Another great NPLD, and another great service project completed this past weekend. On Saturday the bulk of the group met up at Smiths, while Coy and I went up the canyon early to meet with the Forest Service and pick up some last minute supplies. Once our trailers were loaded we started up the trail towards the project site with the intent of having everything setup when the main group arrived. On our way up the trail an abandoned snowmobile was spotted at a campsite, and it just didn't seem right to leave it there even if we were in a hurry, so we did some creative rearranging of our supply trailers, lifted the snowmobile into the bed, and strapped it down.

We headed on up the trail but by this time we were speaking with the main group via our HAM radios, and determined they were only a few minutes behind. Waiting at the narrows section, we all gathered back up and continued up the trail to the work site without incident. The fall colors were out in force, and it was awesome driving through the falling leaves.

At the first work site the fencing was leaning badly from years of snow pushing on it. Using a winch, we would straighten a post, reinforce it, and then move on to the next one. We also extended the fencing on one end where there was potential for it to be used as a bypass. While the group finished up on the first fencing section, a couple of us went ahead with the auger and fencing posts to the second area to get a head start. This area had been a nice grassy section with bushes and other plants just a few months before, however to our amazement users had begun to drive through it and started turning it into a very noticeable two track. By this time the clutch on the gas powered post hole digger had been pretty well broken in so we were able to make quick work of getting the posts in the ground which allowed the rest of the group to immediately start knocking out the rail installs when they showed up. Upon completion of the second section, we started on our scenic drive to Midway while taking mental notes of other potential projects along the way. The colors on the Midway side definitely did not disappoint, and the overlook into the valley was awesome as always. The group met up at the Dairy Keen for some great food and conversation. After a fun time at our late lunch, the group parted ways for the day with some of us heading home and some heading back over the alpine loop to drop off the snowmobile at the ranger station. A huge thank you to everyone who made it out to this, and other projects throughout the state on this NPLD. These projects help keep our public lands in good shape, and preserve them for future generations. Special thanks to those who put up with my slave driving tactics during the project, and powering through to completion. It was also awesome to have so many younger folks out with us working on the project, building an appreciation for the outdoors, and learning the value of service.

And a special thank you to Jensen and Vivian from Red Rock Crawlers for taking great photos and getting their members out to join us for the event. Thank you! Til' Next Time!