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Post by twotreks on May 30, 2011 19:15:21 GMT -5
I attempted to repair the ramp at clown corner today. Took buckets of the washed out soil and dumped it back into the area's that had been washed out. Don't know how long this will hold up, anybody got any suggestions on how to keep this section of trail from eroding after a hard rain? Also cleaned up a couple of the corners where the sand had built up.
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Post by dparrott on May 30, 2011 20:54:07 GMT -5
re-route would probably be only long-term solution.
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Post by chainlink71 on Jun 3, 2011 12:47:40 GMT -5
We'd like to schedule a trail work party at Boyd Pond Park in the next few weeks. Several sections of trail that need to be maintained have been identified and a plan of action has been established. Aiken County will be able to provide some materials, tools and instruction.
Does anyone have a preference on dates?
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Post by twotreks on Jun 3, 2011 18:52:30 GMT -5
Saturday's work the best for me, but I'm off every other Friday as well. Today was my Friday off so next Friday I'll be working.
Glad to here that someone is interested in working on this trail ;D
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Post by Jmyers on Jun 3, 2011 20:03:52 GMT -5
I work every other weekend, and I am off during the week. Would love to help out where I can. Let me know what the general consensus is. I am sure that I can get some more hands out there too, I hope.
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Post by oddcouple on Jun 7, 2011 22:21:30 GMT -5
I have been riding this trail since 2002.The Aiken County PRT has been putting a lot of time and money into this trail and it shows.I hope we can get a couple of large work parties together and help with the trail improvements.I hear that there could be some more trail added.
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Post by trippingreen on Jun 8, 2011 10:28:07 GMT -5
why dont we brick that slope like they do at FATS? putting loose sand makes it near impossible to climb and doesnt last past the first rain. or possibly metal screen coverd planks going up it... i dont know.
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Post by oddcouple on Jun 8, 2011 19:34:54 GMT -5
why dont we brick that slope like they do at FATS? putting loose sand makes it near impossible to climb and doesnt last past the first rain. or possibly metal screen coverd planks going up it... i dont know. That slope is clowns climb its been there since 2003 or 2004 its forever changing sometimes you can ride it sometimes you can't, that is what makes it so fun.Just leave it alone and enjoy, it doesn't hurt to get off the bike every now and then.
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Post by chainlink71 on Jun 9, 2011 14:24:21 GMT -5
While I enjoy the challenge Clown Corner provides, as the land manager, I am concerned about long-term erosion and maintenance.
Clown Corner is one of the areas we've targeted for improvement. At this point I feel like our options are to use pavers (not like the ones at FATS) to stabilize the slope, or build a wooden ramp. I feel like we could make either one work and still maintain the challenge of the climb.
I'd like to propose the following dates as potential trail work days: July 2, July 23 or July 30. If I could get some feedback on one or two of those dates, we can start making arrangements.
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Post by Jmyers on Jun 9, 2011 19:53:31 GMT -5
I am off July 2nd, I don't really know about 23rd or 30th.
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Post by twotreks on Jun 10, 2011 16:51:25 GMT -5
I would be available on the 23rd or 30th, out of town on the 2nd.
Like the idea of the wooden ramp at clown corner.
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Post by chainlink71 on Jun 22, 2011 8:29:45 GMT -5
Aiken County PRT will host a trail work party on Saturday, July 23. We'll provide some tools and training, but would encourage everyone to bring their own tools and personal care items as well. We will have a couple of specific projects to complete that will involve rerouting some trail, including some new benchcut construction. We'll start at 7 a.m. to try and avoid the hottest part of the day. Call Vincent at Boyd Pond Park if you have any questions. 803-642-0314.
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Post by oddcouple on Jun 22, 2011 21:03:57 GMT -5
Count me in,if we get alot of people I can get the SORBA trailer.SORBA has the tools all we need are people.
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Post by carbonfiberman on Jul 2, 2011 12:44:52 GMT -5
Since I am new to the forum, I will introduce myself. I am one of three people that cut the ORA bike trail. Chances are that you may have seen me walking my two boxers. I am out there daily.
I want to let everyone know that trail repairs have been performed on the last long downhill section of the trail just prior to entering the nature trail at the bridge. This section of the trail had become severely rutted and washout was always evident after heavy rains. Over the past two weeks, I have installed roughly 6 water breaks using fallen tree logs to shed water off-trail. I then cut the erosion groove out of the trail and back filled with mulch and pine straw. We have had no erosion to that section of trail ever since. Only long roots running parallel to trail direction were removed. The downhill is now FASTER, so everyone be carefull.
I have started to store tools on trail. It makes it so much easier. The trail surface is only hard for the first 3-4 inches. After that, it is all sand. That is why the trail can absorb so much water.
Clown Corner has always been a tough section. When we originally cut the trail, a pink polka-dotted sheet was used to transfer mulch to the trail. The sheet was stored behind the tree near the corner. Someone said that it looked like a clown hiding behind the tree, hence the name. I believe we have many options here. The trick will be to find a sustainable option that pleases most people. Some like trails a little unpredictable and edgy (me), and some like trails smooth and fast flowing (many others). I can cut a walking trail from the nature trail to Clown Corner with the weed wacker. The Good Golly Gulch culvert does discharge onto the nature trail. Anyway, I use a wheel barrow to haul supplies in. Whatever we do to Clown Corner, supplies will need to get there.
I am pleased to see interest in trail maintenance. I turned into a roadie the past couple of years, and trail work simply dropped off. Ten years ago, trail maintenance only involved weed whacking once a year! Many people now ride the trail, and that is great!
I look forward to seeing volunteers on July 23rd.
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Post by carbonfiberman on Jul 4, 2011 15:35:49 GMT -5
I cut a small path from the nature trail to Clown Corner. The entrance is marked with single blaze orange tape. I have stored a wheel barrow, shovel, and rake on the new path. Feel free to use the tools, just please put them back. This path will make maintenance much easier. I also cut up the large pine tree that fell across the nature trail about 400 feet from the bridge. The tree sections can be used for water breaks at various locations.
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Post by paleolith54 on Jul 17, 2011 16:08:18 GMT -5
Carbonfiberman, I met you on the trail last week. I'll be there 7:00 a.m. on the 23rd, south end of the trail by Boyd Pond rd, please post if the plan changes.
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Post by oddcouple on Jul 19, 2011 19:05:35 GMT -5
I will see everyone at 7am kinda early but beats the heat.
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Post by chainlink71 on Sept 9, 2011 11:10:05 GMT -5
I'd like to invite everyone out again for another trail workday on Saturday, September 24th at 8 a.m. We'll work on the installation of the See Saw (on See Saw Ridge, of course) and reroute the downhill section of Moccasin Madness. We also need to do a little bit of work on the new ramp at Clown's Corner. We'll be having our Community Campout the night before at the ballfields, so if you're interested you could make an event out of it. We will have a free (donations accepted) pancake breakfast Saturday morning at about 7 for the participants of the Campout and a Starlight Cinema movie on Friday night. Here's a link to the Community Campout information: www.aikencountysc.gov/tourism/index.htmPlease call us at 642-7559 if you have any questions.
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Post by Angela on Sept 9, 2011 12:15:42 GMT -5
Just to add this information in, the September newsletter has already been sent out to our members and our usual activity on that weekend in September is to work with the Army Corp of Engineers in celebration of National Public Lands Day. We will be doing work on the Bartram Trail that day and also a simultaneous work party out at FATS removing some trees and general trail work. It hasn't been posted on the forum yet but we have some volunteers already committed and will be posting the details over the weekend. Probably won't affect any of the workparties, there should be plenty of volunteers to go around just wanted to give you a heads up on what we have going on.
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