March 23-25 Followup

What a great project we had! We never got the entire group together for a group photo, but here's a partial at the end of the day Saturday. We had volunteers come from as far away as San Diego and the Sacramento area for this one. Big thnks go out to everyone, including Steve, our cook for the weekend, and Bob at Hikertown for being such a great host.
After the weekend, Dave and a smaller crew worked the rest of the segment down to where the trail joins a backroad above Hwy 138, thus finishing the Tejon Ranch. It's done, and ready for the Class of 2013 to enjoy it on the trek northward to Canada when they start arriving in May.
Fielden also posted some of his photos here. 

  

Next Trail Project: March 23-25

Hello Pacific Crest Trail Volunteers,
     On March 23, 24 And 25, we will hold a trail project in miles 514 & 515 on the Tejon Ranch near Three Points.

     PCTA will supply equipment, tools, and PPE for all volunteers, and
meals for overnighters. Volunteers can choose any day to work with us,
or all, and overnight with us at Hikertown near the village of Three
Points. We'll access the work areas by gravel roads on the Tejon Ranch
Hunt Club.

     Volunteers should bring leather work gloves, robust footwear, sun
protection, long pants / long-sleeved shirts for working in brush, and a
robust weatherproof shell. Day volunteers should also bring a sack lunch
and water. Some hiking may be required to access the work.

     As the date approaches we'll provide full details to those
signing up. Please respond directly to Section Chief Dave Fleischman
or me if interested in
volunteering.

     THANKS,
     Kevin 

Next Project in Sec E: Oct 6-7

Our next work project is planned for October 6-7. We will do mostly brushing and treading between Atmore Meadow Rd and Bear CG, at about the 5400' elevation (mile 500) on Liebre Mtn, above Three Points.
Volunteers should meet at 0715-0730 on Saturday morning at the pullout at the junction of Pine Canyon Rd and Forest Rd 7N23 (labelled "Bushnell Summit" on many maps), here:
http://goo.gl/maps/ABPnV
A high-clearance vehicle is required to access the area, but Saturday-only volunteers can combine into high-clearance vehicles with other Saturday-only volunteers.
PCTA will supply all equipment and tools, and meals for overnighters. Volunteers can pick either day to work with us, or both, and camp with us at Sawmill Campground.
Overnighters will get fed dinner and breakfast. Otherwise, Sunday-only volunteers meet at Sawmill CG Sunday morning at 0745 with a packed lunch and the day's water. Directions to Sawmill CG:
http://goo.gl/maps/f8h8I
Volunteers will need to bring leather work gloves, robust footwear, sun protection, wear long pants / long-sleeved shirts for working in brush, and robust weatherproof shell. Day volunteers should also bring a sack lunch and water. A short bit of hiking is required to access the work.
Feel free to forward this announcement on to other interested parties. As the date approaches I will provide any additional details to those signing up.

Pine Canyon Project

Trail Gorillas Pete and Jerry started the cutting during the week, and then Dave and I were joined by Troop 555 and other PCTA volunteers to clear miles 508/509 near Pine Canyon Road. Congrats to all who participated, and special thanks also go to Kathy for serving as our crew cook and to Rancho Corona del Valle for their hospitality in allowing us the use of their property and kitchen. On Sunday, we finished treading out the worst stretch while snow fell, but we could not have brushed so much trail without the help of all those mentioned above.

Next Project: March 31- April 1

Hello Pacific Crest Trail Volunteers,
The next trail project planned is March 31 - April 1, in Miles 505 - 509, at 3800 - 5200 ft elevations on the north slope of Liebre Mtn. PCTA will supply all equipment and tools, and meals for overnighters. Volunteers can pick either day to work with us, or both, and camp with us at Rancho Corona del Valle
Campers who arrive Friday night will be served Saturday breakfast before we head out. Otherwise, meet at the ranch at 0730 Saturday morning with your packed lunch.
A high-clearance vehicle is not required to access the work site.
Volunteers will need to bring leather work gloves, robust footwear, sun protection, long pants / long-sleeved shirts for working in brush, and weatherproof shell. Day volunteers should also bring a sack lunch and water. We will be working the segment of PCT above Pine Canyon Rd, so up to 2.5 miles of hiking is required to access the work.

New Signposts on Pelona Ridge

Dec 30: Dave and I scouted the burn area atop Pelona Ridge and placed the new fireproof replacement signposts. We found that the September 2011 Mint Fire burned across about a mile of the PCT.

Next Project: December 30 in the Sierra Pelonas

Trail users have reported that several signs went missing or burned on the south face of Pelona Ridge, site of a brush fire this year. Dave Fleischman and I will be placing attractive new signposts (on fireproof aluminum poles) in this area above Mint Canyon Rd on Dec 30. We could use two more helpers to assist in carrying the posts and tools to the placement sites. Contact me (hikevv "at" gmail dot com) to sign up, and we'll rideshare or meet at the trailhead.

Next PCTA Project: October 29

On October 29, we'll be out for a day of brush clearing and tread repair in Spunky Canyon. Students of the Wildland Fire Academy at Antelope Valley College will join us, but we could still use your help! Contact me to sign up.

Nik Petrik's Eagle Scout Project

Eagle Scout Candidate Nik Petrik, from BSA Troop 39 in Lancaster, recently performed his Eagle service project on the PCT in Section E.
The spot under the trees in Lake Hughes Canyon has for years been a popular thruhiker rest spot, owing to its rare shade and water cache. But it had gotten rather trashy lately, partly because of the many busted-up water jugs that local volunteers have refilled for years (photo at left). Nik volunteered to lead the project to clear the area of debris and trash, but he also built this outstanding picnic table and water cabinet, matched them with an unobtrusive shade of green paint, and with help from family and members of Troop 39, brought them out and placed them under the trees.
According to the trail register at Green Valley, one of the, if not the first, thruhiker to make use of the table, was Scott Williamson on his southbound attempt to break the PCT thruhike speed record.
Big thanks to Nik, his family, friends, and Troop 39 for doing such a great job at making this stopping point more welcoming and usable for the trail users.

FYI

Due to the fire danger in our region, we are under USFS order to refrain from using power equipment in our maintenance projects in the ANF. If we get some significant moisure it could change, but since Section E is largely brush abatement work, we're not planning any projects for September. We may try for October 1, but not holding our breath.

Aug 25-26 Brushing Party on Liebre Mtn

Pete and Jerry cut, and Wildland Fire Academy students from Antelope Valley College came out to clear and tread, during some of the hottest days of this summer.



Congrats to them, and they cleared about a third of a mile of trail in just two days. This segment of PCT requires frequent brushing, so the outstanding help that the students provide is greatly valued.
Next time out there it's bound to be cooler....

Work Project in Section D

This is what the PCT looks like north of Mill Creek Summit (just shy of Big Buck Camp). Some blowdowns still block the trail, but the Forest Service is gradually working the trail northbound. We found this segment to be real work to tread out, as it was mostly just clearing the deep slump on top of the existing tread.

May 21: Section E is Ready for the Season!

Today was the final day of work in my area before the thruhikers arrive. Since last June the PCT here has been the target of much brushing, tossing, sawing, trail rebuilding and treading. So with Pete Fish on Sawmill Mtn cutting the last of the blowdowns, and this excellent crew of volunteers working to cut back brush in San Francisquito Canyon, today marks the completion of Section E readiness for the approaching herd of thruhikers. To celebrate the work of all Sec. E volunteers over the past 11 months, the crew posed for this makeshift ribbon-cutting photograph. It was a great day with a fun crew and perfect weather, and I also snapped the attached photo of local "Trail Angels" Joe and Terri Anderson of Green Valley next to the register box. After our day of hard work, we joined Joe and Terri and several thru's for grilled chicken and Taco salad at the Andersons; a good time was had by all.
Congratulations and thanks to all who helped maintain Section E for 2011.

Sawmill - Liebre Inventory

On May 8, Section Chief Dave Fleischman and I walked from Bear CG to Burnt Peak Junction and cleared the trail of remaining debris. There was only one tree that we could not cut out, push away, or otherwise remove, and that one is easy for hikers to get around. And Pete Fish plans to get out on May 21 with a chain saw to clear that one.
We also apparently just missed Pat Aubuchon's Trail Boss crew, but we did find evidence of their work near Burnt Peak Junction. Great work, Pat, and please thank the scouts for us.
But the trail is now 100% snow-free, very green, and ready for 'The Herd' of thruhikers to arrive soon!

Next Work Project in Section E: May 21

PCTA volunteers will be out for a day of brush removal and treading in San Francisquito Canyon on May 21. We'll meet at the Green Valley Fire Station and after shuttling a short distance up the road to the PCT crossing, we'll walk southbound on the trail, just up the hill, to the work area. To sign up for this project, send me a note at hikevv@gmail.com.