Date of work: 3-17-2013
Number of workers: 2 Jim and Jared de Friess
work done:light clipping, tree clearing and waterbar construction.
Time spent: 3 hours- includes commute
Some details- The adopted by sign was face down on the ground,looked like the post wasn't treated and it rotted in two. I propped it against some maples.
Made it down the hill to sitting rock, passed 5 hikers -2 coming out, and 3 going in- oh and 2 dogs. The trail appears to be getting plenty of use and is holding up well.
Right before entering I was asked by folks in a SUV if I was Wigg- seems he has a reputation......
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Sunday, March 10, 2013
3-10-2013
Date of work: 3/10/2013
Number of workers: 2 Jim de Friess and Ken C.
Time spent: 14 hours all totaled including commutes.
Work done: clipping mostly along the northern third of RJ, We got up the gully past the weeping wall. Not having done trail work for a while we turned around just after that. Where new trees were across the trail that we couldn't handle we clipped to help those having to cross later hopefully have an easier time.
Number of workers: 2 Jim de Friess and Ken C.
Time spent: 14 hours all totaled including commutes.
Work done: clipping mostly along the northern third of RJ, We got up the gully past the weeping wall. Not having done trail work for a while we turned around just after that. Where new trees were across the trail that we couldn't handle we clipped to help those having to cross later hopefully have an easier time.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Pinch In
Date of work Feb 24th
Number of Workers: 1
time spent 3 hours - includes commute.
Work done:
Cleaned out the waterbars on the steep upper section of PI. Cut two trees that had been across the trail and made waterbars with one, beefed up an existing waterbar with the other. A great day in the woods, its been too long.
Number of Workers: 1
time spent 3 hours - includes commute.
Work done:
Cleaned out the waterbars on the steep upper section of PI. Cut two trees that had been across the trail and made waterbars with one, beefed up an existing waterbar with the other. A great day in the woods, its been too long.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
11-23 CC and LGT south
Date of work: Primarily 11/23, some light clipping on 11/24 eventually putting the shears away for the climb out.
Number of workers: 1 Jim de Friess
Time spent:8 hours (includes commute)
Work done: Just a walk through with light trail Maint on CC and LGT south of CC.
I had heard there were some trees across CC, and clipped until I found them. They appear to be the hard (old dry deads) so I tried to make it a little easier to negotiate. About 3/4s of the way down CC a red oak had fallen to block the upper and lower parts of a switchback The bypass hikers had put in was steep, so I spent about 30 mins clearing as best I could to open the switchback back up. There is a step over still at the edge of a ledge so I did not do anything to block the bypass, I had visions of ice. I only clipped slightly on CC and LGT, however the further south I went the more I clipped, especially areas I felt the trail would be confusing. I was hoping to get it clipped to where I had stopped clipping coming North of PI and did in fact complete that. The trail was completely blocked about 100 yards from where I had made it up from the south with the hiker bypass equally bad, but 6-8 cuts later 12' of trail was open and 60' of bypass unnecessary.
Met two hikers today on the way out that had lost the trail. They turned around when they met me after we discussed how far it was to the river crossing (we were 1-1.5 miles north of PI). I explained it to them, and later it occurred to me the maps show LGT crossing near Blue hole, while when someone mentions river crossing I think MST.
On the way out the two I mentioned told two more hikers heading south to talk to the "ranger". They too wanted to go to the river crossing. I estimated it at 6 miles for the MST one and rather involved. They were thinking just walk across the private land. I said they shouldn't do that and getting to that point wasn't easy near the private property anyway.
Number of workers: 1 Jim de Friess
Time spent:8 hours (includes commute)
Work done: Just a walk through with light trail Maint on CC and LGT south of CC.
I had heard there were some trees across CC, and clipped until I found them. They appear to be the hard (old dry deads) so I tried to make it a little easier to negotiate. About 3/4s of the way down CC a red oak had fallen to block the upper and lower parts of a switchback The bypass hikers had put in was steep, so I spent about 30 mins clearing as best I could to open the switchback back up. There is a step over still at the edge of a ledge so I did not do anything to block the bypass, I had visions of ice. I only clipped slightly on CC and LGT, however the further south I went the more I clipped, especially areas I felt the trail would be confusing. I was hoping to get it clipped to where I had stopped clipping coming North of PI and did in fact complete that. The trail was completely blocked about 100 yards from where I had made it up from the south with the hiker bypass equally bad, but 6-8 cuts later 12' of trail was open and 60' of bypass unnecessary.
Met two hikers today on the way out that had lost the trail. They turned around when they met me after we discussed how far it was to the river crossing (we were 1-1.5 miles north of PI). I explained it to them, and later it occurred to me the maps show LGT crossing near Blue hole, while when someone mentions river crossing I think MST.
On the way out the two I mentioned told two more hikers heading south to talk to the "ranger". They too wanted to go to the river crossing. I estimated it at 6 miles for the MST one and rather involved. They were thinking just walk across the private land. I said they shouldn't do that and getting to that point wasn't easy near the private property anyway.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Pinch In and LGT (north of PI)
Date of work: 10-12-2012
Number of workers: 1 Jim de
Time spent: 10 hours (includes commute)
Hiked down PI to LGT clipping lightly, my summer clipping still had the trail in great shape.
Once at LGT I headed north clipping until I was just south of the feature known as the sphinx, Then I turned around, took a break and hiked back out PI
Sorry to report, but the trash at the PI trail head is still there...
Number of workers: 1 Jim de
Time spent: 10 hours (includes commute)
Hiked down PI to LGT clipping lightly, my summer clipping still had the trail in great shape.
Once at LGT I headed north clipping until I was just south of the feature known as the sphinx, Then I turned around, took a break and hiked back out PI
Sorry to report, but the trash at the PI trail head is still there...
Monday, September 3, 2012
Sept 3, 2012 Southern RJ
Date of work- 9/3/2012
number of workers: 2 Ken C and Jim d
Time spent : 9 for Ken 8 for Jim (includes commute)
Work done: Clipped and built water features on about the southern most mile of RJ trail. We didn't get into the deepest part of Mossy canyon, but we got to the north edge of that section. It was humid,warm, and foggy, some occasional light rain. Even a break of sun. Great day in the gorge with great company.
At Pinch in we saw a blue barrel and tree stand someone had hauled out apparently from the campsite at the river south of PI. Whoever did that we are grateful too. Last pic.
Pics
https://picasaweb.google.com/110028009052849072738/September32012
number of workers: 2 Ken C and Jim d
Time spent : 9 for Ken 8 for Jim (includes commute)
Work done: Clipped and built water features on about the southern most mile of RJ trail. We didn't get into the deepest part of Mossy canyon, but we got to the north edge of that section. It was humid,warm, and foggy, some occasional light rain. Even a break of sun. Great day in the gorge with great company.
At Pinch in we saw a blue barrel and tree stand someone had hauled out apparently from the campsite at the river south of PI. Whoever did that we are grateful too. Last pic.
Pics
https://picasaweb.google.com/110028009052849072738/September32012
Friday, July 20, 2012
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.
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.
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