Hey all—this is Merike reporting from an exciting second
week of the AMC/NH-JAG Program! This week our crew had the opportunity to work with
the US Forest Service. Nate Peters, the trail crew leader for the Androscoggin
Ranger District, generously shared his time and experience with our crew as we
worked with him on two Forest Service trails.
Our first two days were spent working on the Appalachian Trail at Rattle River. We cleared hundreds of feet of drainage and constructed a long turnpike to harden the treadway and keep visitors from hiking around muddy sections of trail.
The
second part of the week was spent at Wildcat Mountain, working on the Way of
the Wildcat and Thompson Falls Trails. Our crew got to see some more technical
tools in action as Nate and his crew used chainsaws and griphoists to move the
projects along quickly and limit our impact on the surrounding area. During
these two days, we put four large step stones through a river crossing, built a
20-foot bog bridge, stabilized and stained sign posts, and brushed in blown-out
sections of trail.
Our
students enjoyed working on trails with heavy foot traffic and hearing how much
their work is appreciated by hikers. The end of the week brought a surprise
when Nate and the wonderful staff at Wildcat expressed their thanks to the
students by giving them a ride up the scenic gondola to the summit!
Next week we head to the White Mountains Community College
Child Development Center to continue cutting a new trail that the JAG students
started last summer.
More updates to come!
