Twice a year Hoofers volunteer to clean,check, and trim the vegetation on Pearl's Trail. This is a biannual hike done by Hoofer volunteers not only to keep Pearl's part of the Crest Trail clean (giving back to the forest for the beauty it gives us for hiking), but it also honors both Pearl and Jane (who ran these maintenance hikes for years before she passed away). As most of the Hoofers know, Pearl was instrumental in establishing the current day Hoofers. Because of her, we have the tradition to bring other women into the group from time to time to give us all a chance to enjoy the outdoors and the camaraderie of other women providing a safe, enjoyable hiking environment.
The Trail was dedicated to Pearl on her 80th birthday, and to keep that trail with her name on it, we need to volunteer twice a year to walk the trail picking up trash, and do minor trimming to keep the trail from being overgrown. Any major clearing that needs to be done is reported to the Forest Service who will handle the heavy work. We no longer have to sign an official volunteer contract with the forest service. Any Hoofer is allowed to show up and help out.
Jane, ever since the trail became Pearl's, made sure the maintenance was done twice a year in the spring and the fall. After she passed away, Jean P. took over that job of organizing the maintenance hikes. Usually a small group of "regulars" come out for these hikes, but it would be nice to have more Happy Hoofers participate. The work is quite easy. We all walk around with our trash bags picking up empty cans, bottles, wrappers etc. from the trail and the area just off the sides of the trail. Once in awhile we have to do some trimming, but for the most part there is very little to do because the trail is so well travelled. It really becomes an enjoyable hike with great discussions and the competition to find the weirdest thing on the trail... I, declared myself the winner most times as I seem to be the one who finds "underwear" both male and female (not necessarily together) most of the times I help out...and don't ask me why, I could understand finding one pair once...but everytime??.... what is up with that.??...but I digress... Ginny, also known as "Eagle Eye", can find the most trash. She usually finds trash way off the beaten path too....But the best part is meeting other hikers on the trail who thank us for doing this work...I believe by seeing us, trying to keep our forest clean, they not only appreciate it, but think twice about tossing trash, and maybe even picking up any that they find while hiking.
So, I think it is a good idea to put this out there as to what these maintenance hikes are like, so we can get other Hoofers to step up and help out the "regulars" once in awhile...why should we have all the fun?! So think about it next time Jean asks for volunteers.... and know that at the beginning of the year the Maintenance hikes will be listed on the schedule so that you can plan ahead. It is a great way to honor Pearl and Jane, and all the Hoofers.
The latest Maintenance hike Reported by Jean P.
On Friday, November 2, Jean, Rita, and Sally showed up to do Pearl's Trail. The previously scheduled hike was postponed due to snow --yes, snow...Rita was so wonderfully kind to fill in for Ginny who got ill the day before. As always we had a good time, not finding lots of trash but enjoying the crisp, cool day, the people we met, and our outing. We had to be quite careful in more than a few places as the trail was slippery. More snow on the ground than I thought after checking with the Tram people and the Tram camera the day before, but we made the best of it. Hard to find garbage but we did manage to scrounge up a bit, do some shrub trimming and move some large branches off the trail. We knew Pearl and Jane would have been proud of us.
Jean
P. S. - No underwear was found. Broke the tradition! (Ha ha because I wasn't there!!)
P.P.S. - Can't take a selfie like Rose. (you make me blush)
Here ARE THE PICTURES Sally and Jean sent
Here ARE THE PICTURES Sally and Jean sent
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| Sally, Rita, and Jean P. |
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| Jean looking for trash in the snow |
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| Returning to the cars with their "bounty" |
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| Sally laughing...because it was just so much fun |
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| Rita throwing her trash away Thanks ladies for doing your part in keeping our special trail looking sharp! |
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