Trailwrights

May 9th – Artist’s Bluff/Bald Mountain Spur

A group of 11 members and friends of Trailwrights gathered to work on our adopted trails. We divided up into 3 groups to perform both needed maintenance as well as improvements to these trails. The first group of 2 refurbished the blazes on both trails using a brighter color selected by NH DRED for its greater visibility. The second group of 3 cleaned/repaired all water bars/drains and brushed the trails. The remaining 6 worked on improving 2 sections of the Artist’s Bluff Path on the Bald Mt side. In the first section, tackled in the morning, 8 rock steps were added with a side-hill ditch draining into a newly created rock water bar. After lunch, we moved up hill to the second area where 7 rock steps were created using several 4-bar rocks. Both staircases were screed in to encourage hikers to stay on the trail. Work in this area will be continued on a work day to be scheduled later this year. A total of 85 hours were put in for this, a most productive day. Follow the link to our Face Book page for pictures of the day’s effort.

August 8th – Mt. Pemigewasset Trail

A group of 12, comprised of Trailwrights, the adopter and others acquiring the hours to qualify for the Trailwrights Summit Club, put in a total of 93 hours making improvements to the trail. We split up into 2 groups. In a rough area the first group quarried and set 10 rock steps with cribbing added and installed 1 water bar. In another area a portion of the trail was creeping down slope due to erosion and to avoid numerous obstacles. The second group reconstructed approximately 130 linear feet of that section of the trail by removing the obstacles and, using side hilling to bring the trail back up slope, widened the treadway with cribbing added as well as installed 1 rock step and 1 water bar. Another rock step was added in another area to avoid a potential slip hazard. All in all, it was a most productive day with good weather and no bugs. Thanks to all for a job well done.

August 15th – Dan Doan Trail, Orford, NH

A group of 7 Trailwrights assisted James Munroe in performing much needed maintenance on his adopted trail. The following work was done to help alleviate significant muddy sections on the lower portion of the trail: 1. Improved 125 linear feet of trail-side ditching, 2. Installed 35 linear feet of stone cribbing with back fill from side hilling to raise the treadway, 3. Installed 8 rock step stones, 4. Installed 1 earth water bar, 5. Cleaned 3 drainages 10-20 feet long entering the trail side ditches to lower the water table. 6. Dug out several water bars. Additionally, 10 plus blow downs were cleared from the trail beginning at the summit along with brushing in the upper parts of the trail. A total of 54 hours were put in on this a most productive and fun day. Thanks to all for a job well done.

October 17th – Artist’s Bluff/Bald Mountain Spur

On a day that was significantly better than forecast, occasional short snow squalls and sunny spells but no rain, 15 members/friends of Trailwrights gathered to work on our adopted trails. We had a number of volunteers join us for the first time; several were working on their hours to qualify for the Trailwrights 72 Summits Club. The erosion control was handled by a group of 7 who cleaned/improved all the water bars and ditches. The remaining 8 improved a section of the Artist Bluff path that had been started in the spring and then a short ways farther up the path, quarried rocks in the vicinity to create a rock staircase. The staircase consisted of 10 rock steps, 2 step stones with a rock water bar at the top and another at the bottom of the staircase. It was then screed and brushed in to encourage hikers to stay on the treadway. A total of 95 hours were put in on this a most productive day. Many thanks to all for a job well done.

May 17th – Artist Bluff & Bald Mountain

We did our Basic Maintenance and some additional drainage. Cleared the Short Circuit trail on the way back. 5 members totaling 25 hours.

June 7th – Mt. Kearsarge Winslow Trail

We held a discussion on tools and safety followed by instruction on water bars and how to clean them properly. Performed basic maintenance to the half way rocks. Stabilized a couple rock steps and added 4 more along with rebuilding two wood bars. 13 participants totaling 83.5 hours.

July 7th – Monadnock Trails Week

Four members for 28 hours. On July 15th two members for 11 hours . There were 3 other members but I have no report as it was being handled by SPNHF.

July 14th – Fox Forest Ridge Trail (NH Trails Day)

Basic maintenance, rebuilt large culvert, removed blowdowns and Installed 15 stepstones. 11 Participants totaling 77 hours.

