IMBA Trailbuilding School at Swope 3/20

I know this is short notice but I received an email from IMBA and also a email from Scott Capstack concerning an opportunity for Green Hills members to attend and particpate in an IMBA trailbuilding school at Swope Park next Saturday, March 20th.

Here are the basic details:
IMBA Trailbuilding School
Hosted by ERTA

March 20th, 2010
Swope Park

9:00 a.m. Classroom session with IMBA TCC

12:00 p.m. Lunch provided by Earth Riders Mountain Bike Club

1:00 p.m. Field session building sustainable singletrack

To Follow: Social Event Hosted by Earth Riders Mountain Bike Club

What to Bring: Eye protection. Gloves. Water for field session.

What to Expect: Learn to build great singletrack. Meet fellow singletrack enthusiasts. Enjoy some casual social interactions afterwards.

Contact me if you are interested and I will send you this info with directions via email. We have tools for anyone that wants to attend and weather permitting, there may be an opportunity to ride Swope.

Doug

If I can manage to get off of work, I would like to attend the seminar.

So as usual, work is going to keep me from pursuing more personal interests. There is a seminar in Des Moines in June that I'm dedicated to making happen though.

Aside from drainage and armoring, what other trail work gets priority in Spring?

The first time through, it's just a matter of observation and clearing debris and downfall. Best to do this taking long hikes.

I use this time to determine possible reroutes. Spring is the wet time and water crossings (armoring) is always a priority. With all the flooding we have had over the past few years, the creek crossings have changed dramatically. I know the only time I rode 1000 Hills last year, I couldn't believe how much that trail has changed in the past 5 years. Partly because of poor planning in the first place and also because of the horse damage on the conservation side of the trail.

I will be heading to Indian Creek, probably today, to start flagging the next section of trail that will be the next construction phase from #17 lot going north toward the north (Trials) campground up on Rt. A.

I get that approved and I'll have a project to work on for at least the next year.

It will unquestionably be a long road to recovery for THT. It has seen so little work over the years that a few sections had the corridor completely closed over, and many sections are threatening to close over. I've done some work with a set of loppers and am always left wondering if there is a better tool for dense brushing work. It also has several eternally soupy sections that need to be rerouted. I've been at least trying to keep it mowed this last year and a half or so, but it needs a lot more lovin' than that. At any rate, the wheels of change are turning.

Going off on a tangent: What kind of volunteer base needs to be amassed here for you guys to consider adding Thousand Hills Trail to your local trail listings without any undue embarrassment?

So I guess I didn't miss anything this weekend with the snowstorm and all. Will there be a rescheduled trailwork day?