in CamRock (Moderator: TheMayor1)

Agree with Dave. The worst parts of the trail for Pitch Black are:

-Wood Chuck in the upper field area
-Burr Oak breezeway next to the (this year) soybean field
-A few tricky branches on the Outback berm trail

Josh,  I have Thursday and Friday off.  Let me know what time you are going to be out there and I'll lend a hand.

Sounds good. I'm pretty sure I will work until about 12:00 and then head out to CR.

Hmm this may be done before I can get out there. Time is not on my side this week  I'll still get out there and take care of some tread maintenance that needs addressing.

I plan on working  (mowing) wednesday . Sometime after 2. I will post what gets done. Any advice on how the mower is working, or where to mow?

Not sure about the mower but Chuck's first two points are good places to start. Remember to mow  an extra swath on the insides of the turns.

Remember to mow  an extra swath on the insides of the turns.

+1. That is key. Especially for racing at night. If you can carry a loppers and take care of anything overhanging on the inside of a turn as well that would also be awesome. Noticed a few offenders on the ride last night. Much worse when you are running lights and the leaves are sopping wet :P
Another little spot is the on Raspberry Fields Forever. The section after slaloming through the Oak trees and before the off-camber downhill turn. The overhanging grasses push you off trail into that abrupt dip just off the trail. That would be an over the handlebars ouch.
The mower should be good to go. It was recently tuned and sharpened.
Thanks for the help Mike! I should be working at home part of the day tomorrow. If you have questions give me a shout.

I can say the DR is running like a champ. Take the small can out with you so you don't get stuck out there having to walk back. Beyond that see the comments above.

Thanks for all the help getting the trail in fantastic shape for the race this weekend

No problem man. Its a labor of love.

Mike Meccia spent the afternoon and most of the evening out there today. He ran the DR and carried a pair of loppers with him as well. I have not ridden it yet but it sounds like the Connector should be all ready to go.

The area of WoodChuck in open prairie that is to the north near the road (before the Sumac tunnel if you are traveling the normal way on the trail) is the main area that really needs attention yet. It might be best to hit that with a trimmer. Riding backwards in the dark the lines are different and there are a few hidden hazards in the tall grass and weeds.

I don't think anyone got the branches in the Outback area. Mike can chime in with details when he gets out of Heather's tonight

I mowed the end of Raspberry Fields, from the woods thru the the climb before rip 'n ride. Also got from the jump on mayors playground thru the oak breeze way to IMBA Influence. I feel all of wood chuck could be mowed. It might work best to use the DR to mow all the open stuff and work thru the rocky section, and then go thru that area with the string trimmer. Also the straight connecter part of the course that ties the 2 track from wood chuck to the down hill leading to the round about needs a mow. Please note that the big red "straight gas"  can is about empty. I did not check all of the small cans. I will have time to get out there on friday morning to help out.

Please note that the big red "straight gas"  can is about empty. I did not check all of the small cans.

Should be a number of 1 gallon cans with straight gas in them as well. And this time of year it would be good to use them up. The only thing that uses the straight gas is the mowers and they will prolly not get used this season after this weekend.
The mix gas for Stihl's we can use year around in chainsaws and such.

I mowed the end of Raspberry Fields, from the woods thru the the climb before rip 'n ride. Also got from the jump on mayors playground thru the oak breeze way to IMBA Influence. I feel all of wood chuck could be mowed. It might work best to use the DR to mow all the open stuff and work thru the rocky section, and then go thru that area with the string trimmer. Also the straight connecter part of the course that ties the 2 track from wood chuck to the down hill leading to the round about needs a mow. Please note that the big red "straight gas"  can is about empty. I did not check all of the small cans. I will have time to get out there on friday morning to help out.

Odd I mowed that whole incoming connector lat Friday. Oh well.

So it sounds like this is what is left:

1) All of Woodchuck
2) Race connector #1 (Woodchuck to Initiation)
3) Race Connector #2 (Veritas to Outback)


Thanks for the hard work Mike!