Trail crew

clearing Escudilla Lookout Trail.  We managed to get up to the burned out lookout tower. I took over 100 snaps on the way and am in the middle of choosing a set for a Flickr album. I chose this one to Blip as I rarely snap people doing interesting things.One member of the crew removes the wedge which held the gap so the two man cross-cut saw would not get pinched as one half of the sawing partners removes the saw as his partner looks on. Bob looks on in the background. If you're wondering why they are using old school tools it because this is wilderness. No machinery is allowed to pollute the pristine experience of wilderness with noise, fumes and destruction of delicate ground.

       Bob had asked Jim and me if we'd like to join him on a hike up to Escudilla lookout tower which was burned out in the Wallow wildfire. Bob retired from the US National Forest Service several years ago and is very knowledgeable about  trees, flowers, wildlife and the topography. The trail rises about 1200' in elevation in about three and a half miles and is rated 'moderate'. The fallen snags made it quite difficult in places. We started out at about 09:00 and returned to the trail-head at 16:20. As Wallace would say, "That was a grand day out."