MTB Trailcare

Started in mid 2012

Left fallow in late 2012 while we spent a whole year working on Casuarina Loop, Pete's, Pete's Extension and Brett's

Recommenced 30th August 2013

Completed for the Australia Day Weekend.  You will have to read the blog to see how it panned out.  This weekend 45 hours, 4 volunteers and a fair bit of grunt saw the trail completed and a very happy MTBtrailcare.  While time will tell if the top creek crossing requires armouring (we are not uncomfortable given the amount of clay and general soil quality), we believe this trail is good to go for many, many years with only basic maintenance.

Our first task was to link the lower end onto the exisiting trail line about 100m above Barney's Trail. Go back to the first photo in this post to see what was being changed.  Only about 20m of trail was needed to link the trails (either end).  It turned out to be the most labour intensive and punishing bit of the entire trail.  

Estimates suggest the general 20 cents per mattock metre (the time it takes for a quality mattock to die on the job averaged against purchase price) increased to 30 cents on this job and that allows for the extensive use of Doug's favourite pick on this really stoney and rocky terrain!

We started the weekend checking the effect of rain on our last works.  Looks good

To link the trails, Doug and Jonas joined Ash and I on Saturday afternoon.  Much soil was moved and many rocks were excavated and saved to assist with closing the old trail line.  By the end of the weekend we estimate that 150 barrows of fill were transported up and onto the old trail line in preparation for next Saturday's final closure day.  About 65% of it was used at the bottom, although it is just not visible compared to up the top of the track where a lot of low areas were carpeted with soil and fertile organic matter.

Some was used to cover the old rocky line (shortcut over a year ago) which had eroded about 50cm deep.  Combined with organic debris and a dam of large rocks over old logs and stoney fill, the aim was to completely remove evidence of the old trail, our trail construction entrance and prevent water following the old line onto the new trail.  Sunday morning started as Saturday afternoon ended

We did get there by Sunday afternoon

We had at least one spectator.  Not sure if he was displaying moder art, indiginous art, or if he was a spider or a crab, but he was pretty colourful and we like him

Here's how some of the fill was used.  Water bars, new drains, rocks added to erosion lines and spare soil and organic matter stores have made a headstart for the formal closure day next weekend.  Lots of serious work is required yet, but hopefully next weekend's volunteers can see that closing a trail is something deserving maximum respect and may even improve the trail compared to its riding condition

It is a big bench, considering what was there before

Today it was up to the top to link through the creek.  This was a job of compromise, where for at least a year riders will be using a temporary shortcut into and off the trail.  The creek crossing must be made for the final line onto the new third hill line, but in the interim, riders will shortcut off the old trail line.  Some effort had to be put into that "shortcut".  We like the way it all turned out.  

Before the next pic we moved the log above the lads using a pry bar, from its original vertical alignment to an horizontal one

Another nice trail link completed.  Don't forget closing the old trail line - until that is done, this trail isn't open, even if some bozo has already found a fun line....

So, for next week, we have started to stockpile debris to add to the trail closure, with an emphasis on organic materials and loose soil.  We have already added lots of this to the flat section of trail near the top, where we believe it will slow water movement and encourage regrowth of seeds in the added fill.  Along with some large items already saved to add next week, it looks like this

So next week this becomes open for business!!!!

Please check the calander for details regarding next Saturday.