Crew 2: Brown Fork Gap Relocation
Nine weeks down, only three more to go! Week 9 is complete and Crew 2 can proudly boast of another successful trail-building expedition on the Appalachian Trail. For this week’s work, the crew returned for a second stint on the Brown Fork Gap Relocation, located just trail north of Stecoah Gap in the Nantahala National Forest of North Carolina.
The goal for the week was to make continued progress on re-routing the A.T. around a particularly steep and degraded section climbing toward Brown Fork Shelter, replacing the old trail with a sustainably graded alternative.
Crew 2’s ranks swelled considerably in comparison to the week before, featuring a mix of new faces and returning alumni volunteers. The group eagerly delved into the work on the very first day after a four-hour drive from Sugar Grove, although the quarter-mile, 55 percent-grade bushwhack trail to the A.T. was bit of a rude welcome.
Even so, the crew persevered past the difficult hike and the project commenced with a tool safety talk and then a sidehill digging demo by Assistant Crew Leader Josh Reynolds. After learning the fine nuances of digging sustainable trail that sheds water and gently follows the contours of the hills, the crew opted to climb a bit further to visit Brown Fork Shelter (built by Konnarock many years ago) before finally returning to camp.
Camp life on the Green Gap Forest Service Road’s log landing was a classic Konnarock mix of backcountry “roughing it” (Leave No Trace, trench privy, greywater sump, etc) and “glamping” ease (coolers full of fresh food, camp chairs, vehicles on site). Tent space is a tad on the cramped side at this particular site, but this didn’t trouble the crew, who quickly went from being merely strangers to forging bonds of friendships in the hot furnace of manual trail construction.
The hard work really kicked off on Day 2, when the crew ascended the infamous access trail once again and divided into groups to address a number of essential tasks. One group immediately started continuing the sidehill digging that had begun the week before, working with a combination of rogue hoes, loppers, and fire rakes to create high quality full-bench trail. This is no easy job, as the repetitive motions required are both physically and mentally taxing. Even so, digging the trail right the first time is one of the most crucial parts of trail building, which negates much of the future maintenance needs that would be required for a poorly built trail.
Meanwhile, a second group of daring individuals tackled a series of stumps that were left in the tread corridor when a number of trees were taken down the previous year to make way for the relocation. Pulling stumps with deeply embedded roots would be practically an impossible task if it weren’t for the miracle of mechanical advantage. Using a TU-17 Griphoist winch set in a 3:1 configuration and working in tandem with a hand-swung pulaski, the team was able to pull three stumps over and out with very little trouble. A triumph of brains over brawn!
While stumps were being ripped free from the ground and raw earth was cut to sidehill, yet another group worked on continuing the rock staircase that rounds the switchback - one of two short sections on the relocation where the grade had to ascend steeply enough so that steps became required to mitigate erosion. Five massive steps were installed during Week 8, and many more remained at the start of Week 9.
As always, the rock construction required a division of labor between crush production (handmade gravel), rock hunting, rock carrying, and digging/setting. The general rule of Konnarock is that if one person can move a rock on their own, it’s not big enough to be a step. As a result, teamwork is absolutely essential for rock work - perhaps best epitomized in the use of a rock net by teams of anywhere from three to eight people depending on the size of the stone in question.
This was no ordinary stone staircase in that many of the individual rocks were given names by the volunteers. Conjoined twins Erik and Erika, Jesse, Jimmy, Mama Luke, Lobster, Barack and Michelle all found fitting new homes on the switchback of the Brown Fork Relocation. Several more, including Ivanka and Aunt Bee, sit staged and ready to be installed next week!
Throughout the week, the crew members traded off on tasks so that everyone got to experience a mix of sidehill digging and stone staircase construction. In addition, one extra project was created as a result of pulling stumps. One stump was close enough to the critical edge of the trail so that pulling it from the ground created a large crater that pulled away part of the trail’s edge.
Due to the instability of the edge, the solution was more complicated than merely filling the hole with crushed rock. Instead, the construction of a small rock crib wall was needed. A small group of volunteers dedicated themselves to this detail-oriented task, spending just about a full day on the structure. The result is a stable, elegant retaining wall that most hikers will likely walk over without the slightest thought given to the work that was invested beneath their feet.
By the end of the third work day, a great deal of progress had been made on the relocation. Sidehill was almost complete for the entire length of the new trail, stumps were removed and the resulting craters filled and mitigated, and seven new rock steps were installed on the switchback area. It’s not a stretch to think that Crew 2 may be opening this relocation to the public after a third and final push on Week 10!
The week wasn’t all work, however. As always, Crew 2 found ample time for fun in between the bouts of trail work. At camp in the evenings, the crew was treated to a variety of new games including volunteer-created, quick-thinking “Lord of the Things” and a modified version of the game of deception, “Resistance”. The crew was also treated to a dramatic reading of a lengthy poem written by the Bard of Highcock Knob, Jim Young (a Konnarock volunteer who published his own book of poetry based on his experiences).
After the third full work day, the crew left the campsite and drove into Robbinsville, NC, accompanied by Ox of the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club, for a dip in America’s #1 Lake (according to the local billboard), Lake Santeelah. After days of hard work in hot, humid weather, the opportunity to wash off the sweat and grime in this beautiful body of water was unparalleled.
The swimming was made even more fantastic than expected, however, by the surprise gift of inflatable pool toys by a volunteer! A giant sharpie marker, Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Man, and “Rock Lobster” turned a great experience into a truly unforgettable one.
As icing on the cake, Crew 2 was treated to dinner in Robbinsville at the much-loved Lynn’s Place Restaurant by the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club. Ox, Mark, and Janet of the club joined the crew for a delicious meal accompanied by many stories and much laughter. It’s always a huge plus when volunteers can meet the people of the maintaining clubs, who devote countless hours every year to keeping the A.T. in good condition for all to enjoy. This week was yet another great example of how the clubs show their appreciation for the work that Konnarock volunteers do, and highlights the value of the partnership between the local clubs and the ATC.
This may seem like a fitting place to end the adventure, but wait - there’s more! The next morning, camp was broken down and packed into the truck once again, but one more side trip remained for the way home. The crew elected to make a stop at nearby Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, which features the largest stand of old-growth timber east of the Mississippi.
The massive tulip poplars in this ancient grove reach upwards of 25 feet around at the trunk, and some exceed 400 years of age. A 2-mile hike around the popular Memorial Loop provided ample opportunity for the crew to enjoy these serenely gigantic trees while learning more about the unique management practices in federally designated Wilderness areas.
After leaving Joyce Kilmer, Crew 2 drove for a few hours before stopping one more time for some lunchtime culinary indulgence at Papa’s and Beer Mexican Restaurant in Asheville, NC. Freshly made table-side guacamole and the restaurant’s signature salsa bar made this a fitting way to end an excellent Konnarock experience before making the final leg of driving back to Base Camp. With an especially creative crew, the usual weekly t-shirt ceremony also featured a short skit written and performed by the crew members. It’s safe to say that Crew 2 went all-out for glory in trail work this week, setting the bar high for the next three weeks!
To finish things off, a big thank you goes out to the fabulous volunteers who gave up a week of time to come out and do hard manual labor on the A.T. - a decision that some would deem the very definition of insanity. Little would such people suspect that it’s possible to have so much fun while working so hard.
The attitude of the group can make all the difference and this crew was certainly no exception in blending fun with work in superb fashion. All the the hard work and patience with the sometimes difficult conditions is appreciated. Another thank you is for the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club, especially Ox, Mark, and Janet who came out for a day of work with the crew as well as treating the crew to dinner on the last night.
Only one more week remains at the Brown Fork Gap Relocation! Will Crew 2 succeed in finishing the work, culminating with the painting of new white blazes? Tune in next time on the Konnarock Blog to find out!
--Assistant Crew Leader Josh Reynolds
The goal for the week was to make continued progress on re-routing the A.T. around a particularly steep and degraded section climbing toward Brown Fork Shelter, replacing the old trail with a sustainably graded alternative.
Crew 2’s ranks swelled considerably in comparison to the week before, featuring a mix of new faces and returning alumni volunteers. The group eagerly delved into the work on the very first day after a four-hour drive from Sugar Grove, although the quarter-mile, 55 percent-grade bushwhack trail to the A.T. was bit of a rude welcome.
This may seem like a fitting place to end the adventure, but wait - there’s more! The next morning, camp was broken down and packed into the truck once again, but one more side trip remained for the way home. The crew elected to make a stop at nearby Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, which features the largest stand of old-growth timber east of the Mississippi.
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