Old Oak Down

[cheese4brains]

There must have been some good winds recently as there are 3 large trees down just to the west of the swing bridge. They are across the trail segment nearest the river, nearby the dual log crossing. There is a parallel trail segment further inland that is uneffected. One of the trees is a 3-4' diameter oak that offers no option but to portage over it. The other two are smaller (1-2 foot diameter), and re-routes have already sprung up.

The trail is otherwise dry and in great fall riding condition. 9 mile is a bit low, but it's crossable.

[seberly]

I hope to get a look at this during the coming weekend, had heard about it from some others as well - maybe there is an opportunity for an interesting re-route.

Thanks.

[nigel]

Heck lets cut a big notch to lower it and make a logover?

[crux]

Heck lets cut a big notch to lower it and make a logover?Hell No, don’t sanitize the trail by cutting the log. Look at this as an opportunity to keep the large tree intact and build a larger log pile. Shave the top and ride along the ridge. Please do not look at a tree and think of it as an obstacle and some thing that must be eliminated, its just gave you the freedom to think of creative way to use this new found material to our advantage.

I know of one tree that fell at Louis and Clark park in Iowa ~4ft or greater in diameter. It took some work but now it is a huge log pile to clear this down timber.

[KleinCrazy]

Hell No, don’t sanitize the trail by cutting the log. Look at this as an opportunity to keep the large tree intact and build a larger log pile. Shave the top and ride along the ridge. Please do not look at a tree and think of it as an obstacle and some thing that must be eliminated, its just gave you the freedom to think of creative way to use this new found material to our advantage.

I know of one tree that fell at Louis and Clark park in Iowa ~4ft or greater in diameter. It took some work but now it is a huge log pile to clear this down timber.
I remember that Tree!!!

What makes it even more interesting is it is not a straight over, you kinda havta give the bike a little turn at the top to have a good exit line.

The thing to remember about the river bottoms is that we are trying to maintain it as an intermediate level trail. There are a number of log crossing there already that are a little difficult, including the one I built, the first one west of the Lyndale Parking Lot. But If the tree is down in such a way where there would not be an option to go around, and to go over would take skills above an intermediate level, then we have to address it as such.

With the number of trails we have available here in the cities, we have the oportunity to make trails of specific levels for specific riders. Omaha/Council Bluffs do not have that option due to the much smaller number of trails. They have to try and make every trail intersting to every level of rider.

I count us as lucky that we don't have to try and do that.

[crux]

[QUOTE=KleinCrazy]The thing to remember about the river bottoms is that we are trying to maintain it as an intermediate level trail.
QUOTE]

I don't think that this would be out of the limits of an intermediate rider to pull off. If it is a slight bit more difficult then we will all become better riders because of that fact.

[thebionicman]

The River Bottems is a multi-use trail. That kind of limits what type of things that can be on the trail.

[nigel]

Andrew Id love to see a nice high log pile but as said, the trail is for everyone, so it has to be "easily" rideable by all, not just a few. if done right it could stay high, but would require alot a build up to make to fairly easy, which would make it not so fun for some, and possibly hard to maintain. But Steve will have the say in what happens.

D

[Don Youngdahl]

I've cleared many downfalls and obstacles on the river bottoms, and I think there is often a way to satisfy both the beginner/intermediate riders and the riders who want more challenge. When clearing a down tree to beginner/intermediate standards, I try if possible to leave a segment of the tree uncut, which leaves room for building a log crossing adjacent to the easy passage. An example of this principle is the low and easy log crossing near the higher logs just east of the raft.

Having said that, I'm not advocating that you all go out & build log crossings where possible. Perhaps we need to completely keep the challenge level down, or perhaps it's OK to provide more difficult challenges in spots. I think this is a good topic to address in a discussion with Steve the trail steward, that's why we pay him the big bucks.

Don Youngdahl

[crux]

Would it is possible to have our cake and eat it too. We can leave the downed timber and build our log pile, or more difficult section, and have a go around for those who do not wish to tackle the pile. Agreed it would be up to Steve on final decision, but we can at least discuss the matter and make suggestions.

[seberly]

Well, during a night ride tonight (in which I didn't see any of you all by the way - just some deer, racoons and bunny rabbits :-) I saw the offending trees - WOW that one tree is a real doozy. We should probably cut up the smaller ones but as far as the larger one I'd like to get a look at it during the day yet but my thoughts would be to re-route around the big tree more inland then if folks figure out how to ride up on that thing....well... so be it.

[SPR]

Damn that's a big tree. It was hard climbing over it last night in the dark. Anyhow this tree screams of opportunity.:scream: Heck we can probably build a bigger log crossing than the one Mr Lundell proposes at Leb. ;)

[Don Youngdahl]

:banana: I plan on cutting a bypass around the tree toward the river side, which won't require much chain saw work. For those who would like a big log ramp, I'll make this offer: If there are enough dead and down trees within reasonable distance of the log, I'll cut a bunch of them up into 5 foot lengths, for others to haul to the log and build the ramp.

I won't go to all this work unless I see some serious responses from those interested in building a ramp, and someone willing to take responsibility to head up the project. I plan on going down there to ride early Wednesday morning, and work after the ride, so now is the time to speak up.

Don Youngdahl

[Don Youngdahl]

I plan on cutting a bypass around the tree toward the river side, which won't require much chain saw work. For those who would like a big log ramp, I'll make this offer: If there are enough dead and down trees within reasonable distance of the log, I'll cut a bunch of them up into 5 foot lengths, for others to haul to the log and build the ramp.

I won't go to all this work unless I see some serious responses from those interested in building a ramp, and someone willing to take responsibility to head up the project. I plan on going down there to ride early Wednesday morning, and work after the ride, so now is the time to speak up.

Don Youngdahl
After about a day and a half, no response. Guess there's people who think there really is a trail fairy.

Don Y