We’re cleared to maintain and fly Hogback now. Hogback is a north-facing site on the crest of the Shenandoah, a short hike from the overlook parking on Skyline Dr.
The site definitely needs maintenance before anyone can fly it, but it isn’t horrible (pics below). Mostly, it needs a bunch of knee- to waist-high bramble cut out to widen the wing area and then to clear out a triangle down to the launch perch above the cliff. The short 20’ trail from the AT needs a little cutting, but it’s still easily accessible. There is a small tree in front that we’ll want to top off, but otherwise it’s about what you’d expect after several years of growth.
The site is H4/P4. It may close during raptor nesting seasons — if so, they’ll let us know when and for how long.
To reiterate the rules for site maintenance:
- no informal maintenance… only do maintenance when scheduled between CHGPA and SNP (I'll do this via Andrew)
- no herbicide use
- no power tools
- maintenance tools must be dedicated to SNP use (to prevent contamination — club has approved purchase of new tools for this purpose)
- the park prefers that we scatter the cuttings rather than make big piles.
We can do the initial maintenance as soon as we can get a crew together. I’m guessing it would take about 4 people working better part of a morning. Let me know who is interested in helping.
Thanks,
Jeff
