Often, we’re too busy to write nicely written articles about what we do. Thankfully, our crew leaders like Bill Carter provide notes. Bill and his fellow 28 volunteers just completed an immense amount of work in the Sierra Nevada. We decided to post this internal snapshot. Way to go crew! Bill writes:
I will attempt to detail the day by day activities and accomplishments of the various work crews at Red’s Meadow 2014 (28 Volunteers participated for all or part of project).
- Thurs 26 June – arrival for 13 crew members-set up camp and kitchen-arrange corrals/hilines for 16 horses/mules.
- Fri 27 June – 11 folks work on RM pasture fence-construct H brace and “cowboy gate”, string wire on posts. Some wire very rusted and weak-needs replacement. Return to Sotcher Pasture for some “touch-up” of Guest Pasture fencing. Both meadows dry and ready for stock grazing.
- Sat 28 June – 11 folks ride/hike to Lower Crater Meadow Trail to remove large tree blocking feeder trail to PCT, also remove several trees encroaching trail. 2 Vols stay at RM to repair tread and brush PCT. Coordinate with FS to obtain new wire and stays for RM Pasture fence upgrade.
We’re champs at clearing big trees with crosscut saws.
- Sun 29 June – Install new wire and stays at RM Pasture-replace/add some posts and tighten H-brace. Some crew members sent down Fish Creek Trail to lop white thorn. Late afternoon assemble chow, gear, feed for two wilderness pack trips. More folks arrive.
- Monday 30 June to 2 July – Deer Creek/Duck Lake crew of 11 Vols and 13 horses/mules depart. Deer/Duck Creek crew stays at Deer Creek and works trail(cut trees and remove obstacles) to Duck Lake outlet, remove/obliterate fire rings and evidence of wood fires in Duck Meadow-several of crew work to reopen trail to Deer Lakes. Return to RM after 3 days and 2 nights.
- Mon 30 June-3 July Fish Creek crew of 11 Vols and 8 horses/miles depart. Fish Creek crew stay at Sharktooth stock camp divide into two saw crews- one clears Fish Creek Trail through Cascade Valley to Minnow Creek Cut-Off/Purple Lake Trail. Other crew clears Minnow Creek Trail(past Lost Keys, Long Canyon, Marsh Lake)to Minnow Creek Trail Cut-Off and to Fish Creek Trail. Crew spends 4 days and 3 nights.RMPS&R pack feed for each crew’s stock. Several Vols stay at RM to work trail close to PS(brushing/tread work).
- Thurs 3 July – Tread crew began working on “pucker spots” on PCT in DPNM. Sawyer crew cleared obstacles/trees to Superior Lake. Brushing crew continued Fish Creek brushing.
- Fri July 4 – Entire crew works PCT in DPNM widening trail in blow down area and removing rocks from trail, building check steps and other structures.
- Sat July 5 – Entire crew back to PCT in DPNM to finish construction of trail structure and remove more large rocks from tread, also rebuild stream crossing(which was dry)near north boundary of DPNM.
- Sun 6 July – pack up and depart RM by noon.
The melding of our BCHC horsemen/packers and our PCT hikers multiplies what can be accomplished for our wilderness trails, especially in our deep backcountry. Bobbie Tanner of RMPS&R allowed and supported our crew at the PS and provided the needed stock feed transport for our backcountry ventures.
New steps to deal with erosion issues on the trail.