6-Mile Crew (Sec 6, 7, 8A & 8B)

 

Work crews getting organized before heading out on their projects.

Saturday, the sun was shining on the crews as they met at the Humpback Visitor's Center and got their assignments and tools. Just down the sidewalk, at the Humpback Rocks Farm, it was eerily beautiful as fog hung around, back lit by the sun. Three crews were heading out: the Sawyer Crew to tackle Big Tree Jr., the Rockfish Crew to finish up stabilizing the trail on sections 1 and 2, and a third crew that was going to hike the approximately 6 miles of trail between the Humpback Picnic Area and Humpback Parking Lot. This 6-Mile Crew would scout the blue-blaze connector between the Picnic Area and the AT for future waterbars, clean fall leaves from existing waterbars, check new waterbars to make sure they are working properly and deal with any other maintenance issues along the way. 

Since Daylight Savings time had ended, sunset was going to be around 5:00 so the crews were shooting for a goal of being off the trail around 4:30 and back at the Visitor's Center parking lot shortly thereafter. Everybody loaded up their gear and headed out ...... the 6-Mile Crew was headed south on the BRP to the Humpback Picnic Area. On the way, the views west across the Valley were so beautiful with fog, that we went on to the Greenstone Overlook for some fog pictures before doubling back to the HB Picnic Area gate.

 

Fog blanketing the Shenandoah Valley ..... view from Greenstone Overlook.

 

 HB Picnic Area is closed for the season so we parked at the gates

 and walked .......

 

.... to the blue-blaze connector trail to the AT.

 

Several strategic water bar locations were scouted for future work trips. In this photo, you can see that the trail is becoming 'cupped' or U-shaped from water erosion. The Pulaski marks the potential location of a future water bar. (Photo: Lori A.)

 Once on the AT (Sec. 8B at this point, then 8A, 7 & 6), we cleaned out the latest fall leaf debris from all the water bars ... an early Christmas present for the regular section maintainers, who have done a great job this past year!

 

Some folks use an apple or an orange to test the slope of a water bar and see exactly where the water will go. No one had an apple or an orange, so we had some fun and substituted a "banana roll"!

 

There are several significant waterbars at The Gully, an area that is very prone to water erosion and has suffered serious damage in years past, before the multiple water bars were installed. 

 

 Leaf debris raked out and dirt that has washed in has been dug back out. When waterbars are regularly maintained, like those on this section, routine maintenance is a lot easier because the debris that washes in doesn't have a chance to "pack" tightly.

 

Lower water bars just below The Gully. (Photo: Lori A.)

 

 Fire rakes aren't the most comfortable tool to tote along for miles, but during spring/fall waterbar clean outs, they are indispensable and the tool of choice!

(Photo: Lori A.)

 

 In The Gully, this check dam/step has washed on the lower side to become a step that is uncomfortably high. We knocked down the berm on the left and moved the dirt in front of the step to raise the landing a couple of inches. This will be watched ..... if the dirt doesn't pack/hold up, then some retaining rocks will have to be placed, making a landing 'terrace' arrangement.

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This is at the very top of The Gully. The AT is on the left, just above the pack, then takes a left turn down the steep hill just below the large branches. This picture is taken on the hill above the trail where a runoff ditch has been put in to take the water to the right and keep it from going straight and dumping on the AT. This runoff ditch is being cleared of leaves and from the condition of the dirt underneath, it is doing its job of diverting water.

 

Removing a root that has been exposed by water erosion. Once these roots wash out underneath and stick above the trail, they are generally cut out so some hapless hiker doesn't manage to get a foot underneath and take a major tumble. (Photo: Lori A.)

 

 Battery Cliffs was a great place for lunch and to watch the fog. (Photo: Lori A.)

 

 Leaving the Cliffs heading north, there is a very narrow tread and a major laurel bush trimming was done to widen up the area. Ed is heading off with the clippers so this is before ...... (Photo: Lori A.)

 

 .......... and after the laurel bushes were trimmed back. (Photo: Lori A.)

 

Just past the Cliffs, a dead tree, that was still hard as iron, had fallen and was encroaching on the trail. This is how a very hard tree is trimmed with a very small fold-up saw.

 Tag teaming was required!

 

FINALLY ........ got that limb cut off!