July 26th – The Dan Doan Trail

Darrell picked 4-bar rocks to play with and we had only three bars J. Dan’s experience was a big help. Brian’s YOUTH and POWER made a huge difference and proved to be the difference on the day. James and I helped where we could. I did a lot of looking on in the beginning as I caught my breath from the hike in. They all together did manage to get a nice 7 rock staircase with scree completed about 4:30 and back to refreshments by 5:30. Thanks James for the cold ones. Thank goodness we had that strap. Meanwhile Peg and Theresa (what a worker) completed the short relocation. Then the 4 of us completed the short relocation we flagged last year. It will need side hilling and blazing in the future. We then moved up to the next relocation that avoids a very rocky/slippery area. We started at the spring and worked down to the old trail. It will need breaking in (Duffy) and blazing along with a couple smaller trees to be removed that need a bigger Saw other than a bow saw. We then came back down to head out, but Darrell had another problem rock so James jumped in as well as myself when I could fit in and man handled it into place. We also removed a couple of smaller recent blowdowns and Dan cleaned several water bars on the way in because some of us were a little slow hiking in (Winking smile). I don’t remember being quit that steep in a couple places. It was a rewarding and fun day with decent weather. Still very much work is needed. A full day or two of additional water bars is needed above the Staircase to the upper relo. A few on the section below would not hurt. I think Dan D. would have been proud of the work accomplished so far. As a Trailwright member and friend, this day was for you. We are all part of the Family. Thanks Ruth and Don for the send off much appreciated. – Hal Graham

August 2nd – Mt. Pemigewasset Trail

On Saturday, Aug 2nd, Hal, Peg, Darell, Theresa, Barb, Jeff, Eugene and two of his friends (maybe not any longer) Doug, and Jack Proceeded to start building a rock stair case in a badly eroded gully about 2/3 up the trail. The usual large rocks at the base took a while but once set the Steps went along very smoothly. We managed to install 12 rock steps in the gully. At the top was a large rock water bar that had rocks too high so we dropped two down to proper height and made them into a step. One LARGE rock was left to use to back up the water bar at a later time. A Darell 5 bar rock with 4 bars J. Screed the entire section. Much more to be done with at least two more sections of trail in the same eroded category. My thanks to all for such a successful day and special thanks to Doug and Jack. We had a hiker join us and volunteered to help from Noon to the end. Thanks Nate for a job well done. He says he will try again. Not a bad day with some 85 hours total. We got back to the trail head at 5:30 weary, tired but very satisfied with the whole day. – Hal Graham

October 9th – Rollins Trail, Rollins State Park

Three members spent a day installing additional drainages after completing cleaning of all water bars and repaired two cairns. 21 hours.

October 18th – Artist Bluff & Bald Mountain

This was our fall basic maintenance trip on our only adopted trail to get the trail ready for spring. All drainages cleaned and blowdowns cleared. An inventory of additional needs for the future was made. 10 participants for 41 hours. The over all statistics for these project include 34 different Volunteers for 376.5 hours.

August 2nd – Monadnock Training Day

Eight eager trail workers gathered at the Mt. Monadnock Half Way House trailhead, joined by Trailwright’s members Mike and Sue Zlogar and Ray Jackson. We were requested to offer our experience maintenance hiking trails with the Monadnock Park volunteer trail manager, Lee Willette and the Vigilante Volunteers who maintain the 40 miles of trails on the most climbed mountain in New Hampshire.

After a tools and safety hand-on and discussion, we hiked to our first drainage challenge. Two longs (peeled by Lee and friends earlier) were transported and laid into trenches, dug by the group. When these log waterbars were completed, the groups split into two task areas. One addressed a 30-foot corridor where the rocks were moved uphill on the treadway and tamped in to allow the water to drain in the dug trench. This afforded a more comfortable experience for the hikers, as well as getting the water off the trail.

Two rock water bars were rebuilt, with rocks added to lengthen the cross trail coverage as well as providing better outlet drainage. Although all of us were muddy and tired at the end of the day, there were still smiles on all faces.

A special thank you to Sue Zlogar for not only documenting the day’s work with over 150 pictures, but working on each area as well. The work experience was sponsored by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (SPNHF), who shares in the ownership and care of the Monadnock trails system. A great day. – Ray Jackson

Additional Work

Trailwright Gene Bouley had additional basic maintenance hours on the Pemigewasset Trail, totaling 61.5 hours.

From Mike Zlogar, helping Chatham Trails Association, the following:

Memorial week end was Spring patrol, basic and an assessment to identify future needs. Two members for 14 hours.

National trails weekend saw replacing 72 linear feet of bog bridging and rehabilitate the trail on each side of the bog bridging. Two members for 21 hours.

Fall weekend was corridor definition and water bar maintenance on Bicknell Ridge trail. Five members for 35 hours.

Ray and Mike have also been involved in several projects on the Mt. Tom Reservation ( Mass.) as well as a request to help with a deteriorating footbridge.

Last but not least is the amount of hours that Bruce Richards put in on his adopted Mt. Kinsman Trail. Some 172 hours alone and another 83.5 hours. Some included in the members and other groups for a whopping 256.5 hours. Other Trailwright Members have also contributed to other organizations showing a dedication to trail maintenance to which I say a job well done. – Hal Graham