WhiteBlaze Pages 2024
A Complete Appalachian Trail Guidebook.
AVAILABLE NOW. $4 for interactive PDF(smartphone version)
Read more here WhiteBlaze Pages Store

Results 1 to 2 of 2
  1. #1
    Registered User soilman's Avatar
    Join Date
    01-29-2010
    Location
    Chillicothe, OH
    Age
    69
    Posts
    600

    Default White Cap Mt with the MATC trail crew

    Spent 5 days with the MATC trail crew on White Cap Mt. This was week 1 of a 3 week project building rock steps adjacent to Logan Brook LT. We had a small crew, only 3 volunteers along with the crew leader, assistant crew leader, and an intern. We left base camp near Dover-Foxcroft on Saturday morning and drove to the base of White Cap via the Jo Mary Road. We carried our gear 2 miles up the trail to our camp site. After setting up camp we returned to the van to pack up tools, food, and other gear. We spent the rest of the day quarrying rocks near the work site. Sunday was a cloudy day with some showers. We spent the morning removing roots and rocks in preparation for the construction of the rock steps. In the afternoon half the crew started construction of the steps while the other half set up a high line using the grip hoist to transport rocks to the trail. Monday was a sunny and hot day and we continued to build steps. Tuesday called for rain and we had a shower early in the morning but then were forced to call it a day around noon when thunder storms rolled in. Wednesday we broke camp, packed our gear and hiked back down the mountain. We drove back to base camp at Dover-Foxcroft.

    I saw about 15-20 hikers each day. They were a combination of NOBO, SOBO, flippers, and section hikers. Almost every one stopped and thanked us for the work we were doing.
    IMG_0550.jpg


    After leaving Dover-Foxcroft on Thursday I drove to Baxter SP. I had reservations at Roaring Brook for Thursday and Friday nights and Abol on Saturday. I climbed South Turner Mt on Thursday. On Friday I went up the Hamlin Ridge trail to the Saddle trail to the summit of Katahdin. I had originally planned to go across the Knifes Edge and down the Helon Taylor but I was low on water as it was a hot and sunny day. I got a good sunburn on my legs. On Saturday I went up the new Abol trail to the summit. There were about 30 people already on top at 10:45 when I arrived. I ran into two NOBO's on the Table Land that I had met at Logan Brook on Tuesday. There were probably 100 people coming up Abol and Hunt Trails as I was going down.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    More walking, less talking.

  2. #2
    Registered User
    Join Date
    06-25-2012
    Location
    Lurkerville, East Tn
    Age
    64
    Posts
    3,717
    Journal Entries
    1

    Default

    Last year we were hiking a section in New York when we came across a crew building rock stairs. They had a big rock, maybe 3' x 2' and 18" high sitting there, and they had dug a hole in the ground where they intended to bury it. I didn't understand why they would go to so much effort to bury a perfectly good rock. They explained that a hurricane (maybe Irene?) had hit with such force that it destroyed many of the rock stairs by undermining the stones at the bottom and then the whole thing collapsed. So now they bury a big rock at the bottom of the stair to act as a firm foundation/footing. It was amazing and impressive. Big thanks to you soilman!

++ New Posts ++

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •