New Trail At Pierce Creek!

I never imagined, when we moved to Iowa, that we'd get the opportunity cut a new trail through timber!  There's so little left, most has already been designated for whatever purpose, usually hunting.  But - with the forethought of some inspiring people, Pierce Creek Recreation Area is still working to add what horse trails they can.

Our SW Chapter of BCHIA had this on our list for the year & we were determined to do what we could to help get this long anticipated perimeter trail laid out & cut in.

Butch & Pat 

 We started off one of the existing trails, in the SW corner - just off the far end of the campground.  That's the place where I'd walked in with the Ranger & Skid Steer operator in September.  Our hike then, was to familiarize me with the tentative path where the trail would go.  We'd followed the ribbons that Randy had put up in March.  Today, I didn't get photos of that area, I was busy leading the way - trying to spot one marking ribbon & then going to the next.

Near the SE corner~

 With chain saws blazing away behind me, once Butch was used to finding the ribbons, he & Robert went ahead, while the rest of us picked up their mess & cut & chopped where we could.

Butch cutting back the Sumac

 Even after our hard freezes, it was just amazing how much brush we had to get through.  Randy gave us some lee-way in where the trail would lay, so we did our best to give it some nice curves.  We kept to high ground & avoided the widow makers that we couldn't reach to cut down.  We did our best to get in every foot of mileage that we could.

Robert & Amy~

 There were times that the undergrowth was so thick we couldn't even see the person nearest us!  Finding ribbons became an art-form!  :-)  Eventually, we rounded the corner & could just see the fields to the east!

Heading along the eastern edge~

 We ran into huge multiflora rose bushes, almost as big as trees, sending tendrils in all directions.  Even Goose Berry became an enemy & I don't even want to mention the Locus Trees with their long, nasty thorns!

Butch heading along the eastern edge~

 We had such high hopes of getting all the way through - at least I did!  We all continued on, as the sun got lower & lower on the horizon.  We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day for trail work!  Cool, cloudy & no bugs!  Later when the sun appeared, the woods became so beautiful!  Finally we hit a spot along the creek on the north edge, where the undergrowth was just too thick for the tools we had & the strength we had left!

Where we gave up clearing~

It was after 4 p.m., we were all tired, none of us had even taken a break & Pat mentioned Jo's chili was waiting back in camp!  I wanted to get the entire trail on my GPS, so two of our group turned back to pick up our coats & miscellaneous gear while the rest of us forged forward again looking for ribbons.  The ones we found now, were fresh - Randy had said he would get out to add ribbons to aid us in our quest.  We were actually glad, once we broke through, that we hadn't started from this end.  Our chain saws etc., were put to much better use the way we'd come.

Pat, Richard, Robert & Butch~

 All these guys were sporting bloody wounds by the time we came out on the trail!  We hustled back to camp & it was with sweet relief that we sat down to a bowl of Jo's hot chili, chips & Joyce's wonderful brownies!

Can you see  our trail?

 After our rest, Butch & I headed back up - I had promised some of the ladies in our matt-making group that I would try to bring back some hedge apples for them.  I also wanted my Garmin to have the entire route.

One of the easier sections to clear!

We were thrilled with the work everyone had done.  In WA, this would now be considered a trail & with the horses going over it, would soon be well settled.  Here though - wider trails mean less trail maintenance & a lot is done with the machines. 

Perimeter Trail~

In January, Terry will be out with the skid-steer, especially adapted for trail-clearing.  I understand that it's a Beast!  I do hope to come out & see it at work - from a distance!