Barntown...

This morning I went up to the project North of town and looked over where the excavator has gotten to and took a few photos. I also ended up on the ridge looking at a bit of alignment there. Next time up it will be time to flag the upper loop.

Tomorrow I think it is time to just get in some riding and work up at mom's this Saturday. I will do some tree work with Tavis, then go for another ride with PAS on Sunday.

New Videos for NTD...

Yesterday was spent mostly in the office and running errands around a beautifully dreary Asheville, I believe the technical term is "sublime". But, in process of doing some hunting on the web I came across two videos from Allout Productions. Check them out.

Stars and Bars:



Floatin'



I hope Nate and Jimi come through on the sponsorship for showing these at the National Trails Day Festival. I also have been working on the flyers for a few different things and have been really spending way too much time in front of the computer. But, it is all stuff I want to get ahead on.

For now it's back to it and look for updates on the Barntown trails and the new pumptrack and jumps.

A nice warmup into the grind.

It's been very nice being able to just step back from things the last few days and enjoy seeing my little brother and my friends over Thanksgiving. A nice relaxing Thursday. Then a REALLY chill Friday. Finally worked outside around the house on Saturday.

Today, however, was a day back in the working mindset. I went up to Green's Lick and walked up and down it looking at what sections it can be split into for planning. So if you are on the trail and notice a few pink ribbons it will be my "section" delineations. Things seem like they will work out fairly well. I included a recent video off of YOUTUBE to show some of the chunder and flow death that has been morphing on that hill. Keep an eye on the site as I will be using this as an update area for what will be happening.

Project begins anew...

Today was the first day of a new pumptrack and jumps design. The time was relatively quick. I had most of the design in my head already.


It will feature a beginner line that hips into an intermediate line that feeds through a berm in to the 50 x 80 pumptrack which will have a full circle incorporated into it. Also it will have two teardrop direction reversals, curious how well these will work out.


Here are the photos of the site, I will try to keep up to date with progress photos. For now, I will be hanging out for the holidays. Sunday it is up to Green's Lick to look that over and start a plan there. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

You just can't stop yourself sometimes.

I don't usually like to ride during hunting season, out of both respect for the hunters and for self preservation. But, today was different. I had a preplanned ride with Andy and Tavis out in Bent Creek. However, yesterday, I found out from Nate and Jimi that hunting season had started....DOH!

But, we still went out. I mean, how do you say no to a day like this.



It lead me to think alot about the concept of hunting as a recreational activity. I really don't know the answer to some of the issues inherent in rifle hunting in crowded woods. I think this is something I want to address with public recreationalists being more informed and being able to be better members of the outdoor community as a whole. Wildlife management is a real issue that needs to be handled in urbanized woods. Hunters are a great, free, way to handle this. I hope the discussion becomes more regular among my peers.



The ride was great. We cruised up North Boundary to "Five Points" and out Little Hickory Top to Sidehill. Then, dropped down the road to Lower Sidehill...Man I love that tree....Across the lake then up to Deerfield and popped out on Pine Tree. Back to the car and happy day.

Philpott Two ... Electric Bugaloo....

Philpott, Virginia again?

Yes. Last weekend Rich and I worked with the local club and the Army Corps of Engineers, at Philpott Lake, teaching an introduction to trail building and design. This week, it was all about the horsepower. The Army Corps., as well as a local contractor, Jim Frith, have both purchased Ditch Witch SK500s to be used on the trail project around Philpott. It was another great weekend working with all the fantastic individuals around southern Virginia.



Saturday was spent in the classroom, in the morning, then we moved to a borrow pit at the base of the dam to do some hands-on work. Everyone got a little "stick-time" and really seemed to be picking it up.



Then, Sunday, we all headed back up to the Jamison Mill area to put some trail on the ground. All-in-all another great event.



Everyone in the area seems to be coming together to create a plan to build Philpott into a destination with around 40 miles of multi-use trail. This will be a huge asset to those mountain bikers and outdoor enthusiasts in the Greensboro and Winston-Salem area. A destination for the triangle of North Carolina.

Some of the contributors.

The Philpott Page

The Mountain Bike Club

The Friends

New compruuuter.....

Yay! I own a new computer. It's sweet. A Toshiba that is crazy fast with loads of storage. Here's to loads of photos.





Well, tomorrow I am back off to VA. Today, I went back up to Barnardsville and checked on my trail project up there. George has been punching through some crazy stuff. He also built a pretty nice little bridge across one of the stream crossings we are dealing with. When I head back up there after the Virgina trip I will be finishing the micro design on the second section of the access trail and starting the macro design on the upper most loop. I hope to have some new pictures of the project next time I go up as well. For now here are a few more of the project.



Next week will be the start of a new pumptrack as well. Look for photos of the before coming up.

Ever see a perfect canvas?

Philpott Lake, Virgina is going to make someone a trail artist for sure. The place was great with deep coves, beautiful woods, a great lake, and lots of potential.

I went up to Philpott to help Rich of IMBA Trail Solutions teach a basic trailbuilding school for the Army Corps of Engineers, Southern VA Mountain Bike Association, County personnel, and the Friends of Philpott. The weekend was great.

Friday, Rich and I met Mary, the manager from the Corps, she spoke to us a bit on the ins and outs of their particular project. Then we went to the site. We scoped a sweet workshop spot and then rolled to the hotel.



Saturday, we woke up to the sweetest morning breakfast buffet ever. Full on Shoney's style, FREE with your room, oh yeah! We headed to the classroom session and cranked out a few hours of info. Then, it was to the job site, where my mind was blown. Constructing trail to these people is like water to a duck.



