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Post by dparrott on Dec 5, 2009 0:17:30 GMT -5
The new Bartram being built by Benchmark Trails is coming along nicely except some horses have already gotten on it and crapped it up - literally. The new trail is closed - please don't try to ride on it. Expected finish is by March - the rainy weather slows things down. This section of Bartram will have a different look and feel from the existing sections. Much tighter - about an 18" or so wide tread with smooth curves and many FATS-like dips. This will be a good transition between the older BT and Keg Creek.
The BT section in Wildwood has been approved by Columbia County officials and we expect COE approval very shortly.
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Post by azdrawdy on Dec 5, 2009 8:37:32 GMT -5
Thanks for the update DP. We camped there last weekend and were wondering about the progress. Love the comment about the narrow tread. This extension, and what's still to come, will make camping at Petersburg very enticing. MD
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Post by Mark Y on Dec 5, 2009 19:25:10 GMT -5
This extension, and what's still to come, will make camping at Petersburg very enticing. MD Should reduce some FATS traffic too, since it is as close or closer than FATS for those living in the Greenbrier/ Windmill area.
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Post by dparrott on Dec 29, 2009 22:20:49 GMT -5
My son, grandson and I checked out a portion of the new Bartram Trail and took a few pics. There are many, many spots that are very muddy and require a walk-around. Here is a full bench shot taken between the 2 main feeders to Big Branch Here you will have a choice of going over or around this small boulder. Another shot in same area as first. Lots of dips and deep cuts on this roller-coaster. No, can't take credit for this bridge. Major feeder to Big Branch near the gazebo. This bridge will be replaced. This is the bridge that several of you helped put in last June. The trail extends to the right (East) for about 1/4 mile and that's as far as it goes for now.
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Post by azdrawdy on Dec 30, 2009 6:35:12 GMT -5
Thanks for the pics DP. That looks like a lot of fun. YC and I were talking about the new trail yesterday while riding gravel around FATS. Too bad the crew is trying to build a trail in one of the wettest Decembers and years on record. Then again, maybe it will enable them to better gauge the soil and the wet(ter) areas.
MD
P.S. The first 100' of FATS was so bad that we stayed completely on the gravel. Not always a bad thing this time of year.
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Post by dgaddis1 on Dec 30, 2009 7:11:34 GMT -5
I was thinking about the new trail after me and the Marks did the Christmas Party Ride. I got all giddy and excited about it.
18 miles of Bartram, ~8 miles of Keg, 4 miles of pavement, 10 miles of singletrack in Mistletoe, 4 miles of pavement, 1 mile of Keg, 18 more miles of Bartram. SWEET.
That's 63 miles for those not keeping track. 55 of it is singletrack!!!! We got us another metric century route folks!
As it's been said before - THANKS to everyone involved in getting this done.
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Post by seenvic on Dec 30, 2009 9:41:09 GMT -5
I had Deno (the builder and an old friend of mine) over for dinner last week. He is pumped about what he is building over there. I am too. Seeing these pics makes it even more giddifying (I just made that word up).
When Wildwood gets done, it will be even better than what Dustin reports above.
Who know Dale Parrott had the clarvoiance to get Keg Creek ready for all this?
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Post by brianW on Dec 30, 2009 9:41:23 GMT -5
Just showed Paige the bridge she help out with. Her response (might of been an echo from dad) Sweet!!!!!!!!
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Post by imnav8r on Dec 30, 2009 11:20:44 GMT -5
Thanks for the pics Dale! It's an exciting time to be a member of SORBA-CSRA!
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Post by azdrawdy on Dec 30, 2009 18:12:45 GMT -5
That's 63 miles for those not keeping track. 55 of it is singletrack!!!! We got us another metric century route folks! As it's been said before - THANKS to everyone involved in getting this done. And this is what has us excited. We are really looking forward to an all-day excursion right from the RV. Hammer out a good multi-hour ride, end up back at the RV, cook a low-country boil, etc. etc. MD
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Post by brianW on Jan 11, 2010 9:38:06 GMT -5
Just a question, the extention (petersburg to water works) will that be worked on, as in smoothed out? A big part of me hopes not. Like the 'old school" feel of that section.
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Post by seenvic on Jan 11, 2010 11:35:49 GMT -5
Just a question, the extention (petersburg to water works) will that be worked on, as in smoothed out? A big part of me hopes not. Like the 'old school" feel of that section. If it isn't worked on in terms of moving it beyond a rake n ride trail, this section will not dry out like the rest of the trail that was built down to mineral soil. The organic layer left behind in the rake n ride process will hold water/moisture far longer. I am almost positive the contract calls for the construction of 9.6 miles of trail. And this section is included in the 9.6 miles.
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Post by dparrott on Jan 12, 2010 9:58:47 GMT -5
The 3 miles from P'burg to Water Works is in the contract. This stretch gets no worse respective to wetness than the older section, maybe less. The dips were taken down to mineral soil by hand. In the rainy season, though, some of the dips carry little streams - probably could use some brick armoring in a few places.
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Post by seenvic on Jan 12, 2010 16:50:58 GMT -5
This stretch gets no worse respective to wetness than the older section, maybe less. . With all due respect, I stand by my statement that a trail with organic material left intact will hold moisture longer than a trail with all organic material removed in the construction process.
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Post by Paul on Jan 22, 2010 13:32:42 GMT -5
The local ACOE has approved the wildwood section. We must now get approval from the Savannah District ACOE before we can start work on the Wildwood section.
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Post by dparrott on Feb 11, 2010 22:57:43 GMT -5
The contractor is to within 1/4 mile of the Col. Co. Water Works Rd. However, that is just with the machine part. The hand finishing crew is far behind due to the mud.
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Post by dparrott on Feb 20, 2010 13:05:48 GMT -5
Machine work is about 100 yards short of the Water Works Rd. Here is a pic of the machine that's doing the majority of the work. The blade puts in a 3 foot wide tread compared to 4 foot from a SWECO.
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Post by dparrott on Feb 20, 2010 13:11:41 GMT -5
Paul and I met with COE yesterday to resolve routing issues with the Bartram through Wildwood. We completed the reroute flagging to resolve a gully crossing issue by their Environmental Compliance Coordinator. Final approval is in Savannah - hope to have the go-ahead soon.
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Post by azdrawdy on Feb 20, 2010 18:32:53 GMT -5
Thanks for the update DP. Once again, looking forward to camping at Petersburg and knocking out some miles.
MD
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Post by dgaddis1 on Feb 20, 2010 18:40:56 GMT -5
+1 on the thanks.
I'm starting to aquire some gear to do some bike packing. Thinking a good 1st time trial run would be a single nighter starting at Lake Springs one afternoon and riding to Mistletoe. Camp, ride back the next morning.
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