JUN 2014 - Shadowbrook and East Ridge

It took a little longer than usual (but not by much) to get going with 3 new people joining us with a new commute record by Florian traveling from Switzerland.  Ok he was on holiday and traveling in the area and decided to join us.  We broke up into 3 groups with Francis (group of 1) took on the huge project of staining the redwood round at HQ.  The rest of us headed out to take care of a 30" Madrone that we ran into last month across the fire road portion of Shadowbrook Tail near Sky Meadow.

First couple of cuts 

 Cleared the smaller 18" branch

Dale P. took a smaller team to check out East Ridge between Shadowbrook and Lodge Road.  They encountered 2 or 3 small trees and some brushing but more could be done.  In fact I've never been on that section.

The rest of us continued working on the Madrone and after a few more cuts we stopped for lunch thinking that one or 2 more cuts to fully open the road.

 This section took 6 people to move off the road.  It was heavy.

 Peter and Michelle

The saw started to leak fuel when we tried to start it after lunch and it was apparent that there was something wrong. This ended the day for this section.

Dale S. and I took apart the saw but couldn't find the leak and by the time we put it back together Dale P. and his group returned to Sky Meadow.

We put in 93 hours and I would like to thank Janie, Dale P., Dale S., Francis, Norm, David P., Joan, Peter, and Michelle.  Also thanks to new members Shelly, David B., and Florian from Switzerland.

See you on the trails.

Jeff

Birds of the Day

1 Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura

3 Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus

1 Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus

4 Pacific-slope Flycatcher Empidonax difficilis

2 Warbling Vireo (Western) Vireo gilvus [swainsoni Group]

3 Steller's Jay Cyanocitta stelleri

8 Chestnut-backed Chickadee Poecile rufescens

4 Pygmy Nuthatch Sitta pygmaea

1 Brown Creeper Certhia americana

2 Pacific Wren Troglodytes pacificus

2 Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa

1 Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus

2 American Robin Turdus migratorius

3 Wilson's Warbler (Pacific Coast) Cardellina pusilla chryseola

2 Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus

2 Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) Junco hyemalis [oreganus Group]

MAY 2014 - Pine Mt. and Shadowbrook

The day started a little cool but clear.  There were 3 regular crew members out and a family of 4 that were out to help and work on a project for their son's school project.  With the light crew, the work on the redwood round had to be postponed for another month.  The first report was on Pine Mountain Road just past the bridge across Bloom's Creek.  As I was telling the family when asked how far to the tree I said not far but we will see what is there when we get there.  Well it was very easy since it was already done but lucky it was only about 1/10 mile up the road.

Oak cut before we got there

Redwoods reaching for the sky on Shadowbrook

We are in the Marbled Murrelet breeding season so out came the Crosscut saw or Whip saw or just the Misery Whip.  Take your pick.  There was a 3" Tan and a 18" rottened Fir on the Shadowbrook Trail between Sempervirens Campground and East Ridge.  The Fir took 3 cuts and in about an 1-1/2 hours we had the trail cleared. 

 

This is where the Fir came from about 50 meters into the woods 

After Shadowbrook we head to Shadowbrook but the upper half.  We had lunch at Wastahi and then walked through Huckleberry campground and then along Union Creek.  We came across a large Madrone about 30".  We did one cut but we needed about 10 more to clear the trail but that is for a power saw.

Slug on the run

Semperviren's Falls

Tunnel view inside a burnt out redwood

We stopped by the Falls and stepped into a burnt out redwood on the full circle back to Wastahi.  It was a great bird day with 20 species and over 80 individuals.  We put in 51 hours and I would like to thank Mike and Norm and new members David, Louise, Claire, and Daniel.

See you on the trails

Jeff

Birds of the Day

Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata)

Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)

Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)

Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

Pacific-slope Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis)

Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)

Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)

Common Raven (Corvus corax)

Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens)

Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea)

Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)

Pacific Wren (Troglodytes pacificus)

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

Orange-crowned Warbler (Oreothlypis celata)

Black-throated Gray Warbler (Setophaga nigrescens)

Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)

Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)

Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus)