As with last year, the weather in March 2018 was not our friend, our work site was still covered with snow.
Our first crew outing of 2018 started on April 6th 2018.
In 2018 we will be continuing our work from last year, rehabilitating the Appalachian Trail on West Mountain in Harriman State Park NY.
Phase 3 of this project takes place at the top of West Mountain. Here we will continue to rearrange large boulders, build more steps and improved treadway. Just like in March when too much snow forced us to cancel our first scheduled outing, Our second attempt didn’t start out much better. Friday April 6th was cold and snow started falling during our morning safety meeting in the parking lot. Lieutenant Forest Ranger CaHill (Micky) along with Rangers Eric and Joe met us there and using their trucks, transported our heavy tools (about 1120lb. total) part way up the mountain. A big thank you from LDTC. From there the tools were strapped to carts and hand carried the rest of the way to the top of the mountain. This took a lot of time with many members making two or three trips up and down the mountain. With persisting unsafe conditions, we decided to be happy just getting the tools up the mountain. After securing them for the night, we headed back down to the parking lot. Yes it was a little early but with the wind, cold and snow, no one complained. Saturday was just a little better. No snow but still cold and with a lot more wind, overall Saturday felt colder. There is heat in those tools so we quickly got to work. Our first task was to position the large boulder we started to move at the end of last year. While setting up the high-line etc. we also started on rehabilitating the treadway. Sunday was better, a littler warmer but most importantly the sun was shining.
This being the first crew outing of the year, many crew members were working the kinks out and getting their mountain legs back. All in all it was great seeing old friends again and it felt good getting back on the trail. We’ll be back in two weeks.
The Appalachian Trail is always changing and evolving. All along the A.T., work crews, like LDTC constantly relocate and rehabilitate portions of the trail to protect nature and to enhance the Appalachian Trail hiking experience.
All of our projects take a lot of effort and as always, all done by volunteers. Our experience crew and crew leaders are eager to teach volunteers of all abilities the skills needed to build hiking trails.
Speaking of volunteers, not everyone can make it everyday and that’s OK with us. Some volunteers come out everyday while others can only make it to 1 or 2. Don’t feel that you have to commit to an entire project or even a weekend, any help is appreciated and being a volunteer you can come and go as you see fit.
We're a community of volunteers who build, protect and maintain hiking trails. We invite you to join us. You’ll be glad you did.
