The summer months is the time of year we brush (if we have to) and help out the park by filling the wood shed at HQ with a supply of wood for the next winter and for the campers campfires for the rest of the season.

On Saturday, July 8th, along with 6 CCC crew members, Jack Schultz, and his friend Natasha, and myself, headed up Pine Mountain Trail looking for a Doug Fir that had just fallen a few days before.

Nine crew members showed up and at first it seemed we had just one chain saw so was trying to sort out were to best utilize it when Johnmentioned that he also had a saw.  We split up into two groups, one with Peter, Michele, Chris & David B, heading out Gazos Creek Road to Middle Ridge Road, the other off to parts of the Eastridge trail.

It was a cool morning and with 14 crew members showing up at HQ it was a great opportunity to spit up.  Peter and Dale P. took one crew to Waterman Gap Area and Mike taking one to Basin Trail.

Brushing is never one of the Trail Crew's favorite jobs and brushing the Basin Trail even less so as it can get warm quickly on the exposed ridge line, but Saturday was cool and clear so we decided to go for it!  Dale P. had a crew out there in March clearing trees that were blocking the trail and reported it needed work, so the only challenge was convincing others it was a good idea.

The calendar says we were well into spring, which start in February in Santa Cruz.  This has been one of the wettest winters on record and it doesn't want to release it's grip yet. The morning drive began under partly cloudy skies but gave way to steady rain and some hail at Big Basin.  All that said 10 members showed up for our work day.

The storms in late February and early March really did a number on the trails.  The Park brought in the CCC to help opening Skyline to the Sea (STS) trail, but there was plenty for the crew to take care of.  Not only did the storms being the rain and wind they also brought out the crew with 20 members including some first timers showing up.  The crew was split up into 3 crews with Chris Young, Dale Stadelman leading crews.

There was a great turn out with 15 members with some old, some current, and some new members allowing the crew to brake up into three crews.  Chris lead a crew to cover STS, Dale S crew covered Gazos fire road, and Peter and Mike's crew headed to Creeping Forest.

During the winter it often seems like what we expect to find on the trials is not what is out there while the unanticipated can create the biggest challenges and that was the case as the Trail Crew started the new year.  Well, at least it wasn’t raining! Actually the weather was perfect for a day out on the trails!