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Post by brianW on Apr 26, 2010 9:20:38 GMT -5
I personally feel the "rock bridge" width is wide enough. If anything an easy by-pass for folks could be racked in which i am sure it not, one would be done by riders anyway. The ramp up (picture of) is the narrowest if I recall and it widens a little when your on top. The rocks used ar large and somewhat flat. Great feature.
The only wet spot I really noticed (besides small stream crossings) was near the second bridge from Petersburg. Believe it is sepage from the hill not water pooling.
As dgaddis mentioned the board walk might need hardwear cloth. I went over it when it was dry and then when it was wet. a bit slick the second time.
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Post by dgaddis1 on Apr 26, 2010 9:48:40 GMT -5
I agree with Brian, the rocks are good. Only thing I'd suggest, is maybe a 'choke' before the dirt ramp and/or at the top of the ramp. It would force people ot take the correct line and would be a good visual clue that it's narrow, and would slow people down before they get in over their head.
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Post by yetichick on Apr 26, 2010 21:21:36 GMT -5
I also think it is wide enough. I rather like it just as it is. I do agree with the hardware cloth.
There is another area I wondered about. Dustin, maybe you can help me out with this one as I don't remember its location. Coming from Wildwood, there is a place where you could launch off a man-made dirt lip just before a dip. You can't see the lip before you are right on top of it. Someone is going to hit that lip, panic, and make a big mistake. There is a line to the side, but you don't know to take it if you don't have the skills to do the jump off the lip and over the dip. Do you know what I am talking about?
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Post by brianW on Apr 27, 2010 4:57:51 GMT -5
yetichic is correct about the lip/dip/jump. Maybe a simple sign saying jump on right side would work. There are a few alternate lines for riders to choose.
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Post by dgaddis1 on Apr 27, 2010 6:12:04 GMT -5
Yeah I know exactly what you're talking about YetiChick. I thought it had pretty good sight lines there though, I saw it before I got to it, slowed way down since I couldn't see what was on the other side of the lip.
But...I don't think it's really a good place for a jump anyhow. Even if you clear the dip, the landing is still uphill.
I wouldn't mind if they left it as is. Also wouldn't mind if they knocked the lip off.
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Post by Mark Y on Apr 28, 2010 15:14:56 GMT -5
One more question: the long boardwalk, is it going to be hardware clothed? It needs it IMO. Even when dry, with all the pollen-makers from the pine trees, it's already slick. And yes, the official scientific name of those things is 'pollen-makers'. Nah, the real name is pine worms.... +1 on all the comments about the new trail. Awesome work by the LC crew and planners (DP?) . I think I like this section best of any in the area. Rolling, not too technical, and not a bunch of climbing. About that not too technical part... Towards the WW end there is a small creek crossing that is a little soft. I managed to get stopped on that thing and fell smack dab in the stinky creek, on my back. JT, that is why you may have noticed I did not speak to you guys when I met you coming back. I was wet, cold, muddy, and PO'd.
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Post by dparrott on Apr 28, 2010 20:49:16 GMT -5
Rejoice - hardware cloth will be applied to all new Bartram bridges. The boardwalk will not get full width - just 36". The last bridge was finished yesterday and final COE inspection will be this Friday or Monday.
Mark - is that creek the one with the new ramp below the woods road?
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Post by dcontos on Apr 29, 2010 6:13:33 GMT -5
Hello there - it's Deno from Benchmark Trails, the folks that are building the new Bartram Trail. It's good to see the positive comments that are coming in. As Dale mentioned, they are valuable for us. We hope to be wrapped up by the end of today, just in time for the IMBA summit. I'll be attending some of the summit, and hope to see some of you guys there. BTW That rock jump/bridge area actually started out as a stone causeway, and as our rocks got larger we hoped to evolve it into a short "skills" section, it was never intended as a jump. Having test ridden in several times lately, I'm thinking for safety we are going to widen it. Unfortunately, the option for a ride around is not a good one because the whole area is a low lying mud pit. The muddy seep by the first bridge coming from P'burg should be addressed today. There are small areas of compacted fill that is still a little loose, and these will take a little more time to dry and set in. Hardware cloth is down on the B'walk, Hope you all enjopy the new trail, other than the insane rain this past winter, it was a blast to build. Thanks to DP for all his valuable input thru the project! Enjoy!
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Post by dgaddis1 on Apr 29, 2010 6:44:22 GMT -5
Towards the WW end there is a small creek crossing that is a little soft. I managed to get stopped on that thing and fell smack dab in the stinky creek, on my back. JT, that is why you may have noticed I did not speak to you guys when I met you coming back. I was wet, cold, muddy, and PO'd. Sounds like operator error to me! Deno - y'all done good. Thanks. Can't wait to do the entire Bartram/Keg/Mistletoe ride.
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Post by Mark Y on Apr 29, 2010 8:29:05 GMT -5
You bet it was operator error and that is why I was PO'd. Had I been trying to do something difficult it would have been OK. It was one of those where I was indecisive about whether I should avoid the wet spots as instructed, or just go through it like many others before me had. By the time I decided to go ahead I was going too slow to get through the mud and up the hump. I just thrashed around in the muddy stnikhole like a turtle on his back. ;D DP, it is the little creek not long before you get to that pavilion in the woods if you are headed towards WW.
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jimf
Gear Masher
Posts: 29
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Post by jimf on Apr 29, 2010 19:55:22 GMT -5
I was at Bartram this evening to ride the new section. Unfortunately it was taped off So we decided to ride the old section. When we got back to the trailhead at Petersburg I found out that several riders (@10) had just went off into the new section. I am just as excited to ride the new section but with all of the new work that has been done, it would be a shame to damage it by riding it before we should.
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Post by brianW on Apr 29, 2010 20:36:06 GMT -5
rode it again this afternoon to the dock/shelter. The finishing touches looked reat. The "rock bridge' on/off ramps were widened but the actual rocky top seemed to be the same. The walk way has the hardware cloth down and there is a smooth trail up/down to it. The few stream crossing alos seemed to hav some rock/brick but into them so they will not become mud holes.
Hats off to Deno and his crew.
on a side note: lots of deer on this stretch. Spooked a few day old fawn that was a few feet off the trail taking a nap. Really cool to see.
One question. The dock/shelter close to the bridge SORBA put in last summer. Is that private property?
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Post by dparrott on Apr 29, 2010 20:53:34 GMT -5
To JimF - new trail is not officially open but the land owner and contractor want "responsible" wheels on it. In other words, folks who should know better when not to be on it too soon after rain.
Brian - the gazebo is on Pollard's land - the double orange trees demark the COE land boundary. I think it's a nice spot for a snack break but I'm concerned with some folks who may trash the place. Treat as any other spot on the trail: pack out what you pack in. Even if there is a "trash can" there, pack your own trash out.
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Post by brianW on Apr 30, 2010 5:10:12 GMT -5
thanks dale, that is what I thought. Right across from the Wildwood boat ramp the trail passes with 15 feet of a very nice beach. I'm already thinking of riding with my kids to that point, let them swim and than head back.
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jimf
Gear Masher
Posts: 29
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Post by jimf on Apr 30, 2010 7:08:10 GMT -5
To dparrott: Thanks for the input. I'll be out there tomorrow morning and might give it a ride.
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Post by dparrott on Apr 30, 2010 20:48:27 GMT -5
Of course as you all have seen in the website header, COE took down the closed signs and barricades this morning. Now go and knock yourself out!
On a more somber note, COE reports that ATVs are accessing the new trail from Pollard's land at the gazebo. If you should encounter same (probably Pollard's grandkids) I'd suggest talking up the aspect of damage that ATVs do to trail instead of saying that it is simply against the rules. COE is actively working on this problem.
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Post by dparrott on May 3, 2010 21:39:40 GMT -5
Pollard's nieces and nephews were the ATV culprits. COE had a talk with Mr Pollard and it appears that education was the key. Should clear up that problem. Please report here if any other motorized vehicles (or horses) are seen on the trail.
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Post by dparrott on May 8, 2010 21:51:16 GMT -5
Finally! rode the new trail today. I knew when I railed the first big bermed left hand turn that I was in for a treat. It's everything folks have been saying. This trail is a good complement to FATS.
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Post by dparrott on May 14, 2010 21:50:37 GMT -5
Put up a caution sign today on New Bartram at the sharp dip going toward P-burg.
Am receiving armoring materials tomorrow from COE (recycled plastic cross ties that Benchmark Trails used). Intend on fixing muddy spot just West of second bridge (going from P'burg to WW. The water seep and mud span about 12 feet and that would consume way too much of a very limited supply of this stuff. So, I think I'll construct a ditch drain next to the bank - like roads are built. That will carry the water down to the low point - then we'll armor about a 3 foot section where the water can drain. COE has offered to bring the material in by boat. The stuff is heavy - COE estimates about 20 lb for a 3 foot section. COE kindly had their general contractor - TSAY - cut me 36 - 3 foot sections. You have to use a concrete chop saw. Blades get gumed up and are ineffective. Here's another great example of go-outta-the-way cooperation from a land manager.
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Post by dparrott on May 15, 2010 21:44:54 GMT -5
Got the material stored at my place. This stuff is bombproof and heavy - 45 pounds for a 3 foot piece. They come in 12 foot lengths or 180 lbs - glad TSAY cut them. Here's a pic of them - note the tongue and groove. They are 5" thick with a surface width of 6".
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