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Trail Maintenance Activities, 2014
June 7, 2014, Trail Maintenance Training
Organized by the US Forest Service, eight Cache Hikers attended a trail maintenance training session held at Spring Hollow: Alex, Stephanie, Jane, Dave W., Roddy, Gordon, Ron F. and Kent. The Cache Hikers were invited because we volunteered to "adopt" the Card Canyon East and Crimson Trails. Participants also included the Presbyterian Church (Wind Cave Trail), the Likin' Hikin' Ladies (Temple Fork Sawmill Trail) and there were a few others, too. We learned about basic tool safety and trail maintenance practices along with "Leave No Trace" principles and guidance on controlling trail weeds (below).
June 19, 2014, Card Canyon Maintenance Activity
We scheduled this activity for a week day to attract a different group of volunteers. In part due to the unsettled weather, however, only Jane and Dave W. showed up! We walked the half-mile to the archery range after driving to the gate in Card Canyon, and then another mile up the Card East trail to resume our brushing work from last year. On the way up we cut out three logs that had fallen across the trail and we rooted out some dyers woad that was growing along the trail. The wet soil from last night's rain made this an easy task, but we know that woad plants uphill from the trail will spread seeds back into this area. We brushed another 200 - 300 feet of trail, but there is a lot more to go!
It didn't take long to get soaked as we worked in the the wet foliage from last night's rain, and more rain that fell while we were there didn't help. We kept on working in spite of soggy gloves, and water running down our legs and into our boots made for squishy walking during our mid-afternoon hike back out. Fortunately rain coats kept our upper bodies dry, and moderate temperatures kept us from getting chilled. We enjoyed solitude, wildflowers and great views in spite of the inclement weather.
June 21, 2014, Card Canyon Maintenance Activity
Eleven Cache Hikers helped out with this maintenance activity: Jane (the leader), Ron F., Joanne, Brenda, Dave P., Dave W., Roddy, Gordon, Joe, Viviane and Shelley. We assembled into three vehicles and drove 10 miles up Logan Canyon, arriving at the Card Canyon gate, where Jane explained safety precautions and work goals for the day. We started up from the gate about 8:50, arriving about an hour later at our work area.
We spread out along the trail, trimming woody vegetation from the trailside using hand pruners, loppers, and pruning saws. Progress was slow in the heavily overgrown areas, but things sped up a bit when we got to more open sections of the trail. We also pulled down a "hazard tree" that was leaning over the trail. We were treated to views of nearby rock formations and distant hills, the soothing sound of flowing water and the calls of a soaring red-tailed hawk. About 11:30 we called it off for the day. Five people kept on going back to the vehicles to facilitate an earlier return to Logan, while the rest enjoyed a leisurely lunch at the "tree room". Everyone was back in Logan by 1:30.
With about 1/2 mile more to the standing stone, several people expressed an interest in additional maintenance trips to reach this objective by the end of the season.
Summary for June 19 and 21, 2014:
- Brush cleared from over 1000 feet of trail
- One hazard tree pulled down and three fallen trees removed from across the trail
- Over 70 hours of volunteer work
- Wet vegetation and periods of rain on June 19, blue sky and pleasant conditions on June 21
- Walking distance was 3.7 miles (each day)
Thanks to Jane for the narrative and photos, with more photos and GPS work by Dave.
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Maintenance training at Spring Hollow |
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Logs across the Card Canyon East trail |
After cutting out the logs to clear the way |
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Hard at work clearing brush from the trail |
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Hazard tree |
After we pulled it down |
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Lunch at the "tree room" |
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Since 2012, we have cleared 1 1/4 miles, about half of the Card East trail |
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