Horn Creek Bridge

[azdrawdy]

Many of you may have been aware of the bridge that was knocked out in section 2 of Horn Creek, approximately 8/10ths of a mile from the intersection. Well, it was impassable and needs to be replaced. It is very obvious that HC is still being ridden and riders have found a walk-around about forty feet away. Thankfully no one (to my knowledge) has come around the corner at a good clip and dropped into the drink.

Today three of us went out with crow bars, hammers (BFHs) and a chain saw. Three hours later the old bridge had been removed, the salvaged decking boards stacked to the side (nails removed) and the freaking large pine tree removed. We did not pull the old busted up stringers out of the creek but they are completely out of the way.

Now we "just" need new stringers (yeah, the ones at the intersection) put across the creek.

[seenvic]

Two stringers are now at the bridge site. Not strung across the gap, but they are at the bridge site.

What a hoot that was! Dragged two of them down there with the ditchwitch. And we surfed on them down the trail! It's much harder than riding a bike on singletrack.

I think we need some rope, a pulley and alot of bodies to get the stringers in place. A perfect project for our engineers on the team. The huge tree resting in the creek should help us get it done as well - giving folks a platform to stand on and help support the stringers as the move across the gap.

[azdrawdy]

Will bring this up at the meeting Tuesday night. Should have decent attendance. We usually do with it being the Christmas party and Shereen giving us plenty of swag to hand out.

You are right: some of the "local bridge builders/engineers" can finish devising a game plan, then we'll get some bodies down there and get it finished in a day.

[azdrawdy]

A work party is being set up for the 20th of January to place the stringers across the ravine, then hopefully build a new bridge by the end of that day. This bridge must be replaced before the Baker's Dozen, and we all know how vital that race is to our financial well-being as a chapter.

We will need at least 12 to 16 able-bodied individuals to help us place these 30' telephone poles (aka stringers). Please contact me (PM or email at michael dot drawdy at comcast dot net) to let me know you can help. This is not going to be a long and drawn out work party. Those dozen or so individuals only need to volunteer, at the most, two hours of their time actually at the trail.

Dig deep please, and see if you can give us a couple hours starting at 10am. We will be parking between sections 1 and 2 on the side of the gravel road and then walking in 8/10ths of a mile into section 2 to the bridge location. Four of us will already be at the site getting everything set up.

Thanks,
Michael

[azdrawdy]

Work party is on for the 20th at 10am. I have a solid ten "yes" and four "maybe". I could use a couple more and if you think you want to help, PLEASE DO...but we will plan on getting this done. The registered applicants for the Baker's Dozen already are getting up there so we need to get busy.

Meet at the bridge. Bring your gloves as we will be man-handling a couple of telephone poles across the ravine.

Michael

[Angela]

I predict you will get all the volunteers you need. Lots of folks tend to sign up in the last few days before a work party once they see what their schedules for work and family commitments are for that day. I'll send a reminder out to the masses at the start of next week and I think we'll be all set to go!!

[buckethead79]

Is anybody doing any work on any local trail tomorrow, Monday 15 Jan.? Since it's a holiday more folks may be available.

[bikecop]

Would anybody like to carpool from the Aiken area to the bridge work party saturday?

Chris

[azdrawdy]

A huge thank you to the overwheming support we got today. I was expecting between 14 and 18 people. We got way over that amount. Half the crew were new people I honestly had never met before. Everyone was ready to jump in.

I thought it would take at least an hour (closer to two) to move those two telephone poles, but they were nearly thrown over the creek in about 45 minutes!

The decking was in place in about an hour, and it was all said and done by noon. We had riders using the bridge before we walked out.

Paul is going to post some pictures later. Take a look at'em. Then pat yourselves on the back. Great job, and a big thank you from me!

Michael