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i probably would have stayed in bed to be honest if management hadn't forced me out 😳
She does seem a little strict with you to be fair.
He was late tho tsk tsk
Superb effort guys. See you at the next one.
From the rangers
Please pass on our thanks to everyone who turned out on Saturday, good work achieved, the start of some longer term benefits too.
would be interested to see it after that rain last night.
I think you will see a good reduction in the amount of water logging and muddy patches where we worked.
I was working at the bottom of the hill on a mini drainage trench to start with, but noticed some guys further up the incline having a chat, so wandered up there once finished, one of the drainage channels had a tree sitting right in the middle of it 😯
Water had eroded the bank and the tree had tilted and fallen into the channel, the guys were discussing how to shift it out of the way, so we discussed it and decided on a course of action.
Took about an hour maybe an hour and a half but once we had chopped a section of the tree away and sawed off quite a few large branches, the flow of water that was backing up at the top of the incline, went from a trickle to about 5x maybe 10x more water.
That and all of the other work that was done that day, should see the section right next to the reservoir / golf course become far less water logged, hopefully 😀
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As you can see the tree is right in the run off channel, if you look at it's trunk where the green meets the brown muddy part, that's how high the water sat or there about. We had to chop through quite a large part of the trunk with a pickaxe and then cut other smaller branches that were also a good size out of the way.
Once that was done we also widened the channel a bit to minimize the chances of it blocking again, however this blockage was about 3/4 of the way up the incline and was forcing the water right down to where is was pooling at the bottom and causing the water logging / mud.
Another problem was that there is a brick was / section of the reservoir that sits at the bottom of the hill and it's higher than the terrain by about 3", once the water goes down the hill it simply gets trapped and build up!
completely missed all the chat about this.
Where exactly did you do the work?
I commute over the pentlands most days and would lke to go and have a look at your work.
I know wounded knee, but not sure where else you were.
Cris
On the estern end of the clubbiedean singletrack near the dam. Digging drainage ditches and clearing existing ditches. Needs an armoured surface on it which hopefull we can do next time. a bit of drainage atthe other end as well
June 16th for the next one for your diary. Also advertised on the facebook page and on trail Scotland
Hoping to get a good few days at this over the year - its still a learning / trustbuilding process - then we can start with the gap jumps
I was mental fun, covered in mud, swinging stuff, digging, sawing, lovely day as the rain held off, scenery / atmosphere was awesome and some good old fashioned exercise 😀
I was tired afterwards, but felt good about it!
There must be more photo's than this, Everyone there seemed to have a camera ❓
No one has a single photo or bit of info to add 😯
16th is in the diary TJ, I'm all yours if not converting attics.
Any one want to have a BBQ next time if I bring the food / refreshments and what exactly should I bring.
Yes I know it's not cool to be organized or even turn up, however I want a BBQ, so if your not interested just don't say anything and I'll bring enough for myself.
In my diary too. BBQ works for me!
Will it be a return to Clubbiedean?
Certainly clubbiedean needs more work on it but needs materials / gravel.
So unless anyone has a different idea or the gravel can't be delivered I think clubbiedean would be a good shout. However its not my call - its a consensus decision 🙂 (if it can be done without herding cats).
another good day should see clubbiedean sorted I think
I also discussed with the rangers your idea of aiming for an all weather route maidens / green cleugh circuit and rode it on saturday. Needs a fair bit of work in places but to me that seems like a good aim that is achievable in a year.
The only issue with that is some of it would be pretty labour intensive and dull to do - might be better with machines - thinking of the Howe end especially,
Teh trails in general really looked in poor shape
BBQ sounds great!
TJ, can't we just get the rangers to drop stuff off a certain points and then get stuck into it?
Yes a BBQ is always good, do we want to bring alcohol into the equation?
I'm prepared to put some money into a kitty so we can get some water / burgers etc.
Kaesae - Hoping to do that in the future yes - It has been discussed that the rangers can drop off tools and materials and that we can carry on with agreed repairs.
One thing that might also help if those of use with weekdays free ( druidh?) can liase with the rangers and help organise a plan of action. The rangers weekend time is a bit thin and has lots of calls on it. Doing this might help us to get more dates in over the yers.
alcohol? Not while until after the work is done for the day IMO - Pickaxes and peer are not a good mix. But again - I ain't in charge - I am coordinating
Well obviously getting shit faced is a good idea any time 😆
However when working with tooling only a small amount of alcohol is adviseable, that said we could simply have two BBQ's one in the afternoon and then one later on once we've finished.
That way anyone wanting to have a drink and who has brought their bike can do so, last time I was there I had to pour out half a 500ml bottle of cider because I couldn't drink it all and drive, so obviously I would want to avoid such a traumatic experience happening again 😉
If we're having a BBQ what does everyone want, what kind of rolls, meat other ingredients, might as well get a list!
TJ, can't we just get the rangers to drop stuff off a certain points and then get stuck into it?
Take it from me, shifting hardcore and surfacing trails is labour and material intensive, even for relatively short distances and when the hardcore is nearby!
Indeed. a tonne goes nowhere and is a good few man hours to shift
As I've previously said, I'd be happy to carry out some ongoing trail maintenance through the week as time permits. Some guidance and an action plan is all I'm after.
We need to speak about it Druidh. mail me will you 🙂
Was up last night, the muddy bit at the start that we dug the ditch for is still very muddy with pooling water, I think it is probably either just from rain or it is welling up underneath, I suppose it will take a thorough drying out to start recovering properly. The stonework gully has held up fine and was dry.
Further round a few of the puddles that we dug drains for have filled up again, because of you guessed it, bike tracks banking mud up and blocking the exit gully. I hacked them open with my heel but the next bikes will block them again, they need to be filled in really.
Wounded knee is holding up nicely and rides fine. The last few puddles at the other end have dried out nicely.
Pistachio was pretty boggy too, thankfully a fat bike had cleared a nice wide groove to ride through!
Well - the rangers have suggested that we do some work on maidens - harlaw side. Meet harlaw carpark 10.30 on saturday
I've got something on in the afternoon so a 10.30 start isn't much good for me. I'll try and make it for a few hours but it ain't looking good.
Whatever you can - a hour is a help
someone bump this a couple of times tomorrow please?
Just back from a trip up and over Maidens. Other than the eejits cutting round the side of the water bars, it all looks pretty good.
apparently the drains are blocking or something - needs to be dug out. Its what the rangers have suggested - if we have time we can do more - do some work on the top / glencourse side maybe?
Might try and fit in a pre 10.30 ride, will be easier to justify heading out to the Pentlands for an hour or so of trailbuilding if I can squeeze in a wee ride as well.
See you there peeps.
Does one bring spade/axe/combo-of-the-two to these things?
Edit: Didn't say peeps.
the rangers usually provide tools gloves and boots are handy as is some lunch and water
I'll bring me boots & gloves & rice & peas.
😳 TJ, once again I'm not going to make this, got overexcited booking cheap train fares a month ago and am now heading off to Knoydart this weekend.
Muchos apologos, I would like to support your efforts more than the one hungover session I have managed! 🙁
Off to the north-west for a week of riding and walking so I'm not going to make this one.
At least I can give the thread a nudge in case anyone has missed it.
Are there any more sessions in the pipeline? I'm still keen to help out and, like Druidh, would be happy to go out and do some work midweek/evening given some direction.
I'll be there!
saturday? gosh darn it, i'm working 🙁
Saturday? Bugger, I'd put Sunday in my diary. 😳
I need to pop into work first, but will go early and try and make it for as close to 10.30 as possible. I'll probably come over from Glencorse side anyway so don't wait around at the car park for me.
Just looked at the weather forecast! At least the ground will be nice and soft for digging...
Bumpity bump - come on you lot 🙂
241 folk in the Facebook group and we can't hat into double figures for a trail repair session........
Were you at the last one Colin?
No Kit. It was announced at so little notice that I was unable to attend. The date for this one has, however, been available for several weeks.
I have to work the weekend I'm afraid 🙁
bigjim - got a few folk in the same boat. We are going to try to arrange some midweek stuff, even if it has to be "unsupervised".