Moving! I'm officially moving to S. Minn

[Trevize1138]

My wife starts her new job in Fairmont, MN on April 28th. I will move down as soon as our house up here sells. I, of course, still plan to build that 2-3 mile singletrack trail just NW of Wells, MN. I could use help, though! :banana:

The land is privately owned by my wife's grandmother and she gave her blessing to build a trail there a year ago as long as we weren't piloting bulldozers around there uprooting big trees and all that. I figure to start the trail will be just rake-and-ride. From there we'll just go back and plan out which parts need bench cuts, where log overs, rock gardens or other obstacles would be fun and eventually proper sineage to keep liability in-check.

This would be quite the unique feature for Wells and the area in general. Just think, a Theo Wirth-style bit of singletrack in the middle of all those corn fields. :cool:

[bigwheel]

Congrats.

Will you be moving to Wells, or to Fairmont (45 minutes apart)?

Are you going to start a Wells MORC chapter?

[Trevize1138]

I'm certainly thinking about starting up some kind of MORC presence in the area. We'll be living in Wells and my wife will be driving our new Scion all over the county for her Child Protection job. I should have plenty of consulting Web work lined up to work from home, allowing me to run over to the trailwork area every now and then for a quick brain break. :cool:

[soupboy]

Congrats!

[But haven't we heard this before? Stop teasing.]

[ryno lite]

Congrats! Hopefully when you get a little route worked up we can road trip down and check it out! Won't be the same not seeing the VW at the trailheads every once in awhile!

[Trevize1138]

Congrats! Hopefully when you get a little route worked up we can road trip down and check it out! Won't be the same not seeing the VW at the trailheads every once in awhile!

That's why it's nice that you can drive South AND North on 35W! :cool: I fully intend to stop up to the cities often to ride and hang out. In fact, part of the idea of moving to Wells is that's where all of my wife's family lives so childcare will be easier and we'll each have more free time.

As far as people coming down for a ride, I'll have to also see about maybe hosting an IMBA Trail School weekend there. Hmm, maybe even a Wells Fat Tire Festival? :banana:

[Trevize1138]

Congrats!

[But haven't we heard this before? Stop teasing.]

My wife accepted the offer given Friday and she's putting in her notice at her current job today. Believe me, it's happening.

[TML]

Congrats Chris and fam!

Let me know if you want help shopping for a truck (mandatory vehicle). :)

[soupboy]

Can Wells handle the Ghia (or the converse)?

My wife accepted the offer given Friday and she's putting in her notice at her current job today. Believe me, it's happening.

[Danimal]

Dammit, now he's closer to me! :)

[Pandl]

Congratulations Chris & family! ENJOY!! :banana:

[decoeric]

Jake's Pizza everyday???

[SPR]

Congrats and best wishes Chris.
Curious, what's the terrain/topography like where you are planning the trails?

[dvo1]

If only they had no internet down there.

[ryno lite]

Congrats and best wishes Chris.
Curious, what's the terrain/topography like where you are planning the trails?


Flat! At least that's how all the terrain is down there if it's not a river valley!

[igor]

I guess the Ghetto Group Ride will now be changed to the Chris D Memorial Ghetto Group Ride. :cryin:

[Trevize1138]

Flat! At least that's how all the terrain is down there if it's not a river valley!

Or a slough (sp?). The land is a rare patch of woods around a swamp. The topography is slightly flatter than Theo from what I can tell.

Still, you only have to look at the River Trail to know that you don't necessarily need hills for fun singletrack.

[Trevize1138]

I guess the Ghetto Group Ride will now be changed to the Chris D Memorial Ghetto Group Ride. :cryin:

I was thinking something along the lines of a Country Fried Group Ride? :cool:

[ryno lite]

Or a slough (sp?). The land is a rare patch of woods around a swamp. The topography is slightly flatter than Theo from what I can tell.

Still, you only have to look at the River Trail to know that you don't necessarily need hills for fun singletrack.

I'm sure it will work fine, plus you won't have the user numbers to damage the trail. A lightly used trail will hold up pretty well no matter what.

[tedsti]

Has anybody bothered to warn the poor people down there?

[ryno lite]

Has anybody bothered to warn the poor people down there?


Good point.

[WKWizard]

I'm in Owatonna and have been to Wells several times. I may be interested in helping some. Is this the piece of land?

[soupboy]

I spy an Illegal Immigrant Restaurant! Can't beat a small town with frosty margs and cerveza mas fina!

[Paul Swenson]

Has google street viewed Wells yet?

[Trevize1138]

I'm in Owatonna and have been to Wells several times. I may be interested in helping some. Is this the piece of land?

That is, indeed, the land! Somewhere in the gallery here I uploaded a screen capture I did from Google Earth with a rough trail mapped out. It was just shy of 3 miles, I believe. About 1 mile in the woods south of the swamp and 2 more north of it. As far as I can tell the best route between the two sections is via the gravel road on the West side.

Edit: Here is is! Looks like it's closer to just over 2 miles, not just under 3 miles. Plus, the NW corner of the trail I mapped I believe is actually used as farmland so it wouldn't be available for trails. That would mean more like 2 total miles of trail. I'm sure you could increase the distance by just packing the loops tighter together. Not an ideal solution and I know most metro trails strive for not seeing other parts of the trail from any given point but I don't think we'll have to follow those rules quite so strictly ...

http://www.morcmtb.org/photopost/data/526/thumbs/grandmastrail2.jpg (http://www.morcmtb.org/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=4069)

[ebrandel]

For the full size image:
http://www.morcmtb.org/photopost/data/526/grandmastrail2.jpg

[Trevize1138]

Note that the wooded section on the south end where I've got the first loop is roughly the same size as the Brownie Lake area. The slope there isn't nearly as steep, though. But, the current Brownie Lake trail is around 1 mile.

Also, I haven't scouted out the land between the trees and the water and can only guess it's swampy and not suitable for trails.

[SprocketHead]

Happy Trails to ya Chris.... I do pass by that area on my way to Mom's(Terril, IA). PM me contact info and I'll look you up.


Have you checked out Jackson???... NICE river valley, there must be some potential for a trail there.

[Trevize1138]

Happy Trails to ya Chris.... I do pass by that area on my way to Mom's(Terril, IA). PM me contact info and I'll look you up.


Have you checked out Jackson???... NICE river valley, there must be some potential for a trail there.

Oof, that's quite the drive to Jackson. :) May as well just hit up Mt. Kato's trails! Of course, if there are any MORC members living inn Jackson who want to spearhead that one...

I'm selfish: I want to build a trail I can bike to in less than 5 hours. :cool:

[ryno lite]

My Dad's family farm is outside of Franklin, MN and the land includes river lowland, the hillside, and a lot good farmland on top of the hill. I've always thought the farmsite on the hillside would make for awesome trails, but it's too far away and there might not be enough acreage to make a long enough trail. Some of those river valley's in southern MN would make for some great trails.

[Nickel]

Is there a reason I can't post images in this thread? I don't see the image button and hard-coding it doesn't seem to get it to work (no image in the 'preview' function).

I try and think of something enlightening.....

Edit: Here you go anyway...maybe it will fix itself.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2260/2363870877_5c89b71dc4.jpg

Edit 2: I's smart

[russreed]

Chris
I would be willing to help out. I'm in Mankato, not too far away.

Keep me in mind, as this project starts to takes off!
I don't have any trail work experience; however I am not afraid to get my hands dirty.

[Trevize1138]

Chris
I would be willing to help out. I'm in Mankato, not too far away.

Keep me in mind, as this project starts to takes off!
I don't have any trail work experience; however I am not afraid to get my hands dirty.

Glad to hear you're interested! :banana: Just stay tuned to this station for more updates. Once I'm moved and know more what my free time will be I'll maybe even post up an official trailwork time one evening a week just like the metro trails.

[Trevize1138]

Things are really starting to happen for the move! :banana: I'm pretty close to securing enough work at least through contracting to make it possible for me to move to Wells sooner rather than later and not dependant on when our house up here sells. That means I won't have to spend months and months only able to see my wife and daughter on weekends!

