Poto: Rolling Hills Park

[michael48197]

Thanks to Ryan, Dale, Werner and Norm for helping out today on trail maintenance. With this crew, we were able to mow and trim all of the first mile past the crater and sections of the second and third mile including the whole finishing section. We also used the push mower on the new western section to mulch up the Goldenrod stalks. So, hopefully, it won't feel like riding on nails now!! Please try riding this newest section and help wear in a nice tread.

I did some reconnaisance on the remaining part of this new western section. Again, I'm surprised how far there is to go to the back gate along Munger Rd. As the crow flies, it's only 100 yards or so from the end of the mowed section. But the trail layout winds more than I remembered from last spring as the meadows look so different with all the spring/summer growth. So, there's still 300+ yards of trail to cut to finish the section. Luckily though, there's only a bit of pruning and earth work on the upcoming two mounds in the wooded section (~80 yards?) and the rest is meadows. So, after the mound work is done (1 work day?), then I think we can finish up the whole section with a good crew of 3-4 and a walk-behind mower. I'll let you know about the next work day soon.

[dnale]

Sorry I didn't make it out there this morning. Plans changed last night. Where is the new section you have been working on? I've been on the new section that parallels the section of asphalt as it heads toward the water park. That new piece has gotten pretty good quickly.

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[michael48197]

I rode a couple of laps at RHP last night. The recent rain has consolidated some of the sandy areas nicely, but made other areas a bit greasy. Overall, the trail is in good shape.

The first mile up to the crater is in awesome shape with last week's trimming work. However, a lot of the second and third miles of trail still need some pruning and mowing. Unfortunately, I will be out of town next week and through the July 4 holiday. We really need to get these other areas mowed in the next two weeks and I won't be available. If anyone wants to borrow the chapter mower or other equipment, please try to meet up with me by Sunday PM to exchange it. Feel free to use your own push mower as well. Since all of the trail has been mowed over the last two years, there is very little woody growth along the edges and a very low likelihood of damaging a mower. So, feel free to go out to RHP on your own to mow or prune anything that's a face-slapper, knee-scrapper or is likely to encroach on the trail this year. The general rule of trimming and mowing is this: anything within a full-arms reach on the side or overhead when you are standing has to be cut back. If there is a lot of grass or green growth, try to mow it double wide on both sides with a push mower. If anyone goes out to mow, start at the crater at the end of Mile 1 and do the next two sections. Then feel free to hop around wherever you think it needs work...the section after the "west meadow" and before the start of the disc golf at ~2.5 miles needs mowing to cut back the greenery that will soon be depositing lots of sticky seeds on our legs!! I'll try to get RHP staff to mow the "west meadow".

Anyway, please call (734-528-1496) or Email me if you want equipment by Sunday.

[ryanmcg]

Yeah, I definitely noticed the area that we missed when I rode it last week. I will try and go out there with the push mower this evening and get everything I can past the crater.

*Edit: Scratch that, I lost my truck for the weekend. Don't think I could fit the mower in the back of a Fiat 500.

[michael48197]

I have confirmation from RHP staff that they will mow the "west meadow". Hopefully, that will get done this coming week.

[ChrisInYpsi]

Did a couple laps this morning but skipped the areas that were being trimmed. Trail is generally in good condition. I rode the new section towards Munger several times to help wear it in. I assume for now we should head back on the two track where the new trail ends. Nice to have more sections to ride - thanks for everyone's efforts to make RHP such a great trail.

[john_galt]

The trail's in the best shape it's ever been. It appears the RHP staff cut most of what we missed last trail day, more than just the "west meadow". There's only a few short sections that need cutting now. The trail itself is mostly hard pack with a few sandy sections. It's good to see people have been riding the new section as a line is forming.

[Steve_Balogh]

Forgot to post Sunday. I rode the new section a couple of times, tried to go all the way to Munger road, but that dirt road is overgrown now.

