Skills Loop Progress

There was major progress on the skills loop today.   The work included:

A series of rock step ups (or drop downs going the other way).  These progress from just a few inches to about 22 inches in height.   There are multiple lines.  There are 3 distinct points of steps with each point having at least two different lines.  Between the second and third point there is a 18 inch drop off of a ledge as well.

This is the second point step up.   

This is the second point closer up.  

The third point is taller, but has 3 distinct lines.

The second project for the day was a simple skinny with low risk.   1' off the ground.   24 feet long.   8 inches wide.  

Simple, straight forward skinny with a little risk involved.

After you clear the third rock step up you have a short recovery and then come to this. 

The third project for the day was somewhat unplanned.   After the bobcat work for the rock step ups, we were left with some big piles of dirt.   We built a series of dirt rollers (think large rollers on a pump track).   These occur just after the railroad ties.   The dirt rollers are on about a 12' distance apart from one another (measured from the high point on the pile).   They are of varying heights, but reach over two feet tall (close to 3 feet in some instances).  

The dirt rollers will undoubtedly need some refinement, we need to see how they ride and then adjust them, but should evolve into a fun feature.   I was too tired to snap a photo.

First skills structure

 Setting the posts

 Stringers going on

The last section gets skinny!

 Clay and Cliff surveying the work

The exits going on, progressively skinnier

The work crew (missing Justin who had to split)

New Map

Trail change

There is a significant reroute to be aware of at Stocksdale.   We will put out a new map at some point, but I will describe it here, you can reference the map to the right. 


On the current map you will note at marker #5 there is a longer option and a shorter option that rejoin at marker #6.   


Today we completed a project that removes the intersections at #5 and #6 (the markers have been removed).   The short route is now incorporated into the main trail.


This accomplished two goals, to lengthen the main trail and to remove the intersections.    We also remove some trail that was eroding a bit.   

Yeah, it has been a while.

Well, I finally have gotten around to getting a new map out. This map includes the completed new loop that was an out and back last riding season. Of course, we have been done with the loop for a while, but with an injury, work and other stuff I haven't gotten around to getting the new map posted. Thanks, as always, to Neale Shour for the map work.

Note: The markers #17-21 have not been placed in the field, but we wanted to get the map done. The markers should be placed in September.

Also, watch for the field loop to be improved. We have some new equipment that will allow a uniform spraying of the field that will give a nice wide trail to prevent rutting from grass roots.

Update on the Out-n-back

Thought I should update the blog a bit. I have been slacking on keeping this up to date.

There has been a lot of trail work getting done this fall. The weather is good and we have had a lot of people stepping up and helping out. Most of the work has been on the out-n-back trail that we didn't finish last year due to the bad winter. Here are a few photos of some of the features on this section of trail. This trail is consistent with much of SWW, twisty singletrack with some technical features. The trail will have some longer stretches of open trail with more flow before it is finished.

Elevated walkway over a soggy area. Thanks to Ron Bodine (pictured)

and Buzz Taylor.

A nice example of vertical armoring, a sustainable trail practice.

Can't remember everyone that worked on this, but I know Tim King and

Clay Lozier worked pretty hard on it. Thanks guys.

Clay's favorite tree. Easy to ride under and looks pretty cool on a night ride.

A nice stretch of benchcutting on a neat little section of trail.

Skinny

Nature happened to give us a big solid tree across the trail, so we thought we better do something with it! Clay, Neil, Buzz and I finally got it finished.

This is a rock run-up on one side. The rocks aren't

as big as this photo would make them seem.

There is a dirt run-up on the other side.

Making the first few cuts.

"No, really honey, I am out in the woods doing trail work."

Continuing Improvements

Thanks to John, Steve and Kevin today we had some significant maintenance done to the trails. The city was kind enough to deliver some gravel and we got it moved into some of the soggy areas. We also did a little bit of armoring, some chainsaw work and flagged a couple reroutes.

It is great to have young, strong guys show up to help!

Just a little bit of armoring for a wet spot.

The guys willing to spend a "day off" earning their dirt!

The dingo is a great way to move gravel. It beats a shovel

and wheelbarrow hands down.

Second Try

Having trouble with link to new map, so I will upload it here for easy downloads.

New Map!

Once again, thanks to Neale Shour for being our "map guy". At the right you will find the latest map for SWW. This map includes the new section of trail. This is currently an out-n-back, with the loop to be finished in the spring of 2011 (provided we have a better build year).

Although it is a bit of pain to ride an out-n-back, this new section is pretty nice stuff and needs ridden! There are a few things to tweak on it, but it largely finished until you come to the pile of deadfall that marks the turn around. Oh, and we conveniently put that at the bottom of a hill so you get to climb back.