Opening up the Lost Machete Trail
The Rainforest Inn has always been lucky in the volunteers who choose to come here to stay for a while in El Yunque and help out. This time the Coyle family visited and boy were we lucky to have their help. They have a farm in Franklin County, MO called "Moy Mell" and they found out about us on the wwoof USA site because their farm is also listed there. Their farm is a co-operative CSA called Avant Gardens. Joe, Charissa and Aster arrived and immediately started working on several projects with priority for opening up our trail. Joe is also an experienced contractor and skilfully completed other jobs while he was here many of them which helped with our progress towards 100% "off-the-grid" sustainability.
Joe was undaunted by the amount of trees which were down across the trail.
The Coyle family not only opened up the trail they also made some improvements to the trail. They put in concrete block steps in the muddy beginning and suggested that we gradually put more in as time permits as it is a real jungle trail not at all like the paved trails that are famous in the national forest central area (which is run more like a park). We agreed that the trail does need to be made a little easier to hike.
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Aster is taking a water break while she helps move the fallen trees out of the way.
One of the new improvements to the trail is a fork which leads to the right for access to our new hammock pitching area and to the left for the deep pool above the Espiritu Santu waterfall. Remember to ask us for a hammock to take with you if you want to pitch it and hang out in private peace to enjoy one of the world's most amazing nature hideaways.
Sign that Charissa made showing the new fork near the end of the trail for the hammock pitching area.
The Coyle family worked long hours every day they were here and trail clearing is not easy work. I went in a week or two before they came and checked the trail markers, putting in some new ones, and it was exhausting climbing up and around the fallen trees. It's so much nicer now that the trail is open. Even though it's a true jungle hike it is not very long (only a mile) and our visitors of nearly all abilities can make it.
Pulling branches out of the swimming hole. Joe had to chain saw them free
Aster Coyle wrote some poetry while she was here:
Nothing is more peaceful than relaxing in a hammock under the jungle canopy by one of the waterfalls on the "Lost Machete" trail.