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Post by dparrott on Jul 20, 2013 18:30:38 GMT -5
maybe take pics of their license plates??
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Post by Angela on Jul 20, 2013 19:43:53 GMT -5
Naw just want to show the USFS what we are up against when trying to help maintain the trails in terms of volume of riders willing to ride the trail when it has been taped off!
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Post by money on Jul 20, 2013 20:36:50 GMT -5
Ugh, cars everywhere at fats today. I was out for a motorcycle ride and swung by and reconnected the tape and asked a few folks to please stay off the trail but I doubt they listened. Rode the gravel and pavement around fats today. Lots of cars in the fats parking lot. Thanks for putting the tape back up Troy. I came through the parking lot as you were telling people the tail was closed. I remarked that there was a lot of nice gravel to ride. Hopefully thy listened. Sucks that people think that they are above everyone else. I guess thy can't read or probably just don't care. I wonder if they will be willing to show up at the next workday. Well, enough of spouting off, time to drink another beer.
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Post by Angela on Jul 21, 2013 11:14:41 GMT -5
Didn't label the pics since my home computer was giving me issues and I had to load them from a mobile device but if you take a look at about the 19th picture down what you are seeing is a horse's hoofprint. Horses have been out on Brown Wave. As an FYI, horses are not allowed on any of the 150 miles of trail we help maintain except the Long Cane Horse Trail near Greenwood. Please help pass the word!
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Post by Mark Y. on Jul 21, 2013 11:37:42 GMT -5
Now, there's an idea Angela. Just leave trres down on FATS until the scofflaws give up and go elsewhere.
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Post by dsquaredmsquared on Jul 21, 2013 15:06:09 GMT -5
Drove by FATS today around 3:30PM and I am pleased to say that there were only three cars in the parking lot, and no bike racks. Two girls were just getting out of one of those cars to walk the trail. Had a brief chat with the two walkers, shared some information with them, and I think all is good.
Thank you for staying off FATS this afternoon.
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Post by Angela on Jul 22, 2013 6:47:27 GMT -5
It rained at FATS on Saturday afternoon but was dry on Sunday, if no additional rain today we'll scout again on Tuesday. For those new to the area this weather pattern is very rare (as is the mid 80 temps in the month of July in Augusta, GA ). Looks like the northern trails might be ready first this time - check back we will report!
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Post by Angela on Jul 23, 2013 6:52:01 GMT -5
We have a scout that will be going out after lunch today to check out a portion of the trails and am waiting to hear back from a scout on the northern trails. Made it through Monday without additional rain on FATS and it looks like only 30% chance of rain for the next couple of days. What that really means is the water table will be dropping which means the seeps will be disappearing - we are as anxious as you are to get back out on the trails.
Report in from a scout on Sunday is that Great Wall and Skinny were still far too wet which was expected - due to the seeps those two trails stay wet the longest. Hopefully we can get some of the loops opened back up in the next day or two.
Just a note in case you see trail runners out on the trails or at the parking lot. Like it or not the runners can stay on the trails a little longer than the bikes can when the trails are wet and they can return to the trails more quickly than the bikes can. Those tires simply rut those mushy spots causing them to hold water and contribute to the erosion. A runner can simply leap right over those spots and their dispersed weight over a shoe generally does not leave what a biker leaves behind. Now that said, when the trails are at their wettest everyone needs to stay off the trail but responsible trail users learn pretty quickly when they should and shouldn't be on the trails.
Once a trail is down to around 5% to 10% wet, generally we untape them because although it will still cause issues in those remaining wet or mushy spots generally some of them will self correct once dry and the others we simply will have to repair over time. If you have questions and comments feel free to contact us at sorbacsra@gmail.com.
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Post by Angela on Jul 23, 2013 20:14:08 GMT -5
Everything has been untaped except lower Skinny and Great Wall - those trails will need at least another day to dry out. Please ride in the middle of the trail to minimize trail widening, there are still wet, mushy spots on the trails.
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Post by Angela on Jul 25, 2013 6:15:20 GMT -5
FATS did get rain yesterday evening (fortunately looked like the heavier yellows and reds managed to avoid the trails).
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Post by Angela on Jul 25, 2013 17:15:51 GMT -5
Will be doing some work on Brown Wave tonight and will scout Skinny to see if we can get it untaped by the weekend!
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Post by clydesdale on Jul 25, 2013 21:59:20 GMT -5
Brown Wave has been cleared of the small non-riders. Watch out for the occasional face slapper. 2 bigger logs still down. We did untape Skinny, but left tape up for Great Wall. 5 out of 6 isn't bad. Ride if you get a chance tomorrow, because we may get more rain this weekend.
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Post by Angela on Jul 26, 2013 6:31:31 GMT -5
Seeing that the water table had dropped and not seeing any active seeps on the trail in the parts we were able to cover was good news. With the water table down we should be back to normal wait 24 hours when we get approximately 1/2 to an inch of rain (and we aren't getting rain over multiple days).
There is some rain based erosion in various parts of the trail but not nearly as bad as it could have been with all that rain. Some of that will correct as people ride those sections of trail, others will need to be repaired. Some areas that are rutted from riding will correct as they are ridden and others we'll need to work on.
Rain chances go up this weekend to 40% in the afternoon on Saturday and Sunday.
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Post by Angela on Jul 28, 2013 22:42:43 GMT -5
Headed off on Brown Wave today to take out the two large trees that were down (each managing to cross the trail twice). Both were fairly easily reached with about a 1/2 mile hike in from different input points. When hiking in, the equipment transporter of choice - The first one there was really no stepping over - From the opposite side - Doesn't take long for a bypass trail to start forming - This was a big one - Open for business! This tree on another section wasn't as large but long enough to cross the trail twice when it fell - Here is from the other side - This is an odd perspectives since it is panoramic but shows the tree clear of the trail.
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Post by Angela on Jul 30, 2013 6:42:53 GMT -5
Rode Skinny last night for the first time in July last night to take a look at trail condition. There were some soft spots and a handful of seeps but trail tread was in pretty good condition. There are definitely more roots exposed after all the rain but did not affect the riding experience. The trail did not have as much erosion as expected and some places caught us by surprise. Starting before Insulator Hill (traveling CCW) there were some eroded places that need some work, at the bottom of Insulator Hill more erosion but nothing that can't be ridden easily. The place on the 3rd crossing that is usually a mucky mess and does need work, was in pretty good condition. Heading back into the woods and back up the first steep hill this area will also need work - On around that curve is another uphill spot that has had erosion in the past but is actually in pretty good condition. The armored areas leading up to the 4th crossing were surprisingly dry but once at the crossing I would highly advise sticking to the armoring on the left while moving through the crossing CCW. There is an additional area for about the last 1/2 mile of lower Skinny that will need a little work due to erosion. Not what we usually find but upper Skinny had more wet areas than lower Skinny for a change. In addition the switchback CCW was not mushy - However the area just after the switchback was much wetter and still had active seeps at work - Overall the trail was in good condition
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Post by Angela on Jul 31, 2013 6:31:11 GMT -5
Did a trail check of Great Wall last night - quite a few small nuisance trees (small trees sitting 3 feet off the ground, various debris, etc but only had time to make it around the loop before dark, so no time to remove much of anything). The trail was in surprisingly good condition (good trail design helps these trails tremendously when there is an onslaught of rain - rain sheeting across the trail instead of down the trail prevents a lot of erosion) and there were only a couple of areas of erosion that need to be repaired. One area is in the last 20 feet of trail if you are traveling CW and there is another area within the last two miles of trail - The eroded area in the last couple of miles of trail - There are some roots that are more exposed, etc but the trail is good. There are also still a few mushy spots here and there but they are drying out now that the water table has dropped. Some of the nuisance trees - this in the first section of trail CCW - There are 4 trees down that will need a chainsaw to remove - all are in the last 3 miles of trail CCW: At just over 5 miles in - Around 6 mile mark - There are 2 trees fairly close together in the mile of trail. One of them is relatively easy to traverse but the other required you to head down the hill with your bike and then a steep uphill back to the trail.
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Post by Angela on Jul 31, 2013 21:47:56 GMT -5
It rained for several hours today and although not a torrential downpour the trails will need to dry out at least 24 hours before they should be ridden again! Thank you
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Post by Angela on Aug 2, 2013 6:21:56 GMT -5
It rained at FATS yesterday morning, again in the early evening and then around midnight a red torpedo shaped popup was headed its and our way but by the time it reached FATS had diffused itself down to yellow and green. Not sure how much rain FATS picked up yesterday but the trails will be too wet to ride today. We will do checks, the predictions indicate today will be dry with warm temps so we will do a check before the weekend!
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Post by Angela on Aug 2, 2013 11:59:12 GMT -5
Steve's team cleared all the debris, small trees and all the trees that needed a chainsaw off Great Wall this morning. Trail had some damp spots but if we do not receive additional rain today the trails should be okay by tomorrow. Thanks guys!
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Post by 0sparky0 on Aug 2, 2013 19:05:23 GMT -5
Will the trails be open tomorrow?
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