[ebxtreme]

Hey peeps,

Below are a couple of exciting projects that we've been working on up here in the 'ham.

Cheers,
EB


Machine-built jump trails coming soon to Galbraith Mountain.

The WMBC is pleased to announce that we are going to build 2 machine-built jump trails on Galbraith Mountain in 2010. Both of these projects are a couple years in the making, so it’s very exciting to see our plans coming to fruition. The WMBC has partnered with a local machine owner, and a local machine operator, and will also be relying on volunteers to help complete this project.

Which trails are going to be built with the machine?

The Luge:
The current Luge route is an old moto trail that does not use the available terrain well and, as a result, is a very quick trail that has major erosion issues. The plan is to have a dramatic reroute of the Luge to use the hillside much better, extend the trail’s length, address the drainage issues, and build berms, table-tops, step-ups and step-downs. The re-routed trail will have 15 berms, lots of pump rollers, and 25+ jumps. The Green line is the existing trail and orange line is the new routing (approximate).

Upper Mullet (future name TBD):
This will start where an old trail called 12 Monkeys used to start near Wonderland and the view spot near the top of Evolution. It will end directly across from Mullet and help our goal of connectivity on the mountain. Our routing challenge was to avoid several boggy sections, a good-sized ravine, and to avoid any conflict with the Wonderland Trail. The new trail will roughly have 12 big berms, some pump rollers, and 15+ jumps. Again, the green lines are existing trails and the orange line is the new trail (approximate).

Why use a machine instead of building by hand?
By using a machine (specifically, a mini excavator in this situation), we’ll be able to build the trails significantly faster with far less volunteer manpower. These essentially are new lines with many features that would take a very long time to create by hand. Additionally, they allow us to better use the terrain and easily create table-top jumps, step-ups, and step-downs and big berms to help the progression of local riders.

Who’s doing the work?
WMBC Trail Crew Leaders Bill Hawk, Matt Durand, Colin Tobin and Eric Brown are leading the build process and have scouted, flagged, and cleared the two new work zones. We are very fortunate to have a local trail builder named Andrew Fletcher-Love, who has thousands of hours building trails with a machine, willing to volunteer his time. Andrew will be running the mini-excavator the bulk of the time and also was present during the routing process. Also assisting us was Duncan MacKenzie, who is a friend and fellow trail builder from Whistler. Duncan has lots of experience designing and building these types of trails as a builder in the Whistler Bike Park and helped us route our lines appropriately. The good news is we weren’t too far off with our initial line choice, but it was very helpful to have his expertise.

Where are we getting the machine?
Mark Salisbury of Fanatik Bike has graciously donated his personal mini-excavator for both projects. He also will trailer it and bring it to and from Galbraith for us.

What can you do to help?

1. Donate some $$$ to the cause! We set up a PayPal account at the WMBC website (http://www.whimpsmtb.com) specifically for the funding of this project. While the labor and equipment are being donated (estimated $5,000 value), we’ll need to pay for diesel fuel, grease, oil, drainage culverts, and a tune up on the machine before we return it. We estimate these costs to be around $750-1500.
   
2. Volunteer your time! During the build days, we would like to have 1-2 extra people be out there to help cut up timber, re-vegetate an area, do some clean up work behind the machine, and some finishing work shaping jumps. The goal is to keep the machine building trail and features, and not having to do as much of the cleanup work. We’ll be creating sign up sheets for people, as most of the building will happen during the week.

Thanks for your help with funding and building these two new jump trails!

 

[DamienD]

aww sweet machine built trails. i like it

 

[scotteric]

eric, who needs a machine when you are around?????? trail building fool! i've got to get back up there soon..........

 

[ebxtreme]

eric, who needs a machine when you are around?????? trail building fool! i've got to get back up there soon..........

ha....unfortunately, i broke my collarbone y'day. doh!!

 

[YoPawn]

ha....unfortunately, i broke my collarbone y'day. doh!!

Damn dude that sucks. Heal quick in time for summer.

 

[ebxtreme]

Hi all,

So, a quick update. The Machine Built Trail plan has been approved by all parties involved. The Mini excavator will be hauled up tomorrow and work will commence on the Luge on Monday, February 15th!!

Donations Needed:
We have received $300 in donations for this project so far. We need to raise another $700 ASAP to be able to pull this off! Head on over to the WMBC website and click on the TOP "donate" button to ensure the funds are directed to the machine built trails.

Volunteer Help:
We'll also be signing up volunteers to work behind the machine on the days it's building. That will entail shaping berms and jumps, re-vegetating areas and using a plate compactor to get everything firmed up. If you have a day or two or 10 to volunteer, email Bill Hawk (or PM me) your name, number and day(s) you're available and we'll get you signed up and more details. We are looking at a Monday thru Friday 9-4 work schedule: Feb. 15-19th and 22-26th and March 1-5. Ideally, we'll jump immediately from the Luge to Upper Mullet to keep our momentum and take advantage of the machine and Andrew's availability.

