Poto: Rolling Hills Park

[michael48197]

Progress, progress, progress. Check out the map below and this link (http://picasaweb.google.com/BikeHewensC ... TrailDays#) for the current trail status. We had a good crew of nine out to RHP for the workday this past Saturday. We were able to trim up the starting sections which we started three months ago (!!), complete a nice log pile with ride-around, mow some thick field sections with the new mower (see orange on the map) and, most excitingly, create a 'Hard Way' up, through and around 'The Crater'. We also placed a 'Temporary Start' sign off the gravel road (right side of the map below) and a 'Temporary End' sign (at the end of the blue section on the map). I rode the trail yesterday which now comes out to 1.25 miles to the 'Temporary End'. When linked up with the mowed park paths, the trail makes a challenging 1.6-1.7 mile loop. Bring your bike out, give the trail a try and send me your feedback. I'm sure there are sections that need some modification or improvement, but we need riders' input to make the correct changes.

As you can see on the map, we still need to link up the mowed fields (orange sections) through some dense, hilly woods to reach ~2 miles. There's still a lot of work to do to finish Phase 1 this year to ~3.5 miles. We plan to continue Trail Work Tuesdays at 6 PM for the next month or so until the evening light fails us. Also, look for a notice for a September trial work Saturday by the end of the week.

Michael Connolly
RHP Trail Coordinator

[michael48197]

We had a good turnout of help for Trail Work Tuesday last night including Steve Wyatt - RHP Supervisor! We completed the next 'island' of woods between the mowed park paths (pink on the map). Doing so now allows riders to connect to parts of the 'orange' sections we cleared last weekend, increasing the total trail length to ~1.4 miles or a ~2.1 mile loop with the mowed park paths (black on the map). While the newest section is rideable, we still need to run the mower over a grassy section and do some bench-cutting for sustainability. To complete the current loop, turn left onto the mowed park path at the end of the 'pink' section, then immediately left through a mowed section of goldenrod, follow the mowed path ~50 yards to a 4-way junction and then left into the woods around a large log to complete the last 'orange' section. After reaching the mowed path again, take a left and follow the mowed path (black) and gravel road around the perimeter back to the start along the gravel road (start of the 'green' section). If you come out to RHP to give it a try, be prepared for some good hill work especially on the 'pink' section we completed last night!! And if you think that's hilly, wait until we get to the next 'yellow' section down into the 'ravine'!!

Michael Connolly
RHP Trail Coordinator
734-528-1496
mconnolly62@yahoo.com

[michael48197]

In our on-going effort to finish Phase 1 (~4 miles) of the new RHP trail this year, we will be having another trail work day on Saturday 9/12 from 9 AM to 1 PM. Much progress was made on the last Sat. work day on 8/29 and recent Trail Work Tuesdays, but much work remains. The next section that we will build is hilly and challenging as the trail will pass downhill towards the pond and back up towards the rear gate of RHP. Once done the single track portion of the park should be almost 2 miles and a nearly 3 mile loop with the mowed park paths.

Come on out and volunteer at RHP on Saturday 9/12.

-Coffee, donuts and bagels provided
-Free entrance to Rolling Hills Park for trail workers (give name and purpose of visit at park gate)
-Pizza lunch & AA Brewing beer
-Meet in central parking area near Park HQ at 9 AM
-Wear long pants, long sleeves and work shoes
-Bring pruners, shovels & rakes, however, most tools provided
-Please RSVP to Michael Connolly at 734-528-1496 (mconnolly62@yahoo.com) or Norm Roller at 734-474-2662 (normroller@comcast.net)

Michael Connolly
RHP Trail Coordinator

[michael48197]

We had a VERY successful trail work day out at Rolling Hills Park this past Saturday with 10 eager workers and perfect weather. The work team even included two guys from Toledo seeking experience and guidance on building trials of their own on OH! Thanks to all who participated and to Tree Fort Bikes for the pizza and AA Brewing for the cold beer!

The group was big enough to break into three work teams which linked up one new downhill and two new uphill trail sections in the 'ravine' to the 'orange' sections completed on the 8/29 work day (see the cobalt blue line on the attached map). The trail now reaches the back walk-in gate of RHP along Bemis Road and is 1.7-1.8 miles of challenging single track. When linked with the mowed park paths, a loop back to the trail start should be 2.4-2.5 miles. Check out this link for work day photos (http://picasaweb.google.com/BikeHewensC ... ills12Sep#).

Trail Work Tuesday this week (9/15) will follow up on the Sat. work day. This week's goals will be to clean up a section of the new "ravine" trail and to begin extending the trail to the west along the southern fenceline.

Come on out and ride RHP. The trail bed needs to be riden in and we are eager for feedback on the layout and potential for improvements. Look for an Email in a week or so planning the next trail work day in early October.

Michael Connolly
Rolling Hills Trail Coordinator
734-528-1496
mconnolly62@yahoo.com

[cbur1650]

The trail is very fun to ride-Sunday afternoon after all the new trailwork.
It does need to be firmed up. I crashed on a soft turn.
Get out and ride it and help make some more.

