Trail Work passion

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10-08-2005, 06:38 PM
Irulan

Trail Work passion

We had a great crew show up today, and conditions were perfect to cut a lot of tread on the new trail. We probably have one more day left on this 1000' section of trail. We have been waiting and waiting for rain to continue the work on our new trail. Throwing shovels of floury Mt St Helens ash wasn't getting us anywhere. The trail work gods heard our pleas and we had several days of downpour and then sun, which made conditions for today's work perfect.

Today instead of working on the section that runs through the basalt scree,
we were cutting trail tread, and moving the occasional rock. The soil was
perfect. Several of us have gone out and bought the correct tools so we
were more well prepared than usual. I'm the proud owner of a 2.5#
pickax/mattock with a fiberglass handle. I don't think I am coordinated
enough to handle the ax portion of a pulaski.

First work day where I haven't been the sole female. :D

Here's some guys doing manly things like prying out really big rocks that are in the wrong place:

http://www.fttrc.org/photos/rs/devils/IMG_3105sm.jpg

we moved a lot of rock to get the climbing turn built

http://www.fttrc.org/photos/rs/devils/IMG_3110sm.jpg

it was foggy, no sun :(

http://www.fttrc.org/photos/rs/devils/IMG_3114sm.jpg

here's before today
http://www.fttrc.org/photos/rs/devils/devilsdown3.jpg

here's after, club member testing for flow
http://www.fttrc.org/photos/rs/devils/IMG_3115sm.jpg

hats off to the crew. AWESOME JOB
http://www.fttrc.org/photos/rs/devils/IMG_3116sm.jpg

more about the project:
http://www.fttrc.org/photos/rs/devils/devilsdown.cfm

Fat Tire Trail Riders, Spokane
10-08-2005, 11:57 PM
crazycanuck

the trail

Hello I,

That looks like one cool place to ride...Are there alot of stumps and roots to ride over now that it's done?

How many km's is it????

Anywho...looks like a great trail to me..! Different from the fire roads we ride on here..

c
10-09-2005, 03:33 AM
Nanci

1 Attachment(s)

We've Got It Easy Here

This is what trail building looks like here in Florida: http://www.sanfelasco.net/
10-09-2005, 04:42 AM
doctorfrau

Nice Job Irulan!
10-09-2005, 05:11 AM
Veronica

Thanks for sharing Irulan. Nice pics too. :)

V.
10-09-2005, 07:21 AM
DirtDiva

It's all too easy to just ride the trails and not give a thought as to how much effort goes into building and maintaining them, but where would the likes of me be without the likes of you? Nice work!
10-09-2005, 06:07 PM
Irulan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nanci

This is what trail building looks like here in Florida: http://www.sanfelasco.net/

a lawnmower.....that's pretty funny.
10-09-2005, 06:14 PM
Irulan

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazycanuck

Hello I,

That looks like one cool place to ride...Are there alot of stumps and roots to ride over now that it's done?

How many km's is it????

Anywho...looks like a great trail to me..! Different from the fire roads we ride on here..

c

no, no real stumps or roots; the trees are shallow rooted and when they do go over they just leave a crater. This area is known for it's non technical trails that just thread through the forest.

This particular trai is an "alternate route". The line that has been there forever is ?? feet of a fall line descent that has no redeeming technical qualities - just loose rocks, big roots and an erosion gully. During the yearly XC races, they've backboarded at least two people off with shattered pelvises. It's too steep to ride up, too, hike a bike if you are going the other way. That line is still there for anyone that really wants to ride it, but now there is a new option. This alternate route is about 1000' long (300M) The guys were going to measure it yesterday to see exactly how long it is!

here are some other images from that area

http://www.fttrc.org/photos/rs/IMG_0113.jpg

http://www.fttrc.org/photos/rs/IMG_0111sm.jpg

and this is what we want the upper portion to look like when we are done with it; this was built by the CCC years ago

http://www.fttrc.org/photos/rs/crossingbasalt.jpg
10-09-2005, 06:14 PM
Irulan

I find trail work to be very, very rewarding.

~Irulan
10-09-2005, 10:59 PM
Jo-n-NY

How great to see a trail in the making and I can only imagine how rewarding it is. The pics were great. Thanks so much for sharing.

JoAnn
10-10-2005, 06:39 AM
bouncybouncy

Irulan...that is great! Love Pics!!!! pic are always good, right girls!!!

Nanci...that is hillarious!!!! I am down here in SoFla and if you saw Markham Park you would have a different idea of FL mtbing...It has even made the cover of MTB magazine!!! just shows you how diverse one state can be (I am originally from CA and it was that way there too) If you ever find your way down south bring your MTBike...we have some GREAT trails to offer!!! Everyone is surprised what you can find in the deepness of a mangrove forest...hehe
10-10-2005, 08:01 AM
SadieKate

Grat job, Irulan, and kudos to the crew. Especially rewarding to ride trail you've worked yourself.