stringers and posts?

[Dantes Inferno]

out in lowermainland areas......

what is the best strategy to get nice sturdy stringers and posts without using rotten deadfall. Is is "acceptable" to cut down leaners? So far ive just been using ceder for my stringers but that takes a tone of work just with my axe hammer and bow saw.

[heckler]

But, isn't the smell of split cedar wonderful?!

I hear you. I spent lots of time hunting for deadfall that isn't rotted, but it's out there. I had best luck with young cedar trees that have fallen over. Keep looking, and you'll find ones that aren't rotted. I use the throw test, then the jump test. If I can throw it 20' without it breaking, then I jump on it hard to see if I can break it. Then I start carrying it towards the trail.

[TheGiggler]

some will cut down the standing/leaning dead

thing is that always leaves obvious stumps that people will look at say "geez, those mtbers are cutting down live trees again". the average person won't know it was dead already.

so... if you have to, at least do it far off trail where no one will see it. but stuff lying on the ground is always better.

finally, it's cedar or nothing. cedar lasts so much longer than anything else, if you are NOT using it, you're building throw away stunts with only a few years lifetime... and those just become an eyesore and a hazard.

[seand]

the standing dead...make sure its not right next to or on the trail first :)

cut the tree down and start to dig out the stump a bit. saw down as far as you can to remove the most stump possible. make a mound out of the remaining stump, put a fern ontop of it, etc...nobody will look for something they dont know ever existed...

dont do this with live trees though..thats bad!

[dirty deeds]

if you strip the bark off your stringers they'll last a lot, lot longer. non-cedar can even last a long time if it's stripped and off the ground.

bury posts like you making a fence. Big hole, rock bed, set your post, rocks all around it, then fill with non organic dirt. Should last a long time.

[Dantes Inferno]

sweet thanks, i did cut down a dead leaner right next to my trail already. (before i questioned nsmb) but it was leaning on my log ride and was ready to fall if a rider looked at it wrong. But the stump is still visible. I guess ill see if i can dig it right out.

Also, the area im building doesnt have much easy dirt, what should i look for?

[AnTi-TrAiL_nAzI]

sweet thanks, i did cut down a dead leaner right next to my trail already. (before i questioned nsmb) but it was leaning on my log ride and was ready to fall if a rider looked at it wrong. But the stump is still visible. I guess ill see if i can dig it right out.

Also, the area im building doesnt have much easy dirt, what should i look for?
gold dirt..

[seand]

if a tree is ready to go, you can also push it over and then clean the bottom of the push down off so the stump left is obviously a blow down, leaving you with a nice stringer.

peel the bark off as previously mentioned...

i never dig a hole less than a foot deep. drop the support in the center of the hole, rock it in so the support can free stand...fill with gold dirt (if you can find it)..if no gold dirt, then the lighter the color the better...pack it down good...let it sit for a day and return to pack again. it should be settled nicely.

I find by placing all the supports first, letting them settle, repacking/dirting, settle...and then toss stringers, you have a more stable platform to work with. But that is if you aren't doing a rush job :)

[Uncle Duke]

depending on availability I just grab stringers..I do it a good distance from the trail so as to not be so obvious..they are just going to get choked out anyways..you must use jedi judgement and think like the forest..just dont be a big pig and you will be okay..IMO.

[heckler]

I usually find dirt in the ground. :)



Seriously, though, gold on the shore is usually under a layer (1 foot deep) of muddy black dirt, roots and leaves. Just pick a spot that's out of sight and not near any trees and see what you find under the black soil. Make the edges of the hole sloping gradually so nobody or animal falls into the hole and breaks a leg, and cover the ground up with the black soil once you're done to let things grow back.

[ShoreIH]

see if you can find a big tree that has blown over pulling all the roots with it. Underneath is a gold mine for...well..gold.

[Niggz]

the layer of black shit is usually a lot less on steeper slopes, just dig in sideways to fidn the gold. I've found anywhere you are there is gold down there, sometimes it's just deeper.

[Hip Hop!]

sweet thanks, i did cut down a dead leaner right next to my trail already. (before i questioned nsmb) but it was leaning on my log ride and was ready to fall if a rider looked at it wrong. But the stump is still visible. I guess ill see if i can dig it right out.

Also, the area im building doesnt have much easy dirt, what should i look for?

where is your trail? it better not be on eagle.

[Nick2468]

im thinking his trail is on burnaby mtn

[S-Dawg]

i know which mountain its on! hehe

[TheGiggler]

bby mtn is choice. just when you're getting bored of the trail the city will tear it down so you can start all over...

[trail worker]

looking for gold dirt:
look for this indicator plant--you probablly already know it, but if not heres a picture. it's salal, or gultheria shalong(sp.) thrives in poor, mineral soil(just the ticket for trail building..you don't want organics in there). anywhere you see salal with a layer of moss, you'r gauranteed to hit good dirt after a few inches of digging.
http://www.dougandmorri.com/photogallery/salal-pender-001.jpg

easy to spot, it's got waxy, roundish leaves and will grow small blue/purple berries which are edible and pretty damn tasty.

[ratherberiding]

easy to spot, it's got waxy, roundish leaves and will grow small blue/purple berries which are edible and pretty damn tasty.

i'll leave those berries for you :dead: