Harmonie Trail Conditions

[kylekirkman]

Post current trail conditions here.

[kylekirkman]

Tornadic cell approaching Harmonie.... If anyone goes out Tuesday or whenever... If you see downed trees or drainage problem areas please post approximate locations on here ... or copy this image  and mark it in an image editor with best guess on where the problem is......Post the updated image here or send it to my email  evvemabike@gmail.com      http://evvemabike.googlepages.com/HarmonieOpening.jpg   

[kylekirkman]

HEllo- Evan has been out on the trails and ......below is his text and a map of the 2 downed trees......

......I rode the trails last night.  Overall they were in great shape, a real testament to the skill of the builders.  There were two good sized trees down, both leaning chest high over the trail (I couldn’t ride under them).  See the red dots on the attached map for (very) approximate locations.  Amazingly, the only significant soggy section was right before the second bridge on the walnut connector.
 
Other than that it just needed a little trimming back / picking up of small branches, which I plan to do sometime this week, most likely Friday afternoon.   
I do foresee some erosion problems in spots where the trail crosses the obvious natural drainage points.  It would be great if we could get a pile of rocks dropped of somewhere near the shelter so that we could wheelbarrow them out as needed to armor these spots.  As the build team noticed, there are almost no rocks to be found in the park.  I think I remember seeing a pile of concrete chunks by the boat ramp parking lot....

[kylekirkman]

Paul- Sure thing. To everyone: if you're planning on doing work to the trails outside of rhino work, talk with the park first! Everything needs to be cleared by them so have a good idea of what needs to be done and some type of action plan to present. And then run it by Alex because he already knowz itz...

And by the way- DO NOT USE CHAINSAWS IN THE PARK WITHOUT 1ST TAKING THE CHAINSAW CLASS!!!! Chastity said she would schedule one for those interested... and if you're interested holla, and we'll get a class going.

[hard chargin]

Hey Billy, So far there is a 4 mile loop and a 1 1/2 mile out/ back. I was out there last weekend and it was primo, and the camping is great. I ride the loop clockwise, it seems to be more fun that way. We also have Scales lake in the area. That's another 4 mile loop in Booneville IN. Both are a lot of fun. New Harmony trails are built so well your face will wear out from smiling before your legs burn out. Pretty easy to put in 2,3 or more laps in.

[riverrat]

Frozen and fast trails - helps that the sun is out, too.

[nick]

road some snowy trails at new harmoney today.  our group from owensboro, ky called yesterday and they told us they are not closing the trails anymore (hopefully this was a mis understanding as its going to be 40degrees next week and going to cause some nasty freeze thaw).  So we show up today and the green gate you come to about a mile before the trail head was closed and locked.  all the main roads where snow plowed except the one behind the closed gate.  so we assumed they just didn't plow it so they didn't open the road.   but going on what the lady told us on the phone the day before we took the chance and parked at a parking lot around the gate and road down to the trail head.  the trail head gate was open.  of course the trails where snow covered and frozen (12 degrees)  i hope we didn't break any of the rules and the gate was closed due to the snow on the road and not because the trails where closed.

[riverrat]

Walked the Sycamore loop yesterday.  The snow was more like slush than snow, and it was melting fast.  Removed some branches and vines that had fallen over the trail.  Don't recommend riding it anymore until we have a hard freeze.  All of the roads inside the park have been cleared, so road riding is a viable option for now.

[jason_molly]

Walked the out and back last Thursday evening.  Things were good with hardly any soft spots.  Of course this was before the torrential rain last weekend.

My wife is riding it this afternoon and I will report later.  I am going to ride tomorrow PM.

[jason_molly]

Some trees have fallen since last Thursday.  The trails are needing some clean up.  Picture of one tree down on the out and back.

[old attachment deleted by admin to free space]

[nick]

we made the trip to new harmoney on good friday for a little day ride and then a night ride.  trail was in pretty good shape.  the above tree is still down (folks are making a trail around it, so the sooner the better with the chainsaw) on the out and back and the beginner loop had a few low wet spots but over all very good conditions.  they are charging at the gate now...so buy your season pass if you go to indiana state parks often. 

also i talked to the park ranger (lady) that was at the gate about closing the trails again when its to wet.  she said alot of out of towners where coming in and where disappointed when the gate was closed.  she gave an instance of some folks coming down from chicago.  so it sounds like they will be open all the time still.  she said that "we" will just have to fix them if someone messes them up.  I assume parks and mtbers together are the "we".  I told her about how french lick got destroyed by having the trails open all the time.  Hopefully she will "educate" folks if they come in when its to wet to ride, as she seemed to have an interest in the mtb trails and what i was talking about.

[daniel240]

Rode harmonie Sunday afternoon. Overall the trails were in pretty good shape. The loop had some muddy spots but it was definetly rideable. The out and back was in perfect shape other than the massive tree down at the beginning. The loop also had 1 tree down in it as well.  I rode the loop backwards (CW) for the first time and I think I actually liked it better going in that direction. It had some nice long downhills. I stopped and looked at where the new Walnut connector trail starts and it doesnt look like much has been done other than some markers. I would like to help get started on this trail and now would be the perfect time to do it before the bugs and ticks get too bad. Anyone know if they have any work days planned?

[smackgilbson]

BEES !!!! Bee hive in thorn thicket at half way intesection on beginner loop. dont worry you will hear them buzzing like crazy right by the trail. Just keep on trucking!!!

[riverrat]

Walked the beginner's trail today taking down a couple of deadwood trees that had fallen low above the trail.  Also trimmed back the briars.  Noticed someone has removed a couple of small trees that were laying over the trail.  No bees now.  Trail in great shape.  Lost some weight when a wild turkey decided to come out of its roost about three feed from me!  Cleaned up that section of trail, too.  Expecting some rain Friday and Saturday.  Maybe it will miss us.

Rode the Walnut connector yesterday.  Still in great shape except for the tree down near the beginning.  The little detour is still there.

[jason_molly]

I would be willing to remove the tree on the Walnut Trail this weekend.  How do I get permission to use the chainsaw in the park? 

Please advise.