Last month, working around the falls, we heard about trees down along the inner loop of Sunset-Timm's-STS. So we headed out to our regular parking spot at Middle Ridge and Gazos.
Heading out Sunset we came across a 3 small trees, which were taken care of with hand saws.
And then the drama started. There was a 10" oak hanging over the trail and we figured that one cut and the tree would fall to the ground and that would be that. Well after 4 cuts it still hung over the trail. There was a small branch the held the tree off the ground and when that cut was taken out then it did fall.
We started with the smaller Fir but that took some effort to cut an move off the trail.
After lunch we worked on making a crawlway under the larger Fir. With a 24" bar that's all we could do without Big Bertha.
Kathy hiked from HQ and met us at the Fir and she said there was another Fir across the trail on the other side of Middle Ridge.
Some more hand and chain saw work and the trail was open.
Kathy told me of some European visitors that had commented to her that the park was very well maintained and that there was no trash compared to the parks in Europe. That's nice to hear. Remember we pay time and half when it rains and you have the weekdays off. What a job.
I would like to thank Janie, Bill, Mike, Fran, Janette, and Kathy for the 54.5 hours we put in. It was a hard day but rewarding. We will be back with Big Bertha.
See you on the trails.
Jeff
Birds of the Day
Birders: Jeff, Kathy, and Fran (Junco party)
Finally cleared
Then we came across this. A large 4ft Fir took out a 29" Fir and a smaller 15" Fir. A Fir fest.
The big push
Lunch time turned into a sunbathing activity which was nice compared to the very cool start of the day.
I would like to thank Janie, Bill, Mike, Fran, Janette, and Kathy for the 54.5 hours we put in. It was a hard day but rewarding. We will be back with Big Bertha.
See you on the trails.
Jeff
Birds of the Day
Birders: Jeff, Kathy, and Fran (Junco party)
Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus
Hairy
Woodpecker Picoides villosus
Pileated
Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus
Steller's Jay Cyanocitta stelleri
Common Raven
Corvus corax
American Robin Turdus migratorius1
Varied Thrush Ixoreus naevius
Chestnut-backed
Chickadee Poecile rufescens
Red-breasted
Nuthatch Sitta canadensis
Brown
Creeper Certhia americana
Golden-crowned
Kinglet Regulus satrapa
Townsend's
Warbler Setophaga townsendi
Fox Sparrow
(Sooty) Passerella iliaca [unalaschcensis Group]
Dark-eyed
Junco (Oregon) Junco hyemalis [oreganus Group]
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostra
Pine Siskin
Spinus pinus