National Trails Day 1999

National Trails Day 1999 - Castle Rock

We're glad you can join us for National Trails Day at Castle Rock State Park!

No experience is necessary - all you need is a love for the outdoors. Just bring sturdy shoes or boots, long sleeves and pants, sunscreen, water, a snack, and gloves if you have them. Trail builders will meet at 8:30 am and work until 2:00 pm - (it's important to arrive promptly, or the entry gate may be locked).

Schedule of Events

Time	Event
7:45 a.m.	TC organizers arrive at Partridge Farm area to set up signs
8:00	Any Mountain organizers arrive at Partridge Farm area and begin set-up for registration.
8:15-8:30	Tool crew unloads tools at main CR parking area
8:15-8:45	Registration at Partridge Farm.
8:30-8:45	Welcome and orientation for volunteers (includes overview of project, safety talk)
8:45	Shuttle to main CR parking area. Division of volunteers into crews 1-2 and X (stair crew)
8:55	Crews 1-2, X head to work areas
8:45-9:00	Welcome and orientation for volunteers (2^nd round) (includes overview of project, safety talk)
9:00	Shuttle to main CR parking area. (2^nd round). Division of volunteers into crews 3-5
9:10	Crew 3-5 head to work areas
9:25	Latecomers shuttle to CR parking area. Crew 6 forms.
9:35	Crew 6 heads for work area
12:00	Snack break
1:30	Organizers begin set up for celebration at Partridge Farm
2:30	Ribbon cutting at Castle Rock for newly opened trail
2:45	Trail crews return to main parking lot for shuttle to Partridge Farm. Tool crew gathers and puts away tools.
3:10	Celebration begins. Presentations, raffles, etc. and BBQ!

Notes for Volunteers

Volunteers will receive sunscreen and caps from our NTD sponsors upon registration. Noah's Bagels has generously supplied bagels for all volunteers.
After registration and orientation, volunteers will shuttle from the Partridge Farm area to the main Castle Rock parking lot, where they will meet Crew Leaders, choose their work area, and pick up tools as directed by their crew leader. We will work in groups of 6-10. Crew Leaders will demonstrate proper tool use and explain the work their crew will be doing, including trail standards and conventions. Trail Center Crew Leaders and Trainees for this event are: Scott Heeschen, Tim Oren, Pat Oren, Bob Kelly, Darwin Poulos, David Crosby, Cathy Sewell, Dave Kison, Rich Allsop, Boyd Wise, Bill Henzel, Dave Croker, Geoffrey Skinner (Workday Supervisor), Ben Pease [possible]. See chart for description of work areas. They are all within the region between Locations A-E on the map and described in Project Info for Castle Rock, section 1.
Depending on the crews, some areas may be finished before others. Geoffrey will make reassignments as needed. Our objective is to completely finish the upper end, which will mean first to complete the reroute, including all finish work. We will want to clean up stray piles of rocks, repair any damage caused in rock mining, deal with any remaining brush (including additional brushing below switchback). Second priority is to effectively block the upper and lower ends of the old trail. Third priority is to restore the old trail and associated volunteer trails to as natural a condition as possible. If we don't finish with the last item, we will address it next time; conversely, if we have crews done well in advance of the ribbon cutting and nowhere to place them, we may begin prep work on the lower half of the reroute.
Please let your crew leader know if you are sensitive to poison oak. Only Crew 3 (see chart) should have any likely exposure to poison oak; even in their area, it is sparse and low-growing. The barbed wire is probably more hazardous. All other crews will be working in areas that are poison oak-free or have only a tiny amount growing in the area--your crew leader will point it out so you can easily avoid it.
We will have water available on the trail, but all volunteers should bring snacks as desired. A restroom is available next to Castle Rock.
Ribbon cutting (2:30) marks the real end of the workday. We will do the ceremony at the top end (photo op!), then do a walk-through of the new trail. Everyone will gather tools as they go, then hike out via Saratoga Gap Trail (Crews 4-5 can take their tools to the bottom, pile them at the midpoint, or carry them to the ceremony; Crew Leaders will be responsible for sweeps in those areas). That way we shouldn't have tools left along the trail and everybody gets to see why we're doing the reroute.
Shuttle back to Partridge Farm area will be as efficient as possible, and will likely involve whatever vehicles are parked at the main lot. Volunteers have the option of walking back either via Saratoga Gap and Ridge Trails to Goat Rock, or along road..
The presentation will consist of
- Thanks from Geoffrey and Kimberlyn Coker, our Any Mountain representative.
- Reading of Clinton letter to NTD participants
- Short presentation from ranger Miles Standish on the park and general plan
- Announcement of future work at the CR
- Raffle, T-shirts and other goodies for volunteers
Everyone is encouraged to help clean up before leaving.

Work Areas and Crew Assignments

#	Area	Leader(s)	Work to be Done		Tools
1.	Upper end of reroute	Scott Heeschen, Dave Keeson	Crew will construct a rock retaining wall and construct short length of trail; Some rocks may be collected locally, but crew should use wheelbarrow to collect rocks from down the trail-many rocks stockpiled that will have to be cleaned up by end of the day		Mattocks, bent shovels, McLeods, 1 or 2 picks, rock bar, lopper, saw, wheelbarrow, 1^st Aid kit, safety goggles
2.	Upper end of reroute	Tim Oren	Crew will connect existing trail to section constructed by Crew 1. No technical areas. Rocks uncovered should be sent to Crew 1 for use on rock wall.	Mattocks, bent shovels, McLeods, lopper, rock bar, saw, 1 pulaski, safety goggles
3.	Upper end of old trail	Darwin Poulos, [Ben Pease]	Crew will use logs and debris to close off top of old trail (come-along will be available). "Trail Closed" sign may be installed. Crew will work down trail to remove berm, clear drains (at timbers) and restore tread to natural conditions. Scarification as needed/possible. Brush and debris may be collected from surrounding area. Use trails should be addressed as time permits (1 well-established)	Mattocks, bent shovels, McLeods, loppers, saws, 1 pulaski, come-along
4.	Lower end of old trail (from saddle)	Pat Oren, Bill Henzel	Same procedures as Crew 3. Prominent use trail to be closed	Same as for Crew 3, plus 1st Aid kit
5.	Lower end of reroute	Cathy Sewell, [Boyd Wise]	Crew will construct tread from stairs to saddle. Some poison oak and old barbed wire in area. Close off new use trail from bottom of stairs; restore with debris. Brushing tools needed.	Mattocks, bent shovels, McLeods, loppers, saws, 1 pulaski
6.	Area near switchback and elsewhere on trail	Rich Allsop, [Dave Croker, Bob Kelly]	Crew will widen trail below switchback, then clean up problem areas all along reroute.		Mattocks, bent shovels, McLeods, 1^st Aid kit.
X.	Stair crew	Dave Croker, Bob Kelly	4 people (total) to finish putting in stakes for stairs. Members will join other crews upon completion OR work on other problem spots.		Bent shovels, 2 sledges, safety goggles