A Busy Month On Mt. Cardigan

Hello Trail Crew,

Throughout the month of August 2024, the Highlanders focused on the Mt. Cardigan trails that we tend.

Team Leader Josh patrolled Mowglis Trail from Orange Cove to Firescrew on 8/3-4. 13 hrs.

Trail Master Craig re-dug some drains and ditches below the cascade on West Ridge Trail on Wed 8/7 4 hrs, and patrolled South Ridge and Ranger Cabin Trails on Mon 8/12, 6 hrs.

On Thu 8/14, Dave, Kim, Jose, and TM Craig toted 10 1"x3"x 8' pre-blazed spruce poles from Orange Cove to Firescrew summit. They lashed one to a tree north of the summit and stashed the rest in the woods nearby. Until they ran out of time, they brushed a little south of Firescrew, and then began the hike back down Mowglis Trail to the cars, 28 hrs.

Kim surprised us on Fri 8/16. With an early start, he trimmed trees as he could with hand pruners, and blazed Mowglis Trail all the way from Orange Cove to Cardigan summit in both directions, a round trip of 4.4 miles in 6 hrs.

On Fri 8/23 Kevin and TM Craig hiked to Cardigan summit, removing a blowdown and some branches hiding a view of blazes on West Ridge Trail. They then descended the steep ledges and hiked north on Mowglis Trail, brushing out some narrow passages between spruce. They found there were so many trees big enough to be blazed by Kim, and at places so the blazes can be seen by approaching hikers, that they decided to pass on adding blaze poles. At 1445, they went back to Cardigan summit and back down the West Ridge rail. 14 hrs.

Then on Sat 8/24, a team comprised of Ben, Scott, and TM Craig hiked up West Ridge Trail to Cliff's Bridge (still sound after 25 years). What with a late start and slow pace they worked about three hours that day, although some time was spent on PR with passing hikers. They did jobs from the top down as per worklist emailed to crew earlier: set signpost @ jct. Skyland and West Ridge + 1 paver, re-dug 15-yd ditch, barricade herd path, set 6 pavers so hikers can bypass mudhole + barricade herd path they made to go around the mud, stashed 2 of our 10-lb. bars nearby for future work. 21 hrs.

Further work from there downhill is setting rock steps and scree. Weekdays 0900 start, workdays by appointment, please [email protected] if you would like to join in.

Many thanks / moran taing, Cardigan Highlanders,

Craig