(175) 9/8, 9, 10/2023
Appalachian Trail relocation phase 2
on Surebridge Mountain
eastern/southern section - continues

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Friday morning and a crew of 14 volunteers out today

We made it to the woods lot
now onto the worksite

It was a leisurely 28 minute hike
to get to our worksite base

Dan and Rich get back to work
at the south end of the new relocation

Back at our worksite base,
Rich Weiler pays us a break-time visit

Dr. Dave showing new volunteers Brian and Rob
how to connect a belay, to a rock on the line

Rock on the line
and ready to go for a ride

Near the end of the belay, we connect a rope puller
to pull it into place for storage

The chief works hard at the rope puller

Pulling the rock to a place,
where it will be ready when needed

With Jeff on the handle, the stump won again
this time bending a strong 3 ton farm jack

End of day crew meeting at Tiorati circle,
dark clouds loom nearby

Leaving the parking lot,
we quickly encountered a major rain storm

Saturday morning was damp and foggy.
There was a crew of 8 volunteers out today

Back at the woods lot
getting ready to hike up to the worksite

That's our Jeff. Do I have to say any more

A quick 24 minutes later, we are at our worksite base

Starting the first crib-wall, and Erik's final project… for now

Erik explains his vision

This will be the path of the new trail

Dr. Dave and Peter have the tub filled with crush
now connecting it to the highline

Chris gets the rope puller ready

Dan has the path cleared and awaiting crush

First rock in the crib wall is in,
now Erik measures for the next big rock

A little after lunch, and a path can be seen taking shape

Dr. Dave clearing cobbles from the new path

Crib-wall construction well under way

Another big rock goes for a ride

Down the steep hill to the staging area

Setting it down on rocks
will make it easier to move later

Using highline number 2,
Erik has the next crib-wall rock ready

It j u s t
has to be p u l l e d into position

Chris is pushing, Erik is pushing,
Jeff is laying down pulling and Russ
is trying to keep his footing while holding the belay

That was a 2:30 rock and the last one for today,
but now it's in place

A very hot day and everyone was sweating,
Marty's shirt was a lot lighter green this morning

Erik's final act… for now, is nudging that rock into place

Thank you Erik,
you have taught us well, we can take it from here

Crib-wall number 1, it's a start

While Jeff runs an errand
Peter will carry both his and Jeff's packs,
back to the woods lot

Peter from the back, looks a lot like Jeff

Heading back to the woods lot
after a very hot day

End of day crew meeting

A good crew of 7 volunteers out today
and a serious threat of afternoon rain

This is the new beginning/end of the relocation
that Dan and Russ have been building

Overhead view shows new path under construction/crush tread
and finished/mineral soil tread

Looking ahead to the under construction section

Yikes! I see a lot of big rocks that have to be moved

The view from grip hoist number 2

That's Jeff way down there, with a rock on the line

Dan and Howie try to excavate the next crib-wall rock

After adding a lot of big crush
it's time for the next big rock

At break, Howie says we should keep building.
He doesn't think the heavy stuff will come down for a while

An hour later we were back at the woods lot
soaked, but this time not from the heat.

Last ones out, Chris and Marty
both soaked to the bone



© Marty Costello 2013 - 2024