Loch Raven Trail Maintenance

[bills]

Anyone have any information about trail maintenance and management at either of the Loch Raven loops.

There are downed trees from the past few storms and now some of the trails are impassable. This is a great series of trails and I have enjoyed riding them all summer. I know the best thing to do is to clear the path of these trails, but I don't have the tools or the "know how".

Any thoughts, ideas or information would be great.

[psychonaut]

A few years ago MAMBO did alot of trail work at Loch Raven. They still have a website but I don't think they are around anymore. You can try contacting someone through thier website.
http://www.mambomaryland.com/

[bills]

Thanks psychonaut. I've been to that website before and that group does not look like it's been active for a while but I will write the president and see what kind of response I get.

These trails get a lot of miles, it's too bad there is no active group to help "shine" them up. I'd be glad to help if anyone has any ideas.

[psychonaut]

Any luck? I'd like to hear what you find.

[bills]

Any luck? I'd like to hear what you find.

I wrote to some of the people listed on the contact page and got a response noting that they are still around and willing to help. I wrote back to them with more details about the trails so we'll see what they say and where we go from here.

[rmac]

If you do get together, let me know - I'd be interested. Please don't get carried away & cut any logs, lr is not very technical as it is & all but the smallest logs have go arounds. I find that trails are detoured or downed trees are stacked w/in days of a storm. There are areas that need to be maintained more during rain season, but for now it's clear sailing.

There is one very large tree down at merrymans that is an issue because a second tree fell just behind & above it. Hard to clear that without a big saw or a small bike.

[bills]

I will post here if any plans come together. After an initially quick reply I have not heard back from anyone in MAMBO. So we may be back where we started.

I agree that any downed trees that have become manageable obstacles (depending on the rider) would/should be left. But there are some trees that have fallen and made the trail completely impassable.

There were some trees that were cleared on Merriman's loop, near the first stream crossing when you enter off Jarretsville and a nice log climb was made, but there are still a few large trees down on the opposite side of the trail.

There is one tree that is down on Seminary loop towards Providence, on the South side of the fire road. It's a great downhill (or uphill) but a downed tree has made it completely impassable. It's a shame because there is an alternate way down/back to the fire road that takes a long time to dry out and is now probably getting a lot of traffic.

Maybe we should just organize our own maintenance day if we get enough interested people from MORE. ;)

[escatmore]

huh. I am the one that responded to your email. I had hoped one of my LR cronies would respond with further enthusiasm...

Let me shake some trees and get you a more productive response.

I've been talking for eons about perhaps folding MAMBO's membership into the MORE umbrella. I think I have a guy ready to be a liaison for it. We'll see.

Eric - also MAMBO's executive director, whatever that means...

[skijim668]

I will try to get out there sometime soon.I dont know when.LR is 10 minutes from me.I was helping maintain Loch Raven last year but Ive been exploring other area trails this year.How many feet tall is it?Can you just pyramid it or is it too many branches?
Jim

[rmac]

The tree down at the bottom of the bench trail has been detoured with an option to short cut the detour by going under the tree. Could be dug out a bit for clearance.

Someone cut & stacked the very large tree at merrymans. They did a great job with 2 large downed trees - cuting one & stacking the other - THANKS.

I'll pitch in at LR whenever it is too wet to ride, that season may be coming soon. I'm also only a few minutes from the trails & will post on a wet weekend.