I put in my dues with the Disciples of Dirt today, doing trail work. This was really my first real trail work! I've done some stuff on friend's land before, but this was earnest trail network work. We started at 10am, in the drizzle and 40 degrees.
The first task we did was to haul a bunch of rock (pieces ranged from marble to softball size) down to a trail that needed it. We used 5 gallon(?) buckets, and most of us were schlepping two roughly half-full buckets at a time. Probably a half mile of trail to carry them over. Each probably weighed a good 50lbs. I made 3 runs, so did maybe 300lbs, and my shoulders definitely feel it!
After carrying the rock, we went to work on the new Alpha trail. How it got this name, such a tame name, given that a good half the other trails in our stash have very 3rd grade humor names (pubic, "upp er asshole" (the two words part is key :), and so on. This is a sweet new trail, measuring in at about 1.3 miles. I'd ridden a tiny chunk of it two weeks ago when only part of it had been scraped out. Today however, with 6-8 of us working on it, we made awesome progress, and the trail is pretty much rideable now, at least once the rain lets up a bit and it can pack down some more. I was stunned at the progress. Good hands, good tools, and hard work. We probably spent 3.5 hours on this.
I really enjoyed my intro. The DoD guys know what they're doing, are nice folks, and fun to hang out with. Being the newbie, I fulfilled my duty and brought the beer, which people were quite happy with. It was nice to have one after 5 hours in the semi-cold and rainy conditions (it rained varying levels the entire day). I somehow got out of there without being too muddy (mostly my boots and pants).
The other thing I was happy with is how I dressed. I wasn't sure, but I nailed it. From top to bottom: Smartwool hat (so awesome - I never knew it was wet at all, stayed nice and warm, natch), Patagonia Capilene #1 base layer, some REI thicker layer next, then a thin fleece, all covered up by an awesome REI rain jacket (light, inexpensive, totally waterproof, great fit, etc.). On to the bottom... Mountain Khaki pants. These rock. Burly, Carhart like pants, somehow they never got wet, and I love these things both for hard work, or just wearing everyday. Then Smartwool socks (are there any other?), and the Keen waterproof hiking boots I love (they basically took zero break in, fit perfectly, comfy, no bad spots, and are truly waterproof). Oh, and on my hands, and the piece that really most impressed me, were my probably 15 year old Saranac leather gloves. The leather got sorta wet and muddy, but the remnants of insulation inside kept my hands the perfect temp, and of course these things are great to work in. It only occurred to me today how old they were, can't believe it, but they're still kickin.
About the only thing I would consider doing differently next time was to have some gaitors. I really didn't need them, but several folks had them and it seemed like a decent idea. Either that, or folks had some bit mud/rain work boots, that might be even better, but they don't look like they fit well (sloppy), and I can be picky about that (especially when tromping all around on muddy hillsides).
So, I've got the trail work bug now, and need to pick up a Mcleod for myself, and will likely get a hand saw as well. A folding hand saw will be something that could just live in my Camelbak, as here in Oregon, you come across so many downed trees on rides, that it'd be quite useful (obviously, for the smaller trees).
I plan to head out in two weeks for the next big DoD trail work weekend as well, and then reap the rewards at the All Comer's Meat (Force Kin).
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