Tom Rankin
Well-known member
Laurie and I went to the 46R trailwork weekend at Putnam Pond this past weekend. We arrived just before 7:30 on Saturday morning, at the campground. Sure enough, there was a big blue tarp to mark the 46R 'encampment'. They had taken over a cul-de-sac and a large number of cars were already there.
We split up into 3 groups. Pete took his son Jean-Rene (or maybe J.R. took Pete!
) with Laurie and I, and a few others to go build water bars. Speaking of bars, I got to carry the 20 lb. metal bar that we used to pry rocks out of the ground with. Good thing the hike to the work site was short!
We all got to participate in every phase of the project. We had to saw/chop down a tree, cut it up in sections, peel the bark, haul the logs to the trail, dig out a trough for the log, create a drainage into the woods, and do whatever else needed to be done. We managed to set 5 bars in the trail, and create one step where a lot of erosion had taken place. The local DEC ranger stopped by and expressed his approval and thanks. A few hikers walked up and down the trail as we worked and most of them thanked us as well.
That night we had a feast! There was chili, steak, beer, wine soda, munchies, etc. etc. etc.
The next morning we returned for more blood, sweat, and tears. The rain was coming down lightly, but we decided to tough it out. Our assignment for the day was to go fix up a trail. There was still a lot of blowdown from last October's early snow storm, and a lot of muddy spots that needed filling in with rocks. It started raining really hard, so the task masters, I mean trail masters, called an early end to the day.
I learned not to bring my new clean pack! It's now a new dirty pack! Many people had old ratty packs that they seemed to only use for trail work days. There were quite a few folks with trailwork patches on their packs. One or more had the full '346-hour' cluster of patches, and Pete said there is talk of giving out a 1046 hour patch soon!
Thanks to everyone who showed up, helped with food, supplied tools, food, beer, etc! We had a great time!
I encourage everyone who is a 46R to give back a little every year, whether it's contribution$, or work, or activism, or whatever you can do.
Edit: Masculinized J-R's name!
We split up into 3 groups. Pete took his son Jean-Rene (or maybe J.R. took Pete!
) with Laurie and I, and a few others to go build water bars. Speaking of bars, I got to carry the 20 lb. metal bar that we used to pry rocks out of the ground with. Good thing the hike to the work site was short! We all got to participate in every phase of the project. We had to saw/chop down a tree, cut it up in sections, peel the bark, haul the logs to the trail, dig out a trough for the log, create a drainage into the woods, and do whatever else needed to be done. We managed to set 5 bars in the trail, and create one step where a lot of erosion had taken place. The local DEC ranger stopped by and expressed his approval and thanks. A few hikers walked up and down the trail as we worked and most of them thanked us as well.
That night we had a feast! There was chili, steak, beer, wine soda, munchies, etc. etc. etc.
The next morning we returned for more blood, sweat, and tears. The rain was coming down lightly, but we decided to tough it out. Our assignment for the day was to go fix up a trail. There was still a lot of blowdown from last October's early snow storm, and a lot of muddy spots that needed filling in with rocks. It started raining really hard, so the task masters, I mean trail masters, called an early end to the day.
I learned not to bring my new clean pack! It's now a new dirty pack! Many people had old ratty packs that they seemed to only use for trail work days. There were quite a few folks with trailwork patches on their packs. One or more had the full '346-hour' cluster of patches, and Pete said there is talk of giving out a 1046 hour patch soon!
Thanks to everyone who showed up, helped with food, supplied tools, food, beer, etc! We had a great time!
I encourage everyone who is a 46R to give back a little every year, whether it's contribution$, or work, or activism, or whatever you can do.
Edit: Masculinized J-R's name!
Last edited:
