Berm work has commenced on the NEW berms on Eastside so please slow down when you cross the second double track (Barton Bypass), as the work area is right there, and there is no telling what the state of the trail might be in at that moment.

As suspected, even with extra man power this is going to be a big task. Hugh says we need to be able to rest our elbows on the top of the berm when it's finished, and after some thought on the subject, I agree that part of the berm does in fact need to be that high in order to get you all the way around.

Next Big Berm day is this Sat (10-23). We have two rock haulers but could use more if more people show up. We definitely need the man power so please come if you can on Sat. Dana is meeting me around 11am, but I can and probably will be out there earlier if earlier is better for anyone. I plan to spend 6-8 hours on the berm Sat so if later is better, that works too. We need to move lots of rocks to the berm site for the next phase of construction.

Please post up if you can make it.

Ryan

Friday Berm Update:

Nathan and I hauled some monster rocks today (Fri). Thank you Nathan. Really tested the limits of Adams wheel barrow (thanks Adam, I hope you are not charging for wear and tear). I discovered the wheel barrow is easier to haul rocks with than my rock wagon, going to have to do something about that for next year.

I also started laying out the curve of the berm in rocks today. Going to need a LOT MORE ROCKS.

I will be out there most of the day tomorrow (Sat 10-23). Dana is meeting me at 11am. I know most of you are not available but if anyone is please come, we need the help.

Ryan

Sat. Berm Update:

Dana & I hauled rocks for several hours today and the layout of berm is now complete. Thank you Dana for helping out today. I spent another couple hours readying a multitude of rocks along the trail for delivery to the berm.

Adam, I am going to owe you a new wheelbarrow before this project is complete. I hate to say it but we are putting a hurting on yours, but it is getting the job done.

BEWARE there are some large bolders laying on the path side of the berm waiting for the big boys to come power lift them into position once the first tier of the berm is complete.

Please post up or email me and let me know when you are available to help this week as there is a LOT left to do, we are maybee 10% done with this project. We are raising a berm here, we need all hands on deck. :)

This is a seriously labor intensive project but it is going to be so sweet when it's finished.

Ryan

I'll get out there one day next week after work. I'll post when I know which day is looking good.

What day are you going out there? I may be able to provide some day help.... say Wednesday.


PJ

I was thinking about going out Tuesday evening because the weather looks pretty decent.

I plan to work from 4:30 till dark then go for a bike ride.

It sounds like Ryan and Adam will be out there Tuesday as well.

Is there any work scheduled for this weekend?
 
[img:7c60f52a7e]http://www.team-pinnacle.org/albums/bc_personal/120x90.png[/img:7c60f52a7e]

I'm going to be hands off this project for a few weeks guys. Messed up my back Friday.

If people are inclined to keep working on it, without me, I managed to move more rocks down to the side of Eastside (same general location as before, up the trail from the berm project). There are plenty more rocks up the hill side from where you will find the rocks just waiting to be pried up and rolled down.

Here's what needs to happen with the berm: More rocks need to be filled in to complete the first level (on the backside), then the big rocks in the trail need to be tipped up forming the start of the second level. These rocks should be 3-6 inches set in from the trail edge of the first level (more offset in the middle where the berm will be the highest) and can be leaned into the berm a bit but make sure they are on a solid footing. The start of the second tier is the most important part of the berm. These rocks need to be real solid, and with as few gaps between them as possible. Wedge what ever rocks you have to in and around them and back them up with some good sized rocks. This is where all the strength of the berm is going to come from. Think of the foundation as an anti-tank wall, you should be able to hit this thing with a Mac truck and have it just smile back. Then the whole berm needs to be raised up to the top of the second tier rocks so we can get a third tier and its supporting rocks on in the middle 1/3rd. When the rock foundation is complete it should taper down from highest point to the ends in a smooth arc, remaining at least a full 2 tiers in the middle 2/3 rds.

Once the foundation is complete, the berm can start to be backfilled at no more than a 45 degree angle with the crushed stone and making sure all the cracks are filled in so the dirt has no place to leach into the stone foundation, and packing it down every couple inches as well. Use both piles of crushed stone if needed, we will figure something else out for the leading berm later. This will eat up most of the escavated path at least in the middle which is ok. Once the desired height of the berm is achieved, it needs to be topped off with 1-2 inches of local dirt most of which is ready waiting.

The last phase will be to cut back the inside bank another couple feet +- where needed. If this dirt is needed to top off the berm, use it, otherwise it will get used above on the leading berm later.

In an ideal world the very top of the berm will be 18 inches wide and relatively flat. The backside of the berm is all ballast and should be tapered in at a greater angle to support the riding edge in a solid manner so no rocks will sluff off later.

I will be around if people need more direction and will start working on it again when I can. FYI, I fixed the new wheelbarrow and also pinned the axel so it can't separate and pop out. Apparently that missing bolt was very important.

And that is all that needs to happen. :D

Ryan

I'm hoping to get out there again on Tuesday or Wednesday for another couple hours.

Tuesday Night Trailwork...

It looks like we'll be up there Tuesday from 4:45 till dark. There will probably be some biking after.

If it isn't obvious how to proceed with building we'll just lug rocks down to the site.

Has anyone gotten any pictures yet?

I took some the other day but it was almost dark. I haven't looked at them but I suspect they are not that good. I couldn't get a good shot, there is no good spot where you can see the whole thing.

We will need a helmet mount video of it for the website to really showcase it.

Ryan

Looking forward to riding this trail again during Thanksgiving week! Was fun a few months ago.
 
Stearing by IMPACT in search of FLOW

Jesse & Adam made some more great progress on the rock work Tue. They were able to get the big bolders for the second tier lifted up into place. It's starting to look like something now but still a long ways to go before the berm will be finished.

If anyone wanted to work on the berm this weekend but needs some direction, let me know as I will be around this weekend.

Brian, just beware in the work zone, as this project will most likely not be finished by then.

Ryan

Is there anyone out there who has an old tobogan they are willing to part with, or risk getting destroyed, or something else that could be used to skid large rocks in the snow? I was also thinking some old snowboards or alpine skis could be converted as well

I was thinking about giving it a try to move some rocks to the berm site in about a month via sled or sled like equivilent. Not sure it's realistic but thought I'd give it a try. In theory it should work as good or better than a wheel barrow.

Ryan

I saw some large plastic utility sledges for sale recently at the trading post in Bristol. They think they where $50 and they looked pretty rugged.

I can get more info if you want.

Initially I was thinking about something like that, we had a wood one with steel runners when I was a child. We haulded wood around with it. It was very heavy but it would haul just about anything that would fit on it. I think it might be easier to pull something with runners but it would be easier to load something that is flat on the ground. I was thinking an old pair of alpine skis screwed to a 2x4 screwed to a piece of heavy plywood would work real well. Low to the ground but elevated enough to be of a benefit

I was kind of looking for something free to test the idea out with first. If it is prohibitively difficult I would just wait until spring time.

How hard do you think it will be to find the rocks and and pry them loose?

I know exactly where there are several loads worth ready for transport but not clear how difficult it would be to break their frozen bond to the ground. This is part of the let's test this out before investing money theory. I think a 4 ft rock bar would do wonders to separate the rocks from the ground. I have a 6 ft pry bar that would more than do the job but it is very heavy. One of my pix axes might work as well.

One theory is a simple plastic sled might be the best because of it's low coefficient of friction, but would be surely lacking in durability.

Another possiblity is a wheel barrow conversion, pull the barrow part off and attach to some skis, this might be the best solution going. I have the barrow, but need some old defunct skis and a 2x4 to play with.

Anyone out there with an old set of skis they no longer want, they can contribute?

i've got some old skis that would love a hero's funeral underneath a 300lb rock. is neon orange ok?

Sounds perfect Adam!