criticalmass wrote on 10/14/10 at 2:53pm:


While not so much this :
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But I would say CriticalMass is this :

flyinelvis wrote on 10/13/10 at 5:53pm:

Good question.  If we build it correctly (sustainable) maintenance will be minimal.  We are hoping that once we start making headway, locals from the Albemarle/Troy areas will adopt the trail, building a crew of their own.  Spring / Fall workdays, sponsored by the THTB might be a good idea, too...

KevinB wrote on 11/03/10 at 11:46pm:


I asked SORBA for an update on the project and hope to have something tomorrow.

The Trailblazer committment atthis point is the $2,500 we've added to the kitty for the matching funds and to get the volunteers necessay to "dress" the new/ refurbished trail after the contractor does his thing. We also want to provide as much input as possible on the "trail recovery" portions of the project - particularly the recovery for the changes made to Supertree and Keyowee (yet to happen) by the loggers.

We generally do not consider a trail a "Trailblazer trail" unless we have a written MOU with the landowner/manager to build and maintain the trail. For instance, we don't include Ann Springs or Poplar Tent in the 75 miles of Trailblazer trail - because we don't have them under MOUs. But we or some of our members do a considerable amount of work on those trails. 

Like Tom said, ideally we and SORBA can generate a cadre of trailworkers close to the Uwharrie trail for this and future projects. We'll just have to see how things progress. We certainly want to play a role in future development; any big projects will require drawing help from a large geographic area and we will look to include the clubs from Greensboro and the Triangle such endeavors.

Thanks for the update Jim, and all the time and effort you've put into saving this project. I don't think most folks understand how close our area was to losing this crazy good opportunity, and I'm not sure without the efforts of our overworked current President we'd still be talking about this opportunity.

After some XC type trail we know we need to put in, a lot of us are thinking/hoping there could be opportunity for more agressive trail in Uwharrie. This will not come without it's challenges, because like it or not we live in a society where law suits and insurance are a huge deal, but I personally would love to see some more aggressive trail at Uwharrie. I'm not a big hit kind of guy, so may or may not ride it, but I think we need it. 

With that said, the last time we asked folks looking for more aggresive trail to put their money where their mouth is, not a single person offered to put in the time and effort to work with the land managers to make it happen at LNSP on the Laurel Loop. Nada..nothing, no one showed up.

I don't know how to design and build bigger hit stuff, but I think our area really needs something besides my beloved cross county type trail. So for anyone out there that thinks our club wouldn't like more agressive trail systems in our area, you're 100% wrong....but if you think it just happens overnight, without crazy amounts of time and very frustrating efforts with the powers that be, you're also very, very wrong. If you think I'm lying, go have a beer with FirstFlight on our forum and see how much effort it took to get the first XC trail in a state park. The man should be sainted for all he had to go through.

All I'm saying is the next time we put the word out to get folks to step up and help us with more aggresive trail, if you really want it, dont' sit on the sidelines, don't expect to get exactly what you want at first without taking baby steps, and help us add a new demension to the trail riding opportunities within an hour of the Charlotte Metro area. 

I'm stepping off my soapbox and shutting my cake hole now.....Ride on....

   

Mbrennan wrote on 11/12/10 at 12:46am:

     Unfortunately it's going to take a lot more than just "show up and build it". Not that that's not important, but it's only one piece of the puzzle.
      We need folks with patience, maturity and willing to invest the time and resources it takes to get this done.  You know I'll support any kind of trail effort that's been well planned and thought out.  Someone needs to be the leader on this.  Someone who can and will work with the land managers, not get worked up at the first "no" and be willing to make some compromises.  There's plenty of opportunity up/out there and it needs to have the same care, thought and planning that the rest of the trails in the area have gotten.

     I'm looking forward to that person making it happen.

Mark

Supercrusty, we'd love to have you involved in any way you can, because we understand how hard it can be to volunteer time with family and work commitments.

On the other part of your post, I forgot to clarify that we'd like indivduals to lead this that will keep land managers in the loop on what they want to do, get approval before they build, and after a couple years worth of work on more aggressvie trail, we'd actually like to be able to open it to the public and let people actually ride it, vs. just poaching it under the radar.

The door is always open to folks that want to build new trail, but for folks that want to blatantly bash this club and the IMBA standards we build to, and make our forums a place where old and new members don't want to post due to all the BS flaming.....sorry, it's not going to happen. The olive branch has been extended many times, but it gets old after a while when it comes back slapping you in the face.

With that said, the door is always open......

Tom F wrote on 11/14/10 at 12:39am:

 
Thanks Tom. No committee yet, but will start one soon. First task will be to meet with the project manager when he comes - hopefully within +/-30 days.

Anyone else for the committee?

Critical, Advocat, Tom F., (prolly one or two of the Albemarle crew) ....

EVERYONE should take a trip out there and ride - and maybe get inspired.