ERTS
Dec 20 2021
Clay County's Elk River Trail System (ERTS) was wiped
out during an August storm. So bad was the damage, in our
Sept 6th article, we felt ERTS was all over taking with it
our only future, tourism. The broken culverts, stopped up
culverts, trees across the gravel path, and in several
places, big chunks of the trail completely washed away, we
pronounced ERTS dead.
Instead of riding the 32 miles we stayed away in Sept., Oct, and early Nov.
And now an update worth reading.
Not sure who all did the heaving lifting, but for the most part, ERTS is back in working order for bikers, hikers, horses and horse drawn buggies between Ivydale (milepost 50.5) to Dundon (milepost 62).
It's not as smooth as last Summer when everything was new. But, it's completely passable as of the end of Nov. Amazingly enough, after thousands have explored ERTS, litter is just about non existent.
The Bad: all those trail users that came to view Fall Foliage, they left with a sour taste. The Good: Maybe more attention and effort will kick into gear after future storms.
Instead of riding the 32 miles we stayed away in Sept., Oct, and early Nov.
And now an update worth reading.
Not sure who all did the heaving lifting, but for the most part, ERTS is back in working order for bikers, hikers, horses and horse drawn buggies between Ivydale (milepost 50.5) to Dundon (milepost 62).
It's not as smooth as last Summer when everything was new. But, it's completely passable as of the end of Nov. Amazingly enough, after thousands have explored ERTS, litter is just about non existent.
The Bad: all those trail users that came to view Fall Foliage, they left with a sour taste. The Good: Maybe more attention and effort will kick into gear after future storms.
Just about all the washed out areas have been repaired. This one is still passable by horse drawn carts.
Some pretty big trees came down during the August "Ida" attack.
10 outdoor facilitates are planned for the tourism draw. So far one has been completed. The one completed is made of concrete (including the roof) with some kind of heavy duty plastic covering on all walls, inside and out. The cost of each privy is right at $47,000.
That's an outrageous price tag but it looks like they will last a long time and very resistant to storm damage. So far, no stink either! The holder is there but bring your own TP.
Just a mile or so down river from Ivydale, some lawyer donated a small hunk of land to the trail.
The riverside spot will make good access to the Elk or maybe
better yet, when ERTS is complete from Gilmer Station down
to Charleston, it might serve as a place to overnight camp.
There's really two sections to ERTS. The main trail is right along Elk River. The second part is the spur line formally used by the Buffalo Creek and Gauley Railroad (BC&G) and runs from Dundon nearly up to Widen. Total length of that spur is around 17 miles. Both the main and spur lines are included in the State Park organization according to the Gov.
There is a real difference between the two. On the main line, all rails and ties have been removed. It is strictly for feets and bikes. On the spur line, the rails have been left in place and a hiking trail will run beside rails. In places, that's going to be a tight fit to say the least.
After the 2016 Great Wash Out, FