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Accomplishments Advocacy Community Trailwork Reports

CAMBC Q4 2020 Membership Update

November 2020

Winter is coming, eventually.  We hope.  This fall has been amazing—weeks of dry weather and beautiful colors.  On top of that, we have some updates for you.

Riding in the time of Covid

First, Covid safety practices are still in effect.  We can’t have socials, big trail workdays, and group rides.  We CAN be good role models and help keep our trails open and in good shape, especially as the winter season kicks in.

  • Don’t ride on wet or muddy trails.  Don’t skid.  Don’t ride at crazy speeds on crowded trails. Don’t use or create shortcuts.  Stay on the trails.
  • Practice good trail etiquette and COVID safety.  Yield to hikers and runners.  Stop, move off the trail and let them pass.  Keep at least a 6 ft distance.  Give a friendly greeting.  If you see folks failing to yield or be considerate, please remind them of this need and that we’re all ambassadors for our sport.
  • Get a bell if you are riding locally.  We’ve sold out of ours, but we highly recommend investing in one (local bike shops carry them) and USE IT on busy trails as a warning when approaching other trail users.  Avoid startling other trail users.
  • Help with trail upkeep: Nick wet spots, pickup/move branches, and obstructions.  Pack a saw/clippers and keep the trail corridors clear.  Notify CAMBCs Board of any large downed trees that need clearing.  CAMBC works with City and County staff and RTF volunteers to clear downed trees.
  • Have fun, and stay safe.

Pump Track

Not much progress since our last update.  We still feel a pump track is needed in this town, for many reasons.  We are willing to pay for it.  We cannot seem to get the attention or interest from the City Parks and Rec. department.  Given the skate park’s success, it’s pretty clear a pump track as a destination would be as popular for many types of riders from all backgrounds and ages.

We’ll keep trying to keep the flame burning on this by preparing a proposal for another location at McIntire Park and looking into other locations that are more centrally located to diverse populations.

Trails Updates and Advocacy

Despite Covid’s impact on our local governments and communities, our local trail systems have made some amazing progress. CAMBC continues to help drive progress in these areas.

Triangle Trails

Our last report introduced the Triangle Trails area in McIntire park and all the good work happening there.  More dirt was delivered in the last month, and more volunteer work contributed to improving the existing trails and adding some kid-friendly features.  If you haven’t been over there, check it out.

Ragged Mountain

Still no concrete news on the court case where the County is suing the City about code violations (or whatever it is… if anyone knows exactly what the County is arguing for and why it failed arbitration, please let me know).  Despite the increase of users on the trails, including runners and bikers, there is still no concrete guidance on what activities are allowed and where.  For a quick talking points reminder if you encounter someone who questions your biking out there:

  • Clarity on whether Biking is or isn’t acceptable at Ragged is unclear until the Court case is resolved. Until the courts rule, this can be a sensitive situation, so please consider all users while biking at Ragged to help avoid ill will toward biking.
  • RWSA has no concerns about biking or pets impacting the water supply.
  • CAMBC supports a network of hiking-only trails that is separate from multi-use trails.
  • CAMBC and its volunteers are actively helping plan, build, and maintain sustainable trail re-routes.  Are any other groups doing this?

We just completed a workday to put a re-route in on the other side of the floating bridge to address the steep sections.  We also need to finish cutting roots and to smooth out some of the new re-route down to the bridge.

What you can do to help

  • If you ride Ragged, help keep the trails clear and help address wet spots.  
  • Don’t go when it’s wet.  It’s bad for the trail, AND tire tracks look much worse than footprints.
  • SLOW DOWN when encountering other users.  
  • Demonstrate to the community there that mountain biking can co-exist with runners and hikers.

Our Position

  • We will continue to help design and maintain sustainable shared-use trails at Ragged Mountain.
  • We support the idea of having hiking-only trails, as long as there is a shared-use trail that loops the reservoir.
  • We will advocate for trails that connect the Ragged/Heyward area by trail to Charlottesville’s OHill and RTF trail networks.

Heyward Community Forest

Great news to report.  First, the City is getting an additional 5 acres of land to add to Heyward via a grant. We’ll find out shortly when that becomes official.  Second, CAMBC has contributed $3275 to help pay for two new trail segments and committed ~$4000 for another in progress.

  • Dam to Round Top Saddle – Amppletrails.org put in a super fun trail that connects the Foxhaven/Round Top trails to the trail connecting the Lower parking area and the dam.
  • Saddle to the Road trail – Amppletrails.org added a switchback to bypass the steep section that significantly improves the trail.
  • The City has put in a trail that follows the stream, starting where the gravel road begins and ending at the Saddle to Road trail.
  • CAMBC is fully funding a trail up what we’re calling “Song Mountain” on the other side of the stream and has committed to completing ½ of it by hand and doing the finishing work on the rest.  Thanks go to Amppl Trails for the amazing work and passion they’ve brought to turn these dreams into reality in mere months and to the City’s Parks and Rec department for making this all happen.
  • We are exploring grants to help raise funds and recognition for this City/CAMBC partnership in creating a new trail system in a community park.

We have dreams and plans for more trails in the area.  Stay tuned.

What can you do to help?

  • Next time you ride there, bring some clippers and spend 10-15 minutes clipping the exposed root ends down to dirt level.
  • Slow down for non-bikers.  Reduce trail conflict and negative feedback from non-bikers.
  • Be prepared to help out when we put out calls for trail days for the upcoming trails.
  • Don’t ride the trails that are under construction.
  • Send in good feedback to the City Parks and Rec department saying how much you love the work they are doing there and being inclusive for biking.

Our position:

  • We will continue to help design and fund shared-use trails in Heyward.
  • We would like to consider some bike-specific trails on the side close to the highway.  

