NEW LOWER SINGLETRACK AT TAPIA ..NEED TO RIDE IT TO BREAK IT IN!!!

[Yeturner]

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Dan, Kevin, Tony and I made a new singletrack from before the gate all the way to the oak tree where the normal singletrack begins.
It begins just after the guys house with the barking dogs on the RIGHT hand side. There is a small creek that comes out there...JUST PAST there is a large bush, on the other side of the bush the trail begins and crosses that little creek.....ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE. We intentionally did not mark the entrance as to not call attention to anyone or motos that would tear it up. Follow the little white signs with arrows showing the direction. It begins to the right just as the pavement ends and you see the shack house on your left. If you hit the gate you went too far...back up around the cormer and look left...you will see it. It winds back and forth and connects to the oak tree. It is fun both ways but really needs to be ridden and broken in. You can see the trail through the grass as you go. Enjoy it and Ride it!!!

[Yeturner]

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Just went to do some maintenance on the trail and because I was hanging around the entrance those dogs next door kept barking. The owner on the hill Karl came down on a quad to see what the commosion was all about. He is a cool guy..s/w him about 30 minutes. He owns the land to the gate and at the very beginning of the trail. The reason I am writing is because if we want to keep riding the trail we need to make sure that the dogs dont bark and stir attention. So...please if you hear the dogs move away from the entrance of the trail or the dogs property. Sometimes people wait and gather at the fireroad for everyone to come out from the trail but make sure you move away so that the dogs dont bark and stir attention. Pass this along to anyone you know who is riding the new trail and thanks again...just trying to keep it stealth and not bother any of the neighbors and keep the trail open.
 
Randy

[jeffj]

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The trail is definitely getting more established and overall better to ride  , but at the same time, the use has revealed some areas that could use some improvement.

Most notably, the sandy sections are getting pretty soft. I see a couple that have had some some rocks embedded that seem to be better than soft sand.

I also have noticed some blocking off of some original sections of the trail with branches and the trail having been rerouted with newer lines. Did you guys (the folks that laid out the original trail) do this or are other 'forces' at work here?

Another thing I noticed was someone did a quickie job building a little kicker on an alternate line by just digging a hole to get the dirt for the kicker . Doesn't look to be consistent with how the trail was built. Looks more like something kids would do

If you're going to go in to do some work on these trails, shoot me a message and I may be able to help out.

[Yeturner]

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Yes I went up there during the week last week a few days after it rained and built the little jump. It was getting dark and we did not have much time. We built the original trail and just wanted to give an option there so you dont lose all your speed in those berms. I also cleared back those trees you saw and made the trail more curvy so as to keep up the speed. It turned too sharply there and you lost all your momentum. Trying to make the trail flow better. I also went to the upper section of Kona trail at the top and cut that new line on the hillside to avoid the short stop and up after losing all momentum. Total with both days maybe 5 hours of cutting and digging bushes out. I plan to go maybe next week sometime during the day after the rain to check out if the trail needs any other work. You have to do it a day or so after the rains to have any good packing ability of the dirt. If you are interested we can go out together during the day midweek. I am self employed and can only go from 10-4 during the week. My cell is 805-338-9696. Randy

[jeffj]

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Randy, I figured the trail may go through a few changes from the original lines and I agree that the newer lines flow better.

I worked on a section in the creek bed where a horse blew out half of the trail bed. I had to do a lot of dirt moving to cut the trail further into the hillside and it's much better for long term survival of that section, but I think it could be made even better, but I wanted to get it going before the rains came.

I also stashed a pic (mattock) up there which makes dirt work much easier. I originally took it in there to work on the right hand turn you recently cut, but saw the blowout in the creek bed and decided to get that taken care of first.

10 to 4 during the week works fine for me right now, so definitely let me know and I can help with some work. Just post on this thread or PM me to let me know when. There's a few other places I think we could work over now while the dirt is 'moveable'.

Jeff

[KTMfan]

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which one is Kona Trail...is that the old trail that starts up off the ridge and kind of follows the creek bed back and forth and used to end near the gate....

[Yeturner]

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it is the trail you climb up to the towers...with the rolling ups and downs

[jeffj]

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Once you are at the power line towers, there are two singletracks that start off of the fire road, The first one you come to is on the right. That is Burn Victim. The next one starts as you head downhill on the left. That is Kona. Kona and Burn Victim meet at the start of the creek bed trail that comes out to the fire road.

[hereandthere]

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Thanks for the work on Kona! I've wanted to round that corner out for so long, but I wasn't sure if it was OK to go out there and work on the trail or not. I was stoked when I saw that. It would be nice to connect the top portion of s.track on Kona to the start of the second portion and cut out that short bit of fireroad. Glad I visited the post- had no idea there was a new trail. Great to see some enthusiasm for trailbuilding! I'll try to grab my McLeod (is that right?) and help out if I can. Thanks again for the work.

[Yeturner]

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I am thinking wednesday is a good day to go out there and check it out. Rain is done and ground is soft. What fireroad section are you talking about? The one just off the top of the powerline on Kona ? When it opens up a bit and dumps into the fireroad and to the left I think we may be able to cut up to the left and make it super fun as you have alot of speed there on the way down. Anyone up for wednesday maintenance around 10am?? We can meet at the horse corrals on tapia and go from there.

[jeffj]

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I should be able to go on Wednesday at 10am. I'd like to see the new corner (where you recently sawed off the sharp right turn) improved (cut in better) before we move on to new work??? JMHO.

[hereandthere]

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I'm going to try and go out this Fri. AM. If you let me know what section you guys need work on, I could help out then. I think we are talking about the same fireroad portion. It's the fireroad right after the singletrack that runs down with San. Fran. Road to the left and then veers to the right. I originally wanted to just clear out a quick line to the right of the fireroad that would make a easy connection between the two trails. I've never looked to the left of the fireoad for possibilities.

[jeffj]

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I would like to add a little dip-n-swoop to that section if we could. Whichever side would make it fun, flowy and sustainable 

I'm inclined to say the left side because momentum kind of flings you that way as you exit the singletrack and they usually plow the right side as part of the fire break.

[Yeturner]

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meeting at horse corrals tomorrow 10am wednesday to do trail maintenance on tapia if anyone is interested. me and jeff so far and maybe others.

[scottay]

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Riding too?  Or just working?
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[Yeturner]

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we can do maintenance then ride...If you want to ride then we can get lunch at pollo and hit the trail for a ride around twoish...
I will be hungry after a couple hours digging but I would love to ride as well.

[jeffj]

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Went back in with another rider today and worked the trails for almost four hours We diverted standing water from several spots in the creek bed and did some more work on the sharp right hander on Kona. It could still use a bit more, but it's looking much better.