reported by John Shannon
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| Slough and berm removal, with soft soil |
A forecast of rain and low temperatures may have led some people to plan housework instead of trail work. I expected that if anyone showed up, they would choose a short hike. At 9, there was no real rain, just mist, and comfortable temperatures and Sunny was willing to have an adventure, so we headed to the park, where found the snow had gone. After asking an entrance ranger to hold the rain, we started up the Appalachian Trail at McCormick Gap. As planned, we raked leaves and some earth out of drains, and made some adjustments to the new runoffs and regraded sections of trail. The soft earth made moving earth easy,and also helped when pulling up some invasive multiflora rose, and garlic mustard. There was one small, easily removed tree across the trail. After reaching the top of the initial climb, we did a little slough and berm removal to keep the trail adequately wide and improve drainage.
While eating lunch, rain started so we returned to the car to finish lunch, after putting muddy tools and boots in bags. Then we discovered why there were so many wheel marks in the area, the ground was very soft, and did not provide enough traction to drive out. After some messy attempts to get out, I called for a tow truck which arrived relatively quickly. As the operator said, pulling the car on to the road did not take long, but filling out forms took time. We found little puddles were helpful in getting earth off the tools before returning them to the tool box. It was a little adventure, the first of its type at the spot in
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| Garlic mustard be gone |
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25 years.
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