Biscuit Run

Not much to report here.  The County is re-submitting a plan for a parking lot entrance to get VDOT’s approval.  They are allegedly re-starting the discussion with the local HOA’s to get formal access to the Wegmans to Biscuit section.  We’re frustrated at the lack of movement.

Meanwhile, the trails there are being used.  They are lovely.  We want more. We’re willing to help flag, build, and maintain shared-use trails.

What can you do to help?

  • Don’t park in the Neighborhoods to access the Biscuit trails unless you have permission from a local resident—Park at Wegmans or Hickory St.
  • Don’t build new trails and get the County upset.  Let’s work with them.
  • Put pressure on the County to get things moving.  Ask during the Supervisor meetings.  Write emails to bos@albemarle.org.

Walnut Creek

The trails are clear.  It is riding well.  The County is doing a great job of keeping it clear.  If you do encounter issues, contact them via ???

Preddy Creek

Riding well and flows!  The park is incredibly popular these days, so please use a bell when you ride there and be a good role model.  If you encounter issues, contact the County via ???

Rivanna Trail

CAMBC continues working closely with the RTF, and we’ve contributed significantly recently to trail work and re-routes.  Some recent news:

  • The Woolen Mills bridge is officially closed, but people are using it.  We continue to work on the best way to improve the rock rip-rap section to be easier (aka dumbed down) and more friendly to foot/bike users.  Several small work parties have started working in this section.
  • The bridge across Meadow Creek just below Locust Ave. is in place to connect future trails to Penn Park has had its footings reinforced.  No news on when it will officially open.
  • RTF north around Belvedere is about to have a section closed for construction.  There are alternative options to get past Belvedere, and we’re hoping there will be signs to show where to go.
  • CAMBC members participated in trail work and brushing activities to keep the RT trails open this autumn.  As far as we are concerned, the RT is in the best shape it ever has been.  Thanks for your support and participation.
  • Consider becoming a member of the RTF if you use the https://www.rivannatrails.org.

Trailwork

Trailwork is an important part of what we do as a club and helps establish our reputation as trail advocates and trail stewards.  CAMBC is now considered a resource for trail design expertise by the local land managers.  We had established a monthly trail work schedule on the third weekend of every month.  It will resume post-covid.

We had several trail workdays pre-covid. Thank you to all of you who have participated.  Since our last update in August, we’ve

  • Several BIG volunteer days at Heyward and Ragged Mountain helped prepare the new re-routes and trails for use.
  • Several smaller groups helped with the RTF in various areas.
  • Nov. 14 Dave Stackhouse and a small group put in an amazing re-route near the Ragged floating bridge.  Check it out!

Trail worker of the Fall?  Eric Magrum – who has put in a significant amount of time rallying workgroups at Heyward, stoking enthusiasm for that area, and working with Amppltrails to get these trails put in at record speed.

Trail Champions

We are looking to find people who are willing to be the formal “trail monitors” for our area trail systems.  We hope that these monitors can act as liaisons between CAMBC and the trail system land managers and keep an eye on the trails, reporting issues, recommending work, and leading workdays.

  • Walnut Creek – Jenny Whedbee 
  • Preddy Creek – Bob Newman
  • Ragged/Heyward – 
  • OHill – 
  • RTF Trails – John Lewis
  • Mint Springs – 

Your Dues at Work

List of accomplishments since August.  

  1. CAMBC clothing order.  Raised $~500 for CAMBC.  So popular we had another round of orders, due to arrive in December.  Expecting to raise several hundred dollars more!
  2. $2350 to help fund the new trail at Heyward (Dam trail to Round Top Saddle)
  3. $1925 to fully fund the switchback on the Heyward Road to Saddle trail
  4. Committed ~$4000 to fully fund a new trail on the highway side

Thus far, all of our income for 2020 has gone right back into supporting local trail building in our area!

We depend on membership dues as our primary income and supplement it with donations and volunteer events (Fridays after Five etc.), which didn’t happen this year.  So, if you ride our local trails, please join CAMBC if you haven’t, renew if you’ve let your membership expire, and encourage others to join!

Also, we’ve activated an Amazon Smile account, so when you purchase via Amazon, we can benefit.

  1. Go to https://smile.amazon.com and register to donate to “Charlottesville Area Mountain Bike Club.”
  2. Use https://smile.amazon.com as your address when you purchase via Amazon, and we benefit.

And finally, you can donate directly to CAMBC via Paypal at money@cambc.org.

Upcoming Events

Socials & Rides – 

On hold until Covid gets resolved, and we can be safe with each other in groups.

ABOUT CAMBC

Mission

A reminder of our Club’s mission: Our purpose is to educate the public with encouragement to live healthier lives through trail use and stewardship.  Our goal is to promote sustainable multi-use public trail systems within Charlottesville and surrounding counties. We emphasize responsible trail use and bicycle safety. We strive to foster positive relationships with other trail users, clubs, and municipal and federal land managers. We also ride bikes!

Who We Are

CAMBC is a community of mountain bikers and trail advocates.  We are a Chapter of IMBA, an international trail advocacy non-profit that helps manage our membership renewals.  CAMBC has MOU agreements with UVA, the City, RTF,  Albermarle and Fluvanna Counties, and Virginia DCR to help build and maintain trails.  We provide trail maintenance assistance on approximately 100 miles of trails in Central Virginia.  The club currently comprises 200-225 paid members.  Our main club mailing list has about 600 subscribers who can post bike-related messages that reach all subscribers, a great way to meet people, find rides, learn about trails or trail work.  We have a shed located at Meadowcreek Park with various trail building tools that we use for trail building and maintenance efforts.  

Leadership

Our board of directors currently comprises the following biking and trail advocates:

  • John Lewis – President
  • David Stackhouse – Treasurer
  • Sam Lindblom – Vice President
  • Annette Dusenbury – Secretary
  • Shawn Tevendale
  • Bobby Casteen
  • Eric Magrum
  • Jip Palakawongs
  • Will Sanford

We meet every other month to vote on club decisions and provide updates on ongoing projects. 

We always want to hear from you, and we encourage involvement from all our members, friends, and fellow trail users.  Let us know if you’d like to join our Board or have ideas and initiatives to help CAMBC serve our community.  You can email us at board@cambc.org.

Pictures thanks to Annette Dusenbury, John Lewis, Jon Ciambotti, Eric Magrum

Categories
Accomplishments Advocacy Community Trailwork Reports

CAMBC Membership Update – August 2020

It’s been a while since we’ve last communicated with you.  We blame it on Covid as we practice social distancing, doing our part to reduce spread.  Several updates on ongoing projects, trail systems, and our accomplishments are below.

Riding in the time of Covid

The Covid epidemic has impacted our club’s organized events.  We miss riding with and seeing all of you.  While we wait this out, we are aware that our local trail systems have experienced a considerable increase in usage, both with hikers/runners and new riders.  Here are some encouragements on how to be leaders and responsible riders to increase the perception that mountain bikers are cooperative trail users and advocates:

  1. Practice good trail etiquette and COVID safety.  Yield to hikers and runners.  Stop, move off the trail and let them pass.  Keep at least 6 ft distance.  Give a friendly greeting.  If you see folks failing to yield or be considerate, please remind them of this need, and that we’re all ambassadors for our sport.
  2. Get a bell if you are riding locally.  We’ve sold out of ours, but highly recommend you invest in one (local bike shops carry them) and USE IT on busy trails as a warning when approaching other trail users.  Avoid startling other trail users.
  3. Help with trail upkeep.  Nick wet spots, pickup/move branches, and obstructions.  Pack a saw/clippers and keep the trail corridors clear.  Notify CAMBCs Board of any large downed trees that need clearing.  CAMBC works with City and County staff and RTF volunteers to clear downed trees.
  4. Don’t ride on wet or muddy trails.  Don’t skid.  Don’t ride at crazy speeds on crowded trails. Don’t use or create shortcuts.  Stay on the trails.
  5. Have fun, and stay safe.

Project Updates

Pump Track

CAMBC has offered the City to fund the design, materials, and construction of a pump track in the city to promote biking and to provide a place for kids and adults to work on bike skills.  Our proposal included help with the maintenance of the pump track in partnership with the City’s Parks and Rec team.  We hoped this would be our primary 2020  effort, and we had planned to do fundraising for the track, and solicit membership support for the construction and maintenance.

Before the onset of Covid, we met with City Parks and Rec leadership to propose several locations in McIntire Park.  Several weeks later, they responded saying our proposed sites were not approved and did not show much interest in continuing the conversation.  We’re disappointed in this response (or lack of).

Our town needs a pump track that is accessible to everyone.  We believe it should be located in McIntire Park for proximity to the skatepark and the Triangle Trails behind the YMCA, and, is a central location in the City.  We are pursuing some options that may involve something more organic vs. a formal approach.  If you are so motivated, please reach out to your City Council and the head of Parks & Rec with your advocacy for a pump track in McIntire Park.  And stay tuned as our Board continues to advocate for this much-needed pump track.

Trails Updates and Advocacy

Some updates on our local trail systems and advocacy opportunities are below.  Because of the Covid situation, funding has dried up for many initiatives. The focus of local governments on bike/ped activities has been distracted, as have we on keeping the pressure up.

Triangle Trails

Kyle Rodland, CAMBC member and the City’s head of Safe Routes To School program, created and installed maps and a user-friendly trail marking system for the trails behind the YMCA in McIntire Park.  CAMBC helped pay for the maps and signage, which encourages beginners and first-time users to easily identify safe and fun routes.  There are several miles of trails. All are friendly for beginners.  Spread the word, especially for new riders or anyone looking to get a ride in the City.  There’s convenient parking in McIntire and at CHS, and Triangle Trails are easy to access from the Rivanna Trail.

Ragged Mountain

Good news and bad news.  We’ll start with the bad.  Our understanding is the mediation effort between the City and County failed, and future permission to ride bicycles at Ragged is now back in line for a court hearing.  We’re not aware of any court dates, and don’t expect much as courts are very backed up due to Covid.  This means there is no clear direction for what is or isn’t allowed on the trails. The City allows biking. The County claims their “no bikes” code applies.  There are currently no signs posted to indicate whether biking is or isn’t allowed, and there’s no movement to define the formal hiking-only trails vs. the shared-use trails.  The common practice is to ride there but be mindful that some folks may still be opposed to that.  Practice good trail etiquette if you decide to ride there.

The good news?  The City did fund local trail builder AAMPL to rough in the CAMBC-flagged sustainable re-route from the east end of the floating bridge to the top of the hill, and a section to bypass the steep switchbacks, offering sustainable grade options that avoid the current extremely steep climbs and the muddy switchbacks.  The roughing in is completed.  What is needed now is the hand “finishing.”  CAMBC has set up some tools on that trail for individuals to help finish it as they have time.  If you’re an experienced trail builder and you have time, please pitch in while you’re out there.  What is needed is to cut the exposed roots, smooth the rough machined surface and assure good drainage for water, shape some berms, and reduce the exposed dirt by lightly spreading leaves to create a more natural trail appearance.

The City also recently acquired 140 acres of land adjacent to Ragged Mountain, which they call the Hayward Community Forest preserve.  The City hopes to put in several miles of shared-use trails on this new property.  We have already partnered with them to flag and help volunteers build the first trail in the system, which connects the lower parking lot at Ragged to the Dam And upper parking, bypassing the steep unsustainable climb out of the lower lot.  Trails in this area are not in the scope of the pending litigation between the City and County, so we expect to see some good progress on a trail plan and building.  This is a lovely bit of land, within riding distance of the city, that will expand the already amazing network of local singletrack trails in our area.  CAMBC has offered to contribute funding that will accelerate new trail building out there, and we are partnering with the City to flag new trails.  

Our position:

  • Biking should be allowed at Ragged Mountain.  It does not pose any threat to the water supply (as stated by RWSA).  
  • We support the City plan to have both shared use and hiking-only trails at Ragged.  
  • If you ride there, be considerate of the situation, practice good trail etiquette.

Actions needed for Ragged + Hayward

  • Help finish the roughed in trail section down to the bridge.  See above.
  • Be respectful of hikers and runners.  USE A BELL!  We need to reduce conflict and demonstrate that bikers are responsible users of these trails.
  • Help clear the trail of branches, blowdowns, etc.  Be role models.
  • During Covid, maintain 6 ft distance.

Biscuit Run

The County is still at the drawing board with a plan for a formal parking lot at the Avon Extended and Rt. 20 junction.  They still need VDOT approval.  There does not seem to be much momentum, and we’re not aware of any advocates putting pressure on the County to speed things up.  Meanwhile, negotiations with the HOA’s to get formal access approval to use the Wegman’s connector appear to have stalled.  We’re not sure why, and who has the ball.  We will continue to work with the county to be included in the Park trails planning.  Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, the trails there are being used.  They are lovely.  We want more. We’re willing to help flag, build, and maintain shared-use trails.

Action Items:

  • Don’t park in the Neighborhoods to access the Biscuit trails unless you have permission from a local resident.  Park at Wegmans, or Hickory St.
  • Don’t build new trails and get the County upset.  Let’s work with them.
  • Put pressure on the County to get things moving.  Ask during the Supervisor meetings.  Write emails to bos@albemarle.org.

Our position:

  • Allocate funding needed for a Soft Opening (which requires a minimal public access location, and allows the use of existing trails).  We want it opened now.  We don’t want to wait for years until a huge parking lot is built.
  • Allow parking on Hickory street.  Put in a trail that crosses biscuit run on temporary stepping stones that connects to the existing trail system.
  • Open the park as a “trail park” like Preddy, then incrementally add in the other features per the Master Plan as funding becomes available.
  • Have the County work with us in trail planning, building, and maintenance.

Walnut Creek

Trails are clear, and it is as challenging as ever.  Beach is closed.  The trail CAMBC put in on the Dam Loop last year is riding GREAT!

Preddy Creek

The new Rooster Trail has been completed, and it flows!  The park is incredibly popular these days, so please use a bell when you ride there.

Rivanna Trail

CAMBC continues working closely with the RTF, and we’ve contributed significantly recently to trail work and re-routes.  Some recent news:

  • The Woolen Mills development has put in the bridge across Moore’s creek.  It is amazing.  However, it recently closed until permitting approvals are complete.  It has brought a lot more attention to the section between Woolen Mills and Rt. 20, which is now clear to ride.  There is a lot of discussion on the best way to improve the rock rip-rap section to be easier (aka dumbed down) and more friendly to foot/bike users.
  • The bridge across Meadow Creek just below Locust Ave. is in place to connect to future trails to Penn Park, but apparently needs more work on the footings to strengthen them against future flooding and erosion. No updates to give you on this one.
  • RTF north around Belvedere is about to have a section closed for construction.  There are alternative options to get past Belvedere, and we’re hoping there will be signs to show where to go.
  • CAMBC members participated with trail work and brushing activities to keep the RT trails open this summer.  As far as we are concerned, the RT is in the best shape it ever has been.  Thanks for your support and participation.
  • Consider becoming a member of the RTF if you use the https://www.rivannatrails.org.

Trailwork

Trailwork is an important part of what we do as a club and helps establish our reputation as trail advocates and trail stewards.  CAMBC is now considered a resource for trail design expertise by the local land managers.  We had established a monthly trail work schedule, on the third weekend of every month.  It will resume post-covid.

We had several trail workdays pre-covid. Thank you to all of you who have participated.  Since our last update in November

  • January – OHill mud hole, put in a gravel surface.
  • February – Preddy Creek advanced loop maintenance.

Trail worker volunteer of the spring?  Dave Stackhouse! Dave has helped flag trails at Ragged and Hayward and put in several re-routes around downed trees on O-Hill.

Trail Champions

We are looking to find people who are willing to be the formal “trail monitors” for our area trail systems.  Our hope is that these monitors can act as liaisons between CAMBC and the trail system land managers, as well as keeping an eye on the trails, reporting issues, recommending work, and leading workdays.

  • Jenny Whedbee is our Champion for Walnut Creek
  • Bob Newman is our Champion for Preddy Creek

Your Dues at Work

List of accomplishments since November.  We’ve been so busy we’ve probably missed some!

  1. New clothing order.  Due to arrive early September.  Raised $~500 for CAMBC
  2. New CAMBC brochures, distributed to kiosks at all the local parks and ride areas, and to local bike stores.  The new brochures are informative and promote folks to join our thriving mtb community.
  3. Representing mountain biking and trail building at multiple community boards and government committees.
  4. Renewed our Insurance coverage for CAMBC sponsored events and trail work days (if they ever resume)…
  5. Funded the building of a Kiosk at the Blue Ridge School parking lot.
  6. Funded trail signs for the triangle trails at McIntire park
  7. Purchased new tools for the CAMBC shed.  This included 60 new rogue hoes, 10 sets of loppers, a new larger chain saw, and, most recently, a new string trimmer.  Contact a Board member if you need to borrow tools to help maintain trails in your neighborhood.

Upcoming Events

Socials & Rides – 

On hold until Covid gets resolved, and we can be safe with each other in groups.

ABOUT CAMBC

Mission

A reminder of our Club’s mission: Our purpose is to educate the public with encouragement to live healthier lives through trail use and stewardship.  Our goal is to promote sustainable multi-use public trail systems within Charlottesville and surrounding counties. We emphasize responsible trail use and bicycle safety. We strive to foster positive relationships with other trail users, clubs, and municipal and federal land managers. We also ride bikes!

Who We Are

CAMBC is a community of mountain bikers and trail advocates.  We are a Chapter of IMBA, an international trail advocacy non-profit that helps manage our membership renewals.  CAMBC has MOU agreements with UVA, the City, RTF,  Albermarle and Fluvanna Counties, and Virginia DCR to help build and maintain trails.  We provide trail maintenance assistance on approximately 100 miles of trails in Central Virginia.  The club currently comprises 200-225 paid members.  Our main club mailing list has about 600 subscribers who can post bike-related messages that reach all subscribers, a great way to meet people, find rides, learn about trails or trail work.  We have a shed located at Meadowcreek Park with a variety of trail building tools that we use for trail building and maintenance efforts.  

Leadership

Our board of directors currently comprises the following biking and trail advocates:

  • John Lewis – President
  • David Stackhouse – Treasurer
  • Sam Lindblom – Vice President
  • Annette Dusenbury – Secretary
  • Shawn Tevendale
  • Bobby Casteen
  • Eric Magrum
  • Jip Palakawongs
  • Will Sanford

We meet every other month to vote on club decisions and provide updates on ongoing projects. 

We always want to hear from you, and we encourage involvement from all our members, friends, and fellow trail users.  Let us know if you’d like to join our Board or if you have ideas and initiatives to help CAMBC serve our community.  You can email us at board@cambc.org.

Pictures thanks to Annette Dusenbury and John Lewis

Categories
Accomplishments Advocacy Trailwork Reports

CAMBC Membership Update – November 2019

Project Updates

Pump Track

CAMBC is prepared to offer the City to fund the design, materials, and construction of a small pump track in the city to promote biking and provide a place for kids and adults to work on bike skills and help with the maintenance of it in partnership with the City’s Parks and Rec team.  We intended this to be our major 2019 effort, and we had planned to do fundraising for the track, and solicit membership support for the build and maintenance of it.

City Parks and Rec leadership did not respond to our communications.  The board decided to wait for things to settle down politically in the city before starting again to propose this offer.  Now that there is a new City Manager, and soon to be a mostly new City Council, we plan to begin our process again, hoping to make some traction in 2020.  It will involve a presentation to City Council at a public hearing, meetings with the new Parks and Rec leadership, petitions and other advocacy if needed.

This is an important initiative for us, and we’d love your help when things get going.  Our town needs a pump track that is accessible to everyone.

Advocacy

There are a variety of ongoing trail access and funding initiatives in play right now.  CAMBC is monitoring them all and will provide updates and calls to action as needed.  MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD.  If you like the way things are going with trails in our community, and feel it can be better, don’t complain, DO SOMETHING.  We provide several suggestions below.  :-).

Ragged Mountain

Good news and bad news.  We’ll start with the bad.  Our understanding is the mediation effort between the City and County failed, and it is now back in line for a court hearing.  We’re not aware of any dates, and don’t expect much.  This means no clear understanding of what is and isn’t allowed on the trails, no movement to build the hiker-only trails and no movement to complete the Council approved trail plan that was a result of multiple well attended public hearings.

The good news?  The City did acquire 140 acres of land adjacent to Ragged Mountain, which they will call a forest preserve, with hopes to put in several miles of shared-use trails.  We have already partnered with them to flag and build the first trail in the system, which connects the lower parking lot at Ragged to the Dam, bypassing the steep climb out of the lot.  Trails in this area are not in the scope of the pending litigation between the City and County, so we expect to see some good progress on a trail plan and building.  This is a lovely bit of land, within riding distance of the city, that will expand the already amazing network of local singletrack trails in our area.

Also, Chris Gensic authorized Dave Stackhouse to flag the proposed shared-use trail (as approved by City Ordinance that allows biking) that will form a sustainable re-route from the east end of the floating bridge over to the dam, eliminating the current extremely steep climb and offering a sustainable grade option that avoids the muddy switchbacks.  CAMBC presently has no calendar in mind for building this new trail but getting it flagged and approved by Chris is the first step.

Our position:

  • Biking should be allowed at Ragged Mountain.  It does not pose any threat to the water supply (as stated by RWSA).  
  • We support the City plan to have both shared use and hiking-only trails at Ragged.  

If there are any updates or action needed, we will let you know. 

In the meantime, biking is not not allowed at Ragged Mountain.  County code says only hiking, picnicking and birdwatching are allowed.  Interpret that as you like.  

Biscuit Run

With the approval of the FY20-24 Capital Plan for the County, $2.2 million originally allocated for Hedgerow was re-allocated to Biscuit to accelerate its opening initially as a trail park.  This is good news.  Most of these funds will go to the public parking area at the Rt. 20 and Avon Extended junction, which is needed as there are currently no formal public access points to the Park.  

The County is working with the Foxcroft and Mill Creek HOA’s to get permission to use the existing connector to connect 5th St. Station to Biscuit.  People in the Foxcroft and Mill Creek HOA’s are resisting and we’re not sure why. In the meantime, it is “not officially legal” to use that existing trail to access Biscuit Run (from the 5th st area). 

We will continue to work with the county to be included in the Park trails planning.  

Our position:

  • Allocate funding needed for a Soft Opening (which requires a minimal public access location, and allows the use of existing trails).  We want it opened now.  We don’t want to wait for years until a huge parking lot is built.
  • Allow parking on Hickory street.  Put in a trail that crosses biscuit run on temporary stepping stones that connects to the existing trail system.
  • Open the park as a “trail park” like Preddy, then incrementally add in the other features per the Master Plan as funding becomes available.
  • Have the County work with us in trail planning, building, and maintenance.

Action Items

  1. Write the bos@albemarle.org and state your support of opening the park officially, and to begin building the new trails per the trail plan, and to begin clearing away the invasives at the center of the park to open up the back half trails
  2. Even better, show up at a County Supervisor public meeting, sign up for a public speaking slot, and say what you’ve written. 
  3. If you live in Mill Creek or Foxcroft, or know anyone who does, please get active with the HOA’s to pressure them to allow the county to get an easement to use the path by the river to allow access from 5th St/Wegmans.

Hedgerow

Hedgerow had funding in the 2020 County budget proposal, which was re-allocated to Biscuit.  The County is in the process of doing an environmental assessment of the property.

Our position:

  • Allocate funding only for a “soft opening” to provide basic public access and an initial trail loop.  
  • Have the County work with us in trail planning, building, and maintenance.

Action Items

1) Write the bos@albemarle.org and state your support for a soft opening of the area, and to encourage the county to come up with a trail plan. CAMBC is willing to partner with the County to get these trails open, and maintain them.

Rivanna Trail

CAMBC continues working closely with the RTF, and we’ve contributed significantly recently to trail work and re-routes.  Some recent news:

  • With the Woolen Mills development comes a promised pedestrian bridge across Moores Creek at Woolen Mills.  The bridge plan has been approved, and as we understand it, in the last stages of state approvals before it starts getting built.  The developers did ask the county for a time extension of 6 months.  We expect to have some trail days there helping open the trail in preparation for the bridge opening.
  • The bridge across Meadow Creek just below Locust Ave. is in place to connect to future trails to Penn Park, but apparently needs more work on the footings to strengthen them against future flooding and erosion. 
  • CAMBC members participated in multiple trail days and brushing activities to keep the RT trails open this summer.  As far as we are concerned, the RT is in the best shape it ever has been.  Thanks for your support and participation.
  • Consider becoming a member of the RTF if you use the https://www.rivannatrails.org

Funding for Bike/Ped in local government budgets

City

The CIP (capital improvement projects) budget proposed by Dr. Richardson (new City Manager) ELIMINATES ALL FUNDING for bicycle infrastructure, while it REDUCES funding for city sidewalks from $500K to $200K, a reduction of 60%!.  See the Daily Progress article.

  1. See Peter Kreb’s letter the council that states why we should be INCREASING bike/ped funding.
  2. Write or even better, speak publically to Council stating your support for bike/ped.
  3. Other items we feel are worth advocating for:
    1. We want a tunnel under Railway connecting the Meadow Creek Trails to the John Warner Parkway trails.  
    2. More Bike lanes.  More greenways.  More separated bike lanes.  Safer streets for biking.

County

The County’s 2020 capital budget did include ~$6 million for parks/bike/ped in the 2020-24 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).  Most of this goes to sidewalks in various spots, and to complete the northway bike lane route (Berkmar to Rio) to connect the Berkmar Parkway greenway to the Warner Parkway greenway.  There was also ~$4million for Biscuit Run, most of which will go to the parking lot build on Rt.20

  1. See above for Biscuit Run and Hedgerow action items, which are future trail parks for singletrack.
  2. Other items we feel are worth asking or advocating for:
    1. Best use of spending for Greenways. Why go through the expense of building a bike path along Rio?  Why not explore alternate routes that won’t involve so many property acquisitions, right of ways and utility/driveway/road crossings?
    2. Bike lanes!  More separated bike lanes on all the entrance corridors to the City.  More bike lanes in the Urban Ring that surrounds the City.  More bike shoulders on key connecting roads used by bikers (53, Old Lynchburg, 250, Garth, Woodlands, etc.)
    3. We want a tunnel under Railway connecting the Meadow Creek Trails to the John Warner Parkway trails.  
    4. Withdraw the Ragged Mountain court issue (see below). Adjust the county codes to accommodate the usage proposed by the City.  The county adjusted the Chris Green Lake codes in weeks.  They can do it for Ragged.  Biking and running pose NO threat to the water supply.
    5. Don’t fund gravel road paving.  Gravel roads are safer for bikers.  Here is the county list of paving programs.
    6. Don’t treat the greenspace surrounding the Albemarle High School complex as future building sites.  Formalize it as green space and a trail system.

Trailwork

Trailwork is an important part of what we do as a club and helps establish our reputation as trail advocates and trail stewards.  CAMBC is now considered a resource for trail design expertise by the local land managers.  We have established a monthly trail work schedule, on the third weekend of every month.  

We’ve had several recent trail workdays. Thank you to all of you who have participated.

  • June – We rerouted the Wegmans connector down to the Biscuit connector.  Thanks, Sam Lindblom for leading, and getting the CATS runners to participate.
  • July – Preddy Creek trail maintenance. Thanks, Bob Newman and the Tevendales!
  • August – Walnut new section preparation.  Thanks, Jenny Whedbee, Eric Magrum and Dave Stackhouse
  • September – Walnut new section finishing.  Thanks, Dave Stackhouse
  • October – Preddy creek advanced loop maintenance.  Thanks, Bob Newman.

Trail worker volunteer of the summer?  BOB NEWMAN!  He lead numerous workdays at Preddy Creek, fixing all the drainage issues on the advanced loop off the Preddy Loop.  Plus he also showed up for all the trail work days at Walnut Creek.  Bob Newman rocks!

Next workdays

  • November 23 – David Stackhouse – Ragged Connector trail finish work

Trail Champions

We are looking to find people who are willing to be the formal “trail monitors” for our area trail systems.  Our hope is that these monitors can act as liaisons between CAMBC and the trail system land managers, as well as keeping an eye on the trails, reporting issues, recommending work and leading workdays.

  • Jenny Whedbee is our Champion for Walnut Creek
  • Bob Newman is our Champion for Preddy Creek

Your Dues at Work

List of accomplishments this year.  We’ve been so busy we’ve probably missed some!

  1. New Reactor Trail on Ohill
  2. New “mtb easy trail” on dam loop at Walnut.
  3. Repair drainage issues at Preddy Creek.
  4. Designed/flagged new parking lot connector trail at Ragged Hedgerow property.
  5. New connector trail at AHS (John).
  6. New trails at MHS and PVCC (Sam).
  7. New playground singletrack at Greenbrier Elementary.
  8. New entry trail at Wegmans for Biscuit Run.
  9. Sponsoring of 5 local scholastic mtb teams.
  10. Expansion of mtb clinics and adventure rides through Parks and Recreation (64 kids total).
  11. Purchase of 60 new rogue hoes. (Lending of these to City was key in recent trailwork at Ragged Hedgerow.
  12. Participation in multiple RTF workdays.
  13. Funded and built a Kiosk at the parking lot at Blue Ridge School
  14. Ran Aid Station 2/6 at the SM100 race
  15. Monthly meetings with local government land managers
  16. Representation at local Bike/Ped meetings, advocacy groups and workshops.

Upcoming Events

Socials

We are starting with having monthly socials, starting with the third Thursdays of every month at Peloton Station.

  • November 21.  Several board members will be there to answer questions, get feedback, and talk about advocacy opportunities.  Come join us!

Rides

Mitch Sims and Bobby Casteen are organizing Wednesday night rides.  You’ve seen the emails in the list.  

Micky Hall occasionally leads rides on Monday nights at Forest Lakes.

Morgan Cruthirds led a bunch of Thursday Night rides from Belmont.  These are on pause for the winter.

Events

Pantani –  February sometime.  It will be cold.

BRS MTB Fest  – March 28-29

SERS Rides

Matt McClelland graciously volunteered to organize this year’s SERS rides.  There were some really great, well-attended rides.  A huge success.  Thank you, Matt and all the ride leaders for helping showcase some of the region’s great trails.

Stokesville

CAMBC supported the SM100 Aid Station 2/6 for this year’s 20th SM100 race.  THANK YOU to all the volunteers who participated.  So much fun to watch all the racers, and the crazy fans.

We are looking to lock in a weekend in June to have a CAMBC weekend at the Stokesville Campground, with organized rides etc.  More as we get details.  

ABOUT CAMBC

Mission

A reminder of our Club’s mission: Our goal is to promote sustainable multi-use public trail systems within Charlottesville and surrounding counties. We emphasize responsible trail use and bicycle safety. We strive to foster positive relationships with other trail users, clubs and municipal and federal land managers. We also ride bikes!

Who We Are

CAMBC is a community of mountain bikers and trail advocates.  We are an affiliate of IMBA, who help manage our membership.  The club currently comprises of 179 paid members.  Our main club mailing list has almost 400 subscribers.  We have a shed with a variety of trail building tools that we use for our trail building and maintenance efforts.

Leadership

Shannon Tevendale has stepped down from the board due to an ever increasingly busy life.  Thank you, Shannon, for all your idea, energy and time!

Annette Dusenberry will be stepping up to take Shannon’s place.  Many of you know Annette and her passion for riding, leading and encouraging others to ride, and taking pictures of riders.  Welcome aboard Annette!

Our board of directors currently comprises the following biking and trail advocates:

  • John Lewis – President
  • David Stackhouse – Treasurer
  • Sam Lindblom – Vice President
  • Annette Dusenberry – Secretary
  • Shawn Tevendale
  • Bobby Casteen
  • Eric Magrum
  • Jip Palakawongs
  • Will Sanford

We meet every other month to vote on club decisions and provide updates on ongoing projects. 

Categories
Trailwork Reports

O Hill Perimeter Loop Trail Complete!

CAMBC completed the extension of the Perimeter Loop Trail on Saturday, March 24th.  The newest trail addition is located across the street from the small parking area atop O Hill on McCormick Road.  Users are now able to travel the full Perimeter Loop via singletrack rather than incorporating McCormick Road as their connector!  The trail’s gentle grade will be suitable for all skill levels as CAMBC has phased out an older, eroded section of trail of trail.

Interested in participating in future trail work days?  Stay tuned to our mailing list, or watch the Trailwork Calendar at CAMBC.org!

 

Categories
Trailwork Reports

RTF CAMBC Trailwork day on OHill

32 Volunteers participated in trailwork of various activities along the section of the RTF on OHill just south of the Route 250/Ivy Road entrance.  Corridor clearing, wet spot remediating, and armoring of a always wet spot improved a section that gets overgrown in the summer.

Armoring the wet spot

Categories
Trailwork Reports

Cutaway Kids Team Trailwork Day

cutawayfall2016-1The kids from the Cutaway team are at it again! Twice a year, coach Joe Hoskins brings his crew of young racers (and their parents) out to help CAMBC maintain local trails. The kids learn the importance of proper trail design, how to prevent erosion damage, and how to keep the trails in top shape for years to come. This fall, their project was at the top of O-Hill. Clearing back invasive brush and building water drainage features were the tasks for the day. In total, 20 kids and their parents showed up, and gave some very old trails a much needed tune-up.

CAMBC’s biggest goal is to provide sustainable trails for our local cycling and hiking community. We are very fortunate to have a vibrant junior cycling community ready to give back and show their love for their local trails. These kids will carry the torch onwards assuring a future of great trails.

 

Categories
Trailwork Reports

New Trail Section at O-Hill. CAMBC and RTF Combined Trail Work Day

cambc_imba_logo http://www.rivannatrails.org/resources/Pictures/RTF_Logo_Green_Round.png?t=1310000976561 UVA

On November 15, 2005, the Charlottesville Area Mountain Bike Club (CAMBC) and the Rivanna Trail Foundation (RTF) tackled a big problem! A dangerous section of trail ran within inches of a cliff, a serious cliff!

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Yes, that’s the trail surface at the bottom of the picture!

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Had anyone gone over the edge, a 100+ foot tumble would have landed them on the highway ramp. It could have been a really bad day for someone. Luckily, no one has been hurt yet.

 

And just as bad, our beloved hill was having an erosion problem just 50 feet down the trail.

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This trench actually extended almost ¼ mile up the hill. The old trail was a fall line trail – every time it rained, the water simply had no other place to run! Erosion was out of control. Almost 2 foot of soil has washed away from this section of trail already. Corrective action was necessary.

So, UVA, CAMBC and RTF to the rescue! CAMBC and RTF prepared for the trailwork day by spending time scouting the hill side and figuring out the best place to move the trail. The trail had many constraints: it needed to be appealing to users, safe from danger, have a sustainable grade, include appropriate water drainage features, connect users to the other parts of the trail system, and avoid a telecommunications cable. After design, we marked the trail for the volunteers to build on the work day. We also prepped the work site by having a qualified chainsaw operator with proper safety gear remove several trees that had fallen in the path of the planned trail, but no live trees were felled in the building of the trail. This step is important to do before volunteers are in the area for everyone’s safety.

After the work site was properly prepared, motivated volunteers were invited. And we started early, 8 a.m. on a Saturday morning! Volunteers of all ages were trained on how to clear branches out of the way and created the new contour trail by benching the ground. Here, Jon C. is giving a tutorial on how to build trail.

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While another group gets started on some raking.

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Benching is the process of creating a trail tread that is both pleasant to walk on, but still shaped so that water can flow off the trail with minimal erosion. Here the kids are putting to use what they learned on how to create benched trail.

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Another group of volunteers also had to create a properly shaped switch back turn. It involved starting with moving a lot of local rock to form a firm foundation so that the turn would maintain its shape for centuries.

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Then using dirt removed during the benching process for other parts of the trail to form a trail tread in the turn. The final product is beautiful and does not adequately portray the amount of skill and “sweat equity” involved. Building turns is super hard work, and this crew is justifiably proud of their effort!

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Of course, we had to test that the trail would meet the need of being pleasant to users.

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Another important aspect of re-routing trail is closure of the old trail. Many people think it’s simply piling some sticks or rocks at the entrance to the old trail, or maybe putting up a sign. That’s not good enough, because some users may still want to use the old trail and might reopen the old trail. Further, that does nothing to control the erosion issue on the old trail.

To solve these issues volunteers started by using hand tools to break up the tread on the trail to be closed so that new vegetation can grow.

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Without this step, the old trail tread is too compacted for plants to get a foothold. New plants are the key to erosion control. Then we brought in organic material (dead trees, leaves, grass roots) from the new trail construction part of the project to disguise the old trail.

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We also transplanted small trees into the trail to close the “line of sight” so that trail users do not experience the opened corridor as a possible alternate route to use. At the end of the process, the goal is to have the closed trail appear as if there was never a trail there.

Big thanks to the students and community members who participated! We had members of CAMBC, RTF, the Cutaway Mountain Bike Team, the CRC/BRC Mountain Bike Team, UVA Outdoors Club, UVA Cycling, and UVA’s Madison House totaling over 60 people and over 220 volunteer hours!

Unfortunately, the ¼ mile of trenched trail was more than could be closed by hand and volunteers were only able to close the most dangerous section on this workday. CAMBC is in the process of planning a follow up work day to close the rest of the eroded sections.

If you aren’t a member of CAMBC or RTF, please consider joining. Your support helps your local trails look like this.

Categories
Trailwork Reports

CAMBC and RTF Plan to Reroute a Dangerous Section at O-Hill

Please join us for trailwork on Nov. 14th!!!

Most people familiar with O-Hill are aware of the trail on the cliff above the highway. It is a trail that developed as an offshoot from the Rivanna Trail near Fontaine. These types of “social trails” develop when existing trails guide users away from features or destinations they want to see. If people go off-trail repeatedly and follow the same path, new unsustainable and potentially dangerous trails can be the result.

Badly eroded trail perched high above the highway.
Badly eroded trail perched high above the highway.

CAMBC and RTF are setting out to fix a hazardous situation. The trail we are targeting sits precariously above the highway, and experiences a massive amount of erosion each year. The cliff edge that once defined the outside edge of the trail has begun to erode across the trail. This creates a dangerous situation for trail users, and users of the highway below.  In addition, we will be rerouting a section of existing marked trail that is badly eroded because it travels down the steepest part of the hill.

The re-route has required dozens of hours to plan out, starting with CAMBC members going onsite numerous times to measure slopes, locate interesting areas where the trail should go, and dangerous areas to avoid.  Several iterations of the design were drawn on maps and discussed. Finally the brightly colored pin flags were put on the ground to mark the new route. Our primary goal is to build sustainable trail that won’t erode. The result will be less steep trail with ruts and roots that O-Hill has a reputation for, and longer, fun, flowy trail that is appealing to everyone.

With a week remaining before the workday, we need as many volunteers as possible to be ready to take action. There will be a ton of leaves to move, and a lot trail to cut. We will be building proper turns out of rock. This will be a joint effort between CAMBC, RTF, and hopefully several other trail use groups. These trails see a lot of use from bikers, runners, hikers, naturalists, and others. With the recent MOU with UVA to perform work on O-Hill, CAMBC and its partners are ready to take action and provide miles of trails to the outdoors community.

Thanks Drew Duke for the photos, and thank you Jason Hiser and all the other volunteers that have helped plan this.
Categories
Trailwork Reports

Trailwork at Devils Backbone Round 2!!!!

Round 2 CAMBC Trail Maintenance Event at Devil-page-001

Categories
Trailwork Reports

Devil’s Backbone Trailwork Day

CAMBC Trail Maintenance Event at Devil-page-001