Trail Stewards Meet to Plan `04-`05 Trail Work

Newsletter for Kansas City and Midwest Mountain Bicyclists * Volume 7, Issue 5 * September, 2004
Trail Stewards Meet
to Plan '04-'05 Trail Work
Dave Smith
Many of the area's volunteer trailbuilders met recently to begin planning for the 2004-2005 winter trailbuilding season. Each trail system
was allotted days based on the size
and number of projects currently being planned and developed. Trailwork will take place on Saturdays
from 8:00 - noon. A second day on
Sundays from noon - 4:00 is optional,
based on the trail steward's discretion. More distant trail systems may
delay their start times to accommodate volunteers' morning drive times.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Metro Walk & Run
Backwoods Camping Gear
Sitzmark
KC Wildlands
Galyan's/Dick's
Health food stores
Local Newspapers
If anyone has contacts with these
organizations and can help us get the
word out, contact us as shown at the
end of this article.
Promotion of the Workdays
The theme for this year's trail efforts
is "Good Trails Don't Build
In addition to organizing the schedThemselves."
A poster and two difuled dates and times, the trail stewferent
handouts
will give information
ards also discussed:
and reference the website at www.
Sources/Resources for Volunteer
earnyourdirt.com, with an e-mail adHelp
dress to contact with questions.
Hikers, bikers and trailrunners were The poster will go at the trailheads
identified as the main groups we
in the weeks leading up to a workday.
hope to draw to help with trail work. It will be generic with space to write
The following groups/stores/
in the date and time of the trail day.
organizations were targeted for con- A smaller piece will have the schedtact regarding volunteer participation: ule details for potential volunteers to
take with them. This piece can also
• All bike shops in the area
be used as windshield spam at trail• KC Outdoor Club
head parking lots. The poster and
• Possom Trot – orienteering
handout explain "what to bring,"
• Running Sports
(Continued on page 2)
MARK COLE — PLACE PERSONALIZED TEXT
FROM CSV IN THIS BOX. THANK YOU!
www.earthriders.com
Inside this issue:
Ride Schedule
3
Area Notes
3
Cell Phones and Trails
4
Without Whom…
2003-2004 Trail Workers
5
Black Canyon Bliss
6
Next EarthRiders
Meeting
Weds., Sept. 15th
Westport
Flea Market
6:30 PM
Come spend the evening
with the EarthRiders, and
perhaps set up a ride with
new friends!
Weds., Oct. 20th
75th Street Brewery
6:30 PM
See the website at
www.earthriders.com for
late updates
"what to wear," and "what to expect."
Finally, a business card will be produced to keep in Camelbacks and direct potential volunteers to the website.
One of our efforts this season will
be to install signs as necessary following these conventions at all local
trails. It was noted that any individual
trail system may only be able to utilIt was decided to pursue restaurants ize one or more of the standards based
and grocers to provide lunch and bev- on the situation. The primary emphasis was being able to more closely
erages to the volunteers at specified
identify your location in the event a
trail work events.
medical evacuation is required.
Updates on Existing Trail Systems
Summary
Each trail system was discussed in
This was a very productive morning
regards to projects and current politiwith
a positive vibe. It was good to
cal advances. The most notable opportunity includes potential access for see people from throughout the area
new trailbuilding in parts of a major who care about the trails, and are willKansas City park, with the hope that ing to volunteer their time to this dewe will be able to design trail in time gree.
for a workday early next year.
It was stressed that these meetings
Shawnee Mission Park land managers and participation in the trail building
have also given approval to begin
and design process are open to everyplanning substantial re-routes to the
one. We currently need people to
existing trail system. We hope to be
serve as liasons to the organizations
able to begin work there by Novem- identified above, people to help out on
ber.
a regular basis at several trail systems,
web design help, etc. etc. etc. We inSignage
vite anyone who would like to be
The need for and various methods more involved to simply get involved.
of trail signage were identified and
There are many things to be done and
discussed. This was a very difficult
we need your help. Send me an email
and interesting topic as each park has at [email protected] if you
its own challenges regarding methods would like to help.
of marking trail. A basic structure was
identified using the following ordered
items:
•
•
•
•
trail names
numbered intersections
lettered sections of trail
feature names
2004 - 2005
Winter
Maintenance
Schedule
Trailwork days are 8-noon on Saturdays and noon-4 on Sundays.
Some trailwork locations may only
hold Saturday workdays. Consult
the online calendar at www.
earnyourdirt.com for details about
each workday.
October 2004
23 / 24 - Crowder
November 2004
06 / 07 - Perry
13 / 14 - Shawnee Mission Park
20 / 21- Smithville
December 2004
11 / 12 - Stadium
January 2005
08 / 09 - Banner Park
22 / 23 - Blue River Parkway
29 / 30 - Landahl
February 2005
12 / 13 - KCMO Park
19 / 20 - Blue River Parkway
26 / 27 - Landahl
March 2005
05 / 06 - Smithville
New Opportunities in Kansas City, Missouri
Todd Posson
Miner and I have been putting in a tremendous effort
over
the last two years to secure a good working relationEarthriders Trails Association (ERTA) is working to
ship
with
KCMO Parks and Recreation, and it looks like
add another local parks department (and park) to our
it
is
about
to pay off. We are working with KCMO pergrowing list of land managers that we work with for
sonnel
to
determine
the best park to use as a pilot project,
mountain bike trails in the area. ERTA will be making a
presentation to the Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Rec- and working through the process to obtain the necessary
approvals.
reation Department for a potential several-mile singleA public trail construction date has been set for Februtrack trail system within a major KCMO park. This is a
major accomplishment that ERTA and EarthRiders have ary 12th, pending final approval from the KCMO Parks
and Recreation Department. Wish us luck!
been pursuing for nearly 10 years. Neale Shour, Ken
TWO
Support local mountain biking, trail maintenance, and land access
efforts. Return this application with a check in the amount of $25.00
individual or $30.00 family, made payable to EarthRiders, for annual dues to: Earth Riders Membership, P.O. Box 14414,
Lenexa, KS 66285.
Name: ______________________________
E-mail: _____________________________
Mailing Address:_____________________
___________________________________
City, State, ZIP: _____________________
Every Tuesday: Taco Tuesday at the Blue River
Parkway Trails. Meet at Good Time Charlie’s (formerly
Pat Murphy’s), 130th and Holmes. Rides start at
irregular times after work, generally several groups of
varying abilities.
Every Wednesday: Hump Day at Kill Creek. Leaves
from the Shelter 1 parking lot 6-6:30 pm most
Wednesdays. Leader: Joe Folse (“little blue truck, Giant
red bike”)
Every Sunday: Super Duper Happy Fun Ride.
Locations change, but it’s Sunday morning and it’s not
a hammer fest.
Sat. Sept. 18th: Tour of Smithville. “W” parking lot
starting at 3:00 pm. The Smithville trail stewards will
lead a tour of the beautiful Smithville trails, and explain
what we’ll be doing this winter to make them even
better.
Rides are subject to weather and leader availability.
Check the Mid-America MTB E-mail list for the latest
updates (sign up at www.earthriders.com).
___________________________________
Telephone:
Ride Schedule
EarthRiders
Membership Application
( ____ ) _____- __________
Bonktoberfest
EarthRiders membership information is not sold to third parties.
For more information about membership, see
www.earthriders.com or E-mail [email protected].
Here’s what our friends from the Gateway OffRoad Cyclists (GORC) in St. Louis have to say
about B-fest:
The 4th annual Bonktoberfest will be held the second
week of October. Make sure you make this event located at the Berryman Campground. We'll be partying
with nearly a hundred other mountain bikers, including
EarthRiders from Kansas City. There will be a massive
group ride around the 24-mile Berryman both Saturday
and Sunday.
Officers
Mike Rago
President
816-795-7360
[email protected]
Karen Owens
Ambassador Coordinator
816-804-5679
[email protected]
Gary Baack
Treasurer
913-254-9793
[email protected]
Nate King
MMBP Director
816-797-1877
[email protected]
Todd Posson
Secretary
816-686-3456
[email protected]
Ken Miner
Sean Cairns
Special Projects
913-894-2396
Brian Robinson
[email protected]
[email protected]
There’s a pretty interesting article about last
year's event available on their site at www.
gorctrails.com. Be there! Ask any ER officer for
details.
Road Riding
Kansas IMBA Representative
913-894-4276
[email protected]
Missouri IMBA Representative
816-547-0128
Michael Gier
Newsletter Editor
816-436-3754
[email protected]
THREE
The Mid-America Chapter of the MS Society
sent a representative to the EarthRiders monthly
meeting at Bundschu Park last month to encourage us as avid cyclists to participate in the Jack
Miller Subaru MS150 Bike Tour, September 11th
and 12th. Whitney Zeiler spoke for a few minutes
and offered two ways to help, either by riding or
by volunteering. Find out more at their website,
www.msmidamerica.org. The MS150 raises
money to help the 5,500 people in Kansas City
and the surrounding area who live with the devastating effects of MS.
Coverage by Trail
Cell Phones on Trails
As a public service, the EarthRiders
Newsletter conducted an online survey to
gauge the coverage that users experience
on their cell phones while enjoying our
favorite pastime. Thirty-two members
from the E-mail forum agreed to participate. Hopefully, their experience will
help the rest of us when we’re considering a change and trying to interpret the
insanely complicated rate structure. As
this is an extremely unscientific survey,
please — no wagering.
•
“Where do you think you would go
if you switched?” Almost half of
those who responded to this one
chose Verizon (9/20).
The comments were predictably varied,
from “Constantly experience poor coverage and dropped calls with Sprint” to
“Sprint rocks!” and “I switched from
Verizon. It was fairly reliable, but not as
good as Sprint deep in the woods.”
•
•
•
No service
-
Perfect
Landahl
Argo Rd.
Cingular
Scout Camp
Sprint
T-Mobile
BRP
Verizon
Pat Murphy's
Other comments:
“Cell phones are so moody anyways. I
was able to get perfect reception on top
84% (27) carry their cell phone with of a mountain in Utah, yet I can't get any
them on the trails.
reception inside my house.”
53% (17) use Sprint PCS. Next was
“I very rarely use my phone on the
Verizon at 19% (6). Cingular and T- trails (or anywhere for that matter). OcMobile each had 12% (4), and one
casionally from a trail head I'll call home
uses Nextel.
to see if dinner will be ready and warm
94% (30) said they get good service/ when I get home. It never is, by the
way.”
reception in general.
Now that you have the data, hang up
25% (8) think they pay too much for
and
ride!
service, but 69% (22) don’t. The remaining two apparently get it paid
for by their employers.
Among 32 respondents:
•
Here’s how each service stacked
up at several local trail locations,
according to surveyed users.
SMP
Kill Creek
Smithville
SailBoat Cove
Levee
Clinton
Perry
Stadium
ADVERTISEMENT
FOUR
Good trails don’t build themselves. The good folks listed below
have been recorded doing trailwork on any or all of the trails in
the KC/Lawrence/Topeka area during the 2003-2004 season.
The EarthRiders Mountain Bike Club would like to say THANK YOU to each and every one, without whom
we would all still be riding rogue trails of eroded doubletrack. Give yourselves and each other a pat on the
back — you’ve helped to make this area a premiere mountain biking destination. Good work, everyone,
and THANKS!
Without Whom...
