(189) 4/19,20,21/2024
Appalachian Trail relocation
on Surebridge Mountain..continues

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Friday April 19, 2024
Tiorati parking lot

Now at the woods lot,
Jayme is eager to get started

It's an easy 20 minute hike up to our worksite

But first we have to negotiate this root ball

Back at the woods lot,
Marty waits patiently

Last gator trip for today
Rich from the Parks Department is the driver

We are back on Surebridge Mountain,
continuing where we ended last year

Russ and the Chief looking for spar trees

This big one will be perfect

Tom brings the stick ladder
and doubler cable

First task,
assembling the stick ladder

Setting the safety line belay
for our polecat

Back on our hands and knees
building new trail

While back in the woods lot

Managed | Marketing Business Solutions members,
have arrived

On their way to the worksite

All right, let's start side-hilling

Digging the duff

Russ demonstrates
the proper use of a double-jack

Double-jack in action

Elizabeth uses a rock bar
to lift a big rock

Duff is out.
They got down to mineral soil

The red layer is all organic material
and must be removed

Now back in the woods lot
and time for a group photo

Managed | Marketing Business Solutions
Group Photo

The LDTC crew returns to the woods lot

Back at the Tiorati parking lot
for our crew meeting

Managed | Marketing Business Solutions
Wave if you had a good time

It's Saturday morning
and a new day begins

When finished,
this ramp is the final section of this relocation

Peter is back up in the tree
setting the high-line

Isaac is holding the belay tight
keeping Peter safe

Chris takes control of the haul line

Peter connecting the block used with the high-line

Russ readies the base for the next big rock

That's all for today,
Russ is making a plan for tomorrow

While all that was going on,
Marty and the ladies were at the other end

Breaking rocks is fun
if not for the black flys

After picking up a big rock
we found a spotted salamander

Marion and Flynn keep making crush

Marion's up close and personal approach
is working

Flynn makes great progress
using an 8 pound double-jack

At the end of the day,
the crew winds its way back to the woods lot

With only one transfer vehicle
I will make two round trips

End of day crew meeting

Joe informs us that Jeff and Erik
have just received a Dedicated Service Award
from the New York, New Jersey Trail Conference

Sunday morning,
Ok, back to the trail

More side-hilling, and trail building

Good firm mineral soil,
now that is a path to follow

This next section will need a lot of work

Weapons ready, let's begin the fight

This is a very deep organic layer

And it stretches all the way across the hillside

After removing the duff,
we fill the excavation with crush

Where does crush come from?

Looking good, but it needs a lot more

This picture says it all,
Jayme brings in the big rocks,
Jim uses a double-jack to smash them,
and Joe uses the 2lb to make it finer

When finished, this all will be covered
with fine crush and mineral soil

Next on our list,
a short little water bar

Water bars,
direct water off the trail to prevent erosion

Another drainage outlet

Next, the trail goes across a flatter section

Back at the other end,
Tom has been moving big rocks

This big one will make a very solid step

Joe and Chris work the rope-puller

Go easy, let it slide into place

Yes these steps look and are very solid

When you move big rocks,
you find weird stuff



© Marty Costello 2013 - 2024