Smith Lake Trail Update...

Beer Pine anyone? It's the new game invented by our summer trail crew while occupying themselves late into the night at the Smith Lake Base Camp. "It's like beer pong, but with lodge pole pine cones," said Carroll as he ate his lunch of sandwich and Cheez-Its, covered in sweat and dirt, sitting next to his trail crew cohorts.

Carroll leads our summer trail crew which consists of himself, Max and Little Brad. On occasion they are joined by Cosmo, Tyler, Evan, Greg, Ron, Brett, myself, and many others who either make the trek to volunteer with them for the day or simply pick up a Pulaski after a chance encounter on the trail. They boys are out there five days a week working on the rocky re-rout on Smith Lake which is replacing the old degraded trail. The work they've done is incredible and the views from the ridge are fantastic. Smith Lake can be seen on one side while the entire Mohawk valley can be seen on the other.

I've biked up to the work site several times to get the scoop on how the trail is going, deliver cookies, and get any good tid bits on the exciting night-life at basecamp. Spirits are high at Camp Quincy and all is going well there other than the occasional visit from a local bear, which the guys have named Bronco.

The skinny on the trail is as follows. Trail is 100% brushed and about 60% complete overall. What does that mean? Well, you can walk the whole thing now, but only about 60% is really ready for prime time. The rest still needs to have manzanita stumps and rocks removed. The trail should be done by the end of August.

One one of my visits, I gathered some stats on our trail crew.

Carroll

Title: Fearless Leader
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 168
Song stuck in head when doing trail work: Hall & Oats: Rich Girl
Favorite Tool: "Poonjar"
Kryptonite: Indian Spirits and Backgammon

Max

Title: Master Blaster
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 170
Song stuck in head while doing trail work: Will Smith - Big Willie Style
Favorite Tool: Blaster
Kryptonite: too much Gin and tonic

Little Brad

Title: Breakdancer
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 116
Song stuck in head while doing trail work: Notorious BIG - I love it when you call me Big Papa
Favorite Tool: Gin and Tonic
Kryptonite: trying to reach for stuff on the upper shelf cabinets

Cosby

Title: Spiritual Guide
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 175
Song stuck in head while working: Billy Idol - Rebel Yell
Favorite Tool: Pulaski
Kryptonite: listening to complaints

Tyler

Title: Lead Mechanic
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 155
Song stuck in head while working: Korn - Evolution
Favorite Tool: Pulaski
Kryptonite: Broken Bones

Evan

Title: Captain Ace-bandage
Height: 6'
Weight: 140
Song stuck in head while working: Chevele - Braniac
Favorite Tool: McCloed
Kryptonite: Rocks that smash your fingers

If you're in the area, go up and visit. Better yet, bring the boys some treats and help them build what is going to be a new gem in Lakes Basin. For more information on volunteering, contact Ron at ron@sierratrails.org.

More pics...