AT immediately south of project area as it goes through a chute between large rock features.
What a day we had on the AT Saturday, during our '3rd Saturday' work trip for October. It was a perfect day for trail work - cool, breezy, the fall foliage was gorgeous, and although it was mostly cloudy, the golden leaves gave the illusion of sunlight in the woods. Lots of hikers were out .... we saw quite a few groups with several family/friends groups with kids on their way to Cedar Cliffs and a scout troop headed north.
Our project for the day: on the AT, between the BRP and Cedar Cliffs, was a spot where the AT traversed a rock slab. The immediate surrounding area has some large rock features and short cliffs just past the slab and to the left (hiking south). Water tends to flow across the rock slab and makes it slick and hikers have to really pay attention when going across this area. During previous work trips, crew leader Dave envisioned a rock 'cribbing' project to route hikers around the slab; however, once work began, the decision was made to actually keep the AT re-route closer to the original trail and go up the slab .... a mini spiral staircase.
This was a very technical, difficult, work intensive project. It is hard to describe how much work went into what appears to be, in the final picture, a very nice set of rock steps with plenty of rock work around it. What folks will not realize as they hike the steps, is everything that is underneath .... from the slick rock slab, to the crush and fill, and bags of dirt that were hauled to cover the rough rock and give the steps something to sit on. The locust stump at the top of the project was a big hint of what was to come .... roots, roots everywhere! As we uncovered roots again and again, Bill made a comment about 'Root 66' ... a play on Route 66 and it seemed like a good name for the project .... a much improved AT 'highway' and it surely felt as if we cut a minimum of 66 roots!
From the original "mess" that we made when we pulled the site apart, clearing duff, cutting roots, moving loose rocks, prying up two ancient 'set rocks', probably from when the trail was originally built, and the water that continually seeped into the site making thick black mud, it was hard to believe that something hikeable was actually going to happen by the time we were to be out of the woods (5:00 p.m.), but it DID happen. The project is something to be really proud of .... big enough and of a complexity worthy of a Konnarock crew/project. The crew was terrific ..... teamwork, good humor, patience ..... and very safety conscious. With the rock slab, the water on it and the subsequent 'mud pit' which all made for super slippery conditions, this work site probably had the most potential for slips/falls and associated injuries as any I've ever been on .... and we had no such injuries because everyone looked out for each other on more than one occasion.
Since a picture is worth a thousand words, here is a sketch of the project so you can see the rock that was moved, the extent of the rock slab, and what the entire site looks like from a bird's eye view. On the bottom left is a step detail 'drawing' so you can see how these steps were set on a rock slab. Following the sketch are the actual crew pictures as the work was performed.
Project site "before" work begins .... AT goes over slab & through rocks.
Original plan was to go around the locust stump & crib up a tread - crew members are clearing duff/roots off of the slab to prepare the site. Notice how this area slopes sharply down at a steep angle.
Lots of duff and lots of roots - this was surprisingly tough work.
Change of plan .... staying closer to original AT route - old rocks set when the trail was first built are being removed. Again, notice how steeply this area slopes down to the left and the rock slab is clearly visible.
Locust stump and natural rock that are going to be left in place - crew clearing the area around and at the top of the area where the new tread will be constructed.
Site cleared for construction. Note the rock slab .... water flowing across made it slick and with what little dirt was there, mud began to 'happen'! The water was puddling in a couple of spots.
Preparing the site for the first 'set' rock ... just above the natural rock at the botton of the slope (slab) that will anchor the back of the project, including a crib wall to hold in crush and fill.
The first step rock (#1) is wrangled down the mountainside by the crew .... then it needs to come down the AT all the way to the locust stump, then slid down the slab to where it will be set.
Step rocks should be large and heavy so they don't shift when hikers use them .... the 'standard' is a rock so heavy it takes 2-3 people to move it. This was a 3-person rock with a nice flat tread/step area on the top.
(Photo: Dave W.)
Video: step rock #1 initially being put in place - notice the mud and how difficult it is to move the rock.
Step rock #1 was not cooperating at first .... it had to be tilted back off the spot where it would 'sit' so more work could be done. The angle of the rock's tread area (it was tipping too far forward) was adjusted by digging out more on the back side and rotating the rock slightly.
Fast forward ....... step rocks #1 & #2 in place.
Notice the crib wall between the top rock just in front of the locust stump and the bottom anchor rock. The cribbing keeps the crush and fill from falling out the 'back' and going down the hill. Crush & fill can be seen just above step #2 as preparation for step #3.
Another view of the cribbing, crush & fill, and the top of the rock slab where steps #3 & 4 will be going. The wet rock slab is clearly visible.
Closeup view of steps #1 & 2. Look at that beautiful, flat 'tread' area on rock #1.
Closeup view of steps #3 & 4, also rocks at the top of the slab on the right to keep hikers on the tread. One more step is needed, just below the locust stump and across from the natural rock at the top of of the project.
The "after" picture ..... 4 steps across the rock slab, lots of other rock work as well. The mud at the bottom of the 1st step is not on the slab and should dry out.
(Photo: Dave W.)
Many thanks to the crew who put in a very long, hard day and did such a terrific job on the 'Root 66' Project:
Dave W. (crew leader), John S., David A., Bill F., and Phil Y.
(yours truly was also on the crew)
(Photos: Merlot unless otherwise noted)
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