Stephens State Park Conditions
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Thanks! That's a tough one as that trail is in the middle of everything; not close to any parking. What did you use?
Much needed, thanks
HiFiGuy
Well-Known Member
Parked at the lot at the end of Natalie drive, walked under the power lines and picked up the white trail. Would not do again the lot and the power lines were over grown, waist high grass was a tick fest.
Used a Stijl 2 cycle trimmer looks kinda like a hedge trimmer on a pole.
I'm using that with the battery powered head.
We need you in deer park 😁
Hell ya. I’ll brushhog the maze and the trestle trail when I get back from NH
chainsawer
Well-Known Member
So looks like there's at least 2 sessions of cutting left to do in Stephens, and one rootball extraction (on Hally Toe) that could be involved.. Please bear with us. I do have to avoid cutting in 90+ temps though... Heat exhaustion with all that PPE is is a real possibility for a relatively out-of-shape 61yo. This is a good time to service my E-bike which has been put into hard service lately. The dropper post is acting up.
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chainsawer
Well-Known Member
For the record, when going in from Natalie Drive, I've accessed the trails by following the path denoted in blue. (I'm on an Ebike, not hiking, so I don't mind a little extra distance). At least you don't have to fight thru too much brush, but the mud puddles can be epic.
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Teutonic
Well-Known Member
Just that would be awesome! If you can also make it to Hally Toe, that would be greatly appreciated!--Although there is still a root-ball that may be hard to pass with the equipment.
chainsawer
Well-Known Member
Today, with the help of Dennis K (thanks Dennis!), we cleared all of the waypoints marked in red.
As far as I know, today's session completes the storm damage from 3 weeks ago. But I suspect there's a remaining issue or two as a result of miscommunications and poor tracking on my part. I've now cleared my Stephens waypoint list. Tracking starts fresh! Anything you find from today forward was either missed, or new. *Please* report any findings. Thanks!!!
Regarding the Rootball on Hally Toe, we tried cutting it's two main trunks in the hopes it might fall back into it's hole...but it didn't. So we trimmed the roots and nearby log to improve the go-around. I'd ask that somebody visit it with a shovel and coax some dirt from the rootball back into the remaining hole to make it easier to ride/walk past. Right now it's a bit rough, but we've reached the end of what a chainsaw can do.
As far as I know, today's session completes the storm damage from 3 weeks ago. But I suspect there's a remaining issue or two as a result of miscommunications and poor tracking on my part. I've now cleared my Stephens waypoint list. Tracking starts fresh! Anything you find from today forward was either missed, or new. *Please* report any findings. Thanks!!!
Regarding the Rootball on Hally Toe, we tried cutting it's two main trunks in the hopes it might fall back into it's hole...but it didn't. So we trimmed the roots and nearby log to improve the go-around. I'd ask that somebody visit it with a shovel and coax some dirt from the rootball back into the remaining hole to make it easier to ride/walk past. Right now it's a bit rough, but we've reached the end of what a chainsaw can do.
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Impressive effort.
Teutonic
Well-Known Member
Glad to help you today! Thanks to Jason passing by who helped on that tree top on white.
Yeah if someone could got that rootball with a pick and a shovel it will be come rollable vs just passable.
Rode the blue trail this am. So glad to see it cut back. Love that section.
Did see three small trees 🌲 down on blue. Could be cleared with a silky. (Didn’t carry one today).
Otherwise, zero trees down for this 18 mile loop we rode this am.
We also moved some big flat rocks and dirt on tally HO. I’ll be back with my trailer and proper tools soon to tune that up a bit more. It’s pretty smooth now though.
chainsawer
Well-Known Member
Thx for doing that!
One big boy down on Tally Hoe, and it brought friends. Kind of jumps out at you about 2/3 of the way down, around a bend; makes for a great surprise brake test. I'd estimate the main one at 16" - 18", the smaller one at 12" - 14", and some limbs in the 4" - 6" range. You can see/access from one of the lower switchbacks on Halley Toe, if you're heading up from the bottom, to save a trip up.
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chainsawer
Well-Known Member
Tracking but it might be a few days till I can get to it.