Roadside Trail day 4/3/2010

Access, Rehab Projects, Derbyfests and more...
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DriskellHR
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Joined: Thu Dec 20, 2007 11:34 pm

Post by DriskellHR »

Clevis Hitch wrote:what exactly are you planning on doing? More of the same or tiolets?
depends on the amount of volunteers that show up. We have a lot on our list to do but will only tackle what we have manpower to finish. Everything we have planned for this event and future events has been approved by the land owner.

Some of my thoughts this time around are (but are not limited to):

- Do some more work to the new section of approach trail where dirt has compacted and more is needed. There is a small sapling at the start that we decided to remove. We left it last year in an effort to cut down as little as possible but it is in the way and is preventing a good trail base from forming. Its small and wont be missed

- water bar improvements the help prevent trail wash on some steeper areas.

- there are a dozen or more places we would like to build a few steps but they are time consuming and labor intensive. However it all boils down to manpower, if we have enough we can get a lot done in a few hours.

- we started a new trail to approach from the left side of "five finger discount" with hopes of eventually closing the current steep approach. Unfortunately we had many folks sign up but not attend last years trail day and we bit off more than we could chew due to lack of manpower. So it did not get finished but is being used so it needs attention.

- some Other plans are improvements to the base of the slab climbs, steps, water breaks etc. etc. Bill Strachen and I took extensive notes and spent a few hours walking the trails and discussing problem areas.

And of course a full bar and elevator......
"....... Be sure to linger......." Mike Tucker
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DriskellHR
Posts: 1260
Joined: Thu Dec 20, 2007 11:34 pm

Post by DriskellHR »

Clevis Hitch wrote:what exactly are you planning on doing? More of the same or tiolets?
depends on the amount of volunteers that show up. We have a lot on our list to do but will only tackle what we have manpower to finish. Everything we have planned for this event and future events has been approved by the land owner.

Some of my thoughts this time around are (but are not limited to):

- Do some more work to the new section of approach trail where dirt has compacted and more is needed. There is a small sapling at the start that we decided to remove. We left it last year in an effort to cut down as little as possible but it is in the way and is preventing a good trail base from forming. Its small and wont be missed

- water bar improvements the help prevent trail wash on some steeper areas.

- there are a dozen or more places we would like to build a few steps but they are time consuming and labor intensive. However it all boils down to manpower, if we have enough we can get a lot done in a few hours.

- we started a new trail to approach from the left side of "five finger discount" with hopes of eventually closing the current steep approach. Unfortunately we had many folks sign up but not attend last years trail day and we bit off more than we could chew due to lack of manpower. So it did not get finished but is being used so it needs attention.

- some Other plans are improvements to the base of the slab climbs, steps, water breaks etc. etc. Bill Strachen and I took extensive notes and spent a few hours walking the trails and discussing problem areas.

And of course a full bar and elevator......
"....... Be sure to linger......." Mike Tucker
toad857
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Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 4:31 pm

Post by toad857 »

DriskellHR wrote:Its small and wont be missed
but i love that tree
toad857
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Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 4:31 pm

Post by toad857 »

i like the idea of a sign. im assuming that it will be near the trailhead.

a sign near the slab wall would probably go a long way--maybe even moreso than one at the trailhead. even just a laminated one--like at some walls in Muir--would go a long way to educate people on some of the essentials: be mindful of how/where you poop, don't toprope through anchors, don't take shortcuts off-trail, etc.... after all, this area is where many folks will simply be waiting/lounging as they are in line for their turn on a route. some people spend their entire day there.
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DriskellHR
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Post by DriskellHR »

right on, we will look into that. Your right the slabs do get mobed a lot.
"....... Be sure to linger......." Mike Tucker
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Josephine
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Post by Josephine »

if you haven't RSVPed yet and plan to attend - please do

http://rrgcc.org/misc/roadside-trail-day-2010/

lunch is being provided by Driskell Home Repair. last year we did not have an accurate RSVP count, which was unfortunate. we would like to do better this year :-)

also please bring your own work gloves. The RRGCC does not have any to provide.

Look forward to seeing you there!
"Unthinkably good things can happen, even late in the game." ~ Under the Tuscan Sun
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Josephine
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Post by Josephine »

As of right now we only have 10 people that have RSVPed. I know there's tons of work and most everyone climbs at roadside at some point or another. Please help out if you possibly can. We're not planning on being there all day so you'll still have time to get your pitches in. We sure would appreciate your support.
"Unthinkably good things can happen, even late in the game." ~ Under the Tuscan Sun
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caribe
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Joined: Thu Sep 08, 2005 1:37 am

Post by caribe »

Josephine wrote:As of right now we only have 10 people that have RSVPed. I know there's tons of work and most everyone climbs at roadside at some point or another. Please help out if you possibly can. We're not planning on being there all day so you'll still have time to get your pitches in. We sure would appreciate your support.
Might be there, but I can't commit until the day off or close to it.
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clif
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Joined: Thu Dec 25, 2008 9:24 pm

Post by clif »

wish i could be there.

can anybody confirm that all the rock between and Up Yonder and TROCS
is choss?
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Josephine
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Joined: Sun Oct 01, 2006 10:38 pm

Post by Josephine »

Roadside Crag is one of the Red River Gorge's most popular crags. Minutes from the parking off a major roadway and hosting wide range of climbs, Roadside attracts dozens of climbers of all abilities every weekend. Roadside is located on the Graining Fork Nature Preserve, land that is owned by climber-friendly Grants Stevens and Jon Haight. http://www.gfnp.org/Site/Welcome.html Over the years, though, Roadside's popularity has contributed to increased wear and tear on the approach trail, especially near the steep trail-head. The increased foot traffic led to obvious problems with drainage and erosion.

On Saturday, April 3, 2010 Mike Driskell of Driskell Home Repair in Louisville organized a second trail day at Roadside Crag to try to address those problems. Thirteen people came to put the sweat of their brow into helping remove litter, trim tree branches, widen the trail-head, and improve drainage along the beginning of the trail. They refueled with some Miguel's for lunch, provided by Driskell Home Repair, and stuffed their packs with some RRGCC schwag. After working on the trail-head, Driskell and company moved to the area near Roadside Attraction, a classic and popular trad climb, where the trail went straight up a series of rock steps. The poor drainage and steep incline led to severe erosion in this area. Now, after plenty of volunteer effort, the trail now accesses this area via a switchback that should mitigate the impacts near Roadside Attraction.

Mike hopes to return complete the new section of the trail on the next Roadside Trail Day, possibly in the spring of 2011. Additional projects also include working to stabilize the erosion around the base of the slab routes to the far-right of the cliff line.

Thank you to the volunteers that helped: John Grider, Malcolm Akindana, Randy Tebbs, Carrie Kirkpatrick, Dave Jasperson, JR Goodwin, Mark Rohr, Robert Keith Todd, Bryan Spencer, Josephine Neff, Derrick Powell, and Mike Driskell.

If you were not able to participate in this event, please mark your calendar for Johnny & Alex Trail Day, which will be held on August 14th, and stay tuned for more! Or, if you want to throw yourself at a project all your own, tell us about it and we'll support you! http://rrgcc.org/contact-us/
"Unthinkably good things can happen, even late in the game." ~ Under the Tuscan Sun
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