U4WDA NPLD Project: American Fork Canyon: 9/29/2012

[ret32]

This NPLD (National Public Lands Day), U4WDA and several member clubs will be hosting service projects in American Fork Canyon.

This year's project is hosted by:
USFS Pleasant Grove Ranger District
U4WDA
Utah 4x4 Club
Lone Peak 4-Wheelers
Dirt Hedz Off Road Club
Rocky Mountain Extreme (as part of it's Quarterly Training Day) (RME's participation is being detailed here http://www.rme4x4.com/showthread.php?92341-Fall-Quarterly-Training-Day-Service-Project-up-AF-Canyon-September-28-29th-2012

When: September 29, 2012, meet at the Tibble Fork Reservoir Parking Lot at 8:00 am, or at Dutchman Flat at 9:00 am
Where: The main project will be the much anticipated Graveyard Flats Fencing Project, we will be meeting at the Tibble Fork Reservoir Parking Lot
What: Graveyard Flats is a sensitive area in American Fork Canyon where some 2 dozen unmarked graves from the 1870s sit unprotected. We will be building 552 feet of fence around the graveyard and installing an interpretive sign.
Who: The forest service, U4WDA, and the hosting member clubs are looking for approximately 50 volunteers to help out with the project. Invite your friends.

 

[ret32]

A few updates.

Times:
-First off, there will be two meeting times. 8:00 at Tibble Fork Reservoir for those entering the canyon the morning of the project.
-Second, 9:00 at Graveyard Flats for those who will be in the canyon the night before (i.e. the quarterly training day folks etc.)

Equipment:
-EVERYBODY working on the fence must have long pants, sturdy shoes, gloves, safety goggles, etc. If you show up improperly dressed, the forest service will not allow you to handle the fencebuilding part of the project, your efforts will be diverted to other things like picking up trash, etc.
-We are looking for large gas powered drills. The holes we need to drill will need to be slightly smaller than 1/2" diameter (so 5/16" bits) and will need to full penetrate an 8" diameter log (so bit lengths of 10" - 12"). The forest service has 2 such drills. We need more. Please post up or PM me if you can loan one to the project.
-Trailers. There are approximately 320 14 foot long, 8" diameter wood rails that need to be transported from the main dirt road up to the work site. This will require negotiating the turnoff to Graveyard Flats, which is steep and off camber for the first few feet after the turnoff. Volunteers with trailers that can make it through are desperately needed.

Pre-project:
For those of you can't make the main project and are flexible during weekdays, we need some help during the last half of the week leading up to NPLD. We need to get as many of the wood rails as we can moved to the worksite before the project. The rails will be dropped by the forest service along the main road by mid-afternoon on Wednesday, 9/26. So anybody with a trailer as decribed above that has some time available Wed - Friday, 9/26 - 9/28, please post up or PM me and let me know your availability and we will work around your schedule.

Fence:
For those of you who have had bad experiences at previous projects with posthole diggers up AF Canyon, trying to dig up volleyball sized rocks to get a hole 36" deep, note that this project is going to use a "log and block" design. So NO HOLES! The fence will sit fully above the ground. It is kind of a log cabin looking design, which zig zags in order to keep the joints at an angle.

 

[ret32]

More info below per press release:

Note that RME members will be heavily involved in this project through the RME Fall Quarterly Training Day at the following thread http://www.rme4x4.com/showthread.php?92341-Fall-Quarterly-Training-Day-Service-Project-up-AF-Canyon-September-28-29th-2012.

However, participation and registration in the entire Quarterly Training Event is not required to participate in the NPLD Service Project. Those who want to join the project just for the day are welcome to do so.

 

[ret32]

Press Release: NPLD Graveyard Flats Service Project

Up To Date information about
Public Lands Day Event in American Fork Canyon
For September 26-29, 2012

Once again this year’s Public Lands Day is a nationwide event. We hope you will take part with
a project near you. One big event will be in Utah Valley’s American Fork Canyon. All local 4WD
clubs are invited to participate in this project.

There is an historic graveyard that was created in the 1870’s and was next to Forest City
mining town during a boom for precious metals. This final resting place is known as “Graveyard
Flat”. The winter of 1872 was severe enough to close American Fork Canyon, leaving little
access into or out of Forest City. Diphtheria, known as the “strangling angel of children” was
epidemic. Sadly, this highly contagious disease swept through town taking the lives of many
children and some adults. They were buried during that winter in pine boxes in shallow graves.

Over the years, attempts to protect the graveyard have come and gone. Many years ago a fragile
white picket fence was built but winter elements took its toll destroying the fence. This year’s
Public Lands Day project is directed at building a substantial 552-foot log fence around this
historic location. It will take 380 logs, 8 inches in diameter by 14 feet long. They will be stacked
in “Lincoln-log” fashion. Logs will be secured with large spikes. Obviously this will be a huge
undertaking requiring many volunteers and equipment to haul and build it.

Many volunteers will participate in what will be a three-day event.
On Wednesday September 26, the 380 logs will be transported from Heber Valley Log Works
to a location just above Tibble Fork Reservoir. On Thursday the 27 th and Friday the 28th, the
logs will need to be transported a few at a time to an area next to the Forest Lake–Shafer Road.
The logs will then be hauled up the four-wheel drive road to the site using trailers pulled by
volunteer’s 4WD vehicles. The graveyard site is about ¼ mile from the main road. Saturday
morning the 29th beginning at 7:00 am, work will begin in fabricating the fence. The design is
such that volunteers will be able to work on portions of the fence at the same time. Professional
plaques have been designed and are being fabricated in a kiosk to be set in place for visitors to
learn about the history of this area. There will also be other projects in the canyon.

T-shirts, stickers and other prizes will be given away to volunteers. Workers are encouraged to
wear closed-toe shoes, long pants and gloves. Bring battery or gas powered drill motors, long
1/4” & 5/16” diameter drill bits and 5 pound hammers if you have them. Bring your trailers
and strong securing straps to safely tie down the logs.

Participants and their families are invited to camp at Dutchman Flat or other dispersed
camping areas below the Maryellen Gulch Road. Friday evening, Rocky Mountain Extreme will
sponsor their quarterly training. Participants will enjoy learning techniques in 4-wheeling and
using their vehicle’s equipment. Entry fees will be waved at the American Fork Canyon gate for
volunteers.

Visit the following URL for more information and to register.
http://www.rme4x4.com/showthread.php?92341-Fall-Quarterly-Training-Day-Service-
Project-up-AF-Canyon-September-28-29th-2012

Link to Utah Four Wheel Drive Association & clubs involved with Public Lands Day events:
http://www.u4wda.org/index.php?p=events

Come bring your families and friends for a day or come for the whole 3-day event.

If you have any questions, please contact:

XXXXXXX