Week 11: July 28-August 1, 2017

Crew 1: Jump Off Rehab

working with Nantahala Hiking Club

click here for the full photo album

After getting a solid start last week, Crew 1 returned to the Nantahala National Forest for the season’s penultimate project week, Week 11.  Once again, the burned ridge adjacent to the “Jump Off” cliff face was the target for the crew’s efforts.  Just 4 miles trail-south of the Nantahala Outdoor Center, this section of the A.T. was badly damaged in wildfires last fall. Without urgent attention, the trail is at risk of washing off the slope. 

Perhaps inspired by the fierce heat that must have consumed the Jump Off during the fire, Crew 1 made a point of stopping at the delicious Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack in Asheville, NC on the drive down.  Having adjusted their tastebuds to the blazing conditions soon to come, the crew then continued past the NOC, where several more crew members joined the caravan, bringing the total number up to seven (including crew leaders).

The crew was especially small this week, but in some ways this was just as well since the quarters on the switchback where most of the work took place are so tight.  The goals for the crew were to finish replacing a steep log staircase that had been devastated by fire and erosion, and then to tackle the seemingly impossible task of shoring up a short stretch of trail that was so eroded that one could reach a hand up underneath the tread surface.  

Having had its previous log crib burned out, only the thick mat of rhododendron roots (mostly now dead) and some compressed leaf litter were keeping this trail section afloat.  Below this trail disaster was a steep slope of loose soil and scorched rhododendron - not a place that one would want to slip. 

The first work day of the week began with the arduous climb up from the Forest Service road campsite to the A.T. - a 1-mile bushwhacked trail with a lot of slick elevation changes and rocky footing.  Having finally reached the project site, the crew leaders formulated a plan of attack and divided into groups.  One group set about the demanding task of splitting some very gnarly black locust logs into usable material - both steps and stakes.  

Other members worked to transport the split log pieces down the trail to the site where they would be installed - sometimes by hand and often with the support of a freighter pack.  Still others worked hard with draw-knives, hammers, and pulaskis to peel the bark off of these materials - thus making them viable, rot resistant building supplies.  

Several members of the Nantahala Hiking Club showed up in the midst of this process and lent their brute strength to help transport many of the logs.

Over the course of the next day, much more work was accomplished.  In spite of some mechanical issues, with the Crew 1 chainsaw, Jerry felled yet another locust tree thanks to the help from club member Paul for bringing a backup saw and a part to repair the chain brake on the crew saw.  

In the meantime, several crew members picked up where last week’s crew left off on the log staircase below the Jump Off.  The old, charred steps and stakes were systematically pried out of the ground and replaced with fresh, level stairs. Thick locust stakes were hammered into the earth to secure each step - a task requiring tenacity and good sledgehammer aim.  Another set of crew members began to install another set of log steps just below the Jump Off cliff itself, thus making the rocky climb slightly less dangerous than before. 

Crew 1 got a well-appreciated break from the wilderness after the second work day when the Nantahala Hiking Club took the crew out for dinner in Andrews, NC.  Once again, the Monte Alban Mexican Restaurant provided some massive portions of satisfying food for all.  After the meal, the crew leaders opted to bring the team back to Scoops Creamery (discovered the week before), for some more incredible ice cream, courtesy of the Scoops signature auger that custom-blends all manner of toppings (from fresh fruit to Krispy Kreme doughnuts) into the ice cream.  After this food-filled evening, Crew 1 was sufficiently fortified for another day’s work.

The third work day was mainly devoted to starting construction on the crib for the “floating” section of trail past the big log staircase.  This is an area that requires an unconventional approach, and so Jerry formulated a plan to build a mix of a crib and a gabion, which will ultimately look something like a picket fence wedged up against the side of the trail and filled with rock and earth.  This is a massive undertaking, especially considering the difficulty in getting the building material from above the Jump Off cliff down to where it was actually needed.  

The full crew was harnessed for the majority of this work, which included carrying 12’ locust logs and lowering them down the cliff with the assistance of a belay rope.  Furthermore, the Honda portable generator and the Milwaukee rock drill both had to be packed all the way up from camp - a task that several volunteers heroically opted in for. 

In order to set log cribbing in this area where so much soil had been displaced, there was no choice but to set 1” thick rebar pins into the bedrock and set the logs on top of this.  The rock drill was wielded by several crew members in order to successfully drill on the uncertain footing of the slope.  Having epoxied the pins in place and painstakingly lowered the 12’ logs down to the crib site, crew members worked together to maneuver the logs into place while Jerry wielded the chainsaw to notch them. 

The ultimate result looks very promising - the two logs sit almost seamlessly side by side to address the roughly 24’ section of degraded trail.  Some humongous locust stakes were then hammered into the ground to secure these big logs temporarily, thus securing the trail enough to leave it over the break.  Next week’s project will hopefully see this awe-inspiring construction project completed, although much work remains to be done. 

Having made considerable progress on this engineering marvel, the crew was able to put in a few more log steps before it was time to tool up and prepare to descend.  Considering that this was the hottest day of the week, the crew decided to take a trip to the Nantahala River for a dip in the cold, crisp waters.  Sweat, charcoal, and even a bit of fatigue were washed away in the churning rapids of this beautiful waterway.  A mouthwatering camp-cooked meal of chicken-and-lentil stew finished off the evening, leaving the crew tired from a hard week of work but feeling pleased with all of the successes along the way.

The fun didn’t quite end there, though.  Crew 1 made a couple of stops during the long drive back north, including a visit at Old Grouch’s Military Surplus store in Clyde, NC and then lunch at the legendary 12 Bones Smokehouse in Asheville, NC.  The excellent barbecue at this establishment was the perfect way to top off a successful week under challenging conditions.  

One more week remains for the Jump Off… and for the Konnarock 2017 season!  Crew 1 will return for one last time this summer with one last group of determined volunteers, and no doubt the season will be concluded in spectacular fashion with one more round of rehab on this burned trail section.

Many thanks to Bill, Jerry, Dave, and Paul from the Nantahala Hiking Club for their assistance on the project - especially their connections which got Crew 1 out of a tight spot with a broken chainsaw.  The club’s generosity in taking the crew out to dinner is also greatly appreciated.  The final big thank you, as always, goes to our crew volunteers who tirelessly worked in tough conditions on this project.  Thank you all! 

--Josh Reynolds, Assistant Crew Leader

Week 10: July 20-24, 2017

Crew 2: Sinking Creek Relocation

working with Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club

click here for the full photo album

Week ten, Crew Two trudged back up Sinking Creek Mountain in Southwest Virginia to finish up some unfinished business from the week before. Both a cribbed rock staircase exiting a rock slide and a crib wall at the switchback needed to be completed, and with a small crew of only five volunteers and two Crew leaders they had their doubts about being able to finish both of these technical projects.

The area where the staircase was to be constructed looked especially hairy as the removal of a giant rotten stump had left a gaping hole in the path and rocks for the switchback crib wall were having to be gathered from further and further away. Could they possibly pull it together?

Although it was a small Crew, it luckily consisted of one heck of a cast of volunteers. The Crew consisted of almost all alumni, several being veterans of many years. The lesser experienced happened to be quick learners just as much as they were hard workers. This mix combined with a few members from the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club, who worked alongside Konnarock, gave the Crew a fighting chance to achieve their goals for the week.

The Crew worked diligently and skillfully and made a trail of it yet. By the end, both teams had accomplished their goals and were even able to move on to more steps above their respective areas. The final count for the week ended up being twenty steps and seventy cubic feet of cribbing, not to mention the unseen mountains of crush that now lie beneath the surface of the Trail - not too shabby for a Crew of seven!

The weather, albeit hot and muggy at times, could not hinder Crew Two’s efforts. The dry weather actually made for easy digging as well as safe working conditions. The only rain came on the final night in the field we’ll after the week’s work had concluded. The thunder roared, lightning flashed, and the rain sounded reminiscent of a freight train at times, but this was only a celebratory applause to the week’s accomplishments.

The progress can almost certainly be attributed in part to the number of calories consumed at the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club’s annual Corn Boil. Each Club member, of whom there were many, brought a dish to the potluck. The amount and variety of food was as impressive as it was delicious. The Crew had a good time intermingling with the Club folks, and enjoyed meeting likeminded people involved in the A.T. We simply cannot thank RATC enough for their amazing generosity!

Other evenings were spent at Joe’s Trees Christmas tree farm, which is quickly becoming a favorite campsite among volunteers. In the evenings as the sun set, they would gather around the giant stump on the porch of the farm store and listen to music on Spotify, enjoying the free wifi as well as each other’s company. Some evenings, when they could still move after the day’s work, they entertained themselves with a few games of Kan Jam, a frisbee version of Corn Hole.

Once again, the Crew stopped by the Falls of Dismal for a relaxing swim on the way back to base camp. While swimming, they attempted to catch minnows and crawdads. Try as they might, they could not quite catch enough crawdads for lunch so they stopped by a Mexican restaurant in Whytheville to reward the week’s work.

Great job, Crew Two, for making a solid dent in this tough project. Considering the small Crew size, the effort this week was quite a feat. Until next time… HYAW!!!

--Brian Allgood, Assistant Crew Leader

Week 10: July 20-24, 2017

Crew 1: Jump Off Rehab

working with Nantahala Hiking Club

click here for the full photo album

It’s hard to believe that Konnarock Volunteer Trail Crew just completed its 10th project week of the season - time flies when you’re having fun (Types 1, 2, and sometimes 3).  Week 10 took Crew 1 south for a change, all the way down to the Nantahala National Forest in western NC.  

While most projects that Konnarock takes on require around 5 years of planning and approvals, this unique project was rapidly approved in less than a year.  The reason?  Wildfires last fall roared through many areas in southern Appalachia, and in certain areas the A.T. was heavily damaged.  One of these badly impacted sites is “The Jump Off,” a landmark cliff on the A.T. about 4 miles trail-south from the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) that boasts epic views of the Great Smoky Mountains.  

Although the view is phenomenal, the trail was dicey even in the best of conditions.  Now, with fire damage, the site is incredibly degraded and in urgent need of rehabilitation.  Numerous log steps and log cribs have been burned to the point where the trail is in serious danger of simply washing away. 

Crew 1 set out with a small group of volunteers to take on what was sure to be a challenging project.  The drive from Sugar Grove was a long one, although a stop at the North Carolina Welcome Center on I-26 to pick up some Appalachian Voice horoscopes ensured that it was far from boring.  Depending on their astrological sign, some crew members found themselves looking inward and pondering life’s questions while others were exhorted to exclaim “Glory Hallelujah!” in celebration of lives so grand life that no one else would ever understand.  

After one more stop at the Mountain Fresh Produce roadside stand, the crew eventually made it past the NOC and eventually ended up on a remote Forest Service road where the vegetation was overgrown and hazard trees hung ominously over the campsite.

Despite the rough appearance of the camping accommodations, Crew 1 leapt into action.  Crew Leader Jerry Kyle brandished the crew chainsaw and felled two dangerous dead trees while the rest of the crew worked on hanging the kitchen tarp.  The lack of appropriate trees made hanging the tarp a challenge, but this was nothing compared to the shock delivered when a sudden harsh rattling broke the air and crew members were alerted to the presence of a sizable Timber Rattlesnake hidden in the brush on the side of the road!  

Thankfully, everyone gave the snake some space and Jerry was able to nudge it over the edge of the road with the help of a shovel, where it continued to rattle angrily.  A serpent-watcher was appointed to keep an eye on the ill-tempered pit viper while the tarp installation continued, privy and sump were dug, and the thick brush on the road was razed with the help of a weedeater.  Having finally eliminated the most visible hazards from camp, the crew members were able to set up their own tents and gather their minds for the following work day.

Although the camp setup was full of excitement, the real adventure began on the next morning.  The biggest concern about the project at the Jump Off from a trailwork perspective was the lack of viable building material from which to repair and replace damaged log structures.  Usable trees that were not too badly scorched were few and far between; usable black locust trees even rarer.  The need for material was so desperate that the crew leaders opted to make use of one of the hazard trees that had been felled at the campsite.  This would be no easy task, as the logs would need to be carried a mile uphill to the work site using freighter packs.  Nevertheless, crew members rose to the occasion and saddled up with logs in addition to their personal gear.

In hot, humid conditions, the crew traversed an uneven and minimally bushwhacked access trail that was steep enough in places that a free hand was needed to hold on to burnt rhododendron branches.  By the time they arrived at the Jump Off, all members of the team were drenched in sweat.  There was no reprieve from the heat, as the fire had burned away practically all foliage at the work site.  Sunscreen was essential, in addition to copious hydration.  As for the log-luggers, they were especially exhausted and deserving of applause after this challenging hike.

Crew 1 then divided into groups, with several members working with Josh to begin replacing burnt-out steps while several others joined Jerry in the hunt for more viable building materials.  The worksite itself was perilous, with an especially narrow tread flanked by a steep drop on the downhill side.  Severe erosion on this slope had made the earth loose and unstable, and so a fall off of the side could have proven very dangerous.  

Another section of the worksite featured a tread surface that was practically floating, having had its log crib burnt out.  With nothing to support this narrow area of trail, it is only a matter of time before erosion would take its toll.

Progress was slowly but steadily made.  Eventually, several more trees were felled, which made for plenty of work opportunity as the trees needed to be bucked, debarked, and split.  And, of course, split logs had to be carried by freighter pack to the work site.  Meanwhile, steps began to be replaced on the log staircase in question.  

Crew 1 was assisted throughout the week by members of the Nantahala Hiking Club who came out to lend a hand.  Throughout all of this work, the crew members learned that when it comes to getting dirty, there isn’t much better place to do so than in a burned forest.  Charcoal blackened the clothes and skin of everyone involved in the project - the sweat and sunscreen only helped it stick more effectively.

Due to the working conditions, this was an especially uncomfortable time not to have a shower.  However, the crew made the best of the local environment by taking several post-work trips to the Nantahala River.  These river baths were the perfect way to cool down and wash away the grime of the work day.  Another fun evening activity was provided by Paul and Don of the Nantahala Hiking Club, who took Crew 1 out to dinner at the Monte Alban Mexican Restaurant in Andrews, NC.  After enjoying the massive portion sizes at this quality establishment, the crew made a bonus stop at Scoops Creamery in downtown Andrews to squeeze dessert into their stomachs. 

By the third and final work day, the project was accelerating.  For once, the supply of logs outpaced the supply of crush.  Progress continued while meanwhile Jerry brainstormed ideas for the biggest challenge of this project (which will not be tackled until a later week), the burned out log crib AKA the floating trail.  Ben Barry, ATC’s Trails Manager for the southern regional office, also made an appearance to meet the crew and lend a helping hand with the work.  

By the end of the day, a substantial pile of logs had been amassed and several other trees identified for felling.  A promising plan had been developed for solving the crib wall issue, and the damaged log staircase had undergone a major transformation which will greatly reduce trail erosion.  Although much more remains to be done and the overall condition of the trail section remains a challenge, an impressive amount of work was accomplished.  Crew 1 is well-prepared for the next week at the Jump Off.

And so at last the crew broke down camp on the final morning and departed from their temporary home, heading back north.  Not, however, without making a stop at the Nantahala Outdoor Center to browse at the Outfitters store and take a picture at the bridge where the A.T. crosses the Nantahala River.  A bit more driving brought the team to downtown Sylva, NC for a satisfying lunch at Lulu’s on Main. Finally, the crew vehicles cruised on home to Sugar Grove, and yet another Konnarock week with Crew 1 came successfully to a close.

A special thanks to the Nantahala Hiking Club members who came out to support us, both those who worked alongside the crew and those who took the crew out for a fantastic dinner.  Thanks as well to Ben Barry for coming out to help with the work.  And finally, a major thank you to our amazing group of volunteers who gave their time and energy in the sweltering heat, and did so with positive attitudes and enthusiasm.  It’ll take more than a bit of fire and charcoal to dissuade Crew 1 from tackling whatever trail work challenges emerge on the A.T.  Let the next week come with its challenges - we will be ready!

--Assistant Crew Leader Josh Reynolds