NYCMTB.com

[rpet]

Chris T, myself, Simon, Andrew - 4 hours. Jumps were ride-able and in great condition considering the snow & rain, so we also rode for 30 minutes afterward, with our aching backs and creaking joints.

Chris had a productive session with Jose from Parks Nat Res that he can share.

I asked Jose about procuring some bags of approved native grass seed so that we can plant them around the jump zone as we dig this spring. He thought it was a great idea and volunteered to give us the seed after he receives his yearly order soon. We can keep the seed in the box, and strew it about as we do maintenance. Fighting erosion with native species is a win-win.

We raked a bunch of leaves so that we could reclaim more washed out jump dirt that had made its way down the hill. Andrew found a cannonball.

We began the 3rd jump on the Intermediate line. It will be a long and low roughly 3 feet high, when it's completed. We are maybe 30% finished.


We also continued our work on the first jump of the Beginner line. It needs a bit more dirt to lengthen and make the landing more shallow. Rocks need to be raked out too.
I think we are resolved in our plan to finish the betterment and safe-making of this line. The 2nd jump will become a roller and the 3rd jump will be widened and lengthened like the first.


Tomorrow is a rain day, but the crew will be out again on Thursday. Pitch in!
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'76 XL250
'04 XR250R
'05 Blur4X
'09 DR650
'10 TR450

[Nick]

Looks superpimp. Sorry I couldn't make it up, the beginning of the week is always booked up for me. I'm up for a weekend or maybe a friday afternoon huck fest.

[rpet]

I'll be there Thurs-Sun... see you then.
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'76 XL250
'04 XR250R
'05 Blur4X
'09 DR650
'10 TR450

[trailking26]

Yesterday, I met with Jose Baez from NRG (natural resources group.)

The purpose of my meeting was to get to know him and what his function is within the parks system, and how it relates to us.
For those who don't know him-you should. He is first and foremost a really cool guy, and has had a background in MTB since the glory days of Van Cortland Freeriding.
At a time he worked with Green Apple Corps. and assisted heavily with the construction of the HighBridge trails. Now He works with NRG to maintain "ungroomed" natural areas within the parks in upper Manhattan, including High Bridge park.
I accompanied him on his weekly walk through of the back trails to get an idea of what he looks for when perusing the trails. I ended up getting a lesson in ecology(of which he has a remarkably vast knowlege)as well.

I asked if he could coordinate his walk through to happen on Tuesdays so that we can assist each other on various projects. He said he'd be glad to help out wherever he can on building features, mitigating trouble spots and some maintenance.

We started through the upper rough ryder trail and observed the wash-out of the trails there and the climbing/descending difficulty of the switch backs. There is also a desire line to be closed off there.
We continued on through the remainder of lower rough ryder without incedent and headed back by the jumps.

At the jumps again, we discussed the possibility of using the fire hydrant to water the jumps. He suggested that we present the idea at the next ops' meeting and that it is likely that we could present a valid enough case to be given a key. He also said he'd see about sending the water truck by on a daily basis to water the jumps.

We headed down to the beginner loop and he explained all of the herbicide applications that have taken place over the last year and their compelling reasons for doing so.

Then over to the shooting gallery drop. He suggested it was time to cut that fallen tree into a log ride. We observed a small (barely rideable) hip jump installed at the top of the hill descending into the ravine at the base of the drop. Looks like a good idea, just poorly executed.

We ventured further down the hill towards the closed fall line trail. At the top of the cliff, we marveled at the amount of trash in the "cesspool" at the bottom. I was suprised when he suggested a death trail line that pretty much went over the cliff, into a crevasse and then into the "'pool" if anyone wants to see this I'll show you. Its scary just standing that close.

We moved down the trail, past the closure and over to the rock roll down. there an encampment/firepit had closed off the trail at the base of the roll down. The trail 'desired' to the left and over to the switchbacks. This reroute actually looks like a decent trail idea and Jose made some suggestions on legitemizing it into a real trail.
Up the switch backs, a homeless mansion rests on a perch off the side of the cliff, just down from the trail. Jose said he had called it in three times already. it looked occupied.

We traversed over to where the trees had fallen across the DH trail and such. Jose said the plan was to just let them be. After expressing concern that they may one day fall on someone and crush them,we schemed some ideas for removal. He said he'd give it a try with a pole saw from up on the hill to fell them to the ground.

We climbed up to the 'burn patch' by the jumps. Jose said he is all for jumps in that area but the opposition wants to plant natives there. They are waiting to see what, if anything grows back there. If the invasives grow back, we are likely to get the go ahead to build. If nothing grows back, they will replant the area. Jose said that maybe we could work with/ around the planting to still use the area.
At the top of the DH trail, he picked up the sign that had been knocked down again. He offered to clean off the graffitti and remount it for us on a dead tree far out of reach.

We wrapped it up by the DJ's again.
Jose made a mental list of things he'd look into.

As Jose walked away we smelled smoke. He was about to get into his truck when he smelled it again and a large plume of smoke crested the hill beyond the ball field. He scaled down the hill there to find 4-6 foot flames spreading around a pair of Sassafrass trees on upper Rough Ryder where we had been only 30 minuites earlier!
He called me on my phone, exasperated, saying" I think this whole hill is gonna go up!" I ran down there with a rake and a bucket and found him trying desperately to spread it out with a stick.We put the fire out and I ran up the hill with the bucket. Thankfully that hydrant was open as usual so I could get water!
The trees will probably make it. Someone had set the Honeysuckle vines and leaves climbing up the tree on fire so it went up quickly. scorching the trees four feet up their trunks and a large patch around them.

All in a day's work..........
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Build what you ride

[jbogner]

Thanks for the update Chris. Skolnick will have to own up to that "poorly constructed hip."

Jose is great and very supportive of the trails. Glad you got to spend some time with him and get to know him.
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"Ugly or pretty, it's still my city.
Make up your mind and get in or get out!"

[trailking26]

_________________
Build what you ride