October Trail Opportunities

The leaves are turning and the sun is shining- it is a perfect time to be in the mountains.

Our regular October workday will be on Saturday, October 15. We will meet at 8:30 am on the Blue Ridge Parkway just north of the intersection with US 321 (milepost 291.8) near Blowing Rock. Most of us will be working at that location to finish up the last section of trail in the Watauga section. The work will be digging into the hillside to create a flat trail bed across the slope. Bruce Wisely will be up here, building two bridges on Saturday. A few workers will be working with him.

On Sunday, October 16, we will be continuing with the work begun on Saturday. If there is time, we will move to another location just north of Raven Rock Overlook to finish up a small section of trail there. Bruce will be working on a set of steps and 1-2 people will be working with him. We will meet on Sunday at 8:30 am, but, if you are not with us on Saturday, call for the location.

If you arrive after 8:30 am, look for our orange MST WORK signs and the cars parked on the Parkway shoulder. Wear suitable work clothes including sturdy footwear and bring gloves, plenty of water and food for snacks and lunch. We will provide all necessary tools, but if you wish, bring your maddock, clippers or fire rake.

Please RSVP if you plan to work so that I can bring enough tools.

On Saturday and Sunday we have a group of students from Indiana University who will be helping us with maintenance work on the Tanawha Trail south of Price Lake Campground, supervised by Randy Johnson and Allen de Hart. They will be camping at Price Lake on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. On Saturday at 7:30 pm, Randy will be presenting a campfire talk on the MST, the Tanawha Trail and other aspects of hiking in the mountains. You are all welcome to join Randy, the students and the Park Service at the Price Lake amphitheater, which is in the campground on the lake side of the Parkway.

Thank you all for you dedication to the MST.
John Lanman


828-963-6901

John Lanman Update ~ Watauga Task Force Co-ordinator

The Trail Crew from ASU came out in force to work on our last section of trail to be constructed. The weather was perfectly cool and the intermittent drizzle was hardly noticed.

Although we faced an extensive root network as we dug into the ground, we were able to finish about 2/3 of the digging work on this section. Good job!
Just a little more to go! We need to finish this section, then there are minor clearing work to do on about another 0.1 mile of trail, two bridges and one set of steps.

Hardly to be counted are the removal of a Lazy Boy chair that someone has thrown from the Parkway down onto the trail, stepping stones to be placed across the creek near the Goshen Creek Bridge, one more stile near Thunder Hill Overlook, treatment of the bees’ nest one of workers located (with her mattock).

The end is in sight (that is the end of construction and the beginning of maintenance).

Remember Jim Hallsey’s maintenance work days on the South Ashe sections September 22, 23, and 24.

Thank you for all you have done (and of course for all you are going to do).

John

828-963-6901

Update from John Saturday Sept 3

Hey Friends,

Several of us decided just today to work on the trail on Saturday. Although this is short notice, I thought I would give you all the opportunity of joining us.
We will meet at 8:30 am just north of US 321, MP 291.8. Parking will be on the shoulder there. Look for our MST signs. The work will be mostly digging with mattocks and fire rakes. Those with come-along skills will be pulling out rhodie roots. We will provide the tools, just let me know if you are coming so I can bring enough. Wear suitable work clothes including sturdy footwear and gloves. Bring plenty of water, lunch and snacks.
Our work on August 20 was fruitful. Don, Barry, Mara and Marieta redid the section south of Raven Rock Overlook in accordance with Allen’s suggestions. The rest of us worked on the last little section at 321. We pretty much completed the chain saw work, began to pull out the large roots and did just a little leveling work. Everyone was very appreciative of the interesting project I planned for them. The estimate is we need 4-5 days more work on this section (some of you will be happy to learn that someone else made this estimate).
Chris and I spent Monday installing stiles. All the ladder stiles have been installed. We have one v-type stile remaining. Chris and I met “Francis” the mule at one of our stops. He came trotting over to us across the pasture and was very interested in us, what we were doing and what was in Chris’ backpack. I think what he was most interested in was the big hole in the fence and what was on the other side.
Hope to see some of you on Saturday.

John
828-963-6901

Randy Johnson produces the BIG DIG VIDEO ~ Watch it here now~

Thank you Randy for all the work you have done for the MST and all of the High Country Trails. This one is GREAT!

