Next Wanderers Trail Maintenance
day ("TMD") is July 26. Details »
Future TMD dates: Jul 26, Aug 23,
Sep 27, Oct 25, Nov 22, ... (every 4th Sat/month) |
Trail Maintenance Update
1/6/2006
Wanderers have been busy working on their 'adopted'
section of Wissahickon Valley trails during the
Fall. Roughly 1/3 of the restoration/grooming
project has been completed to date. Click the
map to the right to find out the progress to
date.
Due to the inclement weather in December
(ground too hard or too muddy) and the various
holidays distractions, the trail crew has not
been out as much. "We expect to pick
things up again in the
next
couple of weeks" said Dan Gordon. "Also,
Bin Ruiter has been laid up this week with lower
back problems" he continued. "Currently
I am loopy on muscle relaxers and Martini's",
said Bin Ruiter describing his alternative
medicine approach. "This along with
a couple of acupuncture sessions usually does
the trick; I should be good to go next week."
We will be sending out an email to everyone
once we know for sure when we will be out there
again.
Because of our progress, it takes longer and
longer every week to get to the un-groomed section
of trail. For that reason, we are contemplating
having fewer but longer sessions. "If
it takes us 20 minutes to get to where we left
off the
week prior then that means 40 minutes of walking
for about an hour's worth of work." said
Bin Ruiter. "For that reason, I think
we might be better off doing fewer sessions but
make them
longer in duration". If you have any thoughts
on the matter, please share them with Dan or
Bin Ruiter. |
Photos are
at the
bottom of this page.
Click to enlarge
The trail extends from Valley Green
Inn to Rex Avenue (marked in solid yellow
on the map). It is the middle trail (between the creek
and the bike trail) on the Chestnut Hill side of
the park.
For more information, contact
Carnage or Bin
Ruiter or by posting on the
discussion board. |
Wanderers
Commence Trail
Restoration Project in the Wissahickon
A group of Wanderers rolled up their sleeves on Saturday,
October 29 to commence the club's trail restoration
program. Working on the chain gang were Matt, the
Great One, Randy and Carnage under
the supervision of Bin Reuter, who
was a one-man wrecking....er, restoration, crew. Bin
Reuter was a whirlwind of activity, sawing, digging,
hauling limbs, rolling boulders all the time explaining
the techniques of trail restoration.
After two hours of work, a 100-yard stretch of the
trail running from Valley Green Road to Rex Avenue
was restored. The trail was smoothed and levelled and
erosion control measures were taken. The club's
goal is to restore the full length of the mile long
trail within the next three months...or die trying. At
one point on Saturday, it looked like it would be just
that as workers on the trail had to scramble after
Bin Reuter had pushed a large boulder down the slope
from above the trail. No one was hurt, but it added
to the day's excitement.
The Wanderers will be working
the same trail every Saturday from 10 am until
noon. Volunteers are always welcome. Just bring gloves and
long pants. If you can, please let Bin
Reuter or Dan know
might be coming so we can ensure we will bring
enough tools.
"I was really pleased by the improvement
we produced in just two hours," said
Carnage after the work session. "I think we can make a real difference
in this park. Also, Bin Reuter provides a great education on what we can
do as individuals to improve the trails in the Wissahickon." Photos
Bin Reuter beats a hasty retreat from the
washed out bridge at Rex Avenue. This was
the one erosion
problem Bin Reuter could not solve.
The trail from Valley Green to Rex Avenue has a number
of erosion problems.
Much
of the work that was performed consisted
of a) removing protruding rocks and b)
building barriers to help prevent further
erosion.
After the Rex Avenue project, the Wanderers
trail crew moved on to another part of
the Wissahickon to clear a fallen tree.
A large portion of the tree trunk was cut
and rolled into position where it will
provide protection for an old-growth tree.
Carnage, Matt, Bin Reuter and Chris moving
a large tree.
Once in place, the tree will help support
an eroded part of the trail.
Megan filling holes left from pulling
rocks.
Matt adds rocks which
will keep an erosion barrier in place.
Chris and Jan moving
a large rock that will help keep brush
in place.
Megan and The Great One removing
rocks.
For more information, contact
Carnage or Bin
Ruiter or by posting on the
discussion board.
Links to past trail maintenance
reports:
(review our Wissahickon
page to learn about Wanderers volunteering efforts
and information)
Additional reports are posted on the PMBA and FOW web
sites.
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