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Chairback Lean-to Roof Replacement
September 2010

Chairback Lean-to has New Roof
- Laura Flight

Welcome to Part III of the Chairback Gap lean-to repairs. Many of you may have read about last year’s two trips to the lean-to to level the structure, replace the front logs, and replace the bunk floor. This year we did one work trip from September 9-11 to replace the roof. The roof lacked many of the properties and functions associated with what the name might imply; specifically it did not adequately protect the building (in this case one of a 3-sided variety) and its contents (in this case thru-hikers) from outside elements. At some point in the last 50 years there must have been a fierce storm with grapefruit-sized hail that was responsible for the resulting holes in the overhanging portion of the roof. And a breadbox-sized patch on the main roof spelled the story of a tree limb jousting through at some time.

A combination of 7 MATC volunteers and 8 volunteers from “Hard Core” worked to complete this project September 9-11. Special thanks goes to Paul Renaud who organized the “Trails End Festival” in Millinocket that weekend. He not only recruited 7 thru-hikers to help with the campsite project as part of “Hard Core,” but also transported them from the trail, to the work site, worked with everyone, then got hikers back to the trail, and fed them, the latter of which is not a feat to underscore!

On Thursday, Lester Kenway, Adi Levy (a young man from Israel!), and Laura Flight hiked into the lean-to armed to remove the existing roof. A late start prompted a late finish (read: headlamps required for the hike out), but stubborn nails were extracted and the old roofing sheets were removed. As a nice gesture to possible campers that evening and the next, a tarp was fitted over the structure to provide some shelter from possible showers, and it likely also provided a lovely thwapping noise in the wind (as only tarps can do) to lull tired hikers to sleep.

On Friday, the thru-hikers helped the other MATC volunteers (Bruce Grant and his brother Gary had now joined the crew) carry in the roofing materials as well as many of the tools needed to install the new roof. Many hands do indeed make light work! Each of the sheets of roofing was curled to a half-tube shape with ropes, inverted over the heads of a pair of volunteers (see picture), and hiked the 2.5 miles into the site. If you have never had tunnel vision, get on the back-end of this parade for a taste. Special care was required to lower the sheets down over the “cliffs” the trail descends about 0.1 miles south of the lean-to. Marring a corner or edge of a sheet would earn you leers from Lester and a more difficult task of installation to prevent leaks.

Arrival at the site proved only to be half of the load for the day. The new roofing material was stacked, a quick lunch was consumed in the cool, drizzly weather, and then the old roofing material was bundled for a trip out of the woods. However its condition was not of concern, so time was spent folding, bending, stomping on, and otherwise configuring the sheets into more manageable items to portage 2.5 miles through the woods. Later that evening, Lester, Adi, and Laura used an estimated 134 bunji-cords to affix the materials to the top of Lester’s truck; Red Green would be proud!

Saturday Lester, Adi, and I hiked back into the lean-to and installed the new roof. Julian Wiggans and Kate Locke joined the three of us. We first had to build “staging” in order to reach the front of the roof. Miscellaneous trees, boards, rope, and spikes were used to accomplish this task. Upon completion and initial testing, it was OSHA certified for 1 individual of 250 pounds or less, unless said person was within 12 inches of an end, when 2 individuals were required, the second providing the counter-weight on the opposite end. However, a no time should the structure’s capacity exceed three persons, unless that third person is the President.

The roofing went on well, and the five of us all developed into roles as we worked through the first sheet. Lester was the master of ceremony ensuring each sheet was squarely placed and properly aligned. I was responsible for pre-drilling holes for the nails since the roofing material, especially where the sheets overlapped, proved to bend any common nail we had attempted to hammer a pilot hole with. Adi spent most of the day lying on his stomach, head towards the ground and toes clinging to the ridgepole. In this position he was able to secure the upper nails without blemishing the shiny new sheets. Kate had the magic touch to pound in each nail just so the roofing material was dimpled, but not so much that the nail head would pop off. Julian earned the title “Advanced Nail Guider Technician” to ensure the roofing nails went into the actual purlins. He was ultimately at the mercy of me since my pilot hole dictated the nail location (its all in the angle). He graciously extracted numerous nails that initially did not find a home in a purlin.

All in all, a job well done. Thank you to all of the volunteers who made this trip a success!

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MATC is a nonprofit organization.
Donations are tax-deductible.