First Day, June 6, 2002, Volunteer Trail Crew
Map of the first day's hiking. From Bear Creek Diversion Dam to "Boulder Camp".
(day1_small.jpg)
Unloading backcountry trail crews at Bear Creek Diversion Dam
(00_75.jpg, photograph by Eric)
Unloading and getting ready for the hike at Bear Creek Diversion Dam.
Last year PG&E had to "improve" the road (Forest Service road 6S83) when
they needed to get a large crane in for maintenance. This time there we
didn't have any of the bad road problems that we had last year.
Ron is on the left looking up the canyon where we will be going in just a
bit.
Shane is unloading the Forest Service 4-wheel drive truck.
The North Trail Crew is on the right.
South trail crew starting out at Bear Creek Diversion Dam
(01_75.jpg, unknown photographer)
Just before heading up the canyon (on Forest Service trail 28E01) we
posed for our first group picture. Note that all of our clothes are neat
and clean and that we all have nice big grins on.
We had one of the North Crew "sneak" into the picture. Since he was not
one of "us", I failed in getting his name (sorry).
As for equipment, we all have backpacks with our food and camping
equipment for the full trip. We are also carrying a total of:
- Three shovels (Eric, Ron and Steve).
- One two-man crosscut saw (Ray).
- Various plastic wedges and an "Oregon Saw" (Ed).
- One one-man crosscut saw (Dolly).
- One full size double bit ax, which could only be used by Dolly.
Dolly bought her ax as a "used" ax and likes the way that it "sings" when
it hits wood. (I can't hear high tones, probably from too much chain saw
work when I was younger, but she can.)
- Diesel Oil for cleaning pitch from our saws. (We took turns carrying
this, as it always leaks.)
- Dog food (Shackelton).
Our first large tree.
(02_75.jpg, photograph by Eric)
As the two crews moved up the canyon, we took turns with the trees that
we found on the trail. The North Crew got the first one. There were
several "small" trees that we got. (A small tree is one that blocks the
trail, but can be removed while you are still wearing your pack.)
Eventually we came across this tree that was completely blocking the
trail. Note here that it is a dead and dried out tree with many small
branches all over the place. Steps in removing a down tree:
- The first step in removing a tree like this is to determine if it is
blocking the trail. Yes it is blocking the trail.
- The next step is to see if it can be easily gotten around.
Almost never. In fact this determination is discouraged.
- Is it safe to remove. Usually yes. Here it is yes.
- Carefully inspect the tree and the area around it to determine how
many cuts are needed and where to place them. While doing this consider
that safety in cutting the tree is important and that gravity is always
working. This means that if you are down hill from the tree, when you cut
it, it may roll/slide down on you. Also, when cut, you will probably have
to remove it from the trail and if it is too heavy or ends up in the
"wrong" place, you might be making the problem worse. One additional
consideration is that the whole point of removing the tree is to keep the
trail wide enough for use. This normally means that the trail must have a
clear width of four to five feet. Remember that typical sawn logs weigh
several hundred pounds each and Mr. Gravity is always there and working.
Here we made two cuts.
- Remove all branches (broken off branches are called "staubs" and
must be "flush", or as short as possible, with the main tree body) and
any other things that might get in the way. This is necessary to ensure
safe working around the tree. (As of 2002 there has only been one
accident/injury involving trail work and that occurred while rolling a
tree off the trail where a staub caught someone's glove and broke the
roller's arm. This is a quite good record for the thousands of volunteer
hours worked over several years!) With old, dry, dead trees like this it
is an easy job to grab each branch and just break it off. However when
doing this be careful that you don't cause small "things" to fly out of
the break and hit others. See the next picture.
- The last step is to obliterate any trail that might have been made
around the fallen tree. Not a problem here as we were one of the
first set of hikers that came through since the spring thaw and there was
no new trail being used. The only hikers that have been near
here are PCT through hikers. We saw some of them at the Vermillion Store
on Edison Lake and one the next day.
Ed and Dolly at work on the first large tree.
(03_75.jpg, photograph by Eric)
Note that all the branches and other "small stuff" has been removed and
we have a nice clear area to work in. As the tree is being supported on
both ends, when it is cut through from the top the saw will start to
bind. Wedges are placed into the cut to reduce this as much as possible.
