Eagle Creek Trail work Aug. 26-28 2020

I began volunteering with Pacific Crest Trail Association and Trailkeepers of Oregon after the Eagle Creek fire. I didn’t keep journals on all the crews, but this is typical of the experience. Because of COVID, this was only my second work crew this year. For the same reason it was limited to volunteers with at least 100 hours of experience (need little supervision or instruction). We camped 3 miles down the trail from the trailhead at Wahtum Lake, then hiked on down 3 more miles where we did brush clearing and tread repair. The next morning we hiked a mile beyond that site to an area in much worse shape, so overgrown in places that it was impossible to see the trail. The picture to the right shows a particularly bad spot In the morning we did both brush clearing and tread repair; in the afternoon I and several others focused on brush clearing to try to make the trail at least passable. From the photos you can see why the trail is still closed to the public – the terrain is very steep, and the trail is pretty dangerous in spots. We made a lot of progress but there’s still another couple days work in my view. Another section, not quite as bad, to the left. Note we are all wearing hard hats – required at all times while in the burn area (risk of falling branches and falling rocks). They’d help against a small branch or small rock, not a lot of good if a big rock or branch (or tree) comes down. Constant alertness is required. When they open it to the public, maybe this year but more likely next year, the falling branch / rock risk will still be there, but I hope they’ll get another crew or two in to finish tread repair and brush clearing. To the left: Shedding my pack, about to start work on a section. The leader marked off 50 foot sections so we could work without violating distancing regulations; when we were about done she would mark off another 9 sections and we all moved down. You see the mask I’m wearing – if another worker came within 10 feet we were supposed to put it on. Notice the “green grubber” tool beside me – weighs about 10 pounds, good for some brush removal as well as for getting the trail in reasonable shape. Below you see the finished section; I’m taking a granola bar break, waiting for the others to finish their sections so we can move down. Notice that we try to leave the trail sloping outward so rain will drain off and not form a stream that erodes our work. Before and after.