Lots of work done today. Josh met me out at 9 am delivered some chicken wire. We didn't put it to use yet, but it's near the Rawk Garten hidden in some trees. Mike came out at 11:30 and we continued on until 1.
Combined we cribbed, benched and cut a lot. The cribbing took lots of additional cutting and lots of boulder and earth moving. Mike was the bench master, Josh was the boulder muscle. I might have help a little with something. I did work on some 'housekeeping things' and I will address those for everyone...down below. Barbed wire fence has been breached in the 2 crossings. No night op required for it, I brought in my small bolt cutters and had my way with both the fence crossings. The tool stash is moved up the the current work area. Lots of guys out loving the trail today, another $10 and name/number left in the bucket.
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| Step Down with crib - Mike added a boulder under the step - it's not shown here. Alternate Line I created - Before pics  
Afters
EASY Left, TECHY Right - maybe we get ride of the LEFT???
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This evening I took a shot at using the Dremel with a router bit to work on a sign. I was going to do an "Easy Out" (really it should be Intermediate Out with a blue diamond) sign for the area before Ravine Drop - an arrow on it pointing to the beginning a Snake Ridge. Depending on how that went I was going to have an "Experts Only" with a Black Diamond point to the Ravine Drop line. Well, fuck that shit...the Dremel is NOT a router...I think I will just get some stencil and paint/lacquer some signs
"Housekeeping, you want me fluff pillow?"
I'm not calling anyone out - I am guilty too, everyone does it at times whether they know it or not...
SPROUTS
Spring is fast approaching and the cedar trees think it's Spring already. What that means is when we are cutting cedar close to the trail we need to 'shave' off the sprouts that are already showing. If not, in May those little sprouts might just brush against Mike's delicate arms. Seriously though, it's easy to overlook the little bugger now, but believe me, you don't want to HAVE to come back 2-3 months later and do a major pruning job that can be avoided now. Visually it looks much better IMO as well. We have some cactus areas coming up, cut them back liberally - they grow fast.
Example:
LIMBS:
Another housekeeping item is the cutting - again this is with trees where the main stem/truck is right up close to the trail. We should try to cut these fairly flush. There are times when this isn't possible or necessary. A prime example is when the tree is several feet off the line, but has protruding limbs that need to be cut. This is more of a visual thing - IMO it's unsightly when the tree is right up against the trail. IMBA will tell you to do this for safety, but IDK about that, it's about the ascetics.
Example:
OAKS:
I did this today. I cut a couple of oak limbs without sealing them. Oak Wilt is the real deal and it can literally decimate the oaks in the surrounding area. We should be sealing the oaks after we cut them. We had oak seal in the bucket, we ran out. I bought some today and will bring it out the next time I'm out (possibly tomorrow, if not definitely Tues). I got the spray kind, no brushed, no mess. No other trees need sealant, in fact sealant for cuts is actually bad for the tree under most circumstances, but with oaks in Texas its a good thing that prevent oak wilt and the spread of it.
Slow going, but worth it in the end.
ReplyDeleteAll I know is that stuff looks a little tight for a 29er hardtail. Would you mind opening it up some and redoing the trail from the trailhead?
Thanks, man.
We need a sign that says no 29ers
ReplyDeleteHow about something a little more original on the sign like "This part is hard." or something like that?
ReplyDeleteJust a thought.
Or "this part sucks" or...."put your dentist on speed dial"....or..."Cue up 911".....or..."You could get hurt"...or..."Pain Gate"....or..."If you are wearing cotton gear, bail out"...
DeleteYou think they will understand that ;)
DeleteToo obvious.
"This might hurt" ?
DeleteI say we go high tech with our signs. We could put out a sign that says this part os hard, please watch video below on how to navigate this section. And below the sign is an i pad with a video on how to do it. That way no one is excluded but have been warned and informed.
ReplyDeleteAlso I will be going out to work in a bit. Maybe hour or so
So went out yesterday and put in a days work. Shit was thick. Eric saved my life bringing me food and water because I planned my day horribly. Plus my dog drank half my water. Made a good amount of cutting progress. Felt good about it til Eric called Me a pussy for not one handing a fallen tree to a different spot and then proceeded to do so himself. But I digress .... There is a lot to tread bench and crib. Bench Master Mike when will you be taking out your frustrations on the land again. I can probably be out tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI can't take much credit for the work done y'day. When I got out there it looked like a crew of 5 had worked all day on cutting. I did spray pruning sealant on at least 3 oak trees though, I had to tip-toe to reach one of the limbs.
ReplyDeleteI usually get out on Tuesday, but plans have come up and I can't make it out today. I should be able to get out there tomorrow fairly early in the afternoon and work for a couple of hours though. Josh, I'll text you when I am en route - let me know if you need food/drink!
Good flowy stuff...at least the next hundred yards is fairly light cutting, the bench requirements start to ease up a bit for the most part once it gets close to the fence line.
I was out for about 90 min today. Got another 20 yards maybe of tread done. Maybe I'm overestimating. Bench Master....Bench Faster! unh
ReplyDeleteI made it to just before the left turn. I'm going to night ride tonight and will be out there for a couple of hours Thursday 230-430, then again Friday and Monday and perhaps a time or two on the weekend as I'm able.
I took a few pics today. I'll try to post them up. Might have to make a new post here.
I just added the pics to the Picasa album. I'm surprised I was even able to do that. I took a decent pic of EBD with a water bottle on it for scale. Also took a picture of "The Ramp" in the Chunk with bottle on it for scale.
DeleteSo artsy of you to think of scale
DeleteSo was the trail packed with hot, naked chicks as usual today?
ReplyDeleteNot ours but a cheerleading squad training in white t shirts and no bras was doing jumping jacks and sprints and stretches on the regional trail right by where we are at now. Totally peeved out through the trees and got no work done
DeleteOn a real note Eric and I cut all the way to UFL and up it a but. I stopped just past the giant oak there. Lots of comes up in that spot. I will try and get some treading done soon. Just been in cutting mood last few days.
DeleteA lot of cum up in that spot? What? Is this related to the cheerleaders? I'm confused.
DeleteHa. My bad didn't proof read. Damn autocorrect. The word.was meant to be vines
DeleteJosh and I hit the cutting again today. I put in an hour and Josh was still there when I left - while I was there we had made pretty good progress. He reports that he made it thru the fence (first cut) into LFL (lower fence line for those not paying attention) about 20-30 yards. This stuff is pure flow with only a couple of technical features. Once you hit the last step down in Sub Chunk or whatever the line below Chunk is called it get all flowy. There are a only a few technical features and a couple of them actually have easy lines very distinct from the more challenging line. We have a lot of undulation, but only a couple tiny climbs, it's nice because for the most part after EBD the rest 'feels' downhill.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of that last step down after Chunk, on my way out today I saw a guy come down it and eat it into that berm below it. He was just riding a little above his pay grade I think.
At the current rate we should definitely hit DT by the end of the month! What a milestone that will be to celebrate the 1 Year Anniversary!
HAHA, yeah I hit JC (Josh & Cyrus) coming out of the Chunk today, and if you're not on the top of your game, you can fuck it up in a hurry. Nice feature. I texted Eric this, but my new favorite piece of trail is from berm above mini Vortex to where we have stopped treading. The flow and tech are perfectly balanced with the opportunity to rail some bermage.
ReplyDeleteThat root step at the end caught me offguard today. I like that feature a lot. On the way out I dabbed at STUPID spots. Once at bottom of EBD making a right turn into mini V (no clue) and once right before satellite in the rooty rocky goodness at the entrance (or exit in the case) to/from the Hollows. Typical though.
Gonna put in at least a couple of hours tomorrow. Going to ride and work. Be there at trail head around 930am.
A couple of segment names I'm coining today unless there is a huge problem with it....
Delete1) The climb from ravine drop until Right hand ridge drop = "Testy"...first real test of lungs and legs at same time
2) The rock feature at top of climb just after Snot Rock = "Jammer"......gotta get that just right or it'll jam you up real nice, and the more washed out it gets, the better it becomes.
all i got
I am a definitely a possible, unlikely, maybe for today for a bit of work this afternoon.
ReplyDeleteWeather coming it should be great for the trail a bit more rain expected to start on Monday. Would be a great time to build some berm and cribs.
I'll be out rain or shine Sunday morning and I expect to have us cut up to the beginning of Rawk Garten.
Rain expected to start on Sunday I mean. Out.
ReplyDelete