Josh and I started Mulligan. We cut a new entry line along the cliff that overlooks the golf course. We are using the existing line after the turn around from the new line we cut. We reclaimed and blocked off the beginning if the existing line, hopefully it will "take" and whoever if using the path will take our new line. Visually the new line is pretty cool - pics below. The pics don't due the cliff justice, there is a serious drop - a certain bone breaker.
Well over half of the trail is flagged. We'll be getting more fun out of this section than I expected. There will be a pretty cool ravine slalom and a big, steep and slightly chunk downhill line for the exit (this is likely guarantee this is a one-way trail). Next winter we'll probably add a small loop just east of Mulligan, the thorns and wild blackberries are already too thick to deal with until winter.
I will try to get out there on Friday or Saturday to at least complete the flagging. Sunday, unless I go ride RPR I will work Mulligan for a couple of hours and then again hopefully Mon and Tues.
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| Shows existing beaten path going straight. We reclaimed a few yards of it and created the path to the left. Then we come back on the existing path of go to the right. |
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| Big Penalty for Failure here, but there is plenty of room to ride and a wuss line on the right of this stump |
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| This has been tweaked since this pic. Wider and benched. We'll probably make it even wider, because it will definitely break some bones and cause serious bodily harm to go off the cliff on the left. This Pic doesn't come anywhere near doing justice. |
FYI - there are NO tools at Mulligan. It's a bit too accessible. If you plan to head out on your own, your saw or loppers is all you need for now. There is plenty to be cut - as usual, pay attn to the flagging, there are some spots that are close. Cut to the LEFT of flags.
ReplyDeleteI expect to be out there today around 4 for a couple of hours to complete the flagging and do some cutting.
Mulligan has about 1/4 mile of cutting done so far. We are going to get more mileage out of this little spot that I expected. I am going to reflag a bit next time I am out (probably tomorrow morning) to milk a little more out of it. We could possible get 3/4 mile out of it.
ReplyDeleteIf you look at my walk on Strava you can see how it show that short STRAIGHT line - that should be a swooping turn, down near the end of the green cedar - probably cut short 50-75 yards.
http://app.strava.com/activities/48484597
For anyone planning to work on it - you can move the brush Josh left behind from his cutting and/or work on continuing from my cut spot (my brush was cleared). I'll make sure to firm up the existing flagging to make sure it's obvious and I'll extend the flagging to milk per my statement above. I will probably not flag the final 3rd of the trail until Monday, but no worries it's not likely enough work will be done to reach the end of the flagging.
You are too important to bree brush bitch for yourself. Me I'm just lazy
ReplyDeleteI k-k-keep it real. I'm just Jenny from the block.
DeleteI should get out there tomorrow very briefly, if not I'm considering foregoing TnR to work on Mulligan...but not sure. I need to continue working on my fitness.
Tomorrow - Tuesday April 16th. I am likely going to ride the trails and work on Mulligan a bit. If anyone is interested in either or both and post-whatever beers at The Dig, speak up.
ReplyDeleteI'll probably get there by 5, sooner if possible. I think I'll work on Mulligan for an hour then ride.
Im in. You had me at beer at the Dig
ReplyDeleteThanks Mark and Josh! We made some solid progress yesterday. It's actually worth going off the BCRT to ride this piece now.
ReplyDeleteThe cutting is nasty thick in the dead cedar, but we're almost through that part of it and into easier brush/trees.
We will need a McLeod on it soon. The short fence piece might need it, the ravine will need a bit of McLeoding as will the turn that overlooks the BCRT bridge (runs parallel to the entry trail into Mulligan). The very first sharp turn from the BCRT beaten path that goes up into Mulligan needs to be tuned up to allow a much faster turn - tread work, not reroute should do it -- the beaten path will be reclaimed in the winter and a new entry piece from the BCRT will be added, but that's a long way off.
We might considering stumping a couple of small cedar on a few of the turns to make the turn a bit faster - keep the straights tight like they are though.
It will be Sunday before I can get out there again and that's a maybe, but after the 10K trail run race at Emma Long I might head over.
Josh and I were able to put some work in at Mulligan today. We cut from were ya'll left off up the fence line. Then we dropped into the the ravine. We stumped a few trees to get a clear line.
ReplyDeleteThere is still a bit of cutting left to be completed. Josh hid the the two loppers and the saw near were we finished.
We took some pics but I'm not sure how to post them on here
You have to create a new posting, then you will have an HTML editor and a text editor with various widgets to allow you to attach photos.
DeleteThanks guys. So basically, we make that ravine turn and we have 3 lines and the exit, sweet.
Thanks for the info Eric I'll have to look that up online or try and google it, I'm sure there's a YouTube video out there on how to do it.
ReplyDeleteback in the states and ready to freaking ride again. Feels like it's been forever. I'm expecting to get my ass kicked today out there. I plan on chipping away at Mulligan after at least an out on Deception if I still have some gas.
ReplyDeleteGlad to have you back.
DeleteGlad to be back, kind of. and wow, 2 weeks off the bike is no good. I blew up at the last upper fenceline climb, finished the trail and limped home on avery. lame but a necessary step.
DeleteMike when you mentioned training for popping us like a Pringle can I didn't think your training actually invovled lots of Pringle cans.
ReplyDeleteoh its officially on now. school over and nightriding season. hows that handling coming?
DeleteThis gauntlet throwing should make for some nice video and scars. Count me in to step up my game - airing out EBD and Dare are top on my list as is creating a launch pad at former SK and in a spot in Pre-Plunge (already a launch rock, but needs tweaking). Not to mention elevate my fitness significantly.
DeleteYeah, my hope is my fitness will be GOOD ENOUGH to hold Josh off for a while, then he'll have a kid and I'll be blowing him up Hiroshima style.
DeleteI should say I hope my Fitness + Handling will be GOOD ENOUGH for a while to hold off Josh.
DeleteAnd Eric, with that 40lb bike you have, you could be as fit as you want but physics will still win! haha
All in good fun, but serious at the same time. I got a long way to go though, mostly in my ability to sustain good eating habits. That's where I break down. My fatass has a mind of its own.
My walk out of Mulligan resulted in .4 miles on Strava. When you look at the Strava tracks it's very obvious that they are not real accurate. Trail is too tight and too twisty for the GPS.
ReplyDeleteI have a rough plan on milking a good bit more trail out of Mulligan in the winter - when the black berries are dormant. I'll use the area to the east between existing trail and the creek. We can get a few lines over there and add a new entrance to the Cliff line - the entrance would go up into the tree line running parallel to the current entrance and would undulate a bit along the slope before hooking up with Cliff. The existing entrance would be used later.
That's a long way off and we have plenty to do before then.
should be able to get what little treading needs done in mulligan on monday. I will also pack in the knuckle berm and check out the newest altar berm. btw, im liking that moose knuckle berm, and the altar berm is nice going up. haven't yet hit going down.
ReplyDeleteI had a couple things come up I have to do monday AM but I should still get a good 2.5 hours of work-only time in.
It'll be nice to ride Mulligan with the benching where it needs it and to ride it all the way thru.
DeleteYou planning to cut a line down the last hill to the BCRT and the "up line" too - it'd be a lot cooler if you did ;) We need a 3 point intersection after that big down - a curve to the right to ride Mulligan the other way as soon as you come down...far enough out that a no-berm turn will work. Then an approach FROM the BCRT and of course a straight-ish line down to the BCRT.
Maybe this will make sense: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GbObVVHITFA/UX32j7Csu0I/AAAAAAAAFJ4/9xxN_AQXPj8/w820-h436/mulligandownandout.jpg
Yeah that makes sense. I'm going to head to mooseknuck to get the mcleod and work that berm and the one by Altar. Then I'm going to head over to Mulligan to work it. I should have a solid 3 hours, so I'll get done what I can.
DeleteI'm also going to night ride tonight. Wheels down hopefully at 8:30.
Josh and I are going to ride God's Marbles and Buddha today at 3:30, so I am out for a night ride. You are welcome to join if you can make it.
ReplyDeleteAh that's right.
DeleteWell, I got Mulligan treaded today and worked on the 2 berms Josh did/started at Mooseknuckle and below Altar.
Josh, I tightened the turn on the berm at Mooseknuckle to orient the front wheel a little more left when hitting it. I also reinforced the main spot where people will crash into it with big rocks and a couple of "logs"...I could be totally off on the rework, just to be fair, so I dunno. It might be a work in progress until we get it dialed.
With the other berm below Altar, I rode it before I worked on it and you got that one just right. I just extended it another few feet and it should be good to go.
I did a light bench at the top of Barn and added a quasi-berm on the first right hander just before you cross the existing little piece through the trees.
I got Mulligan treaded. Added a few light benches, cleared some loose rocks, and worked that last left hand turn. It might need a little more work, but I doubt it. If you guys think so, just let me know and I'll get out there and work it again. Doing the exit points and stuff will have to be covert night mission. Far too much exposure to try to do anything with it today. Could easily be taken care of one night, however.
also, I left the mcleod in a tree at the turn at the top of rainy day. some areas on the pre-ravine drop section that need attention.
Deleterode mulligan last night, and it will need alot more wheels and feet on it and perhaps some tree trimming. there is one spot that is questionable on steepness when riding it the opposite direction. we might need to have it swoop a little lower. eric I'm sure you know which part I'm talking about. it's great going "in" but back out it's maybe not sustainable with the type of soil thats there.
DeleteI assume you are talking about the big swoop hard turn. That is the only spot I can imagine. I'd figure a cut bench/bank like the one at Big Ravine would work fine. Just cut it down deep enough. After some rain and wheels Mulligan should pack in very nicely.
Deleteyeah. I was loking at that idea (the deep bench) and I couldn't visualize it working as high up as it would have to be, but believe it or not, I have been wrong before. we can give it a shot.
ReplyDeletehoping to ride today around 330. if not then tonight.
It will work. I might try to work on the final path out tonight...You interested in a night op? It will be sans bike for me...although my roadie can handle the BCRT and I would crush the Strava stats on BCRT and Gulch Hill ;) Working in the roadie kit...hmmm...maybe not.
DeleteWell, I would have been interested in a night op. I rode instead. I think the other part of the challenge is that the dip at the bottom of that swoop...when you're headed back out it side loads the rear wheel so much so that it kills speed. I could see tubed riders even pinch flatting on it. I'm going to do some work on that dip to make it a bit more speed friendly. On another note, that one steppy-rock spot on the same sequence of swooshy trail got me on the way out of Mulligan. Speed is definitely your friend on that one.
DeleteSaw a couple people out nightriding along the ridge while I was at the lookout. They were carrying good speed through the darkness, too.
I'll be out tomorrow night, but perhaps I could pull a night op if necessary on Thursday night. I'd have to at least get a couple Barn - Picnic sequences while I'm out there.
When you, me and Pinky Swear JD rode the other night, even in the loose and dark I made said swoop and turn with NP and you are a better ride than me. I think you're over analyzing it. That rocky, steppy bit is fun, ain't it!?
DeleteI suspect that Josh will do it as a weekday op. No one cares anyway. TBH, it could pretty much be walked in, but tamping with McLeod would do it golden. Ripping up/cutting the blackberries would be ideal, but I PITA.
I am going RIDE Fri, Sun and next Tues and THEN get back into the groove and start on Gnarl's Barkley. We should coordinate a scouting party.
Yeah, maybe so. Maybe I should just hit it during the freaking day to find the best line. But yeah, a nice bench up top would be nice for that piece.
DeleteWhen and where are you riding Friday and Sunday?
Yeah, I'm getting kinda ready to start the next phase myself. Mulligan is all but done, and yeah Josh will probably just knock it out if we drag our feet long enough. Thanks, Josh! haha
Not riding tonight, but I'll be back at it Thursday afternoon or night. Then i'll be looking to ride Friday, and Sunday, Monday as well.
I forgot to add:
DeleteFor the first time, last night, I elected to take Truth. "Truth was" that I was riding with no gloves and kinda tired, so it was too easy to envision my hands slipping off the bars popping off that middle rock (when it counts most), and after JD's incident the other night, I elected against pride and took Truth. Irony is, I dabbed on that line. It's kinda tricky if you're not used to hitting it.
As another note, Eric, your line up The Cradle is SO much better. Up and over that rock and the next rock is the way to go. I actually carried speed through that mess last night.
Trail seems to be holding up very well. A couple of spots here and there I'd like to see improved, but honestly, just not in the mood to do it....so as long as it's rideable.
