Event Location: Waterville Valley NH
Trip Leader(s)
Meeting Time: 8:00 AM
Max # People: 15
Guiding / Event Fee: No, I will not be asking participants for money
Difficulty Level:
Moderate
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Help give something back to the forest and trails that serve us. We are looking forward to fun, hard work, comaraderie, new skills and friendships!
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 leads to a NH hundred highest: Sandwich Mountain at 3,980 feet. And nearby is Jennings Peak at 3,460 feet. Depending on group energy, we may try to summit Jennings Peak!
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'll look at them with a new set of eyes. Join GayOutdoors for a day of trail work on its adopted trails - Smarts Brook and Drakes Brook - to get them in shape for summer. Typical work involves clearing brush from the trails, cleaning drainages, removing fallen trees/limbs and painting blazes. You don't have to be an expert to join. All abilities and efforts are appreciated!
This is a rain or shine event, so watch the sky, and bring appropriate outerwear. We provide all the tools. 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. Work with us on Saturday and do your own thing on Sunday after breakfast. Feel free to come for the day, or the whole weekend, we are not picky about it, the more hands, the better!
We meet at our house start at 8:00am on Saturday to organize ourselves into two work parties. After choosing tools, we set out to work on our adopted trails for the day. It's a full day and we finish at 5pm. Water and snack breaks are encouraged and taken throughout the day. Lunch is on the trail [bring your own]. Keep in the mind the day involves hiking 8 miles [4 miles up a mountain], climbing 2300 feet, lots of bending up/down to clip brush and strength to remove blowdowns. If it becomes too much for you, you can turn around on your own and do a 'second trail mainenance sweep' on the way down. That's OK. You can wait for us to return back at the cars. After the hike we return back to our house to wrap up the day. We take showers and have cold beers/appetizers on the deck while enjoying views of Sandwich Mountain!
The bonus to get guys to work is free lodging at our house Friday and/or Saturday night and the kickin' hiker feed we put on...2 breakfasts and one dinner...all FREE! And we are not talking about a wimpy dinner. It's the sort of meal you expect from a high end restaurant. And Sunday breakfast? It's to die for!
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 us know which nights. Everyone else is welcomed to camp outside at my house, but again, let us know. ]
You can expect a friendly and fun group of guys. Even though we work hard, back at the house there is time to relax, chat, eat, and enjoy the views. Join us!
Please meet at my house for 8:00 am so we can distribute tools, split the group in two and arrange for carpooling.
Directions:
Take I-93 and use Exit 28. At the end of the ramp take right onto Rte 49 East for 3.5 miles and take a left on Burbank Hill Road.
During this 3.5 miles, you'll pass a traffic light where there is a dam on your right, then pass a White Mountain National Forest campground and then see the William Tell Restaurant on your left. About a mile after the restaurant, you'll see Burbank Hill Road on the left (Goose Hollow Campground sign). If you cross the Mad River on the bridge, you just missed the left turn.
Take a left onto steep Burbank Hill Road and you’ll quickly reach the top of the hill where you take your first right onto Upper Mad River Road (Hiking Sign). The road will soon turn into gravel, you'll pass two apartments on your right and then a house. My property begins right after this house and after about 200 yards you’ll see a mailbox with "676" which is my house. The house is not very visible from the road.
Please park your car in the upper lot at my house and walk down the driveway.
Outdoor Fitness Level: Very Strenuous
Outdoor Fitness Level: Moderate
Outdoor Fitness Level: Moderate to Strenuous