Also, the contract work is 100% from my home office with no set office hours. Perfect for trail stewarding "Grandma's Trail"! How do Wednesday nights at 5:30 p.m. look for eager workers in the area? :cool:

[werts]

hey congrats on the move, unfortunately im moving back to the cities after finals end in mankato on Thursday. that said, when i move back down in august i would love to help out with trails if you are still doing work on them.

[Trevize1138]

I'm here.

:cool:

[Pandl]

Welcome there!

[transplant]

Good luck down there.

[dvo1]

I'm here.

:cool:

Boy, I thought today was going to be a bad news day.

Good luck down there.

[ryno lite]

Good luck Chris!

[Paul Swenson]

Anyone in Wells tell you that you sure have a pretty mouth or to squeal like a pig?

[Heuy]

Have you checked out Jackson???... NICE river valley, there must be some potential for a trail there.


Kilen Woods,

Destination trail possibilities.

I'm selfish too. I want a trail for when i visit the 'rents.

[Trevize1138]

Anyone in Wells tell you that you sure have a pretty mouth or to squeal like a pig?

Not including my wife?

[Paul Swenson]

Not including my wife?

:banana::banana::banana::banana:

[optimuswise]

Kilen Woods,

Destination trail possibilities.

I'm selfish too. I want a trail for when i visit the 'rents.

I don't think you are supposed to bike at Kilen Woods, but it isn't really heavily patrolled by the authorities. Vlang29 and I are planning to take our bikes there this summer anyhow. He's from that area and his dad hikes there daily with is off dogs off leash (also against the rules).

[Trevize1138]

Scouted the area for the trail just now!

I didn't get a chance until now to really walk in and check out the terrain. I can already see the potential in the smaller, southern section for a beginner loop up higher where it's less sloped and harder loop down closer to the swamp area where there's more of a pitch. A couple drainages slice through the area, too and a few big, old trees down here and there so already I'm seeing a few log-overs. Plus, since it's right in the midst of fields there's a good pile of rocks in the corner that might make for a grand entry point.

I'm going to see if I can get a mile of trail raked-and-ridden in that southern section by the end of the summer. Just buzz over there every day during lunch if I can. :cool:

[Paul Swenson]

Getting hailed on?

[Trevize1138]

Getting hailed on?

So far it's been *just* missing us. Looks like we might get a tiny taste any minute, though!

[Trevize1138]

Chris
I would be willing to help out. I'm in Mankato, not too far away.

Keep me in mind, as this project starts to takes off!
I don't have any trail work experience; however I am not afraid to get my hands dirty.

Do you go biking with a guy from wells named Brandon Miller? My wife, Reese, said she was talking to him at the Wildcat restaurant down there a couple weeks ago and, out of the blue, he said "I heard you guys are building a mountain bike trail here!" He said he and a buddy who's on the MORC forums ride Mt. Kato together a lot.

Gotta get ahold of him myself since it sounds like he's excited enough to help out :).

[werts]

Chris have you started the work on the trail yet? ill be back down in mankato mid august for school, however if you had a weekend set aside that you were planning on working on id gladly come down and give a hand.

[Trevize1138]

Chris have you started the work on the trail yet? ill be back down in mankato mid august for school, however if you had a weekend set aside that you were planning on working on id gladly come down and give a hand.

I haven't done anything on it yet, still working on finishing up our house in Minneapolis (goes on the market June 23rd!). Once things settle down for me I'll get out there and try to figure out a 1/2 mile loop just for starters and will let everyone know when I'm ready to get guys out there for some rake-and-ride action. :cool:

[werts]

cool, just let me know when your going to do that

[Trevize1138]

Not only are we totally country now but we're totally trailer trash! :banana:

27 feet of luxury, ladies and gentlemen. A Sportsmen 5th wheel camper with snap-on screen porch. Kitchen complete with sink, range, oven and microwave, dinette, master bedroom, full bath... We looked at a house yesterday that we'll likely make an offer on, so hopefully we'll be out of this place and have it back at my parent's storage facility before September.

I've had it with house renovations which is what every weekend has consisted of for two months but now our place in Minneapolis is finally on the market. The place we looked at yesterday is move-in ready, thank goodness. Less time working on a house = more time building Grandma's Trail!