FOS May 14, 2014 Group Work Day Activities

 

On the morning of May 14^th, FOS volunteers and DNR employee Heath Fraise met in the lower campground under the direction of Ringo Covert, Work Day Coordinator. The following was prepared using the follow-up report submitted by Ringo Covert to the Board.

Ringo Covert discusses the plans for the day with the volunteers.

The priorities for the day were to clear downed trees from trails, install 14 “You are Here” signs at marker posts on the trails, and to clean up around camp at both campgrounds. 

FOS had 16 volunteers there, at least two of which were new volunteers. The DNR representative for John Byrd was Heath Fraise who was very helpful. Everyone appreciated his being there for the day, bringing needed DNR equipment to use and helping out on the trails.

Preparing to go out on the trails.

Doug, Bob, and Bonnie plan their route. 

Weather conditions were cold and dry; trail conditions were very muddy.

The work day started at about 08:30 AM and concluded for most at about 12:30 with several people working a couple more hours after lunch.

Bob Achenbach and Doug Moothart cut up this large tree that fell
across the trail. (Photo by Bonnie Moothart)

For work out on the trails, crews of two or more people and one or two 4-wheelers carrying needed tools and signs to post were disbursed to assigned trail sections and directed to be back by noon. (Since phones do not work in most places on the trails, we can not count on using cell phones to communicate. As a result, no person is sent out alone onto the trails.)

Crews that included Brandon Sink, Craig Sink, Bob Achenbach, Neal Hartman, Bob Bender, Doug and Bonnie Moothart went out on the trails to remove downed trees and to pick up cans and litter from trails between trail markers 6 and 19.

Pete, Marsha and Martina load signs, posts and post drivers

Marsha Achenbach and Pete Jinkens installed 10 "You are here " signs. Martina Poggenpohl and Don Harris put up 4 signs. All 14 signs were posted! No one should find themselves lost for long with all those signs placed carefully around the trails as determined by Marsha and Debbie Miller.

Ann and Judy removing soiled hay left at a campsite.

Art, Judy and Ann cleaning out the horse shelter stalls.

At the lower campsite, Ann Bennett, Judy and Art Duke cleaned all fire pits, picked up trash from the area, cleaned some stalls and campsites left with manure and old hay. Small repairs were made to signs and tables. Ringo Covert and Lora Conrad swept, power washed and bleached the restroom facilities. At the top campsite all fire pits were cleaned, trash picked from the area, (stalls had not been used and did not need to be cleaned) and the restrooms were also power washed and cleaned. Recyclable cans were also collected and bagged.

Neal Hartman suffered injuries in a 4 wheeler accident resulting from the slippery conditions.  He is recovering with painful bumps and bruises and a broken finger but will be off work for several weeks.   Send cards to:    Neal Hartman, 4972 Sullivan Slough Road, Burlington, IA 52601.

Martina Poggenpohl captured this photo as Heath, Don
Harris  and Bob Bender
 unstick a 4-wheeler---conditions too muddy.

The lesson learned from this unfortunate accident is that if it is too wet to ride the trails on horseback, FOS will not take equipment out on the trails as the slippery conditions are a safety hazard for both using 4-wheelers and chain saws and there can be damage to the trails from using 4-wheelers to carry equipment. This was approved by the members of the Board of Directors present at President Ann Bennett's recommendation, Lora Conrad's second. The FOS Board and DNR staff consider personnel safety our #1 priority and will redouble our efforts to assure that all volunteers are working in teams and working under safe conditions, with appropriate tools and gear.

A brown bag lunch was enjoyed by some of the volunteers while some had to leave once the debriefing meeting concluded about 12:30. No further trail clearing work was done after lunch though Marsha and Pete did go back out and post the final 4 signs as they knew the trail conditions in the area they were going into.

Recommendations for the scheduled work day on July 12^th include to repaint all 4 restroom facilities and use walk behind mowers to clear narrow trails of multi-flora roses and weeds.

Neal Hartman with his three year old mare Reba
---he's not back to her training yet but he is much improved.
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