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Our crew of 11 people and Miles the Marmot arrived on Wed and left on Fri afternoon for this BCRT (Back Country Response Team). With thanks to our NPS escort, we bypassed the currently-closed Fairfax Bridge and unlocked 2 gates to access the area. We set up camp at the comfortable Evans Creek Campground, with access to our cars when not on trail.
THE WORK:
- We transported cedar, one plank at a time, from where a helicopter dropped them off to the job site about 0.5 mi away. They will become a new bridge.
- We brushed and widened trail.
- We dug tread, keeping in mind erosion control.
- Three of us scoped out trees to be used as new stringers for the bridge replacement, as well as the edges of 2 puncheons right before the bridge. I had never done scouting like that before and it was a fun education. My botanical knowledge is helpful, and also not complete. It's one thing to ID trees when they are alive with needles and bark. Quite different when trees are down, with no bark left. Plus, you have to assess how solid/rotten they might be inside.
- NPS staff chainsawed several trees.
- We broke apart a rotten logs that were blocking the trail.
THE FUN:
We unlocked 1 more locked gate and drove to Mowich Lake on Thursday evening after work. Cooked and ate dinner there. Dipped into the lake. What a privilege to enjoy this gorgeous area with our wee group and no one else. Up near the campground, about 4 tents were set up by Wonderland hikers.
#hikeathon
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