Trail Cuts & Maintenance

Sporin · 10-05-07, 08:07 AM

Did you like Field n' Forest? How about Carnage Hill and the Troy Powerlines?

These areas are on private land that can ONLY be used thanks to the hard work of the nea4wdc and their affiliate clubs... like Yankee Toys.

It is IMPERATIVE in the coming year(s) that we get our members to the many trial cuts and maintenance days for these trails as well as new ones.

If "we" do not do some work, "we" cannot expect to play.

nea4wdc calendar of events:
http://forum.nea4wd.org/viewforum.php?f=12

Do Work, Son.

Sporin · 10-05-07, 08:14 AM

the latest....

Quote:

"Moose Mountain" Cut & Wheel
Springfield NH
SUNDAY OCTOBER 7th

Bring Shovels, gloves, chainsaw, clippers, and your rig.
Pack a lunch, bring bug spray, and lots of water. There are a lot of blackberry bushes with THORNS, so long pants are nice.

Meet at 9am
Roll at 9:30

DIRECTIONS:
Take I-89 North to exit #11.
Take RT-11 EAST into Andover.
The meeting spot is just beyond the intersection of rt 11 and rt 4A at the Blackwater Junction Restaurant & Store. Park around in back behind the gas station.

The store at the meeting spot has food, gas, air, and sundries. There will be some road travel to the property from there. You can park extra vehicles and trailers at the meeting spot.

To add:
I'm told it is ~15 miles from the trailer parking/meet spot to the actual trails, so make sure your rig is road worthy. This is a relatively new place and we have not worked out all the trailer parking issues. As of now there is a landing that could park trailers on site but the class 6 road to access it is very rough. Therefore those there is no trailer parking on site yet and those with trailers should plan to drop their rigs and back-trach to the meet spot. If we can find/make trailer parking on site that is a bonus. Latest word is we may have a small tractor coming to grade the road.

Any Questions/if your late/backing out please email me at Paul@johnregish.com or call my home 413-863-8381 or my cell 413-250-2463 so we are not waiting for you all day long.

Take it easy on the questions, I've never been there myself.

Paul Regish

crusier72 · 10-05-07, 06:56 PM

I will do a couple of trail cuts in the coming year but the locations make a huge difference for me. F&F is as far as I can go in a day from here. Springfield NH is way up there I would have to make it a weekend and I cant do that in the school year. At the least next summer I will be around to help.
Mark

jc3835 · 10-06-07, 07:26 PM

I'm the same way... We're on the ocean down here in RI, so for me to get to trail cuts in central to northern NH it becomes an event. Sometimes that's a good thing though... always nice to get away.

Sporin · 10-07-07, 06:48 AM

Believe me, I understand, I have the same issue with CT and MA stuff. I've explained this to Scott before. We are a very widespread club, it 'presents a lot fo participation issues, no doubt.

Scott Hatch · 10-08-07, 07:02 AM

Here is the trip report on the Moose Mtn trail cut from Paul Regish:

I arrived at the meet spot 15 minutes late, as usual, keeping my 5 year streak of only being on time to an event when I camp out the night before. Wayne and the buggy crew were chomping at the bit to get in there so I gave them advance directions over the phone. The directions along the back roads and class 6 were perfect, when my group arrived we caught up to Wayne, Rick Moore, Nelson and Nate. Wayne and Rick decided to brave the class 6 for 100 yards with their trailers until it got really rough then they found a small clearing to back into. Out of 11 of us guys, a good turn out, none of us had ever been there, so we were flying blind a little traveling along the class 6 to find our clearing. After about 1.5 miles we came to what we thought was a large clearing, we saw some red marks so we figured this has to be it. So I sent the guys in and they all started running the skidder trails in various directions. Just to make sure we were in the right spot, I sent another few Unyx guys down the road to find the adjacent class 6 and the intersection. A few minutes went by, nothing. So what seemed to be a half an hour went by and they finally come back. Hey Paul, we found your large clearing, it's another ½ mile down the road. DOH. Luckily, the property had red markers and even where the group entered, we wer still on the right parcel.

So, in that first area, we shall call that the southern tip of the land, Wayne, Nate, and Nelson tooled around in Waynes TJ buggy and Nates Unimog. They found no real rocks, slight grade away from the road on the whole place, relatively sparce trees, no big cutting at all, mostly just wet ground and travelable skidder trails. Bill 35's locked, and Rick, 38's locked did find a nice washout that required winching and a few big downed trees to winch over. They had a pretty fun time in the southern section, again no rock fields for the big dogs, just wet sparse rocks and underbrush.

