Hartshorne/Huber Conditions

Thanks Jordon and Rob - I really think a few of us with a good plan could get a lot of good work done there.

Another thing I was thinking of is working smart. For example on DE, it may have only needed work up top. And once that was figured out the bottom may see a lot less rain/wash and be fine as is. But that is another reason small well done fixes (done consistently) would be better than 20 people go over it at once.

Case in point was a TM a year or 2 ago. The apron on the lower exit of DE (where it meets the asphalt). We had 5 people rearrange it and it still looked good the day I rode it last week. In fact the green stuff is so thick you would never guess where the trail had gone before. I am still not 100% happy with it but for the us just doing it on the fly (with no earlier plan) it came out pretty good.
 
I rode today (I saw a rider with a Team mtbnj jersey on going up the fire road). The trails were good. I saw 3 people from a conservatory group doing T.M.

The trails and my riding were good; I was able to get up some hills that I previously struggled on! I was actually a little chili near the river.

I helped Don fix the apron, and I do agree it looks great. You can't were we rerouted it.
 
Apparently MCPS is sending a team of environmental students trained in trail building to work on hartshorne. I understand this is gonna happen soon. ...according to newsletter sent to MCPS staff.

I pray this happens and that they actually know what the f' they are doing. If so could be a great thing
 
wonderturtle said:
Apparently MCPS is sending a team of environmental students trained in trail building to work on hartshorne. I understand this is gonna happen soon. ...according to newsletter sent to MCPS staff.

I pray this happens and that they actually know what the f' they are doing. If so could be a great thing
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I believe they've already been out there. Heard about it from another rider and saw some of their handiwork. In general, the problem areas are looking better. It's apparent that some humans have been involved, but the recent rains have helped, too.
 
Some HUGE improvements

Rode yesterday and there are significant improvements on Rocky Point including...satans elbow. The work was clearly done for folks that know how to build trails. AMEN!
 
OK, must chime in. Last time I rode, post elbow "fix" I was totally bummed. Totally destroyed a semi-tech climb forever, as far as I could see. Unearthed and moved rocks off the trail at the bend? Rocks on a trail at the Jersey shore is a good thing! The bend was never a problem to clear, it was towards the top where it got eroded by the rocks. Even that, was thinking it would work itself out over time.

Wonderturtle, I almost felt bad for you knowing you were there while one of the cooler trail features at our little gem by the see was dismantled right in front of you.

Hopefully time and weather will heal wounds more than any bit of trail maintenance that's done. But, if that's an example of the work that's to be done, have to ask that they don't.
 
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MMuller said:
Hopefully time and weather will heal wounds more than any bit of trail maintenance that's done. But, if that's an example of the work that's to be done, have to ask that you don't.
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It SEEMS that the work that is going to be done will be done by people actually trained in trail maintenance (ie hopefully not the amateur hour I was involved in). And I assign the word "amateur"'to myself as well btw

Keep in mind however that even if these folks are noticeably better trained in the art/science of trail maintenance (eg, trail sections rebuilt in a more sustainable way so that they don't need to be rebuilt each year) it doesn't necessarily mean that their efforts will improve the riding experience for mtbers. I have to assume that their emphasis is going to be building the trails in a way that makes them more resilient to erosion to improve the trails for use by ALL USERS. Maybe it will make them more fun for us. Maybe it won't. But if their work actually slows down the exponential erosion damage occurring in some of these sections I will consider it a victory

Btw and for the record...I didn't personally work on the upper portion of the elbow so only saw it after it was done. my work didn't include use of a single log and my hands never touched a rock.
 
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MMuller said:
But, if that's an example of the work that's to be done, have to ask that they don't.
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Fixed post to reflect what I meant, with "they" don't, not you, Wonderdude, personally. I know you're on our side.

Seems by removing all the rock at the turn they took all the support away and each torrential rain will just wash the loose dirt down, no? Time will tell and hopefully not the case.
 
Oh so this is the work that these trail gurus did?

Haven't seen it and don't have the expertise to comment.

