Rick Guhse (03/14/09)
Hello,
Yesterday Helena Uber-Wamble and Evan Lanier from Camp Sumatanga near Gadsden joined us for a day of trail work. Edwin Martin worked his 3rd day with us. We met USFS Ranger Ricky Goodin (I hope I've got his last name correct) at the southernmost end of the newest addition of the Pinhoti Trail which follows the ridgeline along 10 mile Rebecca Mt.
There is no existing trail in this location. After a brief discussion of safety requirements we each took a fire rake and began clearing a footpath for the trailbed. Notice that the USFS requires trail workers to wear helmets and safety glasses. I found my helmet to fit well and it was rather comfortable. The only thing it was missing was an AHTS decal! Ha!
You'll see Ricky, Helena, Evan and Edward in the pic. After we finished we were amazed at how much trail we put in after a short day of trail work.
The hillsides are beautiful and with the leaves off the trees there was no trouble seeing far away. This will be a beautiful trail when opened. There's also water in a stream just after starting down the trail. Good for hikers to refill as water is usually scarce on the ridge.
Rick
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Mach Trail Work - 03/14/09
Rick Guhse (03/14/09)
Hello,
Yesterday Helena Uber-Wamble and Evan Lanier from Camp Sumatanga near Gadsden joined us for a day of trail work. Edwin Martin worked his 3rd day with us. We met USFS Ranger Ricky Goodin (I hope I've got his last name correct) at the southernmost end of the newest addition of the Pinhoti Trail which follows the ridgeline along 10 mile Rebecca Mt.
There is no existing trail in this location. After a brief discussion of safety requirements we each took a fire rake and began clearing a footpath for the trailbed. Notice that the USFS requires trail workers to wear helmets and safety glasses. I found my helmet to fit well and it was rather comfortable. The only thing it was missing was an AHTS decal! Ha!
You'll see Ricky, Helena, Evan and Edward in the pic. After we finished we were amazed at how much trail we put in after a short day of trail work.
The hillsides are beautiful and with the leaves off the trees there was no trouble seeing far away. This will be a beautiful trail when opened. There's also water in a stream just after starting down the trail. Good for hikers to refill as water is usually scarce on the ridge.
Rick
Hello,
Yesterday Helena Uber-Wamble and Evan Lanier from Camp Sumatanga near Gadsden joined us for a day of trail work. Edwin Martin worked his 3rd day with us. We met USFS Ranger Ricky Goodin (I hope I've got his last name correct) at the southernmost end of the newest addition of the Pinhoti Trail which follows the ridgeline along 10 mile Rebecca Mt.
There is no existing trail in this location. After a brief discussion of safety requirements we each took a fire rake and began clearing a footpath for the trailbed. Notice that the USFS requires trail workers to wear helmets and safety glasses. I found my helmet to fit well and it was rather comfortable. The only thing it was missing was an AHTS decal! Ha!
You'll see Ricky, Helena, Evan and Edward in the pic. After we finished we were amazed at how much trail we put in after a short day of trail work.
The hillsides are beautiful and with the leaves off the trees there was no trouble seeing far away. This will be a beautiful trail when opened. There's also water in a stream just after starting down the trail. Good for hikers to refill as water is usually scarce on the ridge.
Rick
More from the Trail Work Week
Rick Guhse (03/11/09)
Hi,
Today Pete McElrath, Billie Thrash, Edwin Martin and I worked at Flagg Mt. We set sign posts. One at the kiosk for the white blazed trail. One at the intersection of the white and yellow blazed trails on the ridge, one at the blue blazed trail to the spring and another at the primitive campsite. We toted the signs attatched to the posts into each location. Pete McElrath prepared the signs and posts for us at home and paid for the materials out of pocket. We then attatched two signs to the post left in the ground at the south end of the thru trail. The signs we use are the logo signs, a smaller info sign and/or a blank sign that we hand write information on.
After finishing around 11 am we still had lot's of time left so we decided to go to Home Depot and buy lumber to build an 8' picnic table for the campsite. We left Edwin to rake trails (he had his car) and we bought lumber and went back to Poplar Point Camp to cut the wood and get it ready to haul into the campsite tomorrow morning. We finished at 4 pm. I haven't seen Edwin and have left a voicemail and text him. He has his car and I'm hoping he went to get something to eat. If I don't see him or hear from him by 9 pm I'll drive back to Flagg Mt. and look for his car.
It was around 70*F today and breezy so it was perfect weather to be hiking. The trails are in good shape except for some needed sidehill work.
Tomorrow we'll assemble the picnic table, clean the knoll of schrubs and shovel out some flat spots for tents. We are supposed to get with Kent Cooper and drive around the Forever Wild property of 10,000 acres they recently acquired.
Rick
Hi,
Today Pete McElrath, Billie Thrash, Edwin Martin and I worked at Flagg Mt. We set sign posts. One at the kiosk for the white blazed trail. One at the intersection of the white and yellow blazed trails on the ridge, one at the blue blazed trail to the spring and another at the primitive campsite. We toted the signs attatched to the posts into each location. Pete McElrath prepared the signs and posts for us at home and paid for the materials out of pocket. We then attatched two signs to the post left in the ground at the south end of the thru trail. The signs we use are the logo signs, a smaller info sign and/or a blank sign that we hand write information on.
After finishing around 11 am we still had lot's of time left so we decided to go to Home Depot and buy lumber to build an 8' picnic table for the campsite. We left Edwin to rake trails (he had his car) and we bought lumber and went back to Poplar Point Camp to cut the wood and get it ready to haul into the campsite tomorrow morning. We finished at 4 pm. I haven't seen Edwin and have left a voicemail and text him. He has his car and I'm hoping he went to get something to eat. If I don't see him or hear from him by 9 pm I'll drive back to Flagg Mt. and look for his car.
It was around 70*F today and breezy so it was perfect weather to be hiking. The trails are in good shape except for some needed sidehill work.
Tomorrow we'll assemble the picnic table, clean the knoll of schrubs and shovel out some flat spots for tents. We are supposed to get with Kent Cooper and drive around the Forever Wild property of 10,000 acres they recently acquired.
Rick
Rick Guhse (03/10/09 - PM)
Hi,
Today I met with Joe Nicholson, Ricky Goodin, and Leslie Hodge, all USFS personnel, to discuss the work to be done hand cutting the final southernmost piece of the Pinhoti Trail on Rebecca Mt. I took them to Bulls Gap and Flagg Mt. to show them trail we'd built from scratch so they could see what we've already done. It was 83*F today. It should cool down and be comfortable the rest of the week.
They would like us to work Saturday & Sunday hand cutting this final piece of trail. There will be sidehill work. And they'll bring in a special trail builder to instruct us as we build trail. They will be asking others to help as I couldn't give them a number for those who would be participating. The more who come the faster we'll be able to get this work done. PLEASE TELL OTHERS ABOUT OUR WEEKEND TRAIL WORK AND INVITE THEM TO PARTICIPATE.
Edwin Martin came in from Enterprise tonight and will work Wednesday & Thursday. Pete McElrath and Billie Thrash will work tomorrow with us. Pete assembled signs and we'll plant them at Flagg Mt. tomorrow.
Marion Campbell emailed to say he'll work at Cheaha SP March 17 - 22nd.
I stopped in at the local Alabama Forestry Commission office and picked up a Coosa Co. plat book. This shows the power company land near or adjoining the recently acquired Forever Wild land in Coosa WMA. This is the next piece of land we'll assess on which to build more trail.
Have a great evening, Rick
Hi,
Today I met with Joe Nicholson, Ricky Goodin, and Leslie Hodge, all USFS personnel, to discuss the work to be done hand cutting the final southernmost piece of the Pinhoti Trail on Rebecca Mt. I took them to Bulls Gap and Flagg Mt. to show them trail we'd built from scratch so they could see what we've already done. It was 83*F today. It should cool down and be comfortable the rest of the week.
They would like us to work Saturday & Sunday hand cutting this final piece of trail. There will be sidehill work. And they'll bring in a special trail builder to instruct us as we build trail. They will be asking others to help as I couldn't give them a number for those who would be participating. The more who come the faster we'll be able to get this work done. PLEASE TELL OTHERS ABOUT OUR WEEKEND TRAIL WORK AND INVITE THEM TO PARTICIPATE.
Edwin Martin came in from Enterprise tonight and will work Wednesday & Thursday. Pete McElrath and Billie Thrash will work tomorrow with us. Pete assembled signs and we'll plant them at Flagg Mt. tomorrow.
Marion Campbell emailed to say he'll work at Cheaha SP March 17 - 22nd.
I stopped in at the local Alabama Forestry Commission office and picked up a Coosa Co. plat book. This shows the power company land near or adjoining the recently acquired Forever Wild land in Coosa WMA. This is the next piece of land we'll assess on which to build more trail.
Have a great evening, Rick
March Pinhoti Trail Work Begins
By Rick Guhse (03/10/09)
I arrived at Poplar Point Camp at 6 pm, March 9th. We begin trail work Tuesday morning and meet at the RV at 9:30 am. We'll meet USFS personnel, Leslie Hodge and Joe Nicholson at the Trammel Rd Trailhead at 10 am. They will explain how they want the last several hundred yards of the Pinhoti Trail hand cut. We'll work on this today and keep at it until finished. We'll leave the trail at 2 pm.
After today we'll be leaving Poplar Point Camp at 8 am. and leaving the trail at 2 pm. In a week we'll move to Cheaha SP. When we move may be delayed a day or two depending on what we have to do.
Thursday afternoon Kent Cooper will show us around the 9,750 acres in Coosa WMA so we can begin assessing the new trail to be built there.
