September 1-9, 2001
Rocky Mountain National Park, CO (by Terence Donovan)
On Saturday, Sept. 1, 2001 the Central Texas Trail Tamers made their annual pilgrimage to Rocky Mountain National Park, about 40 miles northwest of Denver. The group consisted of 15 adventurers (which included 5 AmeriCorps volunteers) and was led by the capable Lynda DeGroot.
After overnighting in Raton, New Mexico, we arrived at Moraine Park campground on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 2, and began setting up the camp that would be our home for the coming week.
Monday (Labor Day) was a free day to get acclimated to the altitude and enjoy many facets of this magnificent park. Several members packed lunches and set off on a 12-mile hike starting at the Bear Lake trailhead and winding back around to the camp in Moraine Park. The rest of the group piled into two vehicles and enjoyed a somewhat harrowing trip to the Alpine Visitor Center on Trail Ridge Road by way of Old Fall River Road. This scenic but narrow gravel road consists of hairpin switchbacks and steep inclines with no guardrails. It is so narrow that traffic only moves in one direction.
On Tuesday, our group met the park service trail crew at 7AM and set off to the Lily Lake trailhead to work on the last portion of Storm Pass Trail. As this was our 3rd year to work on this trail, the final 300 feet were saved for us to finish. By Wednesday afternoon, the last stumps were pulled up and the last tread was cut. After final touches, the four-mile trail was complete and ready to be added to the park's network of trails.
On Thursday and Friday, we worked at three different locations constructing retaining walls and building steps. Large 700-lb rocks had to be quarried and transported to the work area using grip-hoists on pulley systems. This work was different and challenging and afforded new experiences for many of us. We learned how to drill holes into granite with 90-lb Punjhars (gasoline powered drills), how to secure and hoist cumbersome rocks, and how to shore up rock steps. The trail crew provided excellent guidance on tool handling and techniques and then set us loose. By trial and error and a lot of hard work, we met our goals and felt the satisfaction of another job well done.
On our last evening in camp, we watched as snow dusted the top and sides of Long's Peak far across the valley from Moraine Park and Lynda wished it would work itself toward our camp. Her wish came true, as an arctic cold front pushed into the area and sent temperatures plunging, with over 6 inches of snow covering everything by dawn!
Prior to the snowy surprise, we were all awakened around 2AM by a loud noise reminiscent of a car crash. Instead, we fearfully discovered that a "bear-proof" trash container at the edge of camp had been ripped from its bolts in the concrete and tossed around like a toy by a very large, hungry bear! Flashlights shining from several of our tents apparently scared it away without further incident, but none of us got much sleep after that rude awakening.
The return trip to Texas was long and uneventful with another overnight stay--this time in Amarillo. Our weary crew returned to Austin at about 4:30PM on Sunday, Sept. 9, and another pilgrimage to the mountains had come to a successful end.
Sunday, September 30, 2001
Saturday, June 30, 2001
6/01: Davy Crockett Trip Report
June, 2001
Davy Crockett National Forest, Texas (by Earl Conners)
The June trip to Davy Crockett was lucky. Tropical storm Allison left the area Friday afternoon and work started Saturday morning. The weather was good the rest of the week. A 2 inch rain early Friday morning was a good test of the work completed. It showed the trail had a good slope and no washouts occurred. We completed 320 yards of trail.
Meeting ADA specifications, the trail was constructed of fill dirt to level the trail as needed, then a 2” layer of limestone was applied and rolled. A ¼” layer of river pea gravel completed the surface. The trail was bordered with landscape timbers. An 18” culvert was also installed. The entire trail will be 3/4 mile in length, with the last 500 ft being a boardwalk over a boggy area. We have two more years to complete the work.
In mid-week, we were fortunate to have the help of eleven members of E-Corps (American Youthworks). It was the third time E-Corps has helped us on our long-range trips. It was a pleasure working with them. We also have a new member form the Lufkin area. He worked with us Tuesday through Saturday and is going on the Rocky Mountain Trip in September.
Davy Crockett National Forest, Texas (by Earl Conners)
The June trip to Davy Crockett was lucky. Tropical storm Allison left the area Friday afternoon and work started Saturday morning. The weather was good the rest of the week. A 2 inch rain early Friday morning was a good test of the work completed. It showed the trail had a good slope and no washouts occurred. We completed 320 yards of trail.
Meeting ADA specifications, the trail was constructed of fill dirt to level the trail as needed, then a 2” layer of limestone was applied and rolled. A ¼” layer of river pea gravel completed the surface. The trail was bordered with landscape timbers. An 18” culvert was also installed. The entire trail will be 3/4 mile in length, with the last 500 ft being a boardwalk over a boggy area. We have two more years to complete the work.
In mid-week, we were fortunate to have the help of eleven members of E-Corps (American Youthworks). It was the third time E-Corps has helped us on our long-range trips. It was a pleasure working with them. We also have a new member form the Lufkin area. He worked with us Tuesday through Saturday and is going on the Rocky Mountain Trip in September.
Monday, April 30, 2001
4/28/01 Gila Wilderness Trip Report
April 21-28, 2001
Gila Wilderness, New Mexico (by Raylene Welch)
Five volunteers left Austin at about 7AM on April 21 for the CTTT work trip to the Gila Wilderness in SW New Mexico. Along the way, we had lunch at a rest area, supper at the Cactus Cafe in Deming (great recommendation from Kevin!), and arrived at Sapillo campground around 8:30PM. After meeting ranger Tim Pohlman, we set up our tents for the night.
On Sunday, thinking it rained during the night, we woke up to everything coated with about an inch of snow. It was beautiful! After tossing a few snowballs & eating breakfast, we listened to Tim give instructions on the use of the area and how to build the trail to accommodate the various uses. We hiked about 2 hours to the site and worked for about three hours before heading back to camp. Tim informed us that a group of 9 Americorps volunteers would be joining us in a day or two.
Monday was a day of serious work with many large stumps to remove. Everyone was tired at the end of the day and ready for the Americorps group to join us!
On Tuesday, one of our members decided that she could not remain on the project because of serious foot pain so she was taken to the nearest bus station. The rest of the group continued working through Thursday.
This section of the Continental Divide Trail was built on top of mountain ridges but is being redone and moved to the side of these ridges, which means quite a few trees & rocks being removed and new tread being cut. With the help of the Americorp group, we completed about 1/2 mile of trail and dug out probably 50 large stumps. There remained perhaps another 100 yards of trail to be completed.
Friday was spent packing up camp and visiting the Gila Cliff Dwellings before heading home.
Gila Wilderness, New Mexico (by Raylene Welch)
Five volunteers left Austin at about 7AM on April 21 for the CTTT work trip to the Gila Wilderness in SW New Mexico. Along the way, we had lunch at a rest area, supper at the Cactus Cafe in Deming (great recommendation from Kevin!), and arrived at Sapillo campground around 8:30PM. After meeting ranger Tim Pohlman, we set up our tents for the night.
On Sunday, thinking it rained during the night, we woke up to everything coated with about an inch of snow. It was beautiful! After tossing a few snowballs & eating breakfast, we listened to Tim give instructions on the use of the area and how to build the trail to accommodate the various uses. We hiked about 2 hours to the site and worked for about three hours before heading back to camp. Tim informed us that a group of 9 Americorps volunteers would be joining us in a day or two.
Monday was a day of serious work with many large stumps to remove. Everyone was tired at the end of the day and ready for the Americorps group to join us!
On Tuesday, one of our members decided that she could not remain on the project because of serious foot pain so she was taken to the nearest bus station. The rest of the group continued working through Thursday.
