George Washington Jefferson National Forests - Alleghany Highlands Trail System 2010

3700’ Trail restoration
Well as usual, this hitch was filled with bear stories! Well, really just one, but it’s pretty awesome. The week started off smoothly, continuing on the other side of Peter’s Run Ridge Trail. On Thursday we sat down to lunch about 100’ downhill from our water. After enjoying a few bites, I looked up and yelled, “Bear… Big, Black, Bear… with something in its mouth!”
The bear was standing next to our water with Chris’ coffee mug in its mouth. Thi and Chris scared it off; we finished lunch and headed back to work. Not 30 minutes later Thi walked to the water and yelled “The bear is back!” This time it had gone right for the food. ( We keep all of our food in bear safe canisters.) It took the bear bin up the hill and then dropped it an walked closer to us staying on top of the hillside. Marguerite quickly decided to pack up for the day as the bear followed us on our intial move to collect our gear. Following the trail as an amoeba, we were able to quickly collect out water bottles, find the stolen bear bin and head out.
The next day we were relocated to a new site; a 30 minute drive away and safe from our bear friend. Our new site is very beautiful with more active and less aggressive wildlife. In little over half a hitch we were able to complete 3700’ of trail restoration. We were also given quite the treat on our last day when we were taken out for Chinese by our local forest service contacts, Yvonne and Sharon. Even with the issues we faced this turned out to be a great hitch, with an awesome story to tell.

90' New tread through a boulder field
600' Trail Reconstruction

We sorely missed Marguerite this week while she took a medical leave of absence. Though missing a member feels a bit like having a limp, flying without our project leader seemed an appropriate test of our group at this two-thirds mark. The hitch went considerably well as we moved to a new portion of trail and through yet another boulder field. We are starting to feel like a well oiled machine, and a shake up in location and group dynamics gave us pause for thought on just how much we've learned since May. That said, we look forward to Marguerite coming back on trail with us next week in good health.

In an attempt to put a little space between us and the bears, we moved across the hollow to a new portion of the same "Peter's Ridge" trail. We were charged with creating a path through a boulder field that the Boy Scouts didn't quite make it through when the trail was originally constructed. Though we have been through boulder fields before, the gradual slope of this one posed a new challenge: gravity. Moving boulders out of the ground and then up and over rocks required a little more strength and communication, but we wrestled our way through. Shane came out to help us out for an afternoon, and another set of hands and pair of eyes was a welcome addtition, not to mention the brute strength. Beyond the boulder field, we repaired other sections of trail to meet Forest Service specs.

We also saw a big change in weather this week (and the start of hunting season!). Shorter days and chillier nights came on strong, but that also means getting to watch the leaves change daily, working in cooler weather, and seeing a brighter night sky. These things are a pleasant change, and I for one feel lucky to get to watch the seasons shift daily. Shadows are a little longer, and the leaves have begun to fall into the swimming hole next to our camp. For now, I just push them aside and keep on swimming.

This hitch was a big one for our crew. If you have been following the Mystery Gang, you’ll know we’ve been dealing with some rocks for awhile now. Well, this hitch we finally busted through the boulder field! This, including the work we did in the clear cut last hitch, puts us halfway through this trail. Speaking of halfway, the 16th was mega hump day, marking the halfway point in our season. For these reasons, we have been referring to this as the mega hump hitch, and it has gone quite well. It’s strange to think that other crews are finishing up their season and we still have another three months to go. Our entire crew is excited to be sticking around as we have much more work to accomplish.
During this hitch, we also saw many guests, both human and animal kind. Both Toji and John, who are project leaders from twelve week crews just finishing up their seasons, stopped by to accompany us for one of our regular bowling trips. Alex, the eastern program manager for SCA, also stopped by and spent some time working with us, sticking around to enjoy dinner and a night in camp. The number of animals we saw was great. There was a wide array, including turkey, fox, deer, lizards, skinks, snakes, a bear, and two pileated woodpeckers, which made one of the oddest sounds I have ever heard. The weather changed often, going from foggy to hot to rainy, but when it cooled off, more animals came out in greater numbers, and we were able to enjoy nature even more.
All totaled, we concurred a good chunk of trail this week. The large portion was trail restoration left over from the boy scouts work a few years back, which we were able to quickly bust out 720 feet of. Along with this, we were able to finish up 208 feet of new tread. Hopefully these numbers will continue to grow as we inch our way towards the end of this trail and on to more places, opening up new outdoor experiences for the communities we serve.

Well, another hitch completed for the Alleghany Highlands crew. We rolled right through our two month anniversary without much celebration, which I take as a sign that folks are not itching too bad to get out of here. Camp chores and trail work seem to be going smoother with each week as we learn more and more… and more about each other and how to work together. And none too soon, as this week posed some new challenges to us. We completed the eight foot rock wall we began last hitch, broke through the much anticipated “mini boulder field”, endured almost daily thunderstorms, and still managed to complete 250 feet of tread with an additional 140 feet near completion.
Our work up until the past week has consisted of cutting 24 inches of tread into leaves, roots, dirt and smaller rocks using picks, hoes and rakes. This week we forged into new territory as we dealt mainly with very large rocks. We moved and set stones for the first several days of our hitch to complete a three-tier rock wall. The wall allows the tread to skirt a large tree, rather than cutting through its main roots. We then brought our trail further down the mountain and through a boulder field we had been eagerly awaiting for the change of pace it brought. We used sledges, picks, and rock bars (indestructible 18 lb. pry bars) to break a path through the rocks.
We were all amazed at how much we are able to do with a few tools and good teamwork. Rock work is new to all of us. Before this hitch, I never would have thought we could have moved rocks of such size with a few people and a couple of tools. These mountains are still standing, 250 million years after they were formed – some of the oldest in the world. It is a powerful feeling to be able move rocks off a hillside that have taken millions of years to get there. With aching bodies and soggy gear, we are ready for this break more so than ever. But I can’t wait to walk across a trail of gravel and dirt where boulders once lay. What are we looking forward to next hitch? An even bigger boulder field.

It’s been just over a month since the start of our 6 month journey and our second hitch of the season is nearly over. From our training at the Augusta Hot Shot Base, to getting to know the new neighbors and communities of both Verona and Staunton, Virginia, and finally setting up camp which was recently taken down by our dear friend Brutus the bear, we’ve been through quite a lot in past few weeks. Condensing even the past 10 days of trail work, camping, and wildlife encounters into 3 short paragraphs would be considered quite a feat for many, so I’ll do my best not to digress too much.

I feel it’s necessary to begin with the mass of mating tree frogs and toads which made their nightly rendezvous’ just 15 feet from our tents, which wasn’t the most soothing lullaby at bedtime. On the other hand, for a wildlife photographer who’s obsessed with reptiles and amphibians, it was one of those rare occasions one dreams about. As I made my way to the water’s edge, just a few of the bug-eyed amphibians were singing their eardrum-rattling songs of love. It wasn’t long before the mad dash of mating mongrels was directly at me from all directions. Hundreds of Cope’s/ Common Gray Tree Frogs and American Toads were literally hopping across my feet on their way to revitalizing the dwindling amphibian population. Oh right, digression. I could write about this chaotic yet ever so peaceful occurrence for days, but I suppose I might lose a few readers. Now the quick and dirty on trail work.

With a crew of 6 and the project leader being the only one with any trail work experience whatsoever, I’d have to say we’re off to a great start. We’ve surely faced some challenges and run into a few minor setbacks from dialing in our finished trail to avoiding Brutus and his love for tires but all in all a great learning experience and way to get us accustomed to life in the wild.

My name is Marguerite Viola and I am the Project Leader for the Alleghany Highlands Trail System in Virginia. I’m excited to join the SCA family this year! My first SCA experience was working on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in Southern California on a six week long Leadership Development and Work Skills trail crew.
Last year, I completed a yearlong AmeriCorps term with the Northwest Service Academy out of Trout Lake, WA. I lead a traveling six-month Pacific Crest Trail Team. I was lucky enough to get to work on the PCT from Mt. Rainier in WA to the deserts of Southern California near Palm Springs.
I was born and raised in the Philadelphia area. I lived in NYC for a few years working as a dog walker and volunteering for Friend’s of First Run, a non-profit group who manages the dog park in Tompkins Square Park, NYC. I ran a small dog rescue group, maintained the gardens, and helped organize volunteer events. In 2004, I moved back to the Philadelphia area. I graduated from Rosemont College in 2008 with a B.S. in Business and a B.A. in Studio Art, Interior Design. I worked as an interior architectural designer during and after college. I also managed candy and hotdog vendors at major concerts and sporting events. I was lucky enough to work at Giant’s Stadium and Lincoln Financial Center.
In the fall of ’08 I took a 6 month road trip across the USA with my dog. I hiked, camped and climbed as I traveled around in an old diesel Mercedes converted to run on vegetable oil. I went on alternative spring break service trip to El Salvador during college. I stayed on Fair Trade Organic coffee farm set high in the Mountain’s of El Salvador learning how a small group of people can make positive environmental changes. Music, cooking and the environment are my big personal passions as welling as traveling. I love hiking, climbing, camping, biking, basically anything that gets me moving and hanging out in the great outdoors.

Thi comes to the SCA after working as a college lacrosse coach at Rollins College in Orlando, FL. Considering a career in public service, the SCA has provided a unique opportunity to serve both the land and the nation as a member of the trail crews in George Washington Jefferson National Forrest.

A graduate of the University of Florida with a degree in Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Thi has also worked as a civil engineer. His favorite foods include coffee ice cream, chicken wings, Chipotle burritos, and mom’s egg rolls.