The Trail Crew's July 23rd workday included something we haven't encountered in the past eight months, an actual hike to the worksite! Since returning to Big Basin last November our work areas have been at most 5 minutes from the parking area, but the latest workday took us about two miles out North Escape Rd from the core HQ's area to just short of the Barnes Kiosk, which was located at the end of the paved section of No. Escape and the trailhead of the Hollow Tree Trail.
We were able to drive the first stretch of road, but then encountered a burned out bridge that required us to hike the final half mile carrying chainsaws, fuel, oil, safety equipment, hand tools and of course lunch and water. Compared to the Fall Creek area of Henry Cowell from last year it was a walk in the park, but still something we had not done in a while.
Work Area in Green
The work itself was more burn piles along the North Escape Road, but with a twist. State Parks had a recent unsupervised training for a contractor on how to properly construct burn piles that unfortunately morphed into 'just build piles of debris that can be burned', with the District trail crew left to correct everything. So they asked if we could assist.
Digging into the piles we were charged with rebuilding, we found the debris had been tossed into piles in no particular order and there was no way to correct the problem without completely deconstructing the pile and rebuilding it properly.
Reworking of the Burn Piles
Hired Help Burn Pile
Proper burn piles are put together in a specific order with boles (tree trunks) on the bottom, medium size debris (branches) in the middle and light debris (slash) on top with everything cut and compressed using a chainsaw.
BBVTC Burn Pile
Fortunately we had a large turnout and were able to split into multiple groups and build nine proper burn piles in only four hours of actual work time. We even had time at the end to walk a little further down the road where some of the Crew cooled off in Opal Creek next to Barnes Kioisk.
Cooling off in the Opal Creek
The crew put in 161 hours and a special thanks to Arnold Arcolio, Daryn Bieri, Katy Booth, Nan Bowman, Jim Brooks, Rory Brooks, John Collins, Quinn Edgemon, Dale Elliott, Mimi Guiney, Steve Guiney, Tommy Ha, Marc Koenig, Janie Leifhelm, Janette Mello, Sean Miller, Lisa Nichols, Mike Peasland, Cassie Sprenger, Bruce Washburn, Chris Young, and first timer Dave Signor, for the extra effort to make things right.
Forest Returning
by Mike and Jeff
photos by Mike, Bruce, Daryn, and Sean