AHS / PNTA Volunteer Vacation
Olympic #63
Olympic National Park
8/18/07 - 8/25/07

A crew of 5 volunteers showed their prowess with rock building and design during their work party in the Sol Duc Basin of Olympic National Park on the 3 rd week of August. During 4 days of rain and drizzle, the crew lined most low muddy sections and built steps on the Mink Lake – Deer Lake Loop Trail ¼ mile beyond 14 high use Deer Lake campsites. The loop trail is 12 miles in length and provides a shorter alternative to the High Divide loop for hikers in the Sol Duc Basin. The loop trail however is not as consistently maintained as the High Divide trail and although one may encounter a tennis-shoed hiker, there is often a look of pained exhaustion on their faces as much of the lowland sections of this loop are rocky and loose.

Four miles from Sol Duc Falls crew established a week- long base camp at the Deer Lake Group Site with the assistance of Kit’s Llamas. Rock and gravel was extracted from hillsides to build up the tread, create solid steps and build 2 water bars overlooking the river that feeds Deer Lake. Boulders up to 400lb were moved into place using timber levers and timbers for skids in an effort reminiscent of the building of the pyramids of Egypt. A section of trail approximately ½ mile above Deer Lake was developed as a re-route after spring runoff and trail had created a better stream bed than trail. The re-route was built initially from hiker patterns on the meadows in a parallel line to the trail. This work site also involved trafficking rock from the hillsides to build up a firm tread. The specifics of the week of work include

100’ of mud flats, hardened with rock setting, rock steps, drainage ditches and rock bars
1 mile of general trail maintenance at the extreme west end of the Low Divide
50’ tread work on the Low Divide
50’ of mud flats along a benchy low spot of the Low Divide, hardened with rock setting, and rock steps
30’ turnpike built on the mud flats

The crew of 5 volunteers and two PNTA staff completed an enormous amount of heavy and artistic rock work through a week of cold drizzle. Morale was kept high by the sourcing of many fine King Bolete mushrooms for sautéed for dinner appetizers in addition to much pasta. This crew distinguished themselves in their ability to work without supervision up to a high degree of design standards.

Click each thumbnail to enlarge.