FEB 9 Workday
We had 18 out on Saturday which included four first time folks as we try to chip away at the backlog of new people who say they're interested in helping.
As for the work, we started and completed seven burn piles along with three others that were finished from the previous workday or begun but need to be completed next time out, but double digit progress whichever way you look at it!
Having lots of material to work with and plenty of nearby space for burn piles made the work much more efficient, not to mention the next stretch of trail being relatively clear so the entire crew could focus on the burn pile work rather than some people doing chainsaw ahead.
We're currently about 30 yards from the Animal Tree, so we're probably about one-third of the way along the 0.6 mile loop. Back before we started work in the park, Chris Pereira mentioned the goal was to prep the Redwood Loop and one “nearby trail” before the limited reopening and on Saturday I asked Matt from the District crew if they had identified the “nearby trail” and he said they were looking at STS out to Gazos Creek Rd with visitors returning on N. Escape Rd. The foot bridge by the Tool Shed somehow survived the fire and a temporary vehicle bridge was installed on Gazos Creek Rd across Opal Creek.
And even though the park is officially closed, we've seen occasional bicyclists passing through and as we hiked back to the parking area on Saturday we came across a couple of ladies who had biked in and were headed into the Redwood Loop. Mimi went into full retired ranger mode, but Peter also talked with them about our work and they seemed interested and left their email addresses.
The crew put in 143 hours and thanks to Arnold Arcolio, John Collins, Peter Gelblum, Mimi Guiney, Tommy Ha, Jan Hill, Matt Kelsey, Marc Koenig, Janie Leifhelm, Janette Mello, Whitney Mitchell, Mike Peasland, Devdutt Sheth, Chris Young, and new members Aiden Epstein, Bill Ton, Leticia, and Don Medina-Kohrs.
FEB 19 Workday
Another really impressive turnout with 22 regular Trail Crew, four new people and two from the District trail crew, so it looks like we'll have another record setting year for hours worked.
We're now between the Zoo Tree and the Chimney tree and probably more than halfway around the Loop (highlighted section on the map).
Some sections of the remaining trail are relatively clear and the area near the Mother of the Forest has several huge Doug firs that toppled during the fire and will be moved off the trail with heavy equipment and left to be decompose naturally, so we'll be doing only prep work in that area.
We've already begun talking about the next area to be worked which looks to be the stretch of STS from the tool shed area (the foot bridge there somehow survived the fire) to Gazos Creek fire road. This will provide initial park visitors another loop trail as they can walk back on N. Escape Rd.
The crew put in 188 hour and thanks to Hal Anjo, Arnold Arcolio, Jim Brooks, Rory Brooks, John Collins, Dale Elliott, Michele Gelblum, Mimi Guiney, Tommy Ha, Jan Hill, Charles Jalgunas, Shyamal Kapadia, Marc Koenig, Janie Leifhelm, Janette Mello, Whitney Mitchell, Chris Newport, Mike Peasland, Aaron Poulos, Devdutt Sheth, Jo Thorogood, Chris Young, and new to the crew Bruce Washburn, Nan Bowman (Big Basin docent) and her son Noah and niece Daryn Bieri. Also, thanks to District trail crew - Matt and Samantha.
by Mike, Chris P., and Jeff
Photos by Jan, Mike, Tommy, Whitney, Chris P., Mimi, and Shyamal
FEB 22 Burn Day
There was about 18 park staff out on Tuesday to observe the burning of all the piles the BBVTC constructed over the last 7 workdays. If we get more rain there will be an opportunity to see the remaining piles BBVTC built burn before the trail opens. It was a nice cold day to burn the piles, and there was even a couple rounds of hail.
