Whipple

Last year, the thru hikers on the Buckeye Trail told me about Buckeye Trail's estimated off-road footprint and how they were confused by the statement because it includes anything that is "off-road." It could be paved multi-use trails, so it's not necessarily footpaths.

Adventurer's Project's upcoming website has an "About the Trail" section and it needs a more broken down estimate. So, I drove most of the Whipple Section's roads and started tracking the pavement with my smartphone's GPS. It was a good day in the sky and since nobody is probably going to need to navigate with it, I have a windshield mount and out of convenience, I choose to do it with the smartphone. Afterwards, I can edit it in Google Earth sometime and send the records up to the BTA.

I did not track the on-road portion between Whipple 02 - 03 (10/2010 map & guide). But I drove through the backcountry for 42 miles and only used about 3 gallons of gasoline in my Chevy HHR.

I was expecting to have used much more. The roads on this section weren't in "awful" shape today with the exception of Kohl and Tittle Run. But that's their usual pattern anyways and I still got over their rough spots. I'll get to Road Fork sometime. But I really have to get some trail maintenance done.

North Country/ Buckeye Trailhead at OH-260 - Marietta Unit of the Wayne

North Country/ Buckeye Trailhead in the Marietta Unit of The Wayne at OH-260 near New Matamoras of Washington County takes place just passed the 6th mile marker on said highway.

State Route 260
SR-260
Ohio 260
Wayne National Forest
Wayne NF

Fwd: Sweating, Fuel Evaporation Unit (No Signal Blog Post)

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From: "Matthew D. Edmonds" <edmondsmd@gmail.com>
Sent: May 27, 2018 9:10:29 PM EDT
To: Treeman's Adventures Blog <edmondsmd.ravenwahoo@yahoo.com>
Subject: Sweating, Fuel Evaporation Unit (No Signal Blog Post)

I am at the Lane Farm Campground in The Wayne. The motor homes water system doesn't work and even if it did, I don't fit in the shower. I'm am sweating a lot today. But I do have some baby wipes and rubbing alcohol on board. I think I'm going to take an infantryman's shower soon?

Tomorrow is when I'll do maintenance on Whipple Section - Buckeye Trail (North Country National Scenic Trail concurrent), Points 06 - 05. I gave my knee high gators away last year, so I'll have to do it in denim pants.

The plan is to prune the higher areas and make maintenance notes, like the location and quantity of downed trees. Then skip the flats and explore it's high ridge for meditation and yoga sites. While at that, I might chart contingencies like briar patches, or heaven forbid, a rattlesnake den?

I'm pounding down some water right now. Today, there was lightning in the forecast, so I drove into Marietta to attend to some communications and charge my devices. I think that I forgot to make a status update on my own Facebook profile? I'm expecting some final information on our trail promotion booth at the Parkersburg Homecoming Festival in my e-mail soon. This event is the only thing for the trail in Far SE Ohio that needs finalized for this traditional hiking season.

My car has broken gas vapor recycler. I just looked under the car. Its attached to the fuel pump and doesn't have any bolts. All I have to is maybe depressurize the fuel line, pull the connecting tubes, electrical connector and replace it. Pretty simple. I doubt that I'll need the repair manual to do it.
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Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.

Marietta Unit, New Matamoras Floods, Memorial Day Weekend 2018, Auxiliary Batteries and Whipple Maintenance

- Apparently, New Matamoras floods less than Marietta.  Marietta's problem is that it's near where the Muskingum, Little Muskingum Rivers and the Duck Creek that meet the Ohio River there.  If there's a big enough storm, all of its water is going to converge on the city.

- This is Memorial Day Weekend 2018.  Today, I did some rounds looking at campground capacities and reporting them to the Buckeye Trail Association Facebook group.

- My auxiliary/ house batteries are somehow disconnected from both the generator and the cab's alternator.  But I'm able to charge them now by jumping them with my car.  It takes about 1hr 15min to get them full.  Lightning is in the forecast for tomorrow, so I plan on tracing their power lines.  It's possible that they all need to be replaced?

- The maintenance priority on the Whipple Section is blazing.  We may have a marathon runner/ thru hiker come through.  He's going to need the trail's navigation to become more efficient. 

What to Do Near Road Fork Section 05/19/2018

Last week, I was securing my project's place at the Backhome Appalachian Arts & Music Festival for us to do some trail promotion at the Wetzel County Convention & Visitors Bureau in New Martinsville, WV.  When I was at the CVB, I got a copy of their visitors guide.  Our 2nd priority is increasing the foot traffic on our portion of the Buckeye Trail (North Country concurrent).  Our corner of the trail is just about the furthest place for most of Buckeye Trail hikers to drive to.  When I show up to TrailFest for just one day and drive back to Painesville, they sometimes look at me like I'm crazy.  So, judging by that, I think it's logical to assume that they might prefer to overnight in the area.

The question that I try to answer is what are they going to do when they're here.  Most of them are not going to hike an entire summer's day.  They might want to get out and do something?  But it's a double edged sword too as this might give me clues as to where I can post a flier, or lay down rack cards and brochures?

I know volunteers who maintain a segment because it's their place to get away and find peace.  But that doesn't speak for me.  And if everything that I've gone through in the last 3 years doesn't result in a sizable increase in the annual numbers on our extent of the trail, then everything that I've gone through is in vain.  The BTA can give us a Work Week, North Country can send weed whackers and DR mowers all they like.  But in the end, those bodies are the only thing that matters.

Walk in C, How To

Miscellaneous Motorhome

- I cleaned up the motorhome today, washed a few dishes and moved some things around.

- Acquired some new bungee cords and tarp for the exterior of the overhead bunk.