Bill (Paul), et. al. --- I was planning on making it back up for the August trip to finish (?) stiles up, but potential complications in SC might prevent that from happening. However, I believe that Jeff Brown and David Faucette. are going to try a return in August and they could team up and with some other folks probably get the next priorities completed on one weekend. There might be 2 or 3 needing some non-emergency attention just to add the "doggie doors". We came up with a workable solution for that. Jeff and David were great partners to get starting on this. I decided not to do the "complex" one this outing so we could test the 'desigh" before tacking the really ratty ones (with all the wire issues). Other than my antique cut-anything wire cutters and personal electricians/linemans pliers, I am leaving tools that were purchased (on PATH $$) to do the work. There WILL need to be heavy duty wire cutters available to complete the resto of the stiles. There is one all-in-one barbed wire tool in the shed which includes a wire cutter, but it is only really useful for line wire being cut in between posts, etc. and can't get up close to a tree for wire removal and is hard to get wire into the cutting jawa. There will need to be some 2 X 4's purchased to finish up as well (none left over after trip -- taking into account some Dawg Days setup support provided yesterday post-weekend). There are 7 steel posts. (Photos and discussion below will mostly clarify the above tidbits of next-trip related insights on tools and materials. Note that ALL stile related tools and the barbed wire spool have been put in one place on the floor of the shed on the wall opposite the double doors0 with a "Do Not Disturb - Stiles Tools/Matls". PHOTOS;

There are a couple of photos attached of our "standard" rework, which was implemented at: (1) Stile north of VA617 (treeline north of cattle pasture permit area); (2) Stile north of VA610 (which also had a failed X-joint and leg) -- the photos are of this one; & (3) Stile north of the VA742 low water bridge across from the Tilson Mill. I am not on my PC and haven't found image software to reduce the resolution/filesize so if you have issues receiving this due to file size let me know. BASIC STILE REWORK:

The basic "spec" for these three was:: -- ighten all loose wire and remove unnecessary old wire. (Didn't replace any wire at these three, but some others will need rusty, old wire replaced to do it right -- we now have a roll of high-tensile barbed wire in the shed. -- Stake the ladder A-frame legs where possible and/or needed (e.g., roots and rocks have prevented staking in some places). In those spots, maybe using rebar and U-bolts would work, but we didn't try that this go around. -- Drive steel fenceposts directly adjacent to the ladder A-frame down at least to where the tops are below the A-frame pivot X-connection. -- Attach existing fencing running through the stile to the new steel posts usng fencewire clips -- Cut out the doggie door approximately 22" high and the width of the stile. -- Install 2 X 4 "restrictors" running through the fence from leg-to-leg The restrictors (see photos) are set at approximately the seme height as the opening height under the stile as a visual barrier to a calf approaching the stile, while leaving the 22" X +/-36" opening clear for dogs to pass through. I arrived at the opening height after talking to a couple of dog owners --- taller dogs will still be able to "scuttle" thru and it was felt that 22" (maybe a little more depending on the specific stile) would be adequate. If we start getting feedback that the openins need to be taller, we could return and sdjust them by eithe cutting out another row of hog fencing (4" square openings" or raising the lowest strand of barberd wire. NOTE: In the above "stardard" rework. the restrictors and stakes have been attached to the stile legs with coated "torx" head screes so at to be removeable should a stile need to be removed, restaked and the restrictors reattached. The steel posts added are independent of the stile itself and if a stile is moved, wire would have to be spliced in to close up the doggie door.

STILES INVENTORY:

I visited ALL 14 stiles on Wed/Thur prior to the beginning of the actual work weekend on Saturday (our only work day -- everyone showed up either Friday evening or Sat. AM).Friday was materials purchase day. I have the stiles inventory list created, but not updated for some sequencing glitches on numbering of the stiles and it doesn't reflect the post-inventory information I have made notes on. JW CASSELL AND AGREEMENT TO REMOVE FENCING ADJACENT TO TWO STILES (VA42): One of the main accomplishments (off-trail) this go-around was a productive conversation I had today (Monday) in Bland with JW Cassell regarding the two crappy stiles on his land between VA42 (Olystery) and then one good stile on Sue Repass' land about 300 yds. in from VA42. The two stiles of Cassell's are about 100 and 200 yds in from VA42 (south). These two stiles on Cassell's land are two of the three of most concern to the USFS. The other one is located on the S/E side of the Holston river just downstream of the low-water bridge on VA742 below the Tilson Mill. I tracked down JW via conversatoins with Sue Repass who referred me to 104-yr-old Alvis Atwell (whose grandson Tom Rusell was there when I visited), which led to JW Cassell in Bland. Bottom line with Cassell is that he agreed today to let us REMOVE all wire (approx. +/-20 ft, or so depending on specific stile) between "appropriate" adjacent trees or fence posts to clear a no-wire zone where the stiles are currently in place. I suggested to him that we would move the stiles off to the sdie of the trail (like at FR644 - Andrew's section). The difference at VA42 is that the stiles are way up in the woods and on either a slope in one case or a "step-up" that the stile makes the transition over where an ATV/Horse would have a hard time getting to, and there will still be the stile at Sue Repass' fenceline. He said the "fences" at the stiles were property boundary markers and other than occasional horses on his land from a neighbor pasturing them there+ off-and-on during the year, there is no livestock on the parcels. He indicated that he would inform any grazing party of the wire openings and tell them they would have to deal with it if they wanted to use the property for that purpose. I guess that means there is a remote chance that wire might show up again in the future. BUT, the fences there are totally dilapidated and any responsible person (I know, bug assumption), would/should rebuild the entire fence if they really want it to serve as a functional barrier. NEXT PRIORITIES:

(1) REMOVE approximately 20 +/- ft. of wire at two stiles south of VA42. The 2nd stile in will require some trail rehab once the wire is removed and the stile shifted or moved out. There is cribbing on the south/downhill side that is in failure mode. Just removing the wire, and havng hikers continue to use their already-in-place downhill ypass without the wire hazard is acceptable until a more thorough rework of the trail can be implemented. (2) Rework the stile south/east of the Holston River below the mill to clean up wire, stabilize the stile as needed and add a "doggie door" under the stile. Jeff/David have done three of that re-work type, but without any major barbed wire issues to deal with like that one. (3) Rework to stabilize (stake) and add doggie door to stile at Sue Repass' fence south of Olystery (3rd stile in) (4) Standard rework to stake and add doggie doors to two stiles south of VA610 (at road and at treeline to east).. MISCELLANEOUS:

The stile north of Settlers (north of Cumbows) -- Did NOT remove top step. Will Burke and Barbara did the lopping/swing blading/prunint from Atkins in (south) and took photoe and indicated that the top step came below his knees and he feil it was easily passable. So, if it still needs to come out, that will have to be kept on the to-do list. WHACKING/ETC.

All lopping/pruning/whacking priorities you had identified in your earlier email (1 - Setlers to

Cumbows 2 - VA6178 Trailhead; & 3 - VA615 headed in to Jenkins). i think Chris had already mowed much of the VA617 area, but Jeff Brown took a whacker up there quite a ways as well. That is it for now....the high points. Seven (7) people attended and all worked hard -- Greg Weaver @ 9 (including community research & contacts and Dawg Days prep 1 day) Jeff Brown @ 1 day Dave Faucette @ 1 day David/Martha Emery @ 1 day each Will/Barbara Burke @ 1-1/2 days each The new couple (Andy Angyal (and wife?) that John H. and I communicated with by email never confirmed to my knowledge and did not show up. PS - I am underwhelmed by our weed whackers. I had 4 running "good" on Wednesday when I checked them out and on Saturday one didn't work, two worked semi-OK/marginally and one (the one Chris has been using) worked pretty good. Thanks, Greg @ Cell = 336-918-3455

1-VA610-North_Looking South Showing Rebuilt Leg & Steps_P7180235.JPG

2-VA610-North_Showing Dog_Looking North_P7180237.JPG

3-VA610-North_Looking South_Dog Door From Left Side of Stile_P7180233.JPG

4-VA610-North_Looking South_Dog Door From Right Side of Stile_P7180234.JPG