Work Party at the Springs 4/7/2010

[Willis]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2711/4501289035_de5fb95417.jpg (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2711/4501289035_de5fb95417_b.jpg)
Click the Pic
Shadowplay and I went back to the Springs in the PM. It was hotter than hinges of Hell, but luckily I did my usual watching while sp did the work. We concentrated on clearing the trail loops from the bathhouse past the fountain and down the hill the two springs. More clearing has to be done but I think it won't be too onerous-OTHER THAN- mowing. It would be great if we could get someone to trade off with sp. Mowing is not hard work, but tedious and tiring on those hot Summer days.

I'm up for giving a short talk on the history of S'dale Springs combining it with a little clearing of areas we haven't investigated. In the Flickr set linked below you'll find images of another foundation that we didn't know existed. The trails need to be blazed. I'm going to buy another bench to place about halfway along the trek back to the Historic area. Anyone want to help assemble it?

If you go back, don't forget to take some swimming gear. A young lady and some children in her care were having a splendid time by the water, They packed in a picnic lunch. It's just a beautiful place in which to recreate and commune with nature. Maybe someone with more vim and vigor than I can plan a Floatzilla (http://www.shannondale.org/foss/FOSS_Flotilla_5-27-2007/index.html) such as we had way back in 2007.

Enjoy the show
HERE (http://www.flickr.com/photos/94299223@N00/sets/72157623801884322/)
at step up to volunteer.
If you have any questions, post them.
You live in an extraordinary, special place.

[shadowplay]

The stone hole/foundation you found a bit SE of the bathhouse is interesting. Clearly it was a somewhat deep stone containment setup. Possibly for a pool of water from the wash that later spawned the bathhouse, a sort of proto-bathhouse. It is of older construction, like the foundation found by the large sycamore tree. The funny thing though, this one looks square, while the other older one is circular. Both are made from fitted, but uncut stone, seemingly predating the bathhouse.

[LFE]

This is great stuff, and we'll try to help when we can.
Did you get someone to put together a bench yet? That sounds like something I can do one of these evenings.

[Willis]

This is great stuff, and we'll try to help when we can.
Did you get someone to put together a bench yet? That sounds like something I can do one of these evenings.

Funny you should ask, LFE. I just this AM received two sets of bench standards-similar too those now at the springs
Look HERE (http://www.shannondale.org/foss/FOSS_Is_Benched_1_15_2007/index.html)
They are a bitch to assemble by yourself and each take 9 2x4x8 pieces of treated lumber. All I've received are the standards. shadowplay and I have a spot picked out for one about halfway back the trail to the bathhouse. But that area has to be cleared a bit to get the bench in the shade and up from the river.

As far as working back at the Springs, shadowplay has plans to mow soon. One obstacle on the horizon is Spring Gobbler season April 24th-May 22nd, but hunting is not allowed (wink, wink) on Sundays. We ALWAYS recommend Blaze Orange. Best suggestion about the work party-check with sp. I'll be available on most Sundays to watch if we can get a volunteer to man my info table at the Community Marketplace/Library.

We'll gladly accept donations for the bench lumber

[LFE]

Talk about timing... I just got a new cordless drill to help put them together with.
As windows of time arrive, I'll try to contact you to see if you have some time as well.

IF there is poison ivy around the planned places of placement, I will not go in.

[LFE]

The bench/table tops are ready....
All we need now is a clean up crew ready at the same time a key can meet us by the trail lock :-)

[shadowplay]

I should be able to make it, 2:30 tomorrow from what I've heard.

[Willis]

And I'll be there to watch. anyone else wanna come back and help just a little. You have the rare option of hiking in or driving back with the benches, workers and the one-eyed spectator. It promises to be short Sunday trip, cool weather, a little work and a peek at the last of those exquisite early Spring wildflowers.

[KatherineA]

shoot, I wish I'd seen this sooner.

[Starbuck]

Me too :( :(

[LFE]

2 new benches back there somewhere.
Although we took some pics, it will be bit before they get posted.

In the mean time, feel free to try an find em to beat us to the posting of pics.
We also really opened up a lot of the trails back there. And guess what Willis. The springs would seem to have claimed another pair of glasses.

