Konnarock Update (July 26 - 30)

Hi All --


This was a triple crown of maintenance month with three separate events: Konnarock Week 1, July Work Trip and Konnarock Week 2.  Whew...  Konnarock Week 2 was an overwhelming success with the addition of numerous steps, cleaning and maintenance of waterbars and various tread redefinition all on the area just above the steps on the blue blaze trail leading to Humpback Rocks overlook.  If you have a chance to go up there, take a look at all the improvements.  Kurt - you'll be pleased with the work.  Granted, it is a long way to the top, and, there is still more that could be done.

It was another hot weekend, but, not as hot as the first Konnarock session.  The Konnarock Crew worked very hard and were friendly and welcoming.  Thank you to Josh, Susan, Phillip, Michael, Laura, Meena, Ellen, Sherry, Paula and Ryan for all their hard work.  Various ODATC club members joined in on the fun during the week, so thanks to Fran, Mike, Christina (who attended all three July weekends), Barbara, and Ed for all their help. Thanks also to Ridgerunner Regina for stopping by to help.  And what would a Konnarock Saturday night be without the traditional ODATC feast followed by the musical entertainment of the Old Crusty Minstrels?  Thank you to Dave, Jenni and Margaret for a wonderful taco buffet with a selection of salads, a variety of yummy desserts and various beverages.  The eyes lit up when everyone saw all that wonderful food. The big question being, was the Better than Sex Chocolate cake better???  Following dinner, the entertainment of the entire cast of the Old Crusty Minstrels  topped off the perfect evening.  Thank you Mike, Bob and Sue!! 


Now that July is behind us, there are only four more work trips before the end of the year.  Please let me or Fran know before August 15 if you will be able to attend.  This will give time to plan crews.  Also, if you've been out on the trail lately and know of any trees down please let us know.  I have reports of two trees down, one on the section just south of Dripping Rocks and the other on the section just south of Cripple Creek.


Also, section maintainers, we turn in our yearly volunteer hours in October, so, this is a friendly reminder to please be sure to fill out your hours on the Volunteer Hours form below and get it back to me asap.  Hours for those attending monthly work trips are automatically accumulated from sign-in sheets.


More info...for those who have worked with our friend Cyrus at the Presquile Island site of the Eastern Virginia Rivers National Wildlife Refuge, they are putting together a Comprehensive Conservation Plan and are asking for comments by September 7, 2012.  You can view/download the draft plan at: http://www.fws.gov/northeast/presquile/refuge_planning.html.  This site also contains information on how to submit comments.  Your input would be welcome.


Finally, if you're feeling left out on all the exciting events going on, don't forget the Rockfish to Reeds blog, which tracks all of our antics and provides interesting tidbits and insightful information:   http://rockfishtoreeds.blogspot.com/


Our upcoming events are below.  Again, please let me or Fran know by August 15 if you'd like to help out.

Date                           Location                    
Aug. 18, 2012           AT Work Trip
Sept.15, 2012           AT Work Trip
Oct. 20, 2012            AT Work Trip
Nov. 17, 2012           AT Work Trip

I can't thank you all enough .....

Lori

Konnarock 2012 Photo Album No. 3

More pictures from the second week of Konnarock that took place July 26-30, 2012. The crew was assisting the Blue Ridge Parkway and working on the blue-blaze trail that begins at the Humpback Rocks Parking Lot and leads to the Humpback Rocks.


Photo credit to Lori A. for these pictures!

Trail Crew Ahead!  

Flagging sections of trail where repairs need to be made.

Crews hard at work digging and moving lots of rocks!

The result: A well-constructed set of steps improves the trail.

(for more pictures of completed projects, see Konnarock 2012 Album No. 2)

A Timber Rattlesnake was spotted crossing the trail near a work site!

Some interesting encounters while working on the trail -

Left: a Green June Beetle (Cotinis nitida). 

Right: a large mushroom

Konnarock Crew members enjoying Humpback Rocks on a break.

The Saturday dinner (a veritable "feast"!) at Sherando.

The 'Old Crusty Minstrels' entertain after dinner.

Konnarock 2012 Photo Album No. 2

The second week of Konnarock took place July 26-30, 2012. The crew was assisting the Blue Ridge Parkway and working on the blue-blaze trail that begins at the Humpback Rocks Parking Lot and leads to the Humpback Rocks (Note: ODATC does not maintain this particular blue-blaze trail). ODATC volunteers came out to work with Konnarock on this project and the club also provided a Saturday night dinner and entertainment at Sherando.


Photo credit to Christina W. for these great pictures!

Konnarock crew and volunteers in action.

These pictures were taken in August of the projects completed by Konnarock July 26-30, 2012 .

