[pct-l] Trail maintenance near Snoqualmie Pass

[tokencivilian at yahoo.com]

Thanks go out to the PCTA, Suzanne Wilson of the PCTA who was an outstanding crew leader and the volunteers at this weekends work party at snoqualmie pass.  For the crew size (4 volunteers plus Suzanne each day) lots of work was accomplished.  The work picked up where the WTA left off last fall about 4 trail miles south of snoqualmie pass.  The hike in to the work site was a bit under a mile.  Road access to the trail head is good in this area.

On Saturday the focus was on tread work.  A badly eroded piece of trail was freshened up with 8 check steps which ought to halt further deterioration of this part.  Drains were also cleared and maintained. Additional drains were constructed.   Another couple of days of check step work is needed to fully stabilize and rehabilitate this general area.  If you like rock work, here is your chance.

 Today's effort was focused almost entirely on brushing.  Using the pcta's brush cutter and loppers  several hundred yards of badly overgrown trail (and it wasn't thin brush either - it was very dense) was cleared out to the 8' specification limit.  One more day of brushing effort in this area will connect the part cleared today (and last year by the WTA) with another cleared section just to the north creating a long, continuous, well cleared section of trail.  

With sufficient volunteers, the trail might be brushed to spec all the way to the pass before the first snow of winter shuts down work until next summer.  Further north, the brush isn't as thick, so the work will go faster.

 Several more informal work parties are planned for September and October (weather allowing, of course).   All abilities are welcome.  Tools and hard hats are provided.  If you are interested, contact Suzanne Wilson (the north cascades regional rep) at the PCTA to get on an email list of like minded individuals.
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