Sam HoustonUpdate & letter from Ed Ponikvar.
Hello all,
I have gotten a ride in over the last few weeks and I thank you. Your help got trail open for me and others. I appreciate it and I thank you. For those yet to contribute, I have a chance for you to get involved. All you need to do is be on the West side trail along the string and north balloon Saturday and Sunday afernoons. You need to find the location where the dozer is going to be working. We need this commitment this weekend and ongoing. See the attached details. Remember, this is effort happens weekly and is posted on the
https://www.samhoustontrails.org/ site.
https://www.samhoustontrails.org/resources/downloads/
Commit to being with David Todd as he operates the dozer this Saturday and Sunday. He runs from dawn till dusk. Responsible volunteers are self scheduling. They give a few hrs and rotate. They reply and say "Me and 3 buddies will arrive at 7AM and will rotate duties every 60 minutes till 11AM" others reply and say "our crew will be to David by 11am. We will stay with him on rotation till 2pm"
Grasp the challenge of finding coverage in the afternoon. Embrace the concept. Your attendance is what keeps the dozer running. This need will continue till we have the trails as water tolerate as possible. David's Dozer Dogs plan many more hrs thus many more weeks of dozer time needs covered.
It is my hope this community will self schedule. I need you to be with David's Dozer Dogs till the dozer work is complete. If not, the dozer will NOT run. No dozer, no trail!
For those that get it, reply with your ongoing commitment. Thank you for the hrs you give this weekend. Consider ongoing weekends when possible. Keeping up with David's Dozer Dogs is possible with our help. hose wanting more detail, keep reading below.
It's is great to get out on the 21.53 miles of trail that was opened by the SHTC around the Kelly's pond area. Nearly 30 riders per weekend show up during the day to ride. Some show up with regularity and on specific days. If you frequent the trails you HAVE the time. Perhaps you just don't know how little of your time is needed to help? Perhaps you don't know how to take that first step to get involved?
I have ridden with many of you the last few weeks and it has been a blast. Thank You! If you would like to see the the 20 mile string and balloon trails open, lets discuss how you can help. 936-446-7966.
Folks are now starting to grasp what the SHTC can accomplish. We have a dozer and volunteers run it weekly. You suggest the trail (we got open) is the best in the area. The trail will continue to get ever better. Better meaning more water tolerant. Over time you will notice the trail open more during the rainy season. We are managing water and preventing erosion with a long term goal in mind. Volunteers do this with track equipment. A Mini Dozer is our primary piece of equipment.
All getting this have expressed interest in sustaining motorized riding in the Sam Houston National Forest. Riding would NOT be possible absent the Volunteer community making it happen. None of the volunteers are paid. In fact it cost money in gas, food and they take time away from riding or family to serve the needs to get the trail open.
Good News: The Dozer work you see getting done is at the hands of our volunteers. Yes, the SHTC got the Forest Service to allocate a dozer plus a truck and trailer to haul it for FREE. We are held to the same standard as the Forest Service and that starts with safety.
Need: Absent a safety swamper the dozer will NOT be operated.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swamper_(occupational_title)
In other words, if the community can't put themselves out on the trail to keep the dozer operators safe, the time it takes to get the trail open gets extended. No swampers no dozer. No dozer the string and balloon remain closed. Honestly we need a dispatcher that can help facilitate and make is easier for all involved.
How to Help: Some still ask how to get involved. Call me 936-446-7966. I will ask you to clarify what day you can give a few hrs. 1. You can show up at at the Ranger station at 6:30am to meet David Todd. 2. Go find David along the string and or balloon Saturday and Sunday.