Zen and Saws: A Day of Trail Clearing and Maintenance

[Nuzzy]

Posted some of these up in F&L, but thought I might as well give a little contribution down here. I feel people sometimes get too hung up on split seconds in the cut, or a few ounces here or there between saws, and forget the fun of it all! I guess you can debate every last thing, and then go on to debate the debate... But I'd rather just cut wood with friends, with whatever tools you have or can afford, and leave the day with a smile.


Twas a mighty fine weekend. Camped Friday night in preparation for the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance HWY 410 Trail Day sponsored by Platypus Hydration. We ended up with over 30 volunteers coming out to dig, repair, rebuild, and maintain some of the best back country multi-use trails in the region!

While everyone else funneled off into different work zones, Gonz (Peter) and I grabbed the saws and headed out hiking on Skookum Flats for some clearing fun. My buddy Mike came along to help where he could, carry some extra gear, and take some video of the weekend (he's a video producing hobbyist extraordinaire).

Didn't take Gonz long to dive in

I started in on the rootball.

Most of the cedars we come across that have come down just blow apart and splinter at the base. Makes for one hell of a puzzle in keeping on top of the binds...

We had a request to harvest a couple small cedar planks for a pending trail sign elsewhere in the state and this provided the perfect opportunity!

A fine walk in the woods with good company.

Well, this view doesn't suck!

I had some fun slangin' chips in this mess. Lots of good popping and cracking noises...

Then back to camp for some delicious Platypus sponsored and cooked vittles!

After lunch, Gonz carried on to Deep Creek and made plenty more chips. I was a bit jealous, but couldn't turn down the opportunity to shuttle Suntop and do a bit of celebratory riding.

One hell of an enjoyable weekend for sure!

 

[weedkilla]

Love your threads!

I've been doing more fresh trail than maintenance lately, but still jealous of a trail day that brings 30 bodies out!
Pic of my new trail saw, cos pics....

 

[SCHallenger]

Thanks for posting. Looks like the ride would have been fun on horseback too!! Nice job on the trails!!

 

[LowVolt]

Great pictures! Looks like one hell of a good time.

 

[1Alpha1]

Great pictures and job well done.

 

[Nuzzy]

Love your threads!

I've been doing more fresh trail than maintenance lately, but still jealous of a trail day that brings 30 bodies out!
Pic of my new trail saw, cos pics....

Fresh trail is where it's at! Still waiting on the go ahead to start cutting a new DH trail; that'll supposedly keep us busy for a while from what I hear! Not sure who's dragging their feet -- gotta love bureaucracy Should be soon though. And then...

Thanks for posting. Looks like the ride would have been fun on horseback too!! Nice job on the trails!!

Oh, there were plenty of horse offerings along the trail...

 

[Nuzzy]

but still jealous of a trail day that brings 30 bodies out!
Pic of my new trail saw, cos pics....

We were definitely lucky to get that support! Lot of riders around here, and luckily the word is out that new trails get done faster with more volunteer hours. Get this... We had 80 people come out for our Tiger Mountain pre-open trail maintenance weekend!


Nice new trail saw BTW.

 

[weedkilla]

Nice new trail saw BTW.

It's getting there, dolmar 410, still juggling bar, chain and clutch drum setup and going back inside to try and get some more horse power(miniature pony power?)

 

[Nuzzy]

Trade Gonz in for a couple more chicks.

Assuming they're both naked under their chaps, I'll do it. But they still gotta carry their own gear.

 

[SCHallenger]

Fresh trail is where it's at! Still waiting on the go ahead to start cutting a new DH trail; that'll supposedly keep us busy for a while from what I hear! Not sure who's dragging their feet -- gotta love bureaucracy Should be soon though. And then...





Oh, there were plenty of horse offerings along the trail...

Yeah, they are good at that. I'm much happier riding in the lead!!

 

[Nuzzy]

Had some recent logging in this zone, and now it's time to start rebuilding the trails. We got word there was a log jam and some nasty blowdowns and hangups in this particular stretch of trail; seemed like a good use of a Saturday morning...


Finding the trail in the grown over brush was interesting, but we sniffed it out.

My ugly mug:

Len was working ahead with the top handle.

Then we continued on to see what else we could find. Took out a few more decapitator trees across the trail, and eventually came to the clear cut. The trail is somewhere in that mess.

Up at the top of the landing.

Came back through to head out.

And back to the bikes. BOB trailers sure are nice for transporting bigger saws and gear. Though, it was a bit sketchy since these trails are big bike DH territory... Suffice it to say I was not taking the trailer off jumps.

Any day in the woods is a good day.

 

[LowVolt]

Once again nice pictures and it looks like you had a blast.

 

[Nuzzy]

This place is fun. Doesn't have to follow the rules for trails that DNR/USFS land does... Just beautiful, gnarly, pirate style building at its finest.

 

[blsnelling]

Wow, what beautiful country! I am jealous for sure!

 

[Nuzzy]

Wow, what beautiful country! I am jealous for sure!

I do especially love what the PNW has to offer! But certainly appreciate the diversity throughout this whole country. There are definitely things I miss about Michigan from my stint of living there. Love Arizona, southern Utah, and Colorado too!