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Post by Angela on Oct 25, 2012 6:26:26 GMT -5
If we get enough volunteers we will schedule work parties on Saturday morning (November 17th) and Sunday afternoon (November 18th) at FATS (weather permitting). On the agenda: - Drain clearing
- Tread repair
- Other maintenance as needed
The drain clearing is critical to keeping the trail rideable as we move through late Fall, Winter and early Spring. During these times the cooler temps and cessation of growing season means water will stay on the trails longer - without the drain clearing mud will build up in the dips. On both days we plan to conduct brief drain cleaning sessions before the work party (believe it or not this is an acquired skill!). If you are able to work one of these days please let us know here or email sorba.csra@gmail.comWe will need a lot of volunteers there are a lot of dips and drains out there. The number of volunteers signing up will determine the number of trails we can do this maintenance on! If you are a member of the running or hiking community if you would please post this message on key places for us that would be greatly appreciated!
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Post by Angela on Oct 29, 2012 5:34:30 GMT -5
We still have plenty of time for volunteers to sign up just wanted to give a pulse check on the upcoming work party - we currently have enough people signed up to do work on the upper Skinny (2.5 miles of trail)!
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Post by Angela on Nov 5, 2012 7:05:05 GMT -5
We still only have 6 volunteers signed up for this work party. Trust me it's easy to ignore the need for it right now because it has been dry as a bone for the past two weeks and the trails are terrific. This is very needed work that will allow us to ride the trails more quickly after the late Fall, Winter and early Spring rains that often keep us off the trails for days after heavy rain. Remember cooler temperatures and foliage that has gone dormant means the impact of rain is felt longer. Please sign up for Saturday morning, November 17th (we'll work from approximately 9 till 12 or 1 - may have some hotdogs, etc afterward if we can get this work party put together) or Sunday afternoon (we'll work from approximately 1 until 4 or 5). There are a lot of dips out there and obviously if we don't have a good turnout for the work party we will concentrate on the two trails that are the worse under wet conditions - Skinny and Great Wall but even just those two trails will require quite a few volunteers to properly clear those dips and drains. If we don't get enough people to do at least the minimal work (Skinny/Great Wall) we'll cancel it and try to reschedule at another time. Sign up here or at sorba.csra@gmail.com
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Post by crockpot2001 on Nov 6, 2012 7:00:11 GMT -5
Definatly in, just need to coordinate a day with work.
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Post by Angela on Nov 6, 2012 7:22:09 GMT -5
Thanks so much that gets us up to 7 - and I know a lot of our regular participants will wait until a little closer to the date so hopefully we'll end up with enough. Also sent a note to a friend over in the running community as well since they come out from time to time to help with the trails too!
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Post by Ross D on Nov 10, 2012 22:24:29 GMT -5
I'll be in South Dakota...
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Post by Angela on Nov 11, 2012 9:35:53 GMT -5
We have 11 people signed up for this work party.... we need triple that to effectively get this work done out at FATS. We are about a week out now so schedules are more solidified - if you find that you have time to commit to doing some trail work, please sign up!
We need to know the number of volunteers so we can ensure that we have enough hand tools to get the job done.
Thank you!
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Post by Angela on Nov 12, 2012 16:49:01 GMT -5
Inching up on volunteers but still need plenty more to get this work taken care of!
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Post by Angela on Nov 13, 2012 6:17:21 GMT -5
Given the number of people who ride and run at FATS it has been surprisingly difficult to get people to sign up for this work party but we almost have enough people to work lower Skinny and Great Wall now. Must have a lot of people heading out of town for the holidays! Another team has been out working Brown Wave and is about 80% through at this point and should finish up this weekend. Even if your plans change in the next couple of days and you can come out and help, please let me know so we can make sure we have enough tools to get the job done! sorba.csra@gmail.comThanks so much to everyone who has signed up to help!
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Post by brad on Nov 14, 2012 9:06:50 GMT -5
Hello!
Just bought my first mountain bike last week, and I am having a great time on it so far. I'll come join you guys for this, sounds like a great thing!
Working on coaxing a friend into it.. I'll update you tomorrow on that!
EDIT: Confirmed on the +1, Brad and Dan will be there! We'll be out Saturday definitely, not sure about Sunday.
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Post by Angela on Nov 14, 2012 22:36:28 GMT -5
Excellent Brad thanks so much for volunteering - gives a whole new perspective when you work on the trails that you ride! I'll add you to the workparty list!
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Post by Angela on Nov 16, 2012 7:55:57 GMT -5
Looks like we'll have a good group of volunteers for the work party on Saturday and a smaller but good group of volunteers for the followup on Sunday. Thanks so much for stepping up!
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Post by Angela on Nov 17, 2012 10:23:09 GMT -5
Had 20 volunteers show up for the work party and they are in the woods right now! Hopefully we will be able to finish Great Wall and upper Skinny today. Steve, Rich and Steve finished up Brown Wave earlier this week (if they have time Deep Step may be next). Well work to finish up lower Skinny tomorrow. It is definitely a brisk day ....reports of riders coming off Great Wall are that the tread is great just a few wet spots!
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Post by Angela on Nov 17, 2012 15:31:19 GMT -5
Great work party thanks to all the volunteers who came out! Finished Great Wall and part of Skinny.......plan is to finish up Skinny tomorrow.
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Post by Angela on Nov 17, 2012 18:07:10 GMT -5
Getting set up! Safety talk and work plans - Quick lesson on clearing dips/drains - Last of of the volunteers in, fed and relaxing!
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Post by Angela on Nov 18, 2012 21:59:04 GMT -5
Day 2 - Five repeats from day one and then some fresh faces for today's work party (total of 21 volunteers) - The volunteers were dropped (or drove) along a USFS road and had to hike in to upper Skinny follow the trail then traverse down to a midway point on lower Skinny - at that point the group split in half and half worked their way back to the trailhead while the other half worked their way down lower Skinny back to their cars! Mileage handled today was less than yesterday's work so most volunteers were back to the trailhead by 4:30. Today's volunteers didn't get the hotdogs, beans, etc that the Saturday volunteers were fed but they did get some pecan pie muffins and some peanut butter cookies - just a small treat to hold them until they made it home for dinner. We did a drawing with all the volunteers from this weekend of work (some people ended up in the hat twice - having worked both days) and are happy to report that Anthony B was the winner of a certificate for a Thompson seatpost or stem of his choice! Thanks again to everyone for coming out!
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