NOTICE: Managed Archery Deer Hunt Nov 7-Dec 31st

"Designated areas in Swope Park, including the Camp Lake of the Woods area, will be open for a managed archery deer hunt November 7th through December 31st.  This managed hunt, like others conducted on KC Parks property since 2006, is conducted to promote ecological diversity on the lands entrusted to KC Parks, and to control an ever-expanding deer herd. 

Rather than close this area to the public, as most other municipalities do during managed hunts, Kansas City Parks and Recreation has elected to continue public access to managed hunt areas.  We feel certain that the many different groups that use this area can operate in a mutually respectful manner."

Swope Trails. PH4 opens this Saturday. 9am.

Join us this Saturday, June 4th for National Trails Day.

Earthriders Trails Association [ERTA] in partnership with Kansas City Parks And Recreation are thrilled to announce the opening of the latest addition to the ever growing Swope Trails system. Your local trail hermits and over 125 volunteers have been working hard the past 6 months to bring you another fun filled addition to Camp Lake of the Woods.

This Saturday morning for National Trails Day, at 9am sharp, we will be opening the new 1.75 mile section up to the masses. The trail is the extension of the ever popular Rancho D-Lux loop. Highlights of this intermediate to beginner trail, include Marci’s Playground, Faceplant and Nate’s Woooops.

Extra Special thanks to Nathan Ross and the Youth Volunteers Corps for helping make this happen.

DETAILS:

When:
Saturday, June 4th 9am: Ribbon Cutting.

Meeting Place:
Swope Park. Camp Lake of the Woods.

We will be meeting at the Hogan at Camp Lake of the Woods which is just up the hill on Oakwood Drive from the main Swope trailhead, drive up Oakwood Drive, take a left at the "Y" and continue on about 100 yards. See the map on the right hand side of www.swopetrails.com for more detailed directions.

All day: Get out and enjoy the new trail the in jewel that is Swope Park.

It's That Time of Year + New Trail Hermit + Fundraiser News

The weather is turning nice, the ground is thawing, and we're cranking out some sweet trail work.  Been doing some trail hardening projects and fixing some draining issues on phase 3.  Today the old fence on phase 4 is coming out. 

Look for some trail building announcements soon.

We've updated our volunteer hrs for the Swope Project.  Thanks to various groups and individual volunteers we've now logged 3920 hrs building trail at Swope.  A HUGE thank you to everyone who has ever lifted a tool on these trails!

We've recently added Travis Stephens to the list of Trail Hermits.  His history runs deep in the KC cycling community and has spent time volunteering at nearly every park in KC.  Travis is one of those guys who builds trail simply because he loves riding good trail.  He has spent the last 3 yrs quietly building sweet singletrack gnar while others are posting pics of their dinner plate on Facebook. He is a big reason you see some of the crazy rock work we do at Swope.  He's brought our rock techniques to a new level.  Thanks, Travis!

Also, thanks to a fundraiser by Specialized Bicycles and BikeSource the people of KC generously donated over $4000 for the trail building efforts at Swope.  We plan to spend a good chunk of this money to improve drying times for the trails.  The trails dry pretty darn quick, but we know it can be better...we have a plan.

Race Across the Sky....a benefit for Swope Trails. Feb 17th.

It’s been a rough winter for all of us and what a better way to get in the spring mood than watching one of the premier movies about Mountain Biking right here in Kansas City.  BikeSource will be hosting an open house for their new store and a benefit for the Swope Park Trail System with a special movie presentation of Race Across the Sky – 2010 Leadville Trail 100.  ------>   http://www.raceacrossthesky.com/

All proceeds go to support the construction, design and maintenance of Swope Trails.  The trail system is a 50 mile planned network of single-track mountain biking and hiking facilities in the heart of Kansas City, Missouri.  Designed, constructed and managed by professional volunteers in partnership with Kansas City Parks and Recreation, Jackson County Parks and Recreation, Earth Riders Trails Association [ERTA] and Heartland Sports Promotions [HSP].

Download the all the the details HERE .    See you on February 17^th.    

Spread the Dirt and a HUGE thank you to the crew at BikeSource.  http://www.bikesourcekansascity.com/

Phase 4 Update

Since we've had such great weather for riding this fall, we haven't made a lot of building progress, but we'll be starting up full tilt in the next couple weeks.

Due to safety concerns on unfinished trail, we've closed the entrances to the new phase 4 trail and posted "closed" signs.  We have also closed the race loop used for the KC Cup race.  It was legacy trail that was not sustainable long-term but left open for the fall so we could enjoy it.  However, we've made enough progress on the phase 4 trail that it was time for the temporary trail to go.

Once completed, the additional 3 miles of Phase 4 will make Rancho-D-Lux into a complete loop of fast-flowy trail.

Stay tuned for work days in the near future.

Managed Burn, Dec. 3rd + other notes

FYI...just so everyone knows weather permitting a managed burn will take place Friday, December 3rd in the Camp Lake of the Woods area.  Some sections of trail will not be accessible during this time.  Everything should be good to go by Saturday, the 4th.

Also, thanks to everyone for coming out last month for the workday, between our group and KC Wildlands we had approx 130 volunteers working in top of the hill that day!  We will have a couple smaller workdays in the days ahead to continue working on Rancho D-Lux...stay tuned for details.

Swope Trails Work Day, November 6

Rancho D-Lux (easier/faster trail) has been growing steadily for the last couple years...here's your chance to pitch in for the final push to complete the Ranch D-Lux loop.   We hope to have the full loop done sometime this winter and already have a good chunk of corridor and bench work started.

This Saturday we will be doing corridor clearing, destaubing, and dirt/rock work. If it's your 1st time or you're a master trailbuilder come out...we have lots of work to do and will have something for everyone.

Meeting Place:
Hogan/swimming pool at Camp Lake of the Woods on top of the hill. From the main Swope trailhead, drive up Oakwood Drive, take a left at the "Y" and continue on about 300 yards. See map on the right hand side of the page for directions to the Swope Park trails.

Tools:
The usual trail tools...Rakes, Shovels, McLeods, Pulaskis, Rogue Hoes, Weedeaters, Blowers, Handsaws, Chainsaws, etc. If you don't have tools, come anyway...we should have plenty.

Recommended Clothing:
Long pants
Boots/Shoes with protection
Work Gloves
Safety Glasses
Bug Spray

Trail Tasting Afterwards:
If the trails are rideable and/or hikeable, we'll do a trail tasting of the new stuff. Workdays are the only time you'll get a chance to check out the new trail before it's open, so come work then get your ride on!

Schedule of Events:
9am-12pm Trailbuilding

12pm-1pm: Lunch...Johnnies Tavern and Sysco will be providing burgers and chips after the workday. EarthRiders will be grilling them up, so plan to stick around for a while even if you can't ride.

1pm-4pm: Ride come and go as you please

Some of us are having a campout at the Hogan Saturday night if you want to join us.

Kansas City Cup...almost here.

Is just around the the corner....September 18th and September 19th.

It's time to show off the place we call home to the rest of the region.

CX race on Saturday, Sept 18th
XC race on Sunday, Sept 19th (UFD Federation Championship)

All the details are here, including course maps---->
www.heartlandrace.com
and
www.unitedindirt.com

And lastly...we have updated the Swope Trail map. Check out the link on the right.

Get Dirt!

SWOPE 101

Details here:
http://forums.earthriders.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=12183

We'll going to lead a little ride for those who want to join. It'll be a nice easy, no drop pace.

We'll be going throught the alternate line opportunities, riding connections between to loops to become oriented to the system (figure out where you are!), discussing "best ways" and/or which direction to ride different areas, and I'll try to answer your questions about the trails the best as I can. Time permitting, we can do a hike on the newest section in progress (the finale of rancho deluxe!)

Sunday September 12.
2 pm
Main Trailhead

Anyone is welcome...newbies to people who ride there 4x a week.

Dirty Thursdays at Swope Park!!!

MTB-KC Presents:
Dirty Thursdays at Swope Park!!!

Who: Cyclocross and mountian bikers alike!
What: Dirt crits, short track MtB, cyclocross, call it what you will!
When: 6:00 pm, Thursday evenings, July 15—October 28
Where: Swope Park, Camp Lake of the Woods
Why: Why not?
Cost: $0

Format: Show and go, Format/course direction will change weekly

PLEASE MEET AT THE TOP OF THE HILL AT CAMP LAKE OF THE WOODS BY 6 PM THURSDAY EVENINGS IF WANTING TO RACE (near the Hogan)!!! YOU WILL STILL HAVE TO PARK AT THE MAIN TRAILHEAD AND RIDE THE HILL UP. ALL RACES ARE SUBJECT TO THE WEATHER/COURSE CONDITIONS.

Questions: Brett Shoffner, 785-nine79-too706, bscm8 (at) umkc.edu
mtbkc.blogspot.com for more.