Progress Reports from the Field

This was our maiden voyage as a crew fresh out of training and turned out to be a great success. We worked along the North Fork of the wild and scenic, John Day River. The days were packed with hiking, sawing, chopping, digging, exploring abandoned cabins, removing ticks, cooking, cleaning and lively conversation. In all, 10 miles of trails were improved by clearing down trees, repairing tread, building cairns and an awesome reroute project. We all came out enriched by the wilderness with big smiles, stronger hiking legs, and exciting stories to tell.

7/13/10 thru 7/16/10
Due to a rainy forecast, we postponed our move to the backcountry and concentrated our efforts on the nearby Buck run spur trail. We cleared 5280' of corridor, constructed 13 rolling dips, and installed one locust water bar. The mile long Buck run spur is now complete and allows visitors of Locust Springs Picnic area to enjoy a 2 mile loop trail.
During the week we also installed two Recovery Act Signs. One was placed at Locust Springs campground and the other at the beginning of Middle Mountain forest road. On the way to Middle Mountain, we drove into the Laurel Fork area from the East and saw some of the Blue Grass Valley. Three of the crew had not seen this area and thought that it was gorgeous.
Unfortunately we are back to a 5 member crew,...again. However this has not kept us from continuing to take care of business. The original group is still intact.

7/20/10 thru 7/23/10
We finally have a home in the backcountry. Though we moved in nearly continuous heavy rain, we were still very happy to be setting up camp by the river. Our campsite is right on Laurel Fork with our Kitchen and family area overlooking our swimming/fishing hole (which has a rock water slide,...in higher water) We are enjoying easy access to water, whether that be water to drink or taking an evening dip after work. Life is good. We put in a lovely latrine in the Rhodo juggle. Thanks to Ben for hiking in the toilet seat!
Original plans to go North to Cold Springs Run were scrapped due to rising waters preventing us from fording the stream. So we headed South and cut our way to Christians run. The Rhododendron had grown completely shut in some sections of trail making it difficult to crawl through. Now it is opened up so much that someone could drive a truck down it. Cutting this section of Laurel Fork trail is an engineering feat topped only by the contruction of the Panama Canal and Hoover dam. Next week we will probably press on in the same direction and start on Christian Run trail.
We saw two Rattlesnakes near the mouth of Christian Run. So that is 3 Rattlers to date and many other small non-threatening snakes.

7/13/10 thru 7/16/10
Due to a rainy forecast, we postponed our move to the backcountry and concentrated our efforts on the nearby Buck run spur trail. We cleared 5280' of corridor, constructed 13 rolling dips, and installed one locust water bar. The mile long Buck run spur is now complete and allows visitors of Locust Springs Picnic area to enjoy a 2 mile loop trail.
During the week we also installed two Recovery Act Signs. One was placed at Locust Springs campground and the other at the beginning of Middle Mountain forest road. On the way to Middle Mountain, we drove into the Laurel Fork area from the East and saw some of the Blue Grass Valley. Three of the crew had not seen this area and thought that it was gorgeous.
Unfortunately we are back to a 5 member crew,...again. However this has not kept us from continuing to take care of business. The original group is still intact.

7/20/10 thru 7/23/10
We finally have a home in the backcountry. Though we moved in nearly continuous heavy rain, we were still very happy to be setting up camp by the river. Our campsite is right on Laurel Fork with our Kitchen and family area overlooking our swimming/fishing hole (which has a rock water slide,...in higher water) We are enjoying easy access to water, whether that be water to drink or taking an evening dip after work. Life is good. We put in a lovely latrine in the Rhodo juggle. Thanks to Ben for hiking in the toilet seat!
Original plans to go North to Cold Springs Run were scrapped due to rising waters preventing us from fording the stream. So we headed South and cut our way to Christians run. The Rhododendron had grown completely shut in some sections of trail making it difficult to crawl through. Now it is opened up so much that someone could drive a truck down it. Cutting this section of Laurel Fork trail is an engineering feat topped only by the contruction of the Panama Canal and Hoover dam. Next week we will probably press on in the same direction and start on Christian Run trail.
We saw two Rattlesnakes near the mouth of Christian Run. So that is 3 Rattlers to date and many other small non-threatening snakes.

Over the past month, the CWPP team has drafted and edited 15 reports and more than 45 accompanying maps for fire departments in the NCDFR’s tenth district. The team has also had lots of fun in Greensboro and beyond.

After assessing Stokes County, the team hiked to a hanging rock at Hanging Rock State Park. The view from the top was spectacular, and the homemade ice cream awaiting the team at the trailhead (courtesy of their NCDFR partner Jonathan Young) was delicious!

The CWPP team also greatly enjoyed bumping into members of the SCA C&O Canal Native Plant team in Washington, DC, where they watched a great Independence Day parade and fireworks on the Mall.

They are looking forward to a busy and productive month of finalizing reports and maps, visiting the South East Exotic Plant Removal team, and beginning to work with fire departments and foresters in NCDFR's District 11.

We spent the last 10 days in both the dome wilderness and on the Spence hot springs trail. We cleared over two miles of corridor on the St Peter's Dome trail. In the area of Spence Springs the crew completed a turnpike,a very large water bar and two retaining walls comprising in total of over 35 rocks. We also worked with the New Mexico YCC out of the Jemez Valley area. We started rock stair cases that they will finish. Over all it was a great hitch and we are very happy with our work and enjoyed sharing the worksite with YCC.