On Monday, August 28th, PLAN held an all-day ADK Training Event with Charlotte from the Adirondack Mountain Club.
Charlotte serves as the ADK Mt. Club’s Trails Manager where she trains both the professional and volunteer trail crews. She herself has had 5 seasons of experience on their professional trail crew prior to her current position. With her guidance and expertise, a team of 17 volunteer stewards from PLAN and other local land trusts worked together in installing drainage areas and rock turnpiking at Barkersville Conservation Easement in Galway.
Throughout the day, participants hiked to various wet spots on the trail and learned useful methods and techniques for addressing them. Some of the skills used to complete such projects included excavating soil, removing roots, finding, moving, and setting rocks, and creating crush from stone. The teaching of these skills was supplemented with discussions and demonstrations surrounding proper tool use and safety. With so many hands and minds at work, the group was able to quickly and efficiently address many of the consistently wet areas on the trails.
Overall, the event was a great collaboration between land-driven organizations and the like-minded people located at the heart of them!
– Magnolia, Education and Conservation Intern, WWPP & PLAN Partnership