[Willis]

There must be a Multiflora Rose bush that's seeing mighty good, now. Were they transitions, too? And thanks a lot guys, I got to see my cousins who hadn't visited since shortly after my Mom died.


WARNING


Eagle-Eyed Thorn Bush lying in wait at the Springs

[shadowplay]

Got a mowing done today as the grass has really been coming up fast this spring. I'll try and get the trail done later this week, then things will be in real good shape there. Pics show placement of the new benches. One is mid-way back off the River Trail, the other is currently on top of the bathhouse set up as a mini picnic table. It's a real nice view up there but people are free to comment whether they think there would be a better place for it. Oh LFE, I spent another 20 or so min. looking for those glasses, no luck.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8563744@N06/sets/72157623774991659/

[Willis]

Just beautiful. Remember, tho wear Orange and don't stray into the underbrush without making some noise. No, Gobble, Gobble wouldn't be a good idea. Spring Gobbler season opens for youngsters on Sat. the 24th and the regular season stretches to May 22nd. Sundays are supposed to be no hunting days. Remember to look for 2 sets of spectacles. We'll be going back soon for a mini work party and a history lesson.

[LFE]

6827682668256824
Thanks for spending some more time looking. At least my back, back up pair is back to being a back up again :-)
Wild colembine (sp) up on the big rocks as you enter the springs (could not tell what they were from the ground).
- good thing for 300mm zoom.

6823

BTW, I think mice have been chewing on the one bench.

[LFE]

Oh yea.... and we decided that the bench on top made a great safety device.
We were really worried about folks climbing up there and sitting on the edge :-)

[Tony]

Before we have a 'work party' we really need to decide where work needs to be done. And while we're deciding, let's not forget that "Shannondale Springs" now includes much more area besides around the old spring house.

[shadowplay]

I also mowed a bit above the actual hotel ruins. Once you cross a meadow there is a somewhat established single file trail. I could not continue along it w/mower once I came across repeated fallen trees, but I bet it hooks up to the Ridge Trail somehow. I'll get the River Trail done soon enough, so I'm not simply concentrating on a clearing around the bath/spring house.

[rooneymom]

Great job guys! Thanks for all your hard work. THe kids have been bugging me to take them back again. Just need a nice warm sunny weekend......

[LFE]

I also mowed a bit above the actual hotel ruins. Once you cross a meadow there is a somewhat established single file trail. I could not continue along it w/mower once I came across repeated fallen trees, but I bet it hooks up to the Ridge Trail somehow. I'll get the River Trail done soon enough, so I'm not simply concentrating on a clearing around the bath/spring house.

As my next few weekends are completly booked already, I could met you one day next week after work to continue our chain saw clearing efforts.

[shadowplay]

Sounds good, the thing to keep in mind over the next several weeks there is gobbler season though. I don't know if there will be much of any hunting activity, but it's something to think about. It would be interesting to clean up and follow that trail from the bathhouse across the ridge and see where it goes, and see if it's worth maintaining.

[shadowplay]

I got the River Trail and the Ridge Trail to up past the old barn mowed today. I'm going try to see if I can get that Ridge Trail to meet up with the one above the bathhouse. If I can find a way through that would be a trail worth cleaning up and maintaining. A ridge route to the Springs would be neat to have established.

[Willis]

Boyoboyoboy, that walk-behind, self-propelled mower was pulling its weight! There would be a lot og logistics involved IF we could get a grant to buy a zero turn mower (storage, maintenance, transportation etc.). But how nice it would be to open up the trails that the DNR has on their map but have abandoned. Access to the Springs when the river is high would be great. Hiking thru shoulder deep weeds and worse, Multiflora Rose, would be a test for an Army Ranger.

Great Job Shadowplay.

[shadowplay]

We don't really need a zero turn mower. Like you suggest, having it would not really be worth the trouble. The important trails can be identified, cleared, and maintained. We just have to scope out the best ones to work on and not let them get overly bad. The current mower we have is sufficient, but it is not really intended for the sort of work it is doing. It may well last fine, or need to be replaced eventually. I'm going to change the oil in it before I cut with it again, after this week's use, and treat it as well as I can.

I am however starting to get my usual benefit from the Springs work, bulging calves, in a good way.

[Tony]

I suppose circular trails are really out of the question, since they weren't designed for hiking.

