Trailwrights

Trailwrights had a great year in 2021 – much good work was done in Franconia Notch and for Dottie Bean. Unfortunately, she passed away in August and we will not be returning to her trails.

Trailwrights had a total of 10 outings this year, plus hours for handling the trailer, for a total of 841 man hours. We spent 3 days on Artist’s Bluff and 5 days on Mt. Pemigewasset Trail (conveniently hiding the tools). Many rock steps were placed, much hardening, blazing, and trail definition. There were 42 different people that came out, including the regulars. We missed Hal this year, and hope he’ll feel better next year. Many thanks to Karl Gould, Ray Jackson, Rick Fregeolle, and Steve Marion, for their participation and leadership, and to all others who came out regularly. We also enjoyed meeting the peak baggers who were required to spend three work days with us.

Click here to view the entire November 2021 Trailwrites Newsletter

A little history about Trailwrights and
Artist’s Bluff:
In 1989, the Park Manager, Charles Whiting,
approached Hal Graham and asked if the
Artist’s Bluff trail was salvageable or they
would close it down. Hal looked at it and said it
could be saved if we could find rocks. The
ones there had to stay in place or the whole
side would fall down! They looked at the
curbstones left over from the building of the
parkway and Hal said yes, it’s possible, but
how are we going to get them there?
Charlie had a small load dropped off
and they sat until NH Trails day, July 15, 1989
when a couple of rocks were taken up by
young men in the group that day. Then, in
1990, we were contacted by Bob Miller of the
Shock Incarceration Unit of the state prison
asking if we needed volunteers. They began
carrying the rocks up in 1991 so we could put
in all those steps. Then they carried up bags
of crushed rock to prevent erosion above the
junction to the bluff. They stopped in 1996.
In recent years, Trailwrights has
discovered the art of cutting rocks. and has to
reset many of the steps because hikers are
trying to bypass them, which erodes the
already fragile trail.
That’s why we adopted that trail and
work on it every year now.
Peggy Graham

Special notice!!!
We would like to welcome Karl Gould
into our directors as treasurer. And to
gratefully acknowledge the years of
service from Ralph Potter in that
position. We have such dedicated
directors for which we are thankful.

2021 July Trailwrites Newsletter PDF