NY-NJ Trail Conference

Long Distance Trails Crew

We Rock Your Trail

(54) Recap- Appalachian Trail
Relocation / Rehabilitation
on Black Mountain - 2016

Black Mt relo-rehab live action recap

Black Mt.- A.T. relo-rehab plan

February 1, 2016 a field trip

Discussing different trail paths

Erik demonstrates the final path

Ok we now have a plan

April 29, we meet at Anthony Wayne

At the trailhead

That‘s our Jeff

The rest of us not far behind

The relo begins by clearing the fallen trees

Bob still smiling after 2 trips up the mountain

Charlie is the first polecat on this project

First rock on the wire with many more to follow

Everyone pitches in at the wire

Oh Yeah our steps will be level

The first 4 steps are set

A busy worksite

On-the-job-training is always happening

Noah works the griphoist

Now its Michele‘s turn

A very tight work space

During lunch David‘s see‘s something in the distance

On a clear day you can see the New York City skyline

Another rock on the line

This will be an anchor rock

These new steps are on the existing trail

Andre is today‘s polecat-

Don keeps this big on from going any further

Many hikers are on the trail

Teri keeps a good grip on this big rock

It‘s hammer time for Peter

Preventative maintenance

I can see a trail taking shape

Please no pictures without my hardhat

Chris finds a seat while operating the belay

Another big anchor rock

Lou finds another one

Erik checks this rock for a part number

Michael takes a break while making crush

Another big rock on the wire

Another step arrives via the highline

Jeff and Erik looking at the progress

A sturdy crib-wall is a must

Coyote scat - marking their territory

Making more crush

Good maintenance keeps everything working

As trailside ambassadors we like hikers

Time to move the highline again

Ouch. maybe next time he‘ll wear a long sleeve shirt

June 10th - lots of crib-wall and crush

Lou takin this rock for a walk

This section nearly complete

Now onto the next section

More crib-wall needed

Better treadway needed through here

Our version of the May Pole

New volunteers from Timberland

The lowest section of the new trail - before

The lowest section of the new trail - after

Preparing for the 3 waterbar steps

Digging dirt in the dirt hole

Another lunch time beauty

More steps going in

We never know what we will uncover

This is a juvenile Hognose snake

Another rock on the line

David - making crush -- perfect together

Planning the next crib-wall

Bob at the crush pile

David back up a tree but with long sleeves

Jeanne holds the rope-puller tail

One step coming up

This rock will make a great waterbar

Another waterbar is pulled up the hill

Hot and Dusty

Waterbars in now for the drainage

Bob keeps making crush

Crush ready now build the crib-wall

Marci and Linda working the crush pile

Building the crib-wall

A squirrel‘s eye view

Oh Hello

The upper sections needed a lot of crib-wall

David helps to control this one

The view from the rope-puller

And another level step

Rich likes how the project has progressed

Mike waits his turn on the griphoist

A unique setup for the belay

Time to crank up the generator

Peter starts the drilling

Setting the feathers and wedges

Oops got a drill stuck

Chris with the rock buster hammers

A very large crib-wall rock

And another large crib-wall rock

Looks like a perfect fit

Next crib wall section on the wire

Once in place we will pin it to the foundation rock

Moving on to the final sections

Lets make some crush

That took a lot of crush

Ed has been digging a rib-wall base

Our main dirt hole

Teri and Gail . todays dirt hole volunteers

Lower section getting covered in dirt

Last crib-wall for this project

Rolling big rock down the hill

Russ checking the final crush level

Chris lays the final layer of dirt

Ah lower crib-wall sections completed

Now it time to blaze the new trail

Miriam starts the blazing

A lot of white blazes

Caroline is concentrating

On the perfect red dot

Lunch time break in the shade

The upper section joins the existing trail

Now rehabilitating the existing trail

Marion clears the base for the landing step

David up a tree again

Bob C brings in another step

This is really tight quarters

Charlie digs a big hole for the next step

And in that hole goes a big rock

Looking up the existing trail at the new steps

Black Mountain walk through video