[shadowplay]

I suppose circular trails are really out of the question, since they weren't designed for hiking.

Roughly, that is what I'm trying to establish, either with what's there or needs to be done. I'm gonna take a mtn. bike ride at some point and scope out what could be done in terms of a ridge/springs/river grand loop by using what I've done so far.

[LFE]

I think we should make giant patterns like the alien circle crops.
Get some news media attention focused on the area :-)

[shadowplay]

I think we should make giant patterns like the alien circle crops.
Get some news media attention focused on the area :-)

Easier said than done. I took a bike trip back there today and the two paths, one above the hotel ruins and the other which branches off from the Ridge Trail, do not meet as I'd hoped. If they did there is probably nearly a quarter mile of thick, sharp brush separating them. The Ridge Trail could use some additional clearing of several trees, but that is about the extent of what I could see doing in regard to trail clearing at this point.

[Willis]

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4546566617_87d647938d_o.jpg


I think the red line is what you were hoping existed, sp. There was a short cleared area up the hill from the bathhouse when we first visited the springs back in 2004. It went to where it was thought a bowling green was located. I recall ole Bill Hartgroves plowing ahead in his beat up scout trying to find that connection. I labled all the trails but the farm trail to the barn, the river trail we know so well and the short trail over the ridge and down to the parking lot across from the storage units.

So your plan to clear the trail to the second entrance is a good one to provide better access for fire and rescue as well as hikers. I expect the road will be pretty unforgiving to a standard SUV. Remember that Spring Gobbler season opens tomorrow and that area is frequented by hunters more so that the historic area.

[shadowplay]

I think you are right, Willis. I first got out to the end of the second meadow on the red trail from the barn, it's a beautiful spot. Just past there briars and terrain end things. The trail from above the hotel heads off in the right direction, but again hits briars and rough terrain. From the looks of that map though the two ends may not be as far apart as seems, but distance is relative in those woods.

[Tony]

distance is relative in those woods. Ya, because there's so much up and down. If this was flat park land, we could easily form a good trail loop that could be hiked in an hour.

[shadowplay]

I'd love to have a strenuous hiking, and a seriously, quality, mountain bike trail through the upper route. Not sure how feasible it is though. At least, this year.

In any case, things are the best down there this year for early access to the Springs, in our lifetimes. (srs)

[Carl_kps]

Let me know when I can help. I use those trails all the time for fishing and keeping them clear will directly is a big importance to myself. Make sure you PM Alicia also because she is on the site more that what I am, especially since it is fishing time.

[shadowplay]

Let me know when I can help. I use those trails all the time for fishing and keeping them clear will directly is a big importance to myself. Make sure you PM Alicia also because she is on the site more that what I am, especially since it is fishing time.

Thanks for the offer Carl, I'll definitely keep that in mind. It's kind of haphazard when I get back there. I do want to find where that spot is on the river you use out by the Springs to keep a path to it open. I've got a pretty good idea where it is, and I think I cleared to it last year.

[LFE]

We'll be ready for another round back there soon as well.... just gotta get to a few more items around here first :-)

[Carl_kps]

My spot is near the benches and is always open. I just would love to help keep that area and other areas open. Just let me know when I can help.

[LFE]

As we are all really busy (my next few weeks is in fact slammed with to-do's and obligations), getting or keeping a off forum list of folks to call when someone with interest has some cycles to spare might be a great way to go. This seemed to work well for the benches and follow up afternoon of clearing that followed with there installation. Once a time has been defined and we know at least 1 person will be back there with "the key"... its easy to post so others can come back if they have some cycles to spare but do not with to be part of a "list".

[Willis]

I'm not sure from whence you're coming LFE. We have the FOSS forum and we could establish a GROUP of peeps for specific FOSS projects/activities. But I don't understand the need for a separate list? The more folks that know we're doing stuff back there, imho, the better.

[LFE]

I keep up with email and phone calls better then the forum...
It was just a thought, and I was not excluding use of the forum.

[Willis]

Speaking from past experience with the BRILLO group, it's prolly best to keep it on the forum. Unless it's REALLY sensitive in nature, like the nude working/swimming party a couple of weeks ago.

[rooneymom]

, like the nude working/swimming party a couple of weeks ago.

No pics of that Willis?:confused2: