Mid-State: Ella Sharp

[jake]

It took one other tree with it. They both feel in the same direction so it covered a pretty good area.

[jake]

Cleared the entire North trail this morning. Should be really easy to follow right now. Blocked a few of the other intersections to help with the trail flow. I am sure they will get moved, but if you are out there soon and have never ridden it the way it actually goes now is the time.

Hoping to do a little more tomorrow morning.

[Laser4G63]

North trail looked great! I was wondering who was clearing the trails and downed trees.

[jake]

I am hoping to get out in the morning I plan to try to clear Schoolhouse tomorrow. It looks like I have a few people rounded up for Sunday's clean up as well so hopefully the whole park will be done this week.

[xcrdr]

Thanks for the tour Jake. I really liked the trails that we rode. I think ESP has some of the best terrain in the mid state area and some challenging sections. As much as I would like to help on sunday I will be in prison. Thank you to all the people working on the trail.

[TenSpeed]

As much as I would like to help on sunday I will be in prison. Thank you to all the people working on the trail.

Those who know you won't think that this is strange.

[Laser4G63]

There is some tree parts and such on the 2nd bridge on the north trail. The bridge did sustain some damage. Other than that, and the fact that they are kinda greasy, the trails aren't in too bad of shape. Must not have gotten that hail storm.

[Laser4G63]

Bridge on the 1-2 trails is missing yet again.

[jake]

The one that covers the washed out area??

[Laser4G63]

That's the one. This happened once before.

[jake]

My guess is it is the idiot who claims to be taking care of the trails. Instead, he has spent most of his time cutting new trail that isn't even close to being sustainable. Meanwhile everything else continues to be over grown. I cleared and trimmed four of the trails myself and they already need major trimming again. We really need people to just take it upon themselves and get out there and help out.

[Laser4G63]

Why would he remove the bridge? I thought it would be kids (hoodlums, ruffians) since school is now out and they have nothing better to do. But that's the old fart in me that thinks that.

I can get in there and help with the trails, problem is I don't have any tools. I have a machete, but that would really only take care of the face slappers. How about a trail day? My guess is there probably won't be a huge turnout, but I know I will be there. Least I can do since I ride them a lot.

[jake]

I am not scheduling a trail day, not one person showed up to the last one.

The guy who supposedly use to take care of the trails for CCC moved to North Carolina ( I wonder what happened to the trimmer the park paid part of to keep the trails clear, but that is another topic entirely). So this other guy who I have dealt with before with the park meetings and rides in general doesn't even really mountain bike. He has know clue how to cut trail yet he has been out there randomly cutting new paths all over the place. None of which even come close to flowing with the trail. I see this as a complete waste of time.

The first things that should be done:
1. Maintain the current trail
2. Sign the trail
3. Maintain the current trail....
4. And then maybe once all of the above has been achieved look at cutting new trail, but only then to improve upon the unstable stuff that currently exsists.

As for tools you can pick up some lopers fairly inexpensively. I have purchased all of my trail tools on my own. I have even used my personal lawn mower to trim some of the trails before. It's *beep* on the blade, but it works.

[Laser4G63]

There was a trail day scheduled already? This I did not know. Though, I have been extremely busy with school, so I may not have noticed.

So far, the only trail that I have seen cut is the one on the 3-4, near where the down tree hangs over the trail.

[Laser4G63]

Someone was on the golf trail with a hedge trimmer cutting back the weeds.