Our outing started Friday evening. We fought Houston's rush hour traffic and arrived at the hotel in Gilmer around 10:30PM.

Saturday morning we realized in the hotel parking lot that Trey and his friend came out with his Range Rover. After a quick continental breakfast at the hotel we drove out to the TMTC site where we met up with Clyde the Property Manager. Mimi and I donated about 150 wooden stakes on behalf of the Houston Land Rover Club we got from our previous Adopt-A-Highway cleaning.  Afterwards Clyde showed all of us a potential hillside to clear for a trail. There were about 8 people in the beginning hours and we cleared a small upward hillside that was about 100 yards and S curved thru some large pine trees that we opted to leave standing. As we finished the small stretch I had Mimi drive the Disco around to the topside by the dirt road that circles the trail we cut. After waiting several minutes I asked others what could be taking her so long.  Shawn mentioned that if she went around the left side she would end up at the "ravine" and the Disco would be challenged. Oh boy I thought. I then decided to track back and find Mimi.  As I was walking down the dirt road Mimi was driving back with a sad face.  She said I think I hit the rear bumper. After inspection found a broken tail light in the bumper... We then thought of Kevin C.

It was lunchtime and the upper trail was completed.  After Doug Chartier and his geared down Jeep crawled up and a few other jeeps came up, Trey decided to give it a shot. Since he was new to this sport several of us gave him pointers on how to get up. (2nd gear, moderate speed, etc).  He then proceeded on the slight angle slope with the proper speed and zigzagged thru the trees and up at the very top with his open differential, all terrain tires met their match on the soft decomposed leave laden soil.  A tow strap and a tug buy another and he was up & over.

By this time it was after lunch and more SHR members came, this made the count to 20+ people.

From the dirt road where we were parked we sat about half way along the hillside. We just completed the upper half and now it was time to clear the lower halve.

We wanted it to connect to another dirt road and avoiding intersecting with any motorcycle and ATV trail.  Clyde gave us a general idea where the trails that we did not want to meet up with but the only way to confirm was to scout it out.  Swede (the President of SHR club) gave me the opportunity to scout the terrain and find some good challenges for vehicles.  I hiked down the hillside fighting off the heavy overgrowth of thorn bushes and small stickling's.  I found the ATV and motorcycle trails along with the dirt road we wanted to connect up to.  I heard the chainsaws in the background cutting on the first downward section.  I then hiked back up the hillside to find some good challenging areas.  I came up to a small gorge/ravine that looked good to make a trail. Since I was wearing my orange vest I flagged down the group and said lets turn and cut this way.  Upon inspection of others we decided to stay mostly in and out of the ravine clearing the smaller trees and overgrowth only.  While standing on the topside of the small gorge talking with Swede I was pouring sweat and my arms and legs hurt from all the thorn bushes.  I told Swede my legs were stinging quite a bit.  He looked down and mentioned I was standing on an anthill.  Whoa that got the adrenaline pumping since I was patting down my pants & boots and jumping around. I was fine after I got all the ants of me.  We then continued to clear the trail but the further down the ravine the brush got thicker and the progress got much slower.  By this time we ran out of chain saw blades and the heat was making take more breaks. People were asking how much further to the end where the road intersects I did not know for sure so I hiked down again thru the brush following the ravine until I reached the road.  It was further than I thought.  I figured it would have to continue on another day.  I then had to hike back up the hill thru the bushes again.  By this time I was totally exhausted. I met up with Mimi and others and continued to the Disco from the cleared trail.  The cold iced down towel on my head and cold water in the AC running Disco felt marvelous.  By this time it was about 3:45pm and the group wanted to go out and wheel for a short time.  Mimi and I passed since we were in the Disco and one broken taillight was enough for the day and also I was beat. Trey decided to say and enjoy the trails some in his Range Rover and hang out a bit.  Mimi and I left Gilmer and arrived back in Houston about 9:30PM.

Everybody worked really hard and the trail work run was a great success.

After we came home, we found out the trail we made on that day is now named as "Spider Ravine".  We will be up there on Nov. 11 to finish up this trail.

Alan & Mimi Dobbs