Ron Acklin
Gerard Arantowicz
Gary Baack
Joe Baack
Jason Bacher
Mike Ball
Eric Banda
Pete Barth
Brian Bass
Andrew Bear
Dan Bergman
Jason Boeshart
Bob Brady
Garrett Brady
Dan Brobst
Keith Brown
Aaron Browning
Nikki Browning
Norman Browning
Sean Cairns
Wayman Caldwell
Chris Campbell
Scott Capstack
Chris Carlin
Erik Carlson
Elizabeth Carter
Eric Carter
Casey Caughron
Brandon Cherry
Mike Classen
JL Cleland
Joe Clement
Michael Cleveland
Mark Cole
Bob Cook
Scott Cotter
Nick Crossley
Amy Crowder
John Crumlin
Greg Cummins
John Dampier
Brad Davis
Todd Davis
Melissa Dehner
Chris DeLong
Andre Dory
Steve Duckworth
Greg Eakin
John Farkus
Kim Farkus
Rick Farrent
Frank Ferguson
Joe Folse
Michael Forster
Tom Friedli
James Garito
Stephen Garlow
Stan Gaskill
Nick Gerber
Michael Gier
Chris Gish
Sam Gleeson
Bill Goodwin
Mike Goodwin
Nancy Goodwin
Deron Graham
Tim Greene
Chris Hall
Steve Hallstrom
BJ Haraughty
Mike Harsh
Richard Harsh
Tim Harsh
Jason Hatley
Lance Hays
Damon Hennen
Sara Hill-Nelson
Barb Hoffman
Rickey Houk
Pat Houtakker
Joyce Huser
Mark Hutzel
Rick Jackson
Bryan Jenkins
Michelle Joest
John Jones
Ron Keith
Nate King
Tim King
Warren Kinney
Brent Kline
Eric Knott
Gary Knott
Warren Kurtz
Jeff Lage
Kelly Lees
John Lindsey
Dale Linthacum
Doug Long
Karen Loumaster
Jim Mabrey
Mitch Mabrey
Quentin Manske
Max Mason
Michelle Mason
Patrick McCue
Tom McMurtry
Tanner McNamara
Tim McNamara
Steve Miller
Ken Miner
Kiefer Miner
Steve Mitchell
Andrew Myers
Eric Nelson
Mike Nemecek
Jerry Ohlemeyer
Karen Owens
Darin Paoli
Emily Pastrovich
Barb Pennell
Rob Pennell
Alan Penny
Michael Penny
Craig Piburn
Chris Pinkham
Earl Pinkston
Todd Posson
Jon Prueter
Jan Pyrtle
Mike Rago
Lyle Reidy
Tim Riekena
Richard Renner
Brandi Resa
Brian Robinson
Zach Rogers
Doug Ronk
Bob Rowe
Tony Sargent
Mark Shockey
Nate Schotanus
Greg Schroeder
James Shifflett
Kyle Shour
Neale Shour
Dave Smith
Diane Southwick
Anson Stancliffe
Travis Stephens
Cody Stiers
Rob Stitt
Craig Stoeltzing
David Stogsdill
Riichiro Suzuki
Kit Swain
Neil Taylor
Amy Thornton
John Tinnin
Mrs. Tinnin
David Tjiptogarsono
Scott Tomlinson
Tom Travis
Jeff Tromans
Ryan Turner
Matt Tyrrell
Trevor Washington
Wes Watkins
John Webb
Michael White
Stephen Williamson
Frank Wilson
Jonathan Wilson
Shane Wilson
Garrett Wood
Brenden Woody
Matt Woody
Mark Workman
Trevor Worthington
Scott Wrenick
Tom Yahl
Michelle Yost
Mike Young
Several Boy Scout Troups
This list was compiled from voluntarily submitted lists from trail stewards throughout the region. Errors, omissions, and duplications are the fault of
the editor, who apologizes in advance. Please submit corrections to [email protected], for inclusion in a future issue.
