davemagill
May 8th, 2008, 05:23 PM
For those of you riding the yellow loop this spring, you know it has been an adventure since the big rains 3 weeks ago, when we got over 3 inches in one day. Mud! And as of last weekend, there is still a new spring that has bubbled up right in the middle of the yellow loop! (between intersections 17 and 18), with water running down the trail!
Two years ago, MORE and SCSP management rerouted portions of the yellow loop away from the field edge and out into the field on higher ground. This has been somewhat successful in avoiding mud, but the trail was not moved far enough to get out of the mud in the worst times, like now. Also, the reroute had a few tight turns and people basically ignore the reroute and use the old field edge when it dries out, creating two trails.
Two weeks ago, we closed off the field edge trail with logs, but people removed them or just rode around.
With the support of SCSP management, as soon as the farmer plants this year's crop (soy this year, not corn), we are going to reroute a longer section of the yellow loop between 17 and 18 farther out into the field, create a new cut-through between two fields, smooth out the turns to make it fast, and dig up/abandon the old field edge section. Assuming the soy crop is in, this will happen on Sunday, May 18th at a special workday. We are going to put in a bunch of temporary signs making it clear that the trail has been moved by park management, and asking people to please use the new trail.
When the new trail is first put in, the ground will be soft and it will be harder to ride than the old trail. Please be a good sport and use the new trail anyway! Once it is packed down, it will be just as smooth and fast as the old trail.
Also keep your eye out for the notice of the workday. In addition to the reroute, it is already time to mow the grass on the yellow loop!
Finally, if you are out at the yellow loop and see that the new crop is in, please let me know so I can schedule the work day.
Regards,
Dave Magill
Schaeffer Trail Liaison
Two years ago, MORE and SCSP management rerouted portions of the yellow loop away from the field edge and out into the field on higher ground. This has been somewhat successful in avoiding mud, but the trail was not moved far enough to get out of the mud in the worst times, like now. Also, the reroute had a few tight turns and people basically ignore the reroute and use the old field edge when it dries out, creating two trails.
Two weeks ago, we closed off the field edge trail with logs, but people removed them or just rode around.
With the support of SCSP management, as soon as the farmer plants this year's crop (soy this year, not corn), we are going to reroute a longer section of the yellow loop between 17 and 18 farther out into the field, create a new cut-through between two fields, smooth out the turns to make it fast, and dig up/abandon the old field edge section. Assuming the soy crop is in, this will happen on Sunday, May 18th at a special workday. We are going to put in a bunch of temporary signs making it clear that the trail has been moved by park management, and asking people to please use the new trail.
When the new trail is first put in, the ground will be soft and it will be harder to ride than the old trail. Please be a good sport and use the new trail anyway! Once it is packed down, it will be just as smooth and fast as the old trail.
Also keep your eye out for the notice of the workday. In addition to the reroute, it is already time to mow the grass on the yellow loop!
Finally, if you are out at the yellow loop and see that the new crop is in, please let me know so I can schedule the work day.
Regards,
Dave Magill
Schaeffer Trail Liaison