February 19-21, 2005
Bustamante Cave Trail, Mexico - by Philip Russell
Bustamante is a charming little Mexican town, founded in the 1600s, just 90 miles south of Laredo. It's pinning its future on ecotourism. The centerpiece of its ecotourism is a magnificent cave on a steep mountain slope. To facilitate access to the cave, a seven-person CTTT crew worked on the trail to the cave over President's Day Weekend.
This was the fifth trip to Bustamante to survey and then re-route the trail up a steep, rocky slope. Working there is a challenge due to the steep slope, many rocks and little dirt, and the thorns on the desert plants. The crew replaced a steep scramble over bare rocks with two switchbacks. The two switchbacks connect to the much longer stretch of trail that had already been rerouted. The Trail Tamer effort was part of a much larger project to enhance the cave. This effort was coordinated by the Texas Speleological Society, which arranged a hike in a mountain canyon as well as a banquet for the 121 participants in the patio of the hotel where we stayed. As with most trail projects, there is still work to be done. These projects are an annual event, so if you like rocks and would enjoy a visit to a charming little town, come on down with us next year.
Monday, February 28, 2005
2/19-21/05: Davy Crockett National Forest, Texas
February 19-21, 2005
Davy Crockett National Forest, Texas - by George Boemerman
On Thursday 17 February, George Boemerman, David Justice, Steve Baker, and Rocky Nelson rendezvoused at Davy Crockett N.F. and planned the weekend schedule with Forest reps Merlinda Schory and Pearlie Greene. Yes, Pearlie's back from her tour of duty with the Army Reserves where she had an assignment readying personnel prior to deployment to Iraq, and she had been promoted to Master Sergeant!
Early Friday morning Ray Fore and Chuck Lundstedt arrived and off we went to saw bridge lumber and pre-position it for the weekend tasks. In the meantime, we were able to repair two bridges that had been damaged due to heavy rainfalls. On Friday evening Mitch Drummond, Terence Donovan, and Mary Zeitler arrived. We had set up our campsite at the overflow area to take advantage of the large covered pavilion in case of the forecasted rain. Fortunately, the weekend weather ended up perfect for working.
Early Saturday morning, Jim Pendergast and Randy Rogers arrived in time to start our major work projects. We split up into three crews to spread the work more efficiently. As usual, Ray Fore and Rocky Nelson provided the technical expertise. For those who are not familiar with it, the Davy Crockett work is quite different from our regular trail work. There are no rocks to manipulate, no water bars, just big heavy timbered trail bridges to repair. Three bridges were repaired that day. Saturday night, we had our usual Davy Crockett group feast. Rocky Nelson fried up a delicious turkey, Ray Fore made the coleslaw, and Pearlie boiled the cobs of corn. Mary Zeitler provided her sinful chocolate chip cookies and Merlinda forced her Mississippi Mud Pie on us. Rocky was overheard saying, "I can't believe I ate three pieces".
Sunday, after groaning over all the food we devoured, we headed out to the trails again. Merlinda took one crew and worked in the immediate area, while Pearlie took another crew up to the north end of the Forest (about 30 miles). Merlinda's crew, headed by Ray Fore, ran into some problems. They found the bridge decayed beyond repair and they proceeded with a complete rebuild.
Pearlie’s crew, headed by Rocky Nelson, was confronted with moving and repairing a bridge that had slipped off it base due to rains. The bridge was built on 12X12 railroad timbers and it was a good thing we brought along the tractor. There was some heavy timber cutting to do and the Forest's chain saw broke down. However Randy Rogers saved the day with his trusty chain saw. He never leaves home without it!
Sunday night, we were all exhausted, rightfully. We had completed major repairs on 7 bridges and had completely rebuilt another, and the rebuild involved a span over 40 feet. We provided Davy Crockett National Forest with 226 man-hours of heavy and technical work. Merlinda Schory stated that the Forest could not maintain the trail bridges at an acceptable level without the yearly volunteer work provided by the Central Texas Trail Tamers. Since Monday was a holiday for the Forest personnel, we packed up early and headed home.
Davy Crockett National Forest, Texas - by George Boemerman
On Thursday 17 February, George Boemerman, David Justice, Steve Baker, and Rocky Nelson rendezvoused at Davy Crockett N.F. and planned the weekend schedule with Forest reps Merlinda Schory and Pearlie Greene. Yes, Pearlie's back from her tour of duty with the Army Reserves where she had an assignment readying personnel prior to deployment to Iraq, and she had been promoted to Master Sergeant!
Early Friday morning Ray Fore and Chuck Lundstedt arrived and off we went to saw bridge lumber and pre-position it for the weekend tasks. In the meantime, we were able to repair two bridges that had been damaged due to heavy rainfalls. On Friday evening Mitch Drummond, Terence Donovan, and Mary Zeitler arrived. We had set up our campsite at the overflow area to take advantage of the large covered pavilion in case of the forecasted rain. Fortunately, the weekend weather ended up perfect for working.
Early Saturday morning, Jim Pendergast and Randy Rogers arrived in time to start our major work projects. We split up into three crews to spread the work more efficiently. As usual, Ray Fore and Rocky Nelson provided the technical expertise. For those who are not familiar with it, the Davy Crockett work is quite different from our regular trail work. There are no rocks to manipulate, no water bars, just big heavy timbered trail bridges to repair. Three bridges were repaired that day. Saturday night, we had our usual Davy Crockett group feast. Rocky Nelson fried up a delicious turkey, Ray Fore made the coleslaw, and Pearlie boiled the cobs of corn. Mary Zeitler provided her sinful chocolate chip cookies and Merlinda forced her Mississippi Mud Pie on us. Rocky was overheard saying, "I can't believe I ate three pieces".
Sunday, after groaning over all the food we devoured, we headed out to the trails again. Merlinda took one crew and worked in the immediate area, while Pearlie took another crew up to the north end of the Forest (about 30 miles). Merlinda's crew, headed by Ray Fore, ran into some problems. They found the bridge decayed beyond repair and they proceeded with a complete rebuild.
Pearlie’s crew, headed by Rocky Nelson, was confronted with moving and repairing a bridge that had slipped off it base due to rains. The bridge was built on 12X12 railroad timbers and it was a good thing we brought along the tractor. There was some heavy timber cutting to do and the Forest's chain saw broke down. However Randy Rogers saved the day with his trusty chain saw. He never leaves home without it!
Sunday night, we were all exhausted, rightfully. We had completed major repairs on 7 bridges and had completely rebuilt another, and the rebuild involved a span over 40 feet. We provided Davy Crockett National Forest with 226 man-hours of heavy and technical work. Merlinda Schory stated that the Forest could not maintain the trail bridges at an acceptable level without the yearly volunteer work provided by the Central Texas Trail Tamers. Since Monday was a holiday for the Forest personnel, we packed up early and headed home.
Thursday, February 10, 2005
2/5/05: Bamberger Ranch Preserve, Texas
February 5, 2005
Bamberger Ranch Preserve, Texas - by Lynda DeGroot
After hearing that our work day was predicted to see a 70% chance of rain, what was supposed to be a large group of 15 ended up being myself and 3 other fairly new Trail Tamers who dared the weather to keep us at home! Even though the sky was black over Austin and there was a magnificent double rainbow with the most intense colors I’ve ever seen arching way up in the sky over Hwy 290 west, as I approached the intersection of Hwy 281 the sky was blue with a few puffy clouds over the Bamberger Ranch Preserve. It turns out the rain stayed away from where we were until about 4pm...just as we finished our last project and were starting to look at another!
The four of us began our day by cleaning up the trail to J. David Bamberger’s chiroptorium or man-made bat cave. After removing lots of overgrown weeds and trimming back low-hanging limbs, we moved on to the Turkey Hollow trail which the Trail Tamers had built in 2004. We were given the task of putting in stepping stones and steps to reroute a section of trail that crossed the creek. It seems that a HUGE rock slab that had been placed across the creek to serve as a bridge had been broken in two by a flash flood in earlier months. While Mr. Bamberger & his employee, Steven Fulton, plus Trail Tamers C.R.Thomas and Steve Williams struggled to move pieces of the slab and other huge rocks for use as stepping-stones, we ladies (Tita Owre and me) were busy finding & moving our own large rocks that we carefully positioned as steps.
When the work was declared done by Mr. Bamberger, we moved on to a third project, but a light rain finally began to fall. So, instead, we headed to Hes’ Country Store where we were treated to some fine tamales, beans, chips & salsa along with a lot of praise from Mr. Bamberger for a job well done!
Bamberger Ranch Preserve, Texas - by Lynda DeGroot
After hearing that our work day was predicted to see a 70% chance of rain, what was supposed to be a large group of 15 ended up being myself and 3 other fairly new Trail Tamers who dared the weather to keep us at home! Even though the sky was black over Austin and there was a magnificent double rainbow with the most intense colors I’ve ever seen arching way up in the sky over Hwy 290 west, as I approached the intersection of Hwy 281 the sky was blue with a few puffy clouds over the Bamberger Ranch Preserve. It turns out the rain stayed away from where we were until about 4pm...just as we finished our last project and were starting to look at another!
The four of us began our day by cleaning up the trail to J. David Bamberger’s chiroptorium or man-made bat cave. After removing lots of overgrown weeds and trimming back low-hanging limbs, we moved on to the Turkey Hollow trail which the Trail Tamers had built in 2004. We were given the task of putting in stepping stones and steps to reroute a section of trail that crossed the creek. It seems that a HUGE rock slab that had been placed across the creek to serve as a bridge had been broken in two by a flash flood in earlier months. While Mr. Bamberger & his employee, Steven Fulton, plus Trail Tamers C.R.Thomas and Steve Williams struggled to move pieces of the slab and other huge rocks for use as stepping-stones, we ladies (Tita Owre and me) were busy finding & moving our own large rocks that we carefully positioned as steps.
When the work was declared done by Mr. Bamberger, we moved on to a third project, but a light rain finally began to fall. So, instead, we headed to Hes’ Country Store where we were treated to some fine tamales, beans, chips & salsa along with a lot of praise from Mr. Bamberger for a job well done!
Tuesday, February 1, 2005
1/22/05: Blunn Creek Nature Preserve
January 22, 2005
Blunn Creek Nature Preserve - by Bill Kemp
On January 22, 2005 CTTT had a workday at the Blunn Creek Nature Preserve from 9 am to 4:15 pm. Those attending were Margaret Hill, Kirsti Harms, Charles Wortz, Mark Henneke, Roger Myers, Paul Johnson, Terence Donovan, George Mading, Betty Mading, Jerome Collins, Debbie Galloway and Bill Kemp. Rene' Barrera of the Austin Parks and Recreation Department directed our efforts. Our primary focus was building rock steps and check dams along a rather steep section of the trail from the lookout down to the creek. We also constructed a rock drainage structure at a lower section of the trail. We completed most of the work needed on the east side of Blunn Creek.
During our break, Rene' took us on a tour of the park, showing us a spring he has restored, fossils along the trails and large live oak and persimmon trees. We had barbeque for lunch, thanks to a grant from REI. We will return to Blunn Creek on February 26 to focus on trails on the west side of the creek.
Blunn Creek Nature Preserve - by Bill Kemp
On January 22, 2005 CTTT had a workday at the Blunn Creek Nature Preserve from 9 am to 4:15 pm. Those attending were Margaret Hill, Kirsti Harms, Charles Wortz, Mark Henneke, Roger Myers, Paul Johnson, Terence Donovan, George Mading, Betty Mading, Jerome Collins, Debbie Galloway and Bill Kemp. Rene' Barrera of the Austin Parks and Recreation Department directed our efforts. Our primary focus was building rock steps and check dams along a rather steep section of the trail from the lookout down to the creek. We also constructed a rock drainage structure at a lower section of the trail. We completed most of the work needed on the east side of Blunn Creek.
During our break, Rene' took us on a tour of the park, showing us a spring he has restored, fossils along the trails and large live oak and persimmon trees. We had barbeque for lunch, thanks to a grant from REI. We will return to Blunn Creek on February 26 to focus on trails on the west side of the creek.
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