Philadelphia Mountain Biking Association - Forums

New tree (cherry) down on the Green Lane access road to Forbidden Drive. It's blocking the trailhead towards VGI. Came across it this morning. This sucker is big, I mean really f#$king big! The mid section is about 5' in diameter. The trail fairies aren't going to be able to attack this one  with their butter knives!!!

I understand the trail fairies have some pretty big and loud butter knives.....

Are those the trail fairies that wear chaps??   ::)

I just ordered a pair of chaps Monday and hope to have them today. And we do own a nice Stihl butter knife. BUT that sounds big and will work the saw and the operator pretty hard... Paging DR Saw, Dr Saw???

Instead of having a mummers day parade we can have a chaps-n-chainsaw parade down Forbidden Drive........... :P

2-3 saws attacking it would help, but you're going to need a crew to move sections. The tree was sitting up the embankment about 30' from the access road, snapped at the base and is laying perpendicular across the access road and in the trail head. This tree is all but 90' in length. When it fell it hit a smaller tree and split in half down the middle. I'm 5'9" and couldn't pick my bike up and put it over in one clean heave............

If the tree's diameter is five feet, it is probably a good idea to let the Fairmount Park Commission workers take care of the tree removal. They remove trees this large all the time and have the equipment to move the logs out of the way. It's possible that the wood from the tree can be useful for some building project and it is better to have longer lengths of wood to mill. I've emailed Gerry White (the head of District 3) about the tree just in case they are unaware of the fallen tree.

Good stuff Dan. Yea they can handle that one. But we might have to eye up the remains if they leave them there. Sounds like  a real nice log ride potential...

Thanks Dan, that's why I posted it here. I figured someone knew how to contact FPC to expedite the process. You could build a whole TTF section with the remains of that tree. Impressive and beautiful cherry tree.

If you want to report a tree down or some other problem, the number for District 3 is 215-685-2575. They are pretty good about removing fallen trees in truck accessible areas.

Make sure to tell them you are a PMBA member. They like us. We donated some hose to them this year and I plan to donate more stuff to keep them happy.

What? You mean you couldn't bunny hop that thing?  :)

I saw it this morning. F*king huge.

Someone should build up a ramp to it :)

Lou, if you see one on sale, or I will pick you up one at my Doylestown connection, a hardhat with fold-down mesh facemask is cheap. Most also come with fold-up ear protection. Provides a lot of eye protection, and if the saw kicks back, it will most likely catch the over-sized brim, not your forehead. And the more "professional" we look out there, the less flack we could get....if you catch my drift. And if orange, will look good during out butter knife parade!!

Anyway, that tree is WAY TOO big for even my 24'' saw. and it is elevated. Being across Janette path, whick is an emergency access road, I talked to park police last night, and they reported it. This was before I read this thread, but can't hurt.

I am leaving this one to the City. Let my outrageous wage tax be used for something!

PS, call me "safety boy", but may start to carry a small fire extinguisher with me. With all that heat, leaves, sawdust, gas cans, etc., the last thing we need is "Those PMBA guys set some of the woods on fire while sawing a tree..."

OK, "Safety Boy".  "Dr Saw" was getting kinda old anyway...

hey, I'm also the OSHA guy at work. Kinds carries over into all my thoughts

Ok "Gay Boy", you can put your chaps on now and go play nicely with the other kids in the corner.........

If you're starting fires with a chain saw then you probably shouldn't be using it in those existing conditions, food for thought.

True, but why do all the vehichles FOW have fire extinguishers on them? Not just for engine fires. Anytime gasoline is involved in any task, no matter how cold, you should have a suppressant near-by. There are always leaves or brush around, and if you hit a rock or nail in or near the wood, it sparks. Also, filling a hot engine 6'' away from fuel tank can be dangerous.

Ask your wife about the gay thing. Hee Hee

Good thinking on the fire hazard, Neil.  Safety is always cool vs the alternative - carelessness or being inconsiderate.

id be happy to cut it, if the park service does not, ill do it no prob.

Chainsaw use is not permitted for park users or volunteers. Fairmount park policy. Now please do me a favor and stop talking about it on the public forum as if we are using them...cause we're not. Get it. Thanks.

who needs a chainsaw, just Kman to hit it a few more times, like he did during the clinic.

Very well said Tom. We are NOT permtted to use a chain saw in the park. Let's use this forum to document when and where the trees are down so we can report them to the proper authorities. Thanks!

The tree is now cleared from the access road, but remnants of the top are still all over the upper trailhead towards VG

I rode by there on Tues and I think that it is currently perfect. THere was no reason that the trail "y's" about 50 yards from the gravel path to make TWO trailheads, literally 50 feet apart?!?!!? Are people THAT lazy? There is now one trailhead to access the upper trail. OK in my book...

Maybe not so much a matter of laziness, but being able to maintain more speed as one enters the trail from either the access road or FD.