Trail Repair Teaches Skills And Respect
by Olga Ottens
December 23rd, 2010 10:29 AM
I promised last fall, after a few trail maintenance experiences, that for the rest of my hiking life I would tread more lightly in the wilderness.
And really, after all that hard and muddy work in rain and fog, when I encounter a puddle on the trail now I remind myself that my boots are waterproof, so are my gaiters and they reach up to my knees… I make myself “slurch” through the puddle rather than destroying more growth and widening the trail by trying to avoid the water.
Over this last fall season, it’s not just heavy boots and heavy rain that have been working on trail destruction. Nature also added a few really unusual storms to the mix, you do remember.
The very popular Capilano Pacific Trail has undergone some major changes that needed more than just maintenance, but everything is passable again and except for the huge and obvious concrete wall on the top to stabilize the hill, nature is already taking over and not-so-regular users may find things look quite normal again. And yes, we visited Grandpa Capilano… He is OK.
Up higher the snow has for a while covered the injuries like a giant Band-Aid. Now slowly things are beginning to be uncovered and we are able to see the damage.
For us at the North Vancouver Outdoors Club -- as one of the clubs which adopted the Mt. Seymour Trail --the call for more help has already come.
Summer in the mountains is a lot shorter than down where we live. By the time you’re reading this, we will be under the supervision of the rangers and we will be snipping and clipping branches that are growing into the way. And we may be clearing some blockages to avoid slides and at the time finding out what more needs to be done to improve and protect -- like rerouting or decommissioning parts of trails.
It takes knowledge to do these things properly, so it is always a great learning experience. If you are a hiker who is fit and not afraid of mud and fog and rain, and you’re interested in sharing the experience, feel free to volunteer. Check us out through our website at www.northvanoutdoorsclub.ca
The picture above shows you where we worked on the Mt. Seymour trail on a wet day last summer. Find out where we were on the trail...
Olga is a member of the North Vancouver Outdoors Club. www.northvanoutdoorsclub.ca
Copyright North Shore Magazine Issue Aug - Sep 07
And really, after all that hard and muddy work in rain and fog, when I encounter a puddle on the trail now I remind myself that my boots are waterproof, so are my gaiters and they reach up to my knees… I make myself “slurch” through the puddle rather than destroying more growth and widening the trail by trying to avoid the water.
Over this last fall season, it’s not just heavy boots and heavy rain that have been working on trail destruction. Nature also added a few really unusual storms to the mix, you do remember.
The very popular Capilano Pacific Trail has undergone some major changes that needed more than just maintenance, but everything is passable again and except for the huge and obvious concrete wall on the top to stabilize the hill, nature is already taking over and not-so-regular users may find things look quite normal again. And yes, we visited Grandpa Capilano… He is OK.
Up higher the snow has for a while covered the injuries like a giant Band-Aid. Now slowly things are beginning to be uncovered and we are able to see the damage.
For us at the North Vancouver Outdoors Club -- as one of the clubs which adopted the Mt. Seymour Trail --the call for more help has already come.
Summer in the mountains is a lot shorter than down where we live. By the time you’re reading this, we will be under the supervision of the rangers and we will be snipping and clipping branches that are growing into the way. And we may be clearing some blockages to avoid slides and at the time finding out what more needs to be done to improve and protect -- like rerouting or decommissioning parts of trails.
It takes knowledge to do these things properly, so it is always a great learning experience. If you are a hiker who is fit and not afraid of mud and fog and rain, and you’re interested in sharing the experience, feel free to volunteer. Check us out through our website at www.northvanoutdoorsclub.ca
The picture above shows you where we worked on the Mt. Seymour trail on a wet day last summer. Find out where we were on the trail...
Olga is a member of the North Vancouver Outdoors Club. www.northvanoutdoorsclub.ca
Copyright North Shore Magazine Issue Aug - Sep 07
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