Tags
Backcountry Horsemen of America, backpacking, CCC, crosscut saw, Emerald Lake, Forest Service, Hells Canyon Wilderness Area, hiking, Idaho, Idaho Trails Association, pack string, Seven Devils Mountains, trail maintenance
Have you ever wandered down a path through the forest and cursed the fallen, sooty logs that require laborious step-overs or walk-arounds? Have you ever wondered how that path came to be there, hacked out of a thicket of greenery or cut into the rocky shoulder of a mountain? How many times have you grumbled over a partially exposed root or rock that snaked out of the path to grab your toe in a valiant effort to upend you?Most hiking trails, at least in the western US, started out as game trails co-opted by native hunters, then co-opted again by European explorers and miners. During the 1930s, the CCC were deployed throughout the west to build forest fire lookouts and trails, among many of their contributions to America’s infrastructure; their magnificent stone work in popular hiking destinations like Yosemite endure today. The US Forest Service expanded the trail system around the west, for the purposes of forest maintenance, logging, and communication.
When the ratio between labor and leisure hours shifted after WWII, hiking and horse and back packing increased demands on trails. The work of trail building and maintenance fell largely to the Forest Service until the late 1980s. A shift in funding in recent years has diminished federal agencies’ ability to keep up with infrastructure maintenance.
Today a plethora of volunteer organizations has stepped up to help clear trails suffering from years of deferred maintenance. I have participated in trail work through the Back Country Horsemen, and this year I worked with Idaho Trails Association.
Despite the backbreaking work, trail maintenance is one of the most rewarding activities I have participated in. For my most recent adventure I was in the company of four other dedicated outdoor lovers. We basked in the luxury of having a week’s worth of personal gear and food packed into Emerald Lake in the Hells Canyon Wilderness Area, also known as The Seven Devils.
Because this is a Wilderness Area, no machines are allowed, therefore we use hand tools, notably crosscut saws, most of which are highly treasured antiques.
I walked into the wilderness with four strangers. I walked out with four friends for whom I would dive under a train to save any of them from destruction.
Lynz Real Cooking said:
Wow this is so cool! Love the photos!
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rangewriter said:
Thanks, Lyn. Not all the photos are mine and that is my big butt in that one of the 2 sawyers. 😦
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Lynz Real Cooking said:
hahahaha
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Retirementallychallenged.com said:
Interesting timing… I have a scheduled GratiTuesday post about trail makers. I’ll definitely add a link to this post since you are obviously one of them. As an avid hiker, I thank you!
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rangewriter said:
Why thank you! It is especially gratifying to see people hiking in over trails we have just cleared. 😉
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sybil said:
You are amazing ! What a huge task. Thanks you for being you.
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rangewriter said:
Thanks Sybil. I get more than I give: great outdoors, great hiking, sleeping under the stars, and backpacking companions that don’t drive me nuts. 😜
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Bryan Hemming said:
Don’t think I’d be up to that sort of work today, that’s bodly assuming I might have been up to it before. Nevertheless I can’t help envying your companions and you for both your companionship and your dedication. I also love the idea of spending a bit of time in the wilderness.
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rangewriter said:
I am blessed to be able to do these things. I need to work harder in between to stay fit enough. I get very lazy sitting around reading and writing too much! I am also blessed that I live so close to these large wilderness areas–which our current administration would love to plow up, plow under, log, mine, and otherwise rape.
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Jane's Heartsong said:
Nothing like working outdoors and facing the challenges to bring people together. Wonderful that you do this, such a good cause.
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rangewriter said:
Thanks, Jane. It’s richly rewarding. And it gets me out of my chair!
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Playamart - Zeebra Designs said:
Working without motorized tools is a joy for me; one stays in touch with the earth as well as one’s own senses… at the end of a long day, there’s a very strong sense of ‘we did this!’ —- plus it also makes one appreciate food/drink and finally slumber!
If I were there, I’d definitely ask if there were room for one more volunteer.
Just returned to EC after two brief hops to Costa Rica and Panama… those hurricanes look scary, as do the fires…
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rangewriter said:
You’re absolutely right about staying in touch with the earth. The tool becomes a conduit between our senses and the natural world. And yes, as we trudged back and forth along trail that we had already cleared there were lots of “Wow, look at what we hacked out! Isn’t this a nice trail, now?” type of comments.
We could sure have used on more volunteer. There were supposed to be 6 of us and the meals were planned for six. But five days before departure, one knucklehead dropped out. I couldn’t believe it. And he was the one who had eagerly agreed to drive four of us up there. There were more than a few grumbles about his bad manners. I tried not to judge…perhaps there was an illness in the family or some such. But…waiting till 5 days before???
Yes, between nukes, hurricanes, and wildfires, the world is a very scary place right now. Hope you and yours are safe.
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Keith said:
Well done, Linda. As a trail hiker, I appreciate greatly the work you did.
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rangewriter said:
Thanks, Keith! The pleasure is mine.
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