Gathering + FoMV

[dipsi]

There's a great, new Adopt a Trail program starting up.

[Paul3eb]

Rick and I want to give a huge heartfelt thank you to the 45 intrepid volunteers who, despite on-and-off rain made many significant improvements to Muir Valley approach trails and route bases. Around 5PM the rain returned with a vengence, stopping work for the day. But, the smaller group allowed us to have the evening meal and get-together in our home. The group size also meant everyone received several prizes.

As a result of the work done during the Gathering, there are several changes that Visitors need to know about:

1. The old Sanctuary approach trail (steep and muddy) is permanently closed to allow erosion control and restoration to its natural state. Please do not use this trail, but rather the new trail built Saturday.
2. A new trail was built from a trailhead point just left of the bridge up to an intersection of the short cliffline trail between the Indy Wall and the Sanctuary. There are signs at the trailhead. Please use this new trail to access the Sanctuary, Inner Sanctum, and Indy Wall (and venues west of the Indy Wall if you choose to use the cliffline trail.) The "trail" built up to the Indy Wall at last year's Gathering is CLOSED, with only a few feet of it making up the new properly-built trail. The new trail has a 24-foot staircase made of pressure-treated wood to minimize erosion in one steep area where switchbacks could not be built due to rock shelves. Please note that this stair is being completed today (Sun 9/24), rain permitting, and if so, will be ready next weekend.
3. The Main Trail leading from the parking lot trailhead down to the Ponder and Rebel Hollows has been significantly improved by addition of gravel over the surface of the (often muddy) upper portion of the path. About ten first-class, effective waterbars were built on this upper section and the bare soil seeded. The combination of waterbars, gravel and seed should halt erosion on this old logging path for good. Heavy maintenance was done on the rest of the Main Trail, rendering it in excellent shape for climbers heading down to the south Valley floor.
4. And, last but far from least, the base of the Valley's most popular venue -- the Bruise Brothers' Wall -- now has three nice wood staircases leading to the ledge where the lower-level climbs start and a long erosion control wall built along this ledge. No more muddy scrambling up and down this slope and the resulting erosion and deterioration to the base of these climbs. These, like all the staircases recently built in the Valley, should have at least a 25-year life.

Again, a big thanks to the super volunteers responsible for this work.

Liz

so this doesn't get lost on backpages..

[Horatio Felacio]

i hear a vacuum cleaner...i'm almost picturing brown-colored nostrils or something too.

[Paul3eb]

what are you talking about?

[Liz_Weber]

The following items were found from the volunteers at the MV Gathering yesterday:

Blue/grey Columbia windbreaker, Size M
Grey Petzel shirt, Size M
Black Diamond T-shirt, Size M
Polar Max black long-sleeved shirt
Black Solstice fleece top
Black Eastern Mtn. Sports Polartec, women's M
Black ProSpirit Jacket, women's, Size M
Navy blue Morgan Mills thermal top
Stearns tan and blue rain jacket, Size M
La Sportiva hiking boots, Size about 10 1/2

Come on guys. I know I go around looking like I desperately need new clothes, but I prefer that donations be size S and not quite so muddy.

I've taken these items home to wash. (My washer at Muir decided to go on the fritz today.) Did someone get smart and just drop off their week's laundry for me??

If these belong to anyone in Indy, you can call me at 317 291-0354 to arrange to pick up. Otherwise I'll bring them back to Muir next weekend. Email me at liz.weber@accenttech.com, PM me, give us a call at Muir, 606 668-9066, or just stop by the house.

Thanks again to all of the great people who helped in spite of challenging weather conditions.

Liz

[Liz_Weber]

Add a beige 90 Degres cap to the items found from the Gathering

Liz