[at-l] RE"Policing the Trail

[jbullar1 at twcny.rr.com (Jim Bullard)]

I've cut through 10-12" trees with a machete or bowsaw when necessary but 
the thought of carrying a chain saw and the requisite accoutrements on a 
15-16 mile hike in/out from the shelter I maintained at that time never 
crossed my mind. An axe, bowsaw or machete was lighter. Mind you I have 
carried bundles of shingles and other rather heavy things in when needed 
but when a lighter option was available I always chose to spend more time 
working, over a heavier load hiking. At 60 I now maintain a lean-to only 4 
miles in and make a reconnaissance trip before carrying anything heavier 
than a hammer. No point going in with a heavy load only to find it wasn't 
needed and I can refer the heavy stuff to the paid trail crew or rangers 
anyway.

I've done the wood stove thing too but yesterday was the end of that. We 
had another chimney fire. Not a serious (as in call 911) one but the roar, 
the smoke and the uncertainty finally ended my wife's love for her wood 
stove. I was ready to get rid of it years ago after the time we had to call 
the fire dept. I'm getting too old for that crap. I don't need the 
adrenaline rush. I'll keep my chain saw for cleaning up fallen limbs etc. 
and maybe a bonfire in the fire ring in my side yard.

At 08:01 PM 5/23/2005 -0400, Bob C wrote:
>I suspect the latter, though RnR has maintainer credentials and is 
>ambiguous. I certainly recognize the superiority of chainsaws. But I also 
>recognize the "slippery slope" phenomenon. FWIW. MATC is negotiating with 
>both AMC and the Nature Conservancy to preserve as much access as possible 
>to Maine maintaining sections. I'm not a part of the talks. And I have 
>sympathy for both sides of the question. I enjoy maintaining a trail. I 
>don't always enjoy an extra five mile walk to get to my section when I 
>know a gated road exists that would lead me to within a few thousand 
>yards, or less. of where I need to be.
>
>As for chain saws. Since I heated my house for many hears with wood or 
>mostly wood, I've owned and used one for decades. But as I increasingly 
>learned the characteristics of "my" maintaining section, I often left it 
>home. A bow saw tended to do 95% of what I needed to do -- and at much 
>less hassle. As the years progressed, I, or a helper, tended to carry a 
>chain saw on one trip per year. Clippers and a good bow saw made do for 
>the rest.
>
>Weary
>
> > Inquiring minds want to know: Are maintainers complaining about not
> > being
> > able to use chain saws or only those who feel sorry for the
> > maintainers?
> >
> > Saunterer the non-complaining maintainer
>