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TRAILS WEST --
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| When we have a marker and engraved inscription plate available and we know where we want to install a new marker to mark the location of one of the emigrant trails, we need to dig a 2-foot deep hole to plant the marker in. |
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| Sometimes as shown in the photo above, digging is fairly easy. Gail Carbiener is using the shovel while Don Enneking waits to use a rock bar if necessary. |
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| Sometimes the digging is hard. As shown in the photo above, rocks can be a problem and the rock bars we take with us must be used. That is Milt Otto peering into the hole while two others work the rock bars. |
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What a pleasure it is when the hole is dug and the marker is installed in it. When we plant a marker, we put the marker into the hole and then partially backfill it with various size rocks followed by two bags of cement. After the cement is poured on top of the rocks, several gallons of water are poured on top of the cement to wet it enough to set.
The crew that dug the hole and planted the marker at this new Applegate Trail location were, from left to right, Don Buck, Gail Carbiener, Dick Brock, Dave Hollecker, Richard Hallford, and Jack Lepisto. |
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| When we planted a marker at Stephens Pass on the Truckee Trail, we could not use our normal "dig-a-hole in the dirt" method because the area is virtually solid granite. So, a crevasse big enough to take a short-stem marker with enough concrete and reinforcing bar to hold it in place was found. Two bags of cement were mixed by hand and then poured into the crevasse around the marker stem and be inforcing bar. All of the supplies (short-stem marker, concrete, water, bucket, reinforcing bar, and tools) had to be hauled to the site from old Hwy 40. Because the highway is slightly less than one mile to the south and about 150' lower down, the handcart shown at the left of the photo was nice to have available. Don Enneking helped by Carrie Smith is shown mixing the cement while the rest of the crew waits for his next batch. Photo by Richard Hallford. |
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