Trail Work Thread - Harmonie

[Tim]

Are they still planning any expansion work in October ?
hope so, Seems like Harmonie is falling under the shadows of ongoing works.

[Paul Arlinghaus]

Whose They?

www.maniacworld.com/after-the-deathstar-blew-up.html

[Tim]

Us,we, them and those others.

[Paul Arlinghaus]

The last time I talked to the park manager he stressed that he wants more trails. The next trails will be up to local riders to build by hand. The cool thing about a place like BCSP is that there is a mix of hand built and machine built trails. They both are great in different ways and having both is great. HMBA will support you as needed, trail design, tools, etc.... but it will be up to the local mtb community to make it happen.

Paul

[kylekirkman]

lol yes who is they?

[Tim]

It's definately not the pump track supporters.

[Eric]

All of you are the they

[thrashin]

www.ronpendley.com/default.htm

Here is a link that may be helpful. Ron was pretty successful in getting people together to really get the trail underway. He, I and a handful of others marked, cleared, and benchcut into the first mile. Didn't take a whole lot of time. Our progress was dwarfed by Alex and their machinary, but I think it was indeed helpful. Trail building, pumptrack building- it just has to be done. You'll have to kick it off and others will follow your lead. I know if you were to build it, it would be ridden. I would had loved to be more available to help, but I wasn't available this summer. If so I would have talked New Harmony into the idea just so I could use it for myself! ;D

[kylekirkman]

anyone interested in setting a preliminary scouting date for harmonie expansion please email or call 204 0551 evvemabike at gmail dot com

regards to my schedule, I work 12 hr shits EMS/ Fire... my typical
schedule is

6pm to 6am

M Tue work
Wed Thurs Off
Fri Sat Sun Work

M Tue Off
Wed Thurs Work
Fri Sat Sun Off

So every other weekend I'm off.....

I talked to Alex recently and the goal is to keep the overall grades steeper than that of the Intermediate trail.... Looking at arial layouts it appears that we could have 3 to 4 up/down sections but Alex had made previous mentions of longer length down hill runs extending from the Intermediate westward....

In alex's opinion, this westward peice of land has the greatest potential, but also depends on how the developed lines interact with the parcel boundaries and the Okra "ditch"....

Of course all that is subject to change during pin flagging sessions, and again subject to change on the eve of construction.

If you have never been part of trail building get a copy of the free dvd from the FED (left hand side of the page) or give me a shout and we can watch the dvd at my pub or somewhere else....put a rhino to use and use a clinometer.

Harmonie Trail expansion to do list:

Left over from summer: Pain Kiosk, obtain Lexan sheet for kiosk door cover, get info into Kiosk...

Evan got hold of a sheet but I haven't seen it. Tim do you still have access to an extra sheet of Lexan?

1.) check potential for usage of campground connectors, check with park MGT regarding necessary modifications and final approval..
Hand build this section for instant milage....Keep in mind it is already a "fire road" and small modifications might be needed, not a total overhaul.

2.) scout Advanced section....

I really would like to press for some table tops integrated into the initial portion of this trail, with options to go around them of course... The beginning of the westward push is of low grade and I'd like to up the fun factor by integrating this feature as it is close to a road and can be made into a loop back to the beginning... also, the machines will generate enough dirt nearly instantly for the features .... but again Alex/HMBA is there to build the trail not build tabletops so it would be up to us... Again, nothing crazy, just enough to give it a Hell yeah factor right off the bat....
Anyway- Clinometers, pink tape, and a lot of walking... seeking out cool views, and other features that might possibly be integrated into the cut trail...

Again- keep in mind that Harmonie MGT is progressive about development!!! We can independently develop plans for design and submit them (trail, pump tracks, jumps, skills park) independent of and or in conjunction with HMBA's work. It' all up to us.... the collective.

anyway- if you are jazzed about scouting and what not call me, email me, and we'll set a date... I'm going to check my schedule and see what weekend I'll be free (possibly the 14th or 15th of November) and if anyone is free during the week that's my golden trail work time.

that's the news.

[kylekirkman]

Hello All-

Harmonie Expansion Assessment/Work Day

Saturday 11.14.9 at 9 am till whenever
Meet at the main trail head....
On the Ticket, depending on numbers of people.....

Scouting Advanced Section
Find cool features in the advanced territory
(Will have a crummy copy of a topo, although you might have GPS overlay abilities.....)

Assess campground connectors.
Find problem areas on existing trail.
Clearing potential issues on existing trail.
Paint the Kiosk.
Eat a Goat.

Ok that's the news.
Get Jazzed.
Feel Free to call 812. 204. 0551 .... I plan on being at Harmonie at 8 ish... cell reception is dodgy but I will be at the Main trail head/ Kiosk at 9am.

Cheers and Thanks-
Kyle Kirkman

[kylekirkman]

Repost from HMBA....
Repost from the Walnut trail Expansion thread. .....

4 peeps attended the Sat 14th mill about the woods. Scouted the eastern most edge of the expansion parcel and got an idea going which covers the 1st 1/2 mile ish...

Thanks to Pat, Evan, and Evans bro for coming out.

In regards to using 'North of the road'... This area is hopefully going to be used however there are pending studies of this parcel. Same thing with the Youth Camp area....

At any rate- The existing campground connectors are not exactly within IMBA trail Guidelines in regards to grade. Maybe Paul can give his 2 cents when he comes down on the 11th/12th, but I'm betting that it would not be a good idea to use the double track, or even bench the out slope side of the double track to make a single track lane .... too steep of grades = eriosion out the wazoo.

-Kyle

[indytrailbuilder]

I think that we can get permission to use the double track from the camp grounds until a better connector is built. The DNR (at both the state and park level), know we would like to build a real trail to connect the camp grounds. Some of that land is slated for a nature perserve, but that wouldn't mean the area would be off limits.

I did speak to an Assistant Director of the State Parks yesterday and building more trails at Harmonie was a subject he brought up.

[Tim]

I did notice a few areas that were so washed out that they had thrown fill rock in to keep it from collapsing. I think a few good places of entry would be at the campground gatehouse and down by the wabash.

[timbarnes]

I moved the flags to a picnic table at the old Walnut picnic area (closed area). Box was rotted and full of trash, so I had to throw it away. Flags are easily seen. Been spending time cleaning up the existing marked trail on the Walnut Loop to get ready for the rhinos. Have about half of the marked section done starting where it begins adjacent to the Walnut Connector. This area is also marked with pink ribbon markers on trees to help follow the trail. Some flags are hidden by the foliage. Most of the underbrush and deadwood has been removed.

Although the Sycamore Loop is in really good shape, the foliage is starting to take over some sections of it. This consists of briars, saplings, and weeds (including poison ivy!!!) growing on the sides of the trail and hanging into it. I've cut about a third of the trail back starting going clockwise. I'll work on the rest later this week. Hope to get back to the Walnut Connector next week to finish cleaning and marking the rest of the marked trail.

Does anyone have a rhino I can borrow?

[Tim]

We are camping the holiday weekend 28th - 30th

i will be sure to bring my trusty weed wacker and hedge trimmers.

What is the plan for the kiosk ?
does it still need the glass cover?

Let me know, I can provide the glass/polycarb.