(Oops, title is wrong should be Dry Ridge, I don't know how to change it) I did some work on that little used section of the #517 from its intersection with the Dry Ridge down to the Roaring River – well, I ran out of energy about half way down. I only mention this for the bonus points if any are left. The trail is faint and overgrown in places so I chopped some brush – vine maple and rhodies. Most of the downed trees were/are small.I could use a larger folding saw if anyone has a recommendation – the little one I have is good for about 10" or less. I crossed the Roaring River and hiked north up the very clear and in good condition #517 to the 4611 and returned on Sounds Trail. I regret not taking the longer route via Huxley Lake Trail but it was getting late. The Sounds trail is OK with a couple of spots of downed larger logs that I think have been there for a while. The start of the trail from the 224 side has a few smaller downed trees that I think I"ll dispatch next time I"m over that way. Lots of branches on Sounds – I don"t think it has seen much traffic this year – I cleared what I could. Oh, at the north end of Sounds the meth lab (or whatever they were up to) has been completely cleared – can"t tell they were ever there.         Crossing the RR     The old sign indicating the road at the northern trail head of the 517 has been removed and replaced.   New sign  

Yes, definitely you should receive bonus points. I like the before and after pics. Nice work!

Thank you Paul. That is one of the hardest stretches of Grouse Point to get taken care of. Also good to hear that the lab is cleaned up. We may have to see about getting you a Ginzu saw. Don, show him a picture. I nominate you for a Bull of the Woods pin.   Donovan

Donovan said:

[...] We may have to see about getting you a Ginzu saw. Don, show him a picture. I nominate you for a Bull of the Woods pin. [...]

Thanks Donovan and Kirk, I'd like to see the picture of a Ginzu saw - is it a Ron Popeil product? And I like pins, I hope I win.   Given I know nothing about twist and bind my trail clearing is going to limited to smaller stems and things that can be done safely by one person.   --Paul

Paul: First off, thanks so much for doing that maintenance - that is the section we did on the "death march" I went on with you a couple of years ago.     That is a section that really needs some attention, and is really hard to get to.   Secondly, the ginzu saw is some kind of Japansese saw with these really weird teeth - they are amazing saws and chew through limbs in nothing flat.  I need to get one as well.  They could take care of a majority of downed logs over trails, as many of them are small enough to be cut with a saw like that.  I'm limited in what I can do by my loppers.  Still important work (brushing), but it feels so good to get downed trees off the trail.   Lastly, I was able to fix the title of your posting, but I couldn't find any way to do it other than to change it in the back end database.  It should be OK now.   Thanks again for your help in maintaining our district trails!   Rob

Great work Paul. I don't think I have even been up Sounds this year. It use to be my winter trail of choice, before I found others higher up the Clackamas that have drawn my attention and seem to stay open during the winter also. Here are a couple of pictures of the"Ginsu saw" otherwise known as a Silky Sugoi that is 24 inches long and straps to your leg. I bought one a few years ago to use, and now they seem to be the FS saw of choice for the trailcrew. I think they run about $80 for the saw and scabbord, with the replacement blade $40-50. I don't leave home without mine. Don

Donald Presley said:

[...] Here are a couple of pictures of the"Ginsu saw" otherwise known as a Silky Sugoi that is 24 inches long and straps to your leg. [...]

Thanks Don for the info, mine is on the way...   --Paul

Hey, that's cool.  I cleared the west end of that trail a couple months ago, didn't figure it would get any use besides the kyakers.   Even got to break in my crosscut. A hell of a trip down 4611...every spring for the past few years I tried to make it out there.  Once a year is enough. Are the big piles of brush still along the abandoned road from 4611 to the trailhead? We had hoped to deter ATVs from driving down there since it isn't really a road any more, especially with the marshy section. Loppers are an excellent addition to your tools, I bring them everywhere.  

Robert Koscik said:

Hey, that's cool.  I cleared the west end of that trail a couple months ago, didn't figure it would get any use besides the kyakers.   Even got to break in my crosscut. A hell of a trip down 4611...every spring for the past few years I tried to make it out there.  Once a year is enough. Are the big piles of brush still along the abandoned road from 4611 to the trailhead? We had hoped to deter ATVs from driving down there since it isn't really a road any more, especially with the marshy section. Loppers are an excellent addition to your tools, I bring them everywhere.  

Robert,   Thanks for the work on the kayaker section of the 517 (and all the other places you work on), like I said, it is in good shape. I do not recall seeing any piles of brush on the 4611 - nothing really to stop them from going in there. I carried some pruning shears but I need to get something that is still small but with longer handles.   --Paul

FYI, I bought a set of loppers at Home Depot that are light, have short handles (so you can put it in a daypack) and it has a gear system to make up for the shorter handles.  They work pretty well, and I can cut limbs up to about 1" with them.

Paul Turner said:

Thanks Don for the info, mine is on the way...

So, Paul, where did you get yours?

Rob Williams said:

Paul Turner said:

Thanks Don for the info, mine is on the way...

So, Paul, where did you get yours?  

Rob,   $87.00 from Amazon via 3rd party - Bailey's Power Equipment. I'm lazy - I didn't shop around likely better deals out there, free shipping.   I'll stop by Home Depot and check out the loppers.   --Paul