SNOWFLAKE PATHWAYS

A HISTORY IN PICTURES

June to December 2012:

Re-opening the main pathway leading to/from the Wedding Bridge and Alpen Court.....

(1) ^ ^ ^ ^ This scenic route had become badly overgrown over the years and had consequently fallen into disuse.

(2) ^ ^ ^ ^ By making the pathway much wider, this will help prevent it becoming overgrown so easily in the future.

(3) ^ ^ ^ ^ With the completion of the foundations and grading, the pathway is now ready for a layer of wood chips.

(4) ^ ^ ^ ^ A concerted effort was made to dig out the root system of all the stinging nettles in the area. Very few (if any) stinging nettles are expected to appear next season on or near the pathway. Those that do spring up will be much easier to deal with.

(5) ^ ^ ^ ^ The first 15 wheelbarrow loads of wood chips (= one trailer load). A trailer load cover about 140 square feet (about 9 inches thick).

(6) ^ ^ ^ ^ Two trailer loads of branches (and sting nettles) waiting to be hauled to the green-waste site after clearing near the Wedding Bridge (the first of many loads.)

(7) ^ ^ ^ ^ Getting another load of wood chips.

(8) ^ ^ ^ ^ Our community slashing machine (diesel). The PMCPOA plans on replacing it soon as it doesn't adequately comply with the current California emission laws....right now they can only run it for so many hours per month.

(9) ^ ^ ^ ^ Progress after spreading three trailer loads of wood chips (coverage is now roughly 400 square feet).

(10) ^ ^ ^ ^ A bench seat installed in a shady enclave along the side of the pathway (near the Wedding Bridge).

(11) ^ ^ ^ ^ The seat has been sanded and oiled with boiled linseed oil. The boiling process helps the oil to dry so it is not sticky to sit on.

(12) ^ ^ ^ ^ After spreading a fourth trailer load of wood chips (coverage is now approximately 550 square feet).

(13) ^ ^ ^ ^ Clearing the next section for the pathway improvements. This will straighten the pathway making it shorter and more direct.

(14) ^ ^ ^ ^ Even this clearing operation with shallow digging reveals score of rocks and boulders (which can be made use of later).

(15) ^ ^ ^ ^ Yet another trailer load ready to go to the green waste site.

(16) ^ ^ ^ ^ The pathway turns the corner and heads up towards Alpen Court.

(17) ^ ^ ^ ^ Six trailer loads of wood chips have been spread out at this point. One of the ideas behind making the pathway extra wide is to help prevent it getting overgrown in the future.

(18) ^ ^ ^ ^ Nine trailer loads of wood chips spread out on the new pathway (= over 140 wheelbarrow loads).

(19) ^ ^ ^ ^ Looking back the other way (east) towards Alpen Court.

(20) ^ ^ ^ ^ Widening the sloping pathway coming down from Alpen Court to connect with the new extra-wide pathway coming from the Wedding Bridge.

(21) ^ ^ ^ ^ Flaring out the bottom of the sloping pathway coming down from Alpen Court so it will merge nicely with the new pathway.

(22) ^ ^ ^ ^ The void packed with smaller rocks to ensure a solid foundation with good drainage.

(23) ^ ^ ^ ^ The final result.

(24) ^ ^ ^ ^ Looking back the other way (east) heading up towards Alpen Court.

(25) ^ ^ ^ ^ Showing the improvements to the widened intersection.

(26) ^ ^ ^ ^ Zena sits at the widened intersection.

(27) ^ ^ ^ ^ Extending the pathway south as it heads up the wash or green belt (project started first week of December, 2012).

(28) ^ ^ ^ ^ Two large boulders that were moved out of the way and later incorporated in the rock edging for the new pathway. The larger boulder probably weights over half a ton.

(29) ^ ^ ^ ^ The new work as it extends south up the wash (awaiting re-surfacing with wood chips).

(30) ^ ^ ^ ^ The large boulders (pictured earlier) after repositioning them.

(31) ^ ^ ^ ^ Turn off to connect to a long flight of rock stairs ascending to upper Alpen Court (originally constructed, single handed, by Liz Bolden around 2007).