The Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) deserves a big “thank you” for the work they completed recently on the Big Tree Trail. They were onsite for two weeks in April to improve the trail and access to Big Tree.
They tackled work on the two uppermost switchbacks and trimmed back some trip hazards on the third switchback. In addition, they cleared away a large tree that had fallen across the trail during the winter months, and other logs and debris were removed as well. The WCC crew also raked the driveway down to Hidden Valley to make travel up and down by foot easier if visitors prefer using the driveway instead of the trail. They rerouted the trail around a part of the trail that had an extensive root structure over it to minimize trip hazards and protect the roots themselves too.
Throughout the length of the trail, the crew improved the trail by fixing tread, re-establishing the trail hinge, removing berms and fixing out-slopes as needed to ensure drainage. Other tasks completed include installing “cribbing” to raise the trail tread up to cover major roots.
They fixed one sign at the top of the hill near the entrance and repaired the bench near Big Tree. In addition, the crew checked all the railings of the deck around Big Tree to ensure everything is secure for visitors. Along the way, additional safety and protection elements were installed for trail support and to prevent hikers from going off trail, which erodes the soil and damages trees and plants.
Our partnership with WCC over the years has been amazing. It helps us keep up with all of the clean-up and improvements on our annual to-do list. We hope you enjoy the Preserve this summer, thanks to the good work of WCC.
– Jeff Wirtz, Vice President