(239) 7/10,11,12/2026
Appalachian Trail at Agony Grind
project completed

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Friday 7/10/2026
There is a blowdown in the parking lot

Blowdown is cleared by our crew

Morning safety meeting

The final push begins

Howie starts making a base
for the next step

Using rock bars to make it right

Making it level and checking the rise

Next is a big anchor rock.
This will keep it stable and in place

Jeff adds a little crush to fill in the gaps

Howie has the next base ready

And here comes the step

The step fits in nicely
with a little help from a pick mattock and a rock bar

Again checking the level and rise

Adding large crush to fill in the void.
Next we will add smaller crush, then the step

The next step is on the way

Looks like it will be a great fit

It was a great fit, now adding crush for the next one

Adding a block in this tree
will help us move the very last rocks

This big one will be a long step

Only a few more steps needed,
so Jeff is on the hunt for the right ones

End of day crew meeting.
Looking forward to finishing our project this weekend

Friday time lapse video
Not the full day, just a short slice

Saturday 7/11/2026
There's excitement in the air.
We're getting near the end

Everyone is ready and eager to get started

Stephanie starts splitting another rock

This is the final section.
It will need several more steps

Howie checks yesterday's work
making sure it didn't move overnight

Marci and Terri still making crush.
We need crush to the very end

Looking for our next step

George sits patiently waiting at the griphoist

Preparing the base for the incoming step

And here it comes,
using a modified highline to move it

On another section of the trail,
steps and a water bar
added as preventative maintenance

Lunch time,
Stef really knows how to chill

After lunch, Bob slowly moves it into position

This big step will give us a longer run

Big step video

Now setting it into place.
Tomorrow we will add anchor rocks

Many thru-hikers passed through today

Thru-hiker video

Almost to the finish line.
Just a little more to go

End of day crew meeting
all tucked into the shade

Saturday time lapse video

Our parking lot

Sunday 7/12/2026
A large crew of 20 volunteers out today

This is the Appalachian Trail
we are right in the middle of thru-hiker season

Partway up the mountain,
Dan begins to build a resting bench

He puts a rock under this one,
so we can put a sling around it

Chris hooks up a rope-puller

Using the puller to lift the bench rock

And set it down into position

The bench passes Howie and Dan's sit test

Back at the top,
Howie and Joe prepare the final base

And adding plenty of crush

Securing the final step

Adding a dam to hold back
the final section of crush

We will add more crush then mineral soil,
to make the trail blend right in

Jeff has found a perfect anchor rock

We'll use this one to block off the old trail

Securing the steps and defining the trail

One final anchor rock

Crushing in the final section

Adding the mineral soil

Stephanie uses a hazel hoe to tamp it down

Project is now complete

Last crew meeting for this weekend

Sunday time lapse video



© Marty Costello 2013 - 2026