URE trail grooming 2006

Big Branch as you have it drawn is actually portions of Big Branch, CCC, Falls Mountain, and the original Wolf Den, and the end you drew nearest 576/516 jct is now a horse trail. The areas at the end of 516 at Falls Dam is called Riverview (for obvious reasons) and is the best camping spot in the whole damn place as far as I'm concerned. I want it reopened, too.

There is a possibility that the trail that leads from there to the cul-de-sac on 576 and the connector over to Deep Water Horse Camp could possibly be considered for reopening. Problem is, those great camping areas, especially the ones behind the fence, have several significant arch sites and we'll just have to see what the winds of fortune bring us. One of the killer hillclimbs is a short loop off that trail, but it drains directly into a creek, so that hillclimb is probably out.

The new ranger is pro-active and wants to explore more trail openings to relieve some pressure on the others. This will probably include a rotation of periodic trail openings and closures during the season to do some maintenance and allow some "healing" once some more trails are opened. This can only help us, and if everybody plays nice, there's a good chance that some real progress will be made over the next coupla years.

In answer to the question about a "guided tour," I'd be glad to take a group on a tour of some of the sites, and perhaps if we were to volunteer to do some protection work around the arch and geo sites near the now closed trails, we might get more trails opened. If that could be the case, the work would have to be completed and stabilized before the area could be considered reopened to OHV/horse interests. Even if we didn't get the very trails we secure the sites on, that's a good trade-off for other things to come our way.
 
Great info Bruce! I would be happy to volunteer and do some protection work.
 
There was a question raised at the forest meeting last week that asked if there was any interest in doing some project work in addition to the usual trail maintenance and clean-up that goes on during workday weekends. I guess this answers that question.

There is a catch though. In order to do some kinds of project work in the national forests, ya gotta have the equipment operation/safety certifications to be covered by the liability insurance. I can't use my ATV on workdays without the ATV safety cert, so some of us old crusties have gotten our USFS Intermediate Sawyer, ATV safety, first aid/cpr, and specific tools certs. The USFS will provide the training for free + the cost of the books (if required) and such. BTW, if anyone is interested, these certs are good at Tellico, Brown Mtn, and other USFS locations, too, if yer inclined to volunteer at more than one fed spot, and we can arrange the classes. I know this turns some of us off as volunteers, but the USFS won't take the liability that goes with untrained operation of certain equipment. Can't really blame 'em.
 
Generally speaking, how much time and effort is required to get the certs? I am not adverse to getting them but like most people time is always at a premium.
 
Options I'm interested in learning:

1. Can we pay for training? (Generate funds for USFS and allows volutuneers at single sites)
2. Could any of this training into a few hour seminar within another event (swap meet, meet and greet, etc.)?

J
 
I am definitely interested, i would really like to be able to give a little back and learn about the URE trails while i am at it. I did trail clearing and cleaning at Philmont as a BS. Time is not a such a premium to me, so i could make it there really any weekend for the necessary certs
 
Most range from about 4 hours to 8 hours. The sawyer course is the longest. I suspect they would jump at the chance to teach the courses to a group of volunteers, and it's very possible that we could schedule a weekend training date if enough people respond. That's how it's usually done for larger groups. Otherwise, they need to teach smaller groups on weekdays because weekends would mean overtime for some of the personnel needed to teach., and that's tough to do during fire season. Most of the available overtime money goes to the fire fighting crews. So, I'll put it to the question during the next meeting for sure.

Just so you'll know, the Badin Lake Recreation Area has one of the best reputations for volunteer work in the whole of the USFS Region 8. This kind of participation in volunteer certs at Uwharrie has already gotten notice outside of NC, and more people on the cert rolls means more participation, which means more notice at budget request time for recreational monies, which means more upgrades and facilities like the new Horse Camp and showers at Group Camp and the upgrades at all the campgrounds, which means more ..... well, I think you get the picture.

Did I mention that a 4WD campground is actually in the vision range of the administration, or that certain particular older closed trails may be evaluated this year for reopening? Sorry, I won't give any more details, given all the current uncertainties, but the talk is no longer confined to the user side. It's spread into the administrative side. See? Some the long-term dogged determination of the old crusties has paid off.
 
That would be very doable Bruce. Let us know what the outcome is on a cert weekend.
 
Spring of 2000 myself and a few other CNC, and CTB members took a Sawyer course at the Uwharrie ranger station garage. Was a requirement before they would let us clear the trails after the snow storm of 2000.

You think you know how to handle a chain saw ? heh, you don't know squat,

The rangers giving the class didn't work with the saws, they dance, those boys know thier shit !!! no question about it.

the class they teach, you will learn not only the safe operation/handling of a saw, you will learn where and what to cut when. I only wish we were able to complete the course, it was interupted by a fire call somewhere in the forest.

Keep in mind, if you cut in the forest, you are required to have all the safety gear, helmet, face sheid, chain saw chaps and eye protection.

If you have the opportunity, make the time to take the course, it is worth it!!

Kevin
 
I'd definitely be in on that. Let us know what you find out, and what we can do to get folks organized.
 
Bruce, you can put me down as interested...I am feeling older and crustier by the day! Besides I maybe joining you on the ATV bandwagon! (Actually have access to Big Bear 400, 4x4 now and it will be my primary 4wd rig for a while)

Sam Hinton
KI4ARL
 
YES I am anopther that took the Sawyer class 2 years back and I learned a TON about cutting trees...

and I will be open to taking more classes and certs....
 
I'm likin' the interest here! The message will be delivered at the meeting for sure, and we'll go from there.

And you're right about the sawyer course. If I hadn't seen what these guys can do with a saw and a wedge, I'd bet good money against somebody's word for it.

I love my ATV, but I'm not gonna try and tell ya that I don't miss my truck from time to time. All in all, the ATV better suits my current mindset and it just goes along with my old longing for another street motorcycle. I just can't seem to give up wanting to be outside a cab. There's just nothing like it. I may have to get another bike down the road here. I've been spending some miles on my son-in-law's new Harley DynaGlide low rider from time to time, and day-um! I like it.
 
Add another to the list...

Are these certifications lifetime, or are more courses required to keep them up to date?
 
Yea, I'd be interested in the certs too. Are they good at all usfs locations?
 
I might be interested as well depending on the day and time of the class. My work schedule is very busy now. I bought my first saw last fall and love it.

DK
 
I will be at URE tomorrow to help check out the trails and bridges before it opens in April. Sucks that my rigs not finished but, at least the rangers agreed to let me drive my Polaris Ranger for this work day:D . I will post up anything of interest about the trail conditions when I get back.
 
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