Hours: 8:30-3:30
Crew Leader: Marla Martin
I thought this was a fantastic experience that I would do again in a heartbeat! Although it was a steep hike up to the working area, and the trail was almost unrecognizable where we were, it was a terrific feeling being a part of new trail construction. Appreciating the amount of work that goes into hiking trails is something that I’m definitely aware of now. Although the section that I worked on was only 20-30 feet, it took a lot of hard, physical work to get that section done. So for these volunteers to go up there day after day and work on this trail until it can be re-opened is amazing! A couple of the people were older retired men, a few were students that were volunteering for their environmental biology class and the rest were just people that loved hiking and appreciated what had to be done in order to enjoy it.
When I asked what type of dirt I was looking for in order to make a suitable path, the crew leader said mineral soil is the best dirt for a trail. It has a sandy like texture which means that it can be compacted down so it won’t wash away. Mineral soil is any soil that contains minerals such as clay, sand or silt. This soil is much better for trails that organic soil because the mineral soil doesn’t consist largely of humus. Humus is the decomposition of leaves by microorganisms and is what makes dirt a dark brown color. Humus is great for soil that is found in gardens because it can store water really well, it enhances plant growth and consists mostly of carbon and nitrogen which helps plants, and microorganisms, survive. While humus and organic soil are great for the garden, it’s not great for trails that need to be compact so they don’t wash away, to not get overgrown by plants and store water making it a soggy mess when multiple people are hiking on it.
I think one of the biggest ways that I realized the potential impact of human biology is during off-trail hiking. Although we were constructing a new hiking trail, because the original had been so overrun and deteriorated, I was consistently moving worms and other insects out of the way and trying not to disrupt them as much as possible. The soil that was there when we arrived is what they were getting their primary nutrients from. Organizations such as the WTA construct these trails so that we don’t disrupt the insects and microorganisms that are living off of the soil. The more people off-trail hike, the more they are disrupting the habitat of many microorganisms that are helping to maintain not only the beautiful forests but all of the plants and trees around them.
Human biology is interdisciplinary because life involves many different types of biology. On my hike up to Dirty Harry’s Peak, my heart was beating very quickly which made me think my stroke volume was high as well. I was out of breath by the time we reached the top when I thought about the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide was being exchanged in my body; both of which relate to anatomy and physiology. I thought about the amount of lactic acid that was building up in my muscles because my muscles were already getting sore; which relates to cellular biology. Then I was thinking about the mineral soil and organic soil and how the microorganisms break them down and use the carbon and nitrogen as nutrients; which relates to microbiology. Biology isn’t just one subsection at a time. It’s not like “I’m walking, therefore, I’m only using my skeletal muscles”. It’s much more than that. And having taken these classes, I’m much more aware of how many different sets of biology are happening simultaneously.
1. I wonder if people appreciate the amount of work that goes into constructing/maintaining a trail?
2. Why is mineral soil so important? (This I asked as I was shoveling but discovered the answered once I was home.)
3. How many species of microorganisms live in this handful of dirt that I have?
4. When can I do this again?
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