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PROJECT: Meadow Creek May 24, 25 & 26: Meadow Creek (Upper South Fork)
Meadow Creek 2008 by Ken Ausk
Now that so many of you have attended our recent Horse Safety Course and Packing Clinic, it's just about time for your first opportunity to put some of those skills to work! The work projects out of Meadow Creek campground will be over Memorial Day weekend, May 24th through the 26th. The campground can be reached by either the east or west side Hungry Horse Reservoir road. For the west side road, cross the dam and go about 50 miles to the Meadow Creek and Bunker Creek turnoff, which is signed. The campground is 12 miles from that point, and is screened by trees, so start looking for it on the left just past a side road that is closed by large rocks. For the east side road, go south through Martin City, and after about 52 miles, turn right onto the South Fork Bridge road (the turnoff is at the top of the hill). The campground is roomy, and has some feeders, hitch racks, toilets, and many places to put up high lines. Forest Service personnel will provide horse troughs with water but there is no potable water, so please try to bring some extra for the group kitchen, in addition to your personal supply. Annette Dalen has graciously agreed to again head up our group kitchen and she and her helpers will serve pancakes and bacon or link sausage, along with coffee and juice, on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday mornings. Please bring enough link sausage and bacon for your group for three meals, and give it to the cooks Friday night. They'll put it in a cooler and prepare it each morning. We will have potlucks on Saturday and Sunday nights so please bring main dishes and desserts or salads to share for two meals. Everyone is responsible for their own lunches. Bring your chairs, a table if you have one, plates, silverware and other eating utensils to each shared meal. Water will be provided for dish washing, and you are responsible for your own cleanup and washing your items. There was a lot of wind and rain last fall and the trails will need a lot of TLC. At this time we plan to clear the east side trail from Spotted Bear to Meadow Creek (chain saw); Lost Jack (mostly crosscut saw); Harrison (crosscut); Mid Creek (crosscut); and Gorge Creek (crosscut). There are no packing projects this year, so the only pack animals we'll need will be those used to pack tools for clearing trail. We will also do some camp cleanup, so as you can see, we have something for everyone! On the regulation side, all hay must be weed seed free. A Forest Service Volunteer Application must be completed, and Job Analysis forms read for all volunteers. If you are going to be sawing, your chain saw or crosscut training must be current, and at least one person on each crew must have a valid first aid card and CPR card. If you plan to work around horses, you must have current Horse Safety training. Please come up to the kitchen area on Friday night where we will have maps available and will try to determine work crew assignments so we can get an early start on Saturday morning. Volunteer Applications and Job Hazardous Analysis forms will be available from Keni Hopkins if you have not yet completed them. Please remember the Club's position that no studs are allowed on work projects, and dogs must be on a leash and are not allowed in the kitchen area or out on the trail. The Forest Service will provide crosscut saws and other hand tools; we will use our own chain saws. Meadow Creek is a beautiful place to camp and a great spot for our first large project of the year and we encourage everyone to come. You are welcome to work on trail or campground projects, or just to camp with us and see how our projects are done. If you play a musical instrument, bring it along as we usually have a campfire in the evening. The road can be rough in the spring so allow at least three hours travel time from the blacktop. If you have any questions, give Steve Barker (756-0234), Andy Breland (752-0360) or Ken Ausk (892-4673) a call. See you there and be ready for a great time!!! ________________________________________________________________ |
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