Rockfish Crew: A Season of Progress (Sec 1 & 2)

 

 Rockfish Crew loads up their tools for the trip to the AT at Rockfish Gap.

The goal on Saturday for the crew on Section 1 was to complete a season-long project to reduce the amount or water running unchecked down the AT, to rehab and maintain the waterbars that had been built this season and in previous years, and to finish removing and rebuilding of section of outdated waterbars built in 1992 when the trail was rerouted.

Removing the old rock waterbars and several old wooden check steps went relatively quickly. The hard part was to install the new log waterbars in the correct locations. Unfortunately, the trail here runs along an old road bed, so there was nothing we could do about the 20% slopes. We finally decided on the correct locations and started digging the trenches which would hold the wooden logs, which would form the support of the waterbars. Each log was first laid across the trail in order to get the correct alignment (45%). The trenches were dug, the logs were laid and then lots of fine soil was tamped around and under the logs to insure that they would stay put. Next came the addition of good clay soil which packed well and would add stability and longevity to the waterbars. Finally, the unused rocks were used to steer hikers and runners to the center of the treadway to make sure the most stabilized portion of the waterbar would get the greatest use.

We rehabbed all the waterbars (44) on Section 1 and even had time to repair a set a stone steps that had needed repair since shortly after the were set in 1993. I was working with the trail construction crew that year and watched them install the original stairs. The rocks were relatively small, but they held up OK. Unfortunately, they had slipped out of alignment due to tree roots growing along one side and had started to slope downhill. We removed the roots, reset the steps in proper alignment to the treadway and made sure that they no longer sloped downhill.

Twenty-one (21) waterbars were built this season. The trail has stabilized and a significant amount of water has been diverted off the AT.  ~Jim S. (Crew leader) 
 

Thanks to the following folks for helping on this project, which started on 

the April 2013 work trip:

Lee, Lisa, Charlotte, Ed, Christina, Mark, Jim, Margaret, 

Dave, Eric, Bob, Craig, Lynn and Bill. 

 ♦ ♦ ♦

(Photo: Merlot)