March 22-29, 2003
Ouachita National Forest, Arkansas - by Derly Rivera
Ten CTTT members made up the work crew that went to Arkansas March 22-29. After an all day drive, we were greeted by forest rangers at Mill Creek Campground, where we set up tents and received safety tips and instructions for the week.
Our original work schedule was changed due to several controlled burns scheduled for that week. The trail maintenance work was cancelled, so we concentrated on restoring tent and RV pad sites, cleaning out debris and piling brush for a later burn. We also repaired erosion damage by setting river stones for riprap and planting grass seed on slopes leading to the creek and swimming area. Two of the crew took time to blaze the main trail leading out of camp.
Some of our more experienced crew members worked with cement and mortar mix to repair stone work, drains, and the front entrance signs. One project called for removing flat stone, leveling the sub-surface, replacing the stone, and then applying the mortar mix. This alone was a nine-hour endeavor. Others repaired broken faucets and cleaned out drains.
A major work was piling brush for a controlled burn later that week. The entire campground consisting of four main areas, was cleared of branches, debris, and fallen trees which were collected into thirty-seven piles for the burn. Several of the CTT crew assisted and had a good learning experience.
The rangers were very pleased with out work, especially since three of our members could drive front-end loaders and others could use chain saws, work on plumbing, and do cement/mortar work. Because of the dedication of our CTT crew, we finished all the assigned tasks in three and one-half days. With the extra time in hand, we were able to give some additional help such as cleaning out one hundred twenty-three feet of a drain waterway leading to the creek and pool area.
Friday was our day off for hiking and exploring the area. Seven rangers and their wives were invited to our traditional Mexican dinner and a specially prepared dutch oven capirotada. That evening we were surprised by the Mena/Oden Forest District Manager, who presented CTTT with a check to help cover expenses for the trip. He was very pleased with our work and invited CTTT to return next year.
Sunday, March 30, 2003
Thursday, March 20, 2003
3/9-15/03 Davis Mountains Preserve Trip Report
March 9-15, 2003
Davis Mountains Preserve, TX - by George Boemerman
On March 8th, eight intrepid trail tamers (George Boemerman, Patrick Clynch, Mark Henneke, David Justice, Bill Kemp, Jim Robinson, Allan Weber and Mary Zeitler) took off for west Texas and the Davis Mountains Nature Conservancy Preserve. As requested by Karen Talley, the preserve's volunteer coordinator, we brought a wide selection of tools with us, plus equipment to establish a primitive camp. Dave and Lynda DeGroot had been out there last year and stated how great the area was. So, we all decided to arrive a day early to get acquainted with the region.
We established our initial campsite in a grassy bowl about one mile across and adjacent to the preserve's guest cabin. This afforded us access to a shower, toilet, kitchen and a comfortable porch on which to relax at the end of the day.
On Sunday, Karen took us on a hike to view some of the area and trail projects. Our task was two-fold: to mark new trails and repair some old ones in an area adjacent to the preserve's main camp and to relocate to the high country at the base of Mount Livermore (the state's fifth highest peak at 8300+ ft.) to repair the trail and build new switchbacks.
After much thought about the second task, we decided to keep our camp at the cabin area and travel each day to the base of the mountain. Temperatures at night at the cabin were about 25 degrees. At the remote campsite, the elevation was considerable higher with a stronger wind.
We completed the trail work on the first task and put a good dent in the second one. Karen was quite pleased with the amount and quality of our work and invited us back to complete the trail work or to return for recreation, as we deserved it (according to her).
Although we put in a lot of work, we also managed to have lighter moments. George cooked his family's favorite beef barley combination followed by dutch oven peach cobbler. Allan and Jim prepared a great sausage and pasta medley. Allan also managed to find a hind quarter of a feral hog.
On Friday (our day off), we climbed to the top of Mount Livermore and toured the surrounding area (Fort Davis and Alpine). Afterwards, Allan did a great job barbecuing that hog leg and Patrick surprised us with a most delicious apple cherry dump cake in the dutch oven. We were joined by Karen Talley and the preserve project leader. That night, Mother Nature put on an awesome show for us: Lightning, wind and rain. Many of us migrated to the cabin for the night.
