Poto: Rolling Hills Park

[jeepskate]

Bemis connector is mowed. I've been wanting to get my mower out there for a while, and it did not disappoint. It took a couple passes but it looks pretty good now. Had to stop at the log pile, as the mower could not get over, I did not want to blaze new trail to the double track, and I had to get back to the house.

I think the flowers that jeepskate is referring to are garlic mustard overtaking a few portions along the trail.

yes, the garlic mustard is what i meant. Thanks again parttime, always got my back! Thanks for mowing, I will hopefully be out there tonight. The geraniums are cool, and I especially like the cool mist that seeps up from the ground on the connector before dark. makes for a refreshing finish to the trail ride before hitting the gravel roads back to home.

[michael48197]

Thanks, "parttime" for mowing the connector and thanks also to all who showed up last weekend for the Grand Opening.

I spent a couple of hours today trimming the first section and wacking back about 100 yards or so on the west fence line before the large log pile. I don't think that area had been done in two years so it was starting to get quite overgrown. Someone else must have thought so too and had already done some trimming. Thanks for that.

I also roughed out another 100-150 yards of trail headed into the new western section. I had thought that the initial work a few weeks ago had reached about half way to the west gate, but I think it was only about 1/4 of the way considering there are some twists and turns in the planned trail. That's both good and bad news. There's still a long way to go (400+ yards??) to the west gate, but that means there will be more single track to ride. I'll let the RHP community know soon about the next work day on the new trail.

If anyone has time to spend on trail maintenance, let me know and I'll try to provide some equipment. If you go out on your own, please focus on mowing and trimming. Don't be shy with trimming back a few feet from the trail....think anything within arms reach above and to each side. However, don't remove the canopy either as it makes for a good riding experience. Thanks in advance.

[michael48197]

Last night at the Poto Chapter meeting I got approval to buy the hedge trimmer attachment for our Stihl FS90 trimmer. I picked it up this morning from Larry's Mower on Jackson. While the solid 4-lobe blade we already owned is great for horizontal cuts on woody growth like Autumn Olive, etc. it's cumbersome for vertical cuts on overhanging branches. So, now we are well-equiped with both heads which can be changed in a minute or two with a Torx driver. Bob Hollen will be the first to use it at HCP this weekend where the hedge trimmer will be really useful. If anyone wants to use either head on the Stihl or other loppers/trimmers, let me know.

Thanks in advance to all who have been helping with trail maintenance thus far this year.

[michael48197]

There will be a trail work day at Rolling Hills on Sunday June 10. If you are available and interested in helping out, we will meet at 8 AM and work until Noon or so depending on the the weather and heat. We will trim up a some critical areas of the trail for an hour or so, but concentrate on continuing building the NW extension. With a good crew, we should be able to make a significant dent in finishing the first section as there are a lot of open areas which only require mowing.

Meet at the trailhead parking lot at 8 AM. Bring lopers, trimmers, sunscreen, bug juice and a strong back. I recommend wearing long pants, long sleeves (for bugs, branches and sun) and sturdy shoes. Tell the gate keeper that you are entering the park for MTB trail work and they should let you in free of charge.

Please let me know in advance if you are able to attend. If I get enough positive responses in advance, I'll provide some food and "refreshments". Look to this forum and/or the Poto Yahoo Group if a cancellation becomes necessary.

[ryanmcg]

Hi Michael, I just moved to the Saline area this week. I'm going to go check out RHP for the first time this evening! Sign me up for the Sunday trail day! (though I don't have any tools to bring)

How can I get added to the Yahoo group? Would love to stay involved.

[michael48197]

A small crew of three made a lot of progress today on extending the trail to the west towards Munger Rd. "Parttime" brought his wide deck mower and we were able to buzz cut the first 175-200 yds of the new trail that was rough cut about a month ago. So, that part is officially open for riding. We mowed a few yards of grass to connect from the single track to the service road so riders can double back and return to the main trail. We also trimmed and pulled root balls from the next 175-200 yards and mowed a bit of if before the mower died. This section is actually rideable, but not mowed so it's still covered with Golden Rod stalks and the like. I'll try to get the push mower out this week and buzz cut it so it's more rideable.

The next section should be quite interesting with a couple of mounds to ride over and around. With a good turn out for the next trail day (and reliable equipment), we should reach the back gate along Munger to complete this whole first section. Look for a notice here and on the Poto Yahoo! Group for the next trail day...maybe next Sat. 6/16...I'll confirm later this week.

[ryanmcg]

*beep*, I forgot! Will add to my calendar next time, sorry about that. Might be available 6/16, not sure yet. I'm subscribed, so just keep posting updates.