So off to the clearing we went. Wayne, Nate, Nelson and Rick continued to wheel throughout the skidder trails every where, sorta depressed because there wasn’t andy big arsed rock fields, and on top of that the skidder trails weren't that overgrown so they just wheeled around for a good hour or two searching for rocks. In the other group with me, the two xtrerras started off in one direction, frump, right into the mud, buried to the hilt. The rest of us came up from behind a few minutes after them and winched them out. We pulled the xterras aside thinking it was just too slick for open diffs and 31's, pulled them off to park them. Bill Mead then waltzed right through the mud, then another TJ, Then an LJ and a spankin new FJ. So after the xterras saw how it was done, they made it right through the second time. We dropped off the main trail to the left and cut tiny little loop, again, perfect for 33's to 35's to have fun. Stockers will have to get totally dragged through it, and buggys will think it's a paved road. Bill and I then started to clear a skidder trail straight downhill to the north, not too steep but lots of shmuck and a few rock obstacles. After going a ¼ mile I realized the smaller righs weren’t going to get through so we went back up to one of the main trails and continued clearing in an Eastward direction. Lots of uneven ground, thick thick mud. As we keeped marching in this direction, low and behold through the trees I hear a chain saw coming in our direction. So I marched through the woods and it was the buggy boys that just happened to reach the outer perimeter and were coming our direction! Golden spike in the middle of no-where as it were. So if you follow the red danger do not cross tape I laid straight from the clearing diagonal eastward, taking a left at both forks, but no hard left, you have a straight shot to the back of the property. Once you get near the back, both Bill, Rick and I noticed to the left, north side, it's all sparse big boulders, a LOT to be uncovered. This area could be like the area just above owl snot at Waynes World, slight grade, but a lot of rocks, and the trees are pretty sparse so you could have a dozen rigs doing different lines, and best of all its DRY down there.

It's funny, on the south side, there is a rocky stream bed, real rocky with boulders and what-not, Nelson, Nate, and Wayne were DROOLING at it. Except we all came to the conclusion, we'd love to blaze through and make it a trail, but we knew what Scott would say, stream beds are a big no-no, can't wheel stream beds, politically incorrect! Scotts name was mentioned a few times and how he would be whacking us in the knuckles, along with another certain fun-cop who was mentioned!

In the end I think everyone had fun. There really isn't much right now at all for anyone with 36's and over. If you like tooling around on a lot of trails all day this place is for you. If you like to throttle all day on a 100 yard boulder field and ledges, there's nothing. The slope of the land probably only drops 30-50 feet over a half a mile. Right now you could get a bunch of stockers in there and easily beat the snot out of them all day. Lots of winching. 33's -35's will have a lot of fun. As it gets run, I think this place is a LOT like Cemetary hill, there's not a lot of grade, but as they trails get used, they're going to get more, and more, and more difficult. I want to go again, I had fun. Everyone there today wants to go again too.

TRAILER PARKING: The way we came in, we had 3 trailers I believe and that is all we had room for. Coming from route xx there is just no way you can have a group of trailers travel that class 6. If Wayne and Rick didn't want to try it, no one is going to try it. I would recommend any group with any trailers to head up route x and come in from the North, that is the only way. I personally did not travel taht way at all, but a few in the group went home that, way, I'd like to hear a report from them on the road if I could, specifically can we easily wheel trailers right up to the clearing? The abutter of the class 6 right where it begins did come out and talked to the guys. I wasn't there. Realizing that we weren't a bunch of yahoo kids he was pretty polite, but he did tell the guys NOT to go on the left side of the road at all as that is his land.

