Trail Maintenence this weekend?

I am a new adoptor of a section of the Ouachita Trail. Mile markers 157 - 158.4 near Jessieville, AR (just north of Hot Springs). I am hoping to do some spring maintenence to this section this weekend. Would anyone like to join me? I plan on getting there hopefully Friday night in time to hike out to the shelter and set up camp there. Get up early Saturday morning and work my tail off all day, then drive home Saturday afternoon late. I will be in big trouble if I miss Mother's Day.

Colt,

Congrads on the section of trial that you have adopted. We finished up with our section, AR/OK line to FS514 two weeks ago. Even then and at the higher altitude it was realy getting grown up. Lots of weeds. Lopped plenty of briars. We also have now adopted 54.1 to 56.7 and won't start on it till fall.

You will have some hot sticky weather to deal with this weekend. Don't try to work to hard or fast. What condition is your section in?
Good luck, we have shut down till the fall, just to many ticks out and getting grown up real fast.

By the way I can give you advice on what works and what doesn't work as far as tools if you like. We have learned the hard way, OTJT.
Headge shears are great for briars, just try to find tools with long handles to increase your reach. Also I have the Fano saw that FoOT recomends and it does work great. Sling blades, to me, aren't worth the effort to carry in.

Any way just my .02 worth.

What did you use to replace the slingblade? Did you haul a weed eater out there?

Well the first time we used a sling blade it fell apart and after wacking rocks and such it wasn't of much good.
We just went to the headge shears for the briars, which work great. Some use a weed eater but at the time we weren't dealing with grass and weeds as much as briars and trimming on small trees and pine saplings. I don't worry with the weeds, by time you knock them back they will grow back. We used a sling blade the first time we worked on the buckeye trail in the Caney Creek Wilderness, and it was a new one, and it fell apart also. If you do use one take it apart and apply locktite to all of the bolts and bring a good file because you will need it.

Hope this was of some help to you if you have any more questions just email me or put it here.

Colt,

How was your section? Just curious as what you encountered. You mentioned teh use of a weedeater. I should have
mentioned that FoOT has weed eaters and tools at various locations. I am reluctant to use a weedeater unless it is
my own. It is my dumb luch that it would quit working! I do plan on purchasing one in the fall for trail use. The one I
did own is down south part of the state.

Had some family obnligations come up so I didn't get to make it out there this weekend. I am shooting for this next weekend, as it looks like it is going to be a beautiful one!

Colt,

Well I guess all works out for the good. It would have been intense out this week end with the storms.
I wouldn't have wanted to be in a shelter or a tent Sat. night. You asked in the first post about my use
or lack of use of the sling blade. Up were I work there is so many rocks and bolders it isn't worth the trouble.
Any way keep me informed of how it goes.