Hope to see you. Rick
I arrived at Poplar Point Camp at 6 pm, March 9th. We begin trail work Tuesday morning and meet at the RV at 9:30 am. We'll meet USFS personnel, Leslie Hodge and Joe Nicholson at the Trammel Rd Trailhead at 10 am. They will explain how they want the last several hundred yards of the Pinhoti Trail hand cut. We'll work on this today and keep at it until finished. We'll leave the trail at 2 pm.
After today we'll be leaving Poplar Point Camp at 8 am. and leaving the trail at 2 pm. In a week we'll move to Cheaha SP. When we move may be delayed a day or two depending on what we have to do.
Thursday afternoon Kent Cooper will show us around the 9,750 acres in Coosa WMA so we can begin assessing the new trail to be built there.
Hope to see you. Rick
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Can't Wait
Many people have been noticing that the event calendar has been a little sparse of late on the AHTS website (http://www.hikealabama.org/.) Folks don't realize just how hard and time consuming putting together a major conference can be (and we hope you will join us March 6-7, 2009, at 5 Rivers in Spanish Fort..see www.hikealabama.org/conference.html.)
The good news is that there is plenty of trail work to be done following the conference! Here's some of what's planned, dates will be announced soon. Visit our website for details and updates. Let me tell you, trail work is a LOT of fun! It's a chance to get out in the woods with friends old and new to fellowship and to give something that can last a lifetime - safe and exciting hiking adventures! I hope you'll join us:
The good news is that there is plenty of trail work to be done following the conference! Here's some of what's planned, dates will be announced soon. Visit our website for details and updates. Let me tell you, trail work is a LOT of fun! It's a chance to get out in the woods with friends old and new to fellowship and to give something that can last a lifetime - safe and exciting hiking adventures! I hope you'll join us:
- Pinhoti Trail Maintenance Week (March and November)
- Flagg Mountain Work Days (March and November)
- Little River State Forest Work Days - Exploratory hikes to bring back and extend the Gazebo Trail, re-route the Bell Trail, rebuild bridges, and create new trail on the west side of the forest (Monthly work schedules to be announced)
- Blakeley Historic State Park - (Exploratory hike to evaluate needs Feb 21, 2009 at 9am. Trail grooming schedule to be announced after the conference)
- Rebecca Mountain Trail Work - Work to extend the Pinhoti Trail 15-miles to Sylacauga begins this fall. Trail planning will be done during the Conference March 6th.
- Alabama Trail - Exploratory hikes to begin trail building (18-miles of this state-long trail) along the Perdido River this fall.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Come On Down to L.A.
Come on down to L.A. (lower Alabama) in March for the annual AHTS conference! This is one of the largest gatherings of hikers, backpackers, and outdoor enthusiasts in the southeast and this year will be no exception.
All of us in the Gulf Coast chapter of the Alabama Hiking Trail Society are excited to be hosting the event this year at the 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center in Spanish Fort, AL, right on the banks of the second largest river delta in the country - the Mobile-Tensaw Delta! The Delta is simply beautiful with its many bayous and remains virtually unchanged since botantist to the Queen William Bartram explored it in the 1700's!
The weekend is filling up with speakers on a wide variety of topics. Cliff Hardin (one of the nation's few Triple Crown hikers) will be there as will the founder of the International A.T. Dick Anderson. There will be hands-on demonstrations on orienteering, Leave No Trace, hikes, and much more (oh, and LOTS of food!)
We're also doing something different this year. We've added an Outdoor Writer's Round Table. Several authors will join us including two of the best (if not most prolific) writers Sandra Friend and Johnny Molloy, Curt Burdick ("Paddling Alabama"), Roger Reid ("Longleaf"), and Bob Pasquall (History of the CCC in Alabama.) They will talk about their books and the business of writing, answer questions, and sell and sign copies of their books.
It all happens March 6-7. All the information and registration info is on the conference website, www.hikealabama.org/conference.html. We hope to see you in L.A.!
All of us in the Gulf Coast chapter of the Alabama Hiking Trail Society are excited to be hosting the event this year at the 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center in Spanish Fort, AL, right on the banks of the second largest river delta in the country - the Mobile-Tensaw Delta! The Delta is simply beautiful with its many bayous and remains virtually unchanged since botantist to the Queen William Bartram explored it in the 1700's!
The weekend is filling up with speakers on a wide variety of topics. Cliff Hardin (one of the nation's few Triple Crown hikers) will be there as will the founder of the International A.T. Dick Anderson. There will be hands-on demonstrations on orienteering, Leave No Trace, hikes, and much more (oh, and LOTS of food!)
We're also doing something different this year. We've added an Outdoor Writer's Round Table. Several authors will join us including two of the best (if not most prolific) writers Sandra Friend and Johnny Molloy, Curt Burdick ("Paddling Alabama"), Roger Reid ("Longleaf"), and Bob Pasquall (History of the CCC in Alabama.) They will talk about their books and the business of writing, answer questions, and sell and sign copies of their books.
It all happens March 6-7. All the information and registration info is on the conference website, www.hikealabama.org/conference.html. We hope to see you in L.A.!
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