The Tip Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 Thursday 12/10 I found a small tree across the southern end of Rudolph. Both Bambi and Rudolph were still clear at 5:15 I also put a sign on a tree on northern Rudolph asking "Why are you doing this?" The rain has probably messed that up now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrownKing Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 I rode it Tuesday 12/8 around 1pm, branches/trees blocking the trail in 3 diff areas. I think i was first to ride that day, Strava showed a lot of rides after me that had decent times. So maybe our vandal is a morning man? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 I rode yesterday and noticed a cave dig project on the north end of the trail. A friend of mine is an active cave digger, and I sent him a picture to see if it was his project. It was not, but he was able to find the fellow working on it, who apparently is very much a loner, and we wondered if he might be blocking the trail to protect the project. Long story short, it was not him; he hasn't been there in 6 months. But, in an effort to keep things civil between the various users, I suggested he let us know if they need help installing a cave gate or modifying the trail/visibility at the project site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack_turtle Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 2 minutes ago, Owen said: I rode yesterday and noticed a cave dig project on the north end of the trail. A friend of mine is an active cave digger, and I sent him a picture to see if it was his project. It was not, but he was able to find the fellow working on it, who apparently is very much a loner, and we wondered if he might be blocking the trail to protect the project. Long story short, it was not him; he hasn't been there in 6 months. But, in an effort to keep things civil between the various users, I suggested he let us know if they need help installing a cave gate or modifying the trail/visibility at the project site. I spotted this cave but didn't want to draw attention to it. I poked my head in the "cave" and so far, it looks like it's just a deep hole. obviously someone has been digging it out because they left some work gloves and buckets nearby and a lot of displaced dirt is near the site. what came first, the trail, or the new cave? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tip Posted December 11, 2020 Author Share Posted December 11, 2020 When I first saw that cave I was confused. Most caves have coverings. But there was no signs of it being an official project. Nice that we have input from that community. And yes, observations have indicted that the person is active in the mornings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted December 11, 2020 Share Posted December 11, 2020 (edited) 29 minutes ago, mack_turtle said: I spotted this cave but didn't want to draw attention to it. I poked my head in the "cave" and so far, it looks like it's just a deep hole. obviously someone has been digging it out because they left some work gloves and buckets nearby and a lot of displaced dirt is near the site. what came first, the trail, or the new cave? Meh, not sure debating the validity of grey zone (?) trail versus unsanctioned dig is really worthwhile. Lots of land in south Austin is karst preserve, and improved relations between bikers and karst folks would probably be more beneficial to access and multiuse in the long run. This just seems like a place to extend an olive branch and collaborate. And have you seen the stone work? We could build some sweet berms in the trail right there with the stone and dirt coming out of the ground! Regardless, these folks are not the trail-blocking culprits. - edit... Edited December 11, 2020 by Owen 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tip Posted December 12, 2020 Author Share Posted December 12, 2020 On 12/11/2020 at 12:04 PM, Owen said: Meh, not sure debating the validity of grey zone (?) trail versus unsanctioned dig is really worthwhile. I agree. Once a trail is in existence there is no reason to discuss if it's "OK" to ride or not. If it's parkland, and it doesn't say "no bikes," or actually any other land that is not posted, then there is no reason to discuss legalities. It doesn't help anything. Discussion will only draw attention and perhaps then it becomes an issue. I was at a Violet Crown Trail neighborhood input meeting a few years back. The homeowners along Yellow Rose Trail, the street that backs up to Williamson Creek between Brush Country and Mopac, were all up in arms fighting the idea of having the VCT run along the creek. One of the city parks managers showed some anger when she admonished the home owners for being dumb. "That is city park land! If a citizen wanted to hike or bike through there right now (no trail was there) they could! It's a park!" I loved that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tip Posted December 12, 2020 Author Share Posted December 12, 2020 Rode Rudolph and Bambi at 8:15 this morning. All good, no activity. Rode Bambi again at noon. Two small branches placed over the trail. Then three more things on Bambi's Tail (?) the new exit trail. Not dangerous things, not big, but definitely placed. Like just to send a message perhaps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie193 Posted December 12, 2020 Share Posted December 12, 2020 (edited) Out and back on Rudolph at about 3:45 and 4:15. Still clear. The Tip, your sign is still up and in decent condition at the Davis end. No response though. Edited December 12, 2020 by Charlie193 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie193 Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 One branch across Rudolph at lunch today, near the rampaging elephant site. Easy to move, but it’s still attached to its tree, so it would be equally easy to put back across the trail. Didn’t have time to attempt to do anything else with it. It was off the trail when I left. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie193 Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 The Rudolph wank-stain remains undeterred. There were probably four or five blockages today, mainly near the Slaughter end, but one was closer to Davis. All cleared just before 1pm. The sign at the Davis end had gone too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tree Magnet Posted December 17, 2020 Share Posted December 17, 2020 Rudolph was clear at 4:30 this afternoon and was still clear at 6:30 pm when we went back through. Really fun trail. I saw all the piles of brush next to it but nothing was on the trail proper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tip Posted December 18, 2020 Author Share Posted December 18, 2020 Went up Rudolph at 4. Clear. I went down Bambi at 5:15. There was a guy walking (30ish years old, red mustache) down Bambi. "Maybe this is the guy?!" So my sleuthing instinct forced me to finish Bambi (all clear) then turn back up Rudolph to see if there had been any blockages. None. Then I went back down Bambi hoping that I would see some super recent vandalism so that I could pin it on the guy I had seen. Alas, nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie193 Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 (edited) Bambi and Rudolph were all clear at lunch today. Nice weather for a ride too, as long as you like overcast. Worth getting out before the rain tonight/tomorrow. Edited December 18, 2020 by Charlie193 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tip Posted December 18, 2020 Author Share Posted December 18, 2020 Ditto. Rudolph good at noon, Bambi good at 1:30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tip Posted December 18, 2020 Author Share Posted December 18, 2020 Just saw a Strava ride that at about noon on Bambi there were rocks pulled out of the berm and put in the middle of the trail. But the rider put the rocks back in the berm. That's why I didn't notice it. I'm going to be extremely pissed if that berm gets fucked up 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tip Posted December 22, 2020 Author Share Posted December 22, 2020 I forgot to post from my Monday afternoon ride. 2 pm, Rudolph had four things across the trail. First one was near Davis entrance. A log perfectly perpendicular to the trail. There was also more elephant activity in the same elephant activity area. A big tree pulled down to block the trail. A tree bigger and taller than something a normal person could pull down by themselves. Very strange. Bambi was clear at 5 pm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack_turtle Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 I'll take donations for a game camera and monitor it myself. who's in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tip Posted December 22, 2020 Author Share Posted December 22, 2020 The wife just got back. She cleared three things on Rudolph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tip Posted January 3, 2021 Author Share Posted January 3, 2021 1/2/2021 Talked to a family on Rudolph today at 2 pm. Tall guy with a vandyke beard, woman, and baby in a stroller. Discussed our problem. He said he runs that trail all the time. "I'll keep an eye out." I go up the trail and find three blockages. Not that they did it, but interesting that they didn't clear those easy to clear things. But I know that hikers rarely do any sort of trail maintenance at all. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie193 Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 Rudolph and Bambi were both clear just before 8am this morning. Looks like someone has been riding a dirt bike on Jane Fonda while the ground was still soft though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack_turtle Posted January 4, 2021 Share Posted January 4, 2021 On 1/3/2021 at 10:30 AM, Charlie193 said: Rudolph and Bambi were both clear just before 8am this morning. Looks like someone has been riding a dirt bike on Jane Fonda while the ground was still soft though. yes, there area few trails where that is common. fortunately, that's one of the few and dirt bikers don't use many other routes. I'll take it if that's the worst we experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrownKing Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 Rode Rudolph today around 230, at least 20 branches across or blocking it. Most I have ever seen. Strava didn't show anyone ride it down today, so not sure how long it had been blocked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack_turtle Posted May 3, 2021 Share Posted May 3, 2021 is it possible that our trail ogre got bored and finally gave up? I have not passed through there very often lately, but I have not heard anything about trail sabotage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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