SE Michigan: Lake Orion High School Trails

[Steve_Kinley]

The missing arrows have been replaced and are up higher so you may have to look up to find them. There is also some orange paint on the ground for now to indicate direction. Remember the trail starts at the north end of the big parking lot and angles down across the field, not up the soccer field hill.

[jreyst]

After taking my dogs to Orion Oaks dog park we stopped at the trail to do a bit of work. I found a bunch of rocks in one section which I used some of to fill in a low spot, and make a (really) small rock pile/garden in the section before the trail actually begins. I also racked dead grass out of the middle of the grass sections as well as tried to flatten some of the higher areas, and some of the lower areas, so it's not so lumpy.

[Steve_Kinley]

Thanks for your work. I hope to get out there later this week to ride and will check it out. I would caution about spreading out the rocks. The school had talked about getting the vegetation to die to kill off the roots before tilling or otherwise shaping the soil. The trail crosses a few areas where the rocks are part of the runoff control. I would like to see fill added in some of the little trenches that are crossed but not sure if it would just get washed away.

[flamingo]

Finally managed to get a ride on the "new trail". Nice work. Thanks !! I definitively like the signage. The new layout has much less ambiguity as well. In the future would be nice to have an official connector to Bald Mountain South.

[Steve_Kinley]

Glad you made it around. It should get a lot better as it wears in. The official connector from BMS will be up and around the pond and then to the parking lot. Thinking of adding a few signs as you leave BM property. Not sure if any of the old paths through the fields will be maintained. They may get cut once school is back in session as the science classes use them.

[Steve_Kinley]

The start of the trail through the field got some attention from the school today and has been rototilled to smooth it out. The worst of the off camber section has also been bench cut after this picture was taken. While the fresh soil is soft, it is not overly deep. In fact after only six bikes rolled down it there was already a line being packed down. The other new field section will get tilled as time and conditions permit.

[flamingo]

The trail is in great shape. Rode it three times this week already. The new sections are slowly getting worn in.

[flamingo]

Rode it last week. Some jokers again build a tepe right in the middle of the trail! On top of that I imagine the same people left numerous branches on the trail as well. Took my time and destroyed the tepe and picked the branches.

[Steve_Kinley]

Thanks for removing the obstructions. I have been busy with the LO MTB team and MiSCA and haven't spent much time on the trail lately. I doubt we will ever get the mischief stopped since we are on the school property.

[flamingo]

Dead tree down at I think third mile. Will require a saw. Are regular fellows allowed to do some trail maintenance?

[Steve_Kinley]

Yes, and irregular people also As long as it is restricted to trimming or cutting using hand tools. We appreciate anyone's help in taming the beast.

[flamingo]

I have ridden the trail numerous times over the past few weeks. The leaf cover is starting to get thick. Every ride stopped numerous times to clear fallen branches and larger twigs. As for everything else the trail is in good condition. Even after weekend of rain it was dry yesterday.

[Steve_Kinley]

Thanks for the update. Since we don't remove the leaves the trail will continue to get harder to follow for someone new to it. Sometimes I even hesitate in a few sections when it is really deep. But not clearing the trail has really helped to reduce erosion and sand compared to the sections we were clearing. With more people riding the trail I expect the leaf cover to break down quicker next year.

[flamingo]

Thanks for the update. Since we don't remove the leaves the trail will continue to get harder to follow for someone new to it. Sometimes I even hesitate in a few sections when it is really deep. But not clearing the trail has really helped to reduce erosion and sand compared to the sections we were clearing. With more people riding the trail I expect the leaf cover to break down quicker next year.

I would much rather deal with the inconvenience of heavy leaf cover than than that of an eroded trail.

[jreyst]

Yes, please leave the leaves! The trails deal with water much better when they're leaf covered.