Loading Events
  • This event has passed.
Dear Falls Lake Volunteer,
Falls Lake Workday – Come help with trail work on the MST on Saturday September 28, 2024! We will celebrate National Public Lands across America! Special MST – Falls Lake hiking bandannas have been made for this event.
Please RSVP to jdbrewer104@gmail.com or 919-900-0483 for our workday by September 26, 2024.

Meeting Spot at 9:00 AM – All interested should meet at Food Lion parking lot at the intersection of Patterson/Sherron and Highway 98. The address for your GPS is 121 Sherron Rd., Durham, NC 27703. After we meet we will split up into project groups and “scatter out” to do our trail work. This workday is being limited to 75 volunteers to accommodate our current projects.

Projects for the Day are:
1. Chainsaw Crew Assistance. With all of the recent weather our chainsaw crews will need to help moving limbs and debris off the trail after they cut it. Our sawyers have received the necessary training to cut trees at Falls Lake.

2. Fall Trail Maintenance – We will divide up into small groups and walk around 6 miles to cut back overgrowth from the summer. We have 63 miles of trail at Falls Lake to cover.

3. 30 foot bridge demolition – We lost a major bridge back in the July flash flood event and this bridge was washed out to the lake. It has been hauled by boat to a boat ramp for demolition. Please bring hammers, crow bars, battery powered reciprocating saw for this project. Please let me know if you want to work on this crew. Crew size = 15 volunteers.

4. Trash removal at trail heads and the lake shoreline. Our most cheerful volunteers Jennifer and Iwona will lead this effort to protect the drinking water of our community. Nobody likes to see trash along the trail and shoreline!

BAD WEATHER POLICY: If the workday is canceled due to bad weather a mass email will be sent by 11:00 PM the evening before the event to everyone who has RSVP’ed as described above.

If you are new to trail work please let us know and we can pair you with an experienced volunteer.

What you will need to provide:
Work clothes suitable for the weather,
Solid shoes or hiking boots,
Plenty of water,
Bag Lunch,
Work gloves, if you have them (If not, we have some).

We have the tools that will be needed.

WORK SAFELY: This is the most important thing, and our main objective!
In particular:

  • Use tools carefully. If you do not know how to use a particular tool, or what to do in a particular situation please ask.
  • Do not work too close together and be careful with rakes, shovels, and mattocks to avoid hitting the person next to you. When walking past another volunteer, please say something so they know you are there.
  • Know your limits. Do not lift anything heavier than you can comfortably lift and lift with your legs not with your back.
  • Pace yourself. This is not a race. We will be working on and maintaining this trail for many years to come.
  • Take frequent breaks. Make sure to drink plenty of water. Don’t wait until you feel thirsty.
  • Be aware of hazards. There are holes in the ground to step in; branches, rocks and roots to trip over; thorns; wasps; poison ivy (fortunately not too much of that on this segment of trail); ticks; chiggers; and other hazards.
  • Remain alert and be cautious.

Have a good time. This is a scenic area. There are box turtles, heron, woodpeckers, hawks, deer, beaver, and other wildlife in this area as well as scenic views of the lake.

Thanks to:

  • Great Outdoor Provision Company for sponsoring our breakfast from Chick-fil-A for our Saturday workdays.
  • Starbucks off Falls of Neuse Road and Durant Road for the coffee.
  • REI Co-op, whose stewardship grants support our volunteer trail crews, add new miles of footpath, and improve signage which helps more people find and follow the MST.

Interested in knowing more this National Park Service celebration? Check out National Public Lands Day

To be added to the email notification list to receive Falls Lake workday announcements and details, email jdbrewer104@gmail.com.

Details

Date:
September 28, 2024
Time:
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Event Categories:
,

Organizer

Jeff Brewer
Email
jdbrewer104@gmail.com