The first YouthWorks groups of the 2011 season arrived from Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania to some spectacular weather. With a lack of sleep the two mile hike seemed to invigorate the PHP Trail Crew. We began where the local Rutland High School had left off  just the week before on the Shimmer Trail. A beautiful lunch on the fractured quartzite Overlook of Rocky Pond gave a little rest before an afternoon of rock and dirt moving. Day two had everyone walking up the old Pond Rd. throwing rocks off to the side of the newly graded road on another beautiful day. Some quality stone wall building and the amelioration of the old trail brought us nearly to the very top of the Overlook. A super great bunch of  generous and hardworking people! All the many people who will use this trail for all the future will enjoy the very good work done up  the trails these two days!

My deep appreciation,                 

-Michael Smith

PS. Remember that huge rock you guys dug up in the pit and we decided to leave on the backside rim?... Well this week’s crew from NJ, Rochester, NY and Baltimore decided that it was a moral imperative to give it a better home. We put it right up smack at the top of the switchbacks that we completed... Beautiful reddish flat side forward! I’ll include a picture in the gallery!