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.

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.