July 15: Camp Coniston on Mt Cardigan

They are back for the second year. Their workday this time was on the west side of Mt. Cardigan. By arrangement with their coordinator they worked thusly: 12 16-YO teens plus three adult counselors makes three teams of four teens and one counselor.

Guided by two Cardigan Highlanders who happen to be retired teachers, as well as agile hikers, one team hiked up to Rimrock. They then went a mile down and along the ridge and up to Mt Gilman. Here they had lunch on the ledge with the spectacular view of Cardigan, Firescrew, and peaks north and east. After dessert of shortbread, they unlimbered hand pruners, loppers, and 10" saws, and brushed out the trail through spruce and hobble. First time in three years, which is about right. They then descended back to their van at West Ridge Trail.

The other two teams hiked 0.8 miles up West Ridge Trail, where they peeled bark from blowdown fir and spruce, used handsaws to cut the trunks to length, and lugged them by loops of webbing to the trail. There they removed old log steps and waterbars to replace them with new wood. The old became more barricade or edging beside the trail, in hope that hikers will stay on it... They did R&R 5 fixtures totaling 45', and left 35' peeled in the woods, ready for more R&R this year. They got their shortbread down at the trailhead, waiting a few minutes for the brushing team to join them.

Big thanks to the teens, but also to the counselors, the CHVTC guides for the brushing team, their coordinator who handled parental permission slips etc. at the camp. It is proved, once again, that "Proper planning prevents poor performance." They gave us a head start on the job of occasionally replacing old woodwork. The hikers are grateful (they really are, most do at least say "Thank you.").

- Craig Sanborn, CHVTC Trailmaster