FIVE
Readers’ Rides
Black Canyon Bliss
If you’re
looking for a big-mountain riding experience, and willing to go a little further to find it, the
Eric
Carter
less-heralded trails in the Teton area make a grand destination
Trek Bicycle Store of KC
Bruce Coffman
parking lot where the old pass road meets
the new road, and where uphill shuttlers
It had been a year since my wife,
start the ride. A fireroad delivers you away
Nicolle, and I had been back to
from the autos and celebrating, pictureJackson Hole, Wyoming, the
taking roadies and a little further up to
mountain valley destination where
where the singletrack starts. But no dewe were married July 4th of the
scent just yet. This singletrack, mostly of
previous summer. Our wedding
rideable grade and alternating between
was exactly the action-filled vacatreeless mountainside with big vistas and
tion we had wanted for both our
through dark pine forest, takes you up anguests and ourselves, and now
other 1,000 feet or so to the real top. And
we—and our 10-week old daughter
circling nearly all of you. Peaks that hid
a glorious top indeed, this wide open
Harper—were returning to experithemselves when viewed from lower eleperch on Mount Ellie.
ence some of the things we had to miss
vations now emerge, proud, snowcapped,
Now I’m not sure what to equate this
last year because of our duties as hosts. At
and inspiring.
the top of my list? — ride the Black Can- feeling to, of which I’m sure many of you
With the break now over, it’s best to
have experienced. But the feeling you get
yon Trail.
shake
off any tendency toward relaxation.
after achieving a big bike climb, knowing
The Black Canyon Trail is a fifteenThe
trail
starts off fast, as in you-betterthat what you’ve done is difficult and well
mile, climb-it then descend-it amazingly
hold-on-and-just-ride,
working its way
deserving of the fun ahead, and knowing
fun mountain bike trail, just south of
down perfectly placed switchbacks. And
that what has gone up so thankfully will
Grand Teton National Park (which is just
not speed-killing switchbacks that don’t
now be going down, is like none other.
south of Yellowstone) in northwest WyoPerhaps we’ve generally become too sed- let you gain momentum in between or that
ming. I’ve been lucky enough to ride
entary of society and that’s one of the al- force you to practically stop before startnearly 100 trails in 18 different states, and
ing again, but switchbacks that simply let
lures of this sport, participated in by
after riding Black Canyon it immediately
you and your bike catch your breath bemostly white middle class-and-above
jumped into my top five. What makes this
types, but all I can compare it to is proba- fore the real fun again resumes. This goes
trail so memorable, and what made me so
on for more than a mile before the trails
bly the feeling that real working people
drunk with glee after I returned to the
seems to look forward even further and
doing real and satisfying physical labor
trailhead, greeted by my wife and daughtest your ability to just ride, and not try to
get with paycheck in hand and a long
ter? One word, and it starts with a capital
weekend in front of them. The hard work control. You’re really pointed down now
D. But as you know, to get to that, you
along this exposed terrain. Breaks are
is done, now it’s time for the wellfirst have to get up there.
needed as much as brakes, to both regain
deserved play.
all the feeling in your arms (despite adeThe trail (with trailhead located just
Before heading down, it’s first time to
quate suspension), and take in all that is
west of the town of Wilson) starts with a
sit a minute, stretch, refuel and lower the
happening. The trail is tight and packed,
five-mile climb up Old Teton Pass Road, a
seat, because you’re about to descend the
sprinkled with the occasional root and
paved but narrow and closed-toactual Black Canyon Trail, a trail that is
granite rock to test your mettle against
motorized-vehicles path. Starting at
both revered by Jackson Hole riders as one
gravity, and to mix in some spice with the
around 6,000 feet
of their classic
smooth.
elevation, you gain
downhills, and
another 2,500 feet as
About halfway down the canyon, the
continually beyou pedal up to the
trail
drops into sheer lushness as it skirts
ing improved
pass in just under
its
drainage
creek heading toward Snake
upon by the lofive miles. The menRiver.
You
see
a blur of wet green on eicals to create an
tal strategy of pickther
side
as
you
focus far down the slim,
even better ride.
ing not-too-distant
From this van- dark brown trail balancing bike and feelobjects as short-term
tage point at the ings of ecstasy all the while. In this disgoals around each
top, you can see tance of a handful of miles you’ll only
switchback (tallest
multiple Rocky have to pedal when really turning it up, or
pine, lone aspen,
the half-dozen or so times when less than
Mountain
etc.) really helps you
ten pedal strokes are needed on small ups.
ranges from
here in getting to the
both Wyoming But the fun is near indescribable, if this is
The "other" side of the Tetons, as seen from
top. Once at Teton
what you love about our sport. That
and Idaho enDriggs, ID.
Pass you reach a
SIX
such gems as the up-then-down Mill
Creek Trail—near Grand Targhee Ski
Resort (technically in Wyoming), and the
Aspen Trail—the locals’ “lunch ride.”
The Big Hole Mountains on the West
flank of Teton Valley are providing the
latest buzz with their emerging trail systems.
tas as does the Wyoming side with its
iconic Grant Teton & adjacent peaks, nor
the activity of a bustling Jackson. It does,
however, have less expensive lodging and
a more rural feel. Both are great choices
for visiting, riding, and of course weddings.
One other note—the Idaho side doesn’t
have quite the expansive, picturesque vis-
Harper Coffman and furry friend at the
July 4th parade in Jackson.
sought-after and welcomed balance between having just enough control of your
bike and just letting go, all while increasing speed is dancing around without care.
That feeling of earning every bit of this,
and leaving nothing on the trail. That feeling that is not often accomplished because
of “learned” fears and insecurities. But
with the Black Canyon Trail, these feelings can add to your physical and cerebral
experience if you simply embrace them
and ride—fast.
Notes on other area trails: The area
around the Tetons is full of singletrack
trails, many of them lesser known than
their Rocky Mountain-states cousins to
the South. The guidebook to buy is aptly
named The Book: Guide to Mountain Biking in the Jackson Hole Area, and can be
found online or in one of the many area
bike shops. Popular trails specifically in
Jackson Hole, which is basically the valley and group of towns east of the Teton
Range (located in Wyoming), include
Cache Creek—the venerable “from town”
ride in Jackson, and Shadow Mountain—
another (but shorter) locals-favorite
downhill, located North of Jackson.
Just West of Jackson Hole is Teton
Valley (in Idaho), which is basically the
valley and group of towns West of the
Teton Range. Driggs is the primary bike
and outfitters’ town here, with this “other
side” of the Tetons to the West providing
ADVERTISEMENT
SEVEN
P.O. Box 14414
Lenexa, KS 66285
FIRST CLASS MAIL
e Midwest by
access in th
ip. See
Support trail
ur membersh online.
renewing yo
w
ne
re
ders.com to
www.earthri
For address changes, send a note to the address
above or E-mail [email protected]
EARTH RIDERS SPONSORS
Bike America
www.bikeamericakc.com
(913) 381-5431
9514 Nall Ave
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(816) 353-8448
4013 Sterling Ave
Kansas City, MO 64133-1309
(913) 780-4500
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12311 State Line Rd
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(913) 451-1515
11912 W 119th
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214 East 18th Street
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Peak Performance Therapeutic
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308 E 18th Ave
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(816) 842-BIKE
315 E 3rd St
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Summit Bikes
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The Wheel Cyclery
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5126 NE Antioch Rd
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Trek Bicycle Store of KC
www.trekkc.com
(913) 631-6800
10412 Shawnee Mission Pkwy
Shawnee, KS 66203
Wheeler's Cycle & Fitness
www.wheelerskc.com
(816) 363-2443
8345 Wornall Rd
Kansas City, MO 64114-5817
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Copyright © 2004 Earth Riders. Reproduction without written permission prohibited.