CNC4x4, CTB and Palmetto Help clean up URE

BRUISER · Mar 7, 2010

Well yesterday the 3 clubs all worked with the URE rangers in the off season to help clean, fix up, etc 3 different trails..

So, Thanks to everyone who attended! Thanks also to those who drove trail vehicles, and Jeff White for loaning us his trailer to haul rock. Big thanks to Greg Horton for bringing his tractor - we couldn't have done without it! And another big thanks to John Herr for cooking an awesome lunch, including lunch for the Trailblazers club who really appreciated it, and lunch for the Rangers who never showed up to get it - Thanks also to John for wheeling his Dodge all the way to the Slab Pile/Sawmill intersection!

Since we got a late start due to gate being locked

we got into the trail, set up the lunch area, then headed for the water crossing where we installed the drain pipes last year. The pipes were still flowing well, but the dirt on top of the pipes was rutted so that it was holding water, resulting in mud splashing into the creek (which is what the crossing is intended to avoid). Greg used the bucket on his tractor to smooth out the crossing, with a slight pitch so it will drain. He also cleaned out/fixed ditches on either side of the crossing, so water won't pool at the crossing. Then we added rock.

Kimball used his Pinz to haul rock in Jeff's trailer (which was not enough, since the Rangers had told us we didn't need much), and then we used "native" rock from in the woods, and also walked the trail filling Greg's tractor bucket with rock multiple times. After lunch, we made a trip back to the Forest Service rock pile with the Pinz and Trailer for one more load. The crossing is now *much* improved. But it still needs more rock.

hopfully one of the CTB and Palmetto guys can fill us in how there day worked out.

few pics i took:
http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/576949260kMKNgJ

upnover · Mar 8, 2010

URE work day

The Carolina Trail Blazers and the Palmetto Jeep club worked over on Saw Mill trail. W hauled in 6 lengths of guard rail and 7 posts, later on we had to send someone out to get more posts. Basically we were blocking off illegal by-passes. Fellow CTB'er Doyle Punches rented a Honda powered post hole digger that worked great! Of course nearly every hole had rock in it and several of the young strong guys used the sharp side of the tamping tool to break the rock up so the auger could pull the rock out. We got all of the sections up nd even repaired some of the old split rail fencing too.

We really only had two issues the whole day and that was deciding where to put the rails, and getting such a late start.
BIG Kudo's to John Herr and CNC for putting on lunch. John had contacted me prior to going down last week and invited us to come to lunch. Hamburgers, hot dogs, Italian sausage, salad, mixed vegi's chips, cookies, all set up at the intersection of Saw Mill and Slab Pile! Let me tell you folks, ts group knows how to put on a feed table and make you feel welcome.
We had initially planned on 12 noon for lunch, I called John at 12:10, and et him know we were not gonna make noon! LOL, HE said it wouldn't be ready till around 1, so since we had not got started installing the rails till about 11:30, everyone worked on, I finally convinced out group to head over and we arrived at the table at 2:20ish. Waiting there all alone was John and the food. The CNC guys had already left and headed back out to work. We regret that we didn't get to fellowship with them over lunch.
All in all a great day and much done. With the amount of people we had, and a little more planning we could have gotten a lot more accomplished.
Several of the Palmetto ladies picked up trach too!
Thanks to all in all three clubs for your attendance and work!