A New Step At Dripping Rock (Sec. 9)

The view south on the BRP from the Dripping Rock 'Overlook'.

Since I had missed the maintenance planning meeting the previous week, I was briefed on my crew’s mission during the ride to the mountains. As soon as Lori mentioned rocks, I knew it would be a good day! My team was tasked with adding some steps just north of the Dripping Rocks parkway crossing. Eric and Dave G. would work with me to help fix a section of log stairs that had been undercut by a freak heavy storm almost immediately after they were installed. Our task was to add some additional rock steps similar to the nice one that had been installed earlier, making the 12-16 inch step more manageable.

Since we were right next to the road we could have as many tools as we liked. However, we decided to leave the grip hoist in the shed. Our first task was to find a suitable step rock. There were no obvious nearby sources, but we looked anyway, probing with the pick for any solid rock beneath the surface. There were a few candidates, but none really fit what we were looking for, so we decided to head north on the Trail to the rock pile where the first step had been found. Sure enough, we fairly quickly located two candidates and selected the better one for our first step. It was about 3x3x2 with an nice step surface and some attractive moss on the front face that would look good when it was set.

 Moving the rock.

Once it was unearthed, the long journey to the job site began. First we maneuvered it through its home rock field and down to the relatively smooth, level path down the trail, being careful not to scar up the attractive top surface. After some slow going with just rock bars, we decided to give dragging it a try. We slid it onto the cargo net and have it a good try. Unfortunately the only thing that really moved was our 'torn' back muscles! We removed the net and returned to the bars, assisted by a pick. After several hundred feet, we arrived at the half-way point and broke for lunch and stretched out our sore backs.

Stretching sore backs

 

After lunch we got into a rhythm and at times had the rock virtually floating down the trail in a blur of rock bar and pick. Upon arriving at the site, we reexamined the rock, took careful measurements, and began excavating the hole, reserving the removed dirt and rocks to use later. We slid the rock in and liked the position, but needed to do a little fine-tuning to achieve the right angle on the step surface and level it across the step. With the rock positioned, we selected and placed several natural-looking rocks in the soil alongside to discourage people from going around. Finally we used the excavated rock and dirt to almost completely bury the rock, leaving just enough exposed to provide a short step and landing in front of the log.

 The final product!

It may have taking three people an entire day, but the step blends into the terrain and will be there a long time! ~ Dave W. (Crew Leader)



(Photo credit: all photos Dave W.)