Maintenance News

Chain Saw Certification

So far, I've only received 3 application forms from CMC members (N. Bacile, B. Haas, and J. Blodgett) for the Friday, 12/2 - Saturday, 12/3 chainsaw certification course. The plan right now is to have the classroom portion on Friday night (probably 6-9pm) here at the Forest Supervisors Office in Asheville and then the field portion on Saturday either in the Bent Creek area or on USFS land east of Asheville off of I-40. Our ATC crew van would be available for carpooling to the field site if needed.

We still have 11 open slots. So, if you know of someone within the CMC who has expressed interest in the course, encourage them to return their application form ASAP. The form may be downloaded at http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.jkLXJ8MQKtH/b.851183/k.6196/Become_a_Certified_Sawyer.htm

We'd like to have ALL the application forms back from everyone before Tuesday, 11/29 if possible. This will give us time to send out the information letter and student guidebook. Matt Davis.org mdavis@atconf.org

Look at the latest Closed maintenance items. This list is maintained by Don Walton.

MST Coordinator wanted!
The CMC position of Coordinator of the Section Maintainer System for the Mountains to the Sea Trail is open. This prestigious duty for the CMC includes supervising the 5 big sections of the MST (160 miles) which includes 100 volunteer section maintainers. The job is about 1/3rd recruiting of maintainers, 1/3rd communicating with all of the various federal and state agencies and 1/3rd management including recording and reporting all of the hours worked to various places. If interested, please contact Don Walton

The CMC has a Alternate MST section open. It goes from Cat Gap to Neil Gap 3.0 miles. The trail is in good shape and are waiting to start a love affair with an affectionate maintainer! If interested please contact Jim Tanquary, jdtanquary@juno.com or Don Walton at donwalton@bellsouth.net

CMC EASTERN TRAIL REPORT

Check: AT _ MTS X Other _
SECTION ID: Snowball Trail to Greybeard
                           Hours
                   Travel   Work   Total
Brooker, Barth       1        6      7
Poe, Bob             1        6      7
Munoz, Jorge         1        6      7
Gearrick, Warren     1        6      7

Cut locust logs for steps and stakes. Carried them up Snowball trial in preparation to fix
steps (item 513). Plan to do the steps next Monday.

Bushwhacked from Craggy Pinnacle parking lot towards MST to find short route to Douglas Falls trail head. We were not successful.

For the second week I have encountered attitude problems on the part of crew members. Some thought that in lieu of searching for the northwest passage to Douglas Falls trail that we should be sitting on top of Craggy Pinnacle basking in the sun and 70 degree temperature while sipping wine and dining on cheese and crackers. Rest assured that these people will be disciplined. We cannot condone this behavior considering the compensation they receive from the CMC. Barth Brooker barthb@bellsouth.net 828-299-0298

Our Crew needed two trucks to haul all who ventured out. Again we were blessed with Bruce Greenwalt who showed up for more Wednesday Trail Crew punishment and we thank him for his hard work. With Bruce attending and our "sometimes on again, off again" volunteer to the middle of the week Crew, we had nine (9) hard workers out. Everyone was surprised to see Don Walton (Mr. Walton to many of us) come out with a late response message. Although Don works as hard as any of the regular Crew members, it is always a special treat having his smiling face looking up from a dirt-filled tread. We have heard, officially, that Don turned 60 two weeks ago or so and many of us were amazed at this achievement. Not are we too surprised over a birthday, mind you, but most of us thought he wouldn't reach the age of 60 years old due to his being involved with the presidency of the Carolina Mountain Club for some several years. I guess he was lucky and his luck was our reward with having Don join us again today. Lots of work on a long A.T. section and we worked all across some 3 miles of trail from the top of Big Bald down to within 1.5 miles north of Street Gap. In all, more that 85 yards of sidehilling, removed 7 large trees, cut out (heavy lopping) major briar patches and tree limbs growing into the trail, swept numerous limbs and lose rock off the tread as well. An excellent day...thanks guys. Official report follows. JS

PS: Piet, I need a new pair of light loppers if available...we did so much lopping this pair I have broke....Thanks J

CMC EASTERN TRAIL REPORT

Check: AT _ MTS X Other _
SECTION ID: Potato Field to Lane Pinnacle
                           Hours
                   Travel   Work   Total
Brooker, Barth       1        4      5
Gearrick, Warren     1        4      5

Called off work Sunday night with the threat of rain. Monday morning dawned with little chance of rain
so two us us went after a tree close to Lane Pinnacle which was reported Sunday. It was completely blocking
the MST and was difficult to get around.

Fortunately I tried to start my Stihl before the hike up and it was taking the day off. We had hand saws and that is what we used. Hand saws have a few advantages, No noise pollution, no need for CPR and first aid classes, no sawyer classes, relatively cheap to buy and maintain, no 15 pound saw on ones back climbing a steep grade, always starts, no chaps or helmet, much safer to use, no oil and gas to buy and mix, only needs one person to use, good upper body exercise, etc. Two advantages for a chain saw. Fast and cuts big logs. It would be interesting to see how much we could do with only
good hand saws.  Barth Brooker