January 19-21, 2002
Davy Crockett National Forest, TX - by Mike Rodgers
Most of the participants for this special January trip to Davy Crockett National Forest arrived on Friday and set up camp at the Lakeside Loop Campsite. Arriving early were George Boemerman, John Payne, Janette Barlow, and Rocky Nelson. Due to the inclement weather, this group used the covered pavilion for their evening meal. Trip leader Mike Rodgers arrived after the feast. After a rainy night, the group arose to a cloudy and cold morning. Other local participants, Ray Fore and Chuck Lundstedt, arrived Saturday morning before the Forest Service "darlings" (Pearlie and Merlinda) arrived.
The group headed for the work site at exactly 8:00am or 8:15am, maybe 8:30am…but they got there. After some discussion, the transit (level) was set up to determine the grade of the proposed trail. We determined the trail route and started digging holes. After the first few posts were set, the group fell into a routine and the next 128 posts went pretty smoothly.
Different teams worked the auger ("digging machine"). This machine required a two-person team. What a blast I had with Pearlie, Janette and George sharing the machine with me. Everyone enjoyed a session on it. Supplemented with real post-hole diggers, the holes were widened to accommodate and align the posts. The posts were set approximately 2 ft. deep with "QuikCrete". The group returned to the campsite around noon for Saturday lunch.
New arrivals, Matthew Yang, Nora Ahmed, and Greg Robin, found their way to the campground to join in the fun. After they set up camp, the group returned to work on the posts. Hauling posts and cement, digging holes, setting posts and lots of supervision and advice filled the afternoon and Sunday morning until the last post was set around 1:00pm Sunday.
The new arrivals did have a strange experience Saturday afternoon. Breaking shortly after 2:00pm, they planned a short fifteen minute hike which lasted until quitting time or thereafter. They took a wrong turn and wandered through the woods for two hours, finally finding the park headquarters office. They then got directions back to the campground. Our new Trail Tamers had to leave early Sunday to return to Austin but their efforts were appreciated by all.
Several other members had to leave Sunday afternoon. The remaining crew cross-braced the posts on Monday. With the posts in place, we expect to complete the wooden trail portion during the February trip.
Altogether, CTTT can be credited with 137 hours of work (George, Rocky, Ray, John, Chuck--20 hrs. each; Mike and Janette--14 hrs. each; Matthew, Nora and Greg--3 hrs. each) for the January, 2002 trip to Davy Crockett National Forest.
Copyright © 2003 Central Texas Trail Tamers
Wednesday, January 30, 2002
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
