The Ohio Trails Partnership

Hocking State Forest - March, 2007  

                                                                        ........(Day 2 - "Fat Man's Squeeze)
On day 2nd day the work crew was at it again, and this time our equines got a chance to show their stuff.  The end goal was to get 30 Ton of stone and screenings up a 900 foot steep, narrow trail to "fat man's squeeze".  The trail between the rocks was collecting water and the surface needed hardened.  It just so happens that the trail up the hill was the site of the very first Ohio Trails Partnership work weekend 6 years ago.  The old trail used to go straight up the hill and was in bad condition.  165 Volunteers from the Ohio Horsemans Council, Buckeye Trail and the Mountain Bike Associations benched in a new trail which needed multiple switch backs to give the trail a better angle to shed water and not erode.  The trail was in great shape - but the area just beyond was in need of assistance.

The first trick was to get to the worksite from the rappelling area parking lot..  The crew included 60 human laborers and 17 equines.   

1st you need to sign in

Humans get to use the footbridge but.....

The equines have to get their feet wet........

The high water on the first day prevented the horses from working in this location on the Saturday, but by Sunday the water was down enough that the horses could cross safely.

                            And some were more willing than others     

ODNR provided a 30 Ton pile of gravel at the bottom of the trail.  The crew at the bottom filled buckets and bags, then loaded  the horses

                                                        and then it was up the hill....

A grid and geotech fabric provided a foundation for the gravel  

And it wasn't just horses that were getting the job done .....we even had an energizer bunny who kept going ...and going ....and going......

There were a few that actually had pack saddles and dump bags, but for the most part our gear was "experimental".    (more info on pack systems)

Dumpbags

Pack saddle and dump bags

Plywood boxes

Homemade racks

Haynets and feed sacks

   The crew at the top unloaded the horses and spread the gravel   

and sent them back down for more                                  

                                                   with a short breather waiting for the next group                

 

  

By the end of the day a lot had been accomplished

and it was time to go home 

A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who participated in this work weekend.  It is truly incredible what passionate like minded people can accomplish.

YOU ROCK!