Trail Work - Tuesday, 4/22 - 5pm

[gopherhockey]

Come join us for another fun-filled Tuesday evening of trail work at Lebanon Hills! I believe this week we'll be concentrating our efforts on the new XX loop.

If you can't make it by 5pm, I'll post a map on the bulletin board in the main parking lot so you know where to find us. I'll bring some extra tools in, we could use all the help we can get - even if it is "late" help ;)

If you can make it and are reading this, please reply.. just so I know to expect you there.

Meet in the JCRR parking lot as usual....

:banana:

[gopherhockey]

BTW: a few have asked about what to bring, what to wear etc. to trail work.

Bring some gloves. This is probably the most important.

We often go walking around in brush and unfinished trail, so it is also a good idea to wear long pants (that you don't mind getting dirty) and some good work boots if you have em'

Often times riders meet us out on the trail to help out. If you don't mind getting your bike stuff dirty this is ok, but you will probably feel better having long pants and work gloves/shoes, not bike gear.

Water - many of the guys use their hydro-packs to keep the water flowing and available. Bring a bottle if you like, but it is a lot more convenient to have a hydro pack or fanny-pack style water source.

http://www.imba.com/resources/images/pulaskis.jpg

MORC will provide all the tools, so no need to bring anything in that regard. We will bring you up to speed on how each tool works etc. You will instantly have a new appreciation for the trails, and it really isn't difficult work. (thats why we have the Dingo!)

Oh yea, if you show up tomorrow you can see BOTH Dingo's at work.. a first at Lebanon. I'll have a camera with tomorrow as well, so you might find yourself captured on film and posted to the web site. Its a great way to show your friends, family, or significant other that you DO get out and work hard! ;)

If you show up to the trail a little late, look on the bulletin board for a sign/map showing where we are working. Just make your way on out and join us when you can... we appreciate that some of you don't get off work early, so trail work will start an hour later in May.

We usually put in a good 2 hours - sometimes longer, sometimes shorter. The sun will always get you out of there in time not to get in trouble with anyone (and make that Minnesota Wild game 7 just in time!) If you can't work 2 hours or have to leave early, not a big deal! We accept help whenever you can give it...

When you get to the parking lot, you will usually see a group of guys standing around talking or setting out trail tools. Thats us - I drive a black Xterra with a MORC logo on the front... feel free to come up to me at any time and let me know you are there for trail work. (I may look like I bite, but I really do not hehe)

What kinds of work can you expect to be doing? Usually rolling rocks around is about the hardest. Digging roots out, helping finish the trail after the Dingo has had its way with it... trimming branches, building log piles... rock gardens. Those are typical activities at a trail work session. If you really want to learn more in advance, browse around at http://www.imba.com/resources/trail_building/index.html - they have some great info regarding how trail building works. Don't worry, we won't quiz you and there are no tests ;)

Get ready to have a great time.. to learn a lot about the trails, and to start feeling some real ownership at Lebanon Hills. You may even find yourself making some great new friends (I know I have!)

Just one warning - trail work is addicting! Once you start, it will be hard to stop.

Oh yea, and those that give some time to trail work might just get first tracks on the new XX loop when it opens up... :cheesy:

[Trevize1138]

I think I'll do the ride-around-the-trail-a-bit then meet-up-with-workers-and-help-out thing ... It's just hard not to ride when you can! :(

[gopherhockey]

Originally posted by Tom S.

Another reason to wear long pants is Ticks and also pretty soon mosquito repellent will be a good thing to bring.

Oh, dude.. you had to bring that up. Now you are going to scare people away! ;)

Seriously though, deep woods off - you won't be touched. I had 0 ticks last year... but hopefully we will have at least another week or two before the bugs come out full force.

[TML]

Looking forward to doing some trailwork at Lebanon. I'll look for the black Nissan with the tool cache. I'll be the one driving up in "Babe"(You'll know what I mean). I should make it there by 5. If not I'll look for the map and find you along the trail.

--Troy

[gopherhockey]

Hey Troy, thanks for showing up... and thanks to the rest of you that showed up as well! (I'll post pictures soon)

We had over 12 people working the trail tonight and made some great headway on completing the XX loop. What a great group, I cannot tell you how thankful we are to have this kind of turnout.

We finished off a good section of trail and hand built a really nice rock section all while Tim and Dale nearly finished the initial cutting with the Dingo and the new Bobcat. 2 jumps were even built up tonight on the new loop!!

If we can do this the next few weeks, we'll be riding that new loop by the end of May!

BTW: rumor is, we're building elevated sections/bridges next Tuesday - you aren't going to want to miss it!

[gopherhockey]

Gee, I hope I get this right. After trail work last night I had everyone write down their names so I could give our appreciation. Please let me know if I mess any of these up or am missing anyone.

Joining "trail bosses" Tim Wegner, Dale Gundberg, Jan Lee, and I (John Lundell) were:

Ben Portilla
Luther Kemp
Eric Markwardt
Frank Omelian
Jack Baker
Troy Lawrence
Ryan Lieske
Tom Strese

Thanks guys for all your help last night! Check out the trail building pictures located either on the Lebanon Hill trail review page http://www.morcmtb.org/trailreviews/metro/lebanon.shtml or in the photo area of the forums. I posted the ones that came out the best and hope I didn't miss anyone.

These guys are helping us get that new xx loop open. We could sure use your help out there next week - we're building the elevated bridges.. that doesn't happen every day!


:banana:

[Hardtailforever]

Yah, so my hadwriting isn't the greatest. Anyway, it's Ben Portilla. Just think "tortilla," but with a "P."

I can't wait to ride that loop. It's gonna be sweeeeeeeeet.

[jeffgude]

Tonight at Lebanon, 6 pm, every parking space was taken, also cars and trucks parked around the perimeter of the lot. I WALKED back through the XX loop to inspect your work. Very nice, who lugged all those rocks around?

Keep up the good work, hope I will be able to join you more frequently this year.

[Trevize1138]

No kidding! Next MORC project is gonna have to be a bigger parking lot at this rate. Great riding last night, though, even though I caught 3 people walking/running on the biking trail :fool:

[gopherhockey]

Originally posted by jeffgude
Very nice, who lugged all those rocks around?



I did.. ;) At least I'm the one that moved Jan's rock from near the parking lot to where it is now...

As for all the other rocks, we have had a few crews spend the good part of a couple of days moving those things around.

Ask me about the one that got away... (the story gets better every time hehe)