R -openin the Florida ational Sc n1c rail and Juniper Run in Juniper Prairie ilderness by Susan Jenkins, USDA Forest Service, Nez Perce National Forest Foreword by Michelle Mitchell, USDA Forest Service, National Forests in Florida

eaders of LandViews learned about and natural processes make mechanized some of the most unique and protected the monumental hurricane recovery equipment inappropriate. habitats in Florida. Despite the dangerous efforts underway on the 1,400-mile Juniper Prairie Wilderness is located in conditions posed by hundreds of downed Florida National Scenic Trail in the January the Ocala National Forest just east of the trees along the trail and in the waters of the 2005 issue. At the time the article was city of Ocala, Florida. Visitors experience run, the team was tasked with devising a written, hundreds of miles of trail were the area by hiking approximately nine safe plan that would not require the use of closed due to heavy downfall and flooding. miles of the Florida National Scenic Trail any motorized or mechanized equipment in Since that time, volunteers working with through pine flatwoods, prairie and scrub accordance with the values detailed in the the National Forests in Florida and the habitatsand then enjoying a cool canoe Wilderness Act of 1964. Florida Traii Association have donated trip down the seven mile section of Juniper The team was highly successful. Not over 16,000 hours of labor to the effort. Run that flows through semi-tropical only were the Florida National Scenic Working in conjunction with Forest Service forest. Unfortunately, hurricanes Charley, Trail and Juniper Run safely reopened, but crews, these volunteers have re-opened Frances and Jeanne each caused severe traditional tool skills that were instrumental all but approximately 40 miles of trail damage to both the trail and run within the in the settlement of Florida long ago were located on or near Gulf Islands National Wilderness. rejuvenated and found to be just as useful Seashore. Most of the recovery work was In November of 2004, the National and relevant today as they were in our past. completed along sections of the trail where Forests in Florida requested assistance The following article is a first hand the use of chainsaws and other mechanized from wilderness and traditional tools account and interpretation of the effort as equipment is appropriate, but some work experts throughout the Forest Service. written by recovery team member Susan took place in Juniper Prairie Wilderness An assessment team was assembled to Jenkins, a Wilderness Ranger from Idaho where special protection measures designed determine the best and most sensitive who came to Florida to participate in the to safeguard Wilderness values such as approach to re-opening the Florida National work. solitude, primitive recreation opportunities, Scenic Trail and Juniper Run through Idaho Days later we are jumping out of canoes It is July. Every day we work higher into into swamp muck to our chests. We are too the mountains. Camp is struck at daybreak. cold to rest during the day. Methane gasses Hundreds of trees have uprooted, blown bubble up and the stench is ... interesting. over and rotted following huge wildfires in Our frustration mounts when saws bind the 1990's and early 2000's. Logs are sawn, repeatedly as embedded sand in both oak chopped and rolled out of the way as we and bay trees dull the cuttingteeth. In the wind our way up the mountainside and out middle of the run the tension and binds of the river canyon, gaining altitude with within the trees change as the current pulls every step. Mules carry our camp and heavy the limbs back and forth as we saw beneath gear; by evening we have gained fifteen the surface. We can't even saw into the hundred feet in elevation. Another three days palms as the pith repeatedly pinches the and we will reach the lookout tower three steel. The finely sharpened edges of our axes thousand feet above us. It is 85 degrees, and chip and ring as they strike the downed oaks covering the trail and waterways. At the the air is dry and light. As we saw and chop our way through logs and heavy brush we end of the day we have traveled less than a drink tons of water but scarcely break into hundred yards. But this is a unique chance a sweat. Our tools are sharp, there are few to see the amazingly different country. insectsand monotony begins as the crosscut There is no doubt that this is a beautiful saw swings back and forth in a constant and unique place. As we travel from one rhythm. Many of us have been fooled into end of the wi ldemess to the other, we thinking this steep country is tough and hard. encounter a landscape shifting from smal I ponds and lakes to swamps, runs, and Florida prairies. Vegetation varies as this complex At top, from the left, begiinning on opposite page: January comes in cold and damp on the countryside changesfrom hardwood to Ian Barlow and Fred West prepare to move heavy Florida National Scenic Trail and the Juniper longleaf islands historically shaped by materials with rigging equipment while a crosscut saw rests in the foreground. Springs Canoe Run. Both are found in the fire. The Juniper Canoe run is canopied by Historic photo of crosscut saw filer taken in Florida Juniper Prairie Wilderness on the Ocala live oaks with Spanish moss hanging from their branches. As we work to clear the Ian Barlow and Amy Norton saw underwater to National Forest. It is a different world remove a downed tree from Juniper Run. waterway, alligators and water moccasins here. The mornings are freezing but the Clearwater National Forest Animal Packer Jim West become a daily happening that takes a while day quickly warms. Walking along the enjoys a rare undamaged portion of the trail. to get used to. Tick checks at night and the tall grasses, we are soaked with sweat. Ian Barlow teaches crosscut saw technique to Florida The 75-degree weather feels stifling, and chiggers and mosquitoes are biting every Trail Association volunteers. the humidity soaks us as though we are warm evening. Historic photo of workers reopening juniper Run breathing under tepid water. It is not even after a hurricane. hot or reallyhumid yet. All historic photographs used with the permission of the continued on page 40 State Archives of Florida. continued from page 39 down that blocked trail access. In four of traditional tool use. Crosscut saws, months, volunteers from the many different axes, and rigging equipment such as hoists chapters of the Florida Trail Association and winches figured strongly into logging Different and incredibly beautiful. (FTA) had cleared most of the trail. Bridges, operations, road and trail construction, and Many of us work between two large boardwalks, and campsites were cleaned the building of structures. The Wilderness wildernesses encompassing three million and repaired. Act requires the use of non-motorized