Hitch #4: Blue Loop Trail 507A, July 21-28

The beginning of our last hitch in lovely Sherando was off to a fantastic start. Every single log waterbar had to be ripped out and replaced, preferably with rocks. Unfortunately, the distribution of suitable rock on that part of the trail was found wanting. With the help of our leader’s master chain-sawing skills, we were able to construct the remaining waterbars out of logs, and there was much rejoicing and merry making.

Friday, we were joined by Jarrod Ball, Program Director for Corps Trails, and Jordan Albright, a volunteer friend of ours from one of our member’s crew last summer. Together, we moved enormous boulders uphill to make steps. Some of these rocks were estimated to weigh 1500lbs, and were transported with make-shift rollers, rockbars, and fierce trail muscles of six of our crew. The steps are very sturdy, and were complimented by a member of the Forest Service. And there was much rejoicing and merry making.

On one particular day, we had a visit from Mike Donahue, a biologist from the Forest Service. We had a great, lengthy chat with him, discussing the local wildlife, botany, and history of the land around us. We learned a great deal and enjoyed his visit, and quite possibly the long break from the trail. After returning to work, another visitor blew in to hang out with us: a dark and gray thunderhead. We were stormed on for close to an hour with massive amounts of rain and lightning that was uncomfortably close. Once the rain stopped, we were soaked and chilled, and the mud was difficult to work with. We returned to our base camp in low spirits, and there was very little rejoicing or merry making until dinner was ready.

Our trail was only 1 mile long, yet we spent every day of our hitch slowly waterbarring our way up. Hopefully, our efforts will prevent the trail from being washed out in the future years. Much brushing was completed, allowing for easy passage of the once-overgrown trail. We enjoyed a feast of a lunch on an overlook, a great variety of stinging insects, extra lunch food, and our crew’s typical schmorgesborg of shenanigans.

Captains Amy Carpenter and Kevin Hillstrom

Total work completed:
14 rock waterbars
2 log waterbars
15’ of rock wall extended
75’ of restoration
12 rock steps cleaned
5280’ of trail brushed
7 rock steps
One 4’ x 3’ x 2’ rock wall
One 3’ x 3’ x 1’ rock wall
1 mile of trail maintained