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Post by neal1975 on Apr 6, 2011 20:21:42 GMT -5
 I rode tower today, and lost count of how many trees were down, id say a conservative guess is 10-12 at least. it is a MESS. big rock too. I might go hike this trail in the next few days, maybe this weekend, and carry along some cutters or a hand saw, and do the best i can on it. Kick off all the debris and small limbs, etc.. it needs a TON of work, i mean it looks like a tornado went through there. Dont try to ride it, you will be getting off your bike every 2 minutes to climb over trees-
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Post by neal1975 on Apr 6, 2011 20:23:42 GMT -5
there is one tree down about 1 mile from the bigrock intersection that uprooted a huge picnic table size block of earth right in the middle of the trail - like a huge baricade. thats going to require a re-route? or maybe someone gets in there with chainsaws and shovels and tries to do surgery on that section. what a mess!
I was sad to see it this way. felt bad man.
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Post by Angela on Apr 6, 2011 21:59:33 GMT -5
Neal thanks for the update, sounds like we'll need to get a chainsaw crew in. What kind of condition was the trail tread in? It's important to get feedback this time of year to know how quickly the trails are rideable after a rain...........
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Post by dparrott on Apr 6, 2011 22:58:03 GMT -5
talked to Glenn (USFS) out at FATS today. Trees are down everywhere. Also got a call from COE - same thing on Bartram.
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Post by dgaddis1 on Apr 7, 2011 6:33:29 GMT -5
The canal is a mess too. Two big nasty spots, tons of debris on the trail.
Drew said a tanker outside their store got blown over in that storm!!!
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Post by seenvic on Apr 7, 2011 9:57:08 GMT -5
Hoping for several ridable trees. Please. We need them.
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Post by kconner on Apr 7, 2011 13:39:52 GMT -5
Hoping for several ridable trees. Please. We need them. +1. I have 2 large trees down in my yard, thinking about getting the tree removers to leave me a 4' log to make myself a my own tapered log ;D |
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Post by Ted S. on Apr 7, 2011 14:16:46 GMT -5
Did Deep Step and great wall this morning. 2 trees down on deep step that will need a chain saw. 1 tree down on great wall that will need to be cut. The tread was in good shape over all on great wall with some wet spots. Deep Step has plenty of standing water in spots and some recent erosion in places as well.
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Post by bikerpanda on Apr 7, 2011 14:40:22 GMT -5
i was hoping to ride skinny and brown wave after work; better to wait? I just dont want to cause damage is all.
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Post by seenvic on Apr 7, 2011 15:41:10 GMT -5
Lower Skinny is the wettest, usually. Maybe a good idea to stay off of that if Deep has standing water on it.
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Post by txr on Apr 7, 2011 15:57:09 GMT -5
Rode upper skinny/brown/upper skinny today and the tread is in great condition. Upper skinny has some damp spots but overall its mostly dry. The wet spots are few. There was some trees down and lots of tree "litter" on the trail. Most of that litter is small leg slappers that if you wanted to remove all of them you would be better to hike with a rake  I spent a good bit of my ride removing slightly larger trees/branches and just plain sharp branches that might get someones legs or wheel/derailluer. There is one tree however that as it is not IN the trail it seems to have created a large hole next to the trail on brown wave. It is located shortly after you see the river going CCW going uphill in that direction. I have posted some pics below for those that know to judge if this needs a lot of work or just some fill to keep that side of the trail from eroding away. Tom Almost tire deep! Note front tire is on the edge of the trail bed  Again, this one is deep and its on the low side of the trail  The left side of those two very small branches is the edge of the trail...so behind that in this pic is where the root has removed some of the trail onto its wake  |
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Post by bikerpanda on Apr 7, 2011 16:25:09 GMT -5
Lower Skinny is the wettest, usually. Maybe a good idea to stay off of that if Deep has standing water on it. sounds like Im waiting. thanks. |
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Post by Apollo on Apr 7, 2011 21:12:56 GMT -5
^ not to mention lower skinny has a huge tree laying across it in what i would consider 2.5 miles in.
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Post by neal1975 on Apr 7, 2011 22:12:10 GMT -5
are there any work parties planned for this weekend? anyone with a chainsaw and a whole lot of enthusiasm? I might try to get my girl to walk the trail with me and clean off some branches and stuff.
ive never seen the trails this trashed.
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Post by Angela on Apr 8, 2011 6:23:07 GMT -5
Neal it has to be a USFS certified sawyer to cut out at FATS and since we have committed to support a mountian bike ride in conjunction with the Best Dam Ride next weekend our focus has to be on the Bartram Lake Trail first since we have word that there could be as many as 50 - 60 trees down. We are assessing that this afternoon so we can get going but we will get some work parties moving quickly.
Sounds like Tower and Big Rock got hit the worse as far as trees down (at least from initial reporting - haven't heard anything about the Brown Wave yet) - some of our certified sawyers might even do some individual mini work parties.
We will post as things develop thanks for the scouting work and the offer to help! If you are at FATS between 9:30 and 2:30 tomorrow stop by our tent, we'll probably have some work parties identified that you can come by and sign up for!
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Post by dgaddis1 on Apr 8, 2011 6:41:04 GMT -5
Count me in for helping out next weekend. Out of town this weekend. Was hoping to do the Thurmond Epic next Saturday...that's not gonna happen now I guess. |
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Post by neal1975 on Apr 8, 2011 21:51:06 GMT -5
"we have word that there could be as many as 50 - 60 trees down."
WOW - omg, i hope it isnt that bad, this is awful. I am gonna try and hike some on fats this weekend and pull small debris and limbs off the trail and clean up the smaller stuff.
Has anyone else tried to ride at fats last few days?
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Post by Angela on Apr 8, 2011 22:07:57 GMT -5
That 50 - 60 trees down were on the Bartram Lake Trail Neal (remember SORBA-CSRA has committed to helping provide the mountain biking support for the Best Dam Ride next weekend) - 6 of us were out there on the Bartram Lake Trail today and approximately 56 trees were cut off between Wildwood and WestDam.
Had word from another member today that he and a group had removed 10 trees and a lot of debris off the southern loops (still a couple of things to be done but mostly those are good to go). That just leaves the northern loops (Tower and Big Rock) to be taken care of!
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Post by dlawson on Apr 9, 2011 6:08:42 GMT -5
I also rode tower and big rock yesterday. After I passed the first few trees I started marking them on the GPS on my phone. I guess now I have to figure out how to post it. If a couple sawyers can get together to cut, let me know. With a little notice I can probably bring a crew out to do the clearing.
It also seems like it would be a good time for the USFS to hold a chain saw certification day.
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Post by dlawson on Apr 9, 2011 6:13:16 GMT -5
Also: I thought the tread on tower/big rock was in great shape considering all the rain. There were a few wets spots that could be greatly improved with minimal work while the trails are being cleared.
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I spent a good bit of my ride removing slightly larger trees/branches and just plain sharp branches that might get someones legs or wheel/derailluer. There is one tree however that as it is not IN the trail it seems to have created a large hole next to the trail on brown wave. It is located shortly after you see the river going CCW going uphill in that direction. I have posted some pics below for those that know to judge if this needs a lot of work or just some fill to keep that side of the trail from eroding away.