Sec 5 Crew: Water, Water Everywhere!

 

Some work for the sawyers on Sec 5.

The Section 5 Crew had a variety of tasks to do, but sometimes conditions 'on the ground', compliments of Mother Nature, dictate the terms of the maintenance work that gets done. The plans were to do sidehill repair and rogue rocks that are 'popping up' in the trail due to wear and tear. This section was the very first piece of the Humpback Relo project in the late 90's and similar to Sec 7, almost 15 years of wear and tear from foot traffic and natural weathering, is causing maintenance concerns. However, due to the storms and heavy weather that came through on Friday, the crew ran into significant water issues that also had to be remedied. Here is their day:

 

Water from heavy rains flowing down the hillside and across the trail. This area originally had a 'French Drain' installation, but it clogged up within the first year. The non-functioning drain was abandoned and channels were used instead to get the excess water across the trail in a way that would prevent damage to the tread. This runoff water was bypassing the channels.

 

Channel for excess water is visible in this picture and you can see a good stretch of muddy trail behind the channel.

 

Ditching on the hillside gets the water narrowed down to a more controlled flow.

 

Water finally flowing where it's supposed to go .... in the channel.

 

Another view of this channel across the trail.

 

Rock 'rogue-out' and sidehill repair underway.

 

A finished section of trail, looking good with some leaf litter to provide

 'instant weathering' and hide the raw dirt.

The crew also went east on the AT/Howardsville turnpike (beginning of Sec 6) and cleaned out a winter's worth of leaves packed under the log bridge across one of the deeper Howardsville water bar channels. It is really amazing how many leaves get washed and tightly compacted under this log bridge and it is hard work to get them loose and cleaned out.

After the cleanout - what a difference!

Another view of that future sawyer project - the top appears to be snagged on a tree across the trail. 

The Section 5 Crew had a good day and got some excellent basic maintenance work done plus dealt with the watery curve ball that Mother Nature threw their way, just to keep things exciting! Sidehilling, roguing rocks, getting excess water flow off the trail, keeping channels operating and water bars cleaned out is trail maintenance work that adds up, section by section, to 19.1 miles of excellent AT!!

Many thanks to Lori (Crew Leader), Dave, Betty, and Regina (ATC Ridgerunner) for their work on Sections 5 and 6 Saturday!

(All photos: Lori A.)