Trail Maintenance Work Trip with The Flying McLeods Crew (Southern Shenandoah PATC) - September 10, 2016

  

     The Charlottesville Potomac Appalachian Trail Club joined forces with the Flying McLeods Crew of the Southern Shenandoah PATC to do trail work on the Appalachian Trail between Doyles Run Parking area and the junction of the access trail to Loft Mountain Amphitheater on September 10.  Much of the 1.8 mile section was very overgrown, and in some areas nearly closed-in. Eight members of our club volunteered including Iva Gillet, Bill Holman, Jeanne Siler, John Shannon, Dave Abdallah, Jodi Frederiksen, Mark Perschel, and Marit Anderson (work trip leader). Overseers Don White and Heather Warren spearheaded the project and five folks from the DC area also met up to do the trail maintenance - John Steer and sons, Jack and Tucker, Karen Reinauer and John Huennekens.  We divided up into small groups to use brush cutters, line trimmers, and small cutting tools including loppers, hand pruners, Corona saws, and swing blades. The hard working, efficient crew was able to complete the entire section in about 4 hours.  Lunch break was on a  large rock with time for conversation and sharing dessert items of sweet bread, chocolate chip cookies, and Peanut M&M's. Flying McLeod leader, Don White, was extremely happy  and appreciative with our work.  A cooler of adult  refreshments was the final reward of the day as we prepared to disperse.  Most of all we were happy to take refuge in the mountains of Shenandoah National Park during another hot spell in the valleys below.

Dave donning some of his equipment

Jeanne lops away the excess vegetation

You can't stop Iva with the brush cutter

One of the ring leaders- Heather

Lunch time!!

Submitted by Marit Anderson