Chimney Rock Conditions

[jredone]

I’m just learning about this nightmare… where exactly did they close off..high tech? My favorite trail…

High tech is all open and still there for the most part. Was definitely a shit show up there today. Mayor, CBS, and News 12 were filming and doing interviews.

All of what’s circled is now a road wide enough to land a plane.

Trail is cut off where I’m stopped on the map.

Conditions are great by the way and that tree down on yellow is absolutely massive

 

[Steve Vai]

Guess it’s a slow news day, CBS is on it. Will be interesting to see an aerial view.

View attachment 270298

Helicopter was buzzing around during my ride today. It’s hard to get an idea of just how much woods they cleared until you actually see it. Almost as wide as the trails they’re building in Cromwell.

 

[rjr44]

Y'all beat me to it:

• Minimal trail loss; there are 2 dead ends now, but not a big deal
• Shite ton of trees gone
• Hi tech good as ever
• That tree on main vein is a monster, pictures don't do it justice

Tree down on luge:

 

[Bike N Gear]

Y'all beat me to it:

• Minimal trail loss; there are 2 dead ends now, but not a big deal
• shite ton of trees gone
• That tree on main vein is a monster, pictures don't do it justice

Tree down on luge:

View attachment 270316View attachment 270317

Paul from High Tech was there checking out that huge tree. I'm sure something will be done soon.

 

[SmooveP]

No, they don’t have the resources. This was a county job and up to the county to monitor. Typically, the “owner” (in this case the county) hires a sub-consultant who inspects the contractor’s work to ensure it’s up to spec. Depending upon the type of work they may be inspecting full time or just a few times a week to monitor (I suspect the latter for a job like this).

Others with vested interests (like the township) may also stop in from time to time to check on things, but since the township is not the “owner” they are not the responsible party to make sure the work gets carried out to spec. They may have the right to stop the work due to permitting issues, but all of that gets fuzzy really quickly.

I get that, but how long does it take to remove 300 trees? You'd think someone from the town would stick their head in for a peek while this part of the job was happening. Vested interest and all. If the town's legal battle causes a work stoppage, we're left with an unfinished eyesore while they duke it out in the courts. How would the county "remediate" this if they lose? Not easy to replace 300 mature trees.

Is cluster f**ck one word or two?

 

[Bike N Gear]

I get that, but how long does it take to remove 300 trees? You'd think someone from the town would stick their head in for a peek while this part of the job was happening. Vested interest and all. If the town's legal battle causes a work stoppage, we're left with an unfinished eyesore while they duke it out in the courts. How would the county "remediate" this if they lose? Not easy to replace 300 mature trees.

Is cluster f**ck one word or two?

No work stopage today. Still working.

 

[Red Mosquito]

Looks like they’re building a 4 lane highway to the parking lot

Somerset County illegally cut down trees in Bridgewater, lawsuit says

Town officials said the county submitted plans to remove 34 trees near Washington Valley Park, but somewhere between 300-500 were actually cut down. CBS News New York's Nick Caloway reports.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[Ejd]

I have a friend who owns a house on Miller lane. She said the residents were open to widening the road. After that they were not consulted.

 

[Steve Vai]

There was no one there on my road ride this morning, but that’s because it’s a Union Job 😂

 

[Carson]

The plot thickens.

 

[qclabrat]

With all this dirt moved, I petition to put in a pump track.

 

[Juggernaut]

You don’t put in a road like that w/out a (or several) large structures already green lighted. Just say’n

 

[Red Mosquito]

You don’t put in a road like that w/out a (or several) large structures already green lighted. Just say’n

There’s the “museum” next to miller ln parking lot, I wonder if there’s plans for that? IIRC that was privately owned but I feel like that may have changed in the last 5 or so years

 

[hls811]

There’s the “museum” next to miller ln parking lot, I wonder if there’s plans for that? IIRC that was privately owned but I feel like that may have changed in the last 5 or so years

https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/somerset-county/2023/03/26/revolutionary-war-nj-sites-bridgewater/70045246007/

It was preserved, until it wasn’t. They tore it down a while back - just the cannon is still there.

 

[Red Mosquito]

https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/somerset-county/2023/03/26/revolutionary-war-nj-sites-bridgewater/70045246007/

It was preserved, until it wasn’t. They tore it down a while back - just the cannon is still there.

That’s a bummer. For the hundreds of times I’ve ridden yellow, I never took the time to go down that driveway and scope it out.

I also found this:

Herb Patullo - Bound Brook's Ultimate History Legend - Mr. Local History Project

Meet Herb Patullo, Bound Brook's ultimate historian and American patriot.

www.mrlocalhistory.org

Following Herb’s passing in 2020, his estate honored his wish to preserve the Eagle’s Nest by facilitating its sale to Somerset County. In 2023, the county acquired the 1.43-acre property for $680,000 using Open Space funds, integrating it into the Washington Valley Park system. While the site is currently not open to the public, plans are underway to develop it as a Welcome Center and historical landmark in anticipation of the United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026. Herb’s unwavering commitment ensured that this once-overlooked site now holds its rightful place in the narrative of America’s fight for independence.

 

[KenS]

Almost as wide as the trails they’re building in Cromwell.

View attachment 270304

Couldn't resist the urge to make an uninformed/douchey comment about trail building? JORBA's biggest fan strikes again.

 

[thegock]

That’s a bummer. For the hundreds of times I’ve ridden yellow, I never took the time to go down that driveway and scope it out.

I also found this:

Herb Patullo - Bound Brook's Ultimate History Legend - Mr. Local History Project

Meet Herb Patullo, Bound Brook's ultimate historian and American patriot.

www.mrlocalhistory.org

Herb was an OK guy. I had spoken to him on many occasions when I noticed his maroon pickup while riding Yellow.

He invited the OOS group to his Fourth of July barbecue at Eagle's Nest, but I was the only one intrigued enough by the free food. The free beer was the icing on the cake. RIP Herb.

 

[Steve Vai]

Couldn't resist the urge to make an uninformed/douchey comment about trail building? JORBA's biggest fan strikes again.

A) It's obviously a joke, the people involved in building the trails at Cromwell laughed because it was so obviously a joke.

B) Chimney Rock is my local network and I've spent countless hours over the years in there riding and building with Jorba, so this is far from uniformed.

C) We donated a Levo to Jorba to build said trails. Thanks for showing us why we stopped doing things like that.

 

[KenS]

A) It's obviously a joke, the people involved in building the trails at Cromwell laughed because it was so obviously a joke.

B) Chimney Rock is my local network and I've spent countless hours over the years in there riding and building with Jorba, so this is far from uniformed.

C) We donated a Levo to Jorba to build said trails. Thanks for showing us why we stopped doing things like that.

So you stopped supporting JORBA because some of us are tired of being keyboard warrior'd? Ok, good call. Were you joking when you lied and said you cancelled your non-existed membership after riding batsto? Were you joking when you said I was preaching at the Schilling ride? The list goes on.

Maybe I have thin skin these days, but suffice to say I've grown tired of people with influence "joking" about things that spread misinformation and breed division when JORBA can't crest 600 members.

 

[Steve Vai]

So you stopped supporting JORBA because some of us are tired of being keyboard warrior'd? Ok, good call. Were you joking when you lied and said you cancelled your non-existed membership after riding batsto? Were you joking when you said I was preaching at the Schilling ride? The list goes on.

Maybe I have thin skin these days, but suffice to say I've grown tired of people with influence "joking" about things that spread misinformation and breed division when JORBA can't crest 600 members.

Wait until you find out about the internet.