Dirt Jumps at Burchfield

[dauber76]

I agree, we definitely could route the trail through these mounds already, I think with a couple of hours of work they could be rollable. Any jumps would take longer to build, but we could have a fun rollable section happening quite quickly. Oh, and we'd have to clear trail into and then out of them to connect with the current trail, but I don't think that would be more than another couple of hours of work either. I'm not going to volunteer for this, though, given that I want to focus my efforts on my current stunt. I'm just sayin

I agree with this completely. I too do not wish to do any work on it, but I don't think it would take others very much time to complete. I wonder what they are waiting for?!?

There are plenty of people to do the work, but they don't want to deal with all the red tape and bureaucracy.

[rvd]

I agree, we definitely could route the trail through these mounds already, I think with a couple of hours of work they could be rollable. Any jumps would take longer to build, but we could have a fun rollable section happening quite quickly. Oh, and we'd have to clear trail into and then out of them to connect with the current trail, but I don't think that would be more than another couple of hours of work either. I'm not going to volunteer for this, though, given that I want to focus my efforts on my current stunt. I'm just sayin

I agree with this completely. I too do not wish to do any work on it, but I don't think it would take others very much time to complete. I wonder what they are waiting for?!?

There are plenty of people to do the work, but they don't want to deal with all the red tape and bureaucracy.

That is disappointing. It looks like one could just walk in with a shovel, and get this going.

[dauber76]

Yep, that is the level of red tape and bureaucracy.

If you let Jeff know what your plans are, you can walk in with a shovel and start digging. I wish it could be easier than that, but unfortunately that is too difficult for some people.

[mjpo]

Allegedly there is 2 locations for dirt jumps at Burchfield. The first as described by Reid above. The second is a little trickier. If you look at the Crayola map of Burchfield, all the way to the south (left of map) near McNamara between the word "Columbia" and "new" is a section in the woods that has piles of earth for dirt jumps. They are pretty overgrown and look like they have been sitting there for a few years untouched. I only know about this because Reid showed me.

Check with mjpo for official details.

Jose was building those jumps by hand. However, he was told there would be a Bobcat come in and do some of the heavy work. I don't think that has ever happened, and things just got left to the side.

Is a bobcat really needed? I happened upon these mounds yesterday, and although overgrown and a bit eroded, they seem almost ready to ride as is. There is no trail cut in, so that would be the first thing to fix. Flatten the platforms / smooth out the ramps and you're good?

You can easily find these mounds by walking the single track east and north from the mcNamara parking lot; they will be on your right hand side in the woods a bit before the trail ends in the water. You will likely see the starting 'platform' first; it is a natural (trees on it) hill maybe 8-10 feet high that the current trail goes right by.

Side topic 1: Jeff, why is our xc single track not using this hill? It is large enough for a trail (maybe even a switchback ) and the starting 'platform' for the jumps.

Side topic 2: if this water is the spot where the Eagle scout is going to build a bridge, he has his work cut out for him; there are two pretty wide stretches.

Side Topic 1: The trail will go up that hill. Kind of by where the animal den is. The existing route was formerly the bypass. You nailed it though. Hill is starting block for the mounds. Jose put a small berm in too. Kind of hard to see now.

Side topic 2: Yup. We will need to help him out. He will need a lot of bodies to get this done. We may be workig in the water, as he is itching to get started.

[pfox90]

Whats the status on these jumps?? has anyone talked to jose? I'm still confused where the second mound is by the purple trail because I could go out there and dig. Even if there is a nice small section that connects with the trail and you can go off get a few pumps and a nice jump with a berm or something that would be adding to the trail, which I am willing to do.

[bockrona]

I'm on board w/ Pfox. I'd be willing to bring out a shovel and move some dirt. I like moving dirt. I barely know my way around there though and may need some direction regarding routing and such. Seems that if we just got the trail routed over some mounds and small jumps and such, the section may take shape over time. Starting out as just small mounds for pumping and jumping is plenty for my skill level anyway. Once that is in place, seems that more hardcore jumpers may take an interest and help take it to the next level.

[rvd]

pfox90, bockrona thanks for posting; this topic has suffered from too much talk and too little action. Reid, Allm' and I checked the site by McNamara a few weeks ago and it really is a shame these jumps have not been developed. I am available this weekend; how about we meet Sunday 10 AM at the McNamara lot to work on these jumps for a few hours?

[reidabel]

pfox90, bockrona thanks for posting; this topic has suffered from too much talk and too little action.

Not to mention jaded sarcasm ... [Edit - I see now that such comments were posted on April Fool's Day, so maybe I should cut some slack that they might have been an attempt at humor ]

Reid, Allm' and I checked the site by McNamara a few weeks ago and it really is a shame these jumps have not been developed. I am available this weekend; how about we meet Sunday 10 AM at the McNamara lot to work on these jumps for a few hours?

That could work well for me, too, now that I'm finished building stunts on Hellboy (for now!) and am just basically gardening out there until the grass can survive on its own. Knee bothering me, I didn't plan any weekend rides, so I could perhaps time a Sunday watering session with doing some trail and dirt-work over there, if family schedules work out (unsure). I may have an unwilling 12-year-old "volunteer" with me

[pfox90]

Unfortunately I'll be out of town. If you get something done I'll come by throughout the week and shape it. Also I would be able to help the following weekend. Are the ones by the purple trail still even there?

[reidabel]

Don't know about the dirt piles near the purple trail ... I have yet to see them, though a location description was given to me.

I'm interested in making a 100% rollable path through the lumpy MacNamara area we're talking about, beside and as a second line with the jumps, so we may need to coordinate with each other and with Jeff the Trail Coordinator. I wouldn't want to make a rollable path this weekend and then next weekend see that it was all converted to jumps! I would of course want it to leave the big lumps to the jump-makers, but the entry down the big hill could be shared. There are littler lumps that don't need to be converted into jumps, but would make good rollers. Does anybody know what Jose's master plan was? Jeff, do you have a map?

[rvd]

We haven't heard from the TC yet, but let's confirm meeting tomorrow morning 10AM at the McNamara lot. I'll bring a couple of spades, a steel rake, and weed wacker. We will probably focus on clearing/preparing a trail from the starting platform across the jumps, and a new XC trail across some adjacent rollers. Without specific directions from Jeff, it may not be wise to cut in the new trail to the starting platform just yet. See you tomorrow...

[reidabel]

I left Jeff a voice mail about an hour ago, hopefully we'll make contact with him before the end of the day.

Wife says I'll be able to make it for 10 am tomorrow, and Christina will be with me.

What you want to work on sounds like a good plan to me, leaving the entrance from the trail the way it is. I will bring a shovel, metal rake, and leaf rake. It might be too hot for comfort, but boots and long pants may be the way to go if there's any poison ivy out there. After being nailed at Ft Custer, I'm ready to sacrifice some comfort for protection.

[rvd]

Three of us put a few useful hours of work in this morning. As the site was badly overgrown, we focused in the first place on getting it accessible for further work. With none of us being jump builders, we did not do much reshaping of the dirt except for three entry lines - 2 with small banked turns - from the drop-in platform. The trail we cleared can be ridden already; it probably feels as a pumptrack with oversized bumps. We laid it out as a single clockwise loop, but we have no idea if this fits with the plans by the TC and the original designers for this area.

Anyone who wants to help make a few fun features, including jumps, feel free to get in and help shape/reshape the mounds; in most cases, these mounds are big enough for at least two lines. The site can be accessed via a turn-off to the left after the second of the new telephone-pole bridges and before the steep little dip marked with orange flags.

[reidabel]

Found out that Jeff (TC) has been out of town this weekend, but I think we were probably not deviating from the plans too much anyway. It looks like it will be a lot of fun when it is done, even just the roller line without the jumping. The limited test rides today were fun and it's not even smooth or full-length yet. I love the idea of the return loop filled with big mounds, which will require pedalling but has tons of character and is unlike anything at Burchfield.

Saw lots of poison ivy where we were working. There is still enough left to take precautions such as long sleeves, long pants, and washing up regularly when working out there. When it's done, riding should be fine as long as you don't fall into the vegetation. My doctor says that you've got a half hour before the poison ivy oils will be entrenched enough to cause problems.

For those that don't already know, the old-fashioned-looking water pump at McNamara works after 15 or 20 pumps and lifting the knob when the drinking fountain water starts to flow on its own. That dumps lots of water directly down below the water fountain, so you can do your arms and legs. There are also steps by the river if you don't need your water to be so clean.

[rvd]

It looks like it will be a lot of fun when it is done, even just the roller line without the jumping. The limited test rides today were fun and it's not even smooth or full-length yet.

After you left we pulled the trail all the way around back up to the starting platform. The 5th mound still has the tree standing on top and it sure isn't smooth, but it can be completely ridden to get a feel for the thing.