Dixie Archaeology 2000 Service Trip

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This year's trip included the typical two Dixie components: trail work and archaeology work. But this year we were in for a real treat. We got to perform an actual archaeological dig! The following montage is in quasi-chronological order, with the trail work pictures first, then the archaeology photos and lastly everything else.

Ready to rumble - and start our trail work

We look pretty fresh in the morning!

Much of the trail we worked today consisted of areas which had been devastated by the bark beetle. This high altitude trail was at about 10,000 feet.

All of us did trail work the first two days of week. The Forest's seasonal trail crew consists of only 4 so our little group of 11 extended this work force quite a bit.

The second day of trail work was in a very different part of the Forest. This trail wound up from the trailhead to the top of "Noah's Ark" trail. Much of the trail work consisted of blow-downs and erosion.

And the trail goes up,

and up,

And up. Not a bad backdrop for a little "gardening".

Deadfalls on the trail usually require a chainsaw but . . .

This is one of my favorite parts of trail cleaning.

Today we start two days of archaeology, led by Omar the Forest Archaeologist. She had identified the site containing the mysterious "rock piles", the target of our work.

Before we started to actually dig, we had to flag, measure, photograph, sketch, map and document the entire site. The digging is the fun part but all the other work is required to do it right. This site location was at about 9,500+ feet.

Every rock that gets moved must first be photographed so it can be replaced in the exact same place when we rebuild the pile, at the end of the dig.

Everybody was getting in to the act of excavator, all wondering what we would find buried beneath the rocks.

Digging in the dirt at 10,000 ft can be fun, with the right group.

Detailed investigation of all the smaller stones and other debris was necessary to find anything which did not seem to belong.

Back home, after a day of work, we chat with Forest service staff . . .

Or relax around the kitchen, a natural gathering place. We usually have a camp fire but due to the drought that the area was experiencing, no open fires were permitted. But the dry weather did make for a great week of camping.

During our play time, either after work or on our day off members of the group explored surrounding trails and other points of interest.

And some of us just lost themselves in the beauty of the area and the moment.

Famous blackmail photo, Who is that guy in the middle?

Sorry, but I've been sworn to secrecy.

All pictures on this page were photographed by Stephen I. Sklar.

Last Modified: 7-21-2003