atkinson
05-28-2009, 02:50 PM
Hey everybody,
http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/515/IMG_3061.JPG
H. flowing through some turns in North Warren/ South Fayston.
I hope you are staying dry in this round of rain. The riding was super-sweet last weekend and through Tuesday, but we are back to soaked for a few more days. Perfect time for trail work!
http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/515/IMG_3057.JPG
Refining and repairing at Sugarbush this week.
This Saturday, June 6th is National Trails Day, a celebration of all these special paths that connect us to the outdoors and to each other. In honor of National Trails Day, the Mad River Riders are hosting a work party in Camel’s Hump State Forest on Saturday at 10am. We will meet at the top of Tucker Hill Rd. (off RT 17) in the CHSF parking lot.
Plans include armoring and drainage work on the Enchanted Forest and Cyclone Connector trails, as these classic routes have some persistent wet areas that require attention. We need energetic folks to collect rock and skilled builders to cobble them into the trail surface, plus a few diggers to help shed water off the trail. If we have time and bodies, we may move to the GS trail for some spring-cleaning.
http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/515/IMG_3085.JPG
A ground level view of the Cyclone.
Tools will be available, but feel free to bring your own, if you want. Remember gloves, safety glasses, sunblock (hoping!), appropriate clothing and footwear, food and water.
For those with a more gravity-oriented bent, this weekend, June 6-7, also starts the Sugarbush trail volunteer season. In addition to helping buff the Bush’s growing network of downhill, free-ride and xc trails, volunteers who complete four days of trail work over the next three weekends (June 6-7, 13-14 and 20-21) will earn a 2009 summer season pass. If you are interested, call Dave at 583-6521.
This may be redundant here ... if you haven’t played in the mud in a while, you may not believe it, but trail work is addicting-ly fun. I think it taps into something primal in our animal nature. When we transform dirt, stone and wood into a path, we are also transformed in remarkable ways.
This sweat equity instills an immediate sense of accomplishment and encourages responsible stewardship of precious shared land. Passing through shoulder-high ferns and towering trees, climbing over exposed rocks and logs, fording bubbling streams and literally touching the earth with our hands and feet, we re-connect with our selves through re-creation in the natural landscape.
No matter how wet or blistered or hot or dirty or tired I get, trail work is a gift that keeps on giving. Every time I ride or hike, there are reminders of past efforts and successes, although the as-yet-to-be-done projects are always apparent too and sometimes I feel a little beleaguered. But then the clouds break, a sweeping view appears or a sweet section comes along and the reminders of how worthy these efforts are, is totally clear again.
http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/515/IMG_3145.JPG
The forest is calling to you ...
Ride on!
John
http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/515/IMG_3061.JPG
H. flowing through some turns in North Warren/ South Fayston.
I hope you are staying dry in this round of rain. The riding was super-sweet last weekend and through Tuesday, but we are back to soaked for a few more days. Perfect time for trail work!
http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/515/IMG_3057.JPG
Refining and repairing at Sugarbush this week.
This Saturday, June 6th is National Trails Day, a celebration of all these special paths that connect us to the outdoors and to each other. In honor of National Trails Day, the Mad River Riders are hosting a work party in Camel’s Hump State Forest on Saturday at 10am. We will meet at the top of Tucker Hill Rd. (off RT 17) in the CHSF parking lot.
Plans include armoring and drainage work on the Enchanted Forest and Cyclone Connector trails, as these classic routes have some persistent wet areas that require attention. We need energetic folks to collect rock and skilled builders to cobble them into the trail surface, plus a few diggers to help shed water off the trail. If we have time and bodies, we may move to the GS trail for some spring-cleaning.
http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/515/IMG_3085.JPG
A ground level view of the Cyclone.
Tools will be available, but feel free to bring your own, if you want. Remember gloves, safety glasses, sunblock (hoping!), appropriate clothing and footwear, food and water.
For those with a more gravity-oriented bent, this weekend, June 6-7, also starts the Sugarbush trail volunteer season. In addition to helping buff the Bush’s growing network of downhill, free-ride and xc trails, volunteers who complete four days of trail work over the next three weekends (June 6-7, 13-14 and 20-21) will earn a 2009 summer season pass. If you are interested, call Dave at 583-6521.
This may be redundant here ... if you haven’t played in the mud in a while, you may not believe it, but trail work is addicting-ly fun. I think it taps into something primal in our animal nature. When we transform dirt, stone and wood into a path, we are also transformed in remarkable ways.
This sweat equity instills an immediate sense of accomplishment and encourages responsible stewardship of precious shared land. Passing through shoulder-high ferns and towering trees, climbing over exposed rocks and logs, fording bubbling streams and literally touching the earth with our hands and feet, we re-connect with our selves through re-creation in the natural landscape.
No matter how wet or blistered or hot or dirty or tired I get, trail work is a gift that keeps on giving. Every time I ride or hike, there are reminders of past efforts and successes, although the as-yet-to-be-done projects are always apparent too and sometimes I feel a little beleaguered. But then the clouds break, a sweeping view appears or a sweet section comes along and the reminders of how worthy these efforts are, is totally clear again.
http://forums.alpinezone.com/gallery/data/515/IMG_3145.JPG
The forest is calling to you ...
Ride on!
John