It's gettin' to be dat time a year agin! It's CamRock Trail Posse time! These are the fine folks that keep the wheels greased and the boilers stoked. Or in this case, the trails trimmed and the raspberry bushes trimmed
Anyway, this troop has been kickin' butt for the last few years, and it is time to get fired up again! These are the great type of folks that make CORP trails awesome! And we are in need a a few more good folks to keep things moving smoothly.
So if you think riding the CamRock trails is a pretty fun thing to do? Or you are new to the area and want to be a part of the awesome folks who make the trails around these parts something to talk about? Or for whatever reason you missed out on this last year? You want to be showered with gratitude and free beer from your fellow riders? Well never fear! We just happen to have some openings so that you can lend a hand this year :D
Here is how it works: I set up a system to basically "adopt" a manageable section of trail and call it your own. This is yours to manage whenever and however you see fit. In other words, if you see it needs to be mowed, go out and give it a mow. If you are going to be out of town or super busy for the next month? No issues. Just let me know and we will find someone to help out. If things have slipped and it needs some work, I might send you a gentle reminder. But this is just a better way to divide the duties, not hand out any shaming. Folks here want to help. And once you learn "your" trail section you will have a better idea of the time of year, the effort, and the tools needed. I don't expect anyone, mostly me, to be perfect. We are here to ride bikes and have fun after all!
I will get you set up with access to any tools you need. You can take care of things as your schedule allows. No waiting for "scheduled maintenance days" etc. If you can squeeze in an hour before, or after, a ride? Perfect! I have divided up the trails into sections that should be able to be maintained in about an hour per month. Obviously the needed maintenance varies throughout the year depending on terrain and weather. Some months it might take more, some it may take none. I try to lay that out in the trail descriptions. This involves basic maintenance a trail needs like removing sticks, lopping branches, mowing grass. Larger issues like erosion needing work days will still be tackled by trail crews.
So what do you get beyond being one of the cool cats, and the respect of your peers? Well that is pretty much it, other than the satisfaction of a job well done. While I would love, and you deserve, a free brewski from one of our sponsors, or maybe a trail maintenance crew party, I suck at getting stuff like that organized. So it would be a bonus if it happens. Did I mention that you will have the admiration of all of your peers
So here is generally how it divides up. This is always a work in progress, so just post up if you want to help. I have listed in red the sections that I know are taken for the year already. I will post up and update things as I get more information or others post up:
Trail Sections General Idea on Maintenance NeedsWhite River and Beaver Hole - Lots of mowing maintenance in summer mowing season. Little to none in off seasons.
Glacial Drumlin Youth Mountain Bike Club and CamRock Climbers TeamsFat Tracks - Trimming branches to keep sight distances for two-way trail. Weed-wack south 50 feet before creek. Blowing leaves in fall. Minimal in off seasons. Open
IMBA Influence and Veritas Loop - Weed Whacker trimming and lopping. Blow leaves. Possible big storm cleanup in non-growing season.
Thom HinelineArea 51 and Outback - Weed whacker trimming and lopping. Blow leaves. Possible big storm cleanup in non-growing season.
Thom HinelineCORP Connector: From Expert woods south through Rip N' Ride to Roundabout - Almost all mowing. Lopping when raspberries are growing. Nothing after grass stops growing in late August.
Jeff MuellerCORP Connector: From Roundabout north through Burr Oak Breezeway to Expert Woods - Almost all mowing. Lopping when raspberries are growing. Not much after grass stops growing in late August. Could use a blow of leaves around November.
Scott MillsCliff Edge - Mowing with weed whacker. Some lopping. Leaves in fall. Open.
Turn It Up, Stonefly, Corkscrew, Rattlesnake. - Minimal in summer - lopping/trimming trees. Fall and spring walk to remove sticks branches. Needs blown a couple of times in the fall, and possibly once in the spring. Scott Fenton??
Would Chuck? & Mayors Meander - Mowing in summer. Minimal trimming of sumac area and woods. Nothing after grass stops growing in late August. Scott Fenton??
Beer Run, Beer Cave, Gettin' Started and Drop In - Some trimming with weed whacker in summer. Some lopping. Sticks and leaves in fall and spring. Open
I tried to divide these up by amount of work and the tools needed. Like you can do all mowing with either a trimmer or the big mower. You should not need both.
You and a buddy or two want to share the duties? Fantastic! Anything and everything that you think you can do will be a help. You want to adopt more than one of the above sections? Wonderful. You have an inkling to give even more and line up your own crew for large jobs on "your" trails, like you see an issue with erosion? Great! Then I can give you the advice or supervision if you need it. Otherwise just let me know and and we will come up with a plan together.
All the prairie trails will all need mowing before the Battle of CamRock coming up on June 5th. The week before the race we will need effort from everyone to get the trails in top-notch shape for the race. I really hope you can help out.
Let me know of any questions here. Or send me a PM. Or give me a call at 6:ZERO:8 7:SEVEN:2 7:EIGHT THREE:3. Or you can text me there as well.....OK, that's enough ways to get in touch with me! I think you will if you want to. Please want to