This section of the Continental Divide Trail was built on top of mountain ridges but is being redone and moved to the side of these ridges, which means quite a few trees & rocks being removed and new tread being cut. With the help of the Americorp group, we completed about 1/2 mile of trail and dug out probably 50 large stumps. There remained perhaps another 100 yards of trail to be completed.
Friday was spent packing up camp and visiting the Gila Cliff Dwellings before heading home.
Thursday, February 15, 2001
2/01 Davy Crockett Trip Report
February, 2001
Davy Crockett National Forest, Texas (by Earl Conners)
Volunteers started arriving Friday afternoon and all were present for the evening meal of Derly Stew and French bread. The evening campfire brought renewed friendship with our members from Lufkin and Benton, La.
Day one started with a breakfast of crispy French toast and bacon. We then rode to the first work site 18 miles into the forest. There we split into two groups. Group 1 (two men), tore down and rebuilt a bridge, installing new planks, steps, and support piers. Meanwhile, Group 2 (four men) replaced planks and piers on another bridge. We then returned to the shop and cut timber and planks for the next day.
On day two, we once again worked on two bridges…this time as a single group. We repaired a footbridge and built new ramps. Then we built a new bridge with handrails over a sunken bridge that was in the water. Setting the piers in the water was a challenge. The new bridge was 26 feet long. All old timber was carried out. New timber was cut on site. An evening of smoked pork roast around the campfire, with our Ranger hosts Pearlie and Merlinda, ended day two.
On day three we replaced handrails on a main trail bridge and then removed an entire bridge and rails also on the main trail. That evening we went to a picturesque cabin on a pond south of Lufkin (owned by Ray Fore). There we fished and had a catfish supper with plenty of trimmings.
On the last day we constructed a new bridge, replacing yesterday’s teardown, and installed seven water bars on the trail on both sides of the new bridge. We then broke camp and left for home at 3:00 pm. A total of 142 man-hours had been completed.
Davy Crockett National Forest, Texas (by Earl Conners)
Volunteers started arriving Friday afternoon and all were present for the evening meal of Derly Stew and French bread. The evening campfire brought renewed friendship with our members from Lufkin and Benton, La.
Day one started with a breakfast of crispy French toast and bacon. We then rode to the first work site 18 miles into the forest. There we split into two groups. Group 1 (two men), tore down and rebuilt a bridge, installing new planks, steps, and support piers. Meanwhile, Group 2 (four men) replaced planks and piers on another bridge. We then returned to the shop and cut timber and planks for the next day.
On day two, we once again worked on two bridges…this time as a single group. We repaired a footbridge and built new ramps. Then we built a new bridge with handrails over a sunken bridge that was in the water. Setting the piers in the water was a challenge. The new bridge was 26 feet long. All old timber was carried out. New timber was cut on site. An evening of smoked pork roast around the campfire, with our Ranger hosts Pearlie and Merlinda, ended day two.
On day three we replaced handrails on a main trail bridge and then removed an entire bridge and rails also on the main trail. That evening we went to a picturesque cabin on a pond south of Lufkin (owned by Ray Fore). There we fished and had a catfish supper with plenty of trimmings.
On the last day we constructed a new bridge, replacing yesterday’s teardown, and installed seven water bars on the trail on both sides of the new bridge. We then broke camp and left for home at 3:00 pm. A total of 142 man-hours had been completed.
Saturday, February 3, 2001
2/3/01 Acacia Land Trust Trip Report
February 3, 2001
Acacia Land Trust Work Day, Texas (by Lynda DeGroot)
This was the 2nd time the Trail Tamers had been called upon to help out at this beautiful place between Dripping Springs and the Pedernales River.
