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A group of 7 Trailwrights and a friend of Trailwrights spent a combined 60 hours rehabilitating the first 100 yards of the Kearsarge trail. This section contained a boggy area through which passed a badly deteriorated turnpike and a large mud pit immediately above it.

We worked basically in 2 groups of 4 each. One group worked with the badly deteriorated turnpike section accomplishing the following: Refurbished approximately 170 feet of turnpike by relocating timbers on west side (left side facing up hill) effectively narrowing the treadway that had been pushed aside by roots and years of neglect. Removed roots and other growth on treadway between and on the timbers primarily on the west side. This was needed to move the timbers. Crushed rocks with a sledge hammer to create small stones for use on the turnpike treadway. Widened the drains between the sections of turnpike to increase drainage from the west side drains and the bog on the west side to get it headed somewhat down slope on the east side. Gravel quarried in the woods farther up trail was placed on treadway between timbers effectively increasing the tread height at or near to the height of the timbers. More gravel is required to complete the improvement. Secured relocated west side timbers and end timbers between the sections with metal spikes and /or wooden stakes to keep them in position. Added a ditch along most of the west side of the turnpike. Brushed along both sides of the turnpike.

The other group set step stones in the large mud pit immediately above the turnpike and accomplished the following: Removed the logs and other debris from the mud pit. Installed 13 step stones with scree in the large mud pit from rocks quarried in the vicinity. Enlarged the ditch at bottom of mud pit to get water out and into the woods on the east side.

All in all, a great day weather wise, with significant improvements made and virtually no interference from biting bugs. Another work day will be planned to complete the rehabilitation. – Bruce

A turnout of 9 Trailwrights and 1 friend made for a nice work day getting some badly needed erosion control and trail improvements completed. As usual there is plenty more to do. The hike up to about 2/3 of the way seemed to me to be the hardest part of the day. The work was the easiest part.

In all we did some 200 feet of treadway improvement moving the treadway to the west side of a drainage that is continually wet most of the time. Due to the extent of the water flowing down slope onto the treadway, we installed 3 water bars, one larger earth bar at the top of the section to shunt water out of the area, one off to the side in the woods and another immediately above the main drainage. We smoothed and widened the main drainage and removed a lot of barriers (roots and rocks) that impeded the water flow in the drainage.

We installed some 6 rock steps, filled in low spots with gravel completing the treadway in the lower half with an additional 2 rock steps in the upper half. The visible old treadway was screed in and partially concealed with brush to keep hikers on the new section.

The main ditching project was some 150 feet long and additional side drainages of 30 feet and 20 feet.

As we completed this section we experienced some showers but they were no problem due to the protection afforded by the tree canopy and caused no safety issues.

We packed up the tools and headed out. It was much easier returning to the beginning than it was going up. Maybe that was just my imagination.

A personal Thank You to the crew for a job well done. That message was continuously given us as hikers went by all day making it ALL worthwhile. – Hal