acres with one, gravel road between them. The nine-mile section of the Florida means in designated Wilderness except But this country becomes more valuable Trail within the Juniper Wilderness called in fire emergency, law enforcement and as there is so little left. You have so many for some creative thinking and problem­ medical emergency situations. We tried visitors and there is not much wild land solving abilities. This is the only section to develop an educational context and remaining .... How do you plan and deal of the Florida Trail that passes through recovery plan that allowed for the work with the management decisions needed to a designated wilderness affected by the to be_accomplished safely and efficiently preserve something so unique? It is easy for hurricanes. Trail users, volunteers, and while fully meeting the directives of the Act. any of us to see why people come from as land managers realize that the Juniper In other places, we sometimes far away as Venezuela and Germany to be a Prairie is a rare setting in Florida's National encounter resistance to the use of hand part of the Florida Trail Association's efforts Forests. And, like the wilderness areas tools as a means of accomplishing routine to work in this wilderness. in the western states, a different type of trail maintenance and restoration work. management approach is called for. The Many people believe that chain saws and use of traditional (non- motorized) tools has motorized rock drills are the only effective Understanding Traditional Tools been a keystone for managing wilderness means for opening and reconstructing since 1964, when the Wilderness Act mountain pathways. Our work has been was enacted. One of the most positive viewed in a different light in Florida. u�door enthusiasts and winter 0 outcomes of its passage is that certain As we visited with hikers from Florida h1 kers are aware of the destruction skills that may have vanished have been and all over the world while cutting the hurricanes Charley, Frances, Jean and Ivan kept alive. This is one of the benefits of hiking trails, we were overwhelmed with inflicted on nearly all segments of the wilderness. the positive responses. People told us how Florida National Scenic Trail (Florida Trail). Some individuals believed that using important it was to know that traditional in October, after the last of the storms traditional tools would not be a viable hand tool skills are still alive. Many quickly had passed, it was estimated that 80% of alternative when reopening the impacted developed an emotional connection to the the 1 A00-mile Trail was either closed or trai Is and canoe runs. Others saw the project because of the traditional means under assessment for damages. But the recovery efforts in a different light. This being used to accomplish the jobs at hand. volunteers and land managers that care was an opportunity to reopen the trails As often happens, when complex for this trail are innovative and dedicated. and canoe runs and to revitalize skills that recovery projects are initially laid out, Despite having to deal with repairs to their had not been a part of the maintenance of individuals look at the sheer amount of own homes and property as a result of the the Florida Trail for many years. Florida's work to be done. Many compare tool storms, people came out in force to rebuild forest related culture is filled with examples options for the job rather than comparing sections of the trail and remove blow- the tools within the context of the work to local forests, historical societies and the the state began to reevaluate methods of be done. FTA in order to complete the work in an construction for future Florida National A chainsaw is definitely faster and economic fashion. Long-term plans were Scenic Trail projects using the traditional easier to use than a crosscut saw. However developed to promote these partnerships tool skills they had learned. 11 in the heavy blow-down that we have and cooperation into the future. Susan Jenkins and other members of the Juniper encountered from high winds we have Prairie recovery team will join the National Forests Upon arrival in Florida, tool trainers in Florida and the Florida Trail Association this year seen that only a small percentage of the from the western regions of the United at the Florida Folk Festival www.FloridaStateParks. work involves sawing. Most of the job lies States Forest Service met with local land org/folkfest to demonstrate the traditional tools skills in moving the materials after the sawing management employees and volunteers to that were used in Florida's past and in the Juniper has been finished. in addition to working embark on a four-day training program with Prairie Wilderness recovery effort. To learn more, contact the Florida Trail Association at 877-HIKE-FLA within Juniper Prairie Wilderness, our crews classroom and practical sessions. Learning or www.FloridaTrail.org. were asked to clear downed trees from about traditional tools is more than just the non-wilderness portions of Alexander learning how to swing an axe or run a saw At top, from the lek Canoe Run where chainsaws are a viable in the woods. Good tool usage is part skill Forest Service employee Nathan Helminiak chops method for accomplishing work. We and physical ability, but efficient work takes debris along the trail. brought power saws along but we were place when planning and layout are present Fred West saws a downed tree along the Florida Trail. unable to use them effectively as most of in the working process. Panoramic shot of trees blocking Juniper Run. the sawing had to be performed under The practical sessions were designed water in order to dear the run to a depth to let everyone involved learn how to use allowing for outboard motors. We quickly the hand tools and rigging equipment to returned to hand tools and cleared the run their full advantage. Participants quickly in a few days. understood that traditional crosscut saw and axe skills along with skyline logging techniques will continue to play an important part in trail and bridge maintenance and restoration in backcountry Initial examination of the Florida Trail and areas. I Juniper Canoe Run showed impacts from The training was geared toward the hurricanes that seemed horrendous, teaching and reviving skills; however, it with treespiled into huge jackstraws. With was also about learning how these tools, a seemingly overwhelming task ahead, a coupled with unlimited imagination, can be recovery program was put in motion. Land used to solve all sorts of trai I construction managers from the National Forests in and reconstruction problems in the Florida and the Nez Perce and Clearwater backcountry. By the end of the training, National Forests in Idaho designed a plan what began as a four-day session stretched to promote stronger partnerships between into five and FTA volunteers from around