MCMBA: Island Lake

[fsr1]

The rangers know we do periodic trail work so hand trimming will be fine. No notification is needed. THANKS!

[fsr1]

I have Wed off I will try to get some. Is the trail going to the J.C Penny parking lot bandit or is this trail part of the ILRA system. I only ask I have started added it to my route, and dont want to ride a bandit trail.

Tough to call this one a bandit trail because it seems to be pretty heavily used, but it is NOT part of the ILRA system.

[slukomski]

Thank you in advance!
Mark D[/quote]
I have Wed off I will try to get some. Is the trail going to the J.C Penny parking lot bandit or is this trail part of the ILRA system. I only ask I have started added it to my route, and dont want to ride a bandit trail.[/quote]



Where does the JC Penny trail enter the ILRA trail? Does it tie into the blue or yellow loop? Any special directions to get to the blue or yellow loops?

[vette-ss]

It puts you right into the blue at about mile 5.9.

[Hermannator]

I once met the landscape designer for the Green Oak Mall (where JC Penny's is) and asked him about the "trailhead" there. His intention was to actually have a trailhead of sorts right there at the kiosk. He just never got the approval from the park for it. But the dog walker, hikers and bikers have definitely finished the job for him.

[BusDriver]

I have Wed off I will try to get some. Is the trail going to the J.C Penny parking lot bandit or is this trail part of the ILRA system. I only ask I have started added it to my route, and dont want to ride a bandit trail.

Tough to call this one a bandit trail because it seems to be pretty heavily used, but it is NOT part of the ILRA system.

Be very careful on this connector, it's a two-way trail and many of us have had some very unpleasant encounters ------> X <------ if you get my drift !

[BusDriver]

Tree down 500 yards past the Placeway picnic area entrance just past the old log step climb on the left (that has been reopened?) on the left short sandy climbing turn. About 8" in diameter. Must dismount to clear. Other than that, the tread is hard and fast and the corridor is getting tight and narrower by the minute!

[fsr1]

Tree down 500 yards past the Placeway picnic area entrance just past the old log step climb on the left (that has been reopened?) on the left short sandy climbing turn. About 8" in diameter. Must dismount to clear. Other than that, the tread is hard and fast and the corridor is getting tight and narrower by the minute!

I must have missed the grand reopening. I'll get that closed back up and the tree(s) removed.

[Loren]

Friends group forming at Island Lake State Recreation Area in Brighton

A Friends of Island Lake State Recreation Area group is in the process of organizing for the charitable and educational purpose of supporting, assisting and promoting interpretive, scientific, historic, educational and related visitor services at Island Lake. An organizational meeting will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 23, at Island Lake’s headquarters building, 12950 East Grand River in Brighton.

Those interested in supporting this valuable tourism resource, meeting new people and having fun should plan to attend. Pre-registration is not required.

[jajones]

Island Lake is getting incredibly grown in and needs brushing bad.

Are there plans for a trimming work day? How is brushing handled there nowadays? The encroachment of growth is as bad as I've seen it in 20 years of riding there. Not only do the "face slappers" create for uncomfortable riding, but the sight lines are also compromised as well. I picture the older lady I see hiking there from time-to-time coming around a grown in corner and getting run down by one of the Super Cool Glossy Kit Kings vying for the ILRA KOM title.

What gives?

[Loren]

I replied in the other thread you started, but the gist is that volunteers are trimming, more trimming is needed, and we need more help.

A couple years ago, we bought enough McLeods and Pulaskis so that each TC could have one available. Maybe we should do that with Power Scythes

[fsr1]

Island Lake is getting incredibly grown in and needs brushing bad.

Are there plans for a trimming work day? How is brushing handled there nowadays? The encroachment of growth is as bad as I've seen it in 20 years of riding there. Not only do the "face slappers" create for uncomfortable riding, but the sight lines are also compromised as well. I picture the older lady I see hiking there from time-to-time coming around a grown in corner and getting run down by one of the Super Cool Glossy Kit Kings vying for the ILRA KOM title.

What gives?

If you scroll up one page you will see that I have asked for help. We have a chapter meeting next week where this will be addressed. As soon as the schools let out ILRA will pick up seasonal employees. Often they help out with the trimming needs. We haven't had too many Springs that encourage such early growth.

I'd also like to implement, possibly a system like you have at Poto adopt-O_trail given the length of the trail system.

Mark D

[jajones]

Thanks, Mark.

I understand it has been a bad spring (for growth). We've had our hands full at Poto as well.

I can send you the trail guide we give to all Poto Segment Adopters if you PM me your email. It is also available as a link under my Poto Segment Adopter post on the Advocacy page.

We've had pretty good success with the program at Poto. I think it would probably work well at ILRA too.

[utabintarbo]

Jumping in, I've been considering doing this for Addison (and possibly other CRAMBA trails) as well. Now I'll have to hunt down that link and actually work on this a bit.

[specialized rider]

I was out there today and cut back some face slapers and cleared a small downed tree. I was the first on the trail today so I think that one may had fallen over night. I only hadtime to do blue.