Step By Step Instructions for Jack Fence Building
1. Load each log for jacks onto the flatbed.
2. Drive to said location in the road and fire line all logs across creek. Make sure to put some waders on!
3. The logs are labeled a number 1-20 and each has a matching pair. Once all supplies are across creek, match up each of the pairs. (#20 with #20)
4. Carry the pairs along where the fence is to be built, and place about 10 feet apart.
5. Nail the jacks together and repeat #’s 4 and 5.
6. Upon completion, start a fire line for carrying all the rails across the stream as well.
7. Since the rails are heavy, call in a sawyer to fell rails where they are needed. For each 20 ft section of fence, 4 rails are needed.
8. Your team of workers will be segmented into “Haulers” and “Nailers.” The Haulers will carry rails to a section of fence and hold them in place while the Nailers use a single jack to pound an 8 in nail through the rail and into the jack of the fence.
9. Switch workers once they get tired to the opposite job they are doing when they tire and repeat #8 until the fence in complete.
Nails and Rails
Our team worked out at Moose Creek building this jack fence in order to restore and maintain the vegetation around the creek. It was a lot of work but we had a ton of fun with all the people that lended a hand. To pass the time we would count how many hits it would take each person to completely get the nail into the jack. The men would generally get between 10 and 20 while the women would trail slightly behind them with 30 or 40. I personally liked to count how many times I would miss the nail completely and hit the rail instead. We also had the opportunity to hear some of the history behind Moose Creek and Dump Creek. Back in the day when the Moose was being mined, the sediment from it was being put into Dump Creek. Eventually the Dump could not hold it all and a HUGE chasm was created as all of it washed away into the Salmon River. It is quite a site to see if you ever get the chance. They are now putting small meanders into the Moose as part of rehabilitation. It was nice to see the bigger picture and understand what our efforts in the fence were really for.
