Friends of Seneca Lower Slabs Trail Work Weekends

Like tools? Love getting dirty? Enjoy giving back to the climbing community? Then consider volunteering for the Friends of Seneca Lower Slabs project. The goals of the project are:

• Increase the safety of the climber trail
• Correct erosion problems on the trail and in the areas below the routes, and prevent future problems
• Develop one designated climber trail to the Lower Slabs
• Limit the disturbance created by the project to preserve the experience.

 

Seneca Rocks is best known as a multi-pitch trad crag. The Lower Slabs area features several single-pitch trad routes which are also top-ropeable. It is a popular site for groups with a range of climbing experiences.

The Lower Slabs project began in August 2009, after the USDA Forest Service started planning trail construction and the development of a viewing area along the Lower Slabs access trail formerly used primarily by climbers. This trail is a branch off the popular hiking trail that leads to the observation deck on the North Peak. The Forest Service will develop this branch into a wider and more accessible trail that ends in a new viewing area of the rocks for the public. The end of this spur and the start of the new climber access trail to the Lower Slabs climbing area will be clearly marked by a “Climbers Only” sign, similar to the sign posted at the observation deck which warns hikers to not proceed to the climbs off the North Peak-East Face.

Friends of Seneca, an all volunteer organization, will reconstruct the 600 feet of climber trail, with a 100 feet elevation gain, leading from the far side of the new Forest Service observation area to the Lower Slabs climbing area. The climber trail will meet the slabs near “Scuttle.” A series of switchbacks will be put in place to facilitate the ascent of the 80% slope that leads from “Scuttle” to “Discrepancy.” Across from “Discrepancy,” the design, provided by Ken Dzaack of Canaan Valley Institute, calls for the construction of an 80-square-feet landing that can be used as a staging area for the climbs.

On March 20, Dzaack trained a dozen crew leader volunteers. Three crews, staffed by the crew leaders and a small number of volunteers, will be kicking off the work on April 10-11, and continue to work with a growing pool of volunteers on the weekends of July 10-11 and September 25-26.

Get involved! Volunteers are still needed for the trail work weekends. Please, stop by or contact Seneca Rocks Climbing School located in the Gendarme climbing shop. Ask or leave a message for Diane Kearns, co-owner of the Gendarme/SRCS, who is coordinating the project. 

Resource documents
Trail Construction and Maintenance Notebook (pdf file)
Lower Slabs Trail Design for Friends of Seneca (pdf file)

How to volunteer
Contact Diane Kearns at the Gendarme/SRCS.

What to bring for trail work weekends
Trail work is done using native materials, rocks and stones and trees. You need to wear appropriate clothing to protect yourself. Bring your own lunch and water. The Forest Service will provide the tools. Work will proceed in good weather conditions, only.

Necessities: Boots, helmet, heavy gloves, safety glasses.

Friends of Seneca will help defer the cost of camping and Diane Kearns will provide a breakfast for the volunteers. Please contact Diane Kearns at the Gendarme/SRCS; she will put you on the mailing list for the trail work weekends.

Who are the Friends of Seneca
Friends of Seneca is an all volunteer organization that maintains the climber access trails and rescue caches at Seneca Rocks. The Friends Seneca website is seneca-rocks.com/srcs_site/information/friendsofseneca.html .

Support Friends of Seneca

If you cannot participate in the trail work, you can help by buying the Seneca Rocks 2011 calendar.