[michael48197]

That was me, not RHP staff, that trimmed the sections before and after the west meadow...although RHP staff did mow the meadow itself. I had some free time last weekend before heading out of town and wanted to get the trimming done before the growth got out of hand.

I also trimmed up the next two hundred yards of trail on the new western section. It's not directly connected to the new trail so riders wouldn't try to ride it until some earth work is done. At the end of the newest single track where it meets the two-track, take a look left about 30 yards between the pine trees and a large autumn olive tree to see the start of the new trail and it's serpentine track over the the large mounds. If you walk over the trail, you get a good look at the mounds. They are not yet rideable, but will be fun once carved into a good line. I hope to have another trail day in July to get that work done and maybe completely finish the section back to Munger...still another 150-200 yards beyond the mounds with it's winding track.

[john_galt]

Well done Michael, you had a productive day! The new section with the mounds looks like great fun.

[dnale]

Rode it this morning. Great condition. The first new section from this year is in fast shape. I should have done two loops but I wanted to get back home before the heat really kicked in.

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[michael48197]

I had the day off yesterday so had the chance to ride at my leisure. I did three laps at RHP including the newest western spur. So, the whole trail "officially" averaged out to 3.8 miles on my bike...parking lot to parking lot. I couldn't match my pace from a week ago with the heat so averaged only 25:30 per lap, but wasn't really pushing it. Funny thing happened though: rode the first lap and on the second one there was a big tree limb across the path on the gravel road at the start of the second section. Good thing I wasn't in the wrong place at the wrong time!!

Watch out for the sand in the second section on the normally fast run down to the tight twisties between the autumn olive about 100 yards past the S-bend. It's extremely loose and almost sent me into the trees!!

[ChrisInYpsi]

I had the day off yesterday so had the chance to ride at my leisure. I did three laps at RHP including the newest western spur. So, the whole trail "officially" averaged out to 3.8 miles on my bike...parking lot to parking lot. I couldn't match my pace from a week ago with the heat so averaged only 25:30 per lap, but wasn't really pushing it. Funny thing happened though: rode the first lap and on the second one there was a big tree limb across the path on the gravel road at the start of the second section. Good thing I wasn't in the wrong place at the wrong time!!

Watch out for the sand in the second section on the normally fast run down to the tight twisties between the autumn olive about 100 yards past the S-bend. It's extremely loose and almost sent me into the trees!!

Thanks for the heads up. Really do need to slow down in some of the downhill twisties.

I did my loop in 28:00 today and I thought for sure that was super pokey compared to most folks. Good too know I'm not too far off a decent pace even if I am slow.

Also, I also found two ticks today. I saw the first one after HC but before RHP. The second one was found when I got home. I'm pretty sure I picked up both at HC but I'm not positive about the second one. It's a good idea to check carefully for ticks when you are done - especially if you ride thru HC before its trimmed back (the meadows are very overgrown at the moment).

Had a blast today. Might head back out after dinner.

[michael48197]

Looks like the brutal heat will start to break this weekend. There's still more trail trimming and mowing to be done at RHP including the three sections between the crater at 1 mile and the bluff at ~1.4 miles and the three sections through the disc golf course after crossing the paved path at ~2.4 miles to the west fence line at ~2.8 miles. I plan to spend 4-5 hours at RHP on SUNDAY morning 7/8 to work on trimming and finishing up the rough cut work on the new western section to reach Munger Road. While it will be cooler than this past week, I plan to start quite early at ~7:30 AM to finish before the heat builds up on Sunday. If you are free, I'd appreciate it if you could come out and give me a hand.

Let me know if you plan to join me. If so, I'll bring the push mower and trimming tools.

[michael48197]

Change of plans, unfortunately, due to a family commitment. So, I won't have time to do trail work at RHP this weekend. I'll post again when I plan further trail work. If anyone wants to borrow the Poto Chapter Stihl trimmer and/or push mower let me know and we can figure out how to exchange them this weekend.