Thanks Snakebite!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Bridge Wood Sealing
Special Wednesday night session. Guess where?
If everybody does a section we'll be out of here in less than an hour...
Yep, you three do those...
You guys go those, good...
Sharing is good, yes...
...and done. Thanks everybody!
If everybody does a section we'll be out of here in less than an hour...
Yep, you three do those...
You guys go those, good...
Sharing is good, yes...
...and done. Thanks everybody!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Between Minneapolis, Des Moines, Omaha & Rapid City
Update: well ok, Mankato not Minneapolis and Sioux City not Omaha.
Introducing the longest publicly accessable contiguous singletrack in a 250 mile radius...
...and these are some of the people that made it.
Please note, the trail is not complete. It simply dead-ends. Also, the twists and turns need some adjustments based on ridability. There is no reason to bring your bikes here to try it...yet.
The other thing that happened today is bridge #1 was completed. Most of the work here occurred Saturday. Our task today was to reinforce everything by placing two more screws where there was already one screw.
Here's the bridge team.
Getting some leverage.
It is finished.
All the activity in the park is starting to attract the kids in the neighborhood. As we worked on this bridge today there were up to nine kids playing in the area.
But really as cool at that bridge is, the singletrack is the reason we're all here. So here are some photos of the builders. I'll let them speak for themselves.
Yes, it's a little bit like Christmas.
Introducing the longest publicly accessable contiguous singletrack in a 250 mile radius...
...and these are some of the people that made it.
Please note, the trail is not complete. It simply dead-ends. Also, the twists and turns need some adjustments based on ridability. There is no reason to bring your bikes here to try it...yet.
The other thing that happened today is bridge #1 was completed. Most of the work here occurred Saturday. Our task today was to reinforce everything by placing two more screws where there was already one screw.
Here's the bridge team.
Getting some leverage.
It is finished.
All the activity in the park is starting to attract the kids in the neighborhood. As we worked on this bridge today there were up to nine kids playing in the area.
But really as cool at that bridge is, the singletrack is the reason we're all here. So here are some photos of the builders. I'll let them speak for themselves.
Yes, it's a little bit like Christmas.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Building Bridges
Honestly - that this thing made it this far into the woods before it fell apart is remarkable. This is some pretty rough terrain.
Saturday's highest priority was to make as much progress on the bridges as possible. We made our way to the site of bridge #1. Since every steel piece involved with the bridges is 300lbs, it's nice that all the hardware had already been placed in close proximity to it's final resting place.
Nine of us manhandled the two trusses into place across the creek and found the footings to be within inches of where they needed to be. With them in place it was up to the 7ft tall grizzly people to put the cross bracing in place.
After a little bit of wrangling it was declared good...
...and we were off to site #2.
In meetings with the neighborhood they voiced their concern that sometimes things happen in the park that are not necessarily in the true spirit of neighborliness. Those words proved prescient as we found this set of bridge footings in the creek.
Push back on projects like these is not uncommon. In fact, the FAST big picture requires some of this in order to become what we want to be. Right now it's more of an annoyance than anything. We're working with the land manager (the city) to address the issue.
We made quick work resetting the footings, manhandling the trusses in place, and finally attaching the cross bracing.
This one was declared good by Adam/Ant.
Next step, water seal wood planks and screw them into place on top of the trusses.
FAST work sessions remain Saturday 9 to 12, Saturday 2 to 5, Sunday 1 to 4. All are welcome.
Saturday's highest priority was to make as much progress on the bridges as possible. We made our way to the site of bridge #1. Since every steel piece involved with the bridges is 300lbs, it's nice that all the hardware had already been placed in close proximity to it's final resting place.
Nine of us manhandled the two trusses into place across the creek and found the footings to be within inches of where they needed to be. With them in place it was up to the 7ft tall grizzly people to put the cross bracing in place.
After a little bit of wrangling it was declared good...
...and we were off to site #2.
In meetings with the neighborhood they voiced their concern that sometimes things happen in the park that are not necessarily in the true spirit of neighborliness. Those words proved prescient as we found this set of bridge footings in the creek.
Push back on projects like these is not uncommon. In fact, the FAST big picture requires some of this in order to become what we want to be. Right now it's more of an annoyance than anything. We're working with the land manager (the city) to address the issue.
We made quick work resetting the footings, manhandling the trusses in place, and finally attaching the cross bracing.
This one was declared good by Adam/Ant.
Next step, water seal wood planks and screw them into place on top of the trusses.
FAST work sessions remain Saturday 9 to 12, Saturday 2 to 5, Sunday 1 to 4. All are welcome.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
I Like To Move It
Weekend #2 at Leaders Park. Saturday was a gorgeous day to frolic amongst the trees.
--- the Bridges of Leaders Park ---
Last week we talked about bridge work. Here are a couple shots of their progress. We let them lie this weekend pending trail routing review from a neighborhood representative.
Heavy metal.
Footings.
--- the Rocks of Leaders Park ---
Remember that pile of rock mentioned a few posts ago that LG Everist gifted FAST? Task #1 for the weekend: MOVE IT.
Down the hill on a motorized, tractorized wheel barrow.
Down the hill in a regular human controlled wheelbarrow. What's a FAST event in the park without a dog present? Woof!
Here's Mr. Clean - gettin' dirty.
In the end the rocks are placed in proximity to where they will be needed.
Here's one of those meddling kids involved in that singletrack trail building stuff. Smiling after another trek down the hill.
I hope he can find his way back out of there.
As of late Saturday - thanks to the efforts of a team of 15 volunteers the rock pile was a small fraction of its former self.
We should be able to wrap the task up by quitting time Sunday. It's simply bonus that park neighbors requested the "eyesore" rocks be moved ASAP. Within a few weeks, job done.
Yep, FAST Rocks!
--- the Trails of Leaders Park ---
Last but not least, a rough draft of the easy trail has been flagged.
In the end a clinometer will be used to assure the trail grades remain sustainable and pin flags will be placed frequently enough to guarantee proper digging. For now the flags are placed at eye level every 10 or 15 feet.
--- the Bridges of Leaders Park ---
Last week we talked about bridge work. Here are a couple shots of their progress. We let them lie this weekend pending trail routing review from a neighborhood representative.
Heavy metal.
Footings.
--- the Rocks of Leaders Park ---
Remember that pile of rock mentioned a few posts ago that LG Everist gifted FAST? Task #1 for the weekend: MOVE IT.
Down the hill on a motorized, tractorized wheel barrow.
Down the hill in a regular human controlled wheelbarrow. What's a FAST event in the park without a dog present? Woof!
Here's Mr. Clean - gettin' dirty.
In the end the rocks are placed in proximity to where they will be needed.
Here's one of those meddling kids involved in that singletrack trail building stuff. Smiling after another trek down the hill.
I hope he can find his way back out of there.
As of late Saturday - thanks to the efforts of a team of 15 volunteers the rock pile was a small fraction of its former self.
We should be able to wrap the task up by quitting time Sunday. It's simply bonus that park neighbors requested the "eyesore" rocks be moved ASAP. Within a few weeks, job done.
Yep, FAST Rocks!
--- the Trails of Leaders Park ---
Last but not least, a rough draft of the easy trail has been flagged.
In the end a clinometer will be used to assure the trail grades remain sustainable and pin flags will be placed frequently enough to guarantee proper digging. For now the flags are placed at eye level every 10 or 15 feet.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Ol' Hallows Weekend
Next weekend. We're focusing on three tasks.
1. Rocks and roll. Move the rocks from the pile at the top of park to the bottom of the park, at or near final placement. This will involve copius amounts of walking with loaded four wheel carts.
2. Bridge work of a non-dental variety. Span the drainage-way with the steel trusses and lay the decking on the bridges. Upon completion enjoy crossing the drainage in proper bridge-like comfort. This will be a landmark reason to celebrate!
3. Trail work. Placement of pin flags, corridor clearing and ground scraping. This is the final priority and might not occur until the final work session.
Three work sessions are available:
Saturday from 9 to noon.
Saturday from 2 to 5.
Sunday from 1 to 4.
To volunteer pick one or more sessions and contact Volunteer Wrangler Chris.
1. Rocks and roll. Move the rocks from the pile at the top of park to the bottom of the park, at or near final placement. This will involve copius amounts of walking with loaded four wheel carts.
2. Bridge work of a non-dental variety. Span the drainage-way with the steel trusses and lay the decking on the bridges. Upon completion enjoy crossing the drainage in proper bridge-like comfort. This will be a landmark reason to celebrate!
3. Trail work. Placement of pin flags, corridor clearing and ground scraping. This is the final priority and might not occur until the final work session.
Three work sessions are available:
Saturday from 9 to noon.
Saturday from 2 to 5.
Sunday from 1 to 4.
To volunteer pick one or more sessions and contact Volunteer Wrangler Chris.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
It's On!
A week ago, to prepare for a neighborhood representative tour, we climbed through Leaders Park with an eye toward explaining the trail routes. Each time we visit the park we learn a little bit more about it.
In one particular section there is a coffee table, a vacuum, and this microwave. The Kitchen seems an apt name for this section.
The park needs some bridges. FAST has bridges. We selected two locations for placement. Trail design will connect them.
The FAST braintrust met on the east side of the park for some base touching too.
This gal kept us all honest.
Over the course of the week FAST paid its first annual insurance premium, had the waiver approved by the lawyer, and was told by the parks department to go ahead with the plan.
Word went out and volunteers were aligned. Yesterday's task was to get the bridge work as far along as possible. The FAST cart and another powered wheelbarrow were employed to place the four bridge footings.
Also four 30ft steel trusses were placed in proximity to their final position.
Many thanks to the awesome team of 10 people that lent thier muscles to FAST on it's very first work day.
In one particular section there is a coffee table, a vacuum, and this microwave. The Kitchen seems an apt name for this section.
The park needs some bridges. FAST has bridges. We selected two locations for placement. Trail design will connect them.
The FAST braintrust met on the east side of the park for some base touching too.
This gal kept us all honest.
Over the course of the week FAST paid its first annual insurance premium, had the waiver approved by the lawyer, and was told by the parks department to go ahead with the plan.
Word went out and volunteers were aligned. Yesterday's task was to get the bridge work as far along as possible. The FAST cart and another powered wheelbarrow were employed to place the four bridge footings.
Also four 30ft steel trusses were placed in proximity to their final position.
Many thanks to the awesome team of 10 people that lent thier muscles to FAST on it's very first work day.
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