Reblazing Skyway Loop

[Firedog]

January 15-16, 2011
If anyone is interested. We will be re blazing Skyway Loop Trail. Starting at Adams Gap thru to Turnipseed. It is our intentions to make it an overnighter while we're at it. Final details will be posted as time gets a little closer next week. For now plan on leaving heading out Sat morning January 15th, not too late.  Will keep an eye on the forecast. If it calls for rain or subfreezing lows, will reschedule. Just kinda getting a general consensus on who wants to hang out with some old guys.
UPDATES LATER!

[squidbilly]

You know I'm in.  Making it an overnighter sounds good too. Just wondering what the best way to manage it would be. Do we pack all our gear in and paint as we go, camping where ever we end up? Or do we go light, with only the blazing supplies and water/snacks, then camp elsewhere? If we have two teams we could start at either end and work toward the middle, camping where we meet. 

[Firedog]

1) extra gear- the only thing extra we should have would be cans of spray paint and a couple of templates.
2) teams would be help dependant.
3) Just thinking out loud, start at Adams to Turnipseed or Adams to Chinabee painting as we go. Camp, then back to Adams painting in the opposite direction. I can't remember the condition of the blazes from Chinabee to Turnipseed. 
It don't matter to me, end to end, meet in the middle, I'll enjoy being out doing something constructive.
The logistics is open for everbody's input.

Leslie Hodge said they use standard white spray paint from Wal-Mart. Also she asked for one of us to send her an attendance list so she can claim the man hours. She said it helped her funding efforts.

[dogwood]

I'm interested in helping, but can't totally commit yet.  Let us know more when you have a firm date...

[JC785]

Sounds like fun, wish I could come. If you plan a trip in February I might be able to go.

[squidbilly]

Are we still on for this weekend? I wonder what shape the roads are in. Does anyone know if we can make it to the trailheads?

[buck]

Are we still on for this weekend? I wonder what shape the roads are in. Does anyone know if we can make it to the trailheads?

From alapark.com - " Hwy 281 ice and snow. Please call before you try to come to Cheaha. Park Closed due to ice January 12th, 2011."

[Firedog]

It don't look good for this weekend. It's not going to be above freezing on Cheaha till the rain comes in on Sunday night. We will reschedule, it looks like. Will get together another day. Maybe look at the Pinhoti challenge day hike with Jaybird instead. Sorry, Carl W.

[squidbilly]

I was thinking that maybe we could reach the trailheads via Cheaha Rd./ Co Rd 42., but its probably better to just reschedule. We may get some help if we put it off until later.  I may hike section 4 this weekend: the only section of the Al.Pinhoti I haven't done.

[squidbilly]

 How about this weekend, or do we wait for warmer weather?  What does everyone think?  The paint (for the blazes) votes for temps over 50.

[Verduretiger]

I am back from my Big Bend trip and available to help.

[squidbilly]

On Thanksgiving day the boys and I did a little trail work on the Skyway Loop Trail.  We started the reblazing that we had discussed earlier. We started at Adams Gap and went in a couple of miles and back. One thing I discovered was: the Wal Mart white spray paint is unacceptable for trail blazing. It is way too thin. The bark just soaks it up and it takes too long applying multiple coats. Even with several coats the blazes were barely visible. Total waste of time. I noticed some old faded blue triangle blazes on the trail. According to the Forest Service Map, this is what The Skyway Loop is supposed to have anyway. Maybe we should go back to that.

We did manage to cut a lot of  brush back, and start repairing a section crossing a steep bank that was eroding. For the most part, this piece of the Skyway is in great shape, and easy to follow.

[blisterbob]

Squidbilly;
If you decide to go back and work on that section, let me know and I will help if it is at a time I am free.
blisterbob

[Firedog]

I thought you were on call since you were off last weekend. I didn't do anything thursday till about 4:30. I wish you had sent me a msg. We had 3 house fires wednesday and wednesday night. I came home at 7 thursday morning and all I did all day was get a nap to catch up. Any suggestions on a better paint?

[squidbilly]

I am on-call this weekend. I was free Thanksgiving day, so we decided to hike somewhere. Skyway was calling.

Looks like we were leaving about the time you got home. You probably really needed that nap, so I'm glad I didn't call.  I figured y'all were having family over or visiting later so I didn't call.

As for paint:    another brand maybe, I guess you get what you pay for.  I should have known that wouldn't work on tree bark. I used it for painting a Singer treadle base. It took about five coats, even over gray primer.  I wonder if oil-base would be better? Use some cheap disposable brushes. I'll have to experiment in the backyard, I guess.

[Cuffs]

There are paint standards if you ask AHTS. I do not know what they are but I do know they use brush-on paint by the gallon. I did most of the blazes north and south of Talladega creek with their specific color of blue.

[buck]

I believe oil based paints are used for blazing.

I would be interested in helping, too, next time a work trip is planned.

[Firedog]

OK, Per Leslie Hodge at the FS, Blue blazes are for Pinhoti Trail only. All Side trails and connectors should be white. I will call Karen McKenzie at the FS tomorrow and make sure. I will also ask again about the metal plates and see if they will give the ok.

[Cuffs]

Are you talking about putting up signs on the Pinhoti again?  I think they were done away with because
1. Squirrels ate them
2. Trees ate them
3.  People used them for target practice
4.  People removed them for souveniers
5.  Costly

Because the paint is cheaper and easily replaced, its a better source to make blazes...

[squidbilly]

Are you talking about putting up signs on the Pinhoti again?  I think they were done away with because
1. Squirrels ate them
2. Trees ate them
3.  People used them for target practice
4.  People removed them for souveniers
5.  Costly

Because the paint is cheaper and easily replaced, its a better source to make blazes...

Just Skyway Loop Trail, not Pinhoti.  Because someone posted last year that Skyway was hard to follow and needed reblazing.  

1: I've seen the signs that the squirrels ate. It looks like they used their teeth to scrape the paint from the edges of the sign.
2: That happens too sometimes, especially when they are nailed tight to the tree.
3: Welcome to Alabamistan.
4: See above (If they are really nice and desireable they will disappear)
5: I imagine they are costly. They must be cut, painted,printed or decaled etc. And you need hundreds.  What we were going to use is free. Sign shop scrap. Galvanized steel with covered with white reflective decal. The only "cost" would be the labor of cutting to length and maybe drilling holes.

 

OK, Per Leslie Hodge at the FS, Blue blazes are for Pinhoti Trail only. All Side trails and connectors should be white. I will call Karen McKenzie at the FS tomorrow and make sure. I will also ask again about the metal plates and see if they will give the ok.

I'll do it any way they want to do it , but are they aware that their own map (Pinhoti Trail Map 4) says:
 
TRAIL NAME                        BLAZE DESCRIPTION                        

Odom                                  --------------------
Chinabee Silent                   Blue Blazes
Skyway                                Blue Triangle
Lakeshore                            White Blazes
Nubbin Creek                        Blue Blazes
Cave Creek                           Unpainted Tree Blaze                    

What's an unpainted tree blaze?  Is that where you take a hatchet and skin some bark off?  Is this the preferred method of marking trails in wilderness areas.