About 9 Trail Tamers, plus a few others, arrived at the Hill Country Cafe in Dripping Springs where a few of us grabbed some quick coffee and last minute breakfast tacos while waiting for our hostess to show up and lead us to the preserve. When she finally arrived, we piled into our vehicles and our little "carpool convoy" pulled out onto Hwy 290 heading west. She took off faster than many of us could keep up and it didn't take but 2 minutes for us to get disoriented! So, after a roadside "high-level map conference", we finally figured out the directions and were on our way. Upon our arrival, we were joined by a group of college students and others for what turned out to be great day for cedar choppin'.
The owner is trying to clear much of the area so that native grasses and plants can be reintroduced. While most of the crew concentrated on digging up cedar saplings and trimming up more mature cedar trees, in another section of the preserve, several of us went down to remove as much cedar as possible along the trail that leads down to the canyon containing Dead Man's Creek…and such a beautiful creek it is! Along the creek itself, some areas on the sides and on small islands were nearly choked with young cedar so we removed those in order for some of the oak, wild persimmon saplings, and other shrubs (such as canyon mock orange) to grow.
After quite a bit of work, we stopped for lunch. Our hostess generously provided us with a variety of sandwiches, chips, cookies and beverages. After lunch we returned to work removing and stacking cut cedar. At about 2:30, the hostess asked if anyone would like to take a hike to "Dead Man's Hole" and several of us jumped at the chance to see this place.
We hiked along the trail that some of us worked on earlier, going down into the canyon and following the creek for a couple of miles until we came to a collapsed grotto with a clear blue-green pool and waterfall that was absolutely beautiful! I would say that it definitely rivals Hamilton Pool, and is much more pristine. We were all astounded! Many of us wondered how many other places like that still exist yet are virtually unknown.
After lollygagging around for about 30 minutes breathing it all in, we headed back to the upper reaches of the property and back to our vehicles for the trip home. This was truly a day well spent but there's more to do. I'm sure there will be other opportunities for return trips.
Acacia Land Trust Work Day, Texas (by Lynda DeGroot)
This was the 2nd time the Trail Tamers had been called upon to help out at this beautiful place between Dripping Springs and the Pedernales River.
About 9 Trail Tamers, plus a few others, arrived at the Hill Country Cafe in Dripping Springs where a few of us grabbed some quick coffee and last minute breakfast tacos while waiting for our hostess to show up and lead us to the preserve. When she finally arrived, we piled into our vehicles and our little "carpool convoy" pulled out onto Hwy 290 heading west. She took off faster than many of us could keep up and it didn't take but 2 minutes for us to get disoriented! So, after a roadside "high-level map conference", we finally figured out the directions and were on our way. Upon our arrival, we were joined by a group of college students and others for what turned out to be great day for cedar choppin'.
The owner is trying to clear much of the area so that native grasses and plants can be reintroduced. While most of the crew concentrated on digging up cedar saplings and trimming up more mature cedar trees, in another section of the preserve, several of us went down to remove as much cedar as possible along the trail that leads down to the canyon containing Dead Man's Creek…and such a beautiful creek it is! Along the creek itself, some areas on the sides and on small islands were nearly choked with young cedar so we removed those in order for some of the oak, wild persimmon saplings, and other shrubs (such as canyon mock orange) to grow.
After quite a bit of work, we stopped for lunch. Our hostess generously provided us with a variety of sandwiches, chips, cookies and beverages. After lunch we returned to work removing and stacking cut cedar. At about 2:30, the hostess asked if anyone would like to take a hike to "Dead Man's Hole" and several of us jumped at the chance to see this place.
We hiked along the trail that some of us worked on earlier, going down into the canyon and following the creek for a couple of miles until we came to a collapsed grotto with a clear blue-green pool and waterfall that was absolutely beautiful! I would say that it definitely rivals Hamilton Pool, and is much more pristine. We were all astounded! Many of us wondered how many other places like that still exist yet are virtually unknown.
After lollygagging around for about 30 minutes breathing it all in, we headed back to the upper reaches of the property and back to our vehicles for the trip home. This was truly a day well spent but there's more to do. I'm sure there will be other opportunities for return trips.
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