The big day arrived today. I put in the last sign post for 2012. There are now rescue signs (the small ones with the letter-number identification) approximately every 1/4 mile around the mound. I've finished what I promised to the park manager for this year. I realize this project is fairly meaningless for most of you who know how to get around Blue Mound, but it's important to Kevin Swenson, the not-so-new park manager at Blue Mound. I am conflicted about it: the trails show poorly to new users, but there are so many other things I'd rather be doing!
Posts were set at H2 (Home Stretch) and B3 (Intersection of Gneiss & Smooth and Over Lode) for the rescue sign project. I hung the rescue signs on them along with color-coded directional signs.
I set a post at D1 (Five Corners) at the point where Serpentine Climb splits off of Willow Springs Trail, and switched the rescue sign there. I hung a color coded directional sign at the post where Chert Dip intersects Willow Springs trail.
I hung color coded directional signs at D3 (Basalty Bail), and at G1 (Holy Schist).
I cut downed trees in the Beginner Section (near A2), Basalty Bail (near D4), and Serpentine Climb (C7). (Sorry Mike, no time to make a log over).
See the attached graphic for an example of the color coordinated directional arrows. This one was installed at the end of Pokerville where it connects back into the Beginner section. These arrows work with the rescue signs in the concept that there are 4 ways (loops) to ride the trails:
Green = Short Mound = Gneiss & Easy + Chert Dip + Serpentine Climb + Basalty Bail
Red = Long Mound = same as above without BB + Holy Schist + Home Stretch
Light Blue = Over Lode Short = G & E to Over Lode, back to G & E + Chert Dip + Serpentine Climb + BB
Dark Blue = Over Lode Long = same as above, skip BB + Holy Schist + Home Stretch.
Then there's Pokerville (Orange)....
Of course, there are many other ways to put the pieces together, but in the interest of making things simple, I chose to limit the signs to the options above.
Walt
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