Hitch 4- "Out of the Blue and Into the Blacks"

Progress Report:

Program Name: Pisgah Corps Mt. Mitchell Hitch 4
MDA Code: 10_NCAROL1_UFS
Max ID: 10116
Project Leader: Jonathan Kravitz
Dates: 7/05-7/09/10
Turnpikes Installed 1

Rock Steps Installed 1
Check Steps Installed 6
Water bars with Drainage Dips 11
Rolling Dips 12
Revegetation and corridor restoration 4200’
Log Retaining Wall 14’
Trail Debermed 168’
Corduroy Installed 14.5’

Another backcountry hitch has gone by for the Pisgah crew. We got a new member who proved his worth on the first day during our excruciating climb to Deep Gap and subsequently through his insatiable taste for shooting wild animals, cutting down trees, and doing perfect headstands. In our three actual working days we covered an astonishing amount of ground that after intense brushing proved to be the trail. On our second night of the hitch we were met with group after group of hikers making Deep Gap their home for the night; the collection consisted of a dozen 12 year olds all of whom trekked up from the Mt Mitchell trail we called home on the first two hitches, 3 awesome older ladies who were more bad*ss than Jon (Jon says this is not completely true), 9 high school kids on a group trip from Montreat College (who proved that bedtimes get earlier with older age), and a couple with a dog who liked to eat camp towels. Our other new edition to the group this week is a lovely gas powered weed wacker which the forest service suggested we purchase, it cuts through blackberries like a Tasmanian devil and the hum of its motors echoed in our brains throughout the night much like the lullaby of falling rain. All in all we had a great hitch and proved to ourselves once again that we actually can do this.