[michael48197]

I won't call it an official "trail day", but I plan to be out at RHP on Sat. 6/16 to continue with the new trail building. I'm planning to mow the second half of the new section to chew up the Goldenrod, etc. I also hope to get some work done on the next few hundred yards of trail which goes over some nice mounds and then on to the back gate. If anyone has the time, come out and join me from 8AM to Noon. Thanks.

If anyone wants to borrow equipment for trail maintenance, let me know.

[ryanmcg]

Rode RHP for the first time last night. Came in at #6 off of Bemis Rd and found the singletrack, but quickly encountered someone else who told me I was going the wrong way. Ended up losing them, and once I popped out on the two-track, I couldn't find where to re-enter the singletrack. Might need someone to show me the way around.

Also, Michael, if you have a weed eater, I can help widen out a lot of the overgrowth tomorrow. It was a little tight, and I got snagged a few times by sticker bushes. Just let me know!

[john_galt]

Rode RHP for the first time last night. Came in at #6 off of Bemis Rd and found the singletrack, but quickly encountered someone else who told me I was going the wrong way. Ended up losing them, and once I popped out on the two-track, I couldn't find where to re-enter the singletrack. Might need someone to show me the way around.

Also, Michael, if you have a weed eater, I can help widen out a lot of the overgrowth tomorrow. It was a little tight, and I got snagged a few times by sticker bushes. Just let me know!

I don't know what #6 is but the trail direction is clockwise. If you enter at the bemis connector, which is at the intersection of Stony Creek & Bemis, go left after the log pile. If you enter at the Bemis Gate, go left at the singletrack/two track intersection. Hope this helps.

[dnale]

Might be able to come out tomorrow morning to help. Where should I go if I am available?

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[michael48197]

I rode the whole trail last night for the first time in about three weeks. There clearly is a lot of green growth swiping at a rider's arms and legs, but I was happy that there are very few, if any, face slappers. Given the undergrowth situation, I think we'll focus on maintenance in tomorrow's work session after we mow down the Goldenrod on the new section. I'll bring the push mower, lopers, hand pruners and the gas hedge trimmer. If anyone has a push mower and/or weed wacker to bring as well that would be great. Meet at the trail head parking lot at 8 AM. If you are late, call my cell phone at 734-528-1496 to find out where we are working.

With the newest section headed west along the fence line towards Munger Rd., I measured the trail at an "official" 3.9 miles including ~200 yards of pavement to finish at the trial head parking lot. The trail is very fast right now, but also quite dry...drier than ever at RHP. Watch out for sand on some turns which could wash out if you lean too much. I averaged right at 24' for two laps...pretty fast considering I used to clock about 22' for ~3.2 miles when the trail was wetter and slicker.

Ryan,
#6??? Were you actually at Hewens Creek Park about 1 mile away East on Bemis and not Rolling Hills? I know HCP has number markers and is sounds like you started on the single track right out of the HCP parking lot. Check the Trail Guide on this site for maps of RHP and HCP.

[dnale]

Makes me feel not too bad at 26 minutes.

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[ryanmcg]

#6??? Where you actually at Hewens Creek Park about 1 mile away East on Bemis and not Rolling Hills? I know HCP has number markers and is sounds like you started on the single track right out of the HCP parking lot. Check the Trail Guide on this site for maps of RHP and HCP.

Maybe so. There were numbered markers with trail maps all over the place, but they didn't mark the singletrack that I found. Maybe I was in the wrong place then? When I lost the trail, I gave up and took the paved 2-track north and found the water park. I will just drive there on Saturday and meet you at the front entrance. Will bring a push mower, and my bike.

[michael48197]

Ryan,
If you were on paved paths and saw the water park, you were definitely at RHP, not HCP. I had forgotten about the new park signs at RHP with numbers. After you have ridden the trail once it will be quite obvious where to go. It's easiest to start at the trail head. At virtually every intersection (and there are 27 of them !!), the single track goes straight across the paved path or mowed lane. One of the few exceptions is in the SE corner near the Bemis Connector where the single track goes left for ~50 yards on the grass lane and across the wooden bridge. The only other confusing part is in the NW corner where the single track dumps out on the paved path at ~2.9 miles...turn left for ~20 yards, past the grass triangle...to do the new section, turn sharp left back against the fence and then double back on the service road...to finish turn right at the triangle and follow the treeline (or left if you are coming back from the new section)...confusing I'm sure, but will be obvious once you do it.

For all,
Remember to tell the person at the gate house that you are entering for MTB trail maintenance and they should let you enter for free. Usually, however, there isn't anyone at the gate at 8 AM. Meet at the trail head parking lot...past the gate house, straight through the circle and then ~1/4 mile on the right...look for my car with the magnetic MMBA sign on the side.