Mid-State: Burchfield

[reidabel]

These are recycled telephone poles donated by Consumer's Energy. They brought them in on a trailer and dragged them out to the site using a lawn tractor and a tong-like hook thingie. Once there, it looks like they used a chain-and-hook system on the lawn tractor to raise them, and the blade of the lawn tractor to position them. At least, that's my guess ... based on seeing some of this actually occur and seeing equipment on the ground. Anybody that knows more ... let us know.

[mjpo]

A message about another opportunity to help build the new bridge:

If any of you would like to help out with my Eagle project it will be On Saturday May 26 at 1:00 P.M. at McNamara landing. My project consists of building two boardwalks over a wet/muddy area on a mountain biking trail at Burchfield park.

If you are planning on helping you will need to fill out a Michigan Mountain Biking Association (MMBA) waiver form. I will have copies there on Saturday to fill out. You MUST have a parent sign this for you if you are under 18. Nobody will be allowed to work unless they sign this form.
As far as the work goes you can expect to be doing one of the following things: screwing 2x6 planks down onto framework made out of old telephone poles, digging trenches, and running wrenches or ratchets.

If you are coming the items to bring are: wear long pants to work in no shorts, a long sleeve shirt, shoes you don't mind getting dirty, safety glasses, gloves, water bottle (water will be provided), rain gear(if needed), dress for weather in layers. If you don't have any of the items mentioned above you can email me and I will see if I have any extras.
If you own a cordless screwdriver you can bring that, it would be greatly appreciated (the screws we will be using use a t20 bit, I have a couple extra bits).

There is a lot of poison ivy around where we will be working, if you have a bad reaction to poison ivy it is advised not to participate.
Eat lunch before you come.

Thank you in advance to any who help!

Caleb Mattson

[mjpo]

These are recycled telephone poles donated by Consumer's Energy. They brought them in on a trailer and dragged them out to the site using a lawn tractor and a tong-like hook thingie. Once there, it looks like they used a chain-and-hook system on the lawn tractor to raise them, and the blade of the lawn tractor to position them. At least, that's my guess ... based on seeing some of this actually occur and seeing equipment on the ground. Anybody that knows more ... let us know.

I was only there for about 5 of the 15 or so hours it took to get the logs laid out. The process Reid described is correct, but we had help from the park as well. They used their large tractor with fork blades to do most of the heavy lifting. Lifting one end of two poles at a time was too much weight and the rear end of the tractor would come off the ground. I don't even have a guess as to what they weigh.

90% of the deck board is already cut and laying in my yard. It will be good to see it go this weekend, though I agree that a log ride would be awesome. Especially when the weather is just right and failure results in a fall into 2 foot deep swamp water.

Even if the decking is not completed this weekend (my guess is that it will be), take Glorious Poperds to check it out. Speaking of Poperd's, you will be happy to hear that fixing it is the next project.....smoothing it out and building a couple drops like Brad put in at Anderson. Details to follow. Probably do it sometime in July.

[TenSpeed]

Removed a few face slappers on Dragonball today. Lots of runners and walkers out there. Saw a few bikers. Trail is really good right now.

[rvd]

Any chance that one of the bridges not being used could be moved up further on Swamp?

Bridges not being used? I noticed a set of old bridges that run parallel to one of the newer metal bridges tonight. Please don't remove them. They are great! A bit unstable, some long planks, turns. No experienced builder had a hand in these but they are a ton of fun.

[TenSpeed]

This was already addressed with the bridges near the end of Swamp Thing.

[MajesticTJ]

I rode here yesterday. The trails are in good shape after the rains friday. There are however a lot of face slappers/low hanging branches, so be prepared to duck a lot. The first section of field trail is getting over grown. Someone mowed the second section of field after the peppermint creek bridge all the way up to the new bridges near McNamara, great job and thanks to whoever did that!

[MajesticTJ]

Got back out here last night and trimmed the majority of the really bad slappers (more like knock you off your bike). Trails are in great shape, get out and ride the new bridges/stunts!

[SteveF]

Got back out here last night and trimmed the majority of the really bad slappers (more like knock you off your bike). Trails are in great shape, get out and ride the new bridges/stunts!

Thanks! Shaun and I busted down a few on tuesday night's ride, too.

Will park personal trim or mow the trails if we ask? That handlebar-high grass on some sections really drives me nuts! If they'll lend equipment (or if we have access to some) I will lend a hand if I can.

[reidabel]

Thanks, guys ...

I believe the park mowed field sections at one point last year, and while it was nice to get rid of the handlebar-level grass, they nuked it - it was cut like 8 feet wide, totally killing the character of the trail. I wonder if there's a compromise in there somehow? Do they have a smaller mower? On Serenity in the slalom-like sections after the Dragonball/Serenity split junction, the mower was too wide to preserve the character of the trail. There are now a couple of shortcuts across slalom sections that were put in there on purpose for character, not speed. I think they couldn't get that big mower around the corners.

Don't bother telling me that shortcuts are just going to happen and that we just have to live with them. I already know that. I'm just wondering if there's a way to have it done by the park that wouldn't be quite so wide ...

[MajesticTJ]

Someone mowed the field section after the peppermint creek bridge at a good width. Not sure who did it or with what type of mower either.

[reidabel]

Right, I did see that a couple of days ago - didn't ride it, but it did look like a good width. I know sometimes Jeff takes a regular lawn mower to these sections, one pass down each side. Very hot and tiring work, though. I hope it's not a choice between that and the park's mega-mower ...

[mjpo]

I did not mow. I am going to get out there tomorrow morning to mow though. I will ask the park what they used. Steve, they have a DR Trimmer I borrow sometimes. Otherwise it is my push mower or the chapter weedwhip. Thanks for the willingness to help out. Get ahold of me and let me know when you were thinking of going out.

Thanks!

[TenSpeed]

Bugs are starting to show up now. I think the rain last night might have brought em in. Trail is really nice right now. Still pretty dry after the rain. Really loving the Dragonball to Swamp Thing area. Really liking how well maintained it appears to be. I love the options within Dragonball to go over stuff. 3 different stunts to try, or you can just bypass.

[pfox90]

*beep* the trail is in good shape. Needed that rain last night now there is some nice traction to be had. I recommend you get out there today. Thanks to the eagle scouts and whoever helped build the new feature on red route. We should move to fixing a new stunt by loopmans where that tree ride was all rotted out.