In the background is Bear Creek which is running high. On the second day
we will have to ford it.
Ron, Steve and Ed (behind small tree) working on the first large tree.
(04_75.jpg, photograph by Eric)
Making the second cut on the tree. Note the top of a yellow wedge in the
lower right hand corner, which is still in the first cut. The first cut
was intentionally not completed as it was thought that the tree might
roll into a bad location when the cut was complete.
Better version of picture 4.
(05_75.jpg, photograph by Eric)
More work on the tree. Eventually the center piece was cut out and rolled
in the direction of Bear Creek.
Second large tree.
(06_75.jpg, photograph by Eric)
After having lunch at Twin Falls. We climbed over a large boulder. Bear
Creek had risen up and covered over the trail for an unknown
distance/depth. We came to the second large tree and as usual, it was
directly across the trail.
Usually when we find a tree like this we try to cut the "down hill" side
of the tree first. Then the cut piece will be supported by the up hill
part of the tree. This makes it so that when cutting it, the tree's
weight does not cause the saw to bind. Steve has the small Oregon Saw
which we used on the smaller stuff such as branches.
Steve, Ron and Ed on the second large tree.
(07_75.jpg, photograph by Eric)
Here we are still working on the second large tree, but now we are
pounding in plastic wedges. Since this is a backpacking trip, we are not
carrying anything extra. That includes heavy things such
as a sledge hammer, etc. In this picture note that we just grab a
convenient rock and use it to pound in the wedges. It doesn't take long to
remember to never put your fingers very far under the rock/hammer!
Eric, just after the granite "hump".
(08_75.jpg, photograph by Steve)
At the top of the "granite slab" Ron met me (I was usually the last
person in) and asked if he could help. I gave him my shovel and finished
the long climb.
A careful observer will note that most of my trail pictures are taken
from the rear of the group. An important part of this is that it takes
time to actually take the picture. And I tend to move slowly! Some of my
son's Boy Scout leaders claim that I only have one speed and that is low
while most others can run in second and take breaks when they want to.
(In my own defense, I have to point out that I might run in low, but I
don't stop!)
After climbing over the "granite slab" there is nice little pass. Going
off to the right there is a great view of the Sierras. Since I took most
of the pictures, I thought that it was time to get my picture here, too.
(Thanks Steve.) As usual on all breaks, I have my trusty water bottle
with me.
Dolly and Ron at dinner time in the Boulder camp.
(09_75.jpg, photograph by Eric)
After we had dinner we were talking about the day's activities. We did
not have a fire. In fact we never had a fire on any of the nights that we
were out. We had one gasoline and one propane/butane stove that we used
for all cooking.
Important things to note in this picture include Ron wearing his "Teva"
sandals. I made an error by not carrying a pair (since rectified). When
we had to ford Bear Creek, I got my boots wet and was uncomfortable the
rest of the day. (More on this later on.)
Note the red fuel bottle that is connected to the stove. (An MSR
DragonFly liquid fuel stove.) We had a minor planning error in that we
did not have a full bottle of fuel when we left on the hike. Fortunately,
I had my stove (a Snow Peak Gigapower gaseous fuel stove.) with me. An
astute observer will note that if either stove "broke" or ran out of
fuel, we would have problems as neither used the fuel of the other! And
if that stove broke early on during the trip we would have run out of
fuel for the other stove! During breakfast on the third day, we ran out
of fuel for the MSR stove then we had to shift over to the Snow Peak
stove. Fortunately we had enough combined fuel for the full trip.
We had several water filter/pumps. I think that we had at least four. I
was glad to have the extras as mine broke somewhere between lunch and
dinner on the first day. (I pumped water at lunch and it wouldn't work at
dinner time.) I had "chemicals" to purify water with, but I don't like to
use "chemical water" unless it is really necessary. Ray had a nice idea,
he had a "bucket" with him that held about three or four quarts of water.
This was very handy as when we wanted to pump/filter water we could fill
the bucket up and pump where it was convenient. Normally you get to pump
near the water and sometimes that means sitting on a muddy bank or
"perching" on the side of a slippery rock. (I have since bought my
own bucket for my next hike.)
End of the first day