| | -
-
-
| |  |
|
2 |
-
-
-
-
-
-
| |  |
|
1 |
-
-
-
-
-
-
|
| | |
|
| Volunteer | 1.00 Miles |
|
| | Volunteer | 1.00 Miles | 3 Days | | |
| | | |
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | The Arizona Trail Assoc., working with AZ State Parks and the USFS Payson RD is routing the AZT off part of the utility corridor north of Washington Park. The first of several volunteer events occurred last weekend, with spectacular results, but I'm a little biased so go see for yourself.
A key milestone for ATA through-hikers is the climb up the Mogollon Rim, 18 miles east of the Pine TH. After contouring below the towering cliffs of the rim the trail makes a sharp turn to the north and quickly ascends the rim. Unfortunately, it follows a utility corridor for most of the climb. ATA recently received a Recreation Trails Program grant from Arizona State Parks to dramatically improve this section of trail, moving it from the utility corridor across the East Verde River into the tall pines.
ATA volunteer coordinator Wendy Lotze organized a Volunteer Vacation work event to kick things off. Following several days of route layout and clearing, the main event began at Washington Park TH Saturday, May 6, 2017. The dirt flew as the volunteers spread out and went to it. The southern part of the route winds through old-growth pine and fir trees over rather easy terrain and the trail quickly began to stretch into the woods. The end of day one found the crew nearly 0.4 miles into the project. Everyone convened to camp for refreshments, trail talk and Wendy’s dinner.
With a few crew member changes, day two pushed into the dense ground cover below Pieper Spring, across the river again and up into rocky terrain. The route is more difficult here, with steeper climbs, dense cover and many turns. By quitting time the trail was tantalizingly close to the end. Maybe tomorrow? That would be great because the forecast was for rain on Tuesday.
A few more crew changes Monday morning and everyone was off to the work site. Much denser cover, deadfall and rocks slowed the work but the end was so close. The crew followed the pin flags out of the trees onto a burned-over patch of open terrain, but the twists and turns did not let up. The trail has to be long enough to accommodate the steep terrain and resulting erosion, thus the continuous turns. And of course it had to go through one last pile of deadfall.
But by noon the trail—0.92 miles of it—was open! Following lunch at the north end the crew loaded up on tools and started back. The southern 100+ feet had been left undone to keep hikers from starting up a trail to nowhere, so with the route complete, the final task was to open this connection. A few stalwarts hung back and made short work of this.
Work remains on the new section—15 fallen trees are yet to be cleared, some drainage crossings must be improved, a few rock abutments added to hold the bench and some large boulders should be pried out of the path—but the trail is a beautiful walk through pristine stream-side forest.
Huge “thank you” to Scott, Tom, Elizabeth, Bill, David, Carl, Mike, Terry, Eileen, John M., Roger, Tim, Beau, Hanna, Linda, Patrick, John W., CJ, Tracy and Wendy. |
| _____________________
Shawn
The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see. |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
