Trail Work Thread - Harmonie

[daniel240]

Don't think I will be able to make the trail build this week but I will certainly be at the next one. Hope you all have a good turnout. Wish I could make it. I will try to get out next weekend to do some work.

[smackgilbson]

Ah dan .... i'm going to miss ya. Let me know when your planning to go up next and I'll try and join ya.

Tim and every one else, I should be up there around 8ish.

[timbarnes]

Another great work day. Five of us really finished a lot of trail on the new section. Should be able to tie it in by the end of the month, hopefully after the next work day November 20th.

[smackgilbson]

Ok.... This Saturday November 20th another work day!! We should be able to get very close to connecting up the trails. Hope to see you there.

[timbarnes]

Steve and I are going to work on the trail this week as the weather allows us. The corridor to the river is almost completely flagged and waiting for approval. I'm going to pick up the leaf blower tomorrow and will try to blow down the trails before next weekend.

[daniel240]

I'll be there this time, I hope we can connect the trails to make a short loop. Weather looks great for Saturday and hopefully we will get some more rain today to soften the ground up a bit. I'm also going to ride friday evening if anyone wants to meet again. Should be a big group.

[timbarnes]

After another productive work day, the "Trail's End" sign has been moved about a mile further down. The new section needs some riding to pack in and there's one spot that may be hike-a-bike until we put a bridge in. We tried to bench cut it enough to make it easier to walk. We'll build the bridge next work day - 1st Saturday in December (12/4/2010). There's probably about another 500' after the "Trail's End" sign that will be added by the end of the year. Thanks to everyone who helped today! Here's to you...

[timbarnes]

Zack and I put a temporary bridge up today. It will work until we get one made from the right materials. Have some spots to clean up on the new section that was just opened but generally it looks pretty good. Plan on working on the last section of the extension Paul flagged this week. Hope to have it done by the end of next week.

The new corridor to the river has been flagged and waiting for review/approval before beginning work on it.

[smackgilbson]

Yeah, what Tim said!

We put a small bridge in place this morning to make the trail ridable to it's current end.

There are still a couple of sections on the new trail that needs some finishing touches(burming, packing, smoothing and a little benching). I need to give the trail a good ride to check for flow then I will have a good idea what modifications the trail needs.

For those of you who havent been out to Harmonie for a while I think you'll be plesently suprized on how much new trail there is. So go ride - Zach

[porkchop]

I had a good time working with you guys Saturday. That bridge will make it really nice. I did try riding the narrow bench Saturday. I'm glad that there are lots of soft leaves and twigs in the bottom of the ravine. There is a spot near the trail's end sign that probably should be benched a little. I also came across a few roots that could come out but that might sanitize the trail to much?

[timbarnes]

The rain the last two days has closed the trails but will also identify any low places that need work on the new section we've built since June. This is the first "toad strangler" we've had in all that time. I'll try to get out there tomorrow to identify where we may need drains and armoring. State park is supposed to deliver some rock to the Walnut Ridge picnic area for us to use.

Porkchop, I know of one root that definitely has to come out there. It forces the rider to the edge. I didn't remove it yet because it will take a heavy axe or chainsaw to get it. I think we decided to leave the other two for "features". We'll look at them again after some more riding is done on that section. BTW, did you fall in the ravine or was it just a psychological thing while riding?

[daniel240]

We should have plenty of work to do on Saturday for the work day. I think we should focus on improving the newest section of trail by fixing any spots that held water and any other drainage issues we may have had from all the rain. I have not been out there to see the trail after the rain so there may or may not be many issues. Also there are a few areas that need a little more benchcutting and widening done, as well as building up some berms on some corners. I would also like to build the bridge across the ravine if we can get all the supplies we need. I think it is important that we finish this section before moving on.

[timbarnes]

Daniel, I just finished riding the new section. There are a few places that need attention like berms and better benchcut, but it drained well. There was only one spot where some erosion took place. The park had over 4" of rain, so this was a good test. The new section is softer than the rest but rideable. Alex Stewart is coming down tomorrow or Wednesday. I'll show him the new section we've done since June and get his input. The state park has delivered some rocks to the Walnut Ridge picnic area that we can use for armoring. Andy was right about at least one root - we need to remove it. Do you want me to have the wood we have left for bridge building moved to Walnut Ridge, or are we going to build the bridge at the shop area (access to electricity and woodworking tools) and transport it? We might want to concentrate on the trail work Saturday and get measurements for the bridge for us to work on between work days? I might be able to get HSP to build it if we have the dimensions.

[daniel240]

Yeah Tim, that sounds good. I wish I could be there when Alex shows up. He should be able to give us some good input and ideas for going forward. See what he says about that bridge as far as where the best place to put it is and how long/wide it should be etc. As far as building it, I don't think it would be that hard to build it on the spot as long as we precut all the decking to the width we want it to be. After that there wouldnt be a whole lot of other cuts, at least nothing that we couldnt do with a hand saw. Either way is fine, but if we build it at the shop we need to make sure we get some good measurments and draw up some good plans before building it. Again, we can wait and see what Alex says. I'm glad we finally got some rock as well. Can we get access to the gator on Saturday to transport the rock?

[timbarnes]

I'll check on the gator tomorrow.