Audubon Mountain: August Trail Crew Update
If there was one word to describe August on Audubon Mountain, it would be rocks.
Rocks in the trail. Rocks under the trail. Rocks that had to be moved before we could even find the dirt we needed to build trail. Despite the challenge, our Trail Crew completed 1,813 feet of new trail during the month while working through some rugged terrain and enduring the hottest days of the summer.
Much of this section follows an old “wild land” trail corridor, which has been both a blessing and a curse. In some places, previous use helped reduce the amount of clearing required. In others, years of accumulated duff and organic material buried potential tread and construction materials, forcing the crew to spend extra time digging to find solid mineral soil.
The biggest story of the month was the constant battle with rocky terrain. Some stretches required extensive excavation just to establish tread, while others called for moving large stones before work could continue. When the mountain got steeper, those rocks became valuable building materials. Over the course of the month, the crew constructed 20 rock steps, helping create a sustainable and enjoyable hiking experience through the roughest sections.
Fortunately, not every foot was steep. The crew occasionally found gentler grades and pockets of easier terrain that allowed production to pick up and helped balance out the slower, rock-heavy sections. Even so, roots, rocks, and limited construction materials remained a consistent theme from start to finish.
Of course, August wouldn’t be August without the heat. Long days in hot, humid conditions added another layer of difficulty, but the crew continued making steady progress and came away feeling good about what was accomplished.
By the end of the month, nearly four-tenths of a mile of new trail had been added to Audubon Mountain. Progress through terrain like this is rarely fast, but every foot completed brings us one step closer to connecting McGill Creek Gorge and Rock Creek Gorge. We look forward to seeing what the crew can accomplish as cooler temperatures begin to arrive this fall.