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Post by seenvic on Jan 23, 2010 14:25:11 GMT -5
Sunday. If it doesn't rain us out. Meet along Philpot Rd. You will see my car.
Someone bring a camera. Lets get some before/after pics.
I'll have what we need to do sussed out by 2PM.
Who's in?
Dustin, John L, Me, who else?
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Post by dsquaredmsquared on Jan 23, 2010 14:52:59 GMT -5
I'll be there. I can be there before 2PM if it looks like rain or you need help sussing.
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Post by azdrawdy on Jan 23, 2010 15:07:52 GMT -5
Thanks for the help Nevin, Becky and Money. It sure was appreciated and needed! That one tree was unbelievably huge! The others, and there were several, were manageable, but the one was something else. We didn't let it beat us though. We even left part of it to be a rider! Thanks, MD P.S. Money told us about some of the work getting done on FATS, as he started his day there. Thanks to ya'll for slinging some bricks!
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Post by breynolds on Jan 23, 2010 18:03:04 GMT -5
Dustin, John L, Me, who else? I'd love to help out. Where's Philpot Rd?
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Post by dsquaredmsquared on Jan 23, 2010 18:20:56 GMT -5
I'm thinking forest service road 661 - the dirt road that leads to the North parking lot (Tower/Big Rock).
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Post by imnav8r on Jan 23, 2010 19:10:46 GMT -5
That is correct.
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Post by dsquaredmsquared on Jan 24, 2010 9:13:47 GMT -5
Just spoke with BV...If you can, we will meet at North parking lot at 11:00AM. He wants to get some work done before the rain.
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Post by dgaddis1 on Jan 24, 2010 14:54:11 GMT -5
Sorry I didn't make it guys. Didn't get home till 2. Just now sitting down to eat lunch. I had to wash off all my camping stuff and set it up to dry so it doesn't get mildew-y...now I'm just hoping it doesn't start raining before the tent dries out.
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Post by seenvic on Jan 24, 2010 17:31:26 GMT -5
What a great day of work on Big Rock Loop. We stayed on the West side of Philpot Rd all day. Went in at a non-descript place and worked CCW on the loop which meant DH for the most part.
All the armoring we did was with native stone gathered nearby. We armored one small spot right where we entered the trail. Then we cleaned drains until we got to some native stone near Big Rock Proper. Our best work was just past the spot where you make the hard left b/n the rocks after going DH from Big Rock Proper. We had two pretty wet spots and above the trail was a bunch of native stone. We moved some BIG rocks down that hill and they are now in the trail tread in two sections that were mud holes. Each has a good line and the rock is embedded and the trail is draining. Both of these spots are seasonal seeps.
Most of the west side of Big Rock Loop should now at least have the drains cleaned.
We exited at the bridge built out of treated timber on BR loop. There is still more interesting and rewarding armoring work that can/should be done in this area. A pointed shovel, a flat shovel, a pulaski, mccleod, and a rock bag make a good tool kit for the task. Several strong backs to move the rocks are good as well. I'd look uphill for rocks.
Hopefully Johh L will come along with some pics.
I'd like to go back out there next weekend if I can. Anyone else?
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Post by imnav8r on Jan 24, 2010 19:51:02 GMT -5
I'll second what Bill said about the work party today. We got a lot done with the group we had. Attending today's work party on Big Rock were: Bill Victor (seenvic), myself, David K (dsquaredmsquared) and his son Matt, and John Pilcher (JP3). We were joined briefly by Jon Taylor (jtaylor) and Luke the Dog (himself) as they made their way up Big Rock in the opposite direction clearing drains. Jon stopped just long enough to clear a drain while Luke got in a quick game of pinecone fetch before moving on. I took a few pictures of some great rocks we found to armor the trail but the pictures just don't do them justice. I even took a few pictures for this year's editon of the "How Well Do You Know Your Trails?" game which will start up again once the trails dry out enough to go riding again. Much impressed with David and his two sons now that we've met Matt (we met son Michael a couple of weeks ago on the last work party). Matt and Michael make up the msquared portion of David's username. They remind me of something most of us already know. Mountain biking is a family sport. And it's cool to see family members working on the trails we love to ride. So here's a few pictures of one of the big rocks we found and used and of a couple of hard workers. Here's a big HEAVY rock. Note shoe next to rock for scale. Here's the hole the rock is about to occupy. The rock is the length of a pulaski and the width of an adnz. Here's the rock in the hole as we began to fill other rocks around to make a mini rock garden. Thanks JP for muscleing that thing in place while I was on break. Here's Matt clearing a drain. A couple of hard workers we are glad to know. Matt didn't want to stop working to pose for a picture, so I had to wait until he took a break with his Dad! The areas we worked on look great so check them out once the trails dry out but keep your eyes open for cool trail features you might see again later. Thanks to all who helped out today! Especially to John Pilcher and Bill Victor who moved tonnage of rock today. I can't wait to go back and get that rock the size of a Volkswagon hood to put into the trail as a cool rock feature. We'll need plenty of strong backs for that one. And many thanks to all the folks who participated in other work parties this weekend! Appreciate it! Be safe!
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Post by JIMMYC on Jan 24, 2010 19:59:25 GMT -5
Money and i worked on the really bad spot on the upper skinny Saturday morning. we got there and to our surprise a stream of water was running right down the middle of the trial. we put out about 65 brick. When we left water was steadily flowing between the pave and down the other side. The thing I'm most worried about is the down stream side giving way.
At the widest point it is 2 brick long way wide but most of it is 1 1/2 wide. Not to wide not to narrow.
Bill, I'll be packing in the Cohutta next weekend, I'll get with you after that.
thanks to everyone for their hard work, many hands lighten to load
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Post by imnav8r on Jan 24, 2010 20:27:21 GMT -5
Thanks Jimmy C & Money! Can't wait to see your handi-work!
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Post by seenvic on Jan 24, 2010 21:51:28 GMT -5
JC - I walked down to the spot today and saw the water flowing thru the pave. I thought it was great. Thanks for the work.
We may need to armor above the big root in there. Prolly not an easy project. But plenty soft in that section.
Wondering about the flowing water underneath the bricks. If they start to get undercut, we may have to dig a couple bricks in deeper and pitch them on their sides.
We had a good weekend. Work on BW, Skinny and Big Rock. Ted has been out doing solo/family missions as well.
Raining hard now. Wonder if all the dirt is already washed off the armoring we did today and it will just be rock. Either way, should be good to go.
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Post by JIMMYC on Jan 24, 2010 22:56:53 GMT -5
We are on the same page. I went out there again today just to look and I was wondering about the same things. was figuring on giving it a little time. really needs something similar to a french drain under the pave. With it raining like it is we should know real soon
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Post by ted on Jan 25, 2010 8:38:17 GMT -5
Here's what I've been doing. I've gotten from the lower road crossing on Big Rock almost to the bridge to the left heading clockwise and to the Cedar log bridge to the right heading counter clockwise. The tread has become cupped and hasn't allowed the water to drain, just run right down the middle. If you can get the water off the trail then it won't accumulate and cause the section to become soggy. FATS is one big bench cut for the most part. It's important the get the "duff" out of the way. If anyone wants to see how this works a year later, check out the top of Great Wall nearest the parking lot. I worked on this part last year past the power lines and further into the trail. I think it's still working pretty good. Some places however are beyond simply raking and need armoring. Here's a question: How many people posses the trail solutions book or have read it through? Very informative and lots of trail maintenance options.
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Post by seenvic on Jan 25, 2010 9:26:42 GMT -5
No doubt Ted does a great job of cleaning the drains. Best I've seen.
Ted, take some before/after pics.
What Ted does that others don't realize is the best method is provide a very wide exit for the water to drain from the trail. Often I see one channel, or trench dug for all the water to exist. This trench or channel is often the width of the tool the person is using. What happens is the narrow channel gets clogged and the water stops draining. It is better to clean the drain so that water can drain from as wide a swath as possible.
If done with a wide drainage area, it is less likely to clog and the water will continue to drain for a longer period of time.
I am sure there are some other techniques Ted uses, but to this eye, the width of the exit drain is easy to spot.
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Post by dsquaredmsquared on Jan 25, 2010 10:03:27 GMT -5
Is the Trail Solutions book available as a PDF somehwere, or only as hardcopy?
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Post by seenvic on Jan 25, 2010 11:12:43 GMT -5
Is the Trail Solutions book available as a PDF somehwere, or only as hardcopy? I'll give you one. You are one of the best workers we have. I owe Mosovich one too. Haven't forgotten.
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Post by dsquaredmsquared on Jan 25, 2010 12:14:45 GMT -5
I don't know man, you might be too generous with the praise. After all the rock hauling that you and JP did yesterday...I am a slacker. JL should have posted pictures of the true heroes yesterday.
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Post by jtaylor on Jan 25, 2010 13:18:14 GMT -5
I got to the top of BR yesterday (and was whipped), so the west side should be good. I sure would like to see it today after the big rain last night.
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