[pct-l] Kick off, or is that TSC Weekend?

[Barry Teschlog]

While many current, former and future PCT hikers gather at Lake Morena this weekend, the dirt digging, cross cut saw carrying and brush slaying trail crews of the PCT (at least in Oregon and Washington) will be gathering at Cascade Locks, Oregon for the 6th Annual Columbia Cascades Trail Skills College.

http://www.pcta.org/volunteer/trail-skills-college/

The trail fashions will be a far cry from the Morena crowd - Carhards, 10" high all leather "logger" boots and helmets will be the predominant dress, instead of shorts, running shoes and floppy hats.  "Ultra light" has a different meaning -  a 5 foot long cross cut saw in lieu of the 26" bar chain saw.


While the herd is heading north, sawyers are being trained and certified to clear the way for them.  Tread crews are learning how to smooth the way or repair and rebuild land slide destroyed tread.  New crew members are learning the basics of scouting, brushing and tread work, while current and future crew leaders are being trained on crew and project management.  People are learning about grip hoists, drilling and breaking rock, using traditional tools in Wilderness construction, gabion construction, first aid / CPR, and working with pack stock, to name some of the classes.

Having done trail crew since 2009 and thinking back to the thru hike several years before that, it's truly monumental that there is a trail 2600+ miles long and that over 80,000 hours were put into maintaining it last year.