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Post by crossrider on Nov 21, 2006 16:42:33 GMT -5
Is the canal trail now abandoned? The trail is unrideable in some sections and new trail is being made by others to get around downed trees. I would be happy to join a work party to help out, I just wanted to know if there upcoming plans to repair the damaged trail.
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Post by azdrawdy on Nov 21, 2006 21:08:45 GMT -5
Thanks for the heads up. We do need to be told that our local trails need help. That said... This is not directed at you crossrider. I am going to try to do what I don't do very well: Be politically correct and sensitive.    SORBA/CSRA is made up of purely volunteer resources. Truth be known, there are maybe 20 of us who do 99.9% of the trail maintenance, on over 100 miles of trails. We have spent the past four or five weekends cutting over 100 trees off Wine and Turkey. No one has intentionally cut off the Canal Trail. It has not been abandoned. We have just spent a ton of time opening up two very popular trails. It takes a volunteer to step up (usually at a SORBA/CSRA meeting) and tell us what work needs to be done. Then a SORBA/CSRA volunteer steps up and VOLUNTEERS his/her time to lead a work party. However, if the work can be done by only one or two people, then quite often it is handled without fanfare. Not trying to bust on anyone because we do need to be informed about the various trails and their conditions. When we have that information, we can then schedule work parties. Just keep in mind that we already have two work parties scheduled for immediately after the holidays (the Loops on Petersburg and also HKSP). Additionally we have a bridge to replace on Horn Creek and DP has spent an untold amount of time on Keg. Ray has cut numerous trees off the Canal Trail this year. Show up at a meeting and give us a report. It very well may get taken care of, ASAP! |
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Post by JIMMYC on Nov 22, 2006 13:41:26 GMT -5
Do you need a chainsaw license to cut on the canal trail?
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Post by rican240sx on Nov 22, 2006 21:21:06 GMT -5
I am new here. Myself and a few friends from another local forum I am part of have recently taken on the hobby of mountain biking. I am definitely still getting a feel for things on SORBA but I would love to help/volunteer if needed. We all pretty much started riding the Canal Trail and when we have ridden it we try to clean up some to include dumping a 6pack of empty bud light cans that someone left out there.
Where can I get more info on volunteering??
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Post by rayandtrish on Nov 23, 2006 21:51:24 GMT -5
I have always considered the canal as one of my main trails as I can ride it from my house in North Augusta. Me and my other half have spent a lot of hours trying to maintain the canal, but this year we haven't been on it as much. Last time we cleared it was early summer and as you can see it doesn't take much wind and rain to drop some more opportunities down to the trail. I am willing to meet up with some people and do some work on it next Saturday, but it will have to be early as Trish and I are scheduled to attend a function at 1:pm. If you are serious and would like to assist you can email me through the website at rshivley@sorbacsra.org. I can bring a chainsaw, shovel, pic and loppers, people interested will need loppers gloves, water and couple hours on Saturday...
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Post by rican240sx on Nov 23, 2006 22:59:19 GMT -5
sent you an email.
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Post by seenvic on Nov 24, 2006 10:19:29 GMT -5
Is the canal trail now abandoned? The trail is unrideable in some sections and new trail is being made by others to get around downed trees. I would be happy to join a work party to help out, I just wanted to know if there upcoming plans to repair the damaged trail. Did someone come into Andy's and ask... "When are 'they' going to clean up the canal so I can ride it?" |
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Post by azdrawdy on Nov 24, 2006 21:58:51 GMT -5
Where can I get more info on volunteering?? There are several ways. Show up to one of our monthly meetings. Watch the SORBA/CSRA web pages for upcoming work parties. Post like you did on the forums. Meet people on the trailheads, specifically those with the little white SORBA decals on their vehicles (there's quite a few on any given weekend day at FATS). We welcome your help and need your enthusiasm. There are lots of us out there that really try to keep these trails up and running. |
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Post by rican240sx on Nov 27, 2006 18:00:19 GMT -5
Well Ray it looks like what i had to do this weekend was cancelled.. so I'll be there 9am with a buddy to help out with what we can.
see you there.
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Post by rayandtrish on Nov 27, 2006 20:14:57 GMT -5
The work party for Saturday is starting to come together in good shape. If you are undecided, come on out and give it a try. We will be running a chainsaw, trimmers, loppers, maybe some mucking out of some muddy areas. If you are coming bring some gloves, loppers if you have any, water and a good pair if boots or walking shoes.
