GO Adopted Trails Maintenance Day

This past Saturday 12 GO members performed trail maintenance on its adopted trails: Smarts Brook and Drakes Brook, on the west side of Sandwich Mountain off of Route 49 in Waterville Valley, NH. Most members spend the weekend nearby at Mike's house with food paid for by GO.

A huge "thank you" to these GO members for taking the time on a Saturday to volunteer for trail maintenance on our adopted trails!

It was a beautiful day for trail maintenance. GayOutdoors devotes one day each year to keeping its adopted trails the safe and beautiful trails they are. Today's efforts were devoted to cutting back encroaching vegetation, removing fallen trees/limbs [blowdowns] and cleaning water bars. For clueless hikers, a water bar is any ditch, log or set of stones placed across the trail [usually diagonally] that drains water runoff away so it won't erode the trail.

But water bars don't work if they get clogged with leaves, soil, rocks, or other debris. We clean these up with a fire rake, making these water bars once again working the way it was supposed to.

Jon took a group of five up Smarts Brook and Mike took a group of seven. Together, we cleaned out 25 water bars and removed 30 blowdowns. Many of these were chainsaw sized that had to be cut with bow saws. Our adopted trails are in wilderness areas and chainsaws are not permitted to be used...even for trail maintenance. Both groups had a rendezvous on top of Jennings Peak!

Volunteers treat the day much like a hike: you bring your pack, some lunch and lots of water. We ask that they bring their own work gloves. All tools are provided by GO, however we ask that if they have large loppers, hedge clippers or bow saws, to bring them. And like a hike, you give it as much energy as you want. The day lasted 8:30 am to around 4:30 pm.

Hikers will now find it a joy to walk on these cleared and blowdown-free trails. And we've protected the trails from further erosion damage by ensuring that installed water bars will continue to work. There are now some fine expanses of wildflowers on these trails including lady slippers, trilliums and bunchberry.

One of the nice things about trail work is that everyone who passes by thanks you for your service. Here's an example of a thank you posted on the internet! If that's not enough for you, volunteers get free lodging and meals for the weekend paid for by GO. And after 16 hours of work the Forest Service will give them a free parking pass. If you're interested in giving trail work a try, look for next year's announcement for Memorial Day weekend. Hope to see you there!

Thanks, again, guys! The White Mountain National Forest rangers "thank you," as well.

Join GayOutdoors for a day of trail work on its adopted trails - Smarts Brook and Drakes Brook! We will be cleaning water drainage, cutting back vegetation growing into the trail, and removing fallen trees/limbs. 

The bonus to get guys to work is free lodging at my house Friday and/or Saturday night and the kickin' hiker feed we put on...2 breakfasts and one dinner...all FREE! You'll be eligible for a free WMNF pass after 16 hours of work. [We only have bunks for 8 guys so the first 8 that contact me wanting a bed gets one ~ let me know which nights. Everyone else is welcomed to camp outside at my house, but again, let me know. ]

Feel free to come for the day, or the whole weekend, we are not picky about it, the more hands, the better! Work with us on Saturday and do your own thing on Sunday after breakfast. With trail work you'll be learning new skills, making a positive contribution to forest areas you enjoy and getting the satisfaction of "giving back." Afterwards, as you hike the trail, you look at them with a new set of eyes.

We start at 8:30am and finish at 5pm. No trail maintenance experience is necessary, just a willingness to help. This is a rain or shine event, so watch the sky, and bring appropriate outerwear. All tools are provided.

Bring work gloves. If you have "large" loppers or hedge clippers; or small bow saws please bring them. Please dress for all weather conditions. Bring plenty of water, daypack, and lunch. Hiking boots are recommended.

The day involves hiking 8 miles, climbing 2300 feet, lots of bending up/down to clip brush and strength to remove blowdowns. 

The trails themselves are within a designated wilderness area with gurgling cascades, colorful wildflowers, green ferns, soft moss, gigantic boulders and spruce forests. It eventually lead to a NH hundred highest: Sandwich Mountain at 3,980 feet.

Event Coordinators: Mike Boisvert and Jon Normand