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After arriving at the Nordic Center, eating donuts, sharing some MSTA swag, and suffering through my boring safety talk, we split into four teams. Pat Titus and Tim Loughlin (pronounced Locklin, dammit) generously offered to take the hazard tree, the worst access road, and the climb up Everitt Hill (thus sparing my vehicle and my decrepit knees). Bryson Schreder and Rick Cory went southwest to cut the biggest trees (see photo). Renee Casterline, Christine Lewin, Jim Wrona, Arielle Saryon, and Eric Blomberg set out to rake and lop the northwest section of Huckleberry Loop. Brian Ellis and yours truly focused on downed trees north and just south of Road 31. The morning was cool and beautiful. Everything got finished by or before 12:30 (oh, and we added some new signs as well).

Too bad you missed it. We had fun and got dirty. I mean actually dirty, not the other thing.

I’m scheduling trail workdays until everyone hates me. But now is the time to get things done before it’s 105 degrees and bone dry. So let’s get after it.

Let’s meet again up at the Nordic Center this Thursday, June 19 at 8:30 am. We’ll split the volunteers into two groups: sawyers and swampers will drive (or bike, we’re not sure and we’ll let you know before Thur) to the many downed trees in the Learning Zone; the second group will walk up Huckleberry Loop to finish treadwork and lop “face-slapping” branches out of the trail.

Bring water (don’t forget) and a snack. Maybe there will be some MSTA hats and t shirts for those who show up(???). Stay only as long as you want, but in any case, I expect to be done by or before noon.

OH, I ALMOST FORGOT THE GOOD NEWS: THE LEARNING ZONE HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE USFS FOR US TO START HIKING, BIKING, ETC.!

Hey, 13 of us attacked the rough trail in the Learning Zone Saturday, smoothing it and lopping out branches. We completed ½ mile in 2 hours! It was like the road crew in Cool Hand Luke.

We’re planning another workday this Thursday, June 19 to buff up a couple other segments and cut out some downed trees. 

More info to follow tomorrow.

Hey, gang, we got the kiosk done at Vista Point. The arguing and fighting was minimal because Steve Larson was adjudicating. Thanks to Steve, Mark Derby, John Kelly, Isaiah Roggow, Bryson Schreder, Renee Casterline and new trail crew member, Arielle Saryon.

We have a segment of Huckleberry Loop in the Learning Zone to rake out this Saturday and need a bunch of volunteers. It’s fun to work with a large group (you can lean on your rake and talk about anything except politics and your bad decisions in life). OK, you can confess your bad decisions, just try to keep it clean.

Meet in the Nordic Center parking lot at 8:30 and we’ll drive a very short distance to the work site. Leave whenever you like. Bring water and a snack.

Trail Crew:

I’d love to see the usual suspects as well as some new people who’ve recently signed up for our trail crew show up for two important days out on Gateway.

1. On Friday, June 6, at 8:30 am, we’ll meet at the Vista Point on Everitt Memorial Hwy (about 3.5 miles above McBride Springs Campground) to install the last large kiosk. Trail Labs dug the hole, so there’s no backbreaking digging, OK? We’ll place the posts, argue and have fistfights over just how to level everything, then mix and pour concrete. Finally, we fill the hole. Very fun. You won’t even believe how much you’ll enjoy it. The paved turnout is on the right side of the road and we’ll have orange tape hanging at the site. Come and do something or do nothing but talk.
2. On Saturday, June 14, at 8:30 am, we’re meeting at the Nordic Center (Ski Park Hwy just below the Ski Park) to buff up a segment of the Learning Zone that needs some final love before the whole section opens for hiking and riding. We need a big crew to get this done, so round up your friends and neighbors. I promise no arguing or fighting, just calm rake work and getting to meet new people who dig (no pun intended) trails. We have the tools. You bring your muscles, gloves, water, and snack!

To make the trails safe and easy to traverse, but also as part of our agreement with the state granting agency.

We got a bunch more signs installed today, including some that were eaten by animals, vandalized by human animals, or that had deteriorated.

CLARIFICATION: EVEN THOUGH WE’RE INSTALLING SIGNPOSTS ON MAGMA AND DEADWOOD, THESE NEW TRAILS ARE NOT FULLY COMPLETED AND HAVEN’T BEEN SURVEYED BY THE USFS. CONSEQUENTLY, THEY ARE NOT YET OPEN.

We need a couple helpers tomorrow, Sat morning, May 10 at 9 am to install signs on new trails in Gateway. Meet at the GW Trailhead on Everitt Mem Hwy. See some new trails, meet new people. Don’t get stuck on the couch.

Hey, I know that installing signs isn’t as sexy as building or improving trails, but we have to do it so people don’t get lost in Gateway. So get off your duffs and help us this Saturday. Good news is that we’ll be pounding in most of the steel posts and for the ones needing concrete, we’ll just pour in the dry mix and add water (no mixing).

It’s an opportunity to see the top or bottom of some of the new trails (Magma, Deadwood, Strawberry Valley). Much of the work can be done near vehicles and there will be some short hikes. We really need about a half dozen volunteers. We’ll meet at the Gateway Trailhead (Everitt Memorial Hwy ½ mile above the high school) at 9 am.

Let’s go, eh?