 

After cleaning out the waterbars installed this spring on Sec. 7 (working great!) and the waterbars installed this summer at Bear Spring (also doing the job!), we came to the former Big Tree Jr. blowdown area and were able to admire the great job done by the Sawyer Crew.  At this point, the fog was really closing in at lower elevations. (Photo: Lori A.)

 

 The AT and woods are beautiful in the fog, even as the fog was condensing on everything and falling from the trees like rain. (Photo: Lori A.)

We made it out of the woods around 5:00 as dark was falling. Everybody was a little wet from the condensing fog and tired from digging and dealing with wet leaves on wet rocks ... a slick proposition in places. It was a great day to be in the woods and we all felt really good with what we saw as we covered Sections 8A & B, 7, and 6 ........ especially satisfying was the confirmation that the newly installed waterbars were working, which meant they were properly sited when constructed, something that can be a tricky proposition. The AT along these sections has been "put to bed" for the winter .... fall leaves cleaned out of waterbars and off of steps, small blowdowns and debris removed, and projects for next year's work crews already being planned!

Thanks to everybody on the 6-Mile Crew for all the maintenance work that got accomplished while still having a really good time doing it!

Crew members: Lori A., John S., Ed F. & yours truly.

(Photos:  All photos by Merlot unless otherwise noted)

Stone Wall History

 

Sign at the Greenstone Overlook

(BRP mp 8.8)

While at the Greenstone Overlook Saturday, I took a picture of this sign because as Appalachian Trail maintainers, the most frequently asked non-trail question is about the stone walls that are all over the Humpback Rocks area and in many cases alongside or visible from the AT itself. Sure enough, while working on Section 8B, between the Humpback Picnic blue blaze and Battery Cliffs on Saturday, we had a trail runner (recently moved from Hawaii!!) ask about the stone walls. Lucky for him, I had this picture in the camera and could pull it up and read it off to answer his question.

Everyone, especially those maintainers who revel in rock projects (cribbing walls, stone steps, etc.), marvels at the construction and the scope of the walls ..... height, distance and the dry laid work itself. These extensive walls are truly beautiful and the sheer manual labor to gather the rocks plus the artistry of the men who laid the rocks is just amazing.

Section 8B (photos taken Nov. 16, 2013):

 

 

 

Section 8A (photos taken June 2012):

 

 

 ♦ ♦ ♦

Another view of that Greenstone Overlook sign, which has some pretty interesting, large rocks as a backdrop:

 

 ♦ ♦ ♦

(All photos: Merlot)

The Fog Comes On .... And Stays!

 

 Looking southwest from Greenstone Overlook, BRP mp 8.8 with the fog 'blanket' over the Shenandoah Valley showing in the distance.

The fog views off of the BRP overlooks and the AT were just spectacular yesterday (Nov. 16). Our crew was putting in at Humpback Rocks Picnic Area, but we traveled on a little ways to check out the views from Greenstone Overlook before doubling back. During the day, we had views from the AT as well: Battery Cliffs and Humpback Mountain View (a good distance up the mountain from 'The Rocks'). Here is a collection of photos (and 1 video) of the fog views. You really had to be there .... the pictures just don't show the distance perspectives and the every-changing nature of the fog.

From Greenstone Overlook on the BRP (9:30 - 10:00 a.m.):

 

 View southwest.

 

 

 

 

 View west across the Shenandoah Valley.

From "Battery Cliffs" on the AT which overlooks Wintergreen (12:00 p.m):

 

 

Southwest view .... that would be the Shenandoah Valley if you could see it!

 

From the Cliffs, panning east to west (closeup) and back (more distant view).

From Humpback Mountain View, overlook immediately off of the AT (2:00 p.m):

 

Looking mostly north.

 

West across the Shenandoah Valley - there was a "roll" of fog and unfortunately, it doesn't show up that way in this picture.

 ♦ ♦ ♦

I believe the Robert Frost poem says the "the fog comes on little cat cat feet ..... and then moves on."  To put Saturday's fog in AT terms, it came on big bear paws and stayed!

(Photos: Merlot)

'Rocking It' At The Gully!

 

 

The woods were 'wall-to-wall' with Goldenrod along this section of AT.