I apologize in advance to whomever I left out, it was not intentional, I’m just an idiot. Please email me to put your name on the list if you were there. Sorry if I butchered what club you were in too!
HUGE HUGE Thanks to:

Wayne Berry - New England 4 Wheelers - Red TJ Buggy
Bill Mead - New England 4 Wheelers - Black TJ
Nelson - NEWJO-NE4W - absent rock toy
Nate - NEWJO-NE4W - Unimog
Sideways Tim - Patriot Jeepers - Silver LJ
ChrisH2000 - Yankee Toys - Yellow FJ Cruiser
Clay Stanley - UNYX - Yellow xterra
Michael Stevens - UNYX - Green xterra
Ian Shannon - NE Jeeps - TJ
Rick Moore - New England 4 Wheelers - POS beat CJ
_________________

Sporin · 10-08-07, 07:10 AM

I was just about to post that Scott!

http://forum.nea4wd.org/viewtopic.php?t=2073

Stinkyfinger · 10-08-07, 10:20 AM

My fj did take a little beating, but it was fun. The trucks with the open diffs did slow things down (I'm not putting them down, but you have to have a descent set of mud tires and a least one locker to run this area and a good winch will help too). I think a couple more weekends and a lot more trucks plowing down tree's and this place will have a lot more potential.

Sporin · 11-09-07, 04:56 PM

Another Cut & Wheel at Moose Mountain this weekend if anyone is interested. Sorry for the late notice, I'll try to cross-post this stuff sooner.

http://forum.nea4wd.org/viewtopic.php?t=2204

"Moose Mountain" Cut & Wheel
Springfield NH

Bring gloves, chainsaw, clippers, and your rig.

There are a lot of blackberry bushes with THORNS, so long pants are nice.

[b]DIRECTIONS:
Take I-89 North to exit #11.
Take RT-11 EAST into Andover.
The meeting spot is just beyond the intersection of rt 11 and rt 4A at the Blackwater Junction Restaurant & Store

The store at the meeting spot has food, gas, air, and sundries. There will be some road travel to the property from there. You can park extra vehicles and trailers at the meeting spot.

Sporin · 02-24-08, 10:56 AM

updated post coming soon.

crusier72 · 02-25-08, 03:07 PM

This years 08
nea4wd.org :: View topic - 2008 Scheduled events
Hope to see lots of new faces.

Sporin · 03-20-08, 06:18 AM

Coy Hill Cleanup Saturday May 10th, 2008

Quote:

THIS EVENT WILL BE RAIN OR SHINE.

Ok everyone! The time you were waiting for has arrived. We are putting together a clean up day in the Coy Hill area on Saturday May 10th, 2008. The maintenance portion will be scheduled at a later date due to environmental concerns. Details are still being worked out, but we will need shovels, hoes, rakes, gloves, and plenty of manpower to help pick up trash. If you have a camera, bring that too, as this is our chance to show the towns we are the good guys and want to make things right. We also anticipate media coverage. The meeting time will be 9am and the meeting place is TBD until we finalize details with the dumpster/transfer location. Also, we will need trucks and vehicles with trailers for rubbish removal, but I would like to try and keep vehicle impact on the roads to a minimum and carpool where we can (The dumpster location will hopefully have plenty of room for this).

In order to keep this as coordinated as possible, please reply to Zaedock@msn.com with the following info:

Name / Club
Vehicle type (Jeep, truck, etc.)
Trailer Y/N
Number of open seats

With this list, I will be able to assign cleanup teams. Trouble areas will be identified soon and maps will be assigned to every group.

Thank you all for your patience this past winter. It is greatly appreciated. I hope that we can make a difference in this troubled area.

Take care,
Joe

Joe Ostrenga
Team Leader
Friends Of Coy Hill

Baystate Jeepers Inc.
North East Jeep Organization, Inc.
North East Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs.

Sporin · 03-27-08, 09:14 AM

From the NEA: nea4wd.org :: View topic - 2008 Scheduled events

This list may change due to unforeseen circumstances. (Weather, emergencies etc.) We also may add dates as needed work to properties arises.

February 16 NEA4WDC Snow Run SW NH

February 16 NEA4WDC Spaghetti Dinner Hillsborough NH

March 1 NEA4WDC Delegates Meeting Windsor Library Windsor CT

March 15 NEA4WDC/United Volunteer Trails Patrol Training Worcester MA

April 5th A4A Vehicle wrenchday. 10 - 4 Bay State Off Road

April 12 Work Day at Field and Forest - Bathhouse exterior wall work, painting, table repairs, and camp site creation