Left: Hiker trying out the new steps (August 2012)

Right: Close up of lower steps, this was a special project of Konnarock crew members Paula and Ryan

Left: "Mike Squared" Steps (August 2012)

Right: Hiker pausing to admire some fine rock work installed by the Konnarock crew (August 2012)

Crew and volunteers take in the views from Humpback Rocks.

 Konnarock and ODATC Crew at Sherando (July 28, 2012)

The 'Old Crusty Minstrels' provide after dinner entertainment at Sherando (July 28, 2012)

Left: Luna Moth in the HB Rocks parking area (August 2012)

Right: Near Humpback Rocks (August 2012)

Konnarock Update (July 5 - 9) and Upcoming Events

Konnarock Crew, volunteers & sawyers. (Photo: Lori A.)

Konnarock Crew Blog

Hi All -


Hot, hot, hot not only described the weather, but, the wonderful work that was done with the Konnarock crew July 5 - 9.  This crew of nine along with the ODATC volunteers accomplished so much more than was on the schedule to make that rocky section on the west side a more pleasant hiking experience.  Not only did they finish repairing the stairs and building a nice crib wall, but they put in some stepping stones, built up another set of small stairs and rehabbed the trail around them, rerouted the trail to the uphill side of a tree and began work on making a huge step a little more manageable.  Oh yes, they also removed trees around the work site that had fallen from the previous weeks storms...whew!!!  Thank you to the Konnorock crew; Josh, Susan, Kathie, Kitty, Siena, Phillip, Daniella, Andrea and Bob.


Speaking of trees, two ODATC crews went out to clear the majority of the trees down from the storms.  Thank you to Dave, Chris and Peggy for working on the west side on Friday, and, to Jim and Christina (I was the third on that crew), for getting the trees in the middle section of the trail and the leftovers on the south side.  There were some big trees down.


Of course what would a Konnarock trip be without a fabulous meal on Saturday and ODATC style entertainment.  Thank you to Will, Richard and Jenni for coming up to prepare a feast which included Margarita Grilled Chicken, Pork Tender Loin with Blueberry-Bourbon BBQ Sauce, Grilled Port-a-Bella with Tofu, Fish, Fried Squash with onion, New Potatoes, Fruit Salad, Iced Tea, Lemonade, Cherry and Apple Cobbler with Ice Cream.  Yummmmmmmm......  Something we did learn was that ice cream will freeze solid when chilled with dry ice.  Go figure.  Ask Will, who is our Venture Crew President, a technique to defrost frozen solid ice cream. 


Our entertainment for Saturday was provided by Mike who performed a solo act on the guitar.  His tunes were entertaining and had his audience applauding and singing along.  Creative lighting with the flashlights added to the ambiance.  Finally, I'd like to thank the ODATC volunteers; Dave, Mike, Margaret, and our Ridge Runner Regina for helping throughout the weekend.


Please note our upcoming events and let me or Fran know if you'd like to attend.  Don't miss out on all the fun...

Work Trip Dates

Thanks so much for all the wonderful work last weekend!


Lori

Konnarock 2012 Photo Album No. 1

As pictures come in from Konnarock along with some narrative on the work that got done, I'm going to post them as albums to keep the posts from getting too long. This will be a 'work in progress' so you may see pictures being posted over the next week or two. At the same time Konnarock was going on, there were sawyers out clearing the blow downs that occurred due to the June 29th 'derecho' so that is why there are also blow down pictures posted ..... Dave W. did double duty working on Konnarock projects and as a sawyer.


FROM DAVE W. (pictures, narrative, captions):

"Peggy, Chris and I cleared about nine trees on Friday with four biggies. Jim, Lori & Christina had a long day Saturday, starting with the real big awkward one at the crew site, then the one on Section 12, and finally a couple up on Humpback. Mike S. helped build a massive crib while Josh worked on rehabbing the staircase. I put in a little relo above a tree instead of below and started work on a spiral stair that will have to be finished on the work trip." ~ Dave W.

 Blow downs

 A 'small' blow down - before and after.

 A messy poplar tree across the trail & after being cleared.

This section of tread had to be re-cribbed because it was impaled by a tree.

Rock Crib Project

A nice crib with a good bit of elevation.

Looking from the other side.

Rock Staircase Project

Crew leader Josh shows how it's done on the staircase project - lots of steps and tons of crush and fill. 

 Trail Relocation Project

 Before .....

........ after moving the trail above the tree.

Future Project Site

The rock I couldn't quite get out before leaving and the future site of a spiral stair.

Saturday Night Dinner at Sherando

The ODATC Venture Scouts served up an incredible feast.