Trail Update Sept 9

Got out on the trails Sunday, a beautiful day, and a good many riders out (and hunters out prepping). Trails are mostly in good shape and riding well. The storms over the last couple of weeks have brought down a few trees that will need a chainsaw, one on Doc Smith closer to the East Lot end, and I think four on Fawn Kill. There were other smaller 6" or so ones down too, but all easily rideable. All the sun and humidity has a few area's growing in and needing a little trimming, A few of the rocky technical area's on Fawn Kill have seen some erosion and at some point would be well served with a little bit of rock armoring and love.

Unfortunately other obligations have me unable to get up there again for a few weeks, but maybe a future trail work day can get on the calendar and happen. If anyone gets out and cuts any of the trees, etc, please post in the comments so we know what is done and what still needs work. It is also getting closer to hunting season, so please be smart out there, here is a link to the upcoming hunting dates:

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=576240&mode=2

Thanks for the comments on the last post, looks like some people miss the bash!! There looks to be some changes coming, and maybe even some form of a Bash could return (but please don't hold your breath).

Let's get the lights turned back on here!!!

Ok, it's been a while since there has been an update here. As most of you know, the awesome crew who built these trails have taken a step back, but the trails definitely live on. I know many people have been putting their own time into chainsawing, trimming, etc, and keeping the trails in great shape, so a huge Thank You for your work.

The recent IMBA newsletter had a copy of the trail map included celebrating it's Epic status, so all you members should have a copy now. I will also get a copy of this posted as a link here soon.

That's all I got now, look for more regular posts, updated pics, trail reports, etc. Feel free to comment with any updates, info, thoughts, etc.

A Shout-out to the Person Who Cleared Fawn Kill Trail

A huge THANKS to the person who chain-sawed the trees off Fawn Kill trail.  You are the best -- from all of us!

An Incredible Feat Accomplished - And Then Some! The Bridges are Back

First, we can't thank the 27 folks ENOUGH who came out and made this project happen.  They include: Doug Bailey (he's the main guy that made this happen - thanks Doug!), Erik Bolig, George Harman, Emory Ehrenfeld, Joe Ketrick, Dale Shomper, Alan Murak, Rick Begley, Matt Hollenbach, Mike Kuhn, Keith Whitcomb, Chris Jones, Saysana Inthauungsa, Joe Daversa, Clayton Bouchard, Jason Petroff, John Haines, Fred Bellis, Brian Despot, Martha Ruff, Joe Lauver, Steve Miller, Kory Jones, Ed Hidden, Shawn Withers, Rick Brown and Jill Wiest.   A special thanks to Ed Hidden for the below YouTube Video.  It's heartwarming to see the teamwork and hardwork that went into dismantling, moving, and reassembling the bridges.  Here's the You Tube Vid, courtesy Ed Hidden.

And here are Rick's Pictures.  Definitely worth a look along with the You Tube Vid by Ed.  In both these cases, a picture is worth a thousand words, fer shure!

Update on Bridge Retrieval for Dec 4

The December 4 workday is ON.  Doug and his "crew" (Nathan and Jack) were doing some rock work on Sunday and helped cut in the trail for the bridge beam carrying.  The footer for the bridge beams will be reinforced this weekend and that should put everything in place for December 4.  Clayton and his friends put the small bridge back over Rattling Creek downstream a ways where it landed.  This will serve as a perfect temporary detour until the big bridge is completed.  We're not sure if we'll finish on December 4.  The detour is off of Doc Smith trail -- look for the orange ribbons.  Rick and Jill cleared a path from Doc Smith to the bridge, and Clayton cut a path from the bridge almost to Rattling Creek.  Rick and Jill finished the connection.  It's a good temporary go-around. Thanks Clayton for doing this.  The trail is mostly rideable.  We're concerned though if there's a downpour some of it will be underwater.   For December 4, we're not quite at twenty folks on the list of folks helping that have confirmed with Rick/Jill, but feel confident we'll have enough because many have said they'd help.  Please, if you plan on coming, let us know.  rebjsw@epix.net  

Rattling Creek Named IMBA Epic - Now Let's Retrieve a Bridge

Little ole' Rattling Creek has its 10 minutes of fame - an IMBA Epic.  Heck, even Keith is mentioned in the article - so that means he's famous too!   IMBA talks about the trails being a labor of love, and they truly were for many years.  You can read the entire press release here. 

NOW:

Since everyone loves these trails so much, please help us bring the bridges back.  

DECEMBER 4 - 10:00 am - meeting at the Rattling Creek end of Doc Smith Trail.  BRIDGE RETRIEVAL DAY.  

Thanks to a couple locals (Doug, Clayton) and a fellow SAMBA rider (Kory), the effort to retrieve the bridges is alive and well and planned for December 4.  We need manpower to make this happen.   Below is what was discussed to get the beams back in place.    Be prepared to get wet feet -- bring a change of clothes.  And of course bring your bike to ride the "Epic" trail system afterwards. Please let us know if you can make it: rebjsw@epix.net We need a head count to make sure this can happen.

We discussed a possible method using sets of straps as hand holds allowing one person on each side of a strap to lift or drag the beams out of the creek and back up to a location on the far side of the creek along the original trail. We are looking into how to fashion sets of straps or ropes with hand holds to allow many people lift or drag a beam.

 Doug had also mentioned how they use small diameter logs under the ferry boats when they move them out of the water and onto the shore for winter. We thought that we may be able to work something like that out to help us drag the beams back up the makeshift trail I cut some weeks ago. If nothing else, placing short sections of logs under the beam while trying to move it will allow it to slide over the ground and not get hung up on everything. The distance the beams need to be moved is short enough that we feel this method of lifting or dragging with straps or ropes may be able to be used.

 

Downstream Bridge Pictures

Rick got out to get some pictures of the washed out bridges to assess the situation and share what he found with someone that might be able to organize a community group project to retrieve them.  We'll keep you posted.   Here are the links to the bridges. 

Small Bridge

Big Bridge