Wicken Hill: the final steps!

 Wicken Hill steps.

Today was 'all-purpose weather forecast' day: light rain, driving hail, dark grey skies, distant views, no views, bright blue skies, sunshine and a chill breeze - all in varying combinations! 

Fortunately Jan and Frank H were working in the lee of a banking so were partly sheltered from the worst of conditions.

The task was to continue the work on the twin flights of steps that lead from behind Wicken Hill Farm towards the Golf Course or up onto the moor.

Many thanks to the residents at Wicken Hill who allowed us to park as near to the job as possible - the shorter the distance we have to carry tools and timber to a task the better!  

1. Approximate location of the steps.

The Detail.

The steps start just beyond a stile above Wicken Hill Farm. Initial steps lead to a platform step from which a walker can go left (directly towards the golf course) or right (up to the moor). Steps were installed to both branches with the steeper right branch getting five steps and the 'easier' left branch just one!

2. Left-hand route - golf course path.

The technique for all the steps was similar:

i)   Excavate a tread area level with the top of an existing riser. 

ii)  Position and check the horizontal level of the new riser.

iii) Use the heavy bar to create pilot holes for the new stobs.

iv) Hammer-home the new stobs (as vertical as possible).

v)  Use hex-head 100 mm screws through the stob to fix the riser in place.

vi) Tidy up the tread area and side-banking.

Repeat for all steps  . .  . or to the point of exhaustion.

3. Pilot hole being created: Good technique, Jan:
Stable stance, back straight, eye on task and
bar under control for a heavy hit.

4. Right-hand route - moor path.

5. End of session (as the mist rolls in): two formerly
awkward, slippery steep sections now easily negotiated. 

Today's work was funded by a donation from Midgley Community Forum. Many thanks for your support of this local project.