Trail Crew Updates
Work is now complete on the construction of a new 35-foot trail bridge over Avery Creek at the junction of Avery Creek and Buckhorn Gap trails.
This project, long in the making, will provide better connectivity and an improved trail experience for all users, while also directly serving the needs of the resource and Avery Creek itself.
The construction of this bridge will allow us to decommission a short section of Avery Creek trail directly beside, even at times in, the creek.
In addition to closing out the decommissioned trail, our Invasive Plant Management (IPM) Crew will then restore sections of eroded streambanks, stabilize sources of sedimentation, and revegetate the area with doghobble and livestakes this winter.
The process began with the mobilization of materials and equipment, with our Trail Crew transporting the huge glue-laminated beams, sills, decking, and hardware down the trail approximately 2/3 of a mile to the worksite.
From there, the crew cleared vegetation from around the bridge site, set the 12” x 12” sills and built abutments, and then got to the task of manipulating the beams into place.
Utilizing rigging to set up a highline and equipment to help move each beam into place suspended across the creek, we set the three stringers and proceeded to decking, handrail, and ramp construction.
With the bridge itself complete, the crew constructed turnpike and new trail connections from the bridge to the existing trail on each side of the creek and closed out the existing, degraded section of Avery Creek trail now made unnecessary by the new bridge.
Many thanks to the Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority and Athletic Brewing for their financial support of this project, which is providing long-needed improvements to Pisgah’s trail network.
With work completed on the new bridge over Avery Creek, the Trail Crew will be moving to the section of Buckhorn Gap trail just above Twin Falls. They’ll repair sections of severely gullied tread, install drainage features, and make other needed improvements in the coming weeks.
Welcome aboard to Kevin, Melissa, and Trae
Now is also an apt opportunity to welcome our three seasonal Trail Crew members, whose assistance on Avery Creek project was crucial to its efficiency and overall success.
Kevin Mathews joins us for his third season with the TPC Trail Crew; his experience and dedication to high-quality trail work will be a great boon as we continue our work over the next few months.
Also joining us are Melissa De La Paz and Trae Schadegg, skilled trail workers with experience building and maintaining trails at the Great Smoky Mountains, Cape Cod National Seashore, Grand Teton and beyond.
Join me in welcoming these three to the TPC team!
Invasive Plant Management (IPM) Crew Updates
Having tied up work for the year along Avery Creek Road last month, our IPM Crew began work on our initial treatment of invasive plants in and around Davidson River Campground.
This major project will occupy the crew for the majority of the coming months. They’ll perform cut-stump treatments on the mature stands of autumn olive and privet that dominate the understory and the infestations of bittersweet, multiflora rose, and other invasives that choke out competing native understory species.
With Davidson River Campground currently closed for the implementation of a major bathhouse replacement project, the timing for this initial treatment is perfect.
In these initial stages of the project, the crew is focused on addressing each campground loop and individual campsite area methodically. So far, the crew has performed treatments around the Sycamore, Apple Tree, and Dogwood loops.
After working through each campground loop, the crew will transition to treatments in more dispersed areas of the campground’s footprint, including significant infestations along the Exercise trail.
Many thanks to you all for your continued support of The Pisgah Conservancy and Pisgah National Forest!