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Under a canopy of trees volunteer trail workers add guardrails to a culvert along the Trace Trail near Pioneer Cemetery in Strouds Run state park. The Trace Trail follows the route of an old stage coach road through the Blair Preserve owned by the Athens Conservancy and along the western boundary of the state park. After a gradual climb the trail ends at the Athens Trail on the ridge behind Sells Park in the city of Athens.
July can be hot and humid here but this day is relatively cool and dry after yesterday's rain and last weeks heat wave. The wheelbarrow on the path behind hauled most of the tools into the worksite about a half mile from the road. The wood was carried in by hand on a muddy day last winter. A lot of hard work but there is no better place to spend an afternoon.