10 more dead hemlocks in the area - 2 of which will almost assuredly fall across the trail.  The rest may.

I was going to to help them fall and hopefully control direction somewhat but after watching them vibrate in the wind and knowing the tree I just cut had snapped in a good place (requiring only one cut).  I couldn't get Ken C's voice out of my head  "don't do it - the top could break off while chopping and kill you." which is true that is a real possibility, a rope and spotter would be quite prudent.

That little section is widow maker alley for now.

A good day in the woods, was surprised I had spent 8 hours and it was a tough hike out.  A set of Easton trekking poles were about 300 yards down the trail on the side - not broke or anything.  I carried them to the trail head.

May 9 2014 Upper GI - wait PI

Date of work May, 9 2014

number of workers: 1 (been too long again Jim d)

time spent: 5.5 hours (includes commute

Work accomplished: Light clipping on upper part of Pinch in trail = maybe got 1/4 of the way down clipping and removing trees across trail.  Where I quit three trees killed by thr fire 7 years ago had fallen in or along the trail.  Made a water bar out of two of them, the third was hardened red oak and I was out of gas.  Fortunately its easily stepped over.  I was generally pleased at how open the trail seemed, things had leafed out but not fully, on the parts I worked its a solid 4' wide corridor now with minimal clipping required.  Briers and blackberry and devil's walking stick shaved it it was even looking at the trail.

Also good news is that the trees are forming canopy over the trail which will mean more shade - not shady by any means just less brutally sunny.

The waterbars previously put in were holding up well, some of the smaller ones had been kicked through, but most are big enough trees that people have stepped over them, and they didn't need major cleaning.  There is also an ample number of them so very little evidence of water running down the trail and continuing to rut (at least the upper part).  I think its a model for how a steep trail should be done- OK I'm biased.

Ran out of gas too soon, fed the bugs well - forgot repellent, so went back to the truck.  I think that trail gets a little steeper every year.....

Wonderful to be out there though

Southern RJ March 30, 2014

Date of work: March 30, 2014

time spent: 28 hours (3 workers- includes commutes)

Number of workers: 3 Jim d, Ken, and Mike

work done:  The primary goal was to check conditions and clip between Mossy Falls and Tee shirt point along Rock Jock.  This would mean the entire trail has been clipped over the last 6 months.

On the way in from the south end, some light clipping was done and a couple of trees in the back of Mossy canyon were removed from the trail.  Several remain, but they are mainly step overs.

Once passed Mossy falls we clipped to tee shirt point turn then up the hill slightly tying into the point Ken and I had clipped to coming south about three weeks ago.

The wind was up so there may be more and new deadfall across RJ but the trail is discernible and followable all the way through.

It was a great day, started cool and cloudy with snow flurries, ended with a full sun exit out of the south end of RJ. 

upper Pinch In 11-29-2013

Date of work: 11/29/13

Time spent : 8 hours includes commute

Number of workers: 1 Jim de Friess

Work accomplished:

Was a little disappointed to see tape across the trail head and in reading the notice discovered entering the area makes one subject to a $5k fine.  So I clipped around the paking lot, everything high within the confines then one person wide pass around the outside of the parking boundaries.  While clipping I thought to call Ken and ask about trail closures.

He reminded me that they had been rescinded for the hunters sake, and I did remember seeing that.  Getting the signs down I guess wasn't as great a priority as putting them up was.

With that information I started down the trail.  I wanted to check my waterbars having had this feeling that they had been removed by fire watchers in prep for possibly using Pinch In if the fire jumped the river.

Happily I can report they were all in good shape and required very little maint.  I did clean out a few that were near full but and built a couple more, but mostly I just clipped the trail back to proper width.  A sling blade may have been a better tool than shears.

Clipped and made a few additional waterbars, repositioned some step over logs as waterbars, That I previously was unable to do from being tired.  The logs I chopped were full of moisture and froze, so that helps them break up, and a pulaski chop through them.

Worked to the point a couple hundred yards above the cliff area, intend to put in more water features in that last little bit as I work down the hill on the middle third.  Hope to camp sometime to work the lower third. 

It was a good day in the woods, saw for people hiking in with backpacks to enjoy the gorge.

Northern RJ 8/4/2013

Date of work: 8/04/2013

number of workers: 1 Jim de Friess

Time spent: 11 hours -includes commute

Work done: Starting from Old Conley fire ring I clipped south, just minimally the stuff across the trail and thin too.  My goal was to get as far south as I could and try and keep moving clipping waht was sticking over the trail, trying to make sure it was followable if not wide. 

At the top of the gulley in what is generally called Blue Jay canyon there was a tree across the trail, its where Ken and I turned around when we last worked RJ.  After about an hour and a half it was in two and I was able to scoot the trunk making it passable.  Now there are two trunks hanging over the trail - one in fern canyon, one in blue jay canyon. 

After the tree trunk I worked and clipped south all the way past the turn to sunshine point, somewhere in moonshine canyon but not to south end of it.

I turned and retreated back north clipping more but walking at near normal pace.  Had lunch at bean camp in the hammock then snoozed a bit.  Watered up at Blue jay falls, then made it to the truck.

Rj is discernible all the way into moonshine canyon.  There are a couple duck unders.  I'll post a few pictures at some point.