Photo: Wind River
Project name: Marten Creek
Location: Wind River, Wyoming
Date: July 2002
Sponsoring organization: Continental Divide Trail Alliance
Project description The project was rebuilding a bridge across Marten Creek in the Bridger Wilderness of Wyomings Wind River Range. The other volunteers were Connie from Lyons, Colorado, Jamie & Nathan from Lander, Wyoming, and Laurie from Kemmerer, Wyoming. During the 5 day period, we camped near the bridge, about a 10 mile hike from the trailhead at Green River Lakes. We assisted a Forest Service Trail Crew of 5. Two rangers also helped part of the time.
Photo: Nathan checking out Marten Creek bridge before work begins
Photo: Forest Service Trail Crew Leader Thea
Photo: Rangers Gary & Gretchen using crosscut saw to make initial cut in tree
Although bridge is in operation, certain logs are showing excessive wear. The replacement materials were to be nearby resources.
The first step to repair the bridge was to saw down some trees to use for new parts of the bridge. Logs were needed for 6’-8’ braces at each end of the bridge and 27’stringers to replace the 5 old stringers spanning the creek.
The large wedge cut into the tree determines the direction the tree is to fall. Everyone was positioned far from the path of the falling tree.
Photo: Ranger Gretchen using axe to chop down to initial saw cut in tree
Photo: Tree is just beginning to fall
After the tree was down it was cut into various rough lengths. The logs needed to be moved into an area where they would be easier to work on. A winch or come-along proved to be very helpful for this purpose.
Photo: Log on hill in background would be moved across creek to where two crew members are in foreground
Photo: Jamie & Nathan using winch to move log
The bark was stripped off the tree using axes. Much of the bark came off easily, just by pulling on the strip once it was started.
Photo: Connie & Laurie stripping log
Photo: Laurie & Connie with log after it is stripped
