Happy 4th of July! I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable weekend barbecuing and watching fireworks.
This past week at Starker Forests, we all helped close out a few projects.
On Monday, we visited the unit that previously had been broadcast burnt and mopped up by the crew in week 1. We visited it and walked the entire 38-acres to make sure that no more hotspots popped up. We did this ahead of the super hot weather that was forecasted for the weekend. I did not see any wildlife, but I found some pitch that used to be molten and then hardened upside down; it kind of formed a stalagmite of sorts.
I also came across some type of egg or gall. I am unsure as to what it was, I have provided the picture regardless. I thought these were interesting and worth sharing.
Tuesday and Wednesday we added a new trail to the Starker’s Forestry Tour in the Tum Tum Tree Farm. We hand dug the line similar to a fire line but without the flames, heat and pressure to save trees. We worked hard brushing with a chainsaw, and digging with a variety of hoes, Pulaskis and shovels.
On Wednesday, we dug in a clearcut and found a garter snake hiding in our path, so we moved him to the side unharmed.
After we finished digging the trail on Wednesday (there was less trail to dig), we tested Starker’s water pumps. With direction from Stephen, Lys and Corinne, we started up and ran each pump to ensure that it was working for fire season. Trash pumps, pressure pumps and volume pumps were all tested. We shuttled water using our type 6 truck to get enough water in the port-a-tank to circulate water from the tank, through the pump, back into the tank.
Friday was an optional day. Gus, Jace, Kathy and I all went in to work with Lys. We cleaned three bridges and got the route for the Starker Forests Public Tour touched up and cleared out. We used weed eaters, a chainsaw and a leaf blower to clear super grassy sections of road. The chainsaw was used for limbs overhanging the road. Overall, a productive week buttoning up a few projects and preparing for fire season.
Now, we all look forward to starting stocking surveys.
— Anthony Cafferata