I Did Some Trail Work Today
- Thread starter Daddy Dirtbag
- Start date
evdog
iMTB Rockstah
Spent quite a bit of time digging last month now that we are getting some rain almost weekly.
First few days out were cleaning drains and digging new ones where the trail was getting cupped out. Then moved onto a couple more projects.
Favorite time of day:
Riders were widening this section by going around the rocks on the left. Why are riders so scared of rocks?? I planted some new ones to keep them in the middle and narrow down the trail.
Cleaning up a rut that had formed where the drain crosses the trail. Last work here was 3 years ago.
This section was had a rut forming. Re-contoured it and installed a drain. It's more subtle than it looks here
Draining an infinity puddle
Next I took on a section on another trail that was turned into an eroded mess where people created their own ride around. This is how you're meant to hit the line:
From above. But people ride around it to the left which became rutted out.
Eroded mess from below. The jump is only about 2ft.
I decided to re-route the b-line with a couple berms and then fill in/cover up the eroded part
In progress:
Took about an hour past dark to finish connecting it and tamp the dirt. Haven't been back to ride it yet but hopefully people like it...
Last year we came across a spot where someone chopped out a cholla cactus on Palm Canyon. There used to be one on either side of the trail which formed a chicane you had to navigate or you'd get tagged. Everyone knows this spot and everyone I talked to was bummed that this was gone. Most people get tagged there once, but then you remember it. Some douche felt it necessary to chop one of them out to straightline the trail. Not an easy chore as the thing would have required a handsaw to cut...it was beefy.
So on our most recent ride we moved some rocks into its former place and added some cholla branches to put a bit of the chicane back. Not as much as an obstacle but I'm sure someone will still remove them. And we'll put them back.
First few days out were cleaning drains and digging new ones where the trail was getting cupped out. Then moved onto a couple more projects.
Favorite time of day:
Riders were widening this section by going around the rocks on the left. Why are riders so scared of rocks?? I planted some new ones to keep them in the middle and narrow down the trail.
Cleaning up a rut that had formed where the drain crosses the trail. Last work here was 3 years ago.
This section was had a rut forming. Re-contoured it and installed a drain. It's more subtle than it looks here
Draining an infinity puddle
Next I took on a section on another trail that was turned into an eroded mess where people created their own ride around. This is how you're meant to hit the line:
From above. But people ride around it to the left which became rutted out.
Eroded mess from below. The jump is only about 2ft.
I decided to re-route the b-line with a couple berms and then fill in/cover up the eroded part
In progress:
Took about an hour past dark to finish connecting it and tamp the dirt. Haven't been back to ride it yet but hopefully people like it...
Last year we came across a spot where someone chopped out a cholla cactus on Palm Canyon. There used to be one on either side of the trail which formed a chicane you had to navigate or you'd get tagged. Everyone knows this spot and everyone I talked to was bummed that this was gone. Most people get tagged there once, but then you remember it. Some douche felt it necessary to chop one of them out to straightline the trail. Not an easy chore as the thing would have required a handsaw to cut...it was beefy.
So on our most recent ride we moved some rocks into its former place and added some cholla branches to put a bit of the chicane back. Not as much as an obstacle but I'm sure someone will still remove them. And we'll put them back.
DangerDirtyD
iMTB Hooligan
Thank you @evdog.
herzalot
iMTB Hooligan
@evdog that's terrific. Your work looks excellent - high quality. Well thought out. On behalf of riders of the region, thank you.
Around here, we have to have official approval to do trail work, which only about 5 people have. Otherwise, we risk tickets for vandalism. That actually makes sense as you do not want every idiot out there building features or sanitizing trails and doing whatever they want to the trails with no training and no regard for the competing interests of safety, fun, erosion, maintainability and multiple user groups.
Around here, we have to have official approval to do trail work, which only about 5 people have. Otherwise, we risk tickets for vandalism. That actually makes sense as you do not want every idiot out there building features or sanitizing trails and doing whatever they want to the trails with no training and no regard for the competing interests of safety, fun, erosion, maintainability and multiple user groups.
Voodoo Tom
MTB Addict
Good read documenting the efforts by some of our own rockstars...
https://mbaction.com/rebuilding-a-classic-trail/
https://mbaction.com/rebuilding-a-classic-trail/
Cyclotourist
iMTB Hooligan
Good read documenting the efforts by some of our own rockstars...
https://mbaction.com/rebuilding-a-classic-trail/
I know some of those friendly faces!
evdog
iMTB Rockstah
More from this weekend. Went out and re-worked some turns that were starting to get rutted. Also moved a seasonal stream off another section of trail and raised the tread up to keep it dry. Really fun digging when the dirt is perfect like this! Also dug some drains on another part of the trail that is nasty clay. That part was not fun....
alexfore
Member
Fixed a drain and joey line on El P. Before rock armour did not extend width of trail and users going to downhill side widening trail and destroying drain.
After: rock armoured whole left rut, built small grade dip, trimmed oak for sightlines. It might be send-able and sustainable
After: rock armoured whole left rut, built small grade dip, trimmed oak for sightlines. It might be send-able and sustainable
Cyclotourist
iMTB Hooligan
Spent an hour and a half down at Herngt 'Aki' Preserve helping to remove some of the devil's weed. Others have already put in about 10 hours of work, but I was able to put some time. The Conservancy is going to try some weevils that eat the plant and lay eggs in the fruit/berries/thorns/caltrops. But until then stoop-work to clear them out!
mountaingirl sara
iMTB Hooligan
Kudos! How’s the back after all that stooping?!
Cyclotourist
iMTB Hooligan
Doing good, luckily!
mountaingirl sara
iMTB Hooligan
Awesome!
SnakeCharmer
iMTB Hooligan
I walked the Catalina Verdugo trail yesterday evening with the wife to clear the trail of overgrowth. Got through about 25% of it which was the section most in need. The bugs were driving us crazy so we called quits at that point.
Luis
iMTB Addict
How long does the blade last? Looks like it would make quick work on tall grass at least
Cyclotourist
iMTB Hooligan
This morning! I didn't do any actual work, because that is hard! But I did shuttle a crew up to the Morton Peak SART so they could brush it and work on some of the ruts prior to the upcoming Hell and Hellacious rides. I've actually been stupid-sick for the last week with a be-atch of of a virus, so no riding, working, or generally being mobile. And believe it or not, Mommy-class Benz' can get dirty... pictures proved it happened:
SnakeCharmer
iMTB Hooligan
I did some trail work today with some Canadians, eh:
@Mikie, @mountaingirl sara, @SS Barby, and @Voodoo Tom.
@Mikie, @mountaingirl sara, @SS Barby, and @Voodoo Tom.
Luis
iMTB Addict
Excellent!
mountaingirl sara
iMTB Hooligan
Those Canadians are awesome
Thanks for driving all the way out Mike! GE is alive and well
mountaingirl sara
iMTB Hooligan
Here are a few more pics!Those Canadians are awesome
Thanks for driving all the way out Mike! Thanks Mikie, Tom and John....our GE is alive and well
Voodoo Tom
MTB Addict
A few more pics. Thanks so much sacrificing a day and helping take back such a great trail @mountaingirl sara @SnakeCharmer & @SS Barby & @Mikie. My brain is still processing the fact that it's a different trail now but truth be told once it's all said and done we will have a blazing fast & fun trail that wont need much maintenance for the next few years.
mountaingirl sara
iMTB Hooligan
mountaingirl sara
iMTB Hooligan
Then I’ll probably see you guys up there!
