After a week and a half of rain, there was a bevy of activity on the Vining Tract as trail and cabin overseers took full advantage of the beautiful weekend to tame the overgrowth on the trails, and touch up paint on cabins. Bill Holman dispersed three different trail crews to help with removal of fallen trees, trail inspection and trimming, and trail introduction for two new trail overseers. Jodi Fredrickson and Dave Abdullah met their new trail, Matties's Run Loop, and now know the challenges that lie ahead to rehabilitate this new group of trails. Lisa Lampe, and her sweet dog Max, joined John Sinclair as they checked out the western trail sections near Mattie's Run. Iva led newcomer Chris Dellett and Brian Muszynski to check out many of the trails around Wineberry, Conley, Butternut, Morris, and Mutton Top cabins, most which were in excellent shape. The Orion Trail, another new trail to the track was very overgrown, so we concentrated most of our efforts here hacking back tall weeds and removing downed limbs. Chris and Brian worked hard to clear the trail ahead of Iva, making sure there were no snakes as she followed. Upon completing a loop we passed by Morris Cabin where the overseer Jack Ryan and a friend were performing spring cleaning- painting window sills, cutting knee high grass, sweeping the floors, and removing extra supplies left behind.
Bill and Mark Walkup, a dedicated overseer of several Vining Trails, proceeded to the Cliff Trail and followed an abandoned trail to an old homesite. In March, UVa students had worked to clear this trail so that logs could be removed later by this Chain Saw Crew. Geoff Manning-Smith meanwhile was working hard on northern trails, weedeating the orchard and then pitching a tent to spent the weekend. Marit Gay who was unable to attend for our group trip, had already come ahead to clear Mutton Top trail she oversees.
Mid-afternoon we retreated to Butternut Hut for refreshment. Lisa, Jim, and Chris headed back to Charlottesville and the rest of us settled in for a wonderful potluck picnic and refreshments. CJ Woodburn joined us for the evening too. Jodi and Dave stayed in a tent, while the rest of us enjoyed the confines of Butternut.
It was a productive and fun weekend for camping, trail work, and comradery. Weeds were hacked back, logs removed, trails redefined. Great times on the trail!
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