February 7, 2008 Trail Update

Traildogs - Thursday Feb 7th, 2008.

Ever upward is our mantra as we continue to move the south face of the mountain. I estimate we have come up about 500 feet in elevation since we left the valley floor last week. It is an inspiring emotion to take time and look back the trail we have just completed. Because we are in the switchbacks you can view multiple layers of the trail as it snakes up the mountain toward our dig site.

We had eight seasoned traildogs today moving rock, filling holes, shaping the angle of repose, stacking rock into Cairns and racking the tread as smooth as possible. We welcome Tom Ferguson back on the trail as a traildog instead of as a USFS Ranger. Tom retired late last year but has chosen to continue assisting in the Vista Trail's development. Tom was instrumental in helping us with initial layouts of the trail going back four years and has always generously shared his broad knowledge of trail development with all of our traildogs.

Today was not without its difficulties as we threw a track off our mini-dozer as it tried valiantly to smooth out the rocky tread being broken by the lead machine the mini-excavator. We were able to finally get the tread back in place with our handy Montgomery County Toothpick or as its better know a pry bar. The USFS team has come through for us again. After a carefully examination of the remaining trail to be dug we estimated that with the two machines and the volunteers it would require another two weeks of construction to complete this third leg of the trail. The USFS had previously agreed to provide their dig team through this Friday but thanks to the support of the Womble Office's Recreation Manger, Liz Gross we will have the dig team for two more weeks. Thanks Liz. A few calls later we were able to extend the rental on the two machines thanks to some generous trail donors so we are set to drive this section through to the summit.

Tomorrow and everyday until reach the summit we sill meet on the Hickory Nut Mountain Rd. Go 3.1 miles up the road from the junction of US 270. The turnoff has a street sign and is located about halfway in the new passing lane.

Bring a lunch and plenty of fluids and join this struggle to the summit.

Jerry Shields