New Trail in Development

[trissynashville]

Thursdays and weekends aside from Sat. mornings. I have class on the other days but that usually doesn't tie up more than a few hours, could def. come out if I can work around classes.

[kikapuj]

Thursdays are typically good for me too. We've been going out on Sat mornings too, but that could be changed to the afternoon.

[Thegasteck]

Jeff,
Walked all the trails with GPS late today. Trail is Very wet and slick even with a good pair of hiking boots. Having trouble getting enough sat. signal for anything better than a 20ft accuracy. Not very good for trail marking... I will try again tomorrow afternoon using a high gain antenna.

[kikapuj]

Great. Holla at me when you go. May be able to go with you.

[TheRayWatcher]

I am down for anyday of the week, after 5pm. Saturdays are good too, assuming there are no good football games.

I agree - with this monsoon weather we are having, hard to get motived to work in the mud pit

[kikapuj]

Ok, let's have a tentative work afternoon on Thursday around 4:00. Raywatcher just call when you get there and I'll navigate you back. I might post signs to the work area. Surprisingly, the new area we are working has not been muddy at all. Most of it is on a slope so the rain has been running off. The previously cut trail however is very slick since the bare dirt is exposed.

[TheRayWatcher]

What is your number and what do I need to bring.

[kikapuj]

check your private messages. JF

[TryFour]

Yeah, getting an official SORBA work day set up would help, but I'm not sure how that works if it isn't an official SORBA trail. Kelly would have an answer for that.

Since I work so close by, I could come out and help for a couple of hours just about any afternoon/evening that I am working. I generally have Fridays off, and sometimes Thursdays as well. When I am working, I get done at about 6pm. Jeff, can you work in the evenings ever? Anybody else?

Tryon

[Nathan]

I want to get some riding in, and actually get this new bike of mine dirty, but if there is any working being done on Saturday I may be able to help.

[kikapuj]

Yeah Tryon we've been out there plenty of evenings til dark. Today thegasteck and I took his GPS out there and scouted a lot and mapped a tentative route that connects those two sections I started this past weekend. Thursday evening I want to try to clear some of that. It's a lot of leaves, small limbs, and vines to cut through, then rake the trail. It's a heck of a lot easier with a bobcat, lemme tell 'ya. We also noticed quite a few fallen trees since I was out last. Plans are being made to buy a chainsaw, but that might come later. Anybody got one so we don't have to buy one? Look forward to seeing some new faces Thursday. The time is informally 4:00. Come when you can and email me to confirm please. Thanks!

[TheRayWatcher]

i will ask my neighbors tonight about the chainsaw. one of them has a battery powered one - but dont think thats what we need.

i will leave work at 4, and should be able to make it out there before 5.

[TryFour]

Yeah, I'll come out tomorrow. Jeff, can you pm me your phone number? I don't have many tools, (usually just use SORBA's), but what might be handy to have? I might be able to leave work early, but it will be at least 5:30 or so before I can make it out there.

Tryon

[TheRayWatcher]

let's just hope it doesn rain!

[utarch00]

I have a small chainsaw that you can use. It might need a new chain soon or some sharpening of the blade, but it will work. I can not make it out to help, but you are more than welcome to use it. I also have some shovels, racks, lopper, small axe, mattoc(broken tip), might have a few other things. You are all more than welcome to borrow for as long as you need them. Hopefully I can get out there and help also at some point. I live in Nippers Corner, so I am close. PM me if you want any of these things.

[kikapuj]

Originally Posted by TryFour

Yeah, I'll come out tomorrow. Jeff, can you pm me your phone number? I don't have many tools, (usually just use SORBA's), but what might be handy to have? I might be able to leave work early, but it will be at least 5:30 or so before I can make it out there.

Tryon

Sweet! Counting you that's at least 4 of us, maybe 5. PM on the way.

[TryFour]

Sorry guys, I take that back. My wife has to attend a work event tomorrow night, so I'll be keeping the baby. I'll catch up with you guys soon though. I'm excited to see the progress that you've made.

