MORE
January 10th, 2005, 09:40 PM
MORE wrapped up a great couple of weeks of trailbuilding at Hoyles Mill in december. Here's a quick update on the current status of the trails, and a thank you letter to MORE from Naomi Manders for all of the volunteer hours put in on the trail.
http://www.more-mtb.org/images/1069792116.jpg IMBA's Rich Edwards At Work With the Ditch Witch at Rosaryville
Trail Closed
The official opening is not expected until the spring when a ceremony will be sponsored by Montgomery County Parks. Park management has placed trail closed signs where we’ve done clearing work. If conditions are right, there is a possibility the signs will be removed prior to the official opening. Please respect the signs.
Route from Schaeffer
The new trail begins directly across the road from the Schaeffer entrance. The trail crosses the field and winds its way eventually between the golf driving range and the back of the SoccerPlex. Dedicated volunteers have built some great single track through the woods taking full advantage of the contours and rocks. The trail travels behind the soccer fields and a subdivision until it drops you onto Hoyles Mill Road.
Hoyles Mill Road is closed to vehicles no more than a hundred yards north of where you exit the woods. You will proceed north on the road to where it intersects with White Ground Road (see To Do below). From there you must ride White Ground Road north. You will turn right onto Clopper Road, then left onto Clarksburg Road. Clarksburg Road will be used to get you across Little Seneca Lake.
After crossing Little Seneca Lake, the trails that were build by IMBA’s Trail Solutions begin immediately on your right. The team has built some fantastic trail featuring insloped turns, rolling contours and other modern features. This trail also offers some stunning views of the lake. This trail leads eventually to Black Hills Road which will be used to take you down to the park's main boat launch area.
To Do
This spring we hope to have approval to build a trail along the edge of a field that will take you off the road between White Ground Road and Clarksburg Road. There is also a significant creek crossing on the closed portion of Hoyles Mill Road. A bridge is under consideration pending funding and environmental review. This places its installation no earlier than next fall. For the adventurous types or those not wishing to wade through deep water, a log has been found bridging the creek to the north.
Please keep an eye out for a Spring workday to put a few finishing touches on things. I’ll also keep everyone posted on the trail opening.
Happy Holidays,
James Corbett
MORE Hoyles Mill Trail Liaison
The Following is a thank you letter recieved by MORE from Naomi Manders, Volunteer Coordinator for MNCPPC
MORE Beautiful Trails
12/13/04
M-NCPPC wishes to thank all who participated in the last two weeks of building the Hoyles Mill Connector Trail between Schaeffer Farm and Black Hills Regional Park. This has been one of the largest projects your Volunteer Coordinator has been involved with. The new trail components (some on road) will add about 6 miles to the existing multi-use systems and will provide about a 35 mile riding experience. My rough estimate of volunteer hours is already over 400 hours with about 100 people involved. The figures Will be refined later in the week and do not include Park Staff, IMBA employees and 3 machines used intermittently. Photography provided by MORE member Bob Caverly.
Despite all the hard work two impressions come to the fore: first, a comment by IMBA equipment operator, Ed Sutton "…it's funny how an ugly place for a trail can become beautiful"(not a direct quote). And indeed it was an ugly jungle of the worst invasives surrounding the Reservoir in Clarksburg, MD. This was reclaimed and flooded farmland creating that Reservoir. The new trail twists and turns above the water, providing lovely views and peeks at birds and deer. Young trees previously choked by killer vines can now reach out and thrive providing shade for the trail. And I'll bet there are cool breezes drafting up from the Reservoir this summer.
Secondly, on the last day, a small group of determined volunteers proceeded to beautify the trail, checking for neat pruning, clipping off little left-over roots in the tread spreading straw on any exposed ground and raking leaves over the straw to naturalize and spread native plant seeds. Trash and barbed wire were hauled away and a final review of tread conditions was made with 3 small areas earmarked for work in the spring. Although the trail is not open to the public just yet (waiting for ground to harden a bit) it is truly a beautiful trail. I was impressed with the concern for trail aesthetics.
So THANKYOU IMBA, MORE and all who participated in pulling this project together Especially Rich Edwards, Austin Steo, Dan Hudson, and James Corbett including his wife Becky and daughter Liz who served HOT breakfasts and lunches throughout the 4 weekend days. You built a beauty!
