TRAILBLAZERS SUMMARY FOR 2017
Th e Trailblazers Committee continued to be busy in 2017, spending the
majority of their time focusing on the maintenance of the community’s
network of trails. As in the past several years, the committee targeted
the trails in the steeper, wooded, less developed areas of Eaglehead.
Th e committee left the maintenance of the more frequently used trails
in the more developed regions, such as the Lake Trail on the north side
of Lake Linganore (including the Coldstream Esplanade) to the LLA
Maintenance Staff . Woodridge, Balmoral/Isles of Balmoral, and Aspen in 2017. Th e hope is
to off er similar hikes in early 2018.
Th e trails the group worked on were: Lake Anita Louise, Pinehurst,
Nightingale, Balmoral, Indian Caves, Meadows Mailbox and West
Winds. Light maintenance work was performed, including spot-pruning
of encroaching vegetation; removal of small branches, limbs, and other
natural debris that had fallen across the path; blazing of short trail re-
routes; marking of trail locations in diffi cult-to-follow areas with pink
ribbons; and removal of trash along the trails. Committee members also
monitored trail conditions and reported problems and the need for any
necessary repairs to LLA staff , who were quick to respond. Between work
sessions, several individual Trailblazers Committee members performed
additional trail maintenance on other trails (Woodridge Trail, the side
trail to the North Shore Spring, Lake Merle Trail). A Trailblazer’s member assisted Cub Scout Pack 628 with their Coldstream
Beach clean-up in late May. Th anks to the young men for their interest in
removing trash and helping to keep the area clean.
Th e largest project tackled by the group in 2017 was the re-route of a
section of the Nightingale Trail in May, in the area where the trail ascends
a steep hill below the fi rst of several rock outcroppings. A series of
switchbacks heading up the slope was constructed. On the upper part of
the switch-backed section, the ground was dug out, approximately 20-
25 stone steps were set in place, the area was fi lled in with dirt, and the
steps were leveled and tamped down. Th e work site was revisited several
months later, and repairs to address minor problems were addressed—
resetting some of the stones, placing additional specifi cally-shaped rocks
to anchor the stones more securely, adding dirt as needed, and tamping
down all the materials.
In months where light maintenance activities on the trails were not needed
(usually in the late fall and winter) the group conducted Trailblazers-led
hikes open to the community. Th e hikes were generally on one or more
of the trails in the wooded sections of Lake Linganore. Hikes were in
Work was completed on a revised LLA Trail Map. While still in the
“pocket guide” format, it had a slightly diff erent size and shape and some
other changes. Additional of new trails, color-coded trails on the map
face to indicate the level of diffi culty, and mileage on the map face for
individual segments of each trail were some of the upgrades.
During the year Trailblazers Co-Chairs communicated and met with
LLA Staff and residents to discuss various trail issues, and existing and
future trail projects and locations. A meeting with staff occurred to
discuss suggested project/trail repair areas to be considered for the FY
2019 Budget. A list of the suggestions was subsequently submitted to the
LLA Operations Manager.
In the fall, Duncan Slade, an Eagle Scout candidate from Troop #1998,
led a project to transform an existing section of the Balmoral Trail from
the end of Balmoral Overlook to the “forever” stone foundation and
chimney into an informative nature trail. With the help of his fellow
troop members, leaders, family, and friends, twelve numbered posts
were installed at points of interest (indicating specifi c trees; discussions
of invasive species, beaver damage and lake ecology issues; and a brief
history of the chimney and foundation). Duncan then created a brochure
that gives a brief description of each numbered objects. Th e brochure is
on the LLA website. Th ank you to Duncan for this great addition to the
Balmoral Trail.
For more information about the LLA trails, the Trailblazers Committee,
and opportunities to volunteer doing light maintenance work on the trails
visit www.lakelinganore.org/trailblazers, email LLATrailblazers@gmail.
com, check the LLA Friday Flyer and LLA email blasts, or contact either
Katrinka Westendorf (301-865-3519) or Kathy Murtagh (301-865-3661).
Join the Adventure!
Cub Scouts Pack 628
For more information:
www.cubpack628.org
join@cubpack628.org
Our year round program inclu des:
Archery
Fishing
Hiking
Scouting Skills
Service Projects
Leadership
Camping
Teamwork
And More!
LakeTalk January 2018 13