Steps in the Right Direction; New Rock Steps on West Ridge Trail

Friday 9/19 was another perfect day of dry weather, no bugs, and bright sun, just  like the previous six weeks. Three new volunteers turned out, and we hiked uphill 0.9 miles till we were above the cascade.  There we built barricades on a wide and muddy herd path where hikers think to bypass a rocky ramp that has rock steps in it. They don't see that as easier to climb, but now it may look easier than the tangle of tree trunks aka barricade.

Descending to just below the cascade for lunch, we then quarried a few slabs of frost-split ledge from where the latest glacier dropped them.  They fitted like a 3-dimensional jigsaw puzzle after we split a few layers of rock off them with a pick mattock. Six rocks in two steps and a paver. The photo of the crew didn't get into the
phone, sorry, my bad.

We raked drains below as we descended. These volunteers find the work to be interesting, they'll be back. Passing hikers said "thank you" as usual.  It's all good.

Craig Sanborn,  CHVTC
Trailmaster