With a CCC crew set to arrive in four days to begin follow-up work on Pine Mtn Trail, the sole focus of the workday was to punch through a rough cut trail between the two crews working toward each other along the final section of unworked trail. The sprint to the finish began the previous workday and with less than one-half mile of trail remaining uncleared the goal seemed within reach.
The crew coming in from Buzzards Roost at the top was working its way through chaparral terrain that had allowed good forward progress the previous workday while the lower crew was slogging through a long stretch of heavy vegetation that slowed progress considerably the last time out.
Lower Crew (top) and Upper Crew (bottom) work areas
The upper crew made the longer drive to the top and after enjoying the view from Buzzard Roost they resumed work through chaparral vegetation dominated by Knobcone pines that sprouted after the 2020 fires. The lighter vegetation allowed the crew to do a more thorough job than the lower crew as they cleared brush from the trail and removed stobs as they pushed forward. After about 45 minutes working through the thick regrowth, the lower crew broke into a clearing and began making faster progress through the chaparral terrain.
The lower crew's Sept. 26 work began by identifying the correct alignment forward when the trail seemed to disappear as it approached a rock shelf. After a short search the next section became apparent just beyond a hairpin turn and the uphill work continued through heavy vegetation that included several sections with medium size blowdown trees.
As we began discussing plans for lunch break, the two crews came into sight of each other and we knew the goal was at hand.
Earlier there had been discussions about how to mark the occasion when the two crews met, perhaps something similar to the golden spike that commemorated completion of the transcontinental railroad at Promontory Summit in Utah.
Fortunately there was something more appropriate than a spike as the two crews stood only feet from each other - A small down tree was blocking the trail. With cuts by chainsaws from both crews, the work was completed.
The crew put in 148 hours and thanks to Fremont Bainbridge, Aiden Bowers, Jeff Bowers, Rory Brooks, Karen Cheeniyil, Santhosh Cheeniyil, Tom Condy, Dale Elliott, Tommy Ha, Andrea Lee, Janie Leifhelm, Bill Lock, Joe Mitchell, Mike Peasland, Aphi Singh, Angelina Thomas, Kris Kiefer-Woolery, Chris Young, Daniel Zichuhr, and newcomer Joe Jerkins, for ensuring the Crew achieved its goal.
by Mike and Jeff
photos and video by Abhinandan, Joe M., Karen, Kris, and Mike