Sunday, a little more classroom, then Rich and I did some design with them watching. This enabled them to understand the design principles. We got along into these crazy little deep coves and rocky noses, the place was made for east coast flow. We ended the day in a damp cove crawling across rusty barrels, if you don't know, you ain't Appalachian.



Drove home happy and tired and then I will do it again next weekend......AHHHHH. This is The ... that's right capital T....life.

Just the calm before the storm

Whew, crazy few days. Let's see where to begin.

I've been feverishly working on the proposal for National Trails Day at Bent Creek. Things are coming along and hopefully I will have most of the event sponsorship stuff wrapped up by first of the year. I also have been working on a tool wish list for the PAS. So far about $8500 worth of toys. I also went and checked out some cool rock today. Hooper's Creek stone. Which is crazy because I grew up in Edneyville right off of Hooper's Creek Road. Beatiful rock, reminds me of being a kid and crashing around in the deep woods.




Now it is time to pack and get ready to head to Philpott Lake in south central Virginia. I will be working with Rich from IMBA doing a basic trailbuilding school this weekend and I am psyched to be back in Virginia. For now here is a pretty little picture of the lake. No real mountains to speak of, but looks like it will be some fun flowy lakeside terrain.

Tuesday, get much more boring?

Today as well as yesterday have been fairly low key. Yesterday I was up in Barnardsville working on finishing the handwork behind the excavator and had a very successful day. Did 1000 feet of finish in about three hours. I am finishing this trail at about a level three of ten, I am doing it for budget as well as to see just what happens at that level. Will the backslope fail? Will cascading water eat the trail? So far it is breaking in rather nice. I have actually been suprised as to how well it is coming along. We have gotten just enough rain at the right times. We shall see.

Today I went back up to Barntown in the morning then stopped by to see the boys at the shop. I have been working on a few things for PAS and have spent most of the afternoon on that. We have a huge National Trails Day project I am heading up trying to figure out how to coordinate. We also need to figure out our tools for next year so I have been working on a spreadsheet for that. But, for now I just wanted to add a nice little update to my day.

Tommorrow it is I9 to look at building some dirt jumps and a pumptrack for those boys. In the afternoon I may try and get the bikes in tip top shape and spin around a bit.

Dupont kinda weekend....

Well, what a great weekend. I went down to Dupont to work with Woody Keen and P.A.S. on the Big Rock trail. It was an outstanding workday. We had probably 30 people show up and we knocked out a really nice reroute, as well as a bit of basin and rise road-to-trail conversion. I led a crew with Valerie Naylor on the reroute; while Woody led a crew on the upper road-to-trail. Everyone did an awesome job. I was really impressed with how our group worked together and I met a few people with an amazing eye for trail work. We had a tricky turn on a rock slab that was not really wanting to come together. However, working as a team we all were able to come up with what I think was the best solution. The pictures are of the rock turn, the closed and reclaimed trail, and a berm with a drain in it. These features all added up to an extra fun section on an already ripping section of trail.






Today was a lot of fun as well I worked my way over to the barn in Dupont today to meet up with everyone from yesterdays workday and we all hit up a great ride in Dupont. We stayed out for about four and a half hours of pedalin' heaven. This is the only chance I have had to ride in Dupont all year and I always forget just how fun it is to ride. Berm, jump, berm, pump, Braaaaappppp, berm, hip, rail.....yikes tree....snap, berm, GO GO......oh so much fun.

Shovel Love....

Just a quicky for today but I wanted to plug something while I was hunting around for tools on the internet. Fiskars, they make a shovel that I swear by and I have been looking for the transfer shovel to go with it. But, not only that, they have a wide array of cool stuff from shovels and rakes to crazy looking loppers and bags. Anyway, here is a picture of the dream team. Notice the full steel handles and welded heads, OH YEAH!!!

Halloween and more....

Halloween, quite possibly one of my favorite holidays going. You get to dress up and get away with debauchery and law breaking that any other night of the year would be harshly forbade.

The night started at Adam and Lela's working on the costume and getting "Wilbur" up to snuff. I had made a quick stop off at SUPER K...duh duh did a duhhhh!!! Where I procured a few of Taiwan's best noisemakers...a stuffed horse and a rifle. Armed with boots, jeans, and a button down super sweet western shirt, I began amassing the outfit. I was a cowboy, "on a steel horse I ride. And I'm Wanted, WANTED! Dead or alllliiiaaiiiive.", Lela was a 60's go go queen, and Adam ,the SOB; he definitely took the cake. Dude was Friggin' Vader man. I mean he nailed it to the nines. No photo yet, but hopefully Lela can hook it up.

Anyway, we all mounted up and pedaled down to the Asheville on Bikes: Pumpkin Peddlar. Where we sprinted up Alexander....OUCH! Then, cruised along to Helen's Bridge. After that, was the bomb back out to Montford to check out the cemetery. Things got a little crazy with 50 or so costumed bikers descending on the streets of Asheville, but a good time was had. Then, down to the Wedge Gallery where the best costumes in town were sure to be spotted. But, that will have to be another story.

Then, today has been relatively chill. But, while online I found two sweet pictures I wanted to share. These guys from Recycles Bike Shop in Greensboro came up and rode at Bent Creek this past weekend and a few choice photos were shot of one of the bridges I worked on along Wolf Branch on National Trails Day last year. I had hoped the bridges would see a little "freeride" use with just how burly and stout they felt. Add a little lip at the beginning and end and you have yourself a miniature trail side "funbox." Don't know what a fun box is? They exist in skate parks, why not in the woods. Well, Merritt White, rode the first bridge the way god intended...in a manual, both nose and standard, mind you and the photos of it were just too good to pass on. So I present the fun you can have on a "lame" trail bridge.