CMC Enewsletter - Maintenance News

To this white blaze trail a decree was made
That too much tread was in the shade.
So from John Brown’s town the Conference spoke
And handed this Relo to a few Carolina folk.

With flags in hand, McDonald and Sommerville Surveyed the land.
North of the Blackstacks and above Camp Creek Bald
They slithered over rocks and swags on a ridge called
Firescald.

It was decades ago that this summit was named
Because of a destructive force of flame.
This knife-edge stood five thousand feet in the air,
Home to blueberries, rhododendron, the snake and bear.

A three-year project that turned to one and five;
And some that started are no longer alive.
Trail crews in vehicles with their equipment load
Traveled the nine miles up Paint Creek Road.

The loppers and sawyers were the first to go,
As the rock crews’ progress was very slow.
The first year’s work appeared rather tame
But the Konnarock crews then joined in the game.

Year by year as the summer seasons flew,
This Relo section challenged every crew.
With pinched fingers, sore backs and burning knees,
The workers were plagued by rain, wind and stinging Bees.

Each summer for years the gangs heeded the call
And ascended to battle the rock on the ridge at Firescald.
Though the labor was strenuous, the crew found joys
And sweated along side some good ol’’ Tennessee boys.

High on the peaks, as each warm season diminished;
The crews would question if this trace would ever be Finished.
For the hike up to the pinnacles grew to a mile and More
And the volunteers felt this task becoming a chore.

Yet finally, and at last, this trail was pushed through,
Now to other projects and paths will return the crew.
Of the names of these workers, few will recall
Who labored for years on the heights at Firescald.

Years hence, as to the rock work laid, a hiker may say:
“It appears that a legion of Romans has passed this Way.”
It’s easy to find this rocky trail, with endless vistas above the Bald.
Just travel north of Allen Gap and hike across the ridge Named Firescald.

Dedicated to each volunteer who labored over the years to build the Appalachian Trail
Relocation, just north of Camp Creek Bald along the border of North Carolina and Tennessee: trail crew workers of the Asheville and Brevard/Hendersonville Crews of the Carolina Mountain Club; the Greenville Hiking Club, Tennessee; the Florida residents who joined these crews during the summer months and especially the volunteers of Konnarock.

The "Developing a Trail Eye" Workshop was conducted along motorcycle alley on the MST section, Stony Bald Overlook to Beaver Dam Overlook. We had 13 good souls out this beautiful morning experiencing "OPM" (Other People's Money) as the venerable CMC sprang for breakfast at the Cracker Barrel located on Tunnel Road. Despite hearing the distant groans from Lenny and Carroll as funds were being sucked out of CMC's treasury, the Workshop Group really enjoyed the informal gathering over a free meal. Among our talented Group was Don Walton, a passed and somewhat respected president of America's second oldest hiking club. I've written about Don several times in my ramblings about the western North Carolina trails and it was good to see that he is still out on bail awaiting his appeal in the Newton, Georgia court. Seriously, Don always adds value to any project CMC undertakes and we were delighted in having him join us this morning.

One of the shortest and hence an easy hike for tourist and hikers alike, the section north-bound from Stony Bald to Beaver Dam O/L is one of the most popular on the MST. We seemed to have had everyone's attention with good questions and ideas about the condition of the trail as we passed along. We thank again Dave Wetmore for his direction and time in putting this Workshop together and I thank Barth for taking part. Barth had just spent six long, dangerous hours string trimming the MST from Rich Mountain to Potato Field Gap yesterday. Today was excellent, no injuries, no wasp stings, despite a ton of poison ivy to walk through and so... I'll be seeing you on the trails. Official report follows. JS

With some of our heavy hitters out today, we mustered a good half dozen. We drank a beer and toasted all of our missing diggers: Bill, Charlie, Dave R.and Don and wish the two ( Charlie and Don) who are recovering from illnesses continue to improve. Bill Carr is buried under two thousand tons of mulch and we hope he will see some daylight by next Wednesday.

Drove over to Stony Bald O/L and worked the section ending at Beaver Dam. We kicked two string trimmers out at Beaver Dam and had JW and Pete scramble south-bound to Stony B. The other four worked our way up from Stony Bald and retired after just slipping a few heavy silt bars north of the first summit. There is a little more work to do but most of what we needed to correct is completed and this is the steep slop up from Stony Bald O/L. We cleaned 10 existing bars; replaced and/or installed 16 new silt and water bars. Jorge was able to stay ahead of three crew members who were calling for large locust bars for this section all day. Thanks Jorge. Good to have everyone out today on such a beautiful day in the woods along motorcycle alley. Next week we will go back to the A.T. and work some trail, cut some wood and in general get dirty! Thanks guys. Official report follows. JS

NC 215 to Devil’s Courthouse Junction
Buckspring Tral Junction to Pisgah Inn
Glassmine Overlook to Balsam Gap Overlook
Rainbow Gap to NC 128
A section from Highway 74A to the BRP Headquarters(Trail Spur).
If you are interested contact donwalton@bellsouth.net

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