Tokai 2016 reopening

[PhilipV]

I'm throwing a stone into the alien bush.

Does sanparks approve of the use of herbicides to help clear the trail and prevent regrowth?

A backpack with garlon will go a far way in preventing woody vegetation from growing back, and glyphosate kills everything. You do run the risk of klapping the indigenous vegetation between the aliens as well, so that would probably be why it would be frowned upon.

Just wondering out loud.

[DJR]

  On 6/4/2016 at 3:04 PM, Duane_Bosch said:

Ja dude. Got a full on roadie bike. I haven't gone full roadie tho. I run DX pedals just so those cats know I'm a gravity boy. It has to be said tho. It's not a horrible way to spend a morning and you'll be surprised at how many of the baggies brigade are out there putting in miles and slugging espresso's

Ha ha, yes, I'm one of those as well. I keep SPD pedals on  my road bikes, even the old classic, just to tick the purist roadies off a little, and sometimes wear lycra out on the trails. 

[Duane_Bosch]

  On 6/5/2016 at 5:15 AM, PhilipV said:

I'm throwing a stone into the alien bush.

Does sanparks approve of the use of herbicides to help clear the trail and prevent regrowth?

A backpack with garlon will go a far way in preventing woody vegetation from growing back, and glyphosate kills everything. You do run the risk of klapping the indigenous vegetation between the aliens as well, so that would probably be why it would be frowned upon.

Just wondering out loud.

I'm gonna go with a no on that one batman.

[PhilipV]

  On 6/6/2016 at 7:03 AM, Duane_Bosch said:

I'm gonna go with a no on that one batman.

My day job (hazchem transport) may be clouding my judgement. Just a little bit.

[Shebeen]

I did elephants eye cave on sat morning (from silvermine/ feels like cheating a bit not starting from Tokai!).

 

So we got a bird's eye view of tokai as it stands.

Looks like most of the logging has been done, and the 'veld' is really green and growing. a bit too bright green to be fynbos itself, so if it really is all alien then there is a MASSIVE job of eradication that can't start soon enough.

 

BUT, I did have a little bit of a thought to myself. I've always felt that Tokai is a tough place to take beginners to. But without many other options it is the place where a lot of people start their mtbing. You start with a big hill from the parking lot and the only jeep track gets quite busy. Looking at the 'blank canvas' as it stands, there is now loads and loads of really good condition forestry tracks. Many of them are of course contour roads too with minimal gradient variations. What is the plan for them post forestry? How about establishing a second trail access point/direction that goes up the zwaanswyk side of tokai, that has zero single track but can then use loads of the logging trails? I know that is the 'hiking' area, but let's see how many less hikers are really going to be using a treeless tokai?

[(Deon)]

  On 6/6/2016 at 8:25 AM, lets make MTB gr8 again said:

I did elephants eye cave on sat morning (from silvermine/ feels like cheating a bit not starting from Tokai!).

 

So we got a bird's eye view of tokai as it stands.

Looks like most of the logging has been done, and the 'veld' is really green and growing. a bit too bright green to be fynbos itself, so if it really is all alien then there is a MASSIVE job of eradication that can't start soon enough.

 

BUT, I did have a little bit of a thought to myself. I've always felt that Tokai is a tough place to take beginners to. But without many other options it is the place where a lot of people start their mtbing. You start with a big hill from the parking lot and the only jeep track gets quite busy. Looking at the 'blank canvas' as it stands, there is now loads and loads of really good condition forestry tracks. Many of them are of course contour roads too with minimal gradient variations. What is the plan for them post forestry? How about establishing a second trail access point/direction that goes up the zwaanswyk side of tokai, that has zero single track but can then use loads of the logging trails? I know that is the 'hiking' area, but let's see how many less hikers are really going to be using a treeless tokai?

As you said, "blank canvas". This is the rationalisation we keep talking about. Basically to rationalise the use, continued existence and current/future location for singletrack and jeeptrack.

 

I'm glad you mention this, it confirms we are all on the same page. Thoughts are to create a shared-use spine trail linking as many climbing and contour JT to wind it's way to the top. For the quick fix guys grabbing an after work ride to the top and back down, the main jeep track will still offer the quickest route. 

 

Most important is to plan the shared-use track so walker/horse rider do not share any track where mountain bike will descend. Uphill is fine to share, but down not.

[KarlvN]

  On 6/6/2016 at 8:43 AM, (Deon) said:

As you said, "blank canvas". This is the rationalisation we keep talking about. Basically to rationalise the use, continued existence and current/future location for singletrack and jeeptrack.

 

I'm glad you mention this, it confirms we are all on the same page. Thoughts are to create a shared-use spine trail linking as many climbing and contour JT to wind it's way to the top. For the quick fix guys grabbing an after work ride to the top and back down, the main jeep track will still offer the quickest route. 

 

Most important is to plan the shared-use track so walker/horse rider do not share any track where mountain bike will descend. Uphill is fine to share, but down not.

 

Kind of like Jonkershoek? (cannot comment on shared use / horses etc. as I haven't ridden there much)

[DJR]

Just to confirm: The day Tokai opens, even if there is nothing to ride yet, I will go and renew my activity permit! Meanwhile, I keep my spade, shovel & rake at the ready for when volunteer building starts. 

[NicoBoshoff]

Are there any fundraising initiatives to raise money so that professional trailbuilders can be appointed and brought on site? 

 

If the plan is to get Tokai better than ever I don't think volunteer builds will be the way TBH.  I guess for clearing trails and doing the donkey work that's just fine, but actual building should be left to builders, who know drainage and slopes and what actualy works on a trail. 

 

Even if it ends up costing R500k over 2-3 years spread, you'd at least have trails that can then be maintained with minimal input.  I'm just speaking from own experience.  Paarl trails were a ballache to manage until we got Bennet in to do proper repairs and drainage.  Trails have not shown a day's deterioration in the 6 months since he's been there despite the sudden rains on dusty dirt.

[Surv0MTB]

  On 6/7/2016 at 11:54 AM, DJR said:

Just to confirm: The day Tokai opens, even if there is nothing to ride yet, I will go and renew my activity permit! Meanwhile, I keep my spade, shovel & rake at the ready for when volunteer building starts. 

I renewed mine earlier this year in the hopes we would get lucky with Tokai.

 

Alas, Silvermine gets all my attention these days, need to give the dogs a good run in.

[Meezo]

  On 6/7/2016 at 12:06 PM, NicoBoshoff said:

Are there any fundraising initiatives to raise money so that professional trailbuilders can be appointed and brought on site? 

 

If the plan is to get Tokai better than ever I don't think volunteer builds will be the way TBH.  I guess for clearing trails and doing the donkey work that's just fine, but actual building should be left to builders, who know drainage and slopes and what actualy works on a trail. 

 

Even if it ends up costing R500k over 2-3 years spread, you'd at least have trails that can then be maintained with minimal input.  I'm just speaking from own experience.  Paarl trails were a ballache to manage until we got Bennet in to do proper repairs and drainage.  Trails have not shown a day's deterioration in the 6 months since he's been there despite the sudden rains on dusty dirt.

 

[(Deon)]

  On 6/7/2016 at 12:06 PM, NicoBoshoff said:

Are there any fundraising initiatives to raise money so that professional trailbuilders can be appointed and brought on site? 

 

If the plan is to get Tokai better than ever I don't think volunteer builds will be the way TBH.  I guess for clearing trails and doing the donkey work that's just fine, but actual building should be left to builders, who know drainage and slopes and what actualy works on a trail. 

 

Even if it ends up costing R500k over 2-3 years spread, you'd at least have trails that can then be maintained with minimal input.  I'm just speaking from own experience.  Paarl trails were a ballache to manage until we got Bennet in to do proper repairs and drainage.  Trails have not shown a day's deterioration in the 6 months since he's been there despite the sudden rains on dusty dirt.

We have a few local options too.

[Flowta]

  On 6/2/2016 at 6:09 PM, splat said:

That sounds great. Very excited!

 

But I am fascinated by the fact that horse riders have their own riding area. In a National Park nogal...

 

Very late coming into this, but Horse riders have more access to Orangekloof than hikers!!!

[(Deon)]

  On 6/3/2016 at 10:07 AM, Headshot said:

Yep that is correct and is probably why these groups all still have access to areas they have traditionally used. 

 

Deon bear in mind that next weekend sees a two day #Enduro at Welvanpas and I for one am planning to do one of the days - the one where the black route trails are raced. Some other potential builders may be in the same boat. 

Noted.

 

The committee will meet next week to discuss the final plans for the restoration of trails but it has already been decided that the weekend of the 18th June will be the first volunteer build day since March 2015.

 

Look out for confirmation of details on Twitter, Facebook and of course, Bikehub.

[DJR]

  On 6/9/2016 at 10:34 AM, (Deon) said:

Noted.

 

The committee will meet next week to discuss the final plans for the restoration of trails but it has already been decided that the weekend of the 18th June will be the first volunteer build day since March 2015.

 

Look out for confirmation of details on Twitter, Facebook and of course, Bikehub.

 Noted

[Bloukrans]

  On 6/9/2016 at 10:34 AM, (Deon) said:

Noted.

 

The committee will meet next week to discuss the final plans for the restoration of trails but it has already been decided that the weekend of the 18th June will be the first volunteer build day since March 2015.

 

Look out for confirmation of details on Twitter, Facebook and of course, Bikehub.

Deon, jou doring!!!   :clap:  

 

Noted