What’s an “Acme?”
Acme? Are we conceited or what? There’s a story behind the name, one that involves much, much more than simple (minded) arrogance (we hope). And, that story unfolds here…
According to Merriam-Webster Online, an acme is:
Trails Just Happen?
They’re Built! And we build them. We build them to last. We build them to protect the environment as well as to provide a means of personal discovery, recreation, and contemplation for those of you who hike. Do you think you “owe” something to those who build and maintain public hiking trails?
You Don’t Owe Us Anything
However, the challenge is: Do You Owe Something to Yourself? I’ve hiked and gone backpacking over many miles of trails in these United States and overseas, in Spain, Scotland, and Turkey. Each trail—each section of a trail—has its own characteristics. Meadow, field, forest, and craggy ridge line: each gives something of lasting importance to me when I hike. The trail asks nothing; it’s inert, inanimate.
What Do We Do?
The short answer is: We dig.
For new trails or trail sections, including relocations of existing trails, we first conduct a site survey to learn the terrain and natural features. We set out an initial flag line for the new path and follow that up later with the specific cut-line, marked by pin flags. From that point, we put tools to hands and dig. Where we reconstruct, or rehabilitate, badly worn sections of existing trails, we survey the area to identify the techniques we need to use in order to accomplish the work.
Trail construction involves engineering, design, and luck. The techniques we use include:
Who Works With Us?
You must be an adult in reasonable physical shape to participate with the crew. Thus, you should be at least 21 years old and able to walk and carry tools. If you have a condition such as diabetes, you’re welcome to work with us, but you must inform the crew leader. Parents are welcome to bring their children with them (if they can be pulled, kicking and screaming, from their computers, iPods, and the Mall). Parents are, of course, responsible at all times for their children.
It doesn’t matter to us if you’re in favor of or opposed to:
What Do You Bring?
You should always wear clothing appropriate for the weather and season. Additionally, you must wear sturdy hiking boots while working. That means: no walkers, running shoes, tennis shoes, or sandals of any variety. What you wear when we aren’t working is a different matter…
The crew chief brings all tools we use on our projects.
Personal Gear
You should bring at least the following items:
Fellowship of the McLeod
The Fellowship includes all who are given, grasp, and use a tool having a large, hoe-like blade on one end and a tined blade on the other, to grub out duff and grade the underlying mineral soil to create…the treadway for a hiking trail.
Membership is not as easy or as uncomplicated as it sounds. Membership is demanding: it demands a certain personal insanity. After all, its Brothers and Sisters arise early on a day when they (should) could remain asleep and travel Long Distances to Remote Locations.
Move
Crew Leader's Blog
Top Headline
It’s spring—late spring, almost summer. On Memorial Day weekend, hundreds of people evacuated the cities and suburbs to go to beaches and mountains. Depending upon where each went, people swam, sunned,...
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Winter is not the season of our discontent. At least, not often (with apologies to Tom Paine,of course). For a trail crew, winter is our “off-season,” though. It’s really useless to go out and dig...
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Coming Attractions
- September 3, 2010 - September 6, 2010 | 4:00 PM Annual Crew Picnic
- September 25, 2010 - September 26, 2010 | 9:30 AM Biby Wilderness Tr...
The Crew...
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What’s an “Acme?”Acme? Are we conceited or what? There’s a story behind the name, one that involves much, much more...Read More...
-
Trails Just Happen?They’re Built! And we build them. We build them to last. We build them to protect the environment as...Read More...
-
What Do We Do?The short answer is: We dig. For new trails or trail sections, including relocations of existing trails,...Read More...
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