Don't complain until you've cleared a trail

Have you ever been on a hiking trail and thought, “Who in the hell takes care of this path and why aren’t they doing a better job of it?” 

Fallen trees across the trail, shaky bridges over swamps, confusing or nonexistent signage, and just overgrown branches make all the more challenging what is perhaps an already a difficult journey. 

Guilty!

This weekend has reshaped my attitude toward hiking trail conditions. An outdoor club of which I am a member has as one of its responsibilities the maintenance of the Border Route Trail - a 65 mile path that follows the Canadian border in northern MN. About a dozen Rovers made the six hour drive north to spend a couple days camping, socializing, and actually working on the trail.

We had several tasks:

• To add metal signs to unsigned portions of the trail that reflects its new status as part of the North Country Trail (Amazing how much work putting one of these things is.)

• Repair two bridges on the east end of the trail
• Add blue blazes on tree trunks for route guidance
• Use a chainsaw to clear large deadfall lying across the trail
• Use loppers and handsaws to clear overgrown branches and small deadfall in the path

After a demonstration and practice on how to install new metal signposts, I joined the seven members of the trail clearing crew. Shuttling to the trail head with our gear, we spent the day clearing and blazing the first five miles of the trail. It was hot, sweaty, buggy, and tiring. But rewarding. Good company and some amazing views were our reward.

A cold beer and a quick swim in McFarland Lake cooled one off at the end of the day. Suppers and breakfasts were communal. The tent and sleeping bag felt pretty darned good each night.

I probably did not contribute as much as I could or should have. I used my car as a shuttle. I lopped. I moved logs. I painted blazes. I carried a supply bucket. And I learned just how much work maintaining a trail actually is. Of the trail’s 165 miles, it took eight of us most of the day to clear just five of them.

So next time I am on the trail, I will be grateful for the bridges that are stable and the paths that are clear. Not grouse about the small annoyances while wondering about the competence of the trail caretakers. Now that I’ve been one of them.*

*Perhaps each of us should spend a day or two being a classroom teacher, a snowplow driver, a fast food worker, a nurse, or in any job which seems to draw criticism…

Comments

[Joy]

Thank you for your service.
Any poison ivy up there?

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Joy,

No poison ivy that I know of. Plenty of mosquitos and one worker got stung by a hornets. No big issues overall,'

Doug

[Pam Tavernier]

This is great Doug! We so appreciate you coming and helping. Everyone contributes and the teamwork is rewarding.