Naomi Manders, M-NCPPC Volunteer Coordinator for Trails
http://www.more-mtb.org/images/1069792116.jpg IMBA's Rich Edwards At Work With the Ditch Witch at Rosaryville
Trail Closed
The official opening is not expected until the spring when a ceremony will be sponsored by Montgomery County Parks. Park management has placed trail closed signs where we’ve done clearing work. If conditions are right, there is a possibility the signs will be removed prior to the official opening. Please respect the signs.
Route from Schaeffer
The new trail begins directly across the road from the Schaeffer entrance. The trail crosses the field and winds its way eventually between the golf driving range and the back of the SoccerPlex. Dedicated volunteers have built some great single track through the woods taking full advantage of the contours and rocks. The trail travels behind the soccer fields and a subdivision until it drops you onto Hoyles Mill Road.
Hoyles Mill Road is closed to vehicles no more than a hundred yards north of where you exit the woods. You will proceed north on the road to where it intersects with White Ground Road (see To Do below). From there you must ride White Ground Road north. You will turn right onto Clopper Road, then left onto Clarksburg Road. Clarksburg Road will be used to get you across Little Seneca Lake.
After crossing Little Seneca Lake, the trails that were build by IMBA’s Trail Solutions begin immediately on your right. The team has built some fantastic trail featuring insloped turns, rolling contours and other modern features. This trail also offers some stunning views of the lake. This trail leads eventually to Black Hills Road which will be used to take you down to the park's main boat launch area.
To Do
This spring we hope to have approval to build a trail along the edge of a field that will take you off the road between White Ground Road and Clarksburg Road. There is also a significant creek crossing on the closed portion of Hoyles Mill Road. A bridge is under consideration pending funding and environmental review. This places its installation no earlier than next fall. For the adventurous types or those not wishing to wade through deep water, a log has been found bridging the creek to the north.
Please keep an eye out for a Spring workday to put a few finishing touches on things. I’ll also keep everyone posted on the trail opening.
Happy Holidays,
James Corbett
MORE Hoyles Mill Trail Liaison
The Following is a thank you letter recieved by MORE from Naomi Manders, Volunteer Coordinator for MNCPPC
MORE Beautiful Trails
12/13/04
M-NCPPC wishes to thank all who participated in the last two weeks of building the Hoyles Mill Connector Trail between Schaeffer Farm and Black Hills Regional Park. This has been one of the largest projects your Volunteer Coordinator has been involved with. The new trail components (some on road) will add about 6 miles to the existing multi-use systems and will provide about a 35 mile riding experience. My rough estimate of volunteer hours is already over 400 hours with about 100 people involved. The figures Will be refined later in the week and do not include Park Staff, IMBA employees and 3 machines used intermittently. Photography provided by MORE member Bob Caverly.
Despite all the hard work two impressions come to the fore: first, a comment by IMBA equipment operator, Ed Sutton "…it's funny how an ugly place for a trail can become beautiful"(not a direct quote). And indeed it was an ugly jungle of the worst invasives surrounding the Reservoir in Clarksburg, MD. This was reclaimed and flooded farmland creating that Reservoir. The new trail twists and turns above the water, providing lovely views and peeks at birds and deer. Young trees previously choked by killer vines can now reach out and thrive providing shade for the trail. And I'll bet there are cool breezes drafting up from the Reservoir this summer.
Secondly, on the last day, a small group of determined volunteers proceeded to beautify the trail, checking for neat pruning, clipping off little left-over roots in the tread spreading straw on any exposed ground and raking leaves over the straw to naturalize and spread native plant seeds. Trash and barbed wire were hauled away and a final review of tread conditions was made with 3 small areas earmarked for work in the spring. Although the trail is not open to the public just yet (waiting for ground to harden a bit) it is truly a beautiful trail. I was impressed with the concern for trail aesthetics.
So THANKYOU IMBA, MORE and all who participated in pulling this project together Especially Rich Edwards, Austin Steo, Dan Hudson, and James Corbett including his wife Becky and daughter Liz who served HOT breakfasts and lunches throughout the 4 weekend days. You built a beauty!
Naomi Manders, M-NCPPC Volunteer Coordinator for Trails