[Thegasteck]

Count me in. I will sleep a few hours in the morning & be fired up for work.

[TheRayWatcher]

i was able to land a battery powered chainsaw. not going to cut down any evergreens, but should be able to handle most of the stuff we throw at it. i will dig around here at work and see if i can land a gas powered one.

and are we bringing our bikes to get around? or are we walking in and out?

[TheRayWatcher]

how big are these trees we will be cutting down?

[kikapuj]

We won't be cutting down any trees, only moving some that have fallen during the rain lately and some that fell long ago. I borrowed a gas powered chainsaw from utarch00 this morning, but if you find another or that electric could come in handy. See you later.

[Nathan]

Has anyone been out there since the rain stopped?

Wonder how long it will take to firm up and dry out a bit. I rode out to thr trailhead and walked a section of it last Friday. Too slick to ride, but what I could walk to looked good!

[kikapuj]

Nathan, I went out Sunday afternoon to work a little. It was still pretty damp but not muddy and only slick in some places. I'm going to try to get out again today for a little while. I expect by Wednesday it will be good.

[trissynashville]

I was out there today. Trail seemed pretty good. A few places are a bit soft, of course, but no real wet muddy areas. Rode well.

[Daniel]

Has this trail got a name yet or is it just "new trail in development"?

[TheRayWatcher]

we talked about this at the work day. kikapuj mentioned 'the playground' - and since its his brain child - i think he should name it.

The Playground at Sugar Valley

[kikapuj]

All the other trails seem to be named after state parks or geographical landmarks. MBSP, Hamilton Creek, Defeated Creek, etc. The closest landmark to this trail is Owl Creek, or Barnes Rd. So, I'm thinking Owl Creek or Barnes Playground.

Notice: The developer of Sugar Valley has blocked off the entrance to the current trail head via Tarmac Way and Campton Rd at the end of the pavement prior to the gravel for liability, dumping, and erosion reasons. This really has nothing to do with us or the land the trail is actually on since he doesn't own it. So, we are going to find a new trail entrance and therefore I don't think I would include Sugar Valley in the trail name.

There is really no place for a lot of cars to park like the city or state supported trails since the Sugar Valley developer doesn't want us parking in his unfinished gravel cul-de-sacs. Which is fine because the whole idea of this trail was just to create a "workout" trail for the locals to ride during the week when we couldn't get to the bigger trails, and we can ride our bikes to it. However as the word of this trail has spread, so has our ambition. It has now grown into a respectable place to ride with interesting topography and features. I am going to talk with the land owner the trail sits on and see if we can find a place where people can park and if we can put up a trail head sign or something. If he agrees (which he very well might not for liability concerns) I will post the location and new trail entrance. Until then, the only entrance will be from the connector behind my street, or you will have to park and walk/ride from the barriers on Tarmac Way/Campton Rd and deal with possible no-trespassing notices on your car.

[Nathan]

kikapuj, I'm assuming none of the landowners mind if we ride our bikes under the traffic barrier to enter the trail at the head of the gravel cul-de-sac? Or should I be using a different entrance?

I rode the main loop this morning before work, and it definitely has a lot of potential. Regardless, it's fun as it already is.

As has been stated before, the lack of benching makes it hard to go fast through most of the non-flat sections. Partly due to visibility (the trail has the same contour as the non-trail sections), and partly due to the fact that you are always on a slope.

[kikapuj]

Originally Posted by Nathan

As has been stated before, the lack of benching makes it hard to go fast through most of the non-flat sections. Partly due to visibility (the trail has the same contour as the non-trail sections), and partly due to the fact that you are always on a slope.

I understand this now and we will work on that in time. Hopefully we can have another workday soon and devote some attention to it. Right now we are concentrating on the downhill and new section(s) to add more trail and fun.

[Nathan]

I saw the turnoff for the downhill just prior to the deer stand. Didn't go check it out today.

I'll keep an eye out for the next work day.