Poto: Rolling Hills Park

[Kazie]

My bike uses the completely different way to ride deep snow. I use 1.8" studded tires and they are not affected by deep snow as they don't float on top, they cut through to the ground or ice. I have had no problems other that the cold temps this winter. I've been riding where There are no tracks other than deer and rabbit. You don't need a fat bike but I still want one. Just ride.

Hm... That's an idea. I didn't think about that. I may be going to give it a try. Thanks, ibisman!

[Kazie]

My bike uses the completely different way to ride deep snow. I use 1.8" studded tires and they are not affected by deep snow as they don't float on top, they cut through to the ground or ice. I have had no problems other that the cold temps this winter. I've been riding where There are no tracks other than deer and rabbit. You don't need a fat bike but I still want one. Just ride.

Question to Mr. ibisman! What studded tires in that size do you use? So far I only found Innova Tundra Wolf 26x1.75/1.90. Someone sells them for $70 each at eBay.

[michael48197]

Thanks to Greg Cook and a passerby/MTB newby - Arthur send me your contact info - a good start was made on the newly approved northern loop at RHP. We rough cut the first 1/4 mile or so after re-orienting part of the proposed trail in the first corner to take better advantage of the terrain. The next 1/4 mile also needs some pruning and digging out of thorn bushes. But, the remainder of this first section up to the Merritt walk-in entrance is all mowing so it will be quite fast to clear the track.

I would love to see a bigger crew out at the next session. I'd like to have a team do a trail walk-through to clean up winter debris and then finish up this first section to Wiards. If that gets done quickly, then we can start clearing the N-S and E-W tree line sections on the return to the kettle pond. The return loop on the east side of RHP is still under discussion, but may be sorted out by the next work day. Regardless of the exact location of the trail tread on the N and E edges of RHP, virtually all of that work will be mowing.

However, I'll need some help to make this happen...hopefully next weekend. Can anyone with a trailer hitch commit to helping pick up a brush hog for the mowing next Saturday? Having a trailer too would help, but we can always rent a trailer. If I get that commitment by Monday or Tuesday, I'll call an official trail day for RHP next Saturday.

This new loop runs across old farm fields. In some places, there are significant furrows which will obviously need to be fixed. Right now the top soil if very wet. As such, I'm thinking that the smaller bumps will get smoothed out quite quickly by just riding. It's possible to run a rototiller over the trail track and then tamp it down, but that is a lot of work to do with a walk-behind tiller (there's not enough room to drive the 36" pull-behind tiller on the RHP tractor). Also, I fear that the trail tread will turn into a channel after tilling. I think natural compression of the soil and gradually wearing away the grass will yield a better track in the end. So, I don't think we will till unless needed. Let's be patient and see what happens.

The permafrost is not quite gone yet at RHP. So, please stay off the trail for now. There are still some snow/ice covered areas in the trees. With highs in the 50's predicted all week, I think the snow will be gone this week. If the frost layer melts out as well, then RHP may be open for riding within 2 weeks.

[ARTY-J]

So the current addition to Rolling Hills trail (Wiards) is open for business? How long will it take before it is smoothed out?

[ChrisInYpsi]

Found a pair of black sunglasses while trimming near the SW meadow this morning. If they're yours let me know.

I was hoping to finish trimming today but there is a huge disc gold tournament going on and the Stihl was distracting to the "golfers" ("discers"?). I finished up near the start of the W fence line. There's not too much left in that area.

I may not have time for several days to get back to the park so let me know if you want to borrow the trimmer.

[jmf003]

Took some time out of my morning to ride RHP and HC. Things have dried to the point where RHP is in great shape. HC is rideable but still wet and soft in the marshy area with the foot bridges.

Whoever cleaned up the winter deadfall in both parks did an AMAZING job. Thanks!

[mattchewie01]

It's no longer "getting"... it just is lol. Down trees, head hunters, you can almost make out the trail by the pond. Don't even try to go past the pond cause you will meet thorns of biblical porportions.

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

[Steve_Balogh]

Slow going here. Only had time to do a partial ride on the main loop, mostly foot traffic

[Steve_Balogh]

Did two laps in opposite directions on the min loop, did not do the mounds or the north meadow. Did an additional out and back to the crater. Fairly packed down in those areas now.

[Steve_Balogh]

RHP is fantastic light layer of snow, no ice did the whole trail

[Steve_Balogh]

Trail can be ridden at a normal speed today. Started seeing some ice after the pond overlook, but the only place ice is somewhat an issue is the new section on the south side of the soccer fields.

[michael48197]

ROLLING HILLS PARK: Looking for section adopters for trail maintenance at RHP in Ypsilanti Township off Stony Creek Road. As Trail Coordinator, I'm taking the most difficult to maintain "green" West Meadows section. And, thankfully, someone has already volunteered for the "blue" first 1.3 miles in the SE corner. Any takers for the "fuschia" North Meadows loop or "yellow" 1.4 mile section in the SW corner? The "yellow" section is mostly trimming by hand, but is maturing to the point where it's only a few days work per year. The "fuschia" North Meadow loop is 90% mowing with the brush mower that needs to be done 3-4X per year. North Meadow mowing will typically be combined on the same day or weekend as West Meadow work.

[recover66]

The trail was in great shape today. No standing water or downed trees. There were only a couple yards of mud in the usual spots in the Munger Rd section. Thanks to everyone for all of the hard work.

[Ed]

The trail was in good shape today. There was only one puddle, about the size of a dinner plate. There were a few small, mildly spongy areas hardly worth mentioning. There is already starting to be some overgrowth hanging into the trail. If I can find some time maybe I will do a little trimming.

Michael Connolly, you have done a great job of maximizing the trail for the available land. Nearly seven miles (I measured 6.9 miles) of trail and it doesn't feel so crammed in that you get dizzy riding it.

[michael48197]

ROLLING HILLS PARK (Ypsilanti): There will be a trail maintenance day tomorrow (Sat., 6/3) from 9 AM to 2 PM. Apologies for the very late notice, but I wasn't sure if my schedule was really free and the mower was available until today. I'll be mowing the West and North Meadow loops with Poto MBA brush hog. I could use some help with trimming and brush wacking especially along the wire fence of the North Meadow loop. I have a Stihl 90R with hedge trimmer head that someone could use.

Please PM me here on the Poto MBA page on the MMBA website if you can make it. Let's plan to meet at 9 AM in the sports field parking lot on the north loop of the park road. If there is someone attending at the park gate when you arrive, tell them you will be doing MTB trail maintenance and they should let you in the park free of charge.