Chris

[michael48197]

I spent about 3.5 hours doing some 'detail' work this morning. After riding the trail numerous times in recent weeks, I have noted several places that needed modifications. I flattened out some bumps with bench cuts on the little grassy knoll at ~0.75 miles and re-aligned a corner at ~1.0 mile in the glade after the crater and another at ~1.2 miles at the end of the first 'island' of woods after the crater. I aslo mowed the uphill section on the second 'island' of woods at ~1.3 miles and started on the bench cutting work on the first 'island'. There is still quite a lot of bench cutting needed on this island for safety reasons (very off-camber with trees waiting for the unaware) and on the second 'island' for sustainability.

The evenings are waning fast this time of year. There are only a few Trail Work Tuesdays left. This week our TWT goal at RHP will be to continue extending the trail west along the south fence line and, with a large turnout, reach the next trail crossing.

Pencil in 10/3 on your calendar for the next Saturday work day at RHP. Confirmation in a few days.

Michael Connolly
RHP Trail Coordinator

[michael48197]

A small crew of three of us worked on Trail Work Tuesday to clean up some areas of RHP. We finished the bench cutting of the very off-camber section starting the downhill run on the first 'island' after the crater to prevent someone from eating a tree and bench-cut the area at the bottom of the hill on the second 'island' to limit erosion. We also hacked out ~100' of new trail through the dense underbrush along the south fenceline of the park. A bit more work will clear out the dense brush and then it's easier going under the forest canopy.

The next RHP trail day is now scheduled for Saturday 10/17 at 9 AM. In the interim, we will continue Trail Work Tuesday activities at 6PM each week although the light is fading faster every week...maybe only 3-4 more TWT's left. I'll also likely be out at RHP most Saturday mornings from 9 AM until Noon or so. Usually, I should have enough trail equipment to keep all participants occupied. There's A LOT of trail still to build at RHP so feel free to come out and join me. Please send a RSVP if you plan to come out in case of weather issues or late arrival.

Michael Connolly
RHP Trail Coordinator
734-528-1496
mconnolly62@yahoo.com

[michael48197]

The push westward continues!! Norm Roller and I spent about 3 hours on Saturday 9/26 hacking our way through some heavy undergrowth, grape vines and dense saplings to add ~100 yards to the trail along Bemis Road on the south side of RHP. We left a downed log that will make a great log pile of 20" or so, but we didn't have enough other timber to complete the pile. We made a smaller ride over to the right of the main log for now.

We'll continue working this section on Trail Work Tuesday this week. After clearing a dozen or so saplings with the root wrench on TWT, we'll be able to open up this section of ~0.2 miles and use one of the disc golf access paths as a return to the mowed park paths. The following trail section starts on a plateau, but quickly transitions to a series of technical switchbacks as the train heads down a steep hill to the next grass path in the southwest corner of RHP. Some of the switchbacks will likely need to be well engineered to prevent errosion. See the attached map for our current progress.

If you are willing and able to help, come out to Trail Work Tuesday each week and to our 'ad hoc' work days on Saturday mornings (9-Noon). Remember that our next 'official' RHP trail day is Saturday 10/17. Hope to see you out there.

Michael Connolly
RHP Trail Coordinator

[michael48197]

Bob Hollen and I worked for ~1.5 hours on TWT on 9/29 to clean out some saplings and under brush. We were able to complete the section and open it up for riding. Pacing it off, the section adds ~200 yards to the trail. We moved the Temporary End sign to the end of the trail at the disc golf path.

I'll aim to get out to RHP this weekend to get an 'official' measurement of the single track length and add a few directional signs. I was originally planning on Sat. 10/3 morning, but with the poor weather forecast and a family obligation that came up I'll probably do some work and riding at RHP on Sunday morning 10/4 9 AM to Noonish.

Michael Connolly
RHP Trail Coordinator

[michael48197]

I worked for ~5 hours on Sunday morning on the next section heading downhill through some switchbacks between disc golf holes. It's definitely nicer out there without the bugs and heat!! I didn't open the first 15 feet so that we wouldn't have to block off a partially completed trail. I cleared the first 3 switchbacks pretty thoroughly (about 75 yards of the 200 yard section) and rough cut the remainder. If a team can get to RHP on Trailwork Tuesday, they can 'groom' the areas I completed and start the detail cutting along the rest of the section. We'll probably have to do some bench-cutting on these switchbacks as the hill falls away pretty sharply where the trail traverses some areas, but that work can be left until a bigger crew is available.

Unfortunately, I'll be out of town for work this Tuesday and next so won't be able to participate in TWT. I'm also tied up this weekend with family obligations so won't be out at RHP on Sat. or Sun. Contact me or Bob Hollen (bhollen666@att.net) if you can help out in my absence and I'll arrange to get you some tools.

Remember there is a trail day on Saturday 10/17 from 9 AM to 1 PM. Hopefully, with a good crew, we will complete this switchback section, move through to the southwest corner of RHP and begin the turn north along the west fence line. Hope to see you on 10/17.

Michael Connolly
RHP Trail Coordinator
mconnolly62@yahoo.com
734-528-1496

[michael48197]

A small team was out at RHP for perhaps the last Trail Work Tuesday of the season this week. They were able to complete most of the downhill switchback section to lead the single track into the soutwest corner of RHP (see map). We will do a bit of benchcutting on this section on the upcoming work day this Saturday and then should be able to open this technical section to riders. With a good crew on Sat., we should be able to make significant progress and turn the trail northwards along the west fence line.

Hope to see you out at RHP on Saturday 10/17.

Michael Connolly
RHP Trail Coordinator

[michael48197]

The trail work day at Rolling Hills Park on Saturday 10/17 was immensely successful. We had 11 eager workers and wonderful crisp, cool fall weather. The work team included regular RHP and Poto chapter volunteers as well as many new faces. Thanks to all who participated and to Tree Fort Bikes for the pizza and soda!

We started at the bottom of the switchback section in the SW corner of RHP, crossed a grass park path and began the long run up the west side of the park. We cut trail through some new growth forest, a short low lying section, across a nice meadow and back to the grass park path. The 'Temporary End' sign was moved to this point, opening up ~600 yards of new single track including the fun and challenging switchbacks. Thanks to Steve Wyatt - RHP Supervisor - for bringing out the wide deck mower to cut the grass in the meadow. The switchbacks still need some bench cutting to be sustainable, but we decided to press on with new trail so we'll get back to the detail work on the switchbacks after the trail is completed. Before we quit for the day, the team also started the next loop, but only completed ~1/2 so we blocked off the opening to keep riders out of the dead end (see purple and orange sections on attached map).

Come on out and ride RHP. The trail bed needs to be ridden in and we are eager for feedback on the layout and potential for improvements. There is now 2.5+ miles of single track out at RHP leading to a 3.0 to 3.5 mile loop depending on how a rider returns to the Temporary Start.

With the evenings shortening and the clock about to change, Trailwork Tuesdays are over for 2009. Look for an Email in about two weeks planning the next and probably last official trail work day at RHP in mid-November. In the interim, I'll probably be out at RHP for an 'ad hoc' workday at least one morning each weekend (usually Sat. depending on the weather). Give me a call or send an Email if you are interested in helping and have the time to join me.

Michael Connolly
Rolling Hills Trail Coordinator
734-528-1496
mconnolly62@yahoo.com

[michael48197]

Norm Roller and Fred Coontz have been beavering away over the past two weeks and have now extended the single track at RHP another 5-600 yards (?) after the 'orange' section from the last trail day (see map attached). GREAT WORK!!! According to Norm, these sections (dark pink and light blue) still need some grooming, but they are rideable. I estimate that there should now be ~3 miles of single track.

I plan to work out at RHP tomorrow (Sat. 10/31) and perhaps Sunday AM too for 3-5 hours staring at 9 AM. I'll also be bringing my bike for an 'after work' trail ride and 'official' trail length measurement. Come out to join me if you can.

Tentatively, we hope to finish work along the west fence line and, hopefully, the first section near the central parking lot before Thanksgiving. If so, there may be a Poto group ride to inaugurate the RHP trail on Black Friday, the day after T-Day. Combining Hewens Creek and RHP, riders should have a nearly 10 mile loop!! Bill Mayer is coordinating the group ride to perhaps include Morton-Taylor on Sat. 11/28. More info in a week or two. To reach this goal, I'm tentatively planning another trail workday for Sat. 11/14 and maybe 11/21 as well. Look for an announcement by the end of Halloween weekend.

Michael Connolly
RHP Trail Coordinator
734-528-1496
mconnolly62@yahoo.com

[michael48197]

The weather cooperated and we made some good progress through some dense underbrush. We are now at the west fence line about half way up the west side. See the 'lilac' section on the updated map. Only four sections remain: this west fence loop, the final tree/meadow combination and the start and a short loop on the bluff over the pond we bypassed earlier.

I also had a chance to ride the entire trail cut in to date. The 'official' distance is 2.5 miles as of 10/30 with a complete loop on the park paths at ~3.4 miles. With all our work his summer and fall, I had hoped for more. However, it's quite a hard 2.5 miles considering the undulating terrain and the VERY soft soil, making the newest section quite a slog.

I'll be out at RHP on Sat. AM. to delve into the next sections. Come on out to help if you can.

Michael Connolly
RHP Trail Coordinator

[michael48197]

The weather is looking promising for the RHP work day Saturday morning. Come on out to Rolling Hills Park in Ypsilanti Township (off Stony Creek Road) to help us finish Phase I of the trail in time for a Poto Chapter trail inauguration ride on Thanksgiving weekend. Coffee and breakfast snacks as well as lunch (and Arbor Brewing beer) will be provided. Please RSVP if possible so we know how many people will be participating to plan the work day and food quantities. See the image below for details. Contact me with any questions.

Hope to see you out at RHP.

Michael Connolly
RHP Trail Coordinator
734-528-1496
mconnolly62@yahoo.com