So if you can come on down... Don't have to drive far.
Ray
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Post by azdrawdy on Dec 6, 2006 19:42:25 GMT -5
Kinda sounds like the old squeaky wheel syndrome.
No one is squeaking now, the usuals pulled it all together, and not much will be said until THEY need to get off their behinds and fix the trails again!
Okay, time to be PC again (though off topic for this thread)...Sure was a great turnout for the Wine/Turkey Creek ride. A bunch started at the trailhead, some made it the distance, no bad crash-n-burns, and we all enjoyed.
AND! We got some neat swag from CycleSport in Aiken for the Christmas party! See you there ;D
Michael
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Post by proximity on Mar 25, 2007 12:01:15 GMT -5
What came first? the trail or the advocate?
I come from a place where there are no organized "work Parties" If the riders at the time felt the trail needed repair, then we simply got off the bikes and did it. we did not rely on the parks service or others to do what we thought was required. over 20 years of riding, I saw no negative effect of this style of "Trail Management".
Many people still ride the canal trail, I and my boys were on it yesterday afternoon, did not find it impassable by any means.
If a tree falls across a trail, does it become part of the trail? in my opinion yes. If Someone wants to move it then move it. or don't.
Trails , most of them, started naturally or were blazed by pioneering riders, equestrian or hikers. They wanted to get back to nature.
Seems like some people simply want nice clear paths in the woods and others like to leave it more natural and challenging, considering it a natural ocurrance for the path to change when new obstacles present themselves.
I for one do not advocate dictatorship in the woods. I feel that it should be left to the riders who use and enjoy the trails to fix them as they see fit.
Some trails are built wholly by the sweat of organized groups, these trails do , I feel, have a government of sorts and it should be respected, the FATS trails for instance.
But, when someone comes across a trail, it does not belong to them, unless they own the land. Regardless of what they may do to protect, develop or improve it. It belongs to all riders and the riders /hikers should be the ones to take care of it. No one has the right to dictate to another how and when to use a trail, nor does one have the right to deface or destroy another's hard work.
Live and Let live...let it be.
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Post by seenvic on Mar 25, 2007 20:53:13 GMT -5
What came first? the trail or the advocate? . The trail. |
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Post by chileanrastabilly on Mar 26, 2007 18:19:47 GMT -5
Is the canal trail now abandoned? The trail is unrideable in some sections and new trail is being made by others to get around downed trees. I would be happy to join a work party to help out, I just wanted to know if there upcoming plans to repair the damaged trail. Did someone come into Andy's and ask... "When are 'they' going to clean up the canal so I can ride it?"  ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by seenvic on Mar 27, 2007 10:34:28 GMT -5
What came first? the trail or the advocate? I come from a place where there are no organized "work Parties" If the riders at the time felt the trail needed repair, then we simply got off the bikes and did it. we did not rely on the parks service or others to do what we thought was required. over 20 years of riding, I saw no negative effect of this style of "Trail Management". Many people still ride the canal trail, I and my boys were on it yesterday afternoon, did not find it impassable by any means. If a tree falls across a trail, does it become part of the trail? in my opinion yes. If Someone wants to move it then move it. or don't. Trails , most of them, started naturally or were blazed by pioneering riders, equestrian or hikers. They wanted to get back to nature. Seems like some people simply want nice clear paths in the woods and others like to leave it more natural and challenging, considering it a natural ocurrance for the path to change when new obstacles present themselves. I for one do not advocate dictatorship in the woods. I feel that it should be left to the riders who use and enjoy the trails to fix them as they see fit. Some trails are built wholly by the sweat of organized groups, these trails do , I feel, have a government of sorts and it should be respected, the FATS trails for instance. But, when someone comes across a trail, it does not belong to them, unless they own the land. Regardless of what they may do to protect, develop or improve it. It belongs to all riders and the riders /hikers should be the ones to take care of it. No one has the right to dictate to another how and when to use a trail, nor does one have the right to deface or destroy another's hard work. Live and Let live...let it be. Mark, What you are describing is actually a pretty good history of the trail movement in America. Historically, trails were put in by the second horse following the first one. Locally, the Long Cane Horse Trail is a great example. I don't think any of the "bike trails" got put on the ground like this. Mainly because bikes need a tread to ride on and the more historical users (hikers, equestrians, and motorized) can move across the undisturbed forest floor. Have you ever tried that on a bike? It can be done, but the fun factor suffers. When bikes came onto the trails, they were mostly existing trails of the hiking, ohv or horse nature. The traditional users, in some locations (mainly out west, but also in Hitchcock Woods in Aiken, SC) ran these new trail bike riders out of the woods. None of these reasons seemed to rooted in the physical science of the trail and seemed to be for social reasons. IMBA formed in California to turn this tide. Over the years, IMBA, American Trails, The American Horse Council, NOVAC, and the Amecican Hiking Society have turned away from social trails to planned trails built for a specific use and to shed water. Locally this had alreadly occured. Randal Phillips with the USFS laid out and constructed Modoc, Turkey and Wine Creek Trails in the early 70's. Another USFS employee did the Horn Creek Trail. But more recently, trails have been constructed to modern day sustainability standards. FATS tops the list, but Bartram, Hickory and Baker (although we didn't do as good there in terms of erosion) fit this model. Not only has the trail movement improved sustainablilty, trails like FATS are built with a purpopse - to move a bike and rider thru the woods at a high fun factor. I for one am glad the old school methods have been scientifically proven to be a poor idea. I am glad that sustainable trails that provide more a fun ride are what is being built today. I love a good ole primitive trail (Keg Creek comes to mind). But ya gotta admit that the numbers of riders at FATS are proof that IMBA and more locally, SORBA is onto something. Bill Victor |
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Post by Angela on Apr 1, 2007 14:32:06 GMT -5
When my husband and I first started riding we were not members of SORBA. We frequently rode the canal trail and if there were impassable trees down we would take a chainsaw down and spend a few hours removing it ourselves.
However other things occured on that very trail that made it difficult to ride given it was an urban trail and people will ride it no matter what the conditions.
Near the ponds there was an inordinate amount of thick stickers that made it nearly impassable once they grew in during the spring - arms and legs looked like you'd lost a fight with a wild cat just going through that section (a work crew headed by a couple of SORBA folks worked on removing those stickers and now a quick pass by the DR mower at least once a year makes it a non-issue).
There was a muddy section that was impassable several days after a rain - it was not fun and the erosion from the mud and riders was creating a bad situation for the trail (the same work crew headed by a couple of SORBA folks basically created the section called the brick road and that section is basically been a non-issue).
After several years of drought the trees had taken a beating so any time high winds hit that area a multitude of non-rideable trees ended up down. One week it took an organized group with three chainsaws and 40 man-hours to remove the 22 large (non-rideable) trees that had come down in the storm.
Brian the ranger in charge of the off-road trail at the canal has asked SORBA for their stewardship of that trail as has the USFS asked us for stewardship of the trails on their land, etc. We have great relationships with those land managers and it provides them with an opportunity to have volunteers who will help with the trails in an organized fashion and us with the opportunity to help keep the trails open for all users.
It is easy for folks to criticize when they don't have all the facts and we have learned to accept that.
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Post by proximity on Apr 2, 2007 11:42:14 GMT -5
Ok, I meet and worked with Bill and some others at the fats. Bill taught me a ton about the hows and whys of the way things are done in this neck of the woods. I feel he and I learned alot about each other. I also feel he knows why I approched the way I did. An old dog can be taught new tricks and I am glad to have met bill and the others. My son and I both learned a ton and were glad to be there. I hope to have the opportunity to work with more of you and ride too. Thank you for sharing your input and defending the group, it's what I was looking to find.
Mark Shells
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Post by seenvic on Apr 2, 2007 12:37:58 GMT -5
Mark,
You and Nick are welcome to come ride or work w/ me anytime you like. You have a way about you, for sure. Once one can get past the crusty outer layer, it's all good on the inside.
A big thanks to Jimmy C and Jim B for getting us going. Jim B and his 4-wheeler are invaluable. '
Still some work to do out there, but we are making progress.
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Post by JIMMYC on Apr 2, 2007 13:58:55 GMT -5
This past weekend was alot better than the last, I think we made some progress and nobody had to go to the E.R.
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Post by proximity on Apr 2, 2007 17:57:34 GMT -5
Met soooo many people this weekend, a great bunch at that! With the exception of Mat and Nicholas meeting the ground unexpectantly, it was wonderful! (remind me to use the anti-allergy meds next time!) It wil take some time for this old brain to remember all the names, but it will come in time. Thanks to everyone there for a great day. hope to have many more!
Mark
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