Hello Everyone,
On Wednesday, October 9, FOSM volunteers will be working on two tasks -- cutting locust brush on the Capulin Snow Play Area slopes and hauling several logs to the hazmat building for chain saw bucking practice.
1. Cutting Brush on the Sledding Slopes -- Volunteers will cut locust clumps on the Capulin Snow Play Area slopes and along the fenced paths leading back to the top of the slopes. In the new area most of the larger locust plants are in the run-out at the bottom of the slope. We will be cutting locust in preparation for mowing of the slopes before the snow falls. The locust plants are too tall and the trunks are too large for the mowers to cut. Steve Roholt and Scott Dietrich have volunteered to mow the slopes.
The larger locusts are in groups that are not as dense as the "jungle" of brush that was cut in the traffic island last week. We will be using power brush cutters and small chain saws to make low cuts so that the mowers can safely pass over the cut stumps.
2. Logs for Chain Saw Certification Training -- Sally Lowder has made arrangements for Sunbear Vierra, Assistant Fire Management Officer on the SRD, to lead a bucking practice session for chain saw certification candidates near the hazmat building. He has requested that about a dozen 6 to 8-foot logs with diameters of 10 to 12 inches be moved to this building. We will need a USFS pickup to haul these logs.
Meet at 8:00 AM at the FOSM Guard Station behind the Sandia Ranger Station. Wear long pants, long sleeve shirts, and sturdy boots with slip-resistant soles. Bring work gloves and hard hats. If you do not have a hard hat, one will be provided. Sawyers are required to also wear 8-inch high boots and chaps. Bring eye and ear protection. Swampers working near saws are also required to wear chaps. Bring lunch, snacks, and drinks.
If you have questions, please email me at samgbeard@msn.com.
(I know that the Balloon Fiesta is this week, but I always lead a project this week for a few volunteers who are interested in working.)
Sam Beard, Project Chair
Friends of the Sandia Mountains