wild stew field crew: Tread Train is Back in the Station!

Written by Joseph Cofresi, Wild Stew Field Crew Leader.

The Wild Stew Field Crew returned once again to the Chiricahua Wilderness, this time venturing to the south side to work along the Rucker Canyon Trail #222. After a relatively short hike in compared to recent hitches, we set up camp within a stone’s throw of Rucker Creek. Though we were hesitant at first of the pockets of poison ivy popping up along parts of the trail and other random spots around our camp, this campsite really proved itself to be a cozy little sanctuary after a long day’s work.

Our work this week was predominantly to construct a rerouted section of trail about a mile and three quarters in from the trailhead to replace a destroyed portion of the original trail and move it to a more sustainable location higher on the hillside along this highly eroding part of the creek, and ultimately to reduce the number of creek crossings in general.

Monsoon season is winding down
it’s the time we inch towards autumn now
But we’re not quite there yet
And you can bet the skies won’t let us forget

Leaving a constant cloud lingering up above
Blotting out blue skies as the wind gives it a shove
Most of the time this is what we love
But we can’t get up and fly away like the dove
So we dove right into the mountain side

All Aboard!
It’s time to take the tread train for a ride

Leading with Pulaski and rock bar as my guide
Rolling rocks downslope that we pried with pride

Next comes the heavy hitters, real rock splitters
Pickmattocks wielded by some real go-getters

Followed by the material movers and trail smoothers
The rogue-hoe shapes the slope while the McLeod soothes her

We may leave behind a moment of destruction in our wake
But we know that our construction will have what it takes

To last for years for our peers and the people of the public.
For their recreation is why we erect this creation

Seeing hikers hike while we build is pure inspiration
It makes this work a worthwhile sensation

As good as the feeling when you’re all finished
And the tread train is back in the station.

After spending most of our hitch on the tread trail, we completed a quarter mile mile reroute and even had time to improve another nearby section of trail that had been blown out from a landslide. The work was arduous and the days were long, but the crew prevailed and came out on top.

There are always a series of trials and tribulations when working on trails and this hitch did not disappoint on this front. Large rocks and stubborn roots often stood in our way while the weather tried to wear and weather us down whether we were welcoming of it or not. There was no escaping it. And I honestly think that’s how most of us prefer it. It was a good time to do some good work in a great place. Another opportunity for us to stay Wild AZ we can.