NOV 5, 2016 (SAT) | School Creek Work Day

[troy]

School Creek ORV Park Work Day
WHEN: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2016 | 9:30 AM

The School Creek Off Road Vehicle Association (S.C.O.R.V.A.) in coordination with the USACE, is hosting an official work day at the School Creek ORV Park. Primary focus of the day is clearing the trails. Kim reports there is a lot of chain saw work to be performed.

If you want to help, show up around 9:30 or later to be part of small crews heading out in all directions to clear trails. A typical crew will be 2 or 3 people with one chainsaw. Those who are comfortable take turns running the saw while the others throw the limbs off the trail.

A work day in 2012 and another in 2015.

It sounds like Kim, David, and the SCORVA folks have been very busy at the park this year! Read her reply below to learn about the enhancements being made. Maybe in the future they will reach out to our community so we have the opportunity to help.

Howdy.

Yes, I am putting the word out for a trail clean-up day at the park. At this time we are setting it for November 5th with a start time around 9:30 am.

David Piercy and I have have been busy out there with new up grades that have not been done since the park's inception. At the beginning of the year we dropped and cleared out all of the trees and brush along the north side of the roadway as you come into the park, pulled all existing t-posts and wire fencing.Then put in close to 4000' of new t-posts and barbless wire.

We have a concrete pad now set in the west side parking lot for what will be a covered picnic table/shelter and around the first of the year we will be installing a new loading ramp....busy, busy, busy!!!

As you know this year has been a very wet one and has caused numerous trees to become up rooted and fallen over anywhere near areas that were totally saturated. There are numerous trails throughout the park with downed trees and limbs needing to be cut back. Chainsaws, loppers, or handsaws will do the job.
I visualize groups of two or three (one power tool per group) and send out in all directions....every line needs to be looked at and cleared; made passable.

I'm putting the word out on the Forward Motion site along with a call list that I will be going down this coming week.
Any and All help is greatly appreciated.

Thank You, Kim.

[gagnaou]

We had one in 2015 also I believe.

We have a family event with Kira's family that day so I will not be able to attend I will keep looking here in case the clean up day is rescheduled

Luc

[troy]

I found the 2015 thread and edited my post to include it. Thanks.

Sorry to hear you won't be available since you do the work of 3 men with a chainsaw, Mr. Lumberjack! I don't know that I'm going for sure yet, either, but I don't think I have any conflicts, so I expect I'll make it.

To be clear, the work day is wholly organized by S.C.O.R.V.A, not RideForum.NET nor myself. I'm just reporting the details in hopes to get more volunteers.

[Savage]

How did you find out about this? I would of thought she would have texted me since I just recently asked her to LMK and I'd try to round up some extra people.

[troy]

How did you find out about this? I would of thought she would have texted me since I just recently asked her to LMK and I'd try to round up some extra people.

After you told me you'd talked to her about a work day in the near future, I emailed her to say, "Quinton told me he ran into you at School Creek and you discussed a possible Work Day. Just let us know when and we'll do our best to get the word out." She replied a few days later--the reply I included in the post that started this thread. I was a bit surprised to see how soon the work day is and just now getting the word out, but it's all good. I try not to sweat the petty stuff nor pet the sweaty stuff. Gross.

BTW, I like your new avatar image. It's almost art.

[Savage]

I think I'm 85% sure I'm going to this clean up day.
I texted some friends to make them aware and let a couple guys know I ran into at the trails this weekend.
I may take a kid or 2 with me to help out.
Who else is going?

[troy]

Kyle (KC) and I are at about 85%, too. I know Luc said it is unlikely he'll be able to come that day.

[Savage]

Either of you clowns taking your kiddo's?

[Savage]

Kyle you taking your Ranger?
I bought an awesome new handsaw this evening so I'm ready to go.

[troy]

Last time I organized this it was a "no" to bring side-by-sides. That was from the park officer in charge.

[Savage]

You or Kyle bringing a chainsaw?

[ajayhawkfan]

Troy if you want you're welcome to borrow my 4 wheeler.

Sent from my LGL22C using Tapatalk

[Savage]

Yesterday was a great day! I think my son learned some good life lessons.
First off he didn't want to go, and I didn't really feel like going either. I made him aware of it and he asked if I had to go? "No". "Once we get out there we'll have a good time hiking around on the trails and enjoying our time".
Then 2-3 hours into it, he was complaining how tired he was, how thirsty he was, how hungry he was. This is not the norm for him as he is usually very mentally strong.
I let him know "this is good for you as it will make him mentally and physically stronger. It's good to be hungry, thirsty and tired. It will make you a better athlete and a stronger person. And once we get back to the vehicle our soda and sandwich is going to taste SO GOOD!"
He hung with it and did a great job! I cut and if I couldn't throw the limbs off the trail right there I let'm drop and he had to drag them up or down the trails to toss'm off.

I had fun spending good quality time with him and hiking around enjoying peace and quiet most of the time.

[troy]

Looks like savage found more than the joy of a trail free from face-slappers. Good stuff.
Counting Savage's son, we had a total of 7 workers. 2 guys well over 70, Kim with her bad hip, savage, his son, Kyle (kc), and me.

While savage & his son were on their spirit quest, the rest of us focused on a just a few really big trees that had blocked multiple trails--including 2 main arteries. Kyle & I spent over 2 hours clearing just one tree--it was HUGE. When we first walked up on the mess, it kind of deflated our spirits a bit. Kyle mentioned that we really needed one of those huge saws the forest service has. However, we attacked it the same way you eat an elephant--one bite at a time. Kyle ran his saw the whole day while I tried to keep up dragging the limbs away. We had to team up 2 & 3 people to roll the huge trunk logs off the trail. Because of the size of the trunk, we were forced to cut it many times to get down to pieces we could actually move.

I want to recognize Kim Jackson & David Piercy of S.C.O.R.V.A. Kim has worked hard for many years to keep School Creek ORV area operational. I especially want to give a shout out to David. I think he said he is 73 years old and has been coming to School Creek for over 40 years. This man is retired and dedicates hundreds of hours to maintaining the area--many times completely by himself. He is a wizard with a chainsaw and can outwork many folks half his age.

Also, David let Kyle and I ride his Rokon! What a cool little tractor/motorcycle. David has it rigged up with a front rack that carries 2 chain saws and all the fixin's.

At the end of the day Kyle and I enjoyed 60 to 90 minutes of riding and, despite being nearly exhausted, I had a great time. We found the trails cleared by savage & son--it was nice not to have cedar branches dragging across our faces for a bit!

Despite being a small crew, we made a huge impact in opening trails back up.

[troy]

Troy if you want you're welcome to borrow my 4 wheeler.

Sent from my LGL22C using Tapatalk

Sorry I did not reply sooner! As always, you are generous--THANK YOU! I was regretting not making time to go down and get your quad on my drive out to School Creek, but as it turned out, we were able to drive our trucks to get relatively close to the 2 main areas we tackled.

[gagnaou]

Good job guys!!! All your work is very much appreciated! Thank you so much for that!!!

Sorry we could not make it! Next time hopefully

[troy]

Good job guys!!! All your work is very much appreciated! Thank you so much for that!!!

Sorry we could not make it! Next time hopefully

That's OK, Luc! The last 2 work days there you did about 5 years worth of work! You are a beast! We did miss having you there despite your outrageous French accent!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35IG66H7vLE

[gagnaou]

On the plus side. Leonce and I cleared up some trails on Sunday, but they were the horse trails at Randolph.

[Savage]

Those trails look fine. Leave them be. Save your back and sharp chain for dirt bike only trails.