Syracuse.com - Lean2Rescue crew still going strong, refocusing its efforts on Adirondack High Peaks area

[HuntingNY-News]

Since forming eight years ago, the crew has been involved in repairing, relocating or building from scratch 58 lean-tos, in addition to other projects that help outdoors enthusiasts in the Adirondack Park.

Paul DeLucia jokingly refers to the Lean2Rescue crew as "a bunch of misfits who fix lean-tos and then drink beer afterward."

The loose-knit, volunteer group of men and women, many from Central New York, are much more than that. Since forming eight years ago, the crew has been involved in repairing, relocating or building from scratch 58 lean-tos, in addition to other projects that help outdoors enthusiasts in the Adirondack Park.

The before shot of a lean-to that was decimated by a fallen tree at Mud Lake.Pete Davis photo 

"You may look at a photograph of us on a project and say, 'Man, what a bunch of rummies," said Doug Arnold, of Phoenix, who along with DeLucia has served as the group's project organizer on many of its projects lately.

"But in truth, we have some very interesting people involved: a retired nuclear plant manager, a retired FBI agent, engineers, computer and IT people, construction people - folks like that," he said.

The "after" photo of the Mud Lake lean-to after the Lean2Rescue crew did its thing.Pete Davis photo 

The past couple years, the group has grown and changed in several ways. After having worked almost exclusively in the western half of the Adirondacks, crew member have moved their focus to the eastern High Peaks area. In the process, they've recruited a steadily growing group of volunteers from that side of the park.

Presently, the group has about 30 "core" members with more than 30 others who float in and out of projects, DeLucia said.

"It gets kind of hard traveling back and forth from here," Arnold said, noting he has been on Lean2Rescue work sites nearly every other weekend throughout this year. "It's a four-hour ride - one way."

In the beginning, the Lean2Rescue crew worked pretty much under the radar screen, supplying all the labor, building materials and tools - paying for everything out of their own pockets.

DeLucia, who lives in Baldwinsville, said the biggest story lately has been the growing number of "partnerships" helping the group out with money and supplies, personnel and "warm/nice places" for Lean2rescue members to sleep while working on projects.

The group has joined forces with the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the Adirondack 46ers, the Adirondack Mountain Club, the Open Space Institute and SUNY ESF to get the work done, he said.

Highlights of the group's work the past two years include:

Lean-tos: A total of six lean-tos have either been refurbished, moved or replaced in the John's Brook Valley in Keene Valley. One was taken apart and transported by the Lean2Rescue crew to another location at Nelson Lake near Old Forge. Another had been crunched by a fallen tree and had to be completely rebuilt. A seventh lean-to has been completely been built at the group's "lean-to hospital" in Keene and will be transported and reassembled near Bushnell Falls this winter. The site is five miles from the road and all the parts of the lean-too and tools to put it together will have to be transported in by the group.

DeLucia explained the "lean-to" hospital is a barn owned by Hilary Moynihan, the Adirondack Mountain Club lean-too coordinator. Other ADK officials have arranged for use of ADK-owned cabins for free by the crew during the winter and in inclement weather, he said.

Bridge repair: The past two years the crew has put their time, skills and backs into repairing three bridges on hiking trails in the Adirondack Park. In the wake of Hurricane Irene, the group spent seven days repairing a bridge over Ward Brook in the Seward Mountain range near Tupper Lake. Since DeLucia and several other Lean2Rescuers work at Welch Allyn, the group got assistance from other Welch Allyn employees during the company's volunteer day in July, repairing two bridges on the Windfall Pond Trail near Big Moose Lake.

Lean2Rescue volunteer Sam Eddy, of Carthage, works on one of the footings of the fire tower at Woodhull Mountain.Pete Davis photo 

Fire tower repair: The Lean2Rescue crew added a fire tower repair job to its resume, a first for the group. Members spruced up a tower on Woodhull Mountain near McKeever on state land. The crew was granted special permission to use a shortcut through Adirondack League Club property to get to the job. The volunteers replaced two railings and hauled in (on foot) some 800 pounds of cement, water and tools to reinforce the tower's footings.

Eagle Scout projects: Two of the lean-tos have been incorporated into Eagle Scout projects. Kellen Arnold, of Phoenix, oversaw the renovation of one in Henderson. Keith Dickover, of Skaneateles, was actively involved in the renovation of another at Spruce Lake.

Working with prisoners: Lean2Rescue members worked alongside, and helped supervise state prisoners from the nearby Moriah Correctional Facility who were in a "shock treatment program." DeLucia said the prisoners were treated in a very militaristic fashion and there were a lot of "Yes, sirs," as the inmates took apart, moved and reassembled a lean-to at Gulf Brook, near Hurricane Mountain.

The Lean2Rescue crew takes pride in hauling in and out much of the building materials and tools needed to each site, often over several miles of trails and at all times of the year.

Lean2Rescue members, from left, Doug Arnold, of Phoenix, and George Dickover, of Skaneateles, work to relocate the outhouse at a lean-to at Bear Brook in John's Brook Valley. Fellow volunteer Adam Donahue helps check out the depth of the hole that was dug. Pete Davis photo 

The DEC has assisted by providing some building materials, occasionally getting them to the work sites by helicopter. DEC staffers have also assisted in the building process. The Adirondack 46ers have contributed $15,000 to date to the group's efforts. Other monetary contributions have come from Welch Allyn and General Electric.

There's still a lot of work to be done. DeLucia figures there's anywhere from 150 to 170 lean-tos in the Adirondack Park, many that have been up for years and in disrepair.

"The joke among us that we're getting paid double what we got paid on the last job - which is nothing." Arnold said.

To find out more or to volunteer for Lean2Rescue, see the group's website.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog