Courtney and I went out there and did a good walk through the north trail and a brief walk through part of the south trail.

On the north trail, there are three big trees down that are impassable and will require power tools (read chainsaws). We cleared most of the smaller stuff on that trail, so once the leaves brown a bit and we spend an hour out there with a chainsaw it's golden.

On the south trail we took the far entrance and stuck close to the levee. Going straight (instead of turning right) into the far entrance there is a tree down right up front. There's a couple down on the section that parallels the levee but nothing we can't clear out. While we were out there, there was a big tree that was creaking and ready to fall. A strong wind hits and it's coming down, and it'll probably take out another one with it.

Here are some pictures. It got dark before I could get any decent shots on the trails (well and my phone blows).







With all of that said, who is down to go out some evening this week and start the clean up? I can work through lunch and take off at 4pm any day, make it there by 5pm and be ready to put in 2-3 hours of solid trail maintenance. Courtney can come along too on Monday or Tuesday (maybe Wednesday). I guess I don't mind waiting until the weekend but I'd like to get them rideable enough that I can do some damage on Saturday. I just need to know a day in advance. I've got chainsaws if someone can provide the gas and the know-how to use one without losing limbs. (I'll even pay for the gas, I just don't have a gas can.)

I'm either going to fall asleep as soon as I get home today or go out there and try to clear out some more stuff.  I'm gonna try to get a hold of Jim at the Angel Mounds office and see if it's cool if we cut some of the down trees.  I'd leave the trees on the levee alone though...I don't know if they have to get engineers to make sure nothing was damaged or anything like that.

I didn't plan on messing with that one, just the ones on the trails. The only thing I might do on that one is cut some of the smaller branches off to clear the path on the top of the levee, but I wasn't going to move the tree itself.

I don't know if I'll make it out tonight or not but I'm down for tomorrow or any other night this week. If we can coordinate being there at the same time we can get some dual chainsaw action going on.

I could possibly come out this evening, and possibly bring a chainsaw as well.

Do you need an okay from the DNR first? Or are you guys just going to go out and start clearing the trails? 

I could imagine you would want an ok from somebody first. At the same time I don't see why they would say no.

I guess technically we might need an okay from DNR but honestly, with all the destruction yesterday I doubt they'll mind. They're probably going to be backed up for awhile. And really, who cares if we cut dead trees and move them from the trail? It's not like we're going in there and felling live, healthy trees.

If anyone has time to call, Jim Burton is Site Naturalist and the guy you need to talk to.  I'm not sure what hours he works but the main number is (812) 853-3956.

You could just build mounds over all of them and ramp high into the sky.

I went out there last night, I had to carry my bike more than I got to ride it, and all the small twigs and leafs made it like riding on ice. There is a fair amount of work that needs to be done, I'm not sure why that certain spot got hit so hard, maybe its was the wind really picking up on the flat fields just south of those woods.

Looks like I'll have to go to Scales Lake next and see if they incurred as much damage.

So is anyone interested in coordinating a trail maintenance excursion? As mentioned before I'd like to do it after work one night this week but if no one can make it until the weekend that's okay too. WE'LL ACHIEVE MORE AS A TEAM PUT SOME ICE ON IT WALK IT OFF 

I'm up for going out there after work some day.  The only problem is that it gets dark before 7 now and the amount of time we'll have is very limited.

EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS A STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE QUITTERS NEVER WIN

We can do a long hulk of a maintenance day on Saturday, just spend the after work days to do small stuff. Up to you guys. I have chainsaw(s) and they might even work! I just hesitate to do anything by myself because I have never used a chainsaw and I might end up cutting off a limb.

Sorry can't help this time around fellas. I'm pretty busy the next two weekends. I will be off the first full week of October (except for Monday, I only have 4 days of vacation left    ). So if there is anything left by then, I can run out there by myself and do some clean up.

I'll go and bring a chainsaw today if you serious about getting some work done.  We can even have a chainsaw sword fight, that just sounds all kinds of badass.

 

You guys have to juggle them with each other as well. Just get video of it so you can put on youtube, or send it into America's funniest videos and win big dollars.

I just talked to the DNR guy at Angel Mounds.  He gave us the green light to take saws out there and cut the blown down trees.

Although he urged us to be careful. 

Sweet, I'll bring the keg and the video camera!

I'll bring the 2 dollar hookers and dirty syringes

For serious though, did anyone want to go out there?  I don't have any saws or gas cans, but I know how to use one.