[dhbuilder]

it's looking more and more like the weather is setting in on us for the season.

we're getting far more rain more frequently now.
and there's not enought time for it to dry out before it's hitting again.

last weekend the trailbeds were saturated.
and the jumps have standing water all around.
and all the rain this week has compounded matters.
and once that happens, it's time to shut down.

right now numerous trails are already sitting under a heavy leaf cover.
windmill.
sidehill.
middlefinger.
and that's just the way they need to stay for the next four months or so.

those locals living close by might get in a few more runs possibly this weekend, but that'll be it.
but i'm not to crazy about even that.

and since we've lost one of our main trailbuilders/detailers to a serious late season hand injury.
we're down to just four main trailbuilders.
and we have a lot to do before we re-open in the spring.
so it's time to stash the bikes and break out the tools.

 

[T-Pirate]

Sounds best, our trails are lookin about the same, riding them does more hurt than good. Good luck on building this winter.

 

[Jeremy R]

That's good Joey.
I know you guys want to get to building.
At least I got to ride it right at the end a couple of weeks back.
That was one of the most fun days of riding I have had there.
I will look foward to opening weekend.

How bad did Mark's hand up being?
I could tell by the way he was holding it, it was bad.

 

[dhbuilder]

That's good Joey.
I know you guys want to get to building.
At least I got to ride it right at the end a couple of weeks back.
That was one of the most fun days of riding I have had there.
I will look foward to opening weekend.

How bad did Mark's hand up being?
I could tell by the way he was holding it, it was bad.

dislocated bones along with tendon and some nerve damage.
he had surgery the next day.

he'll be out of work, trailbuilding and riding for quite awhile.
he's gonna be missed up here this winter.
being a landscaper, his tools and skills are a huge help.

 

[profro]

F'in rain.

We're 5 inches over for rain this fall already.

 

[LOOnatic]

I'm sick.....was gonna come up one last time for the season at Thanksgiving

 

[dhbuilder]

yeah.
we were up there today to get started building.

and as we were making our way over and up into where the first trail is going in.
we saw how heavy of a leaf cover was covering everything up.
that's just how we want the trailbeds to get through the winter.

everyone needs to get used to the fact that from now on the fall leaves coming off the trees is going to determin when we shut down.

we spend a lot of time and $$$ on clearing off leaves for just a few more weeks of riding.
when actually all we're doing is opening up trails for erosion when the winter rains hit us.

see ya'll next year.

 

[Knoxvillain]

Hey Joey, what is the work schedule like for this fall? Saturdays, Sundays and Wednsdays? I would like to try and get out there some this fall and winter for some work.

 

[dhbuilder]

Hey Joey, what is the work schedule like for this fall? Saturdays, Sundays and Wednsdays? I would like to try and get out there some this fall and winter for some work.

those are the main days, jeff.

and any other day that can be squeezed in.
i'll be up there tommorrow, friday, saturday and sunday.

 

[dhbuilder]

a little building update.

we're well into trailbuilding up here now.
one new long route has already been laid out and is beginning the detail process.

another even longer route was hiked and bushwacked yesterday.
progress on this route will more than likely take most of the rest of the winter to establish and fully detail.

both of these routes spur of of the already lengthy windmill trail.
so endurance downhilling is the direction we're going this season.
and with the vast amount of terrain we've been exploring these past few weeks, our days of short routes over in the old are are pretty much over.

if ya'll could see some of the motorized destruction that the gas well const. has opened up and the fast water erosion that the waterfall is succumbing to thanks to the same const. issues.
you'll see why we're definately going to abandon that whole upper trail area.
we looked at it this weekend and they now have a major a.t.v. trail that cuts right across the top of the upper rockgarden.

so now anyone who wants to access the few trails we'll be saving over there.
will need to start at the gate at the top of trail 14.

don't fret.
we're gaining tons more than we're losing.
some portion of the route we hiked yesterday will lend itself to more jumps than most of ya'll will be able to deal with.

 

[LOOnatic]

Sounds strange to ditch the bulkhead drop and all that but after seeing the gas well stuff i can see why.
Thanks to all you guys who make it what it is.
See ya next spring

 

[bizutch]

we looked at it this weekend and they now have a major a.t.v. trail that cuts right across the top of the upper rockgarden.

:huh: lthumbsdown:

 

[dhbuilder]

i hear ya.

they've been slowly chipping away at that area ever since they came in there and clear cut the trees out four years ago.
i'm actually surprised we hung on to it as long as we did.

i don't think it'll be missed very much once everyone sees what we've gotten into this winter !!

 

[rapp]

Any idea when you'll be opening up in the Spring yet?

 

[bizutch]

Any idea when you'll be opening up in the Spring yet?

Somebody's jonesing. Been really dry and warm of late Joey...

Hey rapp, been to ride the Carter's Lake trail yet?

 

[rapp]

Hey rapp, been to ride the Carter's Lake trail yet?[/QUOTE]

No not yet, probably two weekends from now I'll hit it up

 

[dhbuilder]

sorry guys.

even though it's been dry and warm, we're still shut down.

all the trails are leafcovered and that's how we want them to sit through the winter.(if it ever gets here)

and right now we're building new stuff.
and if i'm not riding here, nobody is riding here

i did see a d.h.bike and a motocross bike in the back of a truck heading up there when i was leaving today.
the d.h. sled better have stayed loaded up in the truck.

security and the permit sellers are aware of the fact that we're shut down. and will "remind" riders of this.

trailbuilding is going rather slow this season due to the fact that most of the folks we were counting on to help must be taking full advantage of this warm spell and getting in some riding.

it has been pretty nice round here lately.

 

[GravityFreakTJ]

have to say Joey, it takes some will power to be out building on days like we have been having

 

[dhbuilder]

Any idea when you'll be opening up in the Spring yet?

better forget about it till late march or april.

we opened up too early last season and a parking lot full of riders were sitting there literally minutes after what was basically a tropical storm had moved through.

hundreds of runs were made on fresh cut singletrack that was way too wet to ride.
sections of the new middlefinger trail were chewed up and never healed up to the way they were originally built.

we won't be making that mistake again.

patience.

 

[dhbuilder]

have to say Joey, it takes some will power to be out building on days like we have been having

wait till you see what giving up riding will get ya'll.

 

[motomike]

wait till you see what giving up riding will get ya'll.

I was about to say, it's hard to stop once you getting some building momentum going!

 

[profro]

trailbuilding is going rather slow this season due to the fact that most of the folks we were counting on to help must be taking full advantage of this warm spell and getting in some riding.

Yeah, sorry about that... oster_oops:

 

[dhbuilder]

I was about to say, it's hard to stop once you getting some building momentum going!

you got that right.

giving up riding fittness is a very small price to pay, when you have the good fortune to have the land access i'm blessed with.

trailbuilding is an obsession.

 

[dhbuilder]

Yeah, sorry about that... oster_oops:

not a problem man.

how can you begrudge folks for taking advantage of this killer weather we've been having ?

RIDE !

 

[bizutch]

I can vouch for the leaf covered trail dangers. Yesterday did a quick run on the small bike on a little ridden local trail.

I heard two sounds:
1. barrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggughhhh.... (sounded like a little stick in my front spoke)
2. BWOP!! (this is where I instantly flip onto my head without warning immediately following said noise)

I stand up to find a log easily 3 inches thick, maybe more wedged between my lower arch and the wheel. Stopped me instantly. It was under leaves....lots of them

 

[dhbuilder]

this is where I instantly flip onto my head without warning

while we all have the skills it take to perform this manuever to perfection, you seem to have a propensity for pulling it off alot up here.

although i admit i have a nagging reminder at times for all the ones i've "aced" myself.

did you replace your divot ?

 

[bizutch]

while we all have the skills it take to perform this manuever to perfection, you seem to have a propensity for pulling it off alot up here.

although i admit i have a nagging reminder at times for all the ones i've "aced" myself.

did you replace your divot ?

Young man, I only wrecked once all day last time and that was due to Matt's rear wheel not moving out of my way in due time. Can't fault me for other's people pensiveness...oster_oops:

As for replacing my divot...nah...I landed in leaves up to my ears.

 

[dhbuilder]

other peoples pensiveness.

oh man.

we've all seen our share of that up here.
hence the "rules" sticky.

as you well know, this is no place for the quivering masses.

 

[GravityFreakTJ]

as you well know, this is no place for the quivering masses.

true...but im coming back anyway

 

[ATOMICFIREBALL]

http://video.pinkbike.com/video/nsx9teaser.mov