http://www.ptagtrails.com/forum/index.php phpBB3 RSS Builder Deluxe
Forum: North Park
Date: 2009-01-02

Don Schmitt is asking for volunteers for Sunday a.m. tree clearing extravaganza (only recent fall - obstacles present before the past few windstorms will be left intact). Meet Sunday Jan 4 at 8 a.m. at Spillway lot at junction of Pearce Mill and Babcock. If there is any new fall you'd like to see left for run-ups (with go-rounds of course), show up or, if you can't make it, drop a line with tree location to Deluxe, Rodack, Spang or Loehr. Thanks.]]> http://www.ptagtrails.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=42&sid=9d0ea1c296b3abbb663e2b678da16b2b Runner
Forum: General Discussion
Date: 2009-01-02

Enjoy Guys,

Mingo is now TREE-FREE. We cleared over 25 downed trees on the 11.5 mile Orange Loop in two very long days! Better get out there and enjoy before the next big storm!]]> http://www.ptagtrails.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=41&sid=9d0ea1c296b3abbb663e2b678da16b2b Runner
Forum: General Discussion
Date: 2008-12-30

We're looking to do some trailwork at Mingo Creek tomorrow and on the 1st. I know it's a bit out of the PTAG "area", but I think a few of you are from around that area. Give me a shout if you can help out or just show up with your sickle, swingy, snips or whatever you have to clear downed trees and overgrown weeds. We'll be working the 11.5 mile Orange Loop all day, both days, starting in the western area horse trailer parking lot and working north and to the east.

If you can't get in touch, still show up, hike the trail and cut back anything overgrown. The trails are great, but really overgrown!]]> http://www.ptagtrails.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=41&sid=9d0ea1c296b3abbb663e2b678da16b2b rodack
Forum: North Park
Date: 2008-12-29

1st North Ridge build day.

Sunday January 11, 10AM. Meet at the lodge parking lot on North Ridge.

See the map : http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=104045239248518236882.00045c376fcb87fd26e26 for what we will be building.

Opportunities for upper body workouts in the form of bench cutting and rock armoring. Opportunities for exercising your artistic muscle to close rogue trails and make it appear as if no trail existed.

Additional details to follow.]]> http://www.ptagtrails.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=40&sid=9d0ea1c296b3abbb663e2b678da16b2b Deluxe
Forum: North Park
Date: 2008-12-28

Can whoever is building illegally on North Ridge please stop it (presuming you are on this forum)? Many riders as well as county employees have spent many weekends planning the new system that is going to built there. Recently, a new illegal trail has been cut by xc riders from Wisconsin to Lakeview. It's going to be shut down over the next two weeks.

If you are on this forum and have taken part in this, please get with the plan (contact Mike Rodack or me) or stay out of the way. When the perps are caught, the information will be turned over to the county park department for whatever action they deem appropriate. Sound word of advice: don't get caught riding it or building it.

If anyone knows who is doing this, please contact me by PM. Thank you.

DelVecchio
PTAG-NP]]> http://www.ptagtrails.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=36&sid=9d0ea1c296b3abbb663e2b678da16b2b Biber
Forum: Moraine State Park
Date: 2008-12-17

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/569158362Exewoo]]> http://www.ptagtrails.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=34&sid=9d0ea1c296b3abbb663e2b678da16b2b rodack
Forum: North Park
Date: 2008-12-12

The North Ridge Bypass Trail (aka Rainbow Rail, Bunger & Billy’s Trail) is being extended to start behind the Olympia Shelter (across from the ice rink) and end at the switchbacks above the spillway. The resulting trail will be 6.5 -7 miles of trail that allows users to create an approximately 10 mile loop around N Ridge by riding the expanded bypass trail, then riding up the old Bridle Trail on the NE (Irwin Road) side of N Ridge, and down to Pearce Mill Road near the ice rink.

The goal in 2009 is to complete the NW climb portion of the expansion, and as much of the eastern expansion as time, volunteer work, and other maintenance in the park allows.

I’ve created a Google Map

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8& ... b87fd26e26

to show the progress of the trail work. Existing trails are shown in red, approved expansion in blue, and proposed in white. When we complete a section of the trail, I’ll change the color to red. Upcoming workdays will be shown in brown. I’ll also put in points for impromptu trail work to give people that want to help, but can’t make it to organized workdays a chance to do work. An example (the only one I have so far) would be to mark where we will need rocks to build up rock culverts or any rock armoring. If someone wants to do work between workdays, they can stage rocks near where we will be using them during organized days. If you have other/better suggestions please let me know.

The section that is not yet approved should be approved in the next few weeks, then we will schedule the first workday.

I updated the NP NR map to show 5 areas on the first section of the expansion for motivated individuals to stage areas for organized trail work days. Four areas for staging rocks, one spot has several old bolts that need to be cut from a foundation. Please do not build any actually rock crossings or armored areas, as the final orientation of the trail has not been determined.

I also noticed that some extra-motivated people have built, or repeatedly ridden the section from near the lodge towards the original entrance of the Bypass Trail. Definitely some clearing of undergrowth, but it was hard to tell what all was done with the snow on the ground.

Please do not build any trail, or ride the route, because it will turn into a trail. We have the opportunity to build a great section of trail with fun features that will not require constant maintenance or rerouting. It would be easy to ride the entire proposed route from flagged tree to flagged tree and just clear the brush and undergrowth, but the trail would not be as much fun as it could be with planning and work. This trail can show off what we can build if we do it in an organized fashion. Take the holidays off from building (unless you want to work on one of the 5 areas on the map), and come to the organized work days to build the trail. The final line won’t be set in stone even on the day we are building the trail, so if people see a better line, we’ll build the better line.

I guess there may be enough desire for this expansion that people will build in the snow and cold, so if people want to we will have workday(s) in January, but we aren't going to rush it.

Email me if you have any questions or want to help.
michael DOT rodack AT gmail DOT com]]> http://www.ptagtrails.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=40&sid=9d0ea1c296b3abbb663e2b678da16b2b Spangaru
Forum: General Discussion
Date: 2008-12-09

I'll preface my comments with the statement that I've no other PTAG Year-End party to compare this to, but I thought it was a great time! Thanks to all of you organizers, and to everyone who braved the cold to make it out. I appreciated the chance to meet so many folks with so much in common. Looking forward to the next event whether that be pure work, merely social, or most likely both!

Thanks again!
Tim]]> http://www.ptagtrails.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=37&sid=9d0ea1c296b3abbb663e2b678da16b2b Biber
Forum: General Discussion
Date: 2008-12-05

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/fspubs/index.htm

Great resources for using the old-school tools. I have some of the older print versions but these are the most up to date]]> http://www.ptagtrails.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=39&sid=9d0ea1c296b3abbb663e2b678da16b2b Deluxe
Forum: North Park
Date: 2008-12-03

On November 26, 2008, PTAG principles, the PTAG North Park Stewardship Team, and the County Parks Director, Andrew Baechle, conducted an inspection of an unauthorized downhill/freeride trail commonly known as "Dr. J." This trail is located in the vicinity of the North Park pool area and was recently constructed without County or PTAG approval. The County's current position is that the trail is unacceptable and constitutes an illegal misuse of park property. The Parks Director and PTAG are also concerned that unchecked construction of bike trails without prior approval jeopardizes the county's relationship with mountain bikers. Nevertheless, this particular trail has been granted a conditional approval status in light of the good-faith cooperation of its build crew. Additionally, PTAG has made the county aware of the need to safely accommodate riders with new and different riding styles. PTAG advocates only safe and legal use of parks for mountain bikers. This promotes the sport while encouraging connectivity with nature and continued interest in the county's park system.

Dr. J's probationary status is thus conditioned upon its re-design to ensure sustainability and rider safety. The current design has been deemed not to fulfill these requirements. The Parks Director requires this plan to be first vetted through PTAG's North Park Stewardship Team and the PTAG board. Once this process is complete, the trail re-design must then
be approved by the county Parks Director (the final approval authority for this trail exception). PTAG will avail itself of the time, training, tools, and advice necessary to assist in the execution of Dr. J's redesign.

The re-design and improvements must be undertaken within a reasonable amount of time, or the trail will be considered abandoned and will be dismantled. As a general guideline, re-design should be accomplished no later than February 28, 2009 and improvements should be completed by September 30, 2009. The purpose of the timeline is to avoid property damage by overuse of unsustainable sections of the trail.

Any future unauthorized construction of similar trails in North Park, at this time, will result in the immediate dismantling by the County of those trails as well as Dr. J without notice.

Please contact any PTAG representative (Maurice Tierney has specifically volunteered his voice on the Board for the downhill/freeride groups) or any of the North Park PTAG Stewardship Team to get this process started to preserve this trail.]]> http://www.ptagtrails.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=36&sid=9d0ea1c296b3abbb663e2b678da16b2b Spangaru
Forum: North Park
Date: 2008-11-25

I am absolutely one of those riders. I not only value the trails in general, but selfishly count on the access to reach the park from my place. I think any erosion or plant destruction I'm causing would be more than offset by my increased exhaust pollution driving my bike into the park several times per week...]]> http://www.ptagtrails.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=38&sid=9d0ea1c296b3abbb663e2b678da16b2b Deluxe
Forum: North Park
Date: 2008-11-24

The following an excerpt from the PORC site concerning an access issue in North Park:

I received maps delineating Latodami Boundaries. First, Bathtub and the trail above bathtub are not within the Latodami boundaries. Second, the regulations cited on the warning signs are promulgated by the County and printed on the back of the North Park Map. Violations are considered summary offenses and fines range between $100.00 and $300.00. Third, unlike the posted signs, the county regulations on the back of the map make no mention of mountain biking being prohibited. So, the portion of the warnings relating to mountain biking (and even horses) have no legal basis. Based on this, whereas I once thought mountain biking was prohibited north of Brown Road, it now appears to me that mountain biking is actually not off limits anywhere in Latodami! Were the articles as cited by the signs an accurate representation of the law, the logical result would be that mountain biking is banned in the entire park and we all know that is not the case.

As it stands, Meg Scanlon does not want any biking anywhere in Latodami, claiming that it causes erosion and kills plants. I think some would agree in principle that there are areas of Latodami that should be off limits, but not all of it. The law does not prohibit mountain biking anywhere in the park, but it does prohibit destruction of park property. This argument thus comes back to the great trail issue of our day: do mountain bikes harm the environment anymore than other trail user group?

Mr. Baechle has stated that if this comes to an impasse between PTAG (or PORC), Meg Scanlon, and County GIS (McBane), then we should, at that point, seek his input. We are officially at an impasse as of today after my phone conversation with Meg. Next will be a meeting. If you are one of those riders who values access to this part of North Park, then you need to contact me immediately. If you don't speak up, we risk losing rights based on laws fabricated at whim and based on misleading information.

The best outcome here though would be a resolution that both riders and Latodami can live with. Personally, I value both as should any of us.]]> http://www.ptagtrails.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=38&sid=9d0ea1c296b3abbb663e2b678da16b2b Biber
Forum: General Discussion
Date: 2008-11-17

February-Frick Park

April-South Park

June-Bavington

August-Boyce Park]]> http://www.ptagtrails.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=31&sid=9d0ea1c296b3abbb663e2b678da16b2b Biber
Forum: General Discussion
Date: 2008-11-13

Map of the meeting place; http://tinyurl.com/6hy59t

welcomes PITTSBURGH to our PARTY!!!!
Pittsburgh Trail Advocacy Group would like to invite
you and your friends to join us:
Sunday, December 7 Volunteer Appreciation Day.
The Lodge in North Park

This event is our year ending bash the starts with an hour of general info
and leads to a mountain bike ride / hike / trail run.

Take the Parkway North (279) to McKnight Road
Go 6.4 miles and turn right (east) onto Ingomar Road to North Park
Go through 2 stop lights (the lake will be on your left)
At the 3rd light, turn left onto Babcock. (if you get to the car wash you missed the turn)
Turn left onto Pierce Mill (the lake is still on your left)
Go past the boat house,tennis courts, duck pond and turn right up the hill on North Ridge
The Lodge is the big building at the top of the hill.
10am - Coffee and assorted breakfast treats - meet and greet
Bring a dish to pass or drop a donation into the bucket.
Please note that there will be minimal SWAG this year.

Contact; Mike- 724-934-9293]]> http://www.ptagtrails.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=37&sid=9d0ea1c296b3abbb663e2b678da16b2b Deluxe
Forum: North Park
Date: 2008-11-12

Now you're making me feel like the grumpy old man!]]> http://www.ptagtrails.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=36&sid=9d0ea1c296b3abbb663e2b678da16b2b