Trail Work up Twisp River May 27 to June 13

Twisp River Trail is now completely logged out (about 15 miles) – until more burnt trees fall down.  This has taken MVBCH approximately 181 volunteer hours to date from early May, and given those involved a lot of exercise! 

In earlier posts we spoke of work at the east end of Twisp River Trail (TRT) and logging out South Creek/Louis Lake Trail and Twisp Pass Trail to the wilderness boundary.  Since then, trail work has concentrated on the west end of TRT, and North Creek Trail has been cut out to the wilderness boundary. The three trails cut out to the wilderness boundary were completed, as hoped, by the time the Washington Trails Association (WTA) team arrived at Poplar Flat on June 1 for a week; thus the WTA could concentrate on cutting out in the wilderness.

TRT E from whale culvert

TRT E from whale culvert. Source of fire, Crescent Mountain, in background.

TRT E from whale culvert. Severely burnt area

TRT E from whale culvert. Partially burnt area.

TRT East of Scatter Creek. Partial burn area--rolling out cut log.

TRT East of Scatter Creek. Partial burn area

The west end of TRT was just as severely burned as the east end.  Once again progress was slow through the worst burnt areas as we worked east from the North Creek ‘whale’ culvert to the junction of the trail going down to Poplar Flat, a distance of around 5.0 miles.  It took six separate working days to clear this length of trail.  We finished up on June 13 going back to an area just west of Scatter Trailhead lugging a 25-inch chainsaw which was needed to complete cutting out a large log.

TRT East of old trail crossing to Gilbert. Large log in partial burn area.

East of old trail crossing to Gilbert. Large log in partial burn area.

TRT East of old trail crossing to Gilbert. Large log.

TRT East of old trail crossing to Gilbert. Large log in partial burn area, 1st segment removed.

 TRT East of old trail crossing to Gilbert Trail clear of large log after removal of 3 segments.

Bill crossing Scatter Creek. Chainsaw safely given to Pete.

TRT Bill crossing Scatter Creek Pete using chainsaw to make a landing spot for Bill.

TRT Bill crossing Scatter Creek. Whoops, squelchy boots!

 TRT Americorp leader,  Standing on culvert built by Americorp volunteers with MVBCH.

Americorp also cooperated on trail work during this period.  A team of eight spent May 31st and June 7th working on tread with Cathy, Sue Elson and Bill.  On the first date they worked on the east end of TRT and put in a culvert in addition to working on tread.  On June 7th they worked on North Creek trail, when it SNOWED on them for a while.  They made a great difference to the tread condition on the east end of TRT and to the wilderness boundary on North Creek Trail contributing 78 volunteer hours to TRT and 32 to North Creek Trail.

TRT, Americorp volunteers working with MVBCH on tread. 

North Creek Trail Americorp volunteer working with MVBCH on tread.

North Creek Trail, Americorp team