Trail beta?

[crux]

There has been quite a bit of speculation on the Murphy trail with out much news on the forums this season. Rumor has it that the new trail is planned to be opened later this season by fall. That does not leave much time to break ground and have a "Singletrack" trail built. Also one consern is that the trail should be opened and get some traffic before the (dare I say it) snow starts to fly.

Anyone with the 411 on this? How bout an official update? (when everything is settled with the contract business)

[Burke]

There has been quite a bit of speculation on the Murphy trail with out much news on the forums this season. Rumor has it that the new trail is planned to be opened later this season by fall. That does not leave much time to break ground and have a "Singletrack" trail built. Also one consern is that the trail should be opened and get some traffic before the (dare I say it) snow starts to fly.

Anyone with the 411 on this? How bout an official update? (when everything is settled with the contract business)

The info you have is pretty good. We're in the process of waiting for the contractor to be named. We should have more info for a more detailed update later this afternoon.

[FSSS]

From the last MORC Newsletter (another bonus of being a member):

Murphy Update

There will be some exciting things happening in the woods of Savage, Minnesota this summer... if you haven't already heard, MORC is working with the Three Rivers Park District to build a new singletrack mountain bike trail in Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve. As one of the first metro area parks to have an official mountain bike trail, Murphy-Hanrehan and mountain biking go back over 15 years. Due to a short riding season, (August 1st - end of October) and the increase in popularity of singletrack trails like Lebanon Hills and Theo Wirth, Murphy flies below the radar of many Twin Cities mountain bikers these days. That will be changing over the next couple years.

A team of MORC members is currently working on the design of the new trail - a mix of riders from both cross-country and freeride backgrounds. While the work is still in the design stages, the end result will likely be roughly 9 miles of singletrack with three loops; a beginner, an intermediate and an advanced loop. A large percentage of the overall mileage will be advanced level trail. Currently there are only 6 miles of trail at Murphy, but it's some of the toughest, hilliest, fastest trail in the metro. My main goal in this project is to preserve that type of experience in a more sustainable, safe manner. The area has a lot to work with by metro standards - large rocks, downed trees, small prairies, open forests, great views, not to mention the overall topography... many small knolls, with a couple of large ridges with steep sideslopes that will lend themselves perfectly to long, flowing downhills (and of course, long uphills too). Murphy has always been known for its hills, and the new trail will continue that legacy.

The timeframe for the project is still being finalized, but the contractor that builds the trail will start in late June, with the goal of finishing the beginner and intermediate loops this fall. The advanced loop will be built during the 2007 season. That is a lot of trail to build in a short period of time, so stay tuned to the MORC Forums for updates and information on how you will be able to help!! Also, please contact me (FSSS on the MORC Forums) if you are interested in becoming a MORC Dirt Boss at Murphy-Hanrehan!

Thanks,
Pete Crabtree
Murphy-Hanrehan Trail Steward

[Burke]

Here's an update on where we're at with the Murphy project.

The trail corridor has been flagged by MORC and GPS'd by the park district. It's approximately 9.5 miles in total length. It's broken out into a beginner (1mile), an intermediate (2.5miles) and an advanced loop (6miles).

The bids for the construction of the singletrack corridor (only the singletrack, not the technical trail features) were opened today and a contractor not associated with MORC was the low bidder. This means that MORC will not need to line up volunteers for the construction of the singletrack, i.e., bench cutting and spreading the duff.

MORC will be a consultant for the park district through the construction process to help ensure the highest quality finished trail.

Once the singletrack corridor is completed by the contractor, MORC will line up volunteers to construct the technical trail features, such as: jumps, log rides, insloped turns, rock armoring, etc...

The beginner and intermediate sections of trail are required to be completed by this October 15.

The advanced section will be completed by October 31 of 2007.

These dates are potential dates the respective sections of trail will be open for riding.


This process is one that did not unfold exactly as MORC wished it would have. It's our first time being so successful in raising cash for trail building that we unknowingly triggered a state mandated sealed bid process for the awarding of the construction contract. We essentially bit off more than the state would allow us to chew, and now we're making the best out of the situation.

That said, we will still have a sweet new singletrack trail system to ride in a little over a year.

That's where we're at.

Scott

[bikeoutback]

It's approximately 9.5 miles in total length. It's broken out into a beginner (1mile), an intermediate (2.5miles) and an advanced loop (6miles).

Sorry if I'm getting off topic but what is meant by beginner, intermediate, and advanced? Best comparison I have is Lebanon with that little warm up loop (beginner), the Intermediate loop around the outside and the X and XX advanced loops? I guess I'm wondering is Advanced similar to the X, closer to XX or combination of both? What defines Advanced over Intermediate?

I mean this sounds really cool to have 6 miles of Advanced riding available should draw people and hopefully balance out the trail usage around the cities a little better.

[ryno lite]

Beginner is like the small beginner loop at Leb, the intermediate is like the outer loop at Leb, and the advanced will be like the X and XX loop at Leb.

[Burke]

Beginner is like the small beginner loop at Leb, the intermediate is like the outer loop at Leb, and the advanced will be like the X and XX loop at Leb.

Good assessment of the differing skill levels.

[Paul Swenson]

This process is one that did not unfold exactly as MORC wished it would have. It's our first time being so successful in raising cash for trail building that we unknowingly triggered a state mandated sealed bid process for the awarding of the construction contract. We essentially bit off more than the state would allow us to chew, and now we're making the best out of the situation.

That said, we will still have a sweet new singletrack trail system to ride in a little over a year.

That's where we're at.

Scott

Sounds like an ongoing "learning experience".

Can't wait for the new singletrack!:)

[scarface]

so... will they cannibalize the old trail? Or will that be left in place for XC and Hiking?

I love murph, for running and skiing...not biking. good to see some sustainable singletrack going in, instead of the gravel yard that it is now ;) flame on.

[JayT]

The existing trails will be closed to mountain bikes once the new system is up. The existing trails will remain in use for nordic skiing and hiking.