The Backcountry News Winter 2013 Unit News
REDSHANK RIDERS REVIEW OF 2012 ACCOMPLISHMENTS By: Stacy Kuhns/Michael Lewis
To kick off the year, our packing clinic went off without a hitch; Mike heading lead off for the day with the help of others. By the end, of the day everyone was throwin’ ropes and tying loads. It was a fun time with a great turn-out.
For this year’s unit raffle Mike Lewis has built a pack saddle. He has been our packing leader and has done a fantastic job. He has taken two more families under his wings to help them learn how to pack. This includes Stacy Kuhns, our president and Audrey Turpin, our 2012 vice president. They have been enthusiastic and ready to help at every turn. It has been a great year for our group.
Our relationship with the local agencies has been spectacular! The lesson learned is that we have been communicating better with the agencies and it has been is paying off. We have a better attitude throughout our unit now regarding coordination with these agencies. It is awesome!
Lots of packing opportunities: We have been packing supplies in for multiple groups including the Cal
State Parks, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Student Conservation Agency (SCA), Cal Conservation Corps (CCC), and Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA). This year we hauled over 50 loads for a weight of 8500 lbs. This doesn’t include any of our unit projects.
Mike Lewis at the RSR Pack Clinic 2012 We were asked by State Parks to assist the CCC on the
San Jacinto State Park Fuller Ridge Project on the PCT, by helping to packing their gear and food throughout the summer months. This project was in its third year and has been from May thru Oct. We have had a good time meeting lots of nice people that are working hard on repairing the PCT. We have uncovered hives of bees, a hiker with 10- 5 gal pails tied to his pack (very scary) and overall it has been a great experience for all of us.
The PCT has also asked us to assist the SCA on the Mission Creek Pack projects. Don Line, a
PCTA section chief, asked for pack support for his Trail Gorilla crew up at Snow Creek for a one week project. We were asked again this year to pack equipment and supplies for The Scientist (a research crew from the San Diego Natural History Museum), into the Admin Camp which is on the top of Devils Slide. We returned the following week to pack their gear and samples back down.
Stacy riding & packing - Fuller Ridge Pack-In
Trail recon is a very important part of helping share knowledge of where there are potential trail issues for pack stock. This year part of the recon was from Fobes Saddle to Apache Springs. Rock and trees removed along the PCT and feeder trails near Spitler Peak, Anstel Rock and Strawberry Cienega.
PCTA Trail tool School was held in Temecula and it had useful classes in the maintenance and use of hand and power tools used in trail maintenance. And the fun part was blasting rocks with the Boulder Buster. The San Gabriel Trail Builders sponsored a two day Rigging Class that taught safe use of grip hoists, cables, and blocks to safely remove large obstacles from trail. We attended PCTA's two day Trail Skills College. It was held in the Lytle Creek area and there were many courses offered from basic trail maintenance to rock work. The Rock Work course showed how to install check steps which slows water down on the trail to help keep the trail sustainable.
Audrey & Stacy ~ Mission Creek Pack Support Page22
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