April 27 Trail Maintenance at the Gutter

May 3 NEA4WDC Delegates Meeting Hosted by NEJZ Barre MA

May 17 - 18 Trail Maintenance Field and Forest

May 31 - June 1 Trail Maintenance Carnage Hill / Trail Cut Swanzey NH

June 7 - 8 Trail Cut Moose MTN

June 14 - 15 Trail Cut Moose MTN

June 21 - 22 Trail Maintenance Cemetery Hill

June 28 NEA4WDC Delegates Meeting Hosted by NEZR2 at Lewiston ME

July 10 - 12 NEA4WDC hosts the United Convention Manchester NH

July 13 Trail Maintenance RSG

July 20 DWE Truck Show

August 2 - 3 Trail Cut/Maintenance Location TBD

August 23 NEA4WDC Delegates Meeting Location TBD

September 6 - 7 NEA4WDC Fall Crawl Hancock NH

September 13 - 14 Trail Cut Maintenance Location TBD

November 1 NEA4WDC Delegates Meeting Location TBD

green40 · 04-22-08, 05:59 PM

Things are starting to move with the Swanzey land. Scott has a date set
for he and I to scout the property with Todd from LMFTC in early May!
As soon as we can after I'll set some dates for us to have a "cut and wheel"

Lane

Sporin · 04-23-08, 06:47 AM

From the NEA, this benefits everyone, remember our event is a few weeks later.

Quote:

05/04/08 Field and Forest Maintenance Day
Date: Sunday May 4, 2008
Time: Meet at 10:00 am
Place: Field and Forest Bathhouse

The Plan: As part of the arrangement with the owner for the exclusive use of the entire campground during Fall Crawl we are to do some work at the around the property. In return the owner is allowing the NEA to generate a large amount of revenue from our event.

Sunday May 4th we are re-skinning the FRONT ONLY exterior of the bath house replacing the sheets of plywood with new plywood. Please bring saws, hammers, and cat claws to remove nails

We will also complete the painting of the the Bathhouse.

If time and expertise apply we will attempt to change fixtures and leaks within the bathrooms. Anyone with plumbing skills and tools presence would be greatly appreciated.

Another project if time allows is creating some more group sites in the back right area near the lake. This will allow greater capacity for our events as well as more privacy and shade for those that may wish it. If you're interested in this please bring chainsaws, loopers, rakes, and other landscaping tools.

Also don't forget your bug spray and sun screen but don't worry about lunch as we'll take care of that for you!

Sporin · 05-06-08, 06:05 AM

A second FnF Maintenance Day! Ernie Becker went and helped out last weekend, lets see if we can go 2-for-2 on Yankee Toys at FnF.

Quote:

05/10/08 Field and Forest Trail Work and Maintenance Day

Date: Saturday May 10, 2008

Time: Meet at 9:00 am

Place: Back Right Field

Important Note: Stay off the main field!

THE RE-REVISED PLAN AS OF 05/05/08:

I'll need a rough idea who is coming....here are some of the tasks in store for us, please post up what you would like to do so I can plan for the tasks

Cooking Lunch - I have a grill but I need a couple of people to man it and do food prep

Site Clearing - the goal is to make some new group sites to expand and allow some elbow room within the campground. We will need iron rakes, shovels, clippers, and chainsaws. We will be clearing the back right field of small brush and old logs. The logs will be dragged into the woods using a tractor and chains. The brush and small logs will be burned in the pile that is currently in place.

****Last week we made a significant impact on the pile and amount of logs. I hope we can clear the remainder of the brush and drag away the rest of the logs

Picnic Table Repair - There are some picnic tables that have rotted and broken boards. There are replacement boards on site, we will replace the damaged boards with new.

Trail Repair/Maintenance - If my schedule allows I will attempt to recon the trails on the property to determine work that needs to be done on the trails.

****Depending on trail conditions and weather I will allote trail time. I will have a better idea for the decision after my recon for the trail work.

Sporin · 05-11-08, 07:44 PM

FnF again next weekend!!!! This area is where we have the Fall Gathering, it's important we try to get some members there to help out. LUNCH is provided and they usually do some wheeling as new trails are cut.

thanks for your consideration

jmylie · 05-12-08, 02:51 PM

Date: Saturday May 17, 2008

Time: Meet at 9:00 am

Place: Back Right Field

Important Note: Stay off the main field!

