2017-Spring Adopt a trail cleanup run report

[Max]

David, Tom, Jason, and I ran Barbour Fork and cleaned up a bunch of trash there today.

[Tom]

Back from Barbour Fork clean up. Run went well with no serious issues. 4 of us ran it. I led. Trail is much rougher than when I ran it with Jim about three years ago. I picked up 2 household kitchen trash can sized bags and one large lawn bag. The trail was much cleaner than last time. Lots of Columbine in bloom.

Hardly anyone else on the trail. Nice day , good people, great weather. No pics from me.

[Max]

[Tom]

I started a report thread also. Maybe Jim would be kind enough to merge them if he has time.

[Eagle6]

Great day, great run. I really enjoyed the trail and the company. Here are a couple of pics.


Tom Jason Max Dave

[Java]

Devils Canyon went OK, not too much big stuff. Found a campfire smoking. James led, did very well, and it was nice to meet everyone. Only got a couple of pics.

[FINOCJ]

Back from DC - thanks to Paul, Jackie, David (swank1975) and Nick (nickpgoodman) for all your help today. Overall, trash was light on DC as compared to the fall clean-up. Hopefully none of you are overwhelmed with fuel fumes from the old carbureted jeep. Believe it or not, I just installed the smallest jets yet on Fri, and its getting so much better. I'll get some pics posted within a day or so....

Some trail info:
1) the 'birdcage' sign right at the DC entrance beyond the seasonal gate was totally destroyed (4x4 post was shot in half as well as the flat billboard upper portion)
2) Since we weren't able to post our DC FR4x4 adopted trail sign at the gate sign, we posted it on the sign at the top of the switchbacks where the trail splits. The Stay the trail sign Brad posted last fall was still there as well and in reasonably decent shape so we reinforced it with a few more staples.
3) There are two damaged carsonite signs that I marked on the map and will put gps locations on the report to Brant. I have Brant's email so I will email him a pdf...If the BF crew has the info/sightings report, you are welcome to pass it along to me (or Chad) and we can pass it on to him - or I can give you his email. He would love to have those to put on file (and a few pics as well).
4) After the DC clean-up, Jen and I cruised up to BF to post the FR4x4 adopt a trail sign there as well. We drove in a bit over the first couple of rocky 'gatekeeper' obstacles, but the only indication of the 'birdcage' sign at the first rocky shelf was a 4x4 post broken off at the ground (right next to a metal FS sign that was shot up pretty good). We ended up posting on the sign just to the left of the seasonal entrance gate. Afterwards, when speaking with Brant, he thought there was a 'birdcage' sign up the trail a bit further than we went at the first fork in the trail (where the one to the right goes across the little creek). Maybe the BF crew can report if that is still there and/or needs a sign?

When returning Brant's tools, we spoke with him for a bit. A couple points to ponder:

1) He figured the FS would not be able to replace or fund replacement of the broken/destroyed wooden signs. But he would be happy to approve for us to make and install new ones on our next clean-up run and provide us with some installation tools (post driver). They are moving toward metal poles to help improved durability - and suggested Mike (hypoid) has some info on required design/dimension as he is working on some for NAXJA. Maybe Mike can pass those along to us and approximate cost, and we can get a small cash donation/pool together to pay for materials and make a couple.

2) Any trash collected is great, but compared to the amount we see in the fall, the spring run right after opening has minimal trash. Maybe we can discuss doing our first clean-up in late July after the 4th weekend and that would more balance the two clean-ups. I think this seems like a great idea, or maybe we can schedule a 3rd clean-up run in that window. It seems much easier in my estimation to keep it cleaner with smaller, more often clean-ups than the large massive clean-up in the fall.

3) Brant also mentioned even a group of two vehicles just going to one of the trails can be counted toward volunteer hours. As many of us pick up trash anytime we are out, maybe any FR4x4 run to DC or BF during the summer could communicate with Brant ahead of time and email the paperwork to him. Just a thought...I hope to run BF at some point this summer and would be happy to clean-up and document my hours to Brant's file.

[Chris]

We supplied the sign that was destroyed, the FS doesn't have funds to do them. Steel would be great!

[Eagle6]

Chris previously posted:

[FINOCJ]

As I understand its a steel post with plywood for the upper billboard portion. Then the plywood gets replaced often but post stays. Setting new post can be a lot of work in the rocky ground.

[Tom]

Its there on barbour james probably didn't go up far enough. that said there was a fr4x4 sign still in good shape on it.

[FINOCJ]

Thanks Tom - so if we want, we only need to make one sign for the entrance gate to DC, and that might not be 'necessary' as we have the second sign further up the trail. I think it would be nice to have a sign at the gate (both to identify the trail name and FR4x4), but it may be too visible for vandalism and essentially impossible and expensive to try and keep up.

Its just my opinion, but the more presence and visibility we have both in terms of signs, keeping the trail clean, and frequenting it often and keeping everything up, the less trash, irresponsible use and vandalism there will be (of course it will never go away). But the more trash, brass and vandalism that accumulates over the summer months, the more others will follow in those footsteps. Of course, I see this not just as our responsibility as trail adopters, but in general protection of our access to these areas as the mis-use jeopardizes access for everyone.

[Hypoid]

YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Brian]

Good work all ya'll, appreciate the efforts!

[Swank1975]

It was a lot of fun. Thanks all who came out.

[Brad]

Thank you to everyone who participated.

Fino, I have been fighting the D.C. Entrance sign for years. Replaced it twice. Have a complete post and sign here at my house. Painted in USFS brown. Jeff (patrolman) built them and supplied the posts and I got the paint and painted them. I asked Brant if we could make them from metal and he said no. Glad to hear their changing their mind. I thought it might help if we add a note stating the sign is put there by volunteers and not the forest service.

[Swank1975]

It felt good to do some wheeling and clean a trail up. My back did really well today.

[Jim]

Tom previously posted:

[Jim]

Swank1975 previously posted:

[FINOCJ]

Some DC pics - sorry didn't get many (especially of other people). The last two are from BF: the first 'gatekeeper' rock shelf with the remnants of an old 4x4 post just to the left of the FS sign, and our adopt a trail sign at the trailhead. The clean-up crew also reported we had a sign farther up the road at the first fork.