Thursday, January 22, 2009

Work Day - January 31, 2009 - Saturday at 8:30 am

It's time for another workday - 8:30 am to 12:30 pm - Food provided by the COE

We'll be finishing off the last section and blazing new trail.

Hopefully, the turnout will be good enough to do the wish list stuff that never got done.

We should have plenty of tools, but if you have a favorite pruner - bring it.

Steve and Tommy

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Saturday January 17th

Several of us are heading over to Shutes Branch on Saturday to ride before the ground thaws. I hope to hit the trail around 11 am - or when it hits the upper 20's. Some more folks are coming over around 1 to 1:30 to do a little trail work. trail work includes bushwhacking a quick cut and flagging the extension of the trail. We're at 3.9 miles and hope to have somewhere between 10 and 12 miles when done. Come have some fun in the sun. Hope to see you there.

Steve

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Trail Work Needed

By popular demand - several people have asked about the next work day. Until then - do some on your own - preferably with a friend. Post up on here and maybe someone will join you. We have recently trimmed the first mile of the rocky section with a chain saw - awesome flow now. A few more to remove though - this is a "work in progress". I think it's cool to see it improving!!!



We'll have a schedule up soon.



Work needed: (most of this is easy)

Trash removal and flag removal. The flags in the first section (except at the sewerline crossing near the road intersection) need to be removed. Some scattered trash is also laying around. Take a 5 gallon bucket to carry the flags. There is a lot of old trash lying just off the paved road near the two gates to the old campground. This is the area beside the first part of the rocky section. If you could bag it and just put the bag by the road, the COE can haul it at the next trail day. There are a lot of large pieces - like 5 gallon buckets - in this area. The larger pieces, just pile on the side of the road. (Or haul them to the dumpster at you place of employment :) )



Face Slapper Trimming. The first section of the trail (the beginning 2.5 miles) has apparently had the hedge grow some this winter. Some loppers or hand shears are all you need. Trim what's hanging over the trail.



Trail Buffing - Newest Section. The last quarter of a mile has been cut - not buffed. The area needs raking, stubs pulled, etc... This will require some tools - be careful and bring a friend.



Steve

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Happy New Year - and to all ---a nice ride !!!!!!


Hope the past year was good to you - and this one -2009 - will be better.

We just mapped the trail to date and were holding at 3.9 miles. The last bit is still un ridable, but we walked our bikes through it. We need to set up a work day soon. Hopefully, we'll get to 5 or 6 miles before spring. This section is rough - like the rest. But, it's paying off.

The trail is getting better each ride. Some tweaking has been done recently in the rock sections. Some small trees have been taken out, and this has really improved the lines.

Charlie, Sean, and myself had another fun night ride. The trail was in great shape. The White Rock section is still hard as can be - well, almost. After it gets beat down, it will be even more fun.

Here is a link to a short slide show from the ride. http://s70.photobucket.com/albums/i118/TNcaveman/Shutes%20at%20Night/?albumview=slideshow

And here is the new trail map. the loop at the end isn't finished, but is walkable.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i118/TNcaveman/Shutes%20Branch/ShutesBranchat39miles12_30_08.jpg

And an elevation profile (milage is a little off)

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i118/TNcaveman/Shutes%20Branch/ShutesBranchprofileat3.jpg




Steve