Directions to Field and Forest Campground

nea4wd.org :: View topic - 05/17/08 Field and Forest Trail Work and Maintenance Day

green40 · 05-18-08, 03:02 PM

I went with Scott Hatch from NEA up to the Swanzey property this morning.
We did some scouting around looking for a suitable area to start cutting trails.
We did find a good area which will fill the needs for the Mod/Hard guys and I think that we can also
make the lower section suitable for the stock guys.
Lots of other trails already there for the stockers that just need to be mapped out with
a GPS.
Soooooo, set aside the date of June 1 for the first trail cut in conjunction with NEA.
Lets have a GOOD SHOWING from YT Members!
Times and meeting places will be announced later!

Lane

Wrench · 05-19-08, 08:10 PM

Where is this? In Swanzey NH?

green40 · 05-20-08, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by green40

I went with Scott Hatch from NEA up to the Swanzey property this morning.

That would be a yes!

Sporin · 05-20-08, 06:56 AM

Folks, this is an area we, as a club, are adopting, it has the potential for tons fo wheeling at all levels and will be used extensively for Fall Gathering. It is vitally important that Yankee Toys members show up in force for the Swanzey cuts! I hope to see many of you there.

FREE LUNCH AND 1/2 DAY OF WHEELING as well!

Quote:

Date: Sunday June 1, 2008

Time: Meet at 9:30 am

Place: Swanzey Post Office
486 Old Homestead Hwy
Swanzey, NH 03446

Directions: MapQuest Maps:

Trailer Parking: Trailers can be parked here at the Post Office for street legal vehicles. There is also an area closer to where we will work that trailers can be parked for non street legal vehicles.

Volunteer Incentives: Lunch, 1/2 day wheeling, and entry into volunteer raffle.

The Plan: To create a long challenging trail for moderate to extreme vehicle from the bottom to top of a recently cut ridgeline. There will be a need to construct 2 bridges, one 8 feet long and one 16 feet long. Both of these bridges will need to conform to trails bureau standards and have a solid deck.

Over the next 2 weeks I will be walking prospective routes with Todd from Little Monadnock Family Trails to expedite the mission.

Sporin · 05-29-08, 06:28 PM

Swanzey THIS SUNDAY!!

And another, this one is in CENTRAL MASS

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Hatch

Date: Sunday June 8, 2008

Time: Meet at 9:00am, Roll at 9:30 am

Place: ***Meeting at Trail Head, RSVP TO Paul Regish***

Directions, Email Paul: Paul@Johnregish.com if you are meeting us at the trail head.

The Plan: On 04/19/08 Paul Regish, Bill Barnes, and Scott Hatch reconn'd an area for trail development within the boundries known as Rattlesnake Gutter. The area has a large abudance of granite steps and ledges. During the previous trail development this area was not developed, our plan is to concentrate on this area.

Bring: Gloves, winches, straps, bug juice, water, chainsaws, clippers, and your rig. We will be clearing slash from a recent logging operation, not dropping any trees. The faster we get this done, the faster we wheel the trail.

RSVP to Paul at Johnregish dot com if you're in.

skyclark · 05-29-08, 07:31 PM

For this Sundays (Swanzey) event -- Is there a list I should get on, what kind of tools should I bring, and will there be a problem if I show up in a small fuel efficient car?

Sporin · 05-29-08, 07:40 PM

I'm trying to let Scott know rough numbers, with you Yankee Toys should be there with 4-7 by my best estimate.

Gloves, saws, nippers? Not really sure for exact tools.

I'm driving my Accord, no wheeling required as far as I now.

green40 · 05-30-08, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sporin

I'm trying to let Scott know rough numbers, with you Yankee Toys should be there with 4-7 by my best estimate.

Gloves, saws, nippers? Not really sure for exact tools.

I'm driving my Accord, no wheeling required as far as I now.

No Piggie?

Sporin · 05-30-08, 05:57 AM

Afraid not, just ran out of time, I could have pulled it off but I didn't want my first real drive in it to be that far away.

I feel like I used up all my good luck points getting the thing home from RI.

zcruz · 05-31-08, 02:58 PM

Who's bringing the beer?

I'll be there, might need a jump start for 9:30 though!

Leaping Deer · 06-01-08, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sporin

I'm driving my Accord, no wheeling required as far as I now.

Don't worry Dave I'm taking the wifes Camry

"N8" · 06-01-08, 10:28 PM

Great day today, too bad so many members missed it, but we did have a pretty decent turnout, and got a bunch done as well as get in some fun wheeling. Thanks a million as always to Dave and Lane, and also to Scott Hatch for making this a good fun (and safe) day with notable accomplishments.