Gathering + FoMV
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squeezindlemmon
- Posts: 1452
- Joined: Mon Apr 12, 2004 7:02 pm
We can use -- and greatly appreciate -- every person that can show up! I didn't know a thing about trail building until a few years ago. As Karla said, each area will have at least one experienced person.ems wrote:Can we come even if we don't know a thing about trailbuilding?
Sarcasm is a tool the weak use to avoid confrontation. People with any balls just outright lie.
[quote="Meadows"]I try not to put it in my mouth now, but when I do, I hold it with just my lips.[/quote]
[quote="Meadows"]I try not to put it in my mouth now, but when I do, I hold it with just my lips.[/quote]
We'll even register and feed you!ems wrote:Can we come even if we don't know a thing about trailbuilding?
Hey, I know! You can watch my dog!
What I love about running is you can meditate while running. It's a peaceful place.
Sister Mary Elizabeth Lloyd, Runs marathons to raise money and awareness about children orphaned by AIDS
Sister Mary Elizabeth Lloyd, Runs marathons to raise money and awareness about children orphaned by AIDS
Even though Saturday's forecast is iffy, we are in a full "GO" mode here. Food is being prepared. All the materials for staircases, shoring up belaying bases, etc. has been prepositioned at the worksites. Tools are ready to go.
We learned from our first GATHERING that as long as it isn't raining trail day, the wet ground is not a problem -- in fact, it is much easier to cut in a trail in damp soil. There was a record 6 inches of rain the night before the first GATHERING, due to remanents of a hurricane. And, the next day, the trail work went smoothly.
Cross your fingers on the weather. We're looking forward to seeing you there tomorrow morning!
Liz
We learned from our first GATHERING that as long as it isn't raining trail day, the wet ground is not a problem -- in fact, it is much easier to cut in a trail in damp soil. There was a record 6 inches of rain the night before the first GATHERING, due to remanents of a hurricane. And, the next day, the trail work went smoothly.
Cross your fingers on the weather. We're looking forward to seeing you there tomorrow morning!
Liz
GATHERING
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
sounds great! i'm sorry i wasn't there.. i figured with it still raining it wasn't going to happen. glad to hear there was still a good turnout and plenty was done! nice work all!
is there anything left to be done that a couple people could do here and there without a full on event? i'd still like to have helped somehow, especially since i wasn't there this weekend.. perhaps a few trails could still use a little work?
is there anything left to be done that a couple people could do here and there without a full on event? i'd still like to have helped somehow, especially since i wasn't there this weekend.. perhaps a few trails could still use a little work?
and great loves will one day have to part -smashing pumpkins