Uwharrie National Forest

Accomplishments in 2003

by Scott Fields, Carolina Trailblazers 4WD Club, January 2004,

I recently found a replacement for my liason position at Uwharrie. If you don't know, his name is Mark Hall. He is with a club called the S-10 Extremists. He is young, no children and not married except to his 4wd's, so he has lots of time. He also lives fairly close to Uwharrie. After Jake Cebula died last year, Mark has really stepped in and taken over with the new recreation Ranger Leigh Marston. I think Mark will do a good job. We just need him and his club to join SFWDA! I have asked Mark to keep SFWDA informed. Hopefully he will, because I am stepping out completely so that I can spend more time with my family and go 4wheeling myself! Please contact him and introduce yourself to Mark.

This means I WILL see you on the trail this year!

Our 2003 work weekend dates were:

April 19 - 20
May 3 - 4
June 21 - 22
September 20 - 21
October 25 - 26
November 15 - 16

A summary of the volunteer work:

• Fencing - installed to keep OHV's on designated trails. We use Cedar Split Rail 2 rail, 10' sections. In 2003 we installed this on Dutch John, Dickey Bell, Dickey Bell Connector and Falls Dam Trails. An estimated 2500' of fencing was installed in 2003. Also we send a group out to do fencing repair almost every work weekend. With over 5 miles of fencing that has been installed over the past 6 years, maintenance becomes mandatory.
• Hay Bails- installed to filter out silt from water traveling off the trail. We stake them down and use as many as nescessary at waterbar tail ditches. We normally only install them if a water source is close by. In 2003 we installed these on Dutch John, Wolf Den, Dickey Bell Connector, Lower Rocky Mount and Slab Pile Trails. An estimated 300 bails were installed in 2003.
• Corduroy Bridges- Repair was needed to three bridges on Dutch John Trail due to excessive rainfall in the spring.
• Trail Markers "Orange Diamonds" - installed and maintained to visually let the user know that they are on a legal, designated trail. These were maintained on all of the trail system, using aluminum nails, in 2003.
• Trash Pickup - is an ongoing constant task at every work weekend. Two abandoned vehicles were dragged out of the trail system this year.

The clubs involved in 2003 were:

Carolina Trailblazers

C.O.R.E.

Triad 4WD

S-10 Extremists

Central North Carolina 4x4

Piedmont ATV Assoc

Thank you to all the volunteers and Forest Service personnel who helped!