Walnut Connector Expansion

[daniel240]

I know the trails have only been open for a few months now but has there been any talk about continuing on with the walnut connector trail?  It was my understanding that it was left up to whoever wanted to volunteer on adding to this trail.  Just wondering as I would like to help out with this as much as I can.  I would love to see this great trail grow larger and larger.

[kylekirkman]

scouting for future expansion can occur at any time. From the end of the Walnut, we will be going westward to the river. Alex has made some preliminary runs of the advanced section, and you can view the ariel conceptual layouts here: http://alexmtb.smugmug.com/gallery/6395333_r4fcR#404664121_wfZh4

I'll send you a partial topo map of the western portion of the park in your email...

I had plans to go scout in the fall, when the leaves are down so I can have a greater line of sight... but it never hurts to tromp in the woods in the middle of summer.

If you are coming to my house Friday we can chat a bit about the scouting... and if you've never worked on a trail before we can watch the IMBA DVD companion to "Trail Solutions", use a clinometer and do some hands on with a rhino...

Better yet why not suprise my wife with a sweet new section of singletrack in the front yard.- Kyle

[daniel240]

Scouting in the fall would make much more sense.  I dont think I would want to be out in the thick brush now anyway with all the bugs and ticks.  I spend most of my time deer hunting in the early fall but once gun season starts I'm done.  I have helped build a few trails before and I actually have the IMBA videos on trail building.  Those preliminary maps look sweet.  That would be an awesome set of trails.       
 

[kylekirkman]

yeah boy there's some ok terrain to play with... I think 120ft of elevation....
and rumor has it that the North side of the road is a possibility, and maybe the Youth camp area to the east of the beginner loop.

Allz needed is a good core group of trail folk to keep it maintained and lead the way.

I'm in.

[kylekirkman]

I'm going to go out on a limb and shoot for a scouting session around the middle of October.... Say October 18th.....

I believe that Alex is the only one to get a good on foot picture of what's "Westward" from the Walnut/Intermediate trail....  If anyone would like a topo and begin to review Alex's conceptual ideas, and then speak with him say, in a confrence call in the future, about what features and lines he knows exists so we can scout it....

give me a shout... email, or call    2 o 4    -  o   five five one 

[Alex]

I've only scouted the area north/east of the Oka Run drainage:



Here's a sketch of one potential route from the walnut shelter area to the bridge crossing Oka.  You should be able to use 80' to 110' of elevation change at least 3 times.  The distance of this sketch is just over 3.5 miles.

Of course, once you start running grade lines and scouting the best drainage crossings your finished route will differ from this sketch.

I don't think Oka can reasonably be crossed anywhere other than the old roadbed bridge.  You might find a crossing far upstream but most of what I saw was flat bottom swamp land guarding the deep gash of Oka.  That would require serious boardwalking leading to a large bridge structure (25+').

That leaves a nice chunk of land to the southwest.  To get there you will have to cross the Pahoka drainage.  It looks like the closer you get to the property boundary with the camp the better your chances for this crossing may be.  Once across Pahoka, it looks like you'll have nice contour terrain to make a loop.

It's unfortunate that the southern property boundary cuts off the good contour land that would allow for a large loop back to Walnut shelter area.

Be sure to guard yourself from the Chiggers!  When I was scouting in late Sept. last year I came home covered with bites.  That's a little slice of hell I wouldn't wish on anyone.  Even you, Kyle  

[kylekirkman]

dood is that internet smiley blowing kisses at me?

Hot.

Right- will follow the scout, and don't worry about the property boundary as I put it on Paul Angryface's credit. He's gonna be so pissed.

Will let the minions know about your post and get out the word. Peace Cobbler.

[kylekirkman]

really? do ya think? o that changes everything then as i had intentions of building the entire system myself without consulting anyone else, particularly Alex, who has practical experience, knowledge, and training and is damn good at what he and the rest of the crew does.

Do what he says.... sheesh...you must be crazy.

[Paul_Arlinghaus]

I still think that Alex just randomly throws down a trail, and has been getting lucky (over and over again).

Good or Lucky?  Doesn't really matter his trails rock!

[Bentcrank]

Do what he says.... sheesh...you must be crazy.

That I am.

[kylekirkman]

Hello All-
 
Harmonie Expansion Assessment/Work Day
 
Saturday 11.14.9 at  9 am till whenever
Meet at the main trail head....
On the Ticket, depending on numbers of people.....
 
Scouting Advanced Section
Find cool features in the advanced territory
(Will have a crummy copy of a topo, although you might have GPS overlay abilities.....)
 
Assess campground connectors.
Find problem areas on existing trail.
Clearing potential issues on existing trail.
Paint the Kiosk.
Eat a Goat.
 
Ok that's the news.
Get Jazzed.
Feel Free to call 812. 204. 0551 ....  I plan on being at Harmonie at 8 ish... cell reception is dodgy but I will be at the Main trail head/ Kiosk at 9am.
 
Cheers and Thanks-
Kyle Kirkman

[hard chargin]

Are we thinking of building features on the advanced trail? Such as wooden structures, drops, jumps, gaps, berms, etc..Or will this be more of an advanced technical trail full of hairpin turns, climbs, and harder to ride terrain? Also is the area we are looking to mark going to be in the flood zone of the park? I know getting down close to the river is pushing it.

[kylekirkman]

we could... as in we the locals, but there would have to be signifigant manpower and people who are on board for the duration of the projects...    Alex and crew will lay the ground work as happened last time.... with volly labor and paid labor, but their main job is putting miles on the ground.
with extra hands on a more regular basis, and locals who are willing to organize and plan, and submit designs to Harmonie for feature integration into the system- sure it would be a go.. but again it is up to the local riders to put in some outright hardwork.

but getting people together to even openly discuss other 'fun' options has been... problematic and unsuccessful.

[hard chargin]

It will be more successful once we put the trail on the ground. Give us something to work with and we'll adapt the fun factor. No commitees needed. If people don't feel like building then they shouldn't have any complaints after the work is done. That's one way of looking at it. 

On another note: Are Alex and crew going to come and machine groom the trail like last time?

[Paul_Arlinghaus]

The expansion of the Walnut trail will not be done with Alex's company.  It will be up to local trail builders to build it by hand.  Please keep in mind that half of BCSP's trails were hand built by volunteers and over half of Versailles was hand built. It is easier to build more difficult trails by hand, because tread width can be narrower. 

Please keep in mind that the trails we build in State Parks have to live up to a very high standard.  Short cuts taken in the past on local trails aren't going to fly.  And free ride stunts are not currently in play. 

Those working on trail layout, must understand and buy into IMBA standards for sustainability and IMBA guidelines for trail difficulty.  Because the HMBA board is on the hook with the DNR and for Insurance of the trail design, any trail route must be approved by a representative of the HMBA board.  If you lay out the trail well with respect to IMBA standards and difficulty then we just need to come down and sign off on the design.  If you don't follow the IMBA standards then we will have to relay out the trail.

Also, I have been disappointed by the lack of feed back on the HMBA site from the local riding community.  If it wasn't for a couple people, there would be nothing posted on the HMBA site.  I am not sure how or if the local mountain bike community communicates, but it from the lack of buzz about this trail, it really doesn't seem that there is much interest in more trails.

Paul