WRT clean up Saturday May 19, 8:00 @ Walnut Grove

[Brad C]

Due to the mild winter (fourth warmest on record nationwide) the growing season started early. Sections of the WRT are already growing in so corridor clearing has to start early this year too.

Steve K. will have the DR mower to chop up what is growing on the ground.

We need people with clippers or loppers to get the face slappers and such. Maybe a weed eater to get in the places the DR can't.

We will start from Walnut Grove trail head and work eastward. A cut will be made along each side of the trail to maintain a 4-5 foot corridor with extra attention on the inside of curves to provide improved sight lines for trail users.

Who knows, a grill and frosty beverages could appear after the work.

This trail day is being done with the approval (and encouragement) of Shelby Farms management. Sweat equity pays off.

[111tmoney111]

I'd like to help, but i work saturday morning. I can ride my bike and join ya'll a little after 2 pm. I have a yard guy to do my yard work, so i don't have a mower or a weed eater, but i do have a couple pair of clippers, a hoe, and a shovel if that helps.

[SteveK]

I live not far from the trail head so I might get started earlier than 8AM.

If I start before anyone gets there I’ll be working the tall grass at the trail head.

Brad, I will not start eastbound until I meet with you at the trail head.

[Brad C]

Thanks tmoney. We probably will be wrapped up by 2:00, but you can still check on us. Most of the trail work days run about 4 hours. A lot of people just don't have more time than that. Plus that gets us out of the hottest part of the day.

We are 5 weeks away from official summer but are going to be about 6 to 8 degrees above normal this weekend. We may continue with another trail day the following weekend. One forecaster is predicting 95 degrees on Memorial day weekend which would be 11 degrees above normal for this time of year. Summer is coming early.

[rich_k]

I'll try to make it at 8 am w/ weed wacker and chainsaw. Would be good to cut the trees on the Blue N of WG, if there is enough help for brush clearing on the S side.

[Memphis Driver]

I know y'all hate Facebook, but I'll announce it there anyway in hopes of more people showing up! Poppy

[Brad C]

I don't hate Facebook. I just see no need to use it myself.

Now, the ungrateful little bastard who renounced his USA citizenship to avoid paying taxes after our country saved his life, him I could hate. I do refuse to support the organization that made him rich.

[Mark T]

I have a Senior graduating HS Saturday or I would be there.

[flyerdrew21]

I get off work tomorrow around 7am, and will be there by 8am to help. I can only help for a couple hours... I'll bring a weedwacker (it's a lil weak though) and some loppers.
-Drew
901.628.1412

[cavecom]

I couldn't make it out today (work pays for my bike repairs) but I made it out last weekend with my machete. I started on the levee (where the TWF has their test plots) and worked the blue towards Walnut grove. I was primarily after the face slappers and spots that had reduced the headroom and corners. Unfourtunatly I let some privet lodge in my chainring and jammed my chain between gears, and in the process tore the chain up. So what energy I had left was spent walking the bike out. By the time I got it repaired (thanks to the staff at Outdoors Inc) I was too tired to go back. It just makes me hate privet that much more. I've got Monday off- where is the worst spot after today?/best spot for me to start?
Death to Privet

[Brad C]

Thanks for the complements.

Sorry, due to legal and insurance issues, MSTA does not make recommendations for individual trail clearing efforts. That all has to be the decision of people choosing to do individual trail clearing.

If you decide to go whack at the privet someplace it is all your decision. In case of your own injury, or accidental injury of others, it is all your responsibility.

If MSTA says "go cut here or there" and there is an injury situation, MSTA could be drawn into a liability situation. This could be either by direct lawsuit or by subrogation action by an insurance company.

As the leader of MSTA it is part of my duties to keep MSTA out of such legal entanglements.

[Busta Move]

Jeff Barnes, Dax, and I rode in with Machetes and handsaws and cleared a lot of face slappers and briar. We ran into Steve and a couple of other guys doing some weedeating.

The trails from the GL to Walnut Grove are pretty good, but the Yellow is a little tight between the 3 plank bridge and WG. We were running out of time when we came through that area and didn't hit it completely. It gets a lot of sun and is really growing up. Someone weedeated parts of it in the last week or two, but there is still more to do. The Blue North of WG is getting back to good riding shape, but still has a couple of good sized mudholes that you can squeeze around.

Thanks to all you guys that made it out. The trails have the official Ripper seal of approval!

[cavecom]

Thanks for the complements.

Sorry, due to legal and insurance issues, MSTA does not make recommendations for individual trail clearing efforts. That all has to be the decision of people choosing to do individual trail clearing.

If you decide to go whack at the privet someplace it is all your decision. In case of your own injury, or accidental injury of others, it is all your responsibility.

If MSTA says "go cut here or there" and there is an injury situation, MSTA could be drawn into a liability situation. This could be either by direct lawsuit or by subrogation action by an insurance company.

As the leader of MSTA it is part of my duties to keep MSTA out of such legal entanglements.

I've always known that I'm responsible for the results of my actions. Let me rephrase the question for the sake of legal deniability:
Where would you ride right now on the blue trail if you wanted a privet branch massage? I want to feel the sharp stinging slap of it's branches on my body along with the occasional eye poke.

[Brad C]

I am going to recuse myself on that answer. However, I am sure there are many other people not involved in MSTA management who can offer suggestions.

[Busta Move]

I sent you a PM, Cavecom!

Thanks for the help. Every little bit helps!

JH