Bears Den Hostel and Hiking Center, Bluemont, VA – Saturday, November 21, 2015 — Sometimes pop up projects just happen. The PATC supervisor of trails was jawing with Glenn, the Bears Den caretaker. “Ya got any work?” “Yup.” And so another adventure begins for the North District Hoodlums Trail Crew.
So there I was, minding my own business when in comes a “flash” email looking for volunteers for Saturday. Bears Den needs firewood and urgent repairs to one of its hiking trails. Who can come? Sawyers bring your chain saws. “Let’s rally!”
Now what can you say at a time like this? A chance to fire up my chainsaw… This is better than playing baseball in late October. Woah dude! Don’t ask twice I’m there. I love extra innings.
Fortunately we’ve had a prolonged indian summer here in the mid-Atlantic. Unfortunately we became way too comfortable with unseasonably warm weather.
Of course the weather pattern was going to hold. What was the chance it would be subfreezing Saturday morning … No need to guess. It was 26F according to my car when I pulled into the parking lot.
Everyone was shivering as we organized our work parties.
We had three sawyers and split into two parties while a larger crew marched off to repair a badly eroded trail.
The swampers got some help from one of two Scout troops camping on the Bears Den grounds. We were bucking the hazard trees a professional crew of arborists dropped earlier this summer as mentioned in this post: http://jfetig.com/2015/07/29/on-the-road/
Lunch is always better when enjoyed outside, especially since the temp jumped the shark back to early autumn.
Now to split the damn stuff. Fortunately, Glenn has a hydraulic splitter.
At the end of the day, we tramped down to Bears Den rocks for a zen moment Thus ended another Hoodlums excellent adventure.
Thanks for volunteering at Bears Den! My husband used to manage it back in the day, so it holds a special place in our hearts.
It is good to have a nice day for the outside work. We had some of those last week. Then, it snowed 7″ Friday night. It won’t last as Thursday should be in the 50s.
Was that the Hulk tossing those tree trunk sections. Good grief! It hurts me to think about doing that.
That’s Glenn, the caretaker. He’s no spring chicken, but he’s in great shape. I tried to cut the rounds small enough to be manhandled. He did just fine.
You guys had it under control. That’s good.
We re-did our kitchen many moons ago. A new range was delivered by one guy in a van. He was a small guy. I suggested how we could each grab hold and heft it up two steps and inside the doorway. He just scoffed, grabbed it in a bear hug, and carried it in himself. Kind of startled me. Made me laugh.
Sometimes technique is everything.
Technique is more important to me as the years pass. My snowshoe technique this morning was passable. I didn’t fall down once.
Snow shoes could become operative here this winter depending on how El Niño influences our weather. The consensus seems to be warmer and wetter. By what factor is anyone’s guess. Me I’d rather cross country ski.
The seasonal outlook for Jan-Mar is suggesting that. http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/long_range/seasonal.php?lead=2
It will be interesting to see how it plays out. One thing for sure, the SW region of the country needs some water. Maybe this winter will bring it. Just hope it isn’t too fast.
I tried XC a few times years ago. I should try it again.
I used to XC race. I still love it.
Wow…what a great work project! Nice of everyone to jump in and get the job done. It would be fun to play with a chain saw! Glad the weather was good, We here in northen IL are buried under frozen snow at the moment. But just wait folks…..it will be in the low 50’s by end of the week !! Hey….Happy Thanksgiving to you !
Wish you lived around here. You’d love it – and the weather is better! Best Thanksgiving wishes to you too.
Ah…..to only dream!!!!! Gots to pay my working time dues……