Build it to ride it

[mtbfree]

Has to be the best trail building video I've ever seen.

[irishpitbull]

Really cool

[iamkickstand]

oh how I loath living in michigan

[mtbfree]

oh how I loath living in michigan

Oh, come on, you could totally do this in michigan... you just need to pony up and buy one of the old abandoned ski resorts up north, cuz lord knows it's never going to happen on public land.

[i69whitey]

i couldn't wait to get home and watch this on a bigger screen, very cool

couldn't do this in MI?
have y'all been to copper harbor? aaron and his partner are on the blink
2 guys, 40 hrs a week, and they got a bobcat with a jack hammer on it too

[mtbfree]

i couldn't wait to get home and watch this on a bigger screen, very cool

couldn't do this in MI?
have y'all been to copper harbor? aaron and his partner are on the blink
2 guys, 40 hrs a week, and they got a bobcat with a jack hammer on it too

Well, kickstand and I both live in SE Michigan, and from here, Copper Harbor might as well be another state. It's a significantly longer drive than say, Seven Springs, Wisp, Blue Mtn Ontario, or even Snowshoe for us.

[iamkickstand]

i couldn't wait to get home and watch this on a bigger screen, very cool

couldn't do this in MI?
have y'all been to copper harbor? aaron and his partner are on the blink
2 guys, 40 hrs a week, and they got a bobcat with a jack hammer on it too

Well, kickstand and I both live in SE Michigan, and from here, Copper Harbor might as well be another state. It's a significantly longer drive than say, Seven Springs, Wisp, Blue Mtn Ontario, or even Snowshoe for us.

takes me 6.5 hours to get to marquette, 420 miles no fuel stops.
Takes me exactly 11 hours to get to copper harbor. 550 miles, one fuel stop.The trails were great, but to compare them to the trails out in BC on the north shore is a little silly.
Takes me 9 hours to get to snowshoe. 500 miles, no stops.
Seven springs looks like 6.5 hours, I'll let you know when I get back on monday.

mtbfree I'd love to buy one of the ski resorts up north, considered buying the old skyline resort (oddly enough I have property on skyline road) but there is not enough around skyline to support it. Plus there is a reason there are multiple closed and abandoned ski resorts in northern michigan, doesn't look like a sound business plan, unless I can trip over the cash to outright purchase something and recoup operating costs. More like a hobby than a sustainable business.

I'd love to be able to design an entire bike park my way....oh how fun that would be.

[mtbfree]

mtbfree I'd love to buy one of the ski resorts up north, considered buying the old skyline resort (oddly enough I have property on skyline road) but there is not enough around skyline to support it. Plus there is a reason there are multiple closed and abandoned ski resorts in northern michigan, doesn't look like a sound business plan, unless I can trip over the cash to outright purchase something and recoup operating costs. More like a hobby than a sustainable business.

Who said anything about running a business? I just said you need to buy an old ski resort
That way, there would be a nice private piece of land with some hills where you could build anything you want

[barry007]

ever since riding in Whistler i've been eying the garbage dump in Plymouth/northville thinking it could be turned into a bike park someday. We need something (even if it's not CH quality) in the metro area.

[c0nsumer]

ever since riding in Whistler i've been eying the garbage dump in Plymouth/northville thinking it could be turned into a bike park someday. We need something (even if it's not CH quality) in the metro area.

If you're interested in working on such a project, approach your local chapter and talk to them. I'm sure they'd be willing to support you on leading such a development.

[barry007]

the canadians are still using the site for their trash...i'm sure it's a few years away yet from being full.

[i69whitey]

the canadians are still using the site for their trash...i'm sure it's a few years away yet from being full.

cool, even more elevation to work with

[geardaddy37]

And new stunts! (used needles, bio-hazard bags, etc...)

[utabintarbo]

I can see "The Skinny of Doom" over a pit of exposed stuff like that. Then we'll see who has the big balls (or no brains)!

[deezler]

I just found this interactive map of Washtenaw county and it continues to blow my mind with the quality and detail.
http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/de ... w_Main.htm

Looking at the topographical map of the dump, it's well over 200 feet tall already. If they had been placing and burying the garbage specifically to create a mountain, it could be 350+ feet by now. Imagine the revenue a ski resort of over 400 feet could bring in such a convenient location. Sprinkle in MTB and DH trails for summer use, and we have a real winner here. I will sign any and all petitions for ideas like this.

But using that topo map, you can also pan around the county to find other serious hills. Most natural ones are 130' of vertical or less, but hey, that's still pretty fun.