I just hope they know what they are doing.
 
wonderturtle said:
Apparently MCPS is sending a team of environmental students trained in trail building to work on hartshorne. I understand this is gonna happen soon. ...according to newsletter sent to MCPS staff.

I pray this happens and that they actually know what the f' they are doing. If so could be a great thing
Click to expand...

Wait, what???

So MCPS gets a team of students to help at Hartshorne. That's good and all, (if they can dig and fix trail), but what is the longer term plan? Are they going to fix one area and then leave? I still think a Hart/Huber team that is local and knows the trails to work on them would be the best model. I think the MCPS setup doesn't make since in that some of the TM's that go on are an hour or more drive and a non-local will have no clue the way the trails are and what needs work.

And if a team of students gets access why can't a team of Hartshorne MTBNJ members go in as well?

BTW, Wonderturtle - that Pharrell Williams song is a funny choice in that he bought Brooklyn Machine Works and the media said he started a bike company with Nigel Sylvester. That's pretty funny as I rode a BMW cruiser in '99 and a 26/24 Park frame in '03. Actually picked up the BMW cruiser frame from the shop - I think maybe from Doc.
 
don said:
Wait, what???

So MCPS gets a team of students to help at Hartshorne. That's good and all, (if they can dig and fix trail), but what is the longer term plan? Are they going to fix one area and then leave? I still think a Hart/Huber team that is local and knows the trails to work on them would be the best model.
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in the very short term I think we need to "wait and see" what they do.
but otherwise agree with everything you said.
 
don said:
Wait, what???

So MCPS gets a team of students to help at Hartshorne. That's good and all, (if they can dig and fix trail), but what is the longer term plan? Are they going to fix one area and then leave? I still think a Hart/Huber team that is local and knows the trails to work on them would be the best model. I think the MCPS setup doesn't make since in that some of the TM's that go on are an hour or more drive and a non-local will have no clue the way the trails are and what needs work.

And if a team of students gets access why can't a team of Hartshorne MTBNJ members go in as well?

BTW, Wonderturtle - that Pharrell Williams song is a funny choice in that he bought Brooklyn Machine Works and the media said he started a bike company with Nigel Sylvester. That's pretty funny as I rode a BMW cruiser in '99 and a 26/24 Park frame in '03. Actually picked up the BMW cruiser frame from the shop - I think maybe from Doc.
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http://www.vibe.com/article/pharrell-and-nigel-sylvester-start-brooklyn-machine-works-bike-company
 
stb222 said:
http://www.vibe.com/article/pharrell-and-nigel-sylvester-start-brooklyn-machine-works-bike-company
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Even it was the name alone and they were completely redoing the bike line those 2 did not start Brooklyn Machine Works. Speking of the name I remember hearing from someone at the shop that the extra stickers they gave me were worth a few bucks in Japan. They said anything with Brooklyn in it was hot over there and said he had heard a frame sticker sold for $50!

Not sure what is up with BMW now.
 
Yeah, i am sure there is a market of people who will buy a bike because of pharell, but it is much more likely for a skateboard deck, which he has too.

At a minimum, at least pharell is throwing some money at these things and putting some cash in some riders/skaters pockets.
 
stb222 said:
Yeah, i am sure there is a market of people who will buy a bike because of pharell, but it is much more likely for a skateboard deck, which he has too.

At a minimum, at least pharell is throwing some money at these things and putting some cash in some riders/skaters pockets.
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True - hopefully a rider or skater or 2 got some funds out of it.
 
Maybe it's because saturday was my first time out here, but the trails seemed in decent enough shape. Yes there was some erosion, but nothing that I thought led to a less enjoyable ride.
 
wonderturtle said:
Apparently MCPS is sending a team of environmental students trained in trail building to work on hartshorne. I understand this is gonna happen soon. ...according to newsletter sent to MCPS staff.

I pray this happens and that they actually know what the f' they are doing. If so could be a great thing
Click to expand...

Its a Professional trail building service, the name escapes me but similar to the PTBA. I spoke with Ken Thoman the Head of Planning. its not some nilly willy college kids who read books and are digging/building.
 
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