| Before |
|
After |
Steep, root-covered
sidehill on section of trail leading down to Hitchcock Falls.
A few roots and a rotting stump are the only things keeping the
trail from eroding downhill. |
 |
22' of 2'
high log cribbing was constructed on the sidehill to hold the
slope back. Rocks and gravel (crushed onsite) topped with mineral
soil created a flat, well drained walking surface. Native spruce
logs are rot resistant and should last 15-20 years. |
View of the
stream bank on the East side of Bumpus Brook before construction
began. Loose soil and rocks were eroded by hikers and high water. |
|
The completed
rock retaining wall of East side of Bumpus Brook. 16 rocks were
moved and set against the bank to create a stable treadway. |
View looking
down from the top of the eroded steep section that was eliminated
by the relocation. |
|
Trees and
brush cut from the relocation were piled into the old trail to
make it inaccessible to hikers and give it a chance to start
growing back. |
 |
|
A number
of staircases were built on the steep sections before the Howks
in spots where the trail was beginning to gully out. |
Howker Ridge
and Pine Link trails overlap for 0.3 mi. This section gets significantly
more traffic than any other part of the trail. In this particular
spot, the combination of high traffic, steep ground, and water
flow has caused the trail to wash out. |
|
A completed
7 step staircase. Hidden by the brush to the left of the staircase
is a 25' long side ditch to divert water off the staircase. At
the bottom of the frame is a rock water bar to divert even more
water off the trail. |
Two old,
rotten bog bridges used to cross this muddy spot. |
|
Nine stepping
stones were quarried and set to replace the bog bridges. Unlike
bog bridges which need to be replaced every 10-20 years, the
stepping stones could last forever. |
|
Additional Photos |
Two rock
stairs followed by a 30' side ditch at small stream crossing
(approx 1,000' before Hitchcock Falls) |
|
View of the
cribbing from the far end, including the top step of the staircase. |
Eight rock
stairs, leading from the log cribbing down to the Bumpus Brook
crossing at Hitchcock Falls. Prior to the construction of the
stairs, the slope was eroded and very slippery. |
|
Another view of
the retaining wall, from across the brook. The finished wall
is 5' high and 12' long. |
280' of new trail
was cut to avoid a section of extremely steep, eroded ledge.
Close to the start of the relocation, the new trail passes around
a large boulder and the treadway is supported on the downhill
side by a 13' long section of rock cribbing. |
|
Natural stairs
on the relocation. |
|
Crew Photos |
Deva Steketee (shovel)
and Duncan Lennon (axe) prepare the site before the Bumpus Brook
crossing prior to the construction of rock steps. |
|
Using a skyline,
second year crew members Liz Pfeffer (left) and Deva Steketee
lower the last rock of a staircase into place. |
Crew leader Duncan
Lennon stands beside a felled spruce tree, soon to become log
cribbing. All but the last 6' of the log was used. |
|
First year crewmember
Alex Leich takes a well earned break while working on his first
solo staircase project. |
Matty Zane and Liz
Pfeffer celebrate the completion of a seven-step staircase. |
