7/19/25: West Ridge Trail, Swapping Out Old Broken Fir Log Steps for New Ones

Halfway up Mount Cardigan’s West Ridge Trail, in the woods, 'twas rather cool on Saturday morning. We were a crew of three: Ben, Andrew K., and TM Craig.  We were an hour hiking to the jobsite, then took hand tools into the woods in search of the wily and shy 10" fir tree. On finding one with a clear line of fall, it was a straightforward enough task to bring it down and limb it, scattering the slash in the woods. There is still sap enough in fir trees to peel the bark easily. We then sawed the log into two 10' lengths, and dragged each to the trail easily. Ain't nothin' in the woods slicker'n' a fresh-peeled log. Using 5' loops of 1" webbing as handles makes the job even easier.

These logs are to replace broken log steps in this wide trail, as listed on a path survey of 6/29. We are catching up on this task before the trees dry out more in  the dry summer heat, and peeling bark becomes nigh impossible.

After lunch, we got to setting the new logs, one site at a time. The photos show the building sequence. Carve out the soil for one, level across the trail, re-use pin rocks, stones behind the log on the uphill side to hold soil up there, backfill and tamp. You likely know the drill by now. Uphill of one, I used pick and shovel to dig a dip in the trail to divert water. When we have people and time, we'll add a log there to replace one that rotted away after about 15 years.

By 1500, we were finished with those two jobs. We hiked back downhill, where I had the pleasure to award Andrew his tartan for three days' work with us. He is now a Cardigan Highlander. They all earned theirs the hard way, which is the right way.

Many thanks, crew.  Moran taing, sgioba.

Craig Sanborn,  CHVTC
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