The Davis Mountains Preserve is a gem! High grasslands, stands of mixed timber, the fifth highest peak in Texas, and water. The volunteer coordinator (Karen Talley) is a very personable young woman who worked right along with us. She hopes that CTTT will consider making this an annual trip!
Davis Mountains Preserve, TX - by George Boemerman
On March 8th, eight intrepid trail tamers (George Boemerman, Patrick Clynch, Mark Henneke, David Justice, Bill Kemp, Jim Robinson, Allan Weber and Mary Zeitler) took off for west Texas and the Davis Mountains Nature Conservancy Preserve. As requested by Karen Talley, the preserve's volunteer coordinator, we brought a wide selection of tools with us, plus equipment to establish a primitive camp. Dave and Lynda DeGroot had been out there last year and stated how great the area was. So, we all decided to arrive a day early to get acquainted with the region.
We established our initial campsite in a grassy bowl about one mile across and adjacent to the preserve's guest cabin. This afforded us access to a shower, toilet, kitchen and a comfortable porch on which to relax at the end of the day.
On Sunday, Karen took us on a hike to view some of the area and trail projects. Our task was two-fold: to mark new trails and repair some old ones in an area adjacent to the preserve's main camp and to relocate to the high country at the base of Mount Livermore (the state's fifth highest peak at 8300+ ft.) to repair the trail and build new switchbacks.
After much thought about the second task, we decided to keep our camp at the cabin area and travel each day to the base of the mountain. Temperatures at night at the cabin were about 25 degrees. At the remote campsite, the elevation was considerable higher with a stronger wind.
We completed the trail work on the first task and put a good dent in the second one. Karen was quite pleased with the amount and quality of our work and invited us back to complete the trail work or to return for recreation, as we deserved it (according to her).
Although we put in a lot of work, we also managed to have lighter moments. George cooked his family's favorite beef barley combination followed by dutch oven peach cobbler. Allan and Jim prepared a great sausage and pasta medley. Allan also managed to find a hind quarter of a feral hog.
On Friday (our day off), we climbed to the top of Mount Livermore and toured the surrounding area (Fort Davis and Alpine). Afterwards, Allan did a great job barbecuing that hog leg and Patrick surprised us with a most delicious apple cherry dump cake in the dutch oven. We were joined by Karen Talley and the preserve project leader. That night, Mother Nature put on an awesome show for us: Lightning, wind and rain. Many of us migrated to the cabin for the night.
The Davis Mountains Preserve is a gem! High grasslands, stands of mixed timber, the fifth highest peak in Texas, and water. The volunteer coordinator (Karen Talley) is a very personable young woman who worked right along with us. She hopes that CTTT will consider making this an annual trip!
Saturday, March 15, 2003
4/6-12/03 Copper Breaks State Park Trip Report
April 6-12, 2003
Copper Breaks State Park, Quanah, TX - by Lynda DeGroot
On Sunday, April 6th, four ambitious Trail Tamers (Galen, Stewart, Mary Zeitler, Jim McKinney, and yours truly) headed off to Copper Breaks State Park in north Texas...the first time any CTTT crew has been in that part of the our state!
Upon pulling into Quanah and heading down Highway 6, we wondered what kind of park would be awaiting our arrival out in that flat to gently rolling ranch land with few trees. After reaching our destination, we were surprised to see an interesting change in the terrain. We drove down the park road into somewhat of a valley with a small 60 acre lake that feeds into the Pease River, and a really nice campground full of tall cottonwoods and other trees. We were allowed to camp in the “day use” area near a screened pavilion in which we set up our kitchen.
After pitching our tents, we checked out the park and found that it was really nice and very unique. It’s amazing how much wildlife we saw! A bobcat ran across the road in front of our vehicle and a couple of roadrunners were near our camp. The lake was a stopping off place for egrets, herons, ducks, and more. The park host showed us a large pond upstream from the lake that had a huge beaver lodge below it. We learned that the Copper Breaks name comes from the “breaks” in the land and the bands of greenish-colored clay throughout the red sandstone. The green color is from traces of copper, but there is not enough to be mined (thankfully).