As far as the scouting party....I'm down for whenever. I would say Monday, but I got a friend coming out Monday to check out the trail...I would propose next weekend some time. I think I'm pretty open, but let's set a firm time.
Friday I usually pick something quick and convenient for riding after work. I'll either wind up doing Nut or maybe Ken's or dare I say...Thumper.
DeleteGoing head out this morning for a ride. I'll swing by mulligan and do some McLeod work.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I think the McLeod is way over at Rainy Day (after Snaggle Rock (rock over between 2 tree before couple of downhill turns.
Deleteyeah I was going to leave it at mulligan but I got the impression from an earlier post that it might be too exposed to leave it there.
Deleteplanning on working trail today if it's raining (but not raining too hard) not sure what I'm going to do yet. about 4 pm
DeleteWell, did a different approach to the ride with limited time. Rode Avery Ranch and dropped in at Satellite, took Deception back out and hit Picnic. There were about 3 cows at the base of the Basket when I rolled up on it, but they scattered as I rode down. I readdressed the log and made it where it's a challenge but not a ring buster if you finesse it.
ReplyDeleteNow, about the exit of Mulligan. WOW, that was fucking...awesome! I moved the rock/log thing that was blocking the trail and rolled down it. True, it's not all technical and hard to ride, but it's a man-sized downhill finish that cannot be lazy-armed. You gotta ride that shit or fly into one of the trees at the bottom. I love it. I hit Mulligan 3 times and didn't want to leave. Eric, with your blessing, I would like to eliminate about 3 trees (bar grabbers and line alterers) and I need to do some more work with the bench in a couple of spots. The tree removal will not eliminate the spirit of your signature style, however.
And Josh, with your blessing, on Monday morning I'll hit that berm on Picnic and address a couple of spots that need full-on benching (mostly on that same stretch after the berm).
My hat is off to you guys. I could do hot laps all day on Barn Picnic, and Mulligan and not get tired of it. *applause*
Forgot to add (and it might seem obvious) but when you're coming back out of Deception and you go straight through that tree grouping (that Barn goes through), once you get through it you can just slant right up the rocks and converge with that existing piece coming up from the hike n bike (to the top of Barn again); it really doesn't even need treading. Much easier than going to the existing singletrack up, having to gear down, and lose momentum.
DeleteMike. You don't need my blessing jigga. I went out to work on berm other day there in picnic but forgot to grab a McLeod. So I just grabbed a few things and stacked them but it wasn't fitting right and I wasn't gonna devote more time that day to something I couldn't finish.
DeleteNow by cows do you mean literally or just BCRT cows?
I have literally seen the cows on Picnic, they come from across the creek near the RR tressel.
Deletealthough the image of 3 or 4 hefty chicks scattering through the tall grass is pretty comical. but yeah, actual cows
DeleteMike, we chatted about this, but to make it "official"...feel free to remove the trees in Mulligan. I bet they are some of the same ones I considered removing, just didn't get to it. After my last ride on M I honestly could not remember which ones they were, but night rides usually make for more precise handling.
ReplyDeleteI have one McLeod and one folding saw which I'll be dropping off at the TBD main tool stash. I will not put the location of the main tool stash on the blog, there are a lot of followers that do not build. Nothing against anyone, but the new trail head will be hidden until we make some significant progress on the next phase. Please make sure I have your email addresses - Jesse, Jeremy and Mark - eric.rugger at G
Reasons for the covertness: Frankly, short cutters/free-riders are pissing me off. Too many people don't have enough common sense or respect to turn around when the flagging or cutting ends - they plow through or shortcut. This creates a problem with establishing the tread and corridor. Someone "helped" with cutting on Mulligan and it actually made more work for me - they cut on both sides of the flags, creating an extra corridor that I had to patch. Finally, I want us to get back to building it right the first time, taking our time when we need too and not feel rushed or pressured to let people ride. There are 8 miles of our sweet singletrack to ride - that should keep peeps happy for a while.
Mike and I are planning to ride in and work near DT on Sunday. If you are able to help, please text me and email me so I can send you the location of the trailhead and access to work site. Since we're riding in and need some time to scout and flag, 10am Sunday would be a good time to be there.
I am really excited about getting started on this next BIG phase!