Edith Gap Update

[jmcclave]

Note that Cameron Seals, who I have been dealing with on Edith’s Gap, is on assignment in CA until May/June. I have been trying to get through to the person who is covering for him for a month and I got a voicemail back on Friday. Here is what he passed on:

1. They have cleared the trees that are on the site
2. He wants us to visit the site and let them know if more trees need to be cleared and if the tree stumps need to be cut lower.
3. They will then poison the site.

It sounds like they have already done a lot of the work we were planning on doing. Some of the PGers may fly Woodstock on Sunday. If they do, they will collect the data to address #2 so it can get passed to the park service on Monday. If they don't fly WS on Sunday, I'll visit the site during the week or next weekend to collect the data. We are getting closer to having a close by SE site.

Jim

[Dan T]

Ellis and I visited Edith's Gap today. The USFS did a lot of work for us. They did much more than I expected them to do. The trees are all down and laying in the slot. It looks as if the site would be launchable if we just removed the debris. If we could get just a few big overhanging branches removed along with a line of brush that is just below the top of the slot, I think we'd have our site back, better than it ever was.

Dan

[Dan T]

Just an added note. I couldn't see the stumps. They might be sticking up below the debris.

Dan

[mingram]

Tom and I stopped by there today. There are stumps about 6-10 inches high. Removing the overhanging trees would make it easier/safer to launch higher up in the slot. The slot is currently about 30 feet wide to each overhang. If they could take out a few small trees we could get that to 50 feet. There's also a big boulder right next to where you would stand to launch we have to pry out and roll down the hill.

We also checked out what we think is the bail out LZ. It appears to be the longish field with some small trees in the middle of it. Dan is that the one you got permission to land in? It slopes downhill, but is doable with a good approach.
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=38.72054 ... 16&iwloc=A

Matt

[Dan T]

Matt, the one in your post is not the LZ I got verbal permission for us to land in over a year ago. The one I walked is relatively flat. I believe the correct one is at 38.720541,-78.497336. I think I still have the correct location marked in my automobile GPS. I'll check it the next chance I get.

If I remember right Tom McGowan has landed a topless glider in it once or twice. He might be able to confirm the location.

Dan

[mcgowantk]

I think they have the correct LZ. I landed there at the height of my flying skills many years ago on an Xtralite and still had to do some intense moves to avoid trees I didn't see before approach and then land slightly downhill. I have also made the glide to the river (where the main LZ used to be) on a sled in my old K-2 glider. That LZ should be ok for a paraglider.

I would love to soar Edith's Gap, having only taken sleds there many years ago. Let me know what we can do to get it opened. I could try to contact the landowner for the main LZ but I never talked to the person that owned the bailout, it had just been cut but no house yet. The owner of the main LZ used to run a very nice bed and breakfast on the river.

Tom McGowan

[mingram]

From Jim McClave:

"I talked with Charlie Burke of the USFS yesterday. Here is a summary:

1. Widening the cut - He will visit the site and determine how much he can get us on the left (north) side. The right (south) side is getting close to private land so he does not want to go in that direction. I asked for at least 10 additional feet and said if we could get up to 50 it would make the site flyable under a much wider range of wind directions.

2. Cutting the stumps to ground - I asked that he cut the stumps in the upper part of the cut to ground level if possible. This would be the area we we would setup and launch from.

3. Poisoning the site - It turns out they put the poison on the stumps. The poison is then drawn into the root system and it kills the tree (invasive species). We have to wait 24 hours after the poisoning and then we can clear the material on the site.

4. Clearing the site - We need to organize a work crew soon after they poison the site to clear it to show we are serious about using the site. We should plan on a weekend in late March or early April. I will see if they will remove the debris if we carry it to the top of the site and cut/organize it."

[mingram]

We're still waiting to hear from our contact at the Forestry Service regarding this work and when we can start cleanup. We're tentatively planning a cleanup work party for mid-April.

[jmcclave]

I just heard from Charlie Burke of the USFS. He visited the site today and there is still snow on it. He expects the snow to be gone by the end of the week. They will then cut another 15 to 20 feet of the trees on the left side (north) and also take the stumps on the upper part of the site down to ground level. They do not want to go past 20 feet because they then reach some larger trees. Based on folks reports, it sounds like we should be in good shape if we get another 15 to 20 feet.

They then need to wait for a warm couple of days to poison the stumps. We can then get in and clear the debris from the site.

He said it would be fine for us to drag the debris to the bottom of the cut. Based on his report, we should look to organize a work crew to clear the site in early April.

Thanks,
Jim

[Pete Schumann]

Great work Dan, Jim and others.

It's a great place to fly when conditions are good. We use to have to spend an hour or more cleaning the sight before flying.

It will be cool to reclaim and maintain this site. I think this should be a priority to get this sight flyable.

Again great work and excellent joint effort by all including the Forest Service to make this happen.

Thank you all,

Pete

[Pete Schumann]

Sorry posted twice.