Randy Johnson
Editor/Author
Website: www.randyjohnsonbooks.com
Video Channel: www.youtube.com/user/randyjohnsonbooks

The BIG DIG ~ July 16-17, 2011

Where is the Parkway? Is this Thunderhill?

photo by Randy Johnson

It was a foggy and wet and rainy and did I mention DAMP kind of day on Saturday.

photo by Paul Stahlschmidt

Yes, this was the gathering point for the MST WATAUGA BIG DIG 2011

photo by Gerry Staninger

I will intersperse the words of John Lanman (JL) between photographs taken by our volunteers Randy Johnson (who stepped up as the official Big Dig Photographer), Paul Stahlschmidt, and Gerry Staninger.

photo by Gerry Staninger

"The combination of 15 workers we had on the trail on July 7 and 9, and the 54 workers we had at the Big Dig on July 16 and 17 pretty much FINISHED the major construction work on our section of the trail. YEAH! " JL

photo by Gerry Staninger

In spite of the rain, the crowd assembled and broke into four different work groups. Many veteran FMST trail builders converged on Thunderhill to help develop the last remaining few miles of the Watauga Section.

photo by Paul Stahlschmidt

"On Saturday, 49 workers braved the rain, coolness, fog and mud to work all day on the unfinished portions of the trail. " JL We had four crews working led by veterans Jim Hallsey, Bruce Wisely, Allen DeHart, and Don Bergey. Each crew went to different locations with different problems to solve. John and Allen consult on the plan for the day.

photo by Paul Stahlschmidt

The tools of the trade were distributed and they were off to the challenge of mountain trail construction!

photo by Randy Johnson

"Many of the workers traveled some distances to work with us- the longest I heard of was a 6 hour one way trip!" JL Bank of America has been a supporter of FMST and we were happy to have volunteers from the Charlotte area in these mountains.

photo by Randy Johnson

Measurements were made for the laying of the bridge footers.

photo by Randy Johnson

After setting the footers on either side of the creek the bridge framing was placed.

photo by Randy Johnson

Volunteers square and level the frame before placing uprights and treads.

photo by Randy Johnson

This was muddy, wet, slushy, sloppy work. Oh, not the bridge, just the workers! All of whom seemed oblivious to the circumstances under which the work must go on.

photo by Randy Johnson

Where there once was a wet bottom

photo by Randy Johnson

Now we have a bridge. "Bruce Wisely and his crew completed two bridges down near US 321 and on Sunday finished by placing railroad ties as steps on those two bridges and three others we had constructed previously." JL

photo by Randy Johnson

"Two of our task force members- Russ Widner and Mara Taylor- provided us with a great BBQ lunch (they are starting a BBQ catering and food truck business, Curlie Que Catering out of Deep Gap).

photo by Randy Johnson

Don Bergey and crew headed out onto the new section of trail for clearing and cutting a trail tread. "On Saturday, Don Bergey and his crew completed most of the trail in the section from Green Hill Road down to just above US 321. " JL

photo by Randy Johnson

Lopping off overhead and hanging branches along the way. Notice the rhododendron "snow" on the floor of the trail!

photo by Paul Stahlschmidt

The come-along was put to great use pulling out laurel and rhodies that were in the foot tread.

photo by Randy Johnson

Railroad ties cut into step size were hauled into the meadow and down to the creek.

photo by Randy Johnson

This team covered great distance carrying hefty timbers.

photo by Randy Johnson

Workers with good spirits (and good backs) are the foundation of MST volunteerism.

photo by Randy Johnson

Vast is the wilderness, grand is the meadow, but intimately we experience the trail, step by step by step.

photo by Randy Johnson

Always noticed, our bright orange road signs give parkway motorists a visible sign of the work we are doing for the MST.

 
photo by Paul Stahlschmidt
"Sunday we had 33 workers, including 5 who had not worked on Saturday." JL

photo by Paul Stahlschmidt
The weather cleared a bit and the lightness of the new day inspired a new beginning.

photo by Randy Johnson

As the gathering again assembled by mornings light

photo by Paul Stahlschmidt

and the camaraderie of the community was united

photo by Paul Stahlschmidt

new assignments were made and new teams were forged for completing the tasks of the day.

photo by Randy Johnson

While every volunteer plays an invaluable role in the building of our trails there are leaders among leaders who bear special credit. Professor Allen DeHart, trail master, founder of FMST, and mentor to us all was invaluable in his leadership for the BIG DIG 2011.  "Allen and his crew of “wets” and “drys” worked under the Goshen Creek Bridge working rock, sand and imagination to create an interesting combination rock and dirt trail bed along High Shoals Creek, while deepening/improving the creek bed as well." JL

photo by Paul Stahlschmidt
John Lanman is our Watauga Task Force co-ordinator and leader. John coordinates, organizes, and inspires us all with his dedication to the effort to complete the Watauga Section. The BIG DIG is a huge undertaking involving 75 or more people. John is the keystone that bridges the volunteers to the trail. Thanks for all you do John.

photo by Randy Johnson

A badge of honor worn by our participants.

photo by Randy Johnson

It is great to see our t-shirts appearing on the trail. This volunteer was working near the Blowing Rock intersection.

