Stephens State Park Conditions

[SuperSham]

The latest on the route I took today.

Conditions were overall great but... shocking. More trees down.

See attached but in addition to that there was one down on lower maze towards the end of it (after you make that final right and get into the climby stuff)

Maze middle had one down more or less in the middle of all its goodness.

 

[iman29]

I wanted to keep folks abreast of my current medical situation, and why I’m on a temporary hiatus from Chainsawing. About 3 weeks ago, I got hit with unexplained Vertigo, which simply hasn’t gone away! Medical care is well underway, but still no improvement after all this time. At least stroke/coronary issues have been ruled out. All seems to be related to the vestibular canal (inner ear), which controls your balance. I’m getting on pretty well with daily life tasks, but the constant imbalance thing poses certain limitations. One of which is the obvious: Riding a Mt E-bike with chainsawing equipment on any sort of mildly technical trails is practically impossible! While I have higher confidence with the chainsawing part (w/3 points of contact to the ground), it’s better that I should give it a rest till I'm in better shape.

Anyway, I wanted to mention it so you know why I’m not on top of all the new issues. I’ll report back with status changes. In the meantime, please do whatever else you can to keep the trails clear.

I had unexplained vertigo back in 2017 ish? And then again about 3 years ago.

They suspect it was the crystals moving around my ear canal. I was able to get some relief from meclizine Although you can’t drive or operate heavy machinery while on it.

But I recall the thing that helped the most was the “Epley” manuever which the ENT doc showed me how to properly do at home after a few treatments in his office.

Hope you get relief soon I know how bad it gets the one episode in 2017 I was in the ER for about 12 hours it was so bad.

 

[mtn]

While I have higher confidence with the chainsawing part (w/3 points of contact to the ground), it’s better that I should give it a rest till I'm in better shape.

I am very curious as to what the 3rd point of contact to the ground is? lol. You crawling around?

I hope it clears up for you. As someone with wacky, undiagnosed medical things, I get it.

 

[Jrzjoe]

I wanted to keep folks abreast of my current medical situation, and why I’m on a temporary hiatus from Chainsawing. About 3 weeks ago, I got hit with unexplained Vertigo, which simply hasn’t gone away! Medical care is well underway, but still no improvement after all this time. At least stroke/coronary issues have been ruled out. All seems to be related to the vestibular canal (inner ear), which controls your balance. I’m getting on pretty well with daily life tasks, but the constant imbalance thing poses certain limitations. One of which is the obvious: Riding a Mt E-bike with chainsawing equipment on any sort of mildly technical trails is practically impossible! While I have higher confidence with the chainsawing part (w/3 points of contact to the ground), it’s better that I should give it a rest till I'm in better shape.

Anyway, I wanted to mention it so you know why I’m not on top of all the new issues. I’ll report back with status changes. In the meantime, please do whatever else you can to keep the trails clear.

Hang in there bro.

 

[chainsawer]

I am very curious as to what the 3rd point of contact to the ground is? lol. You crawling around?

I hope it clears up for you. As someone with wacky, undiagnosed medical things, I get it.

Two feet on the ground. The chainsaw/bar/blowdown is the third point of contact. It's turning out that three points of contact to the Earth, even if that third POC is just a finger...is super stabilizing. I can walk well enough to operate a chainsaw, but I just have to be very deliberate with footing and all safety measures. The Mt biking part is all about balancing on 2 wheels...

 

[Teutonic]

Two feet on the ground. The chainsaw/bar/blowdown is the third point of contact. It's turning out that three points of contact to the Earth, even if that third POC is just a finger...is super stabilizing. I can walk well enough to operate a chainsaw, but I just have to be very deliberate with footing and all safety measures. The Mt biking part is all about balancing on 2 wheels...

Maybe I just need to tow you behind in a trailer until you get better?--Might need your ebike for that one. 😂. Hoping this is in your past shortly. 👊

 

[Cassinonorth]

The latest on the route I took today.

Conditions were overall great but... shocking. More trees down.

See attached but in addition to that there was one down on lower maze towards the end of it (after you make that final right and get into the climby stuff)

Maze middle had one down more or less in the middle of all its goodness.

Heading out shortly with my silky, should be able to take care of these.

 

[Cassinonorth]

Partial success. Got about 6 small trees across this route

Couldn't get the skeez/cooler though, that was just a bit too much.

 

[Mike679]

I wanted to keep folks abreast of my current medical situation, and why I’m on a temporary hiatus from Chainsawing. About 3 weeks ago, I got hit with unexplained Vertigo, which simply hasn’t gone away! Medical care is well underway, but still no improvement after all this time. At least stroke/coronary issues have been ruled out. All seems to be related to the vestibular canal (inner ear), which controls your balance. I’m getting on pretty well with daily life tasks, but the constant imbalance thing poses certain limitations. One of which is the obvious: Riding a Mt E-bike with chainsawing equipment on any sort of mildly technical trails is practically impossible! While I have higher confidence with the chainsawing part (w/3 points of contact to the ground), it’s better that I should give it a rest till I'm in better shape.

Anyway, I wanted to mention it so you know why I’m not on top of all the new issues. I’ll report back with status changes. In the meantime, please do whatever else you can to keep the trails clear.

