Uwharrie Heavy Trail Work Day/Weekend #14, June 17-19

[DRaider90]

Here it is, the Heavy Trail Work Weekend just about a year in the making. We will be doing extensive work on the Dutch John trail, plus a couple project(s) on Rocky Mnt. Loop and possibly one or two other trails. We will have two Bobcat Compact Track Loaders, a T190 and a T300. Coupled with a hydraulic breaker, auger, and 4in1 Combination bucket we will have our work cut out for us. And right now it looks like free camping will be provided at the Badin Lake Group Camp. There may also be some camping at Arrowhead for those attending.
There was a possibility of a cabin rental but that idea has essentially been scrapped. The only loose end that hasn't been wrapped up is the transport of the 2nd machine. Which we are looking into. If you would like to transport the 2nd Bobcat get in contact with me or Chris (CLTDBA). The current schedule looks like this:

Friday:
Afternoon - Light work load. We will more than likely be doing split rail fence install.
Night - Night run on the trails. Just some fun before the work day.

Saturday:
8AM - Breakfast at the Eldorado Outpost
9AM - Forest Service Meetup at Hunt Camp
1PM - LUNCH (or sometime around there)
4PM - Work Wraps Up
6:30PM - Dinner at Zeno's Italian
8PM - Night Work and/or Trail Run

Sunday:
8AM - Breakfast at the Eldorado Outpost
9AM - Re-group at Hunt Camp
1PM - LUNCH (or sometime around there)
2PM - Finish up any work left.

This is a work weekend, which means we will be working Saturday and Sunday. There also will be a light work load Friday before the workday. Main goal there is to get the split rail fence in that we didn't get done in May. Split rail is simple to install, and shouldn't be too big of a task. The more we get done Saturday the better. What projects we don't get done Saturday will carry over to Sunday. For those coming out Sunday it will be like a normal Saturday, Breakfast then meet up at Hunt Camp.

Thanks again to all the clubs for making this work weekend a reality by donating money and man power. This is truly an OHV Community effort.

 

[DRaider90]

Where ever you see a blue triangle with "!" is an area confirmed for us to be working in June. There are other possible areas that Terry Savery may flag before June, but the major ones are marked.

Dutch John:

2x Areas of Split Rail Fence: There is an area at the bottom of the hill climb, and a camping area near the beginning of the trails that split rail needs to be installed using a Bobcat with an Auger. There may be areas of guard rail install also not yet flagged.

2x Bridge Crossing Repaired/Replaced: There is one bridge that needs to be adjusted and 20 logs added to it. Half of the logs still have to be transported to the location. There is a 2nd bridge that needs to be removed and possibly rebuilt or a culvert installed. Both areas (especially the one with imbed logs) will require equipment work. There may also be areas that need to be worked over with rock.

1x Mud Hole Removal: There is an area of the trail that isn't draining correctly. The "berm" sides of the trail will be dozed down into the center of the trail raising it up to correct drainage. This will be a 2 machine job. There are also other possible areas were drainage ditches need to be repaired/modified.

Rocky Mnt Loop:

1x Bypass Widening: On Rocky Mnt. Loop the bypass around the ledge will be widened. This will take the use of a hydraulic breaker to create a matching slope to extend the bypass to the left, currently are rocks sticking out that will have to be broken up/removed.

There are other drainage issues that may be addressed. Including where there was contractor work done, but it still has turned into a mud hole.

Just about all this work will require closing off where we are working. We closed off parts of Dutch John the past workday, and will be doing the same this workday. I think the longest we had the trail blocked was 45 minutes to an hour. So we will need people directing traffic away from the area, and around the work area when its possible to let people pass.

 

[thecarman]

What is the plan for lunch? Do volunteers need to bring their own lunch, or bring money to buy lunch from a vendor, or is lunch provided?

Thanks!
Richard

 

[DRaider90]

I would pack a lunch to eat on the trail. Because Terry The Hot Dog Guy won't be out there, and having a late lunch will just mess up dinner for those staying over night. For those staying over Saturday and working Sunday don't pack a big lunch. Dinner at Zeno's equals huge portions.

 

[DRaider90]

Oh yeah, I can't forget. Since Worksaver Magazine is looking at using our story in their Spring 2012 issue we need to document this work weekend well. Anyone that has a decent/good camera and is willing to snap pictures would be greatly appreciated. Worksaver is a Bobcat magazine so that is their main picture focus, but we will need good pictures of everyone and all the work for any possible news paper inclusions that we are looking at also. Pictures of the equipment, pictures of the volunteers, pictures of the safety equipment (barricades etc), pictures of the trail rigs, and pictures of the trails/scenery will be the most helpful. Basically pictures of anything and everything.

 

[inlinepower]

so im new to nc, and would be interested in coming out and meeting some new people and helping out if you could use me let me know, i could probaly go one day
keith

 

[DRaider90]

so im new to nc, and would be interested in coming out and meeting some new people and helping out if you could use me let me know, i could probaly go one day
keith

We need everyone we can get to come out and help. The volunteer workdays are a great way to network and meet new people, so it will be a win win for you.

 

[inlinepower]

ok im planing on saturday, could i get an address to were your all meeting up ive been through that area on 109, never been out in uwharrie, just want to get to the right place

 

[DRaider90]

ok im planing on saturday, could i get an address to were your all meeting up ive been through that area on 109, never been out in uwharrie, just want to get to the right place

Here is the address to the Eldorado Outpost where we meet for breakfast at 8am:

4021 Nc Highway 109 North, Troy, NC 27371

Coming from Wadesboro you will be coming up 109 from the South so you will actually pass 1153 on your way to the Outpost, which is the road Hunt Camp is on where we meet the Forest Service at 9am after breakfast. 1153 is easy to spot, it is the road on the left that the big Uwharrie National Forest sign sits on the side. Like I said if you are going to breakfast at the Outpost you will pass it, and the Outpost will be on the left a couple minutes later. If you aren't going to breakfast turn left on 1153 and the hunt camp will be a minute or two down the road on the right.

Check the map I posted above and it will show what I am talking about a bit better.

 

[drowe512]

Eli, Rocky Mnt. Loop is listed as the easier of the two trails, is this correct? I don't know the trails yet, but I need a less challenging trail for my stock JK. I'm also wondering if people/clubs will post their preferences for what area to work on, it might make creating groups quicker on Saturday. Looking forward to another long hot day!

David

 

[J.C.]

Rocky Mnt. Loop is listed as the easier of the two trails, is this correct? I don't know the trails yet, but I need a less challenging trail for my stock JK.

Dutch John is probably the easier of the two. Rocky Mount has some tougher obstacles but they are by passable. Dutch John has a steep hill climb, tough when wet but if dry, no problem. Your stock JK should be able to handle both trails with no body damage and minimal tire spin

 

[inlinepower]

ok ill be there saturday not sure if ill be doing breakfast or not, do i need to bring any thing , cooler with drinks food tools let me know

 

[DRaider90]

Eli, Rocky Mnt. Loop is listed as the easier of the two trails, is this correct? I don't know the trails yet, but I need a less challenging trail for my stock JK. I'm also wondering if people/clubs will post their preferences for what area to work on, it might make creating groups quicker on Saturday. Looking forward to another long hot day!

David

I stand behind the rating I put on the map of Dutch John being Difficult, and Rocky Mnt. Loop being Moderate-Difficult. If this had been last year before the contractor worked on it, I might have to agree with John and say Rocky Mnt. Loop is more difficult.

Also keep in mind if I remember correctly you and your group came down Dutch John vs going up it. Which means you had to go up the switch back which is always harder than going down it. And depending on your preference going down the Hill Climb is an interesting experience also (especially if you don't have top notch brakes). The trail your group took to get to Dutch John is Rocky Mnt Loop. All the obstacles on RML have bypasses, which the obstacles on Dutch John don't. Dutch John has a lot more technical driving for a stock vehicle due to some nicely placed rocks in certain areas.

Those technical areas like the Switch Back are as hard as it gets for the trails minus Daniel. So having done Dutch John you won't see anything more advanced that what you encountered on there that doesn't have a bypass. And if you work on Dutch John during the work weekend, I would say you would probably be taking the easier route coming from Wolfs Den instead of Rocky Mnt Loop. If you want send me a PM with the areas of the trail you had issues with and I will try to help get an idea of what we can do in June to help.

 

[DRaider90]

ok ill be there saturday not sure if ill be doing breakfast or not, do i need to bring any thing , cooler with drinks food tools let me know

A cooler with drinks and food are always a must. Tools wise let me know what you have. Shovels, post hole digggers, rakes etc can always be used.

 

[drowe512]

I stand behind the rating I put on the map of Dutch John being Difficult, and Rocky Mnt. Loop being Moderate-Difficult. If this had been last year before the contractor worked on it, I might have to agree with John and say Rocky Mnt. Loop is more difficult.
Also keep in mind if I remember correctly you and your group came down Dutch John vs going up it. Which means you had to go up the switch back which is always harder than going down it. And depending on your preference going down the Hill Climb is an interesting experience also (especially if you don't have top notch brakes). The trail your group took to get to Dutch John is Rocky Mnt Loop. All the obstacles on RML have bypasses, which the obstacles on Dutch John don't. Dutch John has a lot more technical driving for a stock vehicle due to some nicely placed rocks in certain areas.
Those technical areas like the Switch Back are as hard as it gets for the trails minus Daniel. So having done Dutch John you won't see anything more advanced that what you encountered on there that doesn't have a bypass. And if you work on Dutch John during the work weekend, I would say you would probably be taking the easier route coming from Wolfs Den instead of Rocky Mnt Loop. If you want send me a PM with the areas of the trail you had issues with and I will try to help get an idea of what we can do in June to help.

Part of the issue is that I am lost most of the time down there! But, the only place I had an actual problem was climbing up a hill and I got too far right and blew out a tire on a sharp rock. Being so inexperienced, I don't know the best lines to take and just try to bull my way through instead of thinking. Must be a man thing.... I have replaced the stock tires so I am more confident going down this time. If you see a silver JK sitting by the trail with an old guy looking confused, a little advice is probably all I'll need. I'll see you all in a couple of weeks!

 

[J.C.]

If you see an old guy looking confused

Welcome to the club

 

[inlinepower]

A cooler with drinks and food are always a must. Tools wise let me know what you have. Shovels, post hole digggers, rakes etc can always be used.

ok i was planning on bringing food and drinks for myself didnt know if i should bring some for others too, but i will, tool wise what you mentioned it what i ment ill bring what i have

 

[DRaider90]

ok i was planning on bringing food and drinks for myself didnt know if i should bring some for others too, but i will, tool wise what you mentioned it what i ment ill bring what i have

Its purely up to you if you want to bring extra food/drinks. A lot of people bring extra water, and sometimes one or two people may bring extra snacks. Beyond that people usually bring their own food/drinks usually. But when its hot out its always a good idea to bring extra fluids.

 

[DRaider90]

Here is a quote from a series of e-mails between myself and Terry Savery:

How many people do you have coming? We only had 21 in May and for the amount of work Deb, you & I are coming up with for June it would be great to have 40 to 50 people working in the different areas.

This is a big number to shoot for, but with the number of clubs that are involved I think we can pull off 40 to 50. Because again this is an OHV Community Work Weekend, so it will take everyone and all the clubs to make this possible.

I talked with our equipment rental contact, and its confirmed we will have a brand new T-190 (only 80 hours on it), a T-300, plus Auger, Hydraulic Breaker, 4in1 Combination Bucket, and toothed/smooth buckets. It looks like Chris will be hauling one machine, and the Forest Service will actually be hauling the 2nd machine. We still need to raise around $75 to cover the rental of the machines, plus money to cover fuel.

Also post up if you will be needing camping spot(s). So far I have let Janet Becker know that we need at least one campsite.

We are in the final stretch here, lets make this a huge turn out!

 

[XJfreakHO]

Got our $200 to Chris over the weekend.

 

[DRaider90]

Got our $200 to Chris over the weekend.

Awesome. We are still $75 down for the rentals, plus fuel money. We are soooo close but so far. I know we can get the last bit of money raised so we can make this work weekend a reality.

I have been talking with Terry Savery off and on since the last workday, and her last e-mail said she has 19 spots flagged. That is a good bit more than just the areas we flagged the day prior to the last work day. So we are going to need everyone we can to make this a productive work weekend.

 

[DRaider90]

Terry Savery sent out an updated work list with new sites flagged. There are 19 total, which is a LOT of WORK. Here is the document:

Badin Lake OHV Trail Complex

Work for June 18, 2011 work weekend



These sites have all been flagged and numbered. The flagging used was orange and the numbers on the flagging correspond to the tasks listed below. Also, in general use Bobcat to clean out the outlet ditches on Slab Pile, Dutch John & Rocky Mountain Loop Trails.


1.) Slab Pile Trail near the Wolf Den junction – drain out the lead out ditch with equipment.

2.) Slab Pile Trail near the Wolf Den end – Reshape the ephemeral channel crossing, rock armor the crossing with about 8 to 10 loads of rip rap (6” to 10” rock). Armor the approaches to the crossing for about 10 feet on both sides of the crossing. Clean out the downstream side of the crossing (south side of trail) and armor about the first 5 feet of the outlet ditch. This crossing goes diagonally across the trail. After the channel is reshaped and armored block off the bypassing area with 4 long rails of guardrail and 5 posts.

3.) Slab Pile Trail – fella large hazard tree, large hardwood that does have trail markers on it. This tree has been flagged (the bushes at the bottom of the tree have been flagged & notes are on the flagging). After felling this tree use it to block of the bypass and also slash in the bypass with other downed trees and slash and there is also a small dead tree at the bottom of the bypass that could be felled and used to block off this bypass.

4.) Slab Pile Trail – there is a section of trail where ATV’s are going up and around sections of trail (downslopefrom a split rail fence that is about 30 feet off the trail) that need to be slashed in for about 100 to 200 feet. Winch dead and down trees from both sides of the trail to slash these sections off to keep people on the trail.

5.) Slab Pile Trail – there are folks driving down the outflow ditch from one rolling dip down the hill to another rolling dip. Install hay bales at the outflow ditches (about 15 feet or so from the actual trail) for both of these rolling dips and slash in the outflow ditches between the trail and the hay bales to discourage people driving off the trail. These are up hill from a small creek.

6.) Rocky Mountain Loop Trail – use hydraulic breaker to bust up rock and boulder/bedrock ledge on the lower ledge that is on the downhill from Kodak Rock. The ledge area the bust up is on the left side of the trail as you are climbing up to climb over Kodak Rock. Use the rock and dirt from breaking up the bedrock/boulder and from on-site to fill in the downhill side hole of the ledge. Compact the soil as much as possible with the equipment available. Also, there are a couple of dead and downed trees in the middle of the trail that can either be used to block up the middle section of the trail to keep people separated to either the hard rock climbing section of trail (right side of trail) or on the easy rock climbing section of trail (left side of trail) OR the dead trees can be used as a boundary or curbing on the down slope side of the trail to keep people from going off the trail on the down slope side.

7.) Rocky Mountain Loop Trail – After climb up and over Kodak Rock and you’re driving down hill there are three areas to block at the same time to block of a large bypass. There are upper, middle and lower sections that needto be blocked off with guardrail. Upper Section– install 4 long rails with 5 posts. Middle Section– install 2 short rails with 3 posts. Lower Section– install 1 long rail with 2 posts. At the top of the bypass use the hydraulic breaker to bedrock in the middle of the easy section of the trail (the right side of the trail as you’re driving down the hill). This bedrock is the just down slope from the flagging hanging on a tree in the middle of the trail. I think beginners or people in stock vehicles get a little freaked out in this rock section and so they are going down this bypass even though the section of the designated trail isn’t really that bad.

8.) Rocky Mountain Loop Trail – This is the crossing that Kelly Cagle and his group worked on at the May 21stwork weekend. Dig out / reshape the outflow ditch section and finish armoring the crossing and the outflow ditch with an additional 3 loads of rip rap of 6 to 8” rock. There is a little bit of rock still there. STOP SIGN MISSING AT THE INTERSECTION OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOOP TRAIL AND FR 553 ACROSS FROM THE NEW BRIDGE. INSTALL NEW STOP SIGN.

9.) Rocky Mountain Loop Trail - Drain mudholeand remove logs that are in front of the guardrail that was put up at the dispersed camping are up on the hill. Also, reset the guardrail post at this site.

10.) Rocky Mountain Loop Trail – Install 1 long rail and 2 posts on the edge of the trail to block ATV’s and dirt bikes from driving off the trail to go around the new short culvert and into the stream. Use the logs that are between sites # 9 & 10 or from the stream crossing on Slab Pile Trail at the Dutch John Creek corduroy crossing for Dutch John Trail site # 15.

11.) Dutch John Trail – At the hill climb at the Slab Pile end – Remove all of the hog wire fencing materials that are at the top, middle and bottom sections of this entrenched hill climb. Remove some of the broken split rail fencing materials that are at the top of the hill climb and replace them with guardrail. Connect the two ends of the split rail fence that are still intact with 5 long rails and 6 posts. There is orange flagging on the 2 sections of split rail fencing that are to be kept in place. At the bottom of the hill climb remove all of the hog wire fencing and remove the split rail that is on the north and west side of the trail and replace the bottom of the bypass with 2 pieces of short rail and 3 posts (this is where the split rail is piled up at this time). On the inside curve (on the south and east side of the trail) fix the split rail fencing and extend it to the camping area. If there is additional split rail materials haul them to site # 18 where split rail will be added to a site.

12.) Dutch John Trail – Guardrail 3 spots of a long bypass. On the top add 2 long rails and 3 posts, in the middle section add 2 long rails and 3 posts and at the bottom add 1 long rail and 2 posts. See the orange flagging at these sites marking the general locations of the guardrail.

13.) Dutch John Trail – The first corduroy crossing that you cross after going down the hill is quite loose and looked a bit busted up. Need to re-tighten the cables and check the cable to make sure it hasn’t broken.

14.) Dutch John Trail – This is at a mudholethat is on the long flat section along the creek where the trail starts to get very rocky. At this mudhole take the spit rail fence down, drain the mudhole, cut back the berms and fill in the trail tread and try to outslope the trail. If can’t get it to outslope reshape the outlet ditch and install 2 haybalesabout 10 feet off of trail at the end of the outlet ditch and then put the split rail fence back up.

15.) Dutch John Trail – At a corduroy crossing add between 15 to 20 long pieces of corduroy logs to the corduroy crossing. There are already 9 to 10 log pieces there. Can get more logpieces from Rocky Mountain Loop Trail next to site # 9 & 10 or from the stream crossing on Slab Pile Trail at the Dutch John Creek corduroy crossing. Need new cable here or need to splice broken pieces together. Bring the short pieces we have from the work center.

16.) Dutch John Trail – Drain mudhole and reshape the outlet ditch and add 2 hay bales at the outlet and then armor the mudhole with cobble / rip rap from on-site source.

17.) Dutch John Trail – This is the big corduroy crossing that had the tree cleared out at the May work weekend. The cable is busted and some of the logs are busted. Replace the broken log pieces and add new cable or splice cable pieces together. Can get more log pieces from Rocky Mountain Loop Trail next to site # 9 & 10 or from the stream crossing on Slab Pile Trail at the Dutch John Creek corduroy crossing.

18.) Dutch John Trail – At the dispersed camping area near the Wolf Den end of the trail where there is already split rail fencing in place. We want to allow camping but block vehicles and ATV’s from going back to the campsite. They can park at fence and walk back to camp. Fix the broken pieces of split rail and then connect the two sections of split rail with about 12 sections with 11 posts (should be able to connect to the end posts of the 2 sections of fencing that are already there). Use the pieces of split rail fencing that aren’t used at the bottom of the hill climb. I need to count how many sections of split rail were left out there in May.

19.) Falls Dam Trail at the intersection with Wolf Den Trail – Remove exposed culvert, cut back berms and fill in the trail – may need to cut trees – reshape a channel where culvert is and then armor it with rock from on-site.


Carsonitesigns needed at the following locations. These sites are not flagged. If they don’t get installed on June 18th let me know and we’ll work on them in the future.


Junction Slab Pile & Wolf Den

Junction Slab Pile & Dutch John & Rocky Mt. Loop

Junction Daniel & Rocky Mt. Loop

Junction Morgan & Rocky Mt. Loop

Junction Morgan & Dickie Bell

Junction Dutch John & Fraley

Junction Slab Pile & Saw Mill & Fraley

Junction Saw Mill & Rocky Mt. Loop

Junction Rocky Mt. Loop & Dickie Bell

Junction Wolf Den & Dutch John

Junction Dickie Bell & FR 553 – need 2 on both sides of the crossing

Junction Rocky Mt. Loop & FR 553 - need 2 on both sides of crossing

Junction of Dickie Bell & Green Gap Road – need 2 on both sides of the crossing

 

[GotLime?]

At least 4 of us from the Lake Norman area will be there Saturday and Sunday.

One of our guys has a duece. Would that be useful on these work days?

 

[XJfreakHO]

If he doesn't mind loading the bed up, then yeah it will be very handy to move things around, plus its a badass duece, cool guy too, hung out with him a little sunday at the Farm event.

 

[GotLime?]

If he doesn't mind loading the bed up, then yeah it will be very handy to move things around, plus its a badass duece, cool guy too, hung out with him a little sunday at the Farm event.

I'll let Chris know. He is a good guy. Sorry I missed you at the farms. I was out there Saturday but didn't stay for Sunday.