[at-l] Volunteerism [WAS Re: Lookin']

[Bob C]

We have a bit over done the trail steps but we like to call them "trail hardening" to prevent erosion on steep slopes. I routinely do light maintenance while hiking. I use my stick to remove fallen branches from the trail. And I pick up litter from the trail and campsites, and burn garbage routinely left in fire places.

But a few dedicated maintainers dislike people from doing much more than this. After a few years many maintainers get a feeling of ownership of their sections and don't like it when others intrude. Other maintainers welcome help at times. 

However, Maine continues to resist building bridges. We have restored a bridge over a deep, but slow-moving stream on Bigelow, and a few old bridges remain, but otherwise Maine is pretty bridge free.

Weary




> ------------Original Message------------
> From: Sloetoe <sloetoe at yahoo.com>
> To: wdlists at optonline.net
> Cc: "~~~AT-L List" <at-l at backcountry.net>
> Date: Mon, Nov-26-2007 10:45 AM
> Subject: Re: [at-l] Volunteerism [WAS  Re:  Lookin']
>
> --- wdlists at optonline.net wrote:
> 
> > Stealth maintenance is a problem for existing
> > volunteers assigned to a trail. ...
> ### With all due respect to your efforts past,
> present, and future, the attitude above is the stuff
> from which "stealth maintenance" was born.
> 
> ### Similarly, in another message, a need was
> presented for hiring a graphic artist; yet, graphic
> arts work has *always* been done.
> 
> ### Use it up, wear it out; MAKE IT DO, DO WITHOUT.
> 
> ### Again, "professionalism" has replaced amateurism
> in the ATC -- what started this thread. Manufacturing
> "needs" -- whether new trail/reroutes, bridging every
> little piece of moisture from Georgia to Maine,
> running steps up every incline over 12*... ... ... --
> it's still *manufacturing* need, and removing the
> members/volunteers from the organization, and focusing
> the organization on the organization rather than the
> trail.
> 
> THESE ARE MY OPINIONS, and I do NOT mean to disparage
> the hard work of you and so many others on this list
> -- nor even my own *paltry* efforts over the years.
> But the opinion is based on watching the ATC since
> 1979, and having rehiked a good 1/3rd or more of the
> most heavily hiked AT miles since 2000.
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