Springtime

  • GET 2024 day 12, Oct 12, Saturday
  • Start San Mateo Spring campsite
  • End Springtime campground
  • Cleared all trees between Snn Mateo Spring and Springtime, with spot lopping

Packing up camp, my destination today is my car at Springtime, for modest resupply.

The oak at this elevation is getting its fall colors.

The views descending Apache Kid Trail do not disappoint.

The section of Apache Kid Trail between Shipman intersection and Springtime in not on the GET, but does provide access to the trail.

I cannot fully lop this section, but do try to work on the bushiest sections every time I pass through.

Before/After

I was surprised to see another hiker on trail, hunting bear, and we stopped and chatted a while. Here he is back at camp.

Many trees could be cleared easily, but then you get a fresh ponderosa blowdown that takes a good deal of effort.

The campground had several visitors, and I am glad to see it is being used and appreciated.

Finished audiobook Divots, by P G Wodehouse.

Saw 2

  • GET 2024 day 11, Oct 11, Friday
  • Start San Mateo Spring camp
  • Stop San Mateo Spring camp
  • Continued logging north on Apache Kid, another 0.35 miles

The work continues on Apache Kid, clearing several tangles and large logs.

Not as much trail distance today. But sawyer maxim is “Slow is fast.”

Tomorrow will be something different.

Finished audiobook More Tish, by Mary Roberts Rinehart.

Only Saw

  • GET 2024 day 10, Oct 10, Thursday
  • Start San Mateo Spring campsite
  • End San Mateo Spring campsite
  • Cleared uncountable trees from 1.0 miles of Apache Kid Trail

Today my plan is to only saw, and leave the loppers at camp. First the route goes through a burn area with many standing snags.

And then we get to aspen, early growers after a fire.

The aspen is really encroaching on the trail corridor, and it would have been hard to resist lopping if I had brought the tool.

Several tangles of trees are cleared. I can see from saw marks that a crew has already gone through cutting, but many fresh trees are down since then.

Before/After

Often trees can be moved off the trail without a cut, but long aspen and many!branching fir ensures that plenty of sawing was needed.

Being late in the season, possibly no one else will hike this trail before winter snow and wind. Try not to think about all the fresh blow-downs that will happen before the next hiker…