Crew 1: PATH Staircase Rehab
working with Piedmont Appalachian Trail Hikers (PATH)
click here for the complete photo album
July comes to a close with the successful
completion of Konnarock Week 11, the penultimate trail building expedition for
the 2019 season! This week proved to be
a unique experience for Crew 2, as some funding and scheduling issues resulted
in a project swap relatively late in the game.
The crew ended up staying and working locally
in the area surrounding Sugar Grove, VA, home of the illustrious Konnarock Base
Camp and the US Forest Service Work Center for the Mount Rogers National
Recreation Area. Thanks to the local
work and lodging arrangements, Crew 2 was able to devote a full five days to
trail work, without sacrificing time to travel.
These five days were spent well, as Week 11
was a 2-for-1 special with two separate projects, both within easy driving
distance of base camp. The first project
was a complete rebuild of a set of log steps where the Appalachian Trail
crosses Teas Road. The existing steps,
which climb directly up a steep bank out of the road, had suffered from a
combination of rot and washout over the years, resulting in an
uncomfortable climb up some very high steps.
The crew sprang into action on day one,
ripping out the old log steps and preparing fresh material by debarking and
splitting black locust logs that were harvested locally from the Sugar Hollow
Pond site near base camp.
Both the tape
measure and the infamous line level - considered tools of sorcery by some -
made multiple appearances to determine the optimal step heights and spacing in
order to install a new staircase with steps that wouldn’t undermine like the
old ones did. Gradually, step by step, a
new stairway ascended the grade.
The project wasn’t without its unique
challenges. Due to the close proximity
to traffic on the road, Crew 2 had to employ traffic safety measures courtesy
of the local Forest Service staff, who provided road signs and safety
vests. At least one crew member was
constantly on duty as traffic spotter - calling out the approach of vehicles
and serving as an additional signal to drivers to slow down.
Another challenge was the steepness of the
grade, which at times seemed insurmountable and at one point required the crew
to disassemble and rebuild several steps - a task that can be demoralizing, but
which the crew took in stride, eager to build the highest quality staircase
possible in the long run.
While part of the crew worked on the main
staircase, other members tackled some side projects, such as installing a
second, more gradual staircase up above on a steep section of trail. Other tasks included fixing a very high step
across the bridge on the other side of Teas Road by adding several steps below
it, and brushing the corridor where vegetation was overgrown.
By the end of the second work day, the Teas
Road steps had been completely overhauled and were a beauty to behold! No undermining will plague these carefully
spaced stairs, and the rot-resistant black locust logs should hold up for at
least a couple of decades. Best of all,
these steps are a joy to climb up and down, being doubled in number from their
predecessors (from 7 steps to 13) and limited to a maximum of 8” rise. Basking in the satisfaction that comes with
completing high quality work, Crew 2 prepared to embark on a second project.
The second site for Week 11 was just south of
Chatfield Shelter near Atkins, VA, where an isolated section of extremely steep
trail required a rock staircase. The top
section of this steep grade still features some high quality rock steps that
were constructed in the distant past, but the lower two-thirds of the slope
needed extensive rehab, as many former steps had blown out over time. To make the most sustainable improvement to
the site, Crew 2 set about tearing out what remained of the old, off-kilter
steps so as to completely rebuild from the bottom up. With a good sized crew and some experienced
volunteers, the team was able to divide and conquer the integral tasks of rock
work: making copious amounts of crush, hunting and carrying suitable step
rocks, and of course the actual digging and installation of one step after
another. 
Fortunately, plenty of sizable rock exists at
this site. However, finding rock of just
the right shape and size is always a tricky job that requires a mix of analysis
and judgement. As the rock hunters soon
exhausted the easy pickings next to the staircase, the team eventually had to
search further away and carry the heavy stones - weighing hundreds of pounds
apiece - longer distances. Thanks to the
indispensable rock net and a great deal of teamwork, the crew was able to
provide a continuous supply of usable step rocks to the installation site,
where they were carefully positioned and then cemented into place by packing
crushed rock into the cracks.
The work was slow and at times painstaking,
especially as the work ascended higher to a point where the trail pinched
between a dead birch tree and sheer bedrock.
The narrow pass required the construction rock cribbing to shore up the
trail and prevent the ground from washing away beneath hikers’ feet.
In spite of the challenges, though, Crew 2
built some beautiful steps and burned a lot of calories carrying material for
what ended up being 20 brand new rock steps.
Though work remains on the section to tie in with the existing steps up
above, the crew made a fantastic first pass on this project and laid a mighty
foundation for future work.
Speaking of calories, although many were
burned, this was not the crew week to lose weight on. Staying at base camp,
Crew 2 took full advantage of the kitchen facilities to prepare some 5-star
meals, including three hot breakfasts featuring everything from scrambled eggs
to cinnamon apple pancakes to my own “yankee grits.” The kitchen bustled with activity as this
self-motivated crew of foodies embraced each meal with gusto. Even the no-bake chocolate cheesecake made an
appearance. To top the week off, the
crew enjoyed a relaxing base camp bonfire with s’mores - a perfect finish to a
week which featured luxury accommodations but no lack of hard work.
Both projects this week were sited within the
maintaining range of the Piedmont Appalachian Trail Hikers, also known as
PATH. Crew 2 was privileged to have the
assistance of two PATH members - David Atkinson who volunteered a full week
with Konnarock, and Jim Baum who personally maintains the Chatfield shelter
section and spent several days working hard with the crew. The partnerships between the AT maintaining
clubs and the ATC’s volunteer trail crews allow for the exchange of ideas,
learning of new skills and techniques, and perhaps most importantly the sharing
of great experiences on the AT between people who might never have met outside
of these circumstances. As always, it’s
inspiring to see all these enthusiastic people coming together for the shared
purpose of improving the trail for all to enjoy.
A quick word of thanks is also due to the US
Forest Service Sugar Grove Work Center staff for providing a truckload of
gravel, as well as traffic safety guidance and equipment for the Teas Road
project. Ending each day safely is a top
priority, and this week added to Konnarock’s excellent record.
Unconventional though it was in some ways,
Week 11 proved to be an extremely satisfying week, as the crew knocked out an
entire project at Teas Road and made fantastic progress on the second near
Chatfield shelter. Now, only one week
remains for the 2019 season. Tune in
next time for this year’s final voyage of Crew 2, north to Battery Cliffs to
build some more safe and sustainable trail.
--Josh Reynolds, Crew Leader
