NY-NJ Trail Conference

Long Distance Trails Crew

We Rock Your Trail

(207) 3/21,22,23/2025
New York Long Path rehabilitation
on Tallman Mountain - Continues

3/21/2025
Jeff has the tools out of Marty's truck
and is ready to get started

Some of the big rocks delivered last week,
AKA upper rock pile

More rocks delivered last week,
AKA lower rock pile

Friday morning and a large crew is expected

Our worksite is just down that hill

This is day one for 2025.
First up is the highline
we need this to move big rocks

At the upper rock pile,
Marion begins to split big rocks.
We split rocks to make steps

Jim gives Marion a break and drills some holes

New volunteer Jarold,
giving the feathers and wedges,
a little tappy tap

Less than four minutes later,
it's a clean break

Jim starts rock number two

Another new volunteer Sebastian
gets his turn on the hammer drill

New Volunteer Ed tries his hand at hammer drilling

Next, Jim taps the feathers and wedges

Within five minutes, it split and fell apart

New Volunteer Jim
wants to try to split big rocks

While Marion works the feathers and wedges
Jim starts on another rock

Waiting for the rock to crack,
is like watching paint dry

All those split rocks,
have to be moved to the staging area

These rocks are heavy,
so it's an all hands on deck/rock/tub project

Planning the best way to move this rock

It is so big, it needed two tubs

Lunch break, and Wow look at the staging area,
all these rocks were moved here this morning

Howie, Jeff and Chris,
demonstrate the highline functionality and rigging

Taking time to explain the details,
keeps everyone safe

Back at the upper rock pile,
Marion keeps drilling big rocks

This is a thick rock,
so the holes are close together

A wide crack has opened up

and Bam!… another perfect split

Down the hill at the worksite,
excavation has begun

Clearing the way for crush and new steps

Back at the staging area,
preparing a rock for the highline

Howie places a sling around the rock

Chris attaching the highline block to the sling

Sebastian is standing by on belay

Beau and Jim waiting by the griphoist

“Tension hoist",
and the cable begins to tighten

There it is, our first “rock-on-the-line" for 2025

The first LDTC crew meeting for 2025

Thanks to all for joining together.
We look forward to seeing you again

A bright Saturday morning,
as we gather in the parking lot

Another great volunteer turn out,
Jeff leads the safety meeting with the new volunteers

First, let's move the rocks we split yesterday,
once in the tub, just muscle it over to staging

Hardhat, safety glasses, gloves and kneepads,
Len is well prepared

Sandy on her hands and knees clearing debris

Linda ,Terri and Trinity making crush

It's all smiles before moving this big rock

We call this a four man tub tow

Mom and daughter, our new rock splitting team

The chief will climb the ladder,
and set up spar tree #1

This spar tree is ready,
now onto the next one

Moving the ladder downhill,
to set up highline spar tree #2

Getting ready to extend the highline

Volunteers continue to make crush and build steps

Russ and Sandy pose for a photo op

How steep is our worksite ?
As you see, it's very steep

As the day warms up the frozen ground,
it turns to mud

After splitting rocks all morning,
Vivian and daughter Marisela,
wanted to see where they are being used

The weather warmed up just in time for a lunch break

After lunch, George gets to use the hammer drill

While Aarati patiently waits for her turn

The rock didn't completely split,
and it's time to go home.
We'll finish this tomorrow.

End of day crew meeting,
with many of us, shedding our jackets

Sunday morning,
and Trinity is back breaking big rocks

These remaining big rocks
will be part of a crib-wall

Now splitting big rocks in the lower rock pile

Down at the worksite,
Len continues to build more steps

Dan excavates a landing spot
for the gravel coming down the hill in the cargo bag

Lunch break,
finally the weather is getting a little warmer

After lunch,
it's back to building more steps

At the end of the day, Russ reviews our progress

Upper rock pile Friday morning

Upper rock pile Sunday afternoon

Lower rock pile Friday morning

Lower rock pile Sunday afternoon

End of day crew meeting.
Looking forward to seeing everyone again in two weeks

A short 2.2 minute look,
at our volunteers efforts