It was a beautiful Saturday
morning to kick things off! After our usual socializing we headed over
to the shed and due to the great turnout we were able to split into two
groups. Group 1 consisted of Peter & Michelle, David B, Janie,
& Janette. Let it be noted
that this valiant group worked until 4pm.
From Peter: We headed over to Blooms Creek campground, where we found, cut, and cleared an 8” tan oak from the trail while we were looking for
the debris on the East Ridge trail. We did find the brush on
East Ridge that was
just east of the Pine Mountain Trail.
Crew 1
From there we drove to the edge of Blooms Creek campground and
hiked along the East Ridge Trail locating and retrieving the reported
rotting trail sign which we picked up and took back to HQ. We crossed
236 and turned right on to East Ridge and found a
36-48” Douglas fir completely blocking the trail. No chain saw, so we
cleared all the surrounding brush that the tree had taken down. We
didn’t know if this was in the chain saw area but it would be good if
someone could take care of it soon, because a path
has already started up and around it. About 0.1 mile past the fir there
was a 12” tan oak and a bunch of brush. We cleared the brush and
started cutting the tree with our handsaws but it was just too hard and
was taking too long, so we stopped, figuring that
whoever comes to cut up the big fir can do the tan oak in a few
minutes (7/13-Norm spoke with a senior park aid who said he would try
to take care of both the fir & 12” tan oak). Clearing the brush
created a huge amount of dust and we were all coughing like
crazy – the smart people (the women) took protective measures.
We had lunch in a nice spot off the trail then walked back to the
car. We picked up an additional rotted trail sign and returned it to HQ. We
stopped at HQ, gave Susan the signs, picked up the whipsaw in case we
needed it on the next and last bit of work, what
was supposed to be a 10” tree of some kind on east ridge, east of the
connector with Shadow Brook. We decided to go in at the tent cabins,
which was definitely the closest point, but that hill on the connector
trail is STEEP! Someone had gotten to the downed
tree before us – sawdust still on the trail. We came across a large
bunch of rotted redwood across the trail so Janette & Michelle
cleaned it spotlessly while the rest of us went looking for the downed
tree. Great day of work.
Group 2 included Dales P., Dale S., Herman, Norm, and Chris Young.
Looking for several downed Tan Oaks on the East Ridge Trail reported
by Susan Blake, we headed out of the park to Lodge Road (Lodge Road in
the park has large washout making in inaccessible
just above lower Sky Meadow residences) then back to the park where we
went through the gate and Dale P. bravely drove his nice new pickup down
the trail/road where we came to the mess.
Crew 2 on East Ridge
We motored on down to where the East Ridge Trail crosses Lower
China Grade then went down the trail a bit and cleared a 10” tan oak
that was lying across the trail.
A little lopping on the way back to the truck then we headed back
to see if we could find Group #1. We checked near Blooms Creek
campground, 236, then by the tent cabins in Huckleberry campground but
we missed them.
We headed back to the shed for lunch – afterwards Dale S. continued
his efforts of sharpening loppers, pulaskis & McLeods - more work
needed but off to a great start! A little spray of silicone and they’re
ready for next month. David B stopped by to pick
up the whipsaw saying the group was having fun?!
The crew put in a total of 82 hours and many thanks to Chris Young, Dale P, Dale S, David B, Herman, Janette, Janie, Michelle, Peter, and Norm.