Ever take a step down stone stairs in public lands and think, "Wow this must have been a lot of work to install." Well, it is! Or maybe you've never thought about this... either way, here's a behind the scenes look. 👀 These are photos from an inaugural Trail Training 102-Stone Craft Workshop we held with several partners this spring. 🪨 Our Virginia State Parks' Resource Management and Virginia Natural Heritage Program teams coordinated with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy in Virginia to bring the Jolly Rovers Trail Crew (an all-volunteer group that specializes in rock steps and walls) from New York to conduct the training. 📍 Goshen Pass Natural Area Preserve was the perfect demonstration area with its proximity to necessary trail-building material and accommodations at Natural Bridge State Park. There is a very steep section of trail that needed stone work to create a better, safer experience for the visiting public. The Rovers marked 60 feet of trail that needed up to 24 steps. There was no expectation that building all of the stairs was possible during this short course, but the group completed all of the work in just 2 days. 💪 The instructors were very pleased with how quickly the participants picked up the training and worked well together to construct an amazing staircase. Everyone in the group showed great satisfaction in the finished product. We intend to put the training on year after year to pass on this important craft for trail building and maintenance efforts.
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