Is there a world record for the fastest construction of a footbridge? Well, I think we set it last Friday on Section 26 of the Catamount Trail. Thanks again to Eric and Frank, our excellent volunteer crew from Keurig Green Mountain!
It was a chilly start to the day, but we warmed up unloading lumber from the truck and hauling it to the first work site. A couple weeks ago, Amy and I had scouted this stream crossing and found little more than a trickle of water; this time, the stream was running high with runoff from the recent rains. Within moments, the stringers were set and the hammers were ringing. We had a footbridge a few minutes later!
The second bridge required more planning. Each side of the stream was steeply banked, so we sited the bridge at a narrow crossing slightly downstream. Skiers should be able to cut across the slope down to the crossing, ski the bridge, and work up the opposite side through a newly trimmed gap in the trees. This bridge also went together quickly, and perched on an improvised sill of rocks and older lumber.
Because the bridge work went so quickly, we had the afternoon to trim trail along the Green River Reservoir, a beautiful state park with primitive campsites along the water. We gave the trail a much-needed haircut! Section 26 should be ready to rock and roll this winter! If you’d like to help spruce up other sections of the Catamount Trail, check out our full list of Fall Trail Work opportunities!
