June 2011 Southern team update
Constructing a switchback
The arrival of spring marked the end of estate work for the South Lakes footpath team and the beginning of a program of footpath work on the fells. As mentioned in our last update – we began the construction of a benched zigzagging path below Helm Crag that will hopefully guide walkers along a more sustainable line than the old route that went strait up the slope and had turned into an unsightly erosion scar. Although the path is only half way through completion we have already received a large amount of positive feedback from hikers who say they prefer the new path’s gentler grade to the knee jarring and ankle twisting decent of the old route.
The series of photos below show the various stages of construction of a switchback. The initial stage involved surveying the area for the best route, with particular attention being paid to avoiding water courses and springs, as these complicate the building process and can cause problems later on. Using a clinometer the new route was marked with tape at a grade that would discourage erosion and be attractive to walkers. Next, a band of turf was removed and a flat walking surface – known as a ‘bench’ – was cut using hand tools before the removed turf was re-laid.
As the new path was being made we simultaneously repaired the erosion scar. This was done by laying large stones in the base of the erosion gully followed by increasingly smaller ones in the subsequent layers to form a French drain. This was then capped with a layer of turf. The photos below show the repair process along with a before and after shot.
Aside from the Helm Crag project we have had a week’s stint with a National Trust working holiday group carrying out important repairs to the pitched path running from Red Tarn to the summit of Pike O Bliscoe. A day was also spent with a Fix the Fells volunteer crew moving and setting up our shed at Langstrath in readiness for our project there.
We will leave Helm Crag for the next two months to work on higher elevation projects at the bad step on Crinkle Crags - in conjunction with the Western Valleys path crew – and the Langstrath subsoil path with the North Lakes path crew.
