[mb3designs]

And so it begins. Been contemplating building my own trail for about a year now, so yesterday I figured I would start. And before any haters chime in, no it is not on USFS land. The first "stunt" is a log ride that's about 30 ft. or so long. I mean this tree fell so perfect it's like it was a gift from heaven. The cool part is that the top of the tree didn't break when it fell so it transitions perfectly to the ground. Obviously these pics are of the unfinished variety, probably take me a few days to get it cleaned up. There is another downed tree just before you get to this one, fell just the right way where it can be converted into a berm leading into the log ride. Will take some work, but it will be pretty sweet once it's done. The trail will be called Da' Sac; since it begins at the end of a culdesac.

1st pic: the log ride, basically everything attached to the root bulb above the actual body of the tree will be removed, the rest will stay. Gonna
take some work, but a ladder style ramp will be built to get onto the log. Also, I will build some supports to keep the tree secure.
2nd pic: far end of tree, see how the tree has a natural transition to the ground, pretty killer. Will have to remove alot of crap in that area as
you can see, but it will be sweet once it is finished
3rd pic: this is a pic of the other downed tree I was mentioning. It is about 15 feet at it's furthest end from where the log ride will be.
With a little work this can be turned into a killer berm so the log ride can be hit with ample speed. There will also be a 15 foot
long double jump which will be an alternate line coming out of the berm.
4th pic: just another shot of the soon to be berm.

 

[mb3designs]

Here are a few pics of the area I got cleaned out yesterday. First one is the roll in into the berm, remember, it's not finished yet. I wish I would have taken a pic of all the shiz I had to clean out just to get that little bit accomplised. Takes quite a bit of time to get things done when you are the only one doing the work. You can see where I have started adding some dirt to the base of the berm. The large roots sticking out of the root ball of that tree will be removed. Gonna be smooth and fast. The trail will also have doubles, ladder drops, a teeter, and further down into the woods there is a perfect place to dig out a dirt quarter pipe into the hillside. Look forward to seeing pics of the berm and logride completed before the week is up, as long as the weather cooperates. Anyone that wants to come and ride it or help me build is welcome to do so, just PM or e-mail me.

 

[plume]

is this going to be open to folks like us, as in like, not knowing where the hell this is...???

get involved with the richmond hill thing.... perhaps eventually they'll let us build stunts there. Not my thing but it'd be cool to see, that's for sure.

 

[CountryBoy]

That log ride looks skechy! That berm is going to be sweet.

 

[Gaston Gagne]

You rake? Just curious. Folks with whom I have engaged in such activities all seem to have differing opinions on this.

 

[mb3designs]

is this going to be open to folks like us, as in like, not knowing where the hell this is...???

get involved with the richmond hill thing.... perhaps eventually they'll let us build stunts there. Not my thing but it'd be cool to see, that's for sure.

I am very excited about the trail system that is going to be built at Richmond Hill. Yesterday I was gonna go help Mike "bushwack," but the weather did not cooperate to my liking and I did not want to run the chance of getting sick again. I fully plan on helping out with construction once dates have been set to start the intial building. Hopefully, there will be a "stunt" area there, it will have to wait until the other trails are finished I am sure. Not very many materials will have to be bought to create it either, just fasteners. With a good chainsaw all the materials can be made out of trees that will be removed and branches laying on the forest floor.

 

[mb3designs]

That log ride looks skechy! That berm is going to be sweet.

Yeah I know, should be pretty cool once it's finished. I still have to remove quite a bit of dirt from the root ball before I can start cutting the upper roots out of the way.I plan on making supports about every six feet or so, just to ensure that the tree will not move or lay down. I was worried that if I did not brace it that it would fall and possibly injure or crush someone. Nothing ruins a good day of riding like having to take someone to the emergency room. All materials minus the ladder bridge leading up to the log ride will be branches and logs that already have fallen on the forest floor.

 

[mb3designs]

You rake? Just curious. Folks with whom I have engaged in such activities all seem to have differing opinions on this.

Yes sir, you are correct Mr. Gagne:thumbsup: . There are multiple methods for clearing leaves off to reach the forest floor. My main goal is to build a sustainable trail minimizing the usage of any and all power tools. Basically, the only power tool I plan on using is a chainsaw to remove the roots from the base of the fallen tree that will be used for the log ride, got alot of dirt to remove from the root bulb before I can even attempt to start cutting. I will also use the saw to make the top of the log ride flat, although there will probably only be a path of about 4 inches or so down the length of the entire tree that will be able to be riden. Don't want to make it too easy. Here is a pic of the area of the downed tree circled that I plan on removing, lot of work to be done there though before I can start cutting.

 

[plume]

I am very excited about the trail system that is going to be built at Richmond Hill. Yesterday I was gonna go help Mike "bushwack," but the weather did not cooperate to my liking and I did not want to run the chance of getting sick again. I fully plan on helping out with construction once dates have been set to start the intial building. Hopefully, there will be a "stunt" area there, it will have to wait until the other trails are finished I am sure. Not very many materials will have to be bought to create it either, just fasteners. With a good chainsaw all the materials can be made out of trees that will be removed and branches laying on the forest floor.

that's good. I plan on being a part of the trail building process there as well. I only live like two miles from there and enjoy the idea of being able to ride to a trailhead once again. And, the more I think about stunts the more I like. I need to work on my tech skills any way. Keep us updated on your trail...

And I think we've met. Are you the same Marshal that was in biowheels today? Think we rode together once over the summer on Eric's (little e) last wednesday night ride. :thumbsup:

 

[mb3designs]

Well, I only got to work for about an hour on the trail today. But, I did get some much needed cleanup and prep work done. The log ride looks nasty and super tech now that everything is cleared away, and it is much closer to 40 feet than the 30 feet I first stated. Will be a real challange trying to ride that mofo, it is about 40 inches from the top of the log to the ground, that is just an estimate though. I will measure everything sometime this week. Tomorrow, weather permitting, I am gonna start building braces to support the tree so it doesn't fall or lean. More than likely I will only make two tomorrow, on the ends there will two braces spaced three feet apart and then the rest will be spaced out roughly about every five to six feet down the entire log. Tomorrows main job will be working on the berm, the ground is nice and wet, so the digging will be easy and the dirt will pack well. Here are a few pics I took today showing some of the work I got accomplished.

1: Before: pic of the far end of the log ride where it transitions into the ground prior to cleanup
2: After: This is the same section, just cleaned up and with the debri removed
3: Side shot of log where it transitions into the ground
4: Full length side shot of entire log ride
5: View looking down log ride from atop

 

[mb3designs]

Here are a few more pics from today.

1: Tools I used today for cleanup
2: Better pic of soon to be berm leading into log ride

 

[mb3designs]

that's good. I plan on being a part of the trail building process there as well. I only live like two miles from there and enjoy the idea of being able to ride to a trailhead once again. And, the more I think about stunts the more I like. I need to work on my tech skills any way. Keep us updated on your trail...

And I think we've met. Are you the same Marshal that was in biowheels today? Think we rode together once over the summer on Eric's (little e) last wednesday night ride. :thumbsup:

Plume, no I am not the Marshall that was in Bio Wheels today. I know who you are talking about though, I just cannot remember his last name. I don't think we have met, unless it was at one of the PAS meetings or possibly at the PAS holiday meeting. We probably at some point have more than likely passed each other riding in Bent Creek, I ride there all the time, more than anywhere else due to the fact that it is less than 15 minutes from my house.

 

[Gaston Gagne]

Be careful with a chainsaw in that rootball!

 

[mb3designs]

Be careful with a chainsaw in that rootball!

I will, thanks for your concern:thumbsup: . I have been using a chainsaw for longer than I can remember, I heat my home with a wood burning stove. Accidents can always happen, epecially when one becomes complacent, that is always in the back of my mind. I never use a chainsaw unless someone else is there with me, that way if an accident occurs I have someone to take me to the hospital or call for an ambulance. I am a pretty crazy guy, but I always wear head, face, ear, and leg protection, as well as wearing gloves and a heavy coat. In all my days of woodcutting and splitting I have had two memorable close calls. Once I was cutting up a tree I had already fell, unbeknown to me there was a wedge that someone had lodged into the tree probably back before I was born. The tree had grown up around the wedge and there were no visible signs of where the wedge was in the trunk. I made contact with the wedge about 3 inches into the cut and I completely lost control of the saw. Pretty scary moment, needless to say I had to go change my underwear after that. My other close call involved a chain that broke and came directly back into my face. Luckily I had on a safety helmet with a full face sheild and throat guard. If I woundn't have had the safety equipment on I would have probably lost an eye and a few teeth, as well as half of my nose.

 

[mb3designs]

Well, today was a total waste. Basically, I accomplished pretty much nothing at all. Sat around the house most of the day since I didn't have to work, checked out the message board a few too many times, and took my dog for a walk. One of my homeboys was supposed come over so I could run the chainsaw to finish up the prepwork on the log ride. Called about half an hour ago and said he couldn't make it:madman: Oh well, there is always tomorrow I guess, but I was really hoping to get that finished up today. The plan for today that I layed out yesterday wasn't going to fly, I aggravated my back doing clean-up work yesterday so digging was out. I tried to dig a little bit this afternoon but after about 15 minutes my back felt like I took a straight leg kick from Chuck Liddell. Anyways, I got a little accomplished, nothing to be proud of. Since I couldn't slang dirt I concentrated my efforts on cleaning out some dirt and small roots from the tree that will be the log ride. I got frustrated after about an hour and called it quits until tomorrow afternoon.

1. Before: Root ball
2. After: Got a little more removed, major pain.
3. Did some shaping to the berm.

Sorry for the crappy pics, should have took them earlier when there was still adequate lighting.

 

[moheinous]

Where are you at?

I might be able to help build some if you're near the eastside of asheville

 

[mb3designs]

I might be able to help build some if you're near the eastside of asheville

Probably be 3 or 4 weeks before I do any more work:madman: . Went to the doctor today due to the fact that my back pain has been getting progressively worse the last few days, turns out I have a ruptured disk and 5 misaligned vertebrae from my recent car accident:cryin: . When I continue working I will let you know, I live just outside Hendo, northside.

 

[plume]

Plume, no I am not the Marshall that was in Bio Wheels today. I know who you are talking about though, I just cannot remember his last name. I don't think we have met, unless it was at one of the PAS meetings or possibly at the PAS holiday meeting. We probably at some point have more than likely passed each other riding in Bent Creek, I ride there all the time, more than anywhere else due to the fact that it is less than 15 minutes from my house.

ah. confusion on my part. happens a lot! I'm sure we'll officially meet some day soon.

 

[Maida7]

Probably be 3 or 4 weeks before I do any more work:madman: . Went to the doctor today due to the fact that my back pain has been getting progressively worse the last few days, turns out I have a ruptured disk and 5 misaligned vertebrae from my recent car accident:cryin: . When I continue working I will let you know, I live just outside Hendo, northside.

Marshal:

Ouch! That's terrible. I know 2 guys who had a ruptured disc and the only way to get rid of the pain was surgery. One of the guys had surgery and is much better. The other guy continues to live with pain. There is this new disc replacement surgery. One of the local specialists does it (I forget the name). It's supossed to be better than the old style of fussing the vertibrae. I'd check out all my options. Get several opinions. I hope it works out for you. Hate to see a brother off the bike and in pain.

 

[mb3designs]

Marshal:

Ouch! That's terrible. I know 2 guys who had a ruptured disc and the only way to get rid of the pain was surgery. One of the guys had surgery and is much better. The other guy continues to live with pain. There is this new disc replacement surgery. One of the local specialists does it (I forget the name). It's supossed to be better than the old style of fussing the vertibrae. I'd check out all my options. Get several opinions. I hope it works out for you. Hate to see a brother off the bike and in pain.

David,
Thank you for your concern . I am hoping that surgery will not be what it takes to fix my problem, albeit severe, my doctor said he has seen patients with worse ruptures than mine not have to go under the knife. I have been seeing my chiropractor the last two days and I must say I already feel about 20% better. Hopefully the pain will continue to slowly go away, probably will be off the bike for 6 to 8 weeks. Won't be able to ride any jumps or stunts for probably about 6 months or so:madman: There goes my racing season

Marshall