The Great 2022 Calabogie Cleanup

cr250

Member
End of day yesterday, I decided to head down Bompas and then double back. Usually a nice ride and adds 16km to your day if you're looking to rack up a few extra miles.

A lot of chain saws had cleared many fallen trees. The only issue was early on where a swamp sort of stretches over onto the trail. Us bikes usually go way to the right on a little lower water bypass. It was blocked by one or more trees and their branches so thick you couldn't see through it. I thought I'd hop in the deeper water where we used to go and the atv's still go. DON'T DO IT!! I got tangled in underwater branches from the trees and then tried to go even more to the left. The front tire and fender disappeared underwater and the back tire was just spinning. Killed the engine before it sucked water and proceeded to drag the front tire out of the deep water. Started up the bike and tried to push the bike out. The back tire trenched in so deep the rear muffler was about an inch from being underwater. Killed the engine and started dragging both the front and rear end of the bike over underwater hidden logs/branches trying to get to shallower water. Water was 2 or more feet deep and had that swampy sewage like smell. Disgusting!! Anyways, 20 or so minutes later and soaking wet boots and swamp grass all tangled up and around the chain sprockets, swing arm, etc., I managed to extricate myself from the mess. Soaking wet and smelling like a toilet I continued my ride. There were 2 or 3 trees still down in a few spots, but the atv's just went around them by heading in towards the hydro line. All in all not bad except for the smelly swamp mess.

Of course heading back I didn't want to face the swamp again, so I headed down the trail that connects to the K&P and is not Ruth's. Not sure of the name, but I believe Dave W. cut the trail years ago. It had 3 trees down on it, but nothing you couldn't skirt around.

So that is the status of Bompas and that connector trail to the K&P.
 
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rossw

Administrator
Staff member
As of Sunday around noon, we cleared Black Bear and Helter Skelter by hand. Left a few BIG trees which need a chainsaw for. Porno Palace also need a chainsaw.
 

RuffTrane

New member
There's 4 of us( hopefully more)... doing trail cleanup NORTHSIDE today ( SUNDAY MAY 29TH)..Pit...supposed to leave by 10am today...INTERMEDIATE!
We ended up with 5 guys two chainsaws. Thanks to Andrew, Steve, Brian, Tom H., and the gang that met up with us near the end. Roden’s route and Tom’s Trail are clear from the Peaks. There are still two vary large White Pines right in front of the hydro bridge on the backside of Wabun mountain. We ran out of chainsaw gas and energy. a big saw will be needed there. It took us 5 hours of solid work just to get ourselves out of there. Big trees down every 50 yards or so…Thanks to all who are helping out!
 

Tom in Brockville

New member
Thanks Guys for all the help trying to clear the Orange Loop for the North Side.....for those reading this thread...PLEASE come out to help clear the trails..there are so many more north side trails that required clearing...you may think... it'll be cleared by the tree fairies but it's fellow BMA members.
Unfortunately the pic file size is too large at this time to post...
 

Markf1251

New member
Thanks everyone for the hard work this weekend. I am off Thursday and Friday this coming week and plan on getting out to clear more let me know if you can join.
 

smokin

Member
This thread will be used to help cleaning crews focus on trails that need work and keep track of what is cleared for riding.

-Establishing new paths around fallen trees is not an authorized practice by MNRF, doing this on a wide scale could harm our relationship with MNRF and our access to the trails, we also lose flow and exacerbate erosion
-Cut 18" to 24" on both side of the trails when possible
-When reporting a trail as cleared, please ride / clear the entire length of the trail

Please reply with the work you completed so I can update the list
Prioritize single track trails!

Mountain Chute area, South Lavant and M&M will be posted later


North
Work needed

2 Blinds
ASS
Bernies Loop'
End of the line
Graphite Bay Trail
Hell Half Acre
Hydro line from Bernies to Garnsey
Mark's Misery
Missing Link
Oriole Lake
Rodden's Route
Tom's Trail
TRANSEC
Woody's Wonderland

Cleared

Garnsey
Pitbull
Lost Saint
Newfie Autobahn


South
Work needed

3 Floods
BFH
Black Bear
Blazing Saddle
Bompas
BS1
Butternut Loop
Chicken Out
Claim Jumper
Claim Jumper 2
Clutch Cover
Deliverance
DMZ
DOT
Doug's Hand Saw
Egg Clutch
Expresso Run
Fanny Hill
Goat Trail
HCM
Helter Skelter
High Falls
Hi-Lo
Larry Roaster
Little Depot
Log Ridge run
Lone Wolf
Long Grass
Mair Lake
McGone
Mini Pine
Mud run
New Trail
Odette
Perch Lake
Perch Lake Inner
Quinn's
Quinn's front door
Rack Attack
Red Horse
River Run
Ruth's Trail
S&M
Skidder 2,3 + Full skidder
Sleepy Hollow
Snakehead
SOT
SRT
SS Minow
Staircase + bypass
Stoney Lonesome
Tantrum
Whiskey Throttle

Cleared

Arcol Run
BS2
Faron's Folly - 4 sections
Faron's Folly North
K&P is clear from Calabogie to Sharbot Lake
Ompah to Mountain Chute Dam (Hydro Lane Trail & Norcan Lake Trail) is passable by ATV / Bike only.
Screw U North
Screw U South
Up the creek
Up the creek bypass
Skidder 1
Trickie Dickie
Please report on trails on the "To Clear" list that you have verified (ridden) as cleared.
 

