Trail Work Thread - Angel Mounds

[Tim]

Along the south section that runs parallel to the levee. Where the bike trail sign is, turn right to the hill top. Trail head on left.

Crude right now, weed eater petered out on me.

It winds down to the trail that leads into the slough.

[Tim]

Spent 4 hrs today trying to make something out of nothing.
Come to find out, the entire levee is nothing more than one big manmade sand dune. The entire hill is like beach sand.

Tried to remove the surface layers but there are none.
Did I mention it's all sandy ? I never saw dirt

Did the best I could do with what was there. Maybe if it rains the surface will compact a little bit better than it is now and wash some of the loose surface away. I'll give it some time to settle. If it doesn't work out then we'll just let nature take it back and move on. (EDIT) or use it for a hiking trail (EDIT)

I was spent after that, didn't do any other work out there.

Also: I'm not sure who blocks the trail with logs. I'm not sure what that means. Not sure if someone is helping or just not happy with what I'm doing. I've had this done before.

Just curious. If someone doesn't like it then speak up.

[Tim]

Ok, it's been a mere 16 hours or so. Who ever you are your pretty swift at making your point.
I'll give you that much.
i'm about to put a notepad and pencil out there and ask WTF!!

If you were care to explain what the hell the point is in blocking off trails, feel free to chime in. I'm somewhat not amused by having a shadow that comes along behind me.

For what it's worth, (assuming your not agreeing with the trail I made),
This was planned years ago as part of the butterfly garden project.
It was partially mowed and cleared last year, but I did not get the grant to fund it.

It's easier to make a bike trail to accommodate hikers than to make a hiking path that will not accommodate bikes. The original project stopped somewhere in the middle and was sort of an out / back trail, but what's the point?

I'm not seeing an issue here, if there is one then please enlighten me and cut out all the shit. You don't see me raking the damn wood chips off the trails.

I say again, in reference to the photos below:

[kylekirkman]

wow no way!? I can't see the photos cuz I'm at work, but that really stinks.

Log blocker beware. If you aren't associated with Angel Mounds and you are indeed attempting to stop legitimate work and up keep to state property...

My friends in various shades of blue are aware. So keep it up, and eventually it'll catch up with you.

Tim- finally ending the 8 day stretch of work. Have next weekend off and am hoping to get some work on the books at some point. Might as well help you at the mounds and that'll make it 2 against one....

[Tim]

Well, it's not the grounds crew at Angel doing it so.........

It must be the shadow people that are seen out there at times.
At night when the moon lights the sky. It's scary at first but it's kind of cool.

I'll just blame it on them

If they can read and have a computer, i left them a little note asking them why they keep blocking it. Still would like to know what the point is other than just being a pain in the ass.

Do tell....

[Tim]

There is an eagle scout putting up directional signs I hear.

[nathan]

Someone has been out there doing some work. Most of the main loop has been cleared again, a downed tree was removed and some other smaller trees were cut down.

I rode down Tim's new section of trail. You weren't kidding about it being sandy, but I think it can still work. Once again there were all kinds of sticks and even a couple large logs placed across it. Weird.

[Tim]

grounds crew cleared it

I give up on the trail, Not worth the energy to be playing stick and log tag. I really wish I knew why they were doing it though.

[Tim]

Good ride at Angel today.saw a few other guys out there also.

Made a couple laps and my legs were like jello. I did something wrong to feel like that. Just felt tired for some reason.

[Tim]

Trails are pretty dry. I was actually surprised how dry they really were.
On the other hand, they are completely overgrown.

Per Mike Linderman -

Our summer crew of kids is scheduled to head out there on Wednesday and start trimming back the overgrowth and a volunteer is bringing in some sort of DR Trimmer to tackle the actual trail path.

DR trimmer - If I only had one of those........

I'm still interested in building a bridge / crossing over the east slough. Not the main trail, the one just west of it. It's only 20' wide as opposed to 90' on the main trail.

I'm also open to any ideas on some of the muddier parts. i think there are more people that like the mud than dont. The part down by the big bridge actually has a solid line / groove through it. It's not nearly as bad as it was last year. other spots over by the gate are about the same. Like I said, I'm open to suggestion.

I'll stay in touch with Mike and when they get it cleared I'd like to tackle some of the other issues.

[Tim]

Gonna try and get the trails cleared this saturday, they are extremely overgrown.

Would really like some input on some of the muddier sections and what can be done to help
some of the more extreme areas. If I can get any input, I'll bounce some ideas off of Mike and see if we can get something accomplished. I have a couple weed eaters and a rake.

Just want to open them up, clean them up and trim back the nasty little thorns.


If anyone would like to help just let me know.
Sorry for short notice.

[nathan]

Those DR Trimmers are awesome.

I'll be busy all weekend due to the World Cup, 24 Hours of LeMans, the Canadian Grand Prix, and the cookouts/parties that accompany them. I'd be in favor of re-routing the trail completely around the muddy spots, or building a singletrack causeway through them. Of course this would be destroyed the first time they drove the Gator through, but maybe we could put it off to the side or something.

I have about 6 8' landscaping timbers I'd be happy to donate. I'd even throw in a few bucks to buy some wood for building ladder bridges. When I was a kid we used to raid the dumpsters at construction sites for scrap lumber to build tree forts. Maybe we could talk to a local contractor and get permission to take some of their 'trash' off their hands.

[Tim]

I'm debating on going considering the humidity. I'm sure out there it would be just horrific.

since it rained I may go out and get an inventory of bad/muddy spots.

[Tim]

I think I'm gonna go out, scout around a bit and head back.
A nice work day in the Brazilian rain forest doesn't sound promising today ;D


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OUTSIDE OF ANY SHOWER OR THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY TODAY...HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL BE A CONCERN FOR THOSE ATTENDING OR PARTICIPATING IN ANY OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES TODAY AND INTO THIS EVENING.

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[Tim]

Well, I went out way early this morning to look around. I figuredchecking out the trails after a good rain would give me some good insight to drainage issues.

There are a few stream crossings that could be fixed with a bit of Armour rocks and some of the other trails could be armoured or just rerouted period.

The Alcoa trail is just a waste. I think, if anything, it should be designated as an access road for the grounds crew. That part of the woods has always had drainage issues. The bridge on the same trail
is very poorly constructed. It has no center support and the boards are eventually going to give way and hurt someone.

I've asked Mike Linderman if he has the time to meet out there sometime to take a look at things in person.

I suppose I'll just wait to see what he has to say.