Black Mountain Build Day Results

bankerboy · **Posted:** Sat Jan 31, 2015 6:42 pm

Thank you everyone.

We asked for help and boy, oh boy, did you answer. 120 riders, hikers, scouts, high schoolers, paragliders, bird enthusiasts, and spousal support made this one of the biggest trail days I have ever seen. We fed most of the workers and my sincerest apologies to those who we could only provide a liquid lunch. I hope that the trail and the beer made up for it.

We planned for a large group and we were able to accommodate everyone for parking.

The goal was to get as much of the lower trail from Carmel Valley Road over to the ball field parking lot done. It was ALL done in ONE day.

The conga line as far as the eye can see

A closer look

Does this violate child labor laws?

I didn't get as many pictures as I wanted so if you have anymore, please add them for all to see.

There is still some fine tuning to do but the lower trail is ready for you. Are you ready for it?

SDMBA Pics

Canaan · **Posted:** Sat Jan 31, 2015 9:04 pm

Sorry I didn't make it. I planned to be there, but I missed work on Friday with the flu, and I can count on one hand how many sick days I've taken in 35 years of work. Still wasn't feeling great this morning, and at last check there were 80 volunteers. With 120 helpers, I know my labor wasn't missed but being there the first and last day would have been cool. Awesome job, Matt* -- thanks for spearheading this.

Edit: *Rod, too -- sorry, big guy . . . .

bankerboy · **Posted:** Sat Jan 31, 2015 9:40 pm

Thanks Eric, but I have to give credit where credit is due.

Rodster was instrumental in getting all the swag, food, donations etc. Also a huge help was Mino. Those two made it really easy to look good. Without tools we would have had a hell of a time today. Lots of folks brought their own but the bulk of the tools came from Garder/SDMBA.

Ranger Ed is beyond exceptional. Besides all the usual praise I normally throw his way, check this out. There is an old utility pole that we all thought could be repurposed. Not only did Ed agree, he used his trucks winch to move two 1000 lbs (for real) boulders to create a line complimenting it. I want him, as well as Carey and Joe cloned over and over again.

The people today sealed the deal. Not comparing them to ants but you can totally see how a colony works. They may not move tons of dirt or rocks on their own but there are so many that every little bit made all the difference. We had 120 people showing there is a real passion out there.

We were interviewed by the Reader today and are trying to get an article in a local magazine 92129.
The more we get other people not normally affiliated with the trails to notice what is going on, the more clout we can get for future projects.

TrailBurner · **Posted:** Sun Feb 01, 2015 12:42 am

Outstanding day. Brilliant job putting this all together.

I later rode the section from the ball fields to the bridge to the glider port. Pure bliss.

Kudos to the chef (and family). And that owl was freakin' awesome!

Dirtrider · **Posted:** Sun Feb 01, 2015 11:58 am

My neighbors, wife and I walked it this morning and it was so cool to see how many people are already using it. Bikers, runners, families just out enjoying the morning on sweet single track trail. It doesn't get much better than that :thumbsup:

Dirtrider · **Posted:** Sun Feb 01, 2015 2:42 pm

Just got back from a ride out there. The trail from the miners loop parking lot to the end of the trail
(at the caution tape) is right at 3/4 of a mile. From that point headed down through the switchbacks and over to the park is a bit over 9/10 of a mile. We built almost a mile of ST Trail in one day.
Frigging incredible :thumbsup:

I had a wild Chuckanado sighting also. They are tall but friendly creatures that normally only come out during Arch ride/trail building season. Usually can be found near beer gardens and what not.. :cheers:

bankerboy · **Posted:** Sun Feb 01, 2015 3:14 pm

I haven't seen one on a bike out there a Black Mountain and over 5 years. It is a rare sighting indeed! Good for you.

Road the fire road to Nightfall, down Miner s ridge and across. Quite the little trail. Lots of rise and fall, not much to relax o. As you have to keep you wits up at all-times. Had a blast

Canaan · **Posted:** Sun Feb 01, 2015 3:40 pm

I may need to ride somewhere other than Spring and Oak.

rodster · **Posted:** Sun Feb 01, 2015 9:57 pm

bankerboy wrote:

Thanks Eric, but I have to give credit where credit is due.

Rodster was instrumental in getting all the swag, food, donations etc. Also a huge help was Mino. Those two made it really easy to look good. Without tools we would have had a hell of a time today. Lots of folks brought their own but the bulk of the tools came from Garder/SDMBA.

Ranger Ed is beyond exceptional. Besides all the usual praise I normally throw his way, check this out. There is an old utility pole that we all thought could be repurposed. Not only did Ed agree, he used his trucks winch to move two 1000 lbs (for real) boulders to create a line complimenting it. I want him, as well as Carey and Joe cloned over and over again.

The people today sealed the deal. Not comparing them to ants but you can totally see how a colony works. They may not move tons of dirt or rocks on their own but there are so many that every little bit made all the difference. We had 120 people showing there is a real passion out there.

We were interviewed by the Reader today and are trying to get an article in a local magazine 92129.
The more we get other people not normally affiliated with the trails to notice what is going on, the more clout we can get for future projects.

To pull all of the various aspects together to make a successful day would have been a huge amount of work for me had I been working solo. A very tall order indeed. It was a team effort in every sense.

Matt does a great job and has been THE key in enabling the results delivered to the community thus far. Knowing that I don't have to worry about the aspects he's taken on. I can 100% focus on the aspects I need to take care of. Mino is super committed also and always is a key team member making sure events run smoothly.

Furthermore another key to the success yesterday was the presence of 13 trail bosses that were able to provide training and leadership to often completely inexperienced volunteers. The level of productivity surpassed my expectations. I barely slept Friday evening worrying that we had too many people showing up (too many cooks in the kitchen) and it would be a hindrance to productivity. Unfounded worries, as it turned out. Great job trail bosses!

Then there's Rich. I hope he's tracking how many hours he's been out mid week working solo building much of the Lilac trail single-handed. Any time I stopped by the park mid week to take look see, Rich's van would be in lot without fail. He's so stoked that he has permission to build new trail in San Diego that he can't help himself. 24/7 it's the only thing on his mind - he's in hog heaven!

And then the community volunteers themselves and their contribution and work ethic (I didn't see a single shovel leaner - everyone busted ass) were another example of the teamwork that assured the trail was completed before noon.

I thank each and every one of you for your contribution - you knocked it out of the park!

bankerboy · **Posted:** Tue Feb 03, 2015 8:18 pm

Reader Story here

To clear the record, I was cooking at a million miles an hour and she was trying to hold a conversation with me. Not really sure how the most important quote I could produce was "You bunch of moochers will only do work for free food". Ah, the fun of out of context quotes.

TrailBurner · **Posted:** Wed Feb 04, 2015 10:21 am

^^ Matt, I bow to your celebrity-ness. I suppose you'll be too good for us dirt laborers because, you know, you're part of the media crowd now. :lol:

Black Mountain Build Day Results

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