Our week began by cutting back seriously overgrown grasses, juniper and other vegetation from a nature trail that is popular with hikers. While Jim and Galen were weed-wacking, Mary followed right along wielding the loppers, and I helped the park manager and his assistant tackle those overly-abundant junipers with chain saws. After cutting the juniper, we all pitched in to drag the branches back down to the trailhead to be loaded into an old dump truck and hauled to a field by the maintenance buildings. In all, we cut 17 truckloads of juniper! We also managed to set 10 out of 23 sign posts in that rocky ground before running out of time.
Our day off (Friday) was totally planned by the park staff! In the morning, we toured the museum and heard stories about Quanah Parker, the last great Comanche war chief, and his mother Cynthia Ann Parker; we fed some longhorns that are part of the state herd descended from those brought over by the Spanish; we watched a flint-knapping demonstration by a man who is an authentic chuck-wagon cook at a local ranch; and the park manager's family and co-workers prepared a wonderful dinner for us topped off by fresh-out-of-the-oven blackberry cobbler! After that, we were shown the beautiful Bull Canyon (with about a 200 ft. drop) and hiked the Rocky Ledge trail; and as if that wasn't enough, we were sent to a higher campground where the Dallas Astronomical Society had set up several huge telescopes for us to view the night sky. We were treated to our very own "Star Party!"
Copper Breaks State Park, Quanah, TX - by Lynda DeGroot
On Sunday, April 6th, four ambitious Trail Tamers (Galen, Stewart, Mary Zeitler, Jim McKinney, and yours truly) headed off to Copper Breaks State Park in north Texas...the first time any CTTT crew has been in that part of the our state!
Upon pulling into Quanah and heading down Highway 6, we wondered what kind of park would be awaiting our arrival out in that flat to gently rolling ranch land with few trees. After reaching our destination, we were surprised to see an interesting change in the terrain. We drove down the park road into somewhat of a valley with a small 60 acre lake that feeds into the Pease River, and a really nice campground full of tall cottonwoods and other trees. We were allowed to camp in the “day use” area near a screened pavilion in which we set up our kitchen.
After pitching our tents, we checked out the park and found that it was really nice and very unique. It’s amazing how much wildlife we saw! A bobcat ran across the road in front of our vehicle and a couple of roadrunners were near our camp. The lake was a stopping off place for egrets, herons, ducks, and more. The park host showed us a large pond upstream from the lake that had a huge beaver lodge below it. We learned that the Copper Breaks name comes from the “breaks” in the land and the bands of greenish-colored clay throughout the red sandstone. The green color is from traces of copper, but there is not enough to be mined (thankfully).
Our week began by cutting back seriously overgrown grasses, juniper and other vegetation from a nature trail that is popular with hikers. While Jim and Galen were weed-wacking, Mary followed right along wielding the loppers, and I helped the park manager and his assistant tackle those overly-abundant junipers with chain saws. After cutting the juniper, we all pitched in to drag the branches back down to the trailhead to be loaded into an old dump truck and hauled to a field by the maintenance buildings. In all, we cut 17 truckloads of juniper! We also managed to set 10 out of 23 sign posts in that rocky ground before running out of time.
Our day off (Friday) was totally planned by the park staff! In the morning, we toured the museum and heard stories about Quanah Parker, the last great Comanche war chief, and his mother Cynthia Ann Parker; we fed some longhorns that are part of the state herd descended from those brought over by the Spanish; we watched a flint-knapping demonstration by a man who is an authentic chuck-wagon cook at a local ranch; and the park manager's family and co-workers prepared a wonderful dinner for us topped off by fresh-out-of-the-oven blackberry cobbler! After that, we were shown the beautiful Bull Canyon (with about a 200 ft. drop) and hiked the Rocky Ledge trail; and as if that wasn't enough, we were sent to a higher campground where the Dallas Astronomical Society had set up several huge telescopes for us to view the night sky. We were treated to our very own "Star Party!"
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