Flailcroft: onwards and upwards! (session 5)
It was another stunning, hot day for Ken, Catherine and Kasher to carry out further work on the steps just below Flailcroft Farm. Thankfully, today's work was in the shade kindly provided by a magnificent old ash tree!
These steps form part of the footpath (Todmorden 082) that leads down through Scaitcliffe Wood to the Burnley Road. Views across the valley are spectacular and this location may be the only place on this hillside from which no wind turbine arrays are visible.
The lower flight of steps was completed in the previous session so today's work involved continuing with the upper flight towards the stone steps at the top of the path. Thankfully, the gradient on this section is not as severe so less cutting of step profiles and consequently less shovelling of spoil will be needed..
The work is being funded by a donation from the Todmorden Wind Farm Fund accessed through the 'Community Foundation for Calderdale'. Many thanks.
The details:
1. The start
The day began with the addition of one new step before the remaining temporary 'safety step' could be removed and new steps upwards . . . upwards . . . and ever upwards towards Flailcroft, could be constructed.
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| Catherine checking the ever trusty spirit level. The step she is crouched on is the temporary step which will be removed. |
Today's task was make easier by the use of a simple wooden gauge which now has the nickname 'Step Skis'. Simultaneously measuring the tread platform, checking vertical and horizontal alignment and ensuring everything is in the correct plane is always tricky. The 'Step Skis' certainly help but Ken is still puzzling as to how they would work on curving or irregular flights! Mmm! No patents yet!
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| Ken and the 'Step Skis' - no chance of a snowplough turn in this weather! |
The fence posts along the sides of the path have, in the past, been hauled on by walkers as an aid to negotiating the old, very high, irregularly-spaced risers - as a consequence some of these posts had become loose. They have now been 'firmed-up' and, with the new steps in place, should not need to double as grab-poles!
2. Work in progress
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| Packing stones behind the riser and checking alignment. |
3. End of Session
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| Steps in place . . . and easy to negotiate. |
There is more to be done here to complete this tricky task. A session is scheduled for next Wednesday. We hope that the sunny weather will continue . . . but the r-word has been mentioned! . . . . Well, it is the South Pennines!
