Installing new Trail Kiosk in Dalton

On May 5th we installed the previously fabricated kiosk in Dalton where the AT enters the south side of town.  A combined force of AT Committee members joined by teachers and students from the Craneville Elementary School got the project off to a great start.  Photos by Deborah Araujo.

The post and beam frame was assembled

 Holes for the posts were dug four feet deep

The assembled frame was raised up and slid into the holes.  Cleverly, these holes were the correct distance apart, and the bottoms deep enough to hold the frame level from side to side.

Dirt was packed in around the posts to keep things upright.  Ready for the next hurricane...

Now for the roof rafters.  Interestingly, when combined with the post, they look like the "AT" icon.  Coincidence?

Roof planks installed (32 of them)









Finally, the signature red roof to finish it off.

  

The plywood display panel was added the following week.  The raw timbers will get a coat of stain next year, after they have had a chance to weather. 

Welcoming northbound hikers to town, the Kiosk will display a map of the AT through Dalton, the location of places of interest to hikers (restaurants, laundry, groceries, hostels), as well as information about Dalton and the surrounding countryside.  Students from Craneville Elementary will provide content for the display and maintain the kiosk and its surroundings.  Projects like this help to connect town residents with the Trail and make hikers even more welcome in this iconic Trail town.

Repairs at Upper Goose Pond Cabin

Today's Project, involved several work items at Upper Goose Pond.  Actually, the project started yesterday with Pete and me canoeing in the permanent roof material for the picnic table pavilion, 2 hefty bags of sawdust for privy duff and tools.  We returned today in the rain and decided chimney felling should be first on the list.  After setting up the come-a-long to pull with and determining escape routes the pulling began.





It didn't take long or much pulling before a crack was heard, and shortly the whole shebang came down!  Most surprising there were very few large pieces and most of the chimney fell, the last of it being very easy to break apart.  I think it was a very good thing to fell this beast!

Well after this excitement lugging the roofing and bags of sawdust up the hill was rather mundane, but we soon had the job done and anxious to see how the roofing was going to go on we placed the roofing on one side of the pavilion roof and everything lined up just so on the first try.  With the pieces clamped in position we took a lunch break as did the rain.  The rain continued it's break after lunch, but Pete and I got to work screwing the panels down.  Then it was the other sides turn and soon we were working on the ridge cap with precious little juice left in our battery drill.  We managed to get enough screws in the ridge cap to hold it in place, but this will need to be finished on another day. 

Before departing we chatted with 2 hikers in from the wet drying out on the porch.  We also talked to another couple tenting on one of the platforms.  And so ended another great day at UGP.  Cabin opening will be soon, May 19th, so mark your calendars!