Lean-to Rescue @ Flowed Lands Below Mt. Colden

www.Lean2Rescue.org

A lean-to in the Adirondack Wilderness is a welcome destination. Near a lake, river, meadow or mountain there are around 300 of these shelters in the six million acre park.

In this video, the leantorescue.org team led by @brantschneider and Doug Arnold tear down an old lean-to and rebuild it to keep the legacy alive. Brant calls this "camping with a purpose".   This crew hiked out to the Livingston Lean-to located miles into the Flowed Lands below Mt. Colden in the High Peaks Wilderness region of the Adirondack Park, accessed from Upper Works Trailhead in Newcomb, New York.   

These 3-sided structures are designed to stand the test of time against the harsh seasonal elements. They are a welcome site, a refuge in a winter snow squall or a summer rainstorm. They dot the landscape offering temporary homes to hikers, paddlers, climbers, skiers, fisherman, hunters, photographers and others open to the embrace of nature.  They have provided overnight shelter, rest stops, lunch spots, solitude, and social encounters for outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds and through many generations.

A new deacon log, flooring, roof kit and fasteners were weighed to be able to calculate flight loads. The notion that large areas are cleared for these lean-to package drops is a wishful thought.  The load was delivered by helicopter and then transported over frozen ground to avoid any disturbance to the natural area. We are most thankful when the drop site is nearby but even still it usually requires some uphill carry with lifting sling straps for build sites 100foot distance from water. 

Many volunteers can complete a lean to rescue in a weekend. Most of the work is in the prep and planning before the final build begins. 
The Lean2Rescue crew has restored, rehabilitated and rescued more than 130 of these Adirondack icons since 2004. Started by Paul DeLucia of Baldwinsville, NY, the all volunteer group works closely with the DEC to identify and complete suitable projects – from roof repairs to entirely new structures. Most of the work is carried out using non-motorized tools and vehicles, and the bulk of the building material is carried into the woods via human pack mules, canoe, portage carts, winter sleds, and helicopters.

The first course is set to the foundation rocks. We use rock bars and at times a block and tackle to get large rocks in place and leveled to match the four base logs. Correct labeling of the build kit is essential to the build process, disassembly and reassembly.  

1. There are many ways to build a lean to. Original Adirondack lean-tos were built from local trees, and either scribed to fit one log on top of the other, but more often, were simply stacked logs relying on oakum rope to fill the gaps between logs. 

2. The Logs were fastened to each other using long, robust nail spikes.

3. Peeled Cedar and Tamarack trees are now used along with substantial rock corner foundations to provide for greater life-span than the original balsam and spruce lean-tos. The new builds show the scribed log workmanship and new lean-to design used by the front country work crew.

 4. A base is set to match the dimensions of the rock foundation .
Starting with the main front or "Deacon" log, the four base logs of the foundation are laid.

5. Each layer is fitted or scribed to the layer below, so water will shed onto the next log and out of each corner joint.  Each log is scribed to fit to the one that lies below - the standard for fitting a tight joint is whether a black fly can make it through.  Although we do recognize that the whole front of a lean-to is open and often on a rebuild we need to remind ourselves that it's a lean-to not a church and continue moving forward in the build process.

6. A combination of tools are used to cut the logs to fit.
Scribing is an art to itself, requiring use of a compass device that has two levels to track that the line made is plumb and true from the bottom to the upper log. The lean-to takes shape, layer by layer of logs, each selected to maintain a level structure.  

7. Next, purlins are put in place, holding roof joists. 

8. Wall logs are trimmed to the roof line, with the angle of joists matched to the log angles, creating a true roof line.  Each of the joists is also scribed to fit.

9. Often a beautiful eastern white cedar log will be split to provide decorative facing.  These logs, called pillar logs, cover the raw ends of the wall logs.

10. The lean-to goes up quickly. layer by layer to the roofline the logs go.  Purlins and joists in place, along with blocking at the rear of the lean-to. 

11. Up go the roof boards, a layer of ice and snow shield and then quality shingles. Temporary scaffolding using build materials for the floor is needed for the front overhang roof.

12. Finally the lean-to is assembled and painted with a cordova brown or mink color stain.

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