The work day turned out great all things considered. We had a total of 7 show up, and 6 of those got signed in (So sorry Terry THDG, I spaced out when we signed in and didn't sign you in also). List of attendees:
Rodney Eppes
Southboundtj
Your Hot Dog Guy!
GMAC
PAdkisson621
getstucksome
DRaider90
Thanks to Rodney and Billy (SouthboundTJ) for making up our group of 3. Without them it would have just been me wandering around with a trash bag. Thanks to them we were able to get a temp fix for a log bridge (and report it), find what I learned was a horse trail that ATVs were using (the yellow paint), pick up a bunch of trash (no thanks to my little bit, hah), and drag I think a total of 12 guardrailing posts back to their home at Area 54 (aka spray yard). Our original plan was to just pick up trash, but as we rode the trails we found more and more to do. So our simple trash pick up turned into a bridge temp repair, trail inventory, and guardrail post recovery (even had enough phone signal to call Janet from Falls Dam about the guard railing).
I am glad GMAC, PAdkisson621, and getstucksome did make it, and ended up getting to help with the downed tree. I got to talk to you guys (well one of you) briefly while you were about to leave Arrowhead. From my disucssion we figured you guys were heading into the outpost when we were finally leaving for Janet's in the morning. Its great you guys still attended the work day after you missed the group. I know a lot of people would have just given up, and ended up riding the trails. A big thanks to you guys.
(Rodney and Billy, you guys just missed them. Right after we dropped off the guardrailing posts, they showed up along with Terry Savery hauling a side by side.)
Last but certainly not least, thanks again to Terry and wife for showing up to support the group. Terry hasn't missed a work day, and this trip the bbq, baked beans, and hotdogs were just what we needed. Well every work day the hotdogs hit the spot, but this time he had bbq and baked beans which put it over the top. Best BBQ, HotDogs, and baked beans in the parkinglot.
@JC: Hope things we productive at the booth. Sorry I forgot to wish you a belated b-day at the Outpost. Things were kind of crazy with all the people there for breakfast. Hope to see you again at the future work days.
And before I forget, I got to talk with Terry Savery after the group left the spray field/arrowhead. There was a miscommunication with the work e-mail. The work day e-mail didn't say the 9am meeting was cancelled, but at the same time it didn't mention it. I assumed it was still on per usual, but Terry figured since it wasn't mentioned most would just go to Janet and sign up. So the FS didn't forget, they just figured we would go see Janet. It wasn't that bad sitting at hunt camp, we got to talk and airdown.
But enough of all that, time for pictures:
Here is a blurry after shot. We moved 1 log and clamped together the lowest set of logs so they wouldn't come apart.
Also snapped some pictures of the work they did on the double ledge mud pit on Falls Dam. Its now the square/box pit. To my understanding there were some saftey issues with the double ledge pit, so instead of filling it in, they turned it into a box. I will post old pictures of the double ledge pit later for reference if needed.
Parked and out picking up trash. As many know trash pick up is a stop n go operation. Stop, park and walk the trail. Move up the trail and repeat.
Now I can guarantee we aren't the first to drag guard rail down the trail, but we are probably to first to drag it down Forest Service Roads. Now with chains it easy, but we learned the way of pulling rail with straps. On my truck we used 2 tow straps, and on the jeep we used 2 clevases (sp?), a short strap, and a chain.
In the middle of Falls Dam, Attempt 1:
At the end of Falls Dam right before the Road, trying to pull the straps up off the ground so they wouldn't get damaged. Attempt 2:
Halfway to the double parkinglot they ended up getting shredded. What was left of the strap with hooks Rodney wrapped up the 1 post. We threw the other one in the TJ. Later on the chain snapped on one of the posts attached to the CJ. Ended up throwing it in the TJ also.
After lunch we headed to spray field (or Area 54 as we jokingly called it). The tow strap survived all the way. Parked outside waiting for Billy to get the key for the gates (yes 2 different gates) from Janet. So it is possible to drag guardrailing posts with a tow strap, but chains are definetly better. They are on my list for the next work day.
(Not turn signals, strobes on my truck and flashers on the CJ still on from transport)
The first gate to the spray yard is the normal triangle gate I guess you could call it that they used to close the trails with. Says "road closed". Then there is a iron fence gate with barb'd wire etc. Some where the joke about it being Area 54 pop'd up (Gate, a drive, another gate etc).
Essentially what most figured wouldn't be a productive day due to Rockvember turned out great. I think NC4X4/CTB were the only ones that made the Saturday work day (just a guess, feel free to post up if another group made it out), but we still showed up. Hopefully the Rockvember organized trail clean up Sunday was also a success.
Thanks to all those that showed and worked on the trails while most were out enjoying the festivities. Not bashing those that went to Rockvember, it was all to support the troops and their families. But it says a lot when you work when you could be playing.
. Waited on F.S. for an hour, then decided to Sign in at Janet's. Ended up, there was couple other workers on Rocky Mount, but we never made contact. We started on Falls Dam, where we first stopped to do a temporary repair, on a cordaroy bridge. Moved on, picking up trash, & noteing a Spider trail that was being marked with yellow paint. Very BOLD, of someone! Found the guard rails & post that had been carried in from May. Had quite an experiece trying to load, haul, pull, the Post back to the Spray Lot. Poor Eli will be posting pics of this, hopefully!! Had a good time seeing Famous people such as D.Wyles, of ECORS,{why was he hitching with Gregg Slade?], World renowned cordinator, Eli, Uwh. Guest Host,Janet,Best Hot Dog&BBQ Vendor in Uwh., and his NAG//I mean//#1 Accountant, and other Small people. SEE what the Rest of You MISSED!!
