Monkey Creek F-Troop Logistics

F-Troop, Fall Crews, Trail Crews Comments (0)

Apalachicola National Forest
Thursday – Sunday November 9th -19th, 2006
Join us on this landmark event to build the longest free spanning bridge on the Florida Trail!

The Project
Constructing the Monkey Creek Bridge The 80’ free spanning bridge is made of a light-weight fiberglass composite material. It is basically a kit that comes precut and predrilled. The pieces are designed so that they can be carried into remote locations and be constructed by volunteers. Fortunately, we won’t have to go too far to bring the materials in. The nearby forest road will get things pretty close to the bridge site. We will utilize the rigging training from Ian Barlow to put this bridge together. Two trusses will be assembled and then hoisted over the river with a highline system and set into place. The abutments will be constructed by the SCA crew prior to the event under the technical supervision of Pat Lovejoy and Dave Rohe.

Target Dates

• November 7th (Tue) – Begin basecamp set-up (Bob, Kelli, Kristin, SCA crew)
• November 9th (Thu) – F-Troop participants arrive (Bob) – Deliver bridge materials, hardware, tools, and safety equipment delivered to worksite (Dave, Kelli, Kristen, SCA crew)
• November 11th & 12th (Sat & Sun) – Rigging Training (Ian, Bob, Kelli, Kristin)
• November 19th (Sun) – F-Troop ends, breakdown camp and restore area (Bob, Dave, Kelli, Kristin, SCA crew)

Project Team

• Project Manager/Volunteer Coordinator – Bob Woods (FTA)
• Construction Coordinator/Rigging Instructor – Ian Barlow (USFS)
• Engineering/Technical Consultant – Pat Lovejoy (USFS)
• Tool & Equipment Manager/Safety Officer- Dave Rohe (FTA)
• Basecamp Manager – Kelli Smith (FTA)
• Assistant Crew Leader – Kristin Johns (FTA)

What to Expect
A typical day with F-Troop
I will attempt to describe an ordinary day working with the F-Troop Volunteer Trail Crew; however, no day will be ordinary. Each day will have its own unique set of challenges, surprises, set-backs, and accomplishments. There are three main goals of the F-Troop: 1.) Be safe 2.) Have fun 3.) Get dirty! By keeping these goals in mind we will all have a good time, while watching out for each other, while getting some much needed work done on the trail. Below is a schedule of what will happen during the event. The schedule is a guide and remains flexible to changes beyond our control such as bad weather. Hopefully it will be warm and sunny. If it drizzles, we still work. If it rains, we take a break. If it just pours, we play cards and socialize under the big group tent.

Basically, here is how things will work. Keeping with FTA customs, first we eat! A hearty trail crew breakfast will be served at the basecamp around 7am. Then we will take a few minutes to load up any tools and pack a “brown bag” lunch for the trail. The crew will regroup for a morning Safety Tailgate Session and then head on out to the project site. We may split up and work on some additional trail projects in the area to keep things from getting too crowded around the bridge. Bradwell Bay is just across the road and makes for a memorable trail maintenance experience.

We will take a lot of breaks to re-hydrate, have snacks, rest, and admire the progress made. A leisurely lunch will be enjoyed somewhere along the trail under a nice shady tree. We will finish up for the day and head back to camp around 4 o’clock. That will give us plenty of time to clean ourselves up, help make dinner, take a short hike, and enjoy the company. Dinner will be served around 6:30pm. Then we will gather around the campfire and watch the stars, swap bear stories, and tell tall-tales of adventures on the trail. We may have a couple of short and entertaining presentations in the evening on topics like Leave No Trace, things to do around the Apalachicola National Forest or possibly even a slide show of a volunteer’s long-distance hiking adventure. The next day, we wake up and do it all over again. Some of the local volunteers may meet us in the morning if they are not camping and most folks will not be able to stay for all ten days. So, there will be new volunteers showing up everyday.

All work and no play would not make for a fun F-Troop. Therefore, we may elect an afternoon to do a hike in the nearby Bradwell Bay Wilderness. Sunday morning after breakfast, we will break down camp and revegetate the camping area. After lunch, everyone will head home with a great sense of accomplishment of a job well done.

Daily Schedule:
Thursday 11/9 Arrival Day
10:00am – 5:00pm Bridge materials arrive at worksite
12:00 pm – 6:00 pm Participants will start arriving at basecamp
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Dinner
8:00 pm – ?? pm Briefing of week ahead at the campfire circle

Friday 11/10 Day #1
7:00 am – 8:00am Breakfast & pack a bag lunch for the trail
8:00 am – 9:30am Project details, bridge design & safety tailgate session
9:30am – 4:00pm Site visit and preparation, clear trail access, inventory construction materials & tools
4:00pm – 6:00pm Head back to basecamp, clean up, relax
6:30pm – 7:30pm Dinner
8:00pm – ?? pm Campfire

Saturday & Sunday 11/11-11/12 Day #2 & #3
7:00 am – 8:00am Breakfast
8:00 am – 8:30am Safety tailgate session
8:30 am – 10:15am Rigging Workshop begins
12:00pm – 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Rigging Workshop and then head back to basecamp
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Dinner
8:00 pm – ?? pm Campfire

Monday – Saturday 11/13-11/18 Day #4 – #9
7:00 am – 8:00am Breakfast & pack a bag lunch for the trail
8:00 am – 8:30am Safety tailgate session
8:30 am – 10:15am Bridge construction begins **
10:15am – 10:30am Morning Break
10:30am – 12:00pm Continue with the bridge construction
12:00pm – 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Continue with the bridge construction
2:30 pm – 2:45 pm Afternoon Break
2:45 pm – 4:00 pm Continue with the bridge construction and head back to basecamp
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Dinner
8:00 pm – ?? pm Campfire Sunday

11/19 Day #10
7:00 am – 8:00am Breakfast & pack a bag lunch for the trail
8:00 am – 12:00 pm Finish any trail projects/Break down basecamp & revegetate area
12:00pm – 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Finish packing up basecamp
3:00pm Farewell

The Basecamp
We will be setting up a “dispersed backcountry primitive” camp in the Apalachicola National Forest close to the bridge site. There will be a big tent that will act as our dining room/meeting area. A second tent will have the kitchen where meals are prepared. A couple of portable restrooms, a solar heated backcountry shower, and a campfire circle will complete the basecamp. Campers can set up their tents anywhere in the area and there will be room for small self-contained RV’s. A plentiful supply of drinking water will always be available at camp and the worksite.
The worksite is located about ½ a mile up a muddy forest road that will require a 4×4 to get through. That means we will most likely hike in and out to work each day. There will be a shade tent set up at the worksite to take breaks. It will be stocked with trail snacks, water, and first-aid supplies.

How To Get There
Directions to the F-Troop Basecamp From Tallahassee: head south on Crawfordville highway/319 to the town of Crawfordville. Turn right at the stop light by the old courthouse on to Aaron road. Veer left when see the powerlines on to Forest Road 365 which is a dirt road. Turn right on to Forest Road 348. You’ll see a sign for the Bradwell Bay Wilderness Area. Then turn left onto Forest Road 329. Cross over the Sopchoppy River and continue a couple of miles. You’ll see the basecamp on the left side of the road.

For more information
Contact Bob Woods, Trail Crew Program Coordinator, 850-528-5267

Megan Eno @ November 8, 2006