Here's the TM site location along the trail running on the north side of Wissahickon Creek (temporarily named the “Purple Trail” until we can come up with better names).
These pictures are before the TM day: Here's the entrance to the trail from the Kitchen's Lane parking area
Right after the parking lot, there is a low area with softer black soil which tends to get muddy.
Further up the trail, right after a steep rocky step up. There is a sink hole cutting into the trail, it will be partially filled and reinforced with rocks which are at the bottom of the hole
15 feet up the trail, there will be minor de-berming done to help shed the water off the trail, preventing it from flowing down to back cut that previous sink hole. The de-berming spot is marked with two orange flags
The rocky "feature" stays intact!!!
Further up there is a relatively large rock in the middle of the trail. That will be the spot of the lower rolling dip, we will construct some sort of rock step/terrace, something to gain elevation a little and protect the rolling dip, a-la Demo #2. Also, look to the left, facing down the trail, you'll see few orange flags thru the woods on the slop, above the creek there. This is where the re-route of the middle section will go in
Almost at the top of the trail just before the sharp left turn up into the field, there is another spot that naturally lends itself for water shedding. There is slight elevation change in the trail which will be used to build a rolling dip; and there is an old drainage trench down the slop on the right, which is blocked off by a berm right now. We will de-berm and re-open the ditch.
Here's the entrance to the new trail section.
There are some sort of remnants of old rock water bar. We will use that spot to construct another major rolling dip.
The middle section of the old trail will be closed and partially filled with several check dams. The re-route will be to the right (facing up the trail). In the middle of that section, you will see a major source of water coming down from the left, from the field above. We will be constructing check dam or some sort of water directing channel to direct the water across to the right and down the hill. There will be serious de-berming done there too. Watch for the flags marking the sections of the berm to be cut down and moved into the old trail bed.
The Left hander kink up to the field is badly eroded, but the elevation gain there is not huge, so despite looking and feeling very steep it isn't. It's only 11-13% grade. We can break it into two section with only 6-7% grade each, which is much better.
Dave arrives at 6:45 AM with the SK on the trailer.
PMBA embarks on another trail maintenance day...
... in cooperation with FOW
Jess handles volunteer registration
FPC had delivered a large pile of dirt that was loaded into wheelbarrows to be taken down the trail
Cuts were made in the side of the trail to facilitate drainage
Dave, Dmitri, Jamie and Tom confer (Wave to Jamie, everyone...)
Neil, Chris and Mariana fill in some of lower parts of the trail, which had been collecting water and becoming mudholes
The rain showed the water travel through that part of the trail
Wheelbarrows of dirt were spread along the trail to create the desired grade and consistency
Lance overlooks the beginning of the barrier at the top of the old trail.
The new trail slopes towards the side to facilitate drainage
Lou directs the Gator filled with dirt
Dmitri points our his plan for the flow of the trail
Lots of raking was required to flatten down the trail
Volunteers kept loading the soil into wheelbarrows and the Gator to be taken down the trail
Lou and Joe helped move the dirt
The new trail was graded to the proper angle to drain towards the left
Dmitri (no, the other one) helped out with that trail
Bushes were pruned back to create better sight lines
Jamie and Dmitri confer about the drain the John built, This will reroute much of the water from uphill into the stream.
Damn BEES! Those stings still itch!
The Gator brought tons of dirt down onto the new trail
Wheelbarrows were also used
Jess talks to two riders about the project
Kevin gets ready to dump another load of dirt
Dave regrades the top of the trail with the SK. Notches were cut into the downhill side of the trail to provide paths for water.
Jamie adds rocks to the drain
Further down the trail, Neil digs a trench and a small retention basin to facilitate runoff
Dave moves some large rocks with the SK
An injured Paul looks over the new section of the trail.
This small trail was closed. It previously led up to the field above.
Lou heads down the trail in the Gator with a load of dirt
Dmitri describes the step to be built at the end of the new section of trail
Dmitri and John move a large rock into the step
Jamie shows Tom the completed drain
Lou uses his bike handling skills to bring the Gator up the trail.
John holds on as Lou carefully navigates a steep downhill (and you thought mountain biking was fun!)
Rob builds a small drain at the lower end of the trail
Leaves and other organic material was distributed on the closed section of the trail
Dmitri and Lance work on the step at the end of the trail
Lunch arrives!
The volunteers feast on pulled pork sandwiches and brisket prepared by Jan
Tom finds a seat
Back to work spreading more dirt at the top of the trail
The berm on this section of trail was cut out to allow water to flow off of the trail. It was then covered by organic material.
Dave does some final regrading of the top of the trail. Large section of berm removed to facilitate sheet flow across the trail and into the woods. Exposed non-trail areas were covered later.
Stones were planted along the closed trail to discourage its use and to check any excess flow of water
The new trail was raked and compacted
Ulla waters a small plant planted along the closed section of trail. Later mulch, leaf litter, sticks and logs were added to hold moisture, check excessive water flow, and camouflage old trail to discourage use and aid in recovery.
Neil navigates a wheelbarrow around a rock as Jamie offers helpful suggestions.
Tom places a rock outside of the trail to direct traffic onto the correct path
A large pile of mulch was carried onto the trail. Mulch was used to dress closed trail and adjacent areas disturbed by construction. FPC hauled in the mulch for the project - thanks!
Wearing his invisible helmet, PMBA Pres Lou tries out the new trail
A large log was placed across the closed trail section
Dmitri posts signs showing the closed trail and the new routing
Dmitri and Chris take a large log down to the trail. It's used to direct traffic onto the new trail sections.
The step at the bottom of the new trail.
The new and old (on left) trails from the bottom
These pictures are after the trail maintenance was completed. Here's the trail entrance from Kitchen's Lane.
This is the lowest sections of the trail, right above Kitchen's Lane.
Some of the muddy area still remains
Looking uphill away from Kitchen's Lane.
Here's the drain that Jamie and Kathleen built
Here's the drain that John built. This shot is facing downhill towards Kitchen's Lane.
This is the rocky section that was left in place
Here's the drain at the bottom of the new and old trails. The new trail is straight ahead; the old trail is to the left.
This is the bottom of the closed trail
This is the bottom of the new trail.
Here's the middle of the new trail. It twists around the tree to the right.
Here's the upper part of the new trail. Note the cuts in the right side of the trail to allow water to drain off.
Further up the new trail. Note the logs and ground cover on the right, which fill in cuts on the side of the trail for drainage.
The view downhill (towards Kitchen's Lane) of the old trail that's now closed
The view from the top of the trail, looking down towards Kitchen's Lane.
Another view from the top of the trail showing the drainage cutouts in the left side of the trail. These are covered with vegetation and logs to route trail users to the correct trail, yet allow water to drain off.
The view from the trailhead near Monestary Stables
Here are the locations of each of the major projects along the trail. (GPS waypoints - +/- ~30 feet)
