Moving rock

small change said:

I missed the big trail work day for my club. AMB-ID had been on the calendar
since last summer, the Trail Care Crew visit came up about March. I did all
the PR for the project.

I must say, I'm blown away by what those guys did, and I'll be sure to hit
next Saturday which is one of the subsequent days needed to finish up this
300' bypass route. The Devil's Down is a steep fall line trail, eroded and
full of sharp rocks. While most advanced riders can do down it, I wouldn't
say it's a "fun" technical section... just nasty. It's also one of those
things that maybe only 0.05% of riders can go up. I

So, they laid in a bypass. When it's done it's going to be a totally
rideable singletrack in both directions. The bottom section still needs to
have the tread cut it; it's only been cleared, and the upper section needs a
little more rock work done. Also, we need rain desperately. Much of the soil
is old St. Helen's ash and is very soft.

I'll join them next Saturday.

http://www.fttrc.org/photos/devilsdown.cfm

I have to confesss, stuff like that saddens me :-( Just hike it; leave
as is for the advanced riders.
--
Slack

Slack said:

small change said:

I missed the big trail work day for my club. AMB-ID had been on the
calendar since last summer, the Trail Care Crew visit came up about
March. I did all the PR for the project.

I must say, I'm blown away by what those guys did, and I'll be sure
to hit next Saturday which is one of the subsequent days needed to
finish up this 300' bypass route. The Devil's Down is a steep fall line
trail, eroded and full of sharp rocks. While most advanced
riders can do down it, I wouldn't say it's a "fun" technical
section... just nasty. It's also one of those things that maybe
only 0.05% of riders can go up. I So, they laid in a bypass. When it's
done it's going to be a totally
rideable singletrack in both directions. The bottom section still
needs to have the tread cut it; it's only been cleared, and the
upper section needs a little more rock work done. Also, we need rain
desperately. Much of the soil is old St. Helen's ash and is very
soft. I'll join them next Saturday.

http://www.fttrc.org/photos/devilsdown.cfm

I have to confesss, stuff like that saddens me :-( Just hike it;
leave as is for the advanced riders.

The original trail will still be left intact. A lot of thought was put into
this. It's not an issue of sanitizing, it's making an additional alternate
route. The section is just too hard for average riders, so now you have an A
route and a B route. The area is a heavily used area in a popular state
park,
bikers, hiker and horses. It's one of those "greater good" issues - trying
to balance the needs of multiple users and issues. Of course, we are trying
to make the mountain biking user segment look good to the state park
manager. The
new trail is narrow single track, maybe about 20" wide. It's also a route
trail is used in the local mtb races. More than a few racers have been
backboarded out. If this were a mtb only area,
I'd feel differently about it.

Now, at the city park property that's used almost exclusively by mountain
bikers, the club had a fantastic meeting to the tune of "no issues with
bikers at all" and we've got the green light to pretty much whatever we
want, for bikers. It's just a matter of making a plan, getting the people
and money together, and building trails.

Penny

small change said:

Slack said:

small change said:

I missed the big trail work day for my club. AMB-ID had been on the
calendar since last summer, the Trail Care Crew visit came up about
March. I did all the PR for the project.

I must say, I'm blown away by what those guys did, and I'll be sure
to hit next Saturday which is one of the subsequent days needed to
finish up this 300' bypass route. The Devil's Down is a steep fall line
trail, eroded and full of sharp rocks. While most advanced
riders can do down it, I wouldn't say it's a "fun" technical
section... just nasty. It's also one of those things that maybe
only 0.05% of riders can go up. I So, they laid in a bypass. When it's
done it's going to be a totally
rideable singletrack in both directions. The bottom section still
needs to have the tread cut it; it's only been cleared, and the
upper section needs a little more rock work done. Also, we need rain
desperately. Much of the soil is old St. Helen's ash and is very
soft. I'll join them next Saturday.

http://www.fttrc.org/photos/devilsdown.cfm

I have to confesss, stuff like that saddens me :-( Just hike it;
leave as is for the advanced riders.

The original trail will still be left intact. A lot of thought was put into
this. It's not an issue of sanitizing, it's making an additional alternate
route. The section is just too hard for average riders, so now you have an A
route and a B route. The area is a heavily used area in a popular state
park,
bikers, hiker and horses. It's one of those "greater good" issues - trying
to balance the needs of multiple users and issues. Of course, we are trying
to make the mountain biking user segment look good to the state park
manager. The
new trail is narrow single track, maybe about 20" wide. It's also a route
trail is used in the local mtb races. More than a few racers have been
backboarded out. If this were a mtb only area,
I'd feel differently about it.

Now, at the city park property that's used almost exclusively by mountain
bikers, the club had a fantastic meeting to the tune of "no issues with
bikers at all" and we've got the green light to pretty much whatever we
want, for bikers. It's just a matter of making a plan, getting the people
and money together, and building trails.

Penny

Ah, that's cool. Didn't realize it was an alternate route.
--
Slack