Today marked the first "official" trail project for the Trails Association of Oregon (TAO), following our unofficial start last Fall on the Old Vista Ridge Trail. This project focuses on replacing a badly damaged segment of the heavily used Angels Rest Trail, and is the first official partnership between TAO and the U.S. Forest Service. Following are some photo highlights of today's very successful first trip.
The crew consisted of 11 volunteers and U.S.F.S. staff, from left: Tom, Ron, Steve, Aaron, Jeff, Kim, Barbra, Dana, Edan, Jane and Andy:
The day began with safety instruction from Steve, and an introduction to the tools we'd be using on the trail:
The U.S.F.S. provided the tools for the day - the volunteers carried two each up the trail:
Off we went, bracing somewhat for a very wet and stormy day in the woods:
Just over a mile up the trail, we reached the work site, and met the sawyers who had started felling the larger trees along the new trail section already. Jeff and Dana take a look at the mini tractor that the sawyers used to move their heavy equipment up the trail:
Jeff posts the TAO "work site" sign, alerting hikers that the crew was using heavy equipment in the area - hikers were periodically stopped at this point when larger trees were being felled:
Here's the section of trail that the project is bypassing with a new grade and switchback - if you've hiked Angels Rest in recent years, you probably remember this badly damaged stretch of trail:
This is what the roughed out new alignment looks like after the sawyers have dropped the larger material. Our main task today was nobly called "grubbing", which means clearing the new route of brush, roots and rocks. The first step was to haul much of the felled material to big piles along the portion of the existing route that will be decommissioned. This material will eventually be piled across the old trail, discouraging hikers and helping rebuild an organic layer there:
Grubbing entails the use of pick axe-shaped tools called Pulaskis and hoe-rake combinations called McLeods to dig out anything organic along the new trail route, once the larger cut brush has been hauled away. Here's the crew digging in to the first section of new trail, Andy working in the foreground:
The going is slow and physical at this stage of the work, with each small stump or root presenting another obstacle to be chopped or dug out of the new trail - Jane and Jeff smile for the photographer, while Kim digs away:
After a few hours of removing the felled debris and getting a good start on the grubbing, the crew took a much-needed lunch break. The surprise? The weather that was supposed to be a lion turned out to be a lamb. Cool, breezy, and occasional snow pellets, but also beautiful sun breaks. Perfect weather for a trailside picnic:
Jane and Barbra enjoying their well-deserved break:
After our lunch break, we plunged into an afternoon of grubbing, and after a few hours could begin to really see our progress as we moved along, foot by foot:
After getting to about the halfway point in clearing and grubbing the new trail, we called it a day and began to pack up the equipment for the hike back down to the trailhead - Jeff and Kim toast our success with a pair of found bottles, uncovered in the brush:
As we made our way down the trail, the weather finally caught up with us with a white flurry of snow pellets:
Springtime greenery along the trail catching some very late winter snow:
After a very successful maiden voyage for the TAO, we headed to the pub at Edgefield to celebrate our first project, and make plans for the next phase. From left, Steve, Andy, Tom, Jeff, Kim, Ron, Jane and Barbra:
I'll leave the details for Jane to post, but there will be more opportunities to work on this project, and others that TAO has lined up for 2008. The work is strenuous but very rewarding - a unique chance to actually build a new trail that you will be able to walk along for years to come.
Thanks, everyone, for your hard work - and thanks U.S.F.S. workers for coordinating our first project with us!
Tom