Text: Andy Willgruber
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Photos: Virginia Environmental Law Forum
The calendar said, "Spring." The wind and freezing
temperatures said, "Not yet!" Despite these conditions, seven hardy souls
showed up at Albemarle High School to assist A.T. trail maintainers Lindsay
Brown and Andy Willgruber. They included Hunter Cloud and six shivering members
of the Virginia Environmental Law Forum (the environmental law student group at
UVA Law School): Brandy Allen, Olivia Glasscock, Matt Schneider, Meredith
Westerlund, Will Grossenbacher and Jacob Aronson. Jacob is a PATC member and
former trail overseer of a one-mile section of the Western Ridge Trail of Rock
Creek Park.
The decision was quickly made for Hunter to join Lindsay in doing some
vegetation cutback on his A.T. section at Riprap (Lindsay reported a chilly but
successful day of lopping). The UVA group would go back for more layers of
clothing and meet Andy at Rockfish Gap. Although Andy had called The Shenandoah
National Park road closure line that morning, he became a little concerned
while driving through a snow squall on his way west on I-64. He became more
concerned when he saw the Blue Ridge Parkway was closed at Rockfish Gap. However,
he was relieved to find the friendly face of Ranger Mooney at the south
entrance station, albeit with a winter road hazard sign placed next to her
booth. She cheerfully waved our three-car caravan through, and we arrived at
Beagle Gap shortly thereafter.
Andy sent his group north on the A.T. with tools to clear any minor
trail obstructions on their way up to Little Calf Mt. summit. He would drive up
an access road and meet them there. After rendezvousing within seconds of each
other and admiring the grand view at the summit, the crew commenced the primary
work of the day. The task was to install the four remaining 6x6 blaze signposts
north of the Little Calf summit on the open grassy areas of the trails. This
would complete the signage on the relocated section of A.T. over Little Calf
Mt. The group grabbed the various tools that had been cached a few days before
and received instructions. They took turns and excavated with pick, shovels,
digging bar and post-hole digger. Truthfully, it was the only way to stay warm!
Andy had advertised the day as a combined work day and hike, but the six wanted
to remain on task. They safely and steadily dug, installed and plumbed the post
and re-packed dirt and rock around it. After completing three post
installations, we stopped for a quick lunch in a sunny spot in the old apple
orchard section of the trail.
After lunch, we installed the final double-blaze post where the relocated
trail rejoined the original at the south end of the old orchard. Painting the
posts would have to wait for a warmer day. With the job completed, this group
of Cavaliers was ready to return home. They all expressed an interest in
continuing this partnership with PATC, possibly twice a year. Andy handed each
of this intrepid group a souvenir map of the Stony Man/Skyland section of SNP
and sent them back down the trail to Beagle Gap. Andy would remain for tool
collection and cleaning.
Many thanks to the Virginia Environmental Law School Forum for this
day. The Charlottesville Chapter was lucky to have them!
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