Blow the leaves away at MMCC?

For discussing Northeast Chapter topics.

Blow the leaves away at MMCC?

Postby dirtpo » November 10th, 2009, 10:26 am

Jill and I rode MMCC at Harrison a week or so ago and found the leaves to be so deep and fluffy that it was easy to lose the trail. I'm wondering if we could put together a brigade of leaf blowers to walk the trail sometime soon. I have a backpack model that will clear a line as fast as I can walk. Four or five of us could do it in an hour or 2. Any volunteers? Got a good time? There is no hunting at MMCC, so it would be good to have this trail in prime shape this fall.
Dirtpo

There is no society in recorded history that ever suffered because its people became too reasonable. Sam Harris
User avatar
dirtpo
 
Posts: 48
Joined Forum: April 13th, 2004, 1:28 pm
Location: Midland

Re: Blow the leaves away at MMCC?

Postby Thad Hallberg » November 10th, 2009, 11:54 am

I had the same issue a couple of weekends ago. Glad that the little orange ribbons were still marking the route. Seems like I mentioned the leaves to either Steve or Vaughn and they had a the same thoughts. I could borrow a gas blower and join the brigade. I'm fairly open with times.
Thad Hallberg
 
Posts: 76
Joined Forum: August 13th, 2007, 3:02 pm
Location: Midland, MI

Re: Blow the leaves away at MMCC?

Postby chrismaltby » November 10th, 2009, 8:05 pm

I know you have safety issues in mind, but it's my opinion that the best thing for a trail in a state with sandy soil is to leave the leaves alone and ride them into the trail. Trails that have this natural detritus left in place will set up firmer, handle more water and need less re-routing. This is based on nothing but my observations and is in no way scientific.

Chris
"Go that way, really fast. If something gets in your way, turn." -- Charles de Mar

“It's so easy for a kid to join a gang, to do drugs, ... We should make it that easy to be involved in football and academics.”

--Snoop Dogg
User avatar
chrismaltby
 
Posts: 518
Joined Forum: January 1st, 2008, 11:40 pm

Re: Blow the leaves away at MMCC?

Postby Jeff_Adamcik » November 14th, 2009, 6:36 pm

From my view point, there is nothing like riding a freshly raked trail and I was out there today and must say that was the most enjoyable ride I've had on the MMCC. Chris their is still enough leaves on the trail that should keep both view points happy.
User avatar
Jeff_Adamcik
 
Posts: 92
Joined Forum: August 28th, 2002, 10:12 pm

Re: Blow the leaves away at MMCC?

Postby Di_bear » November 14th, 2009, 8:18 pm

Is there something TCs could use to break up the leaves rather than remove them?
Diane Ursu
At-Large State Board Member | Communications Coordinator | Mid-State Webmaster
My forum posts = not the MMBA's opinion.

Moronacity | Camping @HCP
"He's like kryptonite to aluminum." - dirt
User avatar
Di_bear
 
Posts: 6429
Joined Forum: September 4th, 2006, 11:09 am
Location: Durand - Keweenaw - Here, There, Everywhere

Re: Blow the leaves away at MMCC?

Postby G.Cook » November 14th, 2009, 8:25 pm

mulching mower .
Have Mcleod , will travel .
"A man who stands for nothing , falls for anything .
Malcolm X
G.Cook
 
Posts: 2459
Joined Forum: June 24th, 2002, 11:17 pm

Re: Blow the leaves away at MMCC?

Postby Di_bear » November 14th, 2009, 8:36 pm

G.Cook wrote:mulching mower .


Thank you. :-) Do we have any TCs who use these? This discussion came up at the MAYTAG conference just in conversation, and I thought about this.
Diane Ursu
At-Large State Board Member | Communications Coordinator | Mid-State Webmaster
My forum posts = not the MMBA's opinion.

Moronacity | Camping @HCP
"He's like kryptonite to aluminum." - dirt
User avatar
Di_bear
 
Posts: 6429
Joined Forum: September 4th, 2006, 11:09 am
Location: Durand - Keweenaw - Here, There, Everywhere

Re: Blow the leaves away at MMCC?

Postby jrshome » November 14th, 2009, 8:51 pm

Don't know about this trail, but the leaves out at Brighton have been a death trap for the last couple of weeks......
"Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together..."
-- Carl Zwanzig
User avatar
jrshome
 
Posts: 336
Joined Forum: May 14th, 2005, 8:51 pm
Location: Farmington Hills

Re: Blow the leaves away at MMCC?

Postby wrong_way_eddy » November 17th, 2009, 10:12 pm

Thanks for the good comment Jeff. The trail is blown clear of leaves and in great shape. To those of you unfamiliar with this trail, the soil consists of gravel and clay. I don't think you could pulverize a leaf enough to make it penetrate this stuff! Enjoy the ride!!!!
wrong_way_eddy
 
Posts: 4
Joined Forum: October 8th, 2009, 9:27 pm

Re: Blow the leaves away at MMCC?

Postby zippy » November 23rd, 2009, 12:13 am

Rode the MMCC trail yesterday and again today - it's in great shape!
zippy
 
Posts: 135
Joined Forum: January 18th, 2006, 10:50 pm
Location: Midland

Re: Blow the leaves away at MMCC?

Postby chrismaltby » April 12th, 2010, 11:01 pm

Di_bear wrote:
G.Cook wrote:mulching mower .


Thank you. :-) Do we have any TCs who use these? This discussion came up at the MAYTAG conference just in conversation, and I thought about this.


The deck would have to be set very high to not hit rocks and roots and what not and would not mulch so good. The Ithaca trail now has one sandy section. This is a clay based trail. It was due to over leaf blowing and racking. I saw this occur as I rode this trail 3 days a week or so for a few summers. Jeff is probably right. There is enough leaf litter out there, but year after year antiseptic leaf blowing will hurt the trail. This is just something that needs to be managed.

Chris
"Go that way, really fast. If something gets in your way, turn." -- Charles de Mar

“It's so easy for a kid to join a gang, to do drugs, ... We should make it that easy to be involved in football and academics.”

--Snoop Dogg
User avatar
chrismaltby
 
Posts: 518
Joined Forum: January 1st, 2008, 11:40 pm

Re: Blow the leaves away at MMCC?

Postby scat silvurz » April 12th, 2010, 11:51 pm

With the dry spring we've had, the trails that have had much of the leaf debris removed, or have hardly any leafy winter deposits, have not suffered any deleterious effects at all [novi tree farm + maybury] - contrary to the hand wringers who would tell you otherwise. You could argue that this spring is a true freak of nature [It is!], but, like anything else, be mindful of your soil conditions - some trails can handle the leaf removal, and some can't, it's up to you to figure that out.
Five fingers, three chords, and one *beep*.....!
Image
User avatar
scat silvurz
 
Posts: 8336
Joined Forum: January 21st, 2003, 12:24 am

Re: Blow the leaves away at MMCC?

Postby chrismaltby » May 23rd, 2010, 10:21 pm

scat silvurz wrote:With the dry spring we've had, the trails that have had much of the leaf debris removed, or have hardly any leafy winter deposits, have not suffered any deleterious effects at all [novi tree farm + maybury] - contrary to the hand wringers who would tell you otherwise. You could argue that this spring is a true freak of nature [It is!], but, like anything else, be mindful of your soil conditions - some trails can handle the leaf removal, and some can't, it's up to you to figure that out.


Despite my love for detritus, MMCC is is very good shap -- or it was two weeks ago.
"Go that way, really fast. If something gets in your way, turn." -- Charles de Mar

“It's so easy for a kid to join a gang, to do drugs, ... We should make it that easy to be involved in football and academics.”

--Snoop Dogg
User avatar
chrismaltby
 
Posts: 518
Joined Forum: January 1st, 2008, 11:40 pm

Re: Blow the leaves away at MMCC?

Postby zippy » May 23rd, 2010, 10:24 pm

Rode MMCC today, and it's in awesome shape... even without any detritus!
zippy
 
Posts: 135
Joined Forum: January 18th, 2006, 10:50 pm
Location: Midland


Return to Northeast

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest