DRaider90
Uwharrie Off-Road Volunteering
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2007
- Location
- Weddington, NC
We have been making some good progress with efforts to keep the trails open. Including the trail clean up day that went very well, and the trail hike with the FS that will be taking place early next year.
A evident problem that is coming up is trail erosion from the increased use of the Uwharrie trails in the last couple years. And because of this people are making bypasses, and the atvs are creating spider trails etc. I am not sure what the Forest Service's stance is on volunteers working on the trails while they are closed, but it seems like it is something that needs to be done.
I know there are somethings in the works, like a re-route of Dutch John due because it is near so many streams etc. And this will probably effect issues like the hill climb etc. Keep in mind we are talking here about fixing ruts and other obstacles that are created from erosion and could cause problems/are causing problems. We aren't talking about paving the rock ledges, or anything like that.
There are groups that have adopted the trails, but not all the groups have access to skid loaders, bulldozers, etc that would be need to do most of the work. And while in the past their maintenance has been more than enough, the increased use in the past few years has created more work than what can be covered. My family history is in construction so I have no issues going up to Uwharrie for a day or a weekend and doing trail re-construction.
Some areas I have noticed personally:
Ruts on the bottom of Rocky Mount Loop before Kodak/Double Ledge: These ruts have sprung up over the course of this past year. People are creating their own bypasses which isn't good. Either the ruts would need to be filled and tamped (to prevent them from coming back), or the bypasses would need to be turned into more official ones. But some of the ruts are draining into water areas it seems, so I am guessing filling them in would be the best option.
Hill Climb and Rut on Saw Mill: Both of these are leading to non-regulated bypasses. The rut has been filled in/fixed in the past but there it is becoming an interesting obstacle. A more appropriate bypass would probably work better than filling it in over and over again.
Mini Rock Bowl on Falls Dam: Over time the bypass for this little obstacle has been getting rutted out more and more till the point the bypass is harder than the obstacle. The bypass is now puddling over and has 2 ruts draining off the side of the trail. Not to mention the ruts are dangerously directing trucks down the side of the hill off-the trail. The bypass needs to be filled and and re-worked.
Rock Ledge on Falls Dam: This is the mini rock ledge that has the 2 paths, the harder route on the left, and the old bypass on the right. But now a 3rd bypass is being made on the far left by people that can't use the old official bypass. Maybe it is just me but a 3rd line is not really needed considering there is all ready a bypass. The current bypass needs to be re-worked at the top so it can be used again.
Daniel, hill climb before the 1st ledge: People are making a secondary bypass to avoid the left hand rut carved into the mini hill climb. This hill climb is all ready paved every year, and it would be a good idea to go with this again. But obviously something has to be done about the bypass in the making.
Daniel, dead tree after the Z turn: After the 2nd ledge (the big ledge) there is the Z-Turn (or 5 point turn, what ever you want to call it) and then a hill climb. There is a dead tree that has been beaten up over the years from the rut that has been forming there. I agree with Janet that this is a dangerous situation, if the tree were to give way there is nothing stopping someone from rolling down the side. The rut needs to be filled in at the very least.
Keep in mind spider trails and self-created bypasses are some of the biggest problems trail systems face. The FS takes care of some of the above usually, and the clubs do their part also. But with the increased trail use we need to step up and help out. If we had to I would be more than willing to pitch in for equipment rentals and other stuff. Last time I checked for a day, a skid loader (Bobcat/Newholland/etc) is $175. If someone had heavy equipment that would be willing to help, that would be great too. Any other thoughts/ideas on this?
A evident problem that is coming up is trail erosion from the increased use of the Uwharrie trails in the last couple years. And because of this people are making bypasses, and the atvs are creating spider trails etc. I am not sure what the Forest Service's stance is on volunteers working on the trails while they are closed, but it seems like it is something that needs to be done.
I know there are somethings in the works, like a re-route of Dutch John due because it is near so many streams etc. And this will probably effect issues like the hill climb etc. Keep in mind we are talking here about fixing ruts and other obstacles that are created from erosion and could cause problems/are causing problems. We aren't talking about paving the rock ledges, or anything like that.
There are groups that have adopted the trails, but not all the groups have access to skid loaders, bulldozers, etc that would be need to do most of the work. And while in the past their maintenance has been more than enough, the increased use in the past few years has created more work than what can be covered. My family history is in construction so I have no issues going up to Uwharrie for a day or a weekend and doing trail re-construction.
Some areas I have noticed personally:
Ruts on the bottom of Rocky Mount Loop before Kodak/Double Ledge: These ruts have sprung up over the course of this past year. People are creating their own bypasses which isn't good. Either the ruts would need to be filled and tamped (to prevent them from coming back), or the bypasses would need to be turned into more official ones. But some of the ruts are draining into water areas it seems, so I am guessing filling them in would be the best option.
Hill Climb and Rut on Saw Mill: Both of these are leading to non-regulated bypasses. The rut has been filled in/fixed in the past but there it is becoming an interesting obstacle. A more appropriate bypass would probably work better than filling it in over and over again.
Mini Rock Bowl on Falls Dam: Over time the bypass for this little obstacle has been getting rutted out more and more till the point the bypass is harder than the obstacle. The bypass is now puddling over and has 2 ruts draining off the side of the trail. Not to mention the ruts are dangerously directing trucks down the side of the hill off-the trail. The bypass needs to be filled and and re-worked.
Rock Ledge on Falls Dam: This is the mini rock ledge that has the 2 paths, the harder route on the left, and the old bypass on the right. But now a 3rd bypass is being made on the far left by people that can't use the old official bypass. Maybe it is just me but a 3rd line is not really needed considering there is all ready a bypass. The current bypass needs to be re-worked at the top so it can be used again.
Daniel, hill climb before the 1st ledge: People are making a secondary bypass to avoid the left hand rut carved into the mini hill climb. This hill climb is all ready paved every year, and it would be a good idea to go with this again. But obviously something has to be done about the bypass in the making.
Daniel, dead tree after the Z turn: After the 2nd ledge (the big ledge) there is the Z-Turn (or 5 point turn, what ever you want to call it) and then a hill climb. There is a dead tree that has been beaten up over the years from the rut that has been forming there. I agree with Janet that this is a dangerous situation, if the tree were to give way there is nothing stopping someone from rolling down the side. The rut needs to be filled in at the very least.
Keep in mind spider trails and self-created bypasses are some of the biggest problems trail systems face. The FS takes care of some of the above usually, and the clubs do their part also. But with the increased trail use we need to step up and help out. If we had to I would be more than willing to pitch in for equipment rentals and other stuff. Last time I checked for a day, a skid loader (Bobcat/Newholland/etc) is $175. If someone had heavy equipment that would be willing to help, that would be great too. Any other thoughts/ideas on this?
get out and do this
