(238) 6/26, 27, 28/2026
Appalachian Trail rehabilitation continues
at Agony Grind

Previous
Next

Friday 6/26/2026
A great Volunteer turnout

Our steps worksite.
Coming to the end of the crevice/ bathtub

Discussing today's plan

The first rock of the day is on the move

And here comes rock number 2

Jeff finally finished clearing the base

And it fits nicely

Bill making our most needed commodity,
crush

Marty and Helene
making another split-to-order step

Now it's tappy-tap, wait, repeat.
In about 10 minutes it will split

This stubborn boulder is in the way

We got it out,
now move it out of the way

Jim shows Helene how to use the belay

3+ new steps in today

Almost out of the crevice, but the steps
still need cleanup and finishing touches

End of day crew meeting
Thanks to Len for the shade and juicy watermelon

Friday's time lapse video

Saturday 6/27/2026
Our crew gathers in the Elk Pen parking lot

Looking up through the crevice- Amazing

Trail will go around that tree root

Then up to the lookout

Hey, that's Terri down there operating the griphoist

Russ making the base larger

Another custom split step is on the way

Nice fit

Yep it will be level

This is the next step going in

Almost a perfect fit,
just needs a little fine tuning

Bob starts prepping for the next step

This big anchor rock
will help keep the steps stable and secure

Let's put the pretty side out

Saturday's time lapse video

Sunday 6/28/2026
Another great Volunteer turnout

Walk in video

We're moving the next step,
using an extension on the highline

Jeff explains to Chloe
why we use extensions with the highline

This big rock
will be used as a step at the turn

Bob and Howie are putting it into place

Here come the rock drilling tools

The trail will swing out and around
that big root

Bob fills the void in with crush,
first bucket is large crush

Dan hammers it in and makes it tight

Next comes a big anchor rock

Now in place,
it will help to keep the steps stable

In her spare time, Chloe makes buckets of crush.
Big, medium and small crush, we need it all

Another anchor rock to protect the roots

Here is another corner step

Nice fit.
Just needs a few anchor rocks and some crush

This turn is almost complete
and the tree roots are protected

On another section of the trail,
new waterbars and drainage being built

Digging a base for an anchor rock

Clearing the base of some roots

Rock now in place,
This water control project is complete

Final crew meeting for this weekend
It's so hot we will use any shade we can find

Sunday's time lapse video



© Marty Costello 2013 - 2026