"Jim Hallsey and his crew completed most of the trail connecting Thunder Hill with Raven Rock Overlook.  Each of the sections were completed on Sunday morning." JL

John Lanman comments that "The effort and skills of the crews were amazing, especially considering the less than ideal working conditions (an understatement). Our only problem is that we ran out of work on Sunday before everyone was ready to quit. Individual thanks will be going out to the workers- an amazing effort."

"Special thanks go to Bing Oliver and Chick-Fil-A who kindly contributed chicken biscuits for the workers on Saturday morning and two of our task force members- Russ Widner and Mara Taylor- who provided us with a great BBQ lunch (they are starting a BBQ catering and food truck business, Curlie Que Catering out of Deep Gap). Thanks to Allen de Hart for arranging and managing the camping at Price Lake." JL

photo by Randy Johnson

And why do we do this?

I believe this photo by Randy Johnson gives us an answer.

We are workers in nature, providing connections to nature for others to discover nature. It is a drive that is within our nature.

In closing: All of these photos were contributed by Randy Johnson, Paul Stahlschmidt, and Gerry Staninger. Many thanks to you for sharing your images.

And, thanks to all of our hardworking volunteers. You are the ones who are making the North Carolina Mountains to Sea Trail happen for generations to come.

DIG THIS ~ BIG DIGS.... JULY 16.17... WILLYOU BE THERE?

Hey Folks, Its time for a Big Dig! Each year for the last three we have hosted a FMST fellowship and trail building weekend in these mountains.

This year we will be working near Blowing Rock off of the BlueRidge Parkway near milepost 291.

Temperatures are cool in the evenings, sometimes as low as mid 60s!

The daytime temps reach a soaring high seldom above 84.

You can expect afternoon showers that sometimes drop the temperature as much as 15 degrees in 10 minutes! Generally they pass quickly.

You will have noticed, the Rosebay Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) are in full bloom now through mid July. (click to enlarge for best viewing)

Rosebay Rhododendron, also known as Greal Laurel or Great Rhododendron is a multi-trunked small tree or large shrub that is very common in the understory forests of slopes in these Watauga Mountains.

Rosebay Rhododendron blooms in early summer.  Flower color ranges from light pink to white, though white is most common.

But the most remarkable color can be found in the budding blossoms. The flower buds are pinker than the opened flowers. The leaves are large, leathery, and evergreen.

There is a remakable symmetry to the blossoms ~ this one reminds me of fireworks exploding.

A newly opening bud is called a crown.

Seen from above and the side you can easily understand that term. My favorite "Crown" is the next photo, click to enlarge it to see its sweetness and moisture laden beauty~ Yummy eye candy!

We will be working in a Rhododendron thicket during the BIG DIG.... sometimes known locally as a Laurel Hell (though not truly a laurel) or sometimes called a Rhododendron Slick. Often they are 12-20 feet tall and you will look up to see the blossoms at this location along our trail.

Lest we crane our necks looking up and miss some of the finer discoveries found below.

This woodlands salamander was found along the trail at creek side near AHO this week.

This little critter is one of many species of Southern Appalachian salamanders.

Click to enlarge and you will notice this little fellow has a heart shaped spot on his side! In fact, all of these photos of this set are much more enjoyable to view in a large format. Check out the last one~

Time to move on along his way as he marches back toward a crack between the rocks.

There are so many wonders, large and small to discover within the Watauga forest

along the Mountains to Sea Trail.

I regret I will not be able to particpate in the Big Dig this year.

I have photographed our Big Dig events and covered them in this blog over the years. I hope you will take time to peruse the following links for an idea of the joys of trail fellowship and volunteer effort we share on the trail.

Big Dig October 2009

Big Dig part 2

Bridge Building Big Dig

Thunderhill area day two

Big Dig area to be worked on this year

Bid Dig area to be worked near Shoals Creek in July


I truly hope some of you will send me pictures to share from this event, please send me your photos.
You may email me photos to esheltonwilder@yahoo.com. I will compose a blogpost of your experiences soon. Thanks! I'm counting on you!!!

Have fun and enjoy your gifts of service to our MST~