Was scrolling through this thread and the word vertigo jumped out at me. Been dealing with a similar affliction this past year. Got a formal diagnosis of Meniere's disease last summer after some noticeable hearing loss and the vestibular part followed in the fall with some full-on debilitating vertigo spells. Been treating with an ENT in Woodbridge and the progress has been pretty good despite having some mild dizziness from time to time. Sucks when it impacts a ride which has happened a few times, but with steroid injections in the ear and some meds it has been mostly an inconvenience at worst. Not saying this is what you have going on but may be worth looking into if you haven't already done so.

 

[Patrick]

Was scrolling through this thread and the word vertigo jumped out at me. Been dealing with a similar affliction this past year. Got a formal diagnosis of Meniere's disease last summer after some noticeable hearing loss and the vestibular part followed in the fall with some full-on debilitating vertigo spells. Been treating with an ENT in Woodbridge and the progress has been pretty good despite having some mild dizziness from time to time. Sucks when it impacts a ride which has happened a few times, but with steroid injections in the ear and some meds it has been mostly an inconvenience at worst. Not saying this is what you have going on but may be worth looking into if you haven't already done so.

Glad you are getting some relief. Hopefully keeps trending.

 

[chainsawer]

Was scrolling through this thread and the word vertigo jumped out at me. Been dealing with a similar affliction this past year. Got a formal diagnosis of Meniere's disease last summer after some noticeable hearing loss and the vestibular part followed in the fall with some full-on debilitating vertigo spells. Been treating with an ENT in Woodbridge and the progress has been pretty good despite having some mild dizziness from time to time. Sucks when it impacts a ride which has happened a few times, but with steroid injections in the ear and some meds it has been mostly an inconvenience at worst. Not saying this is what you have going on but may be worth looking into if you haven't already done so.

My ENT guy ordered a handful of tests, unfortunately nothing gets scheduled quickly. I'll know a lot more Aug 21 & 22 after I undergo an MRI and a "VNG" test. That should narrow things down and help define a treatment path. I've done the Epley maneuver a million times, without relief. So it doesn't seem to be BPPV. I've heard from a lot of people who've had vertigo, confirming how common it is. But the stories have such a wide range of outcomes that I simply don't know what to expect going forward.

 

[SuperSham]

Hey Y'all. I was out on a ride yesterday and there is a lot down!

Here is the latest. On the ride we also ventured over to Allamuchy so I'll post over there too.

 

[SuperSham]

There's also two trees down on "The ridge" and there is another tree down when you come in from the road towards the new NICA trail. It's on the right shortly after you leave the road.

 

[SuperSham]

Partial success. Got about 6 small trees across this route

View attachment 245217

Couldn't get the skeez/cooler though, that was just a bit too much.

View attachment 245218

@Cassinonorth what is the "best" hand saw you think? Ive got an F180 that I can fit in the pack. I only use a pretty small lumbar pack, i figure I can handle some of the smaller stuff. While surely I don't mind being the reporter, Id be happy to try and mitigate some of the stuff!

 

[Cassinonorth]

@Cassinonorth what is the "best" hand saw you think? Ive got an F180 that I can fit in the pack. I only use a pretty small lumbar pack, i figure I can handle some of the smaller stuff. While surely I don't mind being the reporter, Id be happy to try and mitigate some of the stuff!

People love their Silky's...mine is a cheap Fiskars. I got so annoyed with it I went out and bought this bad boy Monday night

I'll head out tomorrow morning to get what I can from your post, thanks for the reports!

 

[Teutonic]

Sometimes when there are 2-3 of us on a ride and we're not in a rush we use one of these types of chains:

We've cut through some rather large stuff with it. You can do some smaller stuff solo with it as well. You can store it in something small like a Ziploc bag.

 

[SuperSham]

Sometimes when there are 2-3 of us on a ride and we're not in a rush we use one of these types of chains:
View attachment 245383
We've cut through some rather large stuff with it. You can do some smaller stuff solo with it as well. You can store it something small like a Ziploc bag.

That looks pretty bad ass. I'll give it a go!

 

[AS4321]

There's also a big one down at the top of Chimney. See map

 

[Cassinonorth]

Few big ones left out there but I got about 6 more today. I marked in Red dots the best I can recall. They're all 18-24"...I tried to clear around them so riders can at least walk over or under in the mean time. Tally Ho/Hally To are clear, not sure why they're still greyed out on TF.

Pink Leaners

Golden Trail head chopper

'Though She Be But Little She Is Fierce'

 

[jdog]

Few big ones left out there but I got about 6 more today. I marked in Red dots the best I can recall. They're all 18-24"...I tried to clear around them so riders can at least walk over or under in the mean time. Tally Ho/Hally To are clear, not sure why they're still greyed out on TF.

View attachment 245446

Pink Leaners

View attachment 245442


View attachment 245443

Golden Trail head chopper

View attachment 245447

View attachment 245448

'Though She Be But Little She Is Fierce'

View attachment 245449

You guys crush it. I only get here a few times a month and I am delighted to see the locals keeping the trails clear.

The next gen also thanks you.

These two (11&12yrs old) climbed tally ho yesterday with limited whining.