Snot-Rocket
September 19th, 2002, 04:54 PM
FYI,
Last night Roel and I met with Accotink Park representatives to review the current trail plan and provide comments. Folks, should appreciate that the park is independently meeting with different user groups and desired to meet with the MTB weenies first because we have the best knowledge of the trail systems, provide free maintenance and labor and the large response from the Wakefield Master Plan public meeting demonstrated that the MTB Community can and will come forward on issues concerning trail usage. The other issue which folks should appreciate is that the park recognized MTBing as a legitimate activity in the Park! This is very significant! That being said, we had a very productive and enjoyable meeting, here are the issues for your education. If you have any issues ask, if you don't like something ask me first; please don't start screaming without understanding and thinking, if you feel you have cause to do so- these are sensitive times and the last thing I want is not to forward our lobby as stubborn, self-centered, bastards! The details are:
1. First of all, folks must understand the main domains of Accotink.
a. Danbury - the Townhome Community bordering Accotink park vicinity the Stairwell/elementary school entrance to the park. These are the folks who once had a loud anti-mtb lobby a year or so back, until we went through great efforts to stop the BMX drops, uncontrolled and erosion prone descents onto the CinderCone/Main trail. The huge user conflict spurning from this trail abuse ultimately contributed to the parks, then temporary, closure of the trails from the CinderCone/Main trail down to the lake bed way back in the day!
b. Cinder Cone / Main Trail - There is the 4-mile doublewide gravel trail going around the lake and connecting to the CCT trail to Wakefield. This trail see's heavy multi-user traffic and where I always encourage riders to give other users the right of way and to ride single-file when in groups. Anyway, from the Spillway to Danbury park is normally the most contentious area when there are issues. This section of the trail is on the border of the prime MTB Single track at Accotink. Rule #1, give all other users the right of way on this trail! Rule #2, give all other users the right of way on this trail. Rule #3, give all other users the right of way on this trail!
c. Park Land- Accotink Park borders land owned by Virgina Natural Gas, the access trail recognizable by the double wide trail bordering the chainlink fence splitting the park in a roughly NE/SW line is the border...to the East is Accotink, to the West is not- there is a bit of trail to the West which isn't park land, but should be treated with equal respect, unless we want folks booting us off of that which would really kill some great trail.
2. Okay down to business, the trails from the Main Trail down to the Accotink lack all the way around the park are going to be permanently closed. The trails to the East of the lack obviously weren't used by MTBrs and the trail on the Westside were only accessible up to over a year ago. Roel and I had no issues with this final decision and I actually supported it. Since the measures were taken last year to mitigate all contentious approaches on that portion of the Main trails things have been pretty quite which has been to our advantage. I've been riding Accotink regularly and only a very few folks will appreciate it loss. In general, many sections on that side of the Main trail were quite eroded, hard to maintained, and just led to Advocacy pain...so closing it to all users was fine by me! If you have an issue with this, yell at me first so I can explain- the true goldmine of Accotink isn't these few meandering trails!
3. The objective of the Park was to preserve the main loops through Accotink, but at the same time address contentious areas or trails that partition up terrain with no reason...the objective wasn't to close trails but implement smart reroutes for a sounder trail system and enjoyable loop. As folks appreciate, 90% of Accotink drains really well and the parks objective was mitigate the 10% of trails built in low areas with trails with sound loops that lend to easily maintainable trails, we were in total agreement with this perspective. Here are the issues, I'll start from the Spillway and work my way North East towards Danbury:
a. First of all somebody in MORE owes me a case of beer, cause that switch back of the spillway has remained and has mitigated a huge eye-sore and problem area off the main trail. Once you get past the switch back and cross the paved trail by the RR Bridge where the huge drop is in the "bowl like area" is where the first issues arise. Note, this was the area where the spill from the planned lake dredging was supposed to take place, which would have killed this entire area, fortunately that isn't going to happen. So from the top of the Drop, the trails to the left are going to closed and seeded for natural growth- this wasn't an issue because that is where the copper head nests are and the 200-m worth of meandering trail dump into a bog which made the whole area contentious from the first place- the reroute of the traffic will go to the right and around this area. The eroded drop will have to go as well as one meandering trail that goes no where. So bad trail gone, good trails retained that are part of the main Accotink Loop. We had no issues absolutely with this.
b. The next area is the steep drop before the tight turn by the tree with the drop off, anyway as we all know that is a badly eroded, impossible to maintain section of trail, so that 15-m of trail will go and the trail to the right will be maintained to preserve the main loop. There is also a path by the creek in the area heading to the main trail...this wasn't made by MTB, but it goes through very wet areas, the park wants the closed also which we had no issues because bikers weren't using it and it is a really bad place for a trail to begin with.
c. Vicinity the "Chili Bowl," well the Chili Bowl is actually on the RR easement, has erosion problems, and is an Eye-Sore and folks also are concerned about the safety of this section...I love this section, but the park was pretty adamant that this was a loosing fight, so they asked for us to help plan a reroute towards the lake across the draw and connect to the trails on the adjacent spur. This would require a boardwalk, but we were totally game with this and it looks to be a cool loop. So even trade there, no issues- as you can see the only contentious areas are sections that have been very hard to control erosion from the get go...so things are going well so far, plus no real closures just reroutes through sensitive areas.
<<May seem disjointed, 3-hour pause here>>
d. Prior to the "Chili Bowl" is a trail that drops towards the main trail, not the technical fun little trail that starts where the root drop is, but the one it ends up into, well we recommended a reroute from the technical trail to one previous to it and closing this erosion prone area which I'm sure the environmental folks will scream about- trust me this is going to add a cool loop to two, currently dead end trails.
e. Vicinity, what I call the Cross Roads, where all the trails meet at the creek bed, well some of the trails going towards the main trail, the park just wants to clean up into one solid trail (some trails are like only 10-meters) apart, very reasonable request. The steep trail into the crossroad area has to go- we agreed because we can't easily control the erosion on that trail unless we do a significant reroute and there are two trails at the base that connects you to the trail up top.
f. Finally, vicinity a trail that most bikers don't ride, it is primarily used by hikers, we are going to put in a sweet switch back vice the steep eroded trail that currently exists- I'm actually pretty excited by this, because the terrain is perfect for it and it will be a really nice section of trail- Roel and I have experience with two switchbacks at Accotink, neither perfect, so this will be an great opportunity.
g. Pretty much every thing else dead ends on the Va Natural Gas Lands. There will probably be three main axis points to the trail system. A color coding schema was recommended, once color for what is currently called the Rim Trail, if you stay on it, you'll be dumped on the far side. A color for all the bailout trails to the main trail. A color for all the sanctioned loops in between...
4. WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP: Nothing, just be courteous to other users, stay on the trail, and give the right of way to folks on the main or cinder cone trail...you have to understand for most pedestrians just walking on that little stretch of trail is the escape they are seeking from the grind as you are up in them thar hills on your MTB...if Biker's are considerate of that we will have a great trail system in the park. The timeline for this is completion early January, then the year will be spent implementing. I'll probably have 4-5 trail work series next year to help implement all the changes to strengthen our lobby and best create some awesome trails for the MTB Community. Please, let me know if you have any burning issues- this isn't close to being resolved. The tentative plan still has to be reviewed by other groups and a series of meeting with all the respective groups have to take place. I'm going to fight for what we agreed and the park seems to find our perspective really amiable.
Rah,
Tom
p.s. Spell check and Grammar is for Weenie Communists!
Last night Roel and I met with Accotink Park representatives to review the current trail plan and provide comments. Folks, should appreciate that the park is independently meeting with different user groups and desired to meet with the MTB weenies first because we have the best knowledge of the trail systems, provide free maintenance and labor and the large response from the Wakefield Master Plan public meeting demonstrated that the MTB Community can and will come forward on issues concerning trail usage. The other issue which folks should appreciate is that the park recognized MTBing as a legitimate activity in the Park! This is very significant! That being said, we had a very productive and enjoyable meeting, here are the issues for your education. If you have any issues ask, if you don't like something ask me first; please don't start screaming without understanding and thinking, if you feel you have cause to do so- these are sensitive times and the last thing I want is not to forward our lobby as stubborn, self-centered, bastards! The details are:
1. First of all, folks must understand the main domains of Accotink.
a. Danbury - the Townhome Community bordering Accotink park vicinity the Stairwell/elementary school entrance to the park. These are the folks who once had a loud anti-mtb lobby a year or so back, until we went through great efforts to stop the BMX drops, uncontrolled and erosion prone descents onto the CinderCone/Main trail. The huge user conflict spurning from this trail abuse ultimately contributed to the parks, then temporary, closure of the trails from the CinderCone/Main trail down to the lake bed way back in the day!
b. Cinder Cone / Main Trail - There is the 4-mile doublewide gravel trail going around the lake and connecting to the CCT trail to Wakefield. This trail see's heavy multi-user traffic and where I always encourage riders to give other users the right of way and to ride single-file when in groups. Anyway, from the Spillway to Danbury park is normally the most contentious area when there are issues. This section of the trail is on the border of the prime MTB Single track at Accotink. Rule #1, give all other users the right of way on this trail! Rule #2, give all other users the right of way on this trail. Rule #3, give all other users the right of way on this trail!
c. Park Land- Accotink Park borders land owned by Virgina Natural Gas, the access trail recognizable by the double wide trail bordering the chainlink fence splitting the park in a roughly NE/SW line is the border...to the East is Accotink, to the West is not- there is a bit of trail to the West which isn't park land, but should be treated with equal respect, unless we want folks booting us off of that which would really kill some great trail.
2. Okay down to business, the trails from the Main Trail down to the Accotink lack all the way around the park are going to be permanently closed. The trails to the East of the lack obviously weren't used by MTBrs and the trail on the Westside were only accessible up to over a year ago. Roel and I had no issues with this final decision and I actually supported it. Since the measures were taken last year to mitigate all contentious approaches on that portion of the Main trails things have been pretty quite which has been to our advantage. I've been riding Accotink regularly and only a very few folks will appreciate it loss. In general, many sections on that side of the Main trail were quite eroded, hard to maintained, and just led to Advocacy pain...so closing it to all users was fine by me! If you have an issue with this, yell at me first so I can explain- the true goldmine of Accotink isn't these few meandering trails!
3. The objective of the Park was to preserve the main loops through Accotink, but at the same time address contentious areas or trails that partition up terrain with no reason...the objective wasn't to close trails but implement smart reroutes for a sounder trail system and enjoyable loop. As folks appreciate, 90% of Accotink drains really well and the parks objective was mitigate the 10% of trails built in low areas with trails with sound loops that lend to easily maintainable trails, we were in total agreement with this perspective. Here are the issues, I'll start from the Spillway and work my way North East towards Danbury:
a. First of all somebody in MORE owes me a case of beer, cause that switch back of the spillway has remained and has mitigated a huge eye-sore and problem area off the main trail. Once you get past the switch back and cross the paved trail by the RR Bridge where the huge drop is in the "bowl like area" is where the first issues arise. Note, this was the area where the spill from the planned lake dredging was supposed to take place, which would have killed this entire area, fortunately that isn't going to happen. So from the top of the Drop, the trails to the left are going to closed and seeded for natural growth- this wasn't an issue because that is where the copper head nests are and the 200-m worth of meandering trail dump into a bog which made the whole area contentious from the first place- the reroute of the traffic will go to the right and around this area. The eroded drop will have to go as well as one meandering trail that goes no where. So bad trail gone, good trails retained that are part of the main Accotink Loop. We had no issues absolutely with this.
b. The next area is the steep drop before the tight turn by the tree with the drop off, anyway as we all know that is a badly eroded, impossible to maintain section of trail, so that 15-m of trail will go and the trail to the right will be maintained to preserve the main loop. There is also a path by the creek in the area heading to the main trail...this wasn't made by MTB, but it goes through very wet areas, the park wants the closed also which we had no issues because bikers weren't using it and it is a really bad place for a trail to begin with.
c. Vicinity the "Chili Bowl," well the Chili Bowl is actually on the RR easement, has erosion problems, and is an Eye-Sore and folks also are concerned about the safety of this section...I love this section, but the park was pretty adamant that this was a loosing fight, so they asked for us to help plan a reroute towards the lake across the draw and connect to the trails on the adjacent spur. This would require a boardwalk, but we were totally game with this and it looks to be a cool loop. So even trade there, no issues- as you can see the only contentious areas are sections that have been very hard to control erosion from the get go...so things are going well so far, plus no real closures just reroutes through sensitive areas.
<<May seem disjointed, 3-hour pause here>>
d. Prior to the "Chili Bowl" is a trail that drops towards the main trail, not the technical fun little trail that starts where the root drop is, but the one it ends up into, well we recommended a reroute from the technical trail to one previous to it and closing this erosion prone area which I'm sure the environmental folks will scream about- trust me this is going to add a cool loop to two, currently dead end trails.
e. Vicinity, what I call the Cross Roads, where all the trails meet at the creek bed, well some of the trails going towards the main trail, the park just wants to clean up into one solid trail (some trails are like only 10-meters) apart, very reasonable request. The steep trail into the crossroad area has to go- we agreed because we can't easily control the erosion on that trail unless we do a significant reroute and there are two trails at the base that connects you to the trail up top.
f. Finally, vicinity a trail that most bikers don't ride, it is primarily used by hikers, we are going to put in a sweet switch back vice the steep eroded trail that currently exists- I'm actually pretty excited by this, because the terrain is perfect for it and it will be a really nice section of trail- Roel and I have experience with two switchbacks at Accotink, neither perfect, so this will be an great opportunity.
g. Pretty much every thing else dead ends on the Va Natural Gas Lands. There will probably be three main axis points to the trail system. A color coding schema was recommended, once color for what is currently called the Rim Trail, if you stay on it, you'll be dumped on the far side. A color for all the bailout trails to the main trail. A color for all the sanctioned loops in between...
4. WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP: Nothing, just be courteous to other users, stay on the trail, and give the right of way to folks on the main or cinder cone trail...you have to understand for most pedestrians just walking on that little stretch of trail is the escape they are seeking from the grind as you are up in them thar hills on your MTB...if Biker's are considerate of that we will have a great trail system in the park. The timeline for this is completion early January, then the year will be spent implementing. I'll probably have 4-5 trail work series next year to help implement all the changes to strengthen our lobby and best create some awesome trails for the MTB Community. Please, let me know if you have any burning issues- this isn't close to being resolved. The tentative plan still has to be reviewed by other groups and a series of meeting with all the respective groups have to take place. I'm going to fight for what we agreed and the park seems to find our perspective really amiable.
Rah,
Tom
p.s. Spell check and Grammar is for Weenie Communists!