Mapping the Sheltowee

[Traildust]

What: Bark Camp Sheltowee Trace trail relocation.

When: Friday, Saturday, Sunday - June 3,4,5

Who: Volunteers are needed to help relocate 1/4 mile of trail in preparation for the installation of a new bridge across Bark Camp. Volunteers will be provided with safety gear and work tools. Dress for working in the woods.

If you prefer, you can come in and camp at Bark Camp or Starr Shelter on Friday night, June 3 (Starr is a mile from Bark Camp). You can drive your vehicle on improved Forest Service roads to within a mile of Bark Camp Shelter. Participants spending the night should plan on bringing in their food and alternate shelter if desire (hammock or tent). Water is available nearby. Tent sites are available in the area.
Volunteers will be emailed the directions if needed.

Work to be completed:
A). Blaze, and build trail tread. Forest Service crew will be there ahead of Trail Days to cut necessary trees from the proposed path. Volunteers may have to come in and move debris off the trail.

B). Build a 70 foot wooden starcase along the reroute path. This will require volunteers to move the building materials (wood) a 1/4 mile to the job site.

C). Starr and Bark Camp Shelters Painted - Volunteers will paint these two shelters. Paint and brushes provided.

If you are planning on coming in on Friday and want to leave your car at the Sheltowee Trace Outfitters and catch a ride out to the camp, please let us know by responding here or send email to director@sheltoweetrace.org.

[Traildust]

For over a year we have been talking about rerouting the Sheltowee Trace at Bark Camp creek to enable users to by-pass a stream crossing that can be dangerous and unpredictable. This weekend we will see the planning come to an end and the work get started. Please consider volunteering to help on Saturday. Email, director@sheltoweetrace.org for directions to the trailhead or you can park at the STO and we will get you a ride in. The walk is less than 30 minutes to the shelter and the location of the work.

Dress for the warm weather, long pants advised since we will be breaking trail. Pack a lunch. Water is available from Bark Camp creek. Bring water treatment if you wish.

We need 20 adult volunteers to get all the work done.

Thanks in advance.

[Traildust]

Directions to Bark Camp for those coming in on Friday - Saturday or Sunday to help. From I-75 take the 25W exit toward Cumberland Falls State Park. About 5 miles west turn right onto Ky1193 note sign for Grove Recreation Area. Past Grove Rec. Area, you will see a hard right - YOU NEED TO GO STRAIGHT. You are now on KY1277. About 3... miles down the road you will intersect Forest Service Rd 193. Look for the "tutle blaze" on a pole. 100 feet down the road turn left at FS Rd 551 again look for the turtle blaze on a poll. Follow 551 as far as you can. Several camp sites at 551 intersection. Additional campsites at Bark Camp Shelter.

Come Friday - Saturday we start as soon as folks get going work all day. Sunday is wrap it up and head home shortly afternoon.

[Traildust]

We appreciate the help of Scout Troop 282 from Lexington, Bob Moran from Cynthiana, Aaron Rose of London, Doug McCoy from Somerset this past Saturday. We moved 200 sections of e6x6 wood for the future staircase out of Bark Camp Creek on the reroute. We got the shelter cleaned up, hauling out 5 bags of garbage, cleaned out the fire ring which must have had 20 years of ash, and primed the shelter. The final coat of paint will go on later this month.

Thanks to the ladies who got out and hiked on Saturday. They ran into loads of blowdown trouble which combined with the heat made for a challenging 9 mile hike.

Thanks again to the Sheltowee Trace Outfitters for hosting the ladies on Friday night and giving them a shuttle on Saturday. The STO folks are the best.

In the months ahead we need your help. Please try to set aside one 8 hour day to help us with the Sheltowee Trace. More work than a handful can do. We need an army.