The new Trailkeepers of Oregon (TKO) teamed up with the Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) to sponsor a June 7 training event on trail maintenance and leadership skills. The training was well-attended by a mix of TKO and PCTA volunteers - thanks to our Forest Service and PCTA trainers!

The morning portion of the training was a classroom course in Crew Leadership, where we learned the finer points of leading a trail project in the rustic CCC buildings of the Zigzag Ranger District:




After lunch, the group moved to the ZigZag RD shops, and prepared for hands-on training in beginning and advanced tread and draining work - here, Mary Ellen Fitzgerald describes the afternoon program:




The large group divided into several work parties, and headed toward separate trails in the Zigzag area. Here, the "advanced" party is headed up the Still Creek Trail to a project site:




The first stop for the advanced training was a visit to a recently constructed trail structure across a cedar bog. Mary Ellen describes how this project responded to the problems at this site:




Next, the group retraced our steps to a series of problem drainage locations to practice our trail skills. This location features a spring that continually kept the trail under water:




Mary Ellen led a group discussion on the options for repairing this trail section to address the drainage problems:




After deciding on a couple of treatments, the group began the grading and drainage work needed to restore the trail:




Trail building is always rewarding! Here, the volunteers stand on the newly-drained section of trail, after completely a job well done:




Thanks to everyone to attended today! To anyone who is thinking of joining a Trailkeepers of Oregon project, keep an eye on this message board for event notices - they're fun and a wonderful way to give back to the forest.

Tom

    Great fun for everyone and I hope all who read this thread will jump on our band wagon. I was part of the "basic" drainage class along with a few others and as I don't have a lot of before and after photos to share ( which I believe Jane does ) I did manage to snap a shot of some really cool cairns we created to keep people on the trail and deter them from following the really nice drains we dug.

It was a really good time had by all and we all look forward to seeing more PH volunteers at future events.

Cheers / Jamie

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When going back makes sense, you are going ahead.
- Wendell Berry

It was a great day Jamie, and I will add some more photos soon. Speaking of future events, there is still space for our next Angels Rest work party, Wed. June 18 (the server problems won't let me post much at the moment, will try again later!)

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Jane Garbisch - Site Sherpa

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"We are here on the planet only once.... might as well get a feel for the place."
- Annie Dillard

Our group headed up to the Paradise Trail off  Road 39, off of Hwy 26 (about 7 miles total southeast of the Zig Zag RS) We may have been in the "beginners class", but we were serious and solemn students!  

no we are NOT having fun, grrrrrrrrr

John removing  a tree over the trail

 

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Jane Garbisch - Site Sherpa

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"We are here on the planet only once.... might as well get a feel for the place."
- Annie Dillard

(sorry, having to do this in section as the servor is acting up again):

students work on this water bar's fan area, while Steve starts moving this boulder

...take a break Steve, whew! He moved this to the upslope end of the water bar to keep folks steered on the trail:

 

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Jane Garbisch - Site Sherpa

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"We are here on the planet only once.... might as well get a feel for the place."
- Annie Dillard

Dana and Lindsay rolled this rock down also for support

We didn't get up too far on this trail today because of the snow, but we got finessed instructions on water bar repair (drainage techniques for keeping water OFF the trail) and other helpful trail skills and awareness. Thanks to our patient and knowledgable instructors, and all of the volunteers for a valuable and fun day of "school " :)

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Jane Garbisch - Site Sherpa

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"We are here on the planet only once.... might as well get a feel for the place."
- Annie Dillard

Once you get fully in gear, I hope that some energy can go towards those gorge trails that have seemingly been abandoned by the forest service. The ridge trails high up. The connector trails like Eagle-Tanner. And yes, I'll be willing to pitch in.

It will take time (i.e. some years) to get to even some of these, and it's probably best to hope that they can be maintained once a decade. But otherwise, many are just going to become lines on a map and nothing more.

This is great. Once I finish up school (for the second time!) I'll be sure to give a hand. It has to be rewarding.

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"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went."
- Will Rogers