Trail Day Report – June 5, 2010

“Don’t worry, I’ve got a big job for you guys.”

Prophetic words from Graham Knell, North Vancouver District’s Trail and Habitat Coordinator. But not to worry, thirty-five Knee Knacker participants were more than up to the challenge of tackling one of our most ambitious Trail Day projects to date. The job? Build a new section of the BP trail in the Hyannis/Blueridge area. The existing section had eroded into the nearby creek. This caused a double whammy: the trail was flooding during rains and in return, silt and debris was washing into the waterway. Fixing this problem had been on Graham’s radar for a few years. This day, it would be so.

So how do you build forty meters of new trail?

First, add lumber. Not enough to build a house, just a few stairs and a retaining wall. Second, add a large assortment of hand tools. Include one chainsaw. Organize three teams to work on the lead-in stairs, the back-end wall and stairs, and the central pathway. Finally, drop in 35 caffeinated, muffin stuffed, eager volunteers for four hours.

Now with all the ingredients in place, start digging. Make noise as needed. Create a bucket brigade to deal with a seemingly bottomless pile of gravel. Use up steel rebar like it was free (well it was, kinda). Replant ferns to create that perfect coastal rainforest setting. Add more border effects. Talk and chat about your injuries and various runs, and every five minutes, ask, “Does anyone have a <insert name of tool here>?”. Finally, when all is said and done, dismantle and decommission the old section.

After a test run, we all stood back to admire our handiwork. It was very impressive for a day’s work, but nothing that isn’t always expected and given with the Knee Knacker. Well done!

Andrew Wong

(Trail Day photos by Karen Chow are here.)