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Back to 2002 Funded Projects Crag Camp Bilingual (English/French) Alpine Zone Display
Project Administrator: Steve Bailey, Randolph Mountain Club Trails Co-Chair Address: RR1 Box 1525, Randolph, NH 03570 Phone: 603.466.5432 (h); 603.466.5303 (w) Organization: Randolph Mountain Club Project Name: Crag Camp Bilingual (English/French) Alpine Zone Display Project Location: Randolph Mountain Club's Crag Camp on the northern slopes of Mt. Adams at 4,200ft. Applicant: Non-profit organization. Grant Information: Requested: $1,200.00 Matched: $1,319.50 Project total: $2,519.50 I. Organizational Overview The Randolph Mountain Club has been in existence since 1910. The club was founded in reaction to the large-scale timber harvesting that decimated the area in the early part of the 20th Century. Since then, it has worked in concert with other agencies and organizations in the region to protect the land its membership values so dearly. Today the RMC remains a small but active non-profit organization, maintaining over 100 miles of non motorized trails in the Northern Presidential and Crescent Ranges of northern New Hampshire, as well as four backcountry facilities: two cabins, Gray Knob and Crag Camp, an Adirondack-style shelter, The Log Cabin, and a lean-to with four tent platforms, The Perch. The club's mission statement best summarizes its aim: The purpose of the Randolph Mountain Club is to promote the enjoyment of the Randolph area through hiking, trail development, upkeep of camps and shelters, and the sharing of the collective knowledge of its members.The RMC is able to accomplish its goals by way of the generous support of its membership; indeed, approximately 600 strong, RMC members are very much proud of their tradition of giving and volunteering, especially those who serve on the entirely volunteer-supported Board of Directors. More information about the Randolph Mountain Club is available at the club’s website: http://www.randolphmountainclub.org. II. Project Description Crag Camp is situated on the western edge of King Ravine, some 4,200 feet above sea level. The original camp was built in 1909 but replaced in 1994 by a more efficient building with room for 20 people. A popular destination for many hikers, Crag Camp receives in excess of 2,000 overnight guests each year, many of whom visit the area from the nearby French-speaking province of Quebec. Most of these hikers use the cabin as a base from which to push onward to the alpine areas of the Northern Presidential Range. Though exact numbers are elusive, Crag Camp probably receives several times its overnight use in passing visitors. Thus, the RMC estimates that over 6,000 visitors pass through Crag Camp each year. The Randolph Mountain Club proposes to create a durable museum-quality display depicting landmarks hikers will encounter on their way through the fragile alpine areas above the camp. We believe this will be a near-ideal moment to reach out to visitors, who often rest at the cabin and frequently can be found reading posted materials. As such, Crag Camp is an ideal spot for educating folks—its users represent a captive, curious audience. Furthermore, hikers tend to use the camp as a launching point for excursions farther up the mountain—the very areas we are striving to protect. The RMC counts among its guests many French speaking visitors. Many of our Quebec guests are new to the alpine zone. Therefore, it is especially important that we reach this group of visitors in their native tongue. The aim of this display would be to educate folks quietly about the importance of said landmarks. For instance, one vignette within the display might explain the presence and significance of cairns—trail markers whose purpose is not simply to guide hikers but also to protect the alpine zone. Another might call attention to bootleg trails and their aesthetic and environmental impacts. Other possible topics include: thoughtful winter travel above treeline, highlights of one or two plants unique to the alpine areas, and the prospects for the future of the alpine zone. In sum, the goal of the display would be to show how simple, thoughtful actions on the part of individual hikers can have a positive impact on this much-cherished and much-traveled environment. Specifically, the RMC is looking to construct a 3’x3’ mountable display for one of Crag Camp’s walls. The display would be made of varnished or stained wood, and would be uncluttered and simple in design, in keeping with the backcountry nature of the cabin. We expect that a total of 6-10 photos would be incorporated into the display, along with accompanying text. The display would be designed to be as durable as possible, and to survive the wide temperature swings and occasional knocks from backpacks, for many years to come. For cost estimates, the club has consulted with Dave Thurlow and Peter Crane, of Cumulus Consulting and the Mount Washington Observatory, respectively, two individuals with experience in such installations. The RMC has a caretaker at Crag Camp during the summer months and a caretaker year-round at nearby Gray Knob to assure good upkeep of its facilities. The club will maintain the display and keep it in good condition with periodic repairs as needed by the caretaker, summer Field Supervisor or, a hired carpenter. If granted, the proposed work schedule for the project is as follows: March 1: Outline of topics completed, text drafted July 1: Photography completed, text reviewed by volunteer experts for accuracy August 1: Start Display Construction October 1: Installation of display In keeping with its tradition of volunteer support, the RMC would enlist the services of talented volunteers to complete all labor-intensive facets of the project. In specific, club volunteers would research possible topics, take the necessary photos and write accompanying text. All materials will be reviewed by alpine botanists and professional backcountry managers for accuracy during the development of the display. Similarly, volunteers with carpentry skills would be courted for the actual assembly and mounting processes. If the RMC obtains a grant from the Guy Waterman Alpine Stewardship Fund, it would have the display completed by the November 1 of 2002. III. Project Attachments Because the project will take place within RMC’s Crag Camp, it falls under the existing operating agreement the club has with the US Forest Service. Therefore, no additional permissions are anticipated. A copy of the summer 2001 RMC newsletter is attached, for background information on the club. IV. Environmental Analysis There is no expected major environmental impact from this project. Construction of the display will be done in the valley, and when completed the display will be packed up to Crag Camp. When taking photographs, and at all other points in the project, RMC volunteers and employees will follow recognized "Leave No Trace" principles. V. Plan for Final Report To document the proposed project, project organizers would photograph the process from beginning to end. Photos would then be selected to appear in a written report outlining the project’s impetus and goals, with special attention given to the relationship between the project itself and Guy Waterman’s own reflections. In addition, the RMC would request permission to publish its final report on-line (in English and in French), so as to expose the project to an even greater audience. A final report would be submitted to the fund by November 1, 2002. VI. Budget The RMC, as mentioned above, proposes to cover all labor expenses, including assembling, mounting, writing, translating, photographing, and organizing. What the Club would like to obtain funding for is the actual display materials. The breakdown of costs is listed below:
RMC Match: Labor: Develop ideas, draft text, review: 20 hours Photographer: 10 hours French Translation: 3 hours Print, build text panels: 5 hours Assist in construction, spar varnishing, etc 10 hours Pack and install display 7 hours Cabinet maker to build case 10 hours Web site work 10 hours Total: 75 hours It is difficult to say what the volunteer labor would cost RMC, were the club to pay these costs. We have chosen to use the following estimated labor rates: Unskilled labor: $7.10/hour (RMC’s first year paid trail crew rate) Web site work: $10.00/hour Photographer: $30.00/hour Cabinetmaker: $30.00/ hour Using these labor rates, the RMC will be contributing $1,019.50 in volunteer labor. Total Project Value, including cash costs and volunteer labor, above: $2,519.50 RMC proposes contributing an additional $300 in cash towards the project, so that the club’s total contribution to the project will exceed 50% of the estimated value of the project. The club would like to contribute more to this effort, but has an annual camps maintenance budget of only $2,000, so a $300 commitment represents fully 15% of those funds. |
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