Tom in Brockville

New member
Please report on trails on the "To Clear" list that you have verified (ridden) as cleared.
Hi Doug,
The main Orange loop North Side still needs lots of work. As noted, the 2 BIG trees laying flat across the trail at the metal bridge behind Wabun mountain can't remain.
There are still so many large 'Widow Maker' trees just hanging over the trails that are a true danger. They will have to be dealt with before they come down.
 

smokin

Member
Hi Doug,
The main Orange loop North Side still needs lots of work. As noted, the 2 BIG trees laying flat across the trail at the metal bridge behind Wabun mountain can't remain.
There are still so many large 'Widow Maker' trees just hanging over the trails that are a true danger. They will have to be dealt with before they come down.
Thanks Tom,

Maybe the ATV crew will get to the "metal bridge". I know Tom Irwin is still out there working.
 

DIG

New member
End of day yesterday, I decided to head down Bompas and then double back. Usually a nice ride and adds 16km to your day if you're looking to rack up a few extra miles.

A lot of chain saws had cleared many fallen trees. The only issue was early on where a swamp sort of stretches over onto the trail. Us bikes usually go way to the right on a little lower water bypass. It was blocked by one or more trees and their branches so thick you couldn't see through it. I thought I'd hop in the deeper water where we used to go and the atv's still go. DON'T DO IT!! I got tangled in underwater branches from the trees and then tried to go even more to the left. The front tire and fender disappeared underwater and the back tire was just spinning. Killed the engine before it sucked water and proceeded to drag the front tire out of the deep water. Started up the bike and tried to push the bike out. The back tire trenched in so deep the rear muffler was about an inch from being underwater. Killed the engine and started dragging both the front and rear end of the bike over underwater hidden logs/branches trying to get to shallower water. Water was 2 or more feet deep and had that swampy sewage like smell. Disgusting!! Anyways, 20 or so minutes later and soaking wet boots and swamp grass all tangled up and around the chain sprockets, swing arm, etc., I managed to extricate myself from the mess. Soaking wet and smelling like a toilet I continued my ride. There were 2 or 3 trees still down in a few spots, but the atv's just went around them by heading in towards the hydro line. All in all not bad except for the smelly swamp mess.

Of course heading back I didn't want to face the swamp again, so I headed down the trail that connects to the K&P and is not Ruth's. Not sure of the name, but I believe Dave W. cut the trail years ago. It had 3 trees down on it, but nothing you couldn't skirt around.

So that is the status of Bompas and that connector trail to the K&P.
It sounds like you got there before we did :|

Yeah, that swamp was nasty! 3 of us cut the top part of the tree (core too big for hand saws) so we could "ride the ridge" just to the left of the real swamp and get into the "deep water" to the right of the "bypass" (heading North).

Until the bypass is cleared of the tree trunks, I'd advise to stay away from there unless you like swimming in a lagoon in your bike gear :(
 

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weekender

Moderator
We hit skidder again with the chainsaw; this time from Long Grass to the most eastern exit leading to Black Bear. All large trees have been removed. Note that we didn't ride the new flagged sections; just the full single track that existed last year.
 
hey team , i was out last weekend with the crew that ended at the bridge with the 2 massive pines. i have a saw at home that is large enough to handle those trees, and the experience, but dont want to be out there alone. so 2 questions;
1-does anyone know if those trees still need handling?
2-anyone wanna go with me on friday after noon?
im not going out there for any other cutting, just on a mission for those 2. cause they will take a while.
thanks
-Steve
 

Tom in Brockville

New member
My apologies, had to seriously downgrade the picture to allow it to be posted. Anyone reading this, please be seriously aware that there are MANY trees hung up (widow makers) above the trails, with the high winds expected in the next 12+ hours, there's chances more will come down.
 

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stephlal

Braaaaap!
Staff member
My apologies, had to seriously downgrade the picture to allow it to be posted. Anyone reading this, please be seriously aware that there are MANY trees hung up (widow makers) above the trails, with the high winds expected in the next 12+ hours, there's chances more will come down.
Just send it Tom! Double log hop!
 

smokin

Member
My apologies, had to seriously downgrade the picture to allow it to be posted. Anyone reading this, please be seriously aware that there are MANY trees hung up (widow makers) above the trails, with the high winds expected in the next 12+ hours, there's chances more will come down.
Good point Tom. Be careful! Look up!
 

stephlal

Braaaaap!
Staff member
3 crews out killed it today! Cleared BS1, the 2 x 2 track that connect several single tracks around high falls / hydro line area, Raven Roost, DMZ to Whiskey Trottle, Whiskey Trottle, Odette, Chicken Out to Odette, SOT work begun, this one is going to take a while
 

stephlal

Braaaaap!
Staff member
12 guys out today, thanks for coming out! One crew punched through SOT, still needs chainsaw work, Chicken Out, Tantrum, 3 Floods, MNR Road all clear. Claim Jumper 1 and 2 are both 80% done.
 
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