Saturday was a beautiful day out on the trail. The weather was cool, a welcome relief after the heat and humidity of summer. No biting little black flying bugs were noticed ..... maybe the nights have been cool enough to knock them back. A lot of the weeds along the trail are looking 'spent' as their green season ends in tones of yellow and rust. The late summer/early fall flowers are blooming - goldenrod was in profusion, a few jewelweeds still had their flowers and the light purple asters were also making a frequent appearance.

We had a terrific crew that was hard working, but in addition to the work, we also had some of the most interesting conversations: bee keeping, copperhead snakes and their skin colors/patterns, the medicinal and other uses of several wildflowers and plants, Boy Scouts on the trail, "styling" the trail, and other topics I'm sure I've left out. Our mission was to tackle the 'infamous' Gully. Most long-time maintainers have done some sort of work in The Gully. Because of the terrain, the AT has to go between a historical rock wall and a large rock feature and the grade is fairly steep which makes water erosion a major problem. Over the years, steps have been put in along with several water bars in an attempt to keep the trail hiker-friendly. Here is some of the work that we got accomplished on Saturday:

A large ditch to divert water was put in off-trail at the head of The Gully several years ago, but had filled in. Some major digging was required to re-establish this ditch. The goal is to keep the water from running down the mountain and continuing on down the AT in The Gully.

Looking down The Gully - this is the first and largest water bar after all of the soil and rocks that had washed in were removed by diggin it out. This was a tough one to dig since gravel was mixed with the soil and it was packed in tight and hard.

This view is from off the AT, looking up the runout ditch. On the right of the ditch is the actual 'bar' - mounded dirt backed by rocks that will stop the water from flowing down the trail and direct it down the ditch.

Crews hard at work cleaning out two more water bars to divert water off the AT.

Yes, we do take lunch breaks! (Photo: Dave G.)

At the top of The Gully, the trail makes a turn to the right and immediately there are these two steps. Hikers were by-passing the first step by going around to the left. The area was "junked up" with unfriendly looking rocks to keep hikers on the trail. Small drainage features were put in above each of the two steps in this picture to try to get water off the trail as soon as possible. Water tends to run down the trail, over these steps, then into The Gully. Leaf matter was tossed on the newly set rocks and fresh dirt so they would blend into the scenery.

A section of trail south of The Gully and before the Humpback Picnic blue-blaze where hikers have made a 'go-around' to avoid rocks that have become exposed in the trail due to erosion. There were several sections like this that we worked on.

The trail is now back to one path with the tread re-defined. The 'junked' section on the right will weather in before long and look more natural.

Pictures below by Richard B. of the drainage ditch and the second water bar on The Gully and I'll let him have the last words on our day in the woods:

"I had a Great time working with Merlot's trail crew. We installed or repaired water breaks on our day of work. Then later we enjoyed a picnic dinner with hamburgers and hotdogs with all the side items. This was my first time out with the club and I'll be back." ~ Richard B.



(All photos by Merlot unless otherwise noted)

***

Note:  You may have wondered from the descriptions of the work on this section why these water bars are so full of debris .... why the drainage ditch had filled in ..... why so many areas of tread need re-defining, etc. This section is a good example of what happens when there is no dedicated section maintainer to give it some routine maintenance and TLC.  We are short on section maintainers and this section has been vacant for almost two years. Folks move away, retire from trail maintenance, circumstances change (family & work obligations for example) and sections become vacant. Currently, in addition to this section, several others are vacant or about to become vacant.  When this happens, the monthly work trip crews try to keep up with the routine maintenance, but weed season and dealing with blowdowns and other critical issues often leaves a section wanting. This particular section (Sec. 8) is big with some challenging areas. It is also a beautiful section with a variety of terrain changes, overlooks, some really terrific (and at least one rare) wildflowers, and stone walls. Taking on a section requires a committment (at a minimum, quarterly trips), but chances are you will get to know it well and fall in love with it and trips to 'do the chores' are something you will look forward to doing. As a section maintainer, you are not alone - help and expertise are available. Perhaps a section of your own is a little daunting - volunteer to co-maintain a section which is also very helpful and a good way to become familiar with what needs to be done.  If you have an interest in section maintaining, would like more info and to check it out, talk to Lori, the ODATC Trail Supervisor. ~Merlot

And what is the [Appalachian] Trail?… It always was a place for people. People who care for land and tend a simple footpath as if it were their garden.
–APPALACHIAN TRAIL CONFERENCE, Member Handbook, 1988