Friends of Seneca Finish the Lower Slabs Project

The Lower Slabs Project, for which planning began in August 2009, finally got finished on October 8, 2011. Volunteers, including ECPers Toni Price, Phil Sidel, Sam Taggart, Felipe Trevizan, and myself, were instrumental in doing the work, which involved re-constructing 600 feet of climber-access trail to the Lower Slabs, and building a steep switchback trail leading from “Scuttle” up to “Discrepancy” and a landing across from “Discrepancy.” 

The project, which was slated to complete in 2010, was delayed due to personnel departures in the USFS. Both, the Director of the Discovery Center, and the Ranger helping us with the work, left Seneca Rocks for new assignments. The closure of the North Peak Hiking Trail further impacted the completion of the Lower Slabs work. 

 

Friends of Seneca at work at the bottom of the "stairmaster," with, from left to right, Toni Price, the author, and "John Squared."

It is all the more pleasing to now report that the project is done! I personally worked all three volunteer weekends in 2010 after going through the crew-leader training in March 2010. With the final work day in 2011, I have eight days of manual labor invested in this trail. Not bad for an academic :-). 

So please, when next you head over to the Lower Slabs, stay on the trail to avoid new erosion in this area. Or else!!!


Another set of stairs leading to “Seldom Seen” might be beneficial to manage the area, but that is a project for another year. Friends of Seneca used the final work day in 2011 to reinforce the setting of a large rock at the base of the “stairmaster” near the start of “Ecstasy” which basically holds the wooden stairs in place. We also slightly re-routed the approach to the turn. Check it out!

History 

Details about the original Lower Slabs Project design can be found here.

Support Friends of Seneca!  

Buy a Seneca Rocks 2012 Calendar.