Two teams out today.
Team 1.
Calderdale Way (Pecket Well/Midgehole Path)
Bernard, Dick, Fred, Gerald and Stuart removed several inches and many tons of mud and leaf mold from this popular path.
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| Before we started |
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| Same section after a good scrape |
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| Before we started |
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| A lovely stretch of paved path uncovered |
Bernard found 2 hidden turnbyes (cross drains)
The work of the original constructors of this path is really impressive, uncovering it is a real pleasure. Work funded by National Trust
Team 2.
Hardcastle Crags (Hebden Water to Walshaw path)
Frank H, Paul and Ray returned to the slippery slopes on this delightful woodland path that threads its way above a steep gorge, towards Walshaw. The steps put in last week had already seen some footfall as well as a considerable amount of rainfall, but they still looked reassuringly robust.
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| Last week's work: The start of a 'stairway to heaven'? |
Today's work consisted of removing and reshaping a rock slab so it could be used as a substantial tread for one of the steps, readjusting the position of an existing step and then building upwards towards level ground.
Here's a picture of the work part-way through the session.
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| Work in progress: steps in place but in-fill needed. |
The weather was nowhere near as bad as was forecast, although drizzly showers wet the clay surfaces and the clay transferred itself (liberally!) to timber, tools . . . and us!
Eight steps were constructed to complete an elegant but temporarily muddy flight that gives the walker sure footing.
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| Area before today's work. |
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Towards the end of the work session. The steps snake
upwards. The slope is no longer treacherous. |
All-in-all an enjoyable day enlivened at the very end by a new game called
'where did we put that bar?' It's surprising how easily a 1.5 m x 40 mm diameter iron bar can 'disappear' into leaf mold and foliage! Fortunately it was found . . . remarkably close to where we left it!
Today's work was funded by National Trust (Hardcastle Crags)
