FH Trail Maintenance

[srwings]

What is the protocol for removing large fallen trees from the Fountainhead MTB trail. Do I have to clear it with MORE or the Park or can I just show up with my chainsaw and start cutting?

I apologize if I posted in the wrong forum. Feel free to move it.

[werace424]

You can PM, email, the liaison for that particular park. Or maybe you could just post here and hope they see it if you don't know who that is.
I am pretty sure that the Fairfax County Park Authority does not allow private chainsawing in their parks. It may even be illegal?

Tom? Anyone else?................Anyone??

[jabberwocky]

Tom, the Fountainhead Trail Liaison, posts here but not that often. His email is listed in the Fountainhead trail description page (http://www.more-mtb.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1214) though.

I would recommend against going out there on your own with a chainsaw.

[MyOtherBrotherL]

What is the protocol for removing large fallen trees from the Fountainhead MTB trail. Do I have to clear it with MORE or the Park or can I just show up with my chainsaw and start cutting?

I apologize if I posted in the wrong forum. Feel free to move it.

Right Forum and it's a good question that applies to almost ALL of our trails.

No Chainsaws!!!

Unfortunately there are few places that allow the use of personal chain saws with or without certifications. Even with a certification, coordination with the land owner is a must!

((((There is a little more leeway in the regards with other non motorized cutting tools but even then - liability is a HUGE issue.))))

Here's what should be done. Identify where the tree is. Either post here in the Trail Conditions, contact the trail liaison directly or contact the Park directly. The tree will get removed!

Places like Elizabeth Furnace have a full time staff that handles tree removal. Other places have their own grounds crew or take advantage of certified or at least documented volunteer support.

It's not the successful removal of tree's that the Parks and MORE (And their lawyers) are worried about. It's the unsuccessful ones.

Remember they are called accidents and not "On Purposes".

Lastly - And I can not stress this enough - NO CHAINSAWS!!!

L (Assistant to the assistant Trail Boss for 2008)

[MyOtherBrotherL]

You can PM, email, the liaison for that particular park. Or maybe you could just post here and hope they see it if you don't know who that is.
I am pretty sure that the Fairfax County Park Authority does not allow private chainsawing in their parks. It may even be illegal?

Tom? Anyone else?................Anyone??

Man - You guys write too FAST.

And I think Paul meant to say, "The Northern Virginia Park Authority"

:D

[MyOtherBrotherL]

Tom, the Fountainhead Trail Liaison, posts here but not that often. His email is listed in the Fountainhead trail description page (http://www.more-mtb.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1214) though.

I would recommend against going out there on your own with a chainsaw.

Yea - Except it hasn't been updated. Tom's NEW E-Mail address is:
tommcrotty@gmail.com

[jabberwocky]

Yea - Except it hasn't been updated. Tom's NEW E-Mail address is:
tommcrotty@gmail.comHuh. It was correctly listed at the top, but the bottom was wrong. I fixed it. Thanks for pointing that out.

[starcitymtb]

Are there any re-routes planned for some of the more worn sections of FH? It seems to me that there are certain areas of the trail that would benefit from some re-routes.

What about the beloved Shock o billy section? It seems that over use and the advances in tire and brake technology have gotten the better of SOB.

[MyOtherBrotherL]

Are there any re-routes planned for some of the more worn sections of FH? It seems to me that there are certain areas of the trail that would benefit from some re-routes.

What about the beloved Shock o billy section? It seems that over use and the advances in tire and brake technology have gotten the better of SOB.

Long Story Short

We have $300 thousand dollars worth of reroutes planned for FH.

((It's painful just typing that))

Where are we at with this??

Master planned has been completed and paid for

What needs to be done (In order)

1. Plan needs to be formally presented to the MORE board
2. Plan needs to be formally presented to the Northern VA Park Authority
3. Plan needs to be presented to the biking community (This will be the 2nd toughest thing to do)
4. Money needs to be raised through RTP's, donations and other grants
5. Construction

Although we have NOT started any fund raising and there is NO mechanism in place for any fund raising, I will make you all an offer.

For a thousand dollars, you can get a personalized copy of the trail plan signed by yours truly with your own personal watermark. If I can get 99 folks to do this (I'll throw in the last 1K) we will have the seed money for the VA RTP's and we could start Phase I of the construction process.

Checks can be made out to:

MORE: The Fountain Head Fund

L

PS You guys do realize that Stoner and Mader are probably gonna kill me for this post! :eek:

[jabberwocky]

Are there any re-routes planned for some of the more worn sections of FH? It seems to me that there are certain areas of the trail that would benefit from some re-routes.

What about the beloved Shock o billy section? It seems that over use and the advances in tire and brake technology have gotten the better of SOB.I love the sound cans of worms make when they are opened. :)

[g_barr]

Checks can be made out to:

MORE: The Fountain Head Fund
Holy whopping singletrack Bobcatman!!!

Who do we give the checks to?

[starcitymtb]

I've got a PHD in construction (Post Hole Digger) so I can share that equity with you. Just kidding but I'm sure if the call came out, you would have an all hands on deck to help out with the work. I know I'd be there. :)

I would sell candy bars if it meant that the trail could be re-routed to be able to handle the volume it carries throughout the year. I would hate for the trail to continue to deteriorate to the point that it isn't ridable.

It would seem to me that there is plenty of room in the park to satisfy most rider's wants for the trail. It's a great resource and I can't think that money would stop us from getting a proper trail.

I love the sound cans of worms make when they are opened. :)

LOL. There is a distinguishable smell that comes with it too. ;)

[srwings]

MyOtherBrotherL,
Thanks for the response. No chain saws. Any advice regarding moving fallen stuff off the trail or hand cutting? It's not that I'm anxious to be cutting on something and if there's already someone designated to maintain a trail great, but I usually carry a folding bow saw for my own trails . I feel sort of guilty about riding over something at FH when it's within my means to remove it.

[g_barr]

...I usually carry a folding bow saw for my own trails . I feel sort of guilty about riding over something at FH when it's within my means to remove it.
FYI - The Fairfax County Park Authority specifically prohibits carrying saws in their General Park Rules (http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parkrules/general.htm). The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (http://www.nvrpa.org/) (who regulates/operates/maintains Fountainhead) web site apparently does not have a link to its rules. It's probably similar though. There are safety issues as Larry said but more importantly, people with their own agenda (while yours may be very well intentioned) for the park could wreak havoc and lessen other park user's experience.

I usually move branches and stuff that creates a potential safety hazard (especially where noobees might be riding - e.g. Wakefield) or that causes users to re-route or widen a trail.

[jabberwocky]

In addition, there have been cases of well-intentioned people cutting out established logs in some trails. Not all logs need to be (or should be) removed.

Coordinating with the MORE trail liaison for the trail is the best way to handle stuff like this. Generally, the MORE liaison will know the trail in question, have an existing relationship with the park management and will be able to take the best course of action.

Some parks (Lake Fairfax is an example), have paid maintenance staff to handle stuff like downed trees.