FYI, this should also serve notice that, as of Monday, the Luge will be closed to riding until work is completed. We'll have the machine on it, the line will be in progress and the line as it currently exists, will be no longer (we're shutting down the old sections altogether). This is for both rider and the workers' safety. NO EXCEPTIONS.

If you want to get to Atomic Dog, either hit the Woodle, Prison Love, or Upper Pigs. When the Luge is ready for public consumption, it'll be re-opened. Many thanks to everyone for your patience!

Cheers,
EB

 

[thom9719]

EB, quit typing and your collarbone will heal faster!

I will have to get up there and throw some dirt in the near future.

-KT

 

[ebxtreme]

EB, quit typing and your collarbone will heal faster!

I will have to get up there and throw some dirt in the near future.

-KT

Right on, KT. If you can make a particular day, let me know. Ideally, we'd have some skilled builders/riders out there every day to help shape stuff and give input to our machine operator.


The Luge is now officially closed. We got the mini ex on the hill yesterday and actually started down the trail a little bit to help keep the machine from getting messed with on the road. Myself and a couple other builders were just watching in amazement as it yanked a few stumps out that would’ve taken us several hours and a couple of dull saws to get removed.

Work truly commences on Monday.

A few pics.

Entrance cleared. This is not done by a long shot….just clearing so we could get the machine off the road.

Looking up the same section. This will have a ladder roller as a gate feature (i.e. you have to be “this” tall to ride this coaster) into a couple of pump humps that can be doubled for advanced riders.

That’ll lead into the first right berm taking shape.

Thanks to Mark and Kyle Salisbury for hauling that sucker up on the hill and RAM construction for the very generous donation of culverts.

Cheers,
EB

 

[mutton]

Yeehah. Galby just keeps getting better....you dudes rock...off to donate some moola to the cause.

Dude...nice sofa dive Sat night off the dance floor.....you crazy fool.

 

[downhillracer]

This is awesome. I wish I was closer to Bellingham, I would come out and help on this for sure!

 

[thad]

Making fast progrss with Andrew manning the machine M-F, 8:30-dark, and ton of people digging hard all day. If you want to help dig, just head up there during the week, and you will be building HUGE BERMS AND JUMPS. Going to be sooo sick.

WMBC Blog for updates. WMBC could use more donations to pay for desiel, plate compactor, etc. Think how much you will save on gas and lift tickets! Dirt Merch South.
http://wmbctrails.blogspot.com/

 

[Uncle Cliffy]

 

[muddy beast]

Someone will have to remind me to donate money after I buy the motorcycle I've been eyeing, this project looks sick and I'd love to help keep it moving, good job guys!

And thank you all!

~Scott

 

[ebxtreme]

Hi all,

First of all, I want to personally thank the folks that donated to the cause espcecially the 2-0-6'ers who have really thrown down. If you can't be out shoveling, then that's the 2nd best option and all of us very much appreciate it. To date, we've raised $2400 dollars for the project. Amazing!

So, we've had 8 days of working on the Luge. We've got the best riders and builders in the 3-6-0 working their tails off to create one of the sickest trails in the PNW. Colin Tobin and Andrew Fletcher Love have been out 9 straight days (counting today) and a host of other badasses have been making this happen. Despite having the machine to clear and move dirt, there's still a TON of dirt moving and shaping to be done and we've had 8-20 guys out most days.....hence our progress.

Progress:
We're a bit over 1/2 done with the trail and, so far, it's something that all of the crew is very proud to be hanging our names on. Of course, we've made game time decisions to move some corners back and mild tweaks, but our routing was pretty much dialed out of the gate. So far, we're at 23 jumps - including pumpers that can be doubled. I'm sorry....did I just say 23 jumps??? I sure did and many of these are going to push people's limits. :thumbsup: I think it safe to say that this trail and Mo' Hawk (aka upper mullet) are gonna be game changers for trailbuilding and rider progression in our area.

For rider safety, this will not be open it up to the public until every jump 100% dialed and everything is caseable. We'll continue to make tweaks until then, so an "opening" date is anywhere from 2-4 weeks.

Cheers,
EB

Some pics:

Opening rollers (will get rounded with the compactor):

Leads into the first right berm. Note the drain on the right side after the berm. Not an afterthought.

Which leads into a little roller that can be hipped. FYI, the “old” section of trail was to the left and has been totally covered up.

Berm 2 (left hander). This will get narrowed a bunch after we finish a drain issue.

Leads into the first bigger jump that will have an advanced side (tombstone) and an intermediate side.

2nd left berm getting shaped by Clayton and Courtney.

Colin and Clayton shaping the next hip.

When those dudes catch up to the machine, Clayton, Colin and Chris got after it transplanting ferns and moving some organic in place to help tighten the trail in the first left berm. We’ll keep this going as the machine heads down the hill.

The 2nd left hand berm turned out SO nice. Most shaping is done here, so we’ll bring in the trail tread and transplant ferns on this.

Thad, Colin and Vaughn shaping.

Which turned into this hip:

Lorin moving dirt after the hip:

That leads to a flattish section, hits a berm and then goes into a two sets of pumpers that can be doubled. I love how tight this all looks after the guys shaped and transplanted ferns.

Hawk and Josh shaping the section after the rollers. Hawk and Durand have emails discussing this project from 4 years ago....that's serious perseverance. I've got nothing but regard for Bill.

Andrew working his magic where it crosses the old trail. There is a stepdown in this spot now.

A massive 180 deg. berm

Which leads into this hip (before it got finished).

Which leads into a couple of new jumps. This section was super gnarly with old logs.

Josh, Britney, Brandon and Kyle worked on a big set of rollers that can be doubled.

Exit berm of a 3 berm chicane.

Leads into this section with pumpers and 2 big tables.

A table to a hip combo.

Looking up at the same section.

This table is hitting so sweet.

 

[DamienD]

sick!

 

[ryanrider]

Well that settles that, I'm going to Western next year!! Nice work guys!


-Ryan

 

[dklopp]

that will be an amazing trail once its done

 

[DirkaDirkaJack]

nice work Plunder Crew, stoked to get up there and hit that gnar.

 

[ebxtreme]

Hey all,

A quick update. We've had a solid crew out working each day usually with 5-7 guys helping shape and move dirt. The machine is moving down the hill and we're near the bottom. Once it's off the hill, we'll still have 2-3 weeks of tweaking and hand shaping to accommodate the risk management plan for this trail. Weather dependent, of course.

Stoked!
EB

Some updated pics of recent work:

Sweeping left berm heads into an old skidder section mid-way - Before:

After:

Old Skidder road - Before:

Old Skidder after – 2 tables and 3 sets of pumpers:

Big table further on skidder:

Next section has a stepdown to a big hippable table.

Tranny for table/hip move:

Andrew rough shaping a berm that exits you onto the old trail.

After it got final shaped by Odin and crew.

Old flat section of trail towards bottom before:

Old flat section of trail getting shaped by Chad, Lorin, Vaughn, Odin, Colin and Mike. Yes, that’s a big mama jama culvert.

Satellite feature on old section of trail near bottom (step up and stepdown):

Leads to this bermy section. Might get a small feature out of this later.

 

[jid2]

This is good freakin' stuff.

 

[mutton]

love the "before and after" pics dude....wicked! Thanks for the update

 

[RAD]

looking forward to summer time on Galbraith.

 

[ezduzit]

Wow....between Duthie, Galby, and Stevens (maybe???) Western WA will be getting some major league upgrades this season. C'mon daylight savings!!!

 

[rigidhack]

WOW!
I am completely impressed. I thought I was doing good work when I nailed new cedar rungs onto the Stinger a couple of seasons ago. Lat time I rode Galby I broke an arm, but it is definitely time to head back!

 

[keener1830]

It all looks sick cannot wait to make it back up to galby to do some sick riding

 

[DirkaDirkaJack]

any word on when this trail is going to be open? just waiting for it to dry out at this point?

 

[ebxtreme]

any word on when this trail is going to be open? just waiting for it to dry out at this point?

Were still plugging down the hill with the focus on making each jump line up correctly and taking care of any of the red flag risk items. The machine did the bulk of the dirt moving (obviously) and we were there shaping right behind him, but there was still a lot of work to be done. The recent wintery weather and finishing the new exit to Evo has slowed the progress.

Cheers,
EB

Edit: We had a big trailday with Dropnzone a few weeks ago. Here's some more recent pics from that day.

Some pics from my better half.

Not......open.....yet.

Transplanted Ferns:

Groms and Dogs.

2nd jump got a bit wider...

Cheri was a dirt moving machine.

This section got dialed by TZ, Spence, Andrew, Hawk and a bunch of other folks. 4 jumps in a row.

Odin and Matt K. working on the old skidder road.

Looking up the old skidder.

Tyler, David, Mike and crew working in the stepdown zone.

Scuch and Mattie. These dudes with the help from Teague, Hawk, Brandon and a few others extended this a table by 6 or 7 feet. Guys were overshooting the tranny to flat....that won't be a problem now.

The tranny for said jump.

Brandon and Andrew talking shop.

Josh P sampling the stepdown.