CRAMBA: Pontiac Lake

[Alexg]

Pretty good even though it's so dry. I was bored and brought my GoPro. Here's the video. http://youtu.be/BoSnoNNZD-s

[brokenbones]

Even with these unbelievable winds, there were not too many trees or branches down on the trail this evening. 2 notable exceptions: mile 2.7 - the climb just after the rock garden there's a 5 incher laying diagonal across the trail. It should be rideable, but the diagonal position makes it iffy, and there's some sharp spiky branches sticking up that would gut you if you happened to fall on one. The next snag is at mile 3.7 just after the perpetual wet spot between the meadow crossing and Campground Rd. There's a tangle of small trees or branches blocking the trail that forces a dismount and carry for a few yards. Everything else that was down this evening was small and rideable.

[surly]

Even with these unbelievable winds, there were not too many trees or branches down on the trail this evening. 2 notable exceptions: mile 2.7 - the climb just after the rock garden there's a 5 incher laying diagonal across the trail. It should be rideable, but the diagonal position makes it iffy, and there's some sharp spiky branches sticking up that would gut you if you happened to fall on one. The next snag is at mile 3.7 just after the perpetual wet spot between the meadow crossing and Campground Rd. There's a tangle of small trees or branches blocking the trail that forces a dismount and carry for a few yards. Everything else that was down this evening was small and rideable.

Thanks for the update. I wonder how it was on Sunday evening. Did it have enough time to dry out? Anyone ride it?

[ryanmcg]

Looks pretty nice outside! I've got a bunch of Chrysler guys heading out there after work. Should be a good ride! Hope to see ya'll out there!

[Chris]

Trail was in great shape! Tree still across trail about 3 miles in, can be ridden over.
Ryan, I work at Chrysler, what time you guys ride out there?
Chris

[Steve_Kinley]

Hey, I work at Chrysler also.

[smartblast.org]

Help make the trail even better. This Saturday is trail maintenance at PLRA. Meet at the beach lot at 9 A.M. to volunteer.

[str8flush24]

Help make the trail even better. This Saturday is trail maintenance at PLRA. Meet at the beach lot at 9 A.M. to volunteer.

Any tools in particular we should bring with us? Do you typically ride or hike to the areas we are working on?

[ryanmcg]

Trail was in great shape! Tree still across trail about 3 miles in, can be ridden over.
Ryan, I work at Chrysler, what time you guys ride out there?
Chris

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. We went out at 6:00p, gives enough time for everyone to get out there with all the M59/Pontiac traffic. If we do it again in the next week or two, I'll post it in ride announcements. Also, I'm getting an email list set up at work too. My NIC is DRM202.

I'll be at the trail day this Saturday. Never done one before, but I assume there will be some amount of new trail testing involved afterward, and will definitely bring the bike along!

[compacted_graphite]

Trail conditions for Thursday April 19: the mountain bike trail is in excellent condition. It is dry (at least until today and Friday's rain). Several trees were adjusted Wednesday afternoon, so that are currently no obstructions to the trail. The skeeters are just starting to show up.

There is a mountain bike trail maintenance day scheduled for Saturday April 21, 2012. Please meet at the trail head by the beach promptly at 9 am. We will sign waivers and proceed to our work zones after that. Weather prediction as of today for Saturday is expected to be partly cloudy and cool. Please bring sturdy shoes, long pants, safety glasses, drinking water, leather work gloves. Becuase we will be doing trail brush trimming and drainage control, shovels and tree pruners/knippers are welcome. We will have the MMBA/CRAMBA trailer on hand with more specific trail tools available.

[compacted_graphite]

Ryan, to answer your question about whether we walk or ride to the work site: Usually, we need to carry hand tools to the site, so walking is normally preferred. If we get enough people to show up, I do want to have the entire trail brushed and trimmed, so if a small crew could figure out how to carry pruners and still ride, so be it. Whatever we do, we need to do it in a safe manner. Our main objective for Saturday is for everyone to have fun and be safe.

Worksites will include: repair work on the last climb, repair of an eroded section just beyond trail junction signpost 3; knock off the downhill berm on the sweeping right hand curve right before the rock garden at mile 2.5; drainage work at mile post six; and over all trimming of the entire trail.

And testing the trail after completion of trail day is a great idea.

[Di_bear]

They make hand pruners that are easy to carry so you can ride and prune.

http://www.stihlusa.com/handtools/prune ... hears.html

[specialized rider]

I might be able to make it out tomorrow for the trail work. Do I have to register prior to the work day, or just show up at 9? Thanks.

[Sortaslow]

I might be able to make it out tomorrow for the trail work. Do I have to register prior to the work day, or just show up at 9? Thanks.

Just show up.

[compacted_graphite]

Trail conditions for Saturday, April 21: A repair to the final climb on the mountain bike loop was conducted today. The bottom of the climb has been switchbacked to the left, and then meets up with the existing trail half way up the climb. The repair was done to improve the drainage and lessen the grade to be more sustainable. The lower part of the climb had become terribly eroded. Invasive species such as Autumn Olive plants were cut and then placed on the tread of the old climb in order to prevent shortcutting the route and to eventually decompose on the old climb. Drainage work was conducted higher up on the climb. None of the elevation gain of the climb has been lost, so riders will continue to get a workout climbing this hill.

TCs Gary Harrington and Dave Boboltz wish to thank a somewhat small but very enthusiastic and hard working group of volunteers who came out to work the trail: David Kasdan, Ryan McGavock, Ben Reineck, Rodney Gullet, Keith Parmley, Bryan Wissman, and Oliver Wissman. Thanks to Dave Tuomala who worked the trail and transported the CRAMBA trailer from Stony Creek and back.

The trail should be in good shape for the spring riding season. Our goal is to continually improve drainage throughout the trail, so that riders can get back out there rapidly after rainfall.