Mid-State: Bennett Park

[jacked]

Those skeeter keep out the faint of heart. Once they come out there tends to be fewer people playing in our woods.

The trail has dried up nicely. We put in a bridge towards the end of Trillium Rd last night. We still need to build the entrance and exit ramps, but the bridge is in just in time for the dry season.

Who ever took the time to cut out the section of fence, that was uncovered where you leave the power line and drop back into the wood, thanks! It's hard to remember to take wire cutters with you when you head out for a ride.

David

[bleve]

Rode this afternoon and I'm glad to see your post regarding the bridge still needing an entrance and exit. I actually liked the challenge of hopping from the mud up onto it but not everyone probably feels that way.

About 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 miles in I think it's a reroute but it's really overgrown with heavy weeds, don't know if Indy wants to go in there with a machete or if there's a hefty weed wacker available. Also the ride back along the river after the bridge could probably use a sign as it was pretty overgrown and I knew where it was and I still almost missed it.

I was trying out my new computer and don't know if anyone else had mileage on the parts. I had a total length of 8 miles even. The first section was roughly 2.5 miles to the pines, 1.5 through the pines and 4 through the hardwoods and back along the river. Of course if someone has mileage and it's different let me know so I can see if I put the computer on right.

[moto2112]

I live in Eaton Rapids and generally ride birchfield what type of riding is at bennet park. Any skinnies or drops or jumps. is it worth the trip to come over and check it out?

[jacked]

About 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 miles in I think it's a reroute but it's really overgrown with heavy weeds, don't know if Indy wants to go in there with a machete or if there's a hefty weed wacker available.

Yes that is one of marty's reroutes. We will be in there this week trimming it back and hopefully training the wildlife....

Also the ride back along the river after the bridge could probably use a sign as it was pretty overgrown and I knew where it was and I still almost missed it.

Yes that section needs some signage....It's on the list.

Any skinnies or drops or jumps. is it worth the trip to come over and check it out?

No, no, and depends on how you ride.
It is definitely worth your a trip over. From ER, you can ride to it.
It will soon be part of a three trail sytem...Bennett, Anderson and Burchfield.... What a great way to spend a Saturday.... Ride to all three and end enjoy our local trails!!

David

[apittsley]

There are two trees down and covering the trail. They are at the same location, the first tree knocked down the second.

The yellow circle indicates the location:








-Andy

[geardaddy37]

Wow, two new posters!
Welcome to the forum Moto and Andy. Uh, cool arial view of Bennett too! No wonder I got lost...
That downed tree looks like a job for super snipper... I will take some hedge clippers with me next time I'm out there, if it ain't already done...
Bill

[jacked]

I'll add the trees to our to do list for tomorrow afternoons trail day, Sat=-6/6. Meet at 3pm at Camp Francis. We plan to cut in the connector between the pines and the hardwoods along the power line, trim those dead falls and if time permits clean up some of the existing trail.

David

[jacked]

We'll todays storm brought a fair amount of additional chainsaw work to the park. I'll be there Monday evening running the saw. Join me if you can.

Saturday's trail day was cut short when the DR Trimmer decided to eat it's belt. As soon as I get it changed we'll be back out cutting in along the power line.

David

[jacked]

All the deadfall that was across the trail in the pines has been cleared. Except the one big widow maker towards the end of the trail. We will probably make a re-route around that.
Hopefully we will have the rest of the downed trees cleared before the weekend.

David

[number2]

Bennett Park is all clear to ride. There is a temporary reroute in the hardwoods until time allows for something different.

[xcrdr]

Hey Bill you must remember my son, moto2112. He was upside down with his head stuck between two tree branches at Burchfield a few years ago! Hope we can get out to Bennett real soon.

[number2]

Bennett Park is closed until further notice. There is a massive amount of damage from Wednesdays hail storm.
It's going to take a large group( 20 to25) of volunteers to clean up the mess so if you want to put that chain saw class to good use keep a eye out on the forums for a work party yet to be scheduled.
It will take a couple of weeks to finish assessing the damage so we are looking at 7/26 as a possible start day.

[jacked]

After 14 hours of work this week, Jungel 1 and 2 are up and running with only one reroute (which still needs to be cut in, but easily followed).
Trillium road is up and running, with only one log in the way. My son wants a ladder ramp and that may be the place to do it. The new bridge faired well, with only three broken planks.
The north shore trail has been blown, but still will needs lots of attention
The pines are mostly rideable, including the new connector loop (sorry, no signs yet).
The hardwoods needs lots of love.... ridable, but be prepare to get off the trail a few times.

We have a trail day planned for next Saturday, 7/26. A full day affair with the need of many hands to make the trail completely ready to ride.

Last weekend my church had a saw day at one of our members homes who had lost over a hundred trees. It is amazing how much work 40 people, a dozen saws and one big chipper can do. Complete with good eats! It would be great if the users of this trail could step up like that!

PM me if you can help in anyway.

Thanks,

David

[number2]

I would like to thank Pam, Dave and Brad for helping with the trail cleanup Saturday but due to the lack of volunteers we only cleared about a 3rd of the trees and did not start any reroutes. Therefor Bennett Park is still CLOSED.

[jacked]

I will be at the Park this evening and Thursday evening. Concentrating on the balance of the hardwoods and then the pines. BC (formerly know as the north shore) will be the last on the list.

Both Jungles are up and running as well as Trillium road. The pines and the hardwoods are rideable but both still have many trails blocked, some with temp. reroutes, some not.

While Marty has stated the trails as closed, they are ridable. It would be nice to see you come to the park, it would be nicer to see you come and help clean up the mess.

I showed three friends from out of town the trails yesterday afternoon and we had a blast, even with all the additional obstacles on the trails. I met a family from Olivet out riding the open sections and they were loving it!!!

We were a little disappointed in the lack of participation in Saturdays trail day....ok initially a lot mor than a little. Thanks for those who did show, and thanks to those who let me know they couldn't be there.

There are plenty of opportunities for you to help out. If your interested please pm me.

Thanks,

David

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David Frost
Bennett Park TC