Horse Nettle & Snake Root Trail Work Update

One of PCTC’s goals for the year was to add drain dips on several trails that are becoming severely eroded. The drain dips are designed to divert stormwater off the trail and prevent water from running along with the trail tread. We were able to partner with Blue Ridge Offroad Cyclists (BROC) as well as Malcolm Laing to use their mini excavators to complete this work.

The morning of our first workday, the weather took a turn for the worse and temperatures plummeted into the freezing range. Snow fell overnight and continued into the morning, coating the ground with something around an inch. Luckily the roads stayed warm enough to allow us to trailer the excavators to the job sites. 

We had two separate crews; one began at the upper end of Horse Nettle, the other on the lower end of Snakeroot. The Horse Nettle crew found that their machine ignition had iced up on the drive-in, but with some heat from their breath and a thermos of luke-warm coffee, they were able to get it fired up. After unloading, a quick test proved the ground was only mildly frozen near the surface, and dirt conditions were suitable (although not ideal) for digging. Matt piloted the excavator down the trail and began working.

The work crew on Snakeroot had a long approach to their worksite. After crawling the machine up the trail, they began moving dirt. The top inch of soil was frozen causing the dirt to peel up in large chunks. As the crew adjusted to the conditions, their pace increased.

As temperatures dropped throughout the day and winds picked up, the crews struggled to stay warm. The exhaust from the excavators proved to be a good heat source for warming extremities. As the sun sank and the numbness became unavoidable, the machines were switched off for the night.

The following day, the crews were greeted with rapidly rising temperatures. Equipment still needed to be thawed, but spirits were high and the coffee flowed.

By the end of the day, the crews were sufficiently tired and hungry. Each group had constructed nearly a dozen water diverters. Each diverted was designed to shed water off the trail for years to come.

Thanks to all the folks who helped out over the weekend. A special thanks to Malcolm Laing and Matt King for bringing the machines and operating them in adverse conditions.