Harmon Park Status Update

[gopherhockey]

The IMBA crew was out at Harmon today doing their second trail school. I got a chance to walk around the area for the first time and was quite impressed at what could be built out there. I hope to put some kind of "under construction" trail review for people to see as the trail takes shape.

I got some good pre-trail pictures today of the landscape and will include those as well as future trail construction pics.

I think they are just waiting for the grant to be fully processed and perhaps start building in July... If anyone lives out in that area and would be interested in being a part of regular trail work out there let us know.

I'm hoping the day won't conflict with Lebanon or Battle Creek trail work for those willing to work at more than one location ;)

[gopherhockey]

Pre-Trail Trail Review:

http://www.morcmtb.org/trailreviews/metro/harmon.shtml

[viv]

Nice work!

[grizzly adam]

That does look like a fun place!
I would like to help however I can. I'll keep checking back here to see when/where the building starts.

[gopherhockey]

Originally posted by viv
Nice work!

Thanks! A dancing banana for you for your kind comment... actually lets make that 2

:banana: :banana:

I will for sure update everyone as trail work continues at this park. As you can see, there is great potential here - especially considering it is kind of a "from scratch" trail system.

I believe we have a proposed trail map somewhere, I'll try get a copy and put that on the review as well.

[martini]

but how about a black/white version for better definition of terrain? And I kinda guessed where the park is, how about a box around it Mr. Administrator?:)

[gopherhockey]

You got it - I added a B&W version with a yellow dotted line around the basic area the trail will be located. (give or take some amount of distance in the area, like I don't know how far north the trail will go up into the trees etc.)

It is more open and rolling, but you can see by the pictures it won't be boring for sure.

There is also a second park in Inver Grove Heights that we'll be adding shortly after Harmon. That one will be on more steep hills and be more tight and technical where Harmon will be more of a fast & flowing.

[Trevize1138]

Originally posted by gopherhockey

I believe we have a proposed trail map somewhere, I'll try get a copy and put that on the review as well.

I'd like to see that! I'm a map junkie.

Looks like some fun, open field areas there. Would certainly like some more of that, reminds me more of NoDak :)

Looks like part of that open field area is a big, gradual downhill. Is that a correct assessment? If *I* were building the trail, I'd have a line that followed down that gradual downhill as long as possible with turns wide enough so as not to cut speed too much. Throw in a couple drops, some mounds to catch a bit of air off of ... woo hoo! :etard:

[gopherhockey]

Originally posted by Trevize1138
If *I* were building the trail, I'd have a .....

Thats the great thing about the trails in the area - you CAN build the trail. ;)

The rough idea map has been constructed, but it will be James Ford and his team that ultimately lay out the trail - along with Tim & Dale doing the machine work, of course.

I'll see if anyone has a copy of that map and if it is for public viewing...

[manitouman84]

So what exactly is the current status of Harmom park as of this summer? What should I do If I want to come out and help?

[emarkwardt]

Still lots of work left to do at Harmon. Wednesdays at 6:00pm is the designated trail work time, I believe.

Last week we worked on doing more finishing work on the trail that was started when IMBA was in town. There's probably another night's worth of work still left to do on it.

We also did some flagging for the new trail that will be built. More flagging to happen this week, too.

[gopherhockey]

Tim and I walked around at Harmon and flagged a really good section of trail on Sunday. That part should be a quick build since most of it is in the open field where they will be planting trees etc.

It is fun to look at the flags and see the trail taking shape.

This is going to be one fast and flowing trail by the looks of it. Fun stuff!

[jjrsds]

Trail work at Harmon park is Wednesday nights starting around 6:00pm or so. All you need is a pair of work gloves, good sturdy boots and a sense of humor. Hope to see you out there

[manitouman84]

If I showed up at seven on wednesdays would I still be able to help out with some trail work, because thats when I get off work.

[KleinCrazy]

Jeffery,

7 would be fine. Just let me know so I can tell you where we will be working in the Park.

James

[TrailDale]

After meeting with Park Staff and a couple upset neighbors, we got the go ahead to begin machine work on the main (intermediate level) trail starting the 1st week in August. With the soil conditions as they are, we should make a lot of progress.
:laugh:

The sentanced-to-serve crimanals have been doing a bunch of tree and brush clearing in the absolutely thickest deadfall and vine-entangled mess I've ever seen. You can't take a single step forward without climbing up, over, under, or through a friggin' mess. The Park supervisor said that one of the crimanals was so frustrated after a day fighting this mess that he was crying when he left. Way cool! Nice job flagging the "trail from hell" John!

Tree trust volunteers have already built two big bridges - ready to install over ravines next month.

[Tim Wegner]

Dale and I worked on the Southwest corner of the trail tonight. We finished about 3/4 of a mile of trail. We will not be able to work on some of the trail until next week because the parks dept sprayed and need to wait 10 days before they can work the soil up again.

I will be in the park Wedneday night with dingo and bob and begin working on the Southeast corner of the trail.

Got stung by a very pissed off bee tonight. He did not like the idea that I was digging up his home. Nailed me right between the eyes!!
Tim:embarass: