For the past couple of weeks, I have been working collaboratively with the Inyo National Forest and the Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps to fix sections of trail like the one shown to the left. These spots have been a challenge for hikers and impassible to pack stock. Rainfall and springtime snowmelt have eroded the soil here, causing sedimentation of the adjacent creek, removing precious soil that the willows and other alpine plants need to survive, and exposing large boulders that impede safe passage on this trail.

To solve this problem, we have designed and are building structures that will stabilize a walkable trail surface and prevent further soil erosion. We are using a combination of check steps (steps that are designed to act as small dams to retain soil and slow the movement of water) and retaining walls to create a staircase in place of the current worsening mess. 

Importing building materials is not an option in such a remote area, so work in this area is done using drystone masonry- a rock working technique that uses principles of physics to hold structures together instead of mortar. When build properly, these structures are rock solid (pun intended) and can last for many decades.