Black Mountain is rapidly progressing to a shovel ready state. America's Conservation Experience (ACE) was hired by Ranger Ed Christensen through the city and brought out to help speed up the process of adding trails to Black Mountain. Last year we learned that cutting trails is fun but cutting brush SUCKS. ACE's expertise is in brushing trails. It was a match made in heaven. That, and the fact the city WANTS to spend money on new trails, is a huge win for the trail users in San Diego. Tread work will be up to us but for now it is all about the plants.

Kick off was yesterday but we really got the ball rolling today.

1. Connector from Nighthawk down to the saddle - View looking west



At the end of the last build season, Cary and Ed took the initiative to start this but quickly ran out of steam. Today the ACE crew finished off the brushing and hauling it out. The line is now there, waiting for rain so we can put the tread in. Minor adjustments (and of course, the tread) are needed but now you will be able to get up and down the hill rather than using the 20 percent loose rock fall line.

2. Connector from the saddle up to East Ridge - View looking east



The heinous fire break fall line was nothing less than a crazy hike-a-bike over loose, sharp rock. There was no real need to go to the east ridge. Today that changes. Rich, myself, and the ACE lead stomped, hacked, smashed, cut, pushed, and pulled our way through some insainly dense brush.



You couldn't see 15 feet in front of you.



By noon we had flagged the entire 3/4 mile and the crew was hot on our heals with the saws. They got the initial cut about half way done. Still lots of brushing and hauling to do.

3. LIttle Black Mountain bypass from East Ridge saddle to South View trail - View looking west (Black Mountain fire road in background)



The image is at an angel so while it doesn't look it, the route will only have a net change of 50 feet over its length. This was burned about 6 years ago after a firebug started a fire over by Mt Carmel HIgh School. The hope was it would be easier going than project #2. Unfortunately, some yes but a lot of no. It was the end of the day and we were bushed. The southern most part is partially brushed and flagged, the center is just flagged because the brush was only waist high, but by the time I got to the northern end, the brush was back to its dense and 8 foot tall stuff again. It will happen on another day.

It is hard to see the flags in this pic but they are there.



So, catch your interest yet? As soon as we figure out the weather (raining at my house as I type) you will see posts on SDMBA meetup.com, here, or by email. Stay tuned and get your butt in shape. We've got some trail to cut!!!

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The world does not revolve around you but your actions impact us all!

HELLS yeah!

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"Those skilled at the unorthodox are infinite as heaven and earth, inexhaustible as the great rivers."
— Tzun Tzu

By all means, lemme know. This is the most positive thing in trail development in San Diego county right now. I want to be part of it.

So please..post up work days here, preferably a week or so in advance.

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Scum on a Bike

Looking forward to digging with you this winter Matt!

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Velo Ergo Endo

Blah, it's all a trade off. SDMBA build one trail at black mountain and ok's trail closure at cala. Stoked for the locals down there none the less.

Count me in!

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"You're like a mountain biking version of a mall crawler."-24v

Nice job MB!

SDMBA currently has no liason for Calavera. Step up and be the liason for Calavera if you want SDMBA to help out on those trails.

SDMBA is entirely a volunteer organization. People do not get assigned to locations. They step up and choose to represent a location. Nobody who rides and loves Calavera has stepped up to be the liason. So of course Calavera gets under represented.

Matt and Rod are crushing it at BM. They are role models for MTBers who love their trails and are willing to step up to be the instruments of change, and to take the resulting heat that the inevitable internet nay-sayers send their way.

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Velo Ergo Endo

Just doing what I love for myself and the kids. All you coat-tailers are getting to enjoy the ride for free.

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The world does not revolve around you but your actions impact us all!

By the looks of them, those trails at BM will be around for your great-great grandkids, and even though I'm not a local, I like the idea of being part of a constructive and collective action that will outlive me.

Besides, now I can ride to BM, via T-4!

That's not too bad....

So most definitely post up work days here, as you know there is at least one DT'er who will turn up to swing a pulaski, shovel, etc.

-edit: Fer instance, I could be there this Sat. or the next...

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Scum on a Bike

Hmmm I don't know that Calavera would benefit from a liaison. There's a greater issue afoot there that isn't specific to the one area and engaging at the Sacramento level makes more sense to me. Until DMM quiets down though, it would be foolish to engage.

Since I don't live in PQ anymore I'll be letting Matt take lead role at Black Mountain. Next BM CAC meeting will be my last. For sure I'll be heavily engaged but Balboa needs a liaison and that's my 'hood' now.





Tell 'em Large Marge sent you!

Wait, what?

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The world does not revolve around you but your actions impact us all!

Thanks for stepping up Matt and running slower than the pack....

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You never know what tomorrow will bring so go ride your EBike today or walk your pooch
Fear the Yeti
"Go ride your bike today, don't let the old man in.."

Mike

I am done with my Saturday soccer commitment this Saturday for a few weeks. Can someone show me around down there? Never been and would like to ride fun legal stuff. I'm pretty out of shape though, so you'd have to be patient. Book club maybe?

And would be down for doing some work during the winter to take some ownership in keeping us able to ride somewhere in SD county legally...

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"F*ck it Dude, let's go bowling"- Walter

Building season is pretty much up in the air right now. Even with the rains, it is bone dry out there right now. All we are doing is flagging and keeping the ACE brush clearing crew on path. As I said before, the brush is crazy dense in places. It took 3 of us 2+ hours to flag only 1/3 mile of a trail. There is not a need for a lot of people just yet. Once it is wet enough it will be all hands on deck. We learned last year that east and west facing slope dry much faster than north facing. Unfortunately most of it is east and west facing.

As far as riding, most of my rides are at sunrise since I don't have a lot of time in the evenings. Besides, while night riding is a blast, it won't do much to give you a feel of what it is you are riding.

Now, if you want maps, I have plenty of those...

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The world does not revolve around you but your actions impact us all!