[rockman]

The Little Elden realignment project in Flagstaff is coming along nicely. Some recent Trail Faerie build stoke.

Just in case anyone is wondering the reason the trail is being realigned.

FBO volunteer event this upcoming Saturday, May 11. We'll be hand finishing a machine built section. Come on out! https://flagstaffbiking.org/first-trail-day-of-2019-little-elden-trail-reroutes/

 

[LargeMan]

Why cant we have trails and walls?

 

[rockman]

Why cant we have trails and walls?

Yes rock walls. And trail. Can you dig?

oh yeah, and rock slings.

 

[Five0]

Here we go again... double standard

 

[GRPABT1]

Needs a wall ride. One to segregate the A line from the B line.

 

[Raybum]

Nice...just rode that stuff last weekend and the new stuff was so fun. Matter of fact, one of the guys with us said he could ride that kind of stuff all day long...yeah, that good. Fun boulder moves, interesting, and still keeps you on your toes. Guessing that crappy fall line section between the cinders of sandy seep and the new stuff will get realigned...
nice work gents....

 

[SuctionGoat]

Nice...just rode that stuff last weekend and the new stuff was so fun. Matter of fact, one of the guys with us said he could ride that kind of stuff all day long...yeah, that good. Fun boulder moves, interesting, and still keeps you on your toes. Guessing that crappy fall line section between the cinders of sandy seep and the new stuff will get realigned...
nice work gents....[/QUOTE

Thanks for the nice review!

Yes, that garbage section of fall line will be no more. It's awesome to hear that people are digging the new section of trail. I think you will be VERY stoked about the next section that will be open after this coming Saturday. Its going to be a bit faster than what we have open so far. Its been a ton of fun and a ton of work getting things to this point. We are excited to finish this project and move on, but man.... what a special little corner of the mountain that is.

 

[Phillbo]

Nice work!!!

Why the hard hats?

 

[sinatorj]

Nice work!!!

Why the hard hats?

Propper PPE. Without hardhat, no trail work for FS. Looks so good, tried to get over there last weekend. No way thru closure, bummer... hopefully soon, promised to give RA a piggyback ride over to that side, he had to take a rain check.

 

[rynomx785]

Man, I need to get up there.

About half of Little Elden is in the closure correct?

 

[Epicrider]

Awesome job guys. Walls are my favorite part of trail building.

 

[JoePAz]

Nice work. Have done a little trail building down in Cave Creek I can just get a taste for how much work this is, but many hands do make it go faster. Thanks for your efforts and all those doing this work.

 

[rockman]

The USFS threw us a bone so we ran with it. A major goal is to show the hiking community that we're not just bikers building mtn biking trails. It's a multi-use project but getting past that mindset has been a challenge. The new trail utilizes the landscape in a much more interesting way and isn't actually that much longer. Heart trail will be built to a similar standard starting in the next couple of weeks.

 

[rynomx785]

So Heart is the trail in red? Comparing what to it's current state on TF, that is a huge reroute.

 

[rockman]

So Heart is the trail in red? Comparing what to it's current state on TF, that is a huge reroute.

Yes, the realignment increases the length from 2.3 miles to ~4 miles. The average grade is nearly 13% with some sections at 20%+. There 17 switchbacks as well. The new alignment has an average grade of 7% and rather than switchbacks will use climbing turns to climb (or descend) the slope. 1,500' of fun, swoopy trail that will also utilize natural features and whatever else we can incorporate while still keeping it multi-use. We're advocating for directional, purpose-built bike trails elsewhere but not here.

 

[rynomx785]

Yes, the realignment increases the length from 2.3 miles to ~4 miles. The average grade is nearly 13% with some sections at 20%+. There 17 switchbacks as well. The new alignment has an average grade of 7% and rather than switchbacks will use climbing turns to climb (or descend) the slope. 1,500' of fun, swoopy trail that will also utilize natural features and whatever else we can incorporate while still keeping it multi-use. We're advocating for directional, purpose-built bike trails elsewhere but not here.

And Heart is scheduled to be done by Fall of this year?

Proposed location for the directional bike trails is in the PR/Wasabi general area correct? That was part of the decision that supposed to be signed by November of this prior to shutdown happening?

 

[rockman]

And Heart is scheduled to be done by Fall of this year?

Proposed location for the directional bike trails is in the PR/Wasabi general area correct? That was part of the decision that supposed to be signed by November of this prior to shutdown happening?

Yes and yes. Heart is going to be built by ACE and should be done this year. A fire closure could change that. As for directional trails we will be advocating for them in the new proposed action for the Mount Elden/Dry Lake Hills Recreation Planning Project (MEDL). https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino/home/?cid=STELPRDB5439778
Not sure about the time table anymore. It should have been done a decade ago.

Also, trying to get Easter Island in Fort Valley adopted and lengthened as a directional bike trail through the Flagstaff Trails Initiative.

 

[rynomx785]

"Planners anticipate completing the entire process at the end of 2014"

:madman::madman::madman:

 

[rockman]

"Planners anticipate completing the entire process at the end of 2014"

:madman::madman::madman:

Unfortunately, the Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project snuffed the life out of MEDL Enviro groups will now try to do the same but Flag has come a long way in a decade. We're still well behind other mountain towns in terms of planning and implementation but the mtn bike community as well as other recreational users have a much more unified voice with the Flagstaff Trails Initiative. Not that trail planning should trump wildlife or other resource concerns but this project in it's entirety needs to (and will) happen. There is support at all levels of county and city gov't as well as the land manager.

 

[rynomx785]

Unfortunately, the Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project snuffed the life out of MEDL Enviro groups will now try to do the same but Flag has come a long way in a decade. We're still well behind other mountain towns in terms of planning and implementation but the mtn bike community as well as other recreational users have a much more unified voice with the Flagstaff Trails Initiative. Not that trail planning should trump wildlife or other resource concerns but this project in it's entirety needs to (and will) happen. There is support at all levels of county and city gov't as well as the land manager.

Lots of places have both abundant wildlife and recreational trails that coexist just fine. Unfortunate that point even needs to be made.

It sure will be nice to not have some good DH trails to ride and not worry about hikers.