Reporting Trail problems on the Benton MacKaye Trail Work Management System

[SGT Rock]

Benton MacKaye Trail Hikers!

Ever hike through an area and go "Damn, that was a big blow down. I wonder if they know about that?" Well now if you hike the BMT and come across a trail maintenance issue, you can do the maintainers a favor and tell them...

The Benton MacKaye Trail has a new system for tracking and reporting maintenance issues. http://www.bmta.org/BMTAwork.php

You can go here and check the section you hiked to see if a problem is on the list of work to be done, and if it isn't - you can submit a work order for the maintainer so he or she can get out and take care of it. This system also lets folks know if there is maintenance that needs to be done. So if there is an outing planned for maintenance to a section - you can know ahead of time what you are going to be asked to do.

Check it out.

[Skidsteer]

Good deal.

Makes it easier and more effecient for everyone involved.

[take-a-knee]

That Rock is a marvel of efficiency, ain't he? He would've made a good SGM!

[SGT Rock]

Well I cannot take any credit for this one at all. This is the brain child of Bill Ristom. He is a very efficient guy at many things. Nice fella too.

[whitefoot_hp]

it would be even more efficient if whoever reports has to do the clean up (obviously reveal the latter requirement after the report)

[generoll]

Well Whitefoot, your idea has been somewhat applied. I reported an issue on the Big Frog trail awhile back and got an invitation to go on the next work trip.

[Tipi Walter]

What's with the weosdfl barrage?

Anyway, Sgt Rock, I serously considered notifying appropriate BMT maintainers about various blowdowns and finally decided against it cuz the blowdowns keep out the horseback riders and the ATVs. Just my take on the situation.

[CBSSTony]

I generally agree with Tipi, but on my sections of the BMT I hiked a couple weeks ago, the horses just went around the ones I seen.

[trouthunter]

I personally accept blowdowns as part of the natural process, but at the same time I understand maintaining access. I think in some ways blowdowns give us reason for pause, to reflect on the powerful forces at work around us that we cannot control, and remind us to be aware of widow makers at camp.
Just my take on it, it's okay if someone tells me to just shut up!;)

The BMT is special to me, many years ago while camping on the Hiawassee section I was invited by a fisherman to join him, he leant me an extra pole to fish with and showed me what to do. He was fishing/camping alone and wanted some company I guess. I was immediately hooked, and have carried a pole on my backpacking trips ever since.

[Ramble~On]

what's With The Weosdfl Barrage?

Anyway, Sgt Rock, I Serously Considered Notifying Appropriate Bmt Maintainers About Various Blowdowns And Finally Decided Against It Cuz The Blowdowns Keep Out The Horseback Riders And The Atvs. Just My Take On The Situation.


Bingo !!!

[bsa-troop6]

Most of the TN/NC section of the BMT has been logged, brushed out and blazed during this past year. Except we are still not allowed to blaze in the wilderness areas, but this might change in the future. There Cherokee National Forest is considering our request to allow at least some blazing in wilderness. A new trail guide is about to be published on the TN/NC section of the BMT with each 5-10 mile section on a two page spread with a map, profile, access points, water sources and campsites (all with GPS locations) and a description of the section of the trail. The guide will be 48 pages long, printed on waterproof paper in color with lots of nice photos and will be about 4x11 inches in size, easy to fit in your pants pocket or pack side pocket behind your water bottle. When it is published it will be available on the www.bmta.org (http://www.bmta.org) website and at most REIs and other outdoor stores.

[stir crazy]

I personally accept blowdowns as part of the natural process, but at the same time I understand maintaining access. I think in some ways blowdowns give us reason for pause, to reflect on the powerful forces at work around us that we cannot control, and remind us to be aware of widow makers at camp.
Just my take on it, it's okay if someone tells me to just shut up!;)

The BMT is special to me, many years ago while camping on the Hiawassee section I was invited by a fisherman to join him, he leant me an extra pole to fish with and showed me what to do. He was fishing/camping alone and wanted some company I guess. I was immediately hooked, and have carried a pole on my backpacking trips ever since.

OK, trouthunter, I'm biting on this one. I would like to know what setup you used when you fished and where the honey holes were? I promise I won't tell anyone...

[SGT Rock]

FWIW, the maintenance reporting system is currently off line. There were some issues with the system and the programmer that developed it is no longer available to address it. If you find a problem on the trail, you can use this form to submit the problem and it will go to the appropriate person in charge of that section.

http://www.bmta.org/ContactUs.php

That said, we have had people report things like lack of a sign at a trailhead as an issue, or reports lack of blazing in places we are not allowed to blaze. Believe me, we want those signs, but the DOT, Forrest Service, Park Service, or whoever owns that part of the trail make the rules and we just follow them.:sun

[generoll]

understand that there are layers of officialdom to deal with. also different agendas. several years ago I think the FS decided to close the Big Creek Trail. I found the cairn where the sign had been posted and found the sign off in the bushes. I put the sign back up and went on my merry way, but the next time I came through there someone had disappeared the sign altogether.

When I reported the sign missing where the BMT forks off the Big Frog Trail north of Chimney Top I was invited to replace it myself. That was when I kinda decided the reporting process was more for appearances then actual maintenance.

That being said, I did just join the BMTA via paypal.

[SGT Rock]

Thanks for joining.

I wonder who was in charge of TN/NC when you reported that?

There are new signs in the area, but I think the wood must me treated with gravy because all the new signs seem to invite bears to eat them.

[SGT Rock]

I was able to map it out in DeLorm. If the bypass exists, then round trip the short hike will be about 17.5 miles. If it doesn't, then the hike would be about 24 miles round trip. According to the maps in DeLorm it does exist though.

[Seldomseen]

Should you carry a folding saw or machete on this trail? I always need something in wilderness areas, especially Linville Gorge.

[SGT Rock]

Naw, we do pretty well keeping the BMT open. If you were hiking some other trail in the Slickrock Wilderness it would probably be a good idea. It can be like a jungle off the BMT in there.

[Seldomseen]

The guidebook looks awesome. Thanks!

[PapaGarrettP]

How do most people report these? I don't carry a GPS and the maps I use do not have the military coordinates I am used to. Would something like, " one hour walk south from the XX campsite, a few thousand meters past XX Gap be sufficient?

[SGT Rock]

Usually between landmarks. So say between Slickrock Creek Crossing and US129 or between Fodderstanck and Rockstack. If you have GPS, even better, but we rarely get that.

[AO2134]

I found some deadfall on the climb up Brawley Mountain after Ledford Gap. Easy to navigate around.

[SGT Rock]

I'll pass it on to the local maintainers.

[AO2134]

I just came back from a short 25 mile trip. There was moderate to difficult to navigate deadfall after Watson gap in or around the remnants of old clearing and farm house site. I am sorry I can't be more specific, but they were 2 major deadfalls. One was difficult to navigate.

[SGT Rock]

I got the GPS coordinates and pictures I and talked to the BMTA President yesterday. I'm going to send those off to him tomorrow or Wednesday.

[Parks]

Looking for info on Bmta from Tate gap to tellico river