a trail that is no more (down here in seattle)

[seand]

Some background...
We worked with the local conservation group that was watching over the area as well as got the "ok" from the city. Of course, without anything in writing who knows :)

All was going well and the magic of dirtbikers showed up and there was some serious concern at the city level. To thwart any/all issues they banned all cycling (be it motorized or not) in the entire greenbelt. This poses quite a problem as there is a fireroad that runs through the greenbelt from a college that many students use.

So anyways, enjoy.

The parks/rec guys finally finished taking our trail down (they started as one guy and eventually moved to a team). Looks like they needed quite a few hands to undo our work. A request to leave the lumber was made and they halfway did...I assume that the parts they left will eventually be nabbed upon further cleanup...so we will have to get in there quickly and snatch it up. They did leave our tool stash though (which I asked them kindly to do).

Here are the before and after shots...

not our trail, but we used it to get to our trail...

the 180 degree bridge (it was quite fun!)
http://gallery.autisticpig.com/albums/hsb/before/180_berm3.jpg
http://gallery.autisticpig.com/albums/hsb/before/180_berm2.jpg
http://gallery.autisticpig.com/albums/hsb/before/180_berm.jpg

after the city got their hands on it...(niiice)
http://gallery.autisticpig.com/albums/hsb/after/dead_180b.jpg
http://gallery.autisticpig.com/albums/hsb/after/dead_180.jpg

the berm after the 180 bridge
http://gallery.autisticpig.com/albums/hsb/before/top_berm.jpg

and after it was "fixed"
http://gallery.autisticpig.com/albums/hsb/after/berm_killage.jpg

we cut off shortly after that to head to our trail but if you continue onwards, you find this gem...
http://gallery.autisticpig.com/albums/hsb/after/dead_uphill.jpg

to keep people from heading towards our trailhead, they decided that some living trees no longer needed to be living. great example guys!
http://gallery.autisticpig.com/albums/hsb/after/fallen_trees.jpg

okay, so we built a ravine bridge...it was even laser leveled for good measure :)
http://gallery.autisticpig.com/albums/hsb/before/ravine_bridge3.jpg
http://gallery.autisticpig.com/albums/hsb/before/ravine_bridge2.jpg
http://gallery.autisticpig.com/albums/hsb/before/ravine_bridge1.jpg

now this is what is left
from the on-side..
http://gallery.autisticpig.com/albums/hsb/after/ravine.jpg

from the off-side...
http://gallery.autisticpig.com/albums/hsb/after/ravine2.jpg

There is a hillside that needed some help. We armored the hell out of it and bridged a sensitive area.

leading into the bridge
http://gallery.autisticpig.com/albums/hsb/before/bridge_rocks3.jpg
heading down the bridge
http://gallery.autisticpig.com/albums/hsb/before/bridge_rocks2.jpg
and looking up the bridge
http://gallery.autisticpig.com/albums/hsb/before/bridge_rocks.jpg

now this is what is left
http://gallery.autisticpig.com/albums/hsb/after/flipped_bridge_bottom.jpg

they were even nice enough to pile rocks for us after finding them in a berm! (it took me quite a few hours to lug those badboys from all over the place)
http://gallery.autisticpig.com/albums/hsb/after/dead_berm.jpg


The real sad thing here isn't so much that we lost a spot to bike. Once we had the ravine bridge and the rocked in hillside with downramp, we started to see more and more hikers frequenting the trail. It was always nice to have smiling faces pass you by... oh well.

[the flying moose]

that sucks. sounds like you need to be dealing out some throat punches to some dirt bikers.

[seand]

Yah, tis sad. We wanted something local (it was 3 blocks from our front door) that we could shuttle or pedal if we wanted. Not very long or techie at all, but was a way to ride after a long day of working.

They didn't find the djs in there though :)

[fattirerider]

Thats disgusting! To cut down live trees just to block a trail and you guys were so careful to protect sensitive areas. Doesn't make sence.

[Lady Gravity]

that's horrible :( how shortsighted. beautiful work reduced to a mess.

[seand]

They at least did not touch the baby cedars that were planted alongside our trail. We put circles of rocks around them. Hopefully they grow up nice and big :)

Oh well!

[Zedbra]

Now pave it and add a Starbucks. Uncle Sam needs your tax dollas

[the flying moose]

They didn't find the djs in there though :)

i just emailed seattle parks and rec. they know about the djs now.

[seand]

id be worried except the city never even reads my emails, let alone return them!

:lol:

for some reason, they seem to not care about dirt mounds. The jumps and such we built are still there (minus one berm) but all the wood was nuked. Lesson learned...just make massive jumps and all is well :)

[Hoodlum]

Wow man that really sucks. You should find out where those dirtbikers live and leave some paper bags full of shit lit on fire at there doors. :P

[the flying moose]

You should find out where those dirtbikers live and leave some paper bags full of shit lit on fire at there doors. :P

yeah and then you could ring their doorbells and run away so when they answer their doors no one will be there. it will be totally sweet.

[KaledenStinky]

rebuild it secretly?

[seand]

yeah and then you could ring their doorbells and run away so when they answer their doors no one will be there. it will be totally sweet.

:lol:

rebuild it secretly?

We have another in-the-works trail..have been plugging away at it for a few seasons now. It's on private property so we don't have to deal with wishy-washy public affairs. Of course, it isn't 3 friggin blocks from my front door but you win some and lose some.

[KaledenStinky]

suppose so. its always tough to see a trail go down like that.
all the hours spent to create something that makes having fun alot better.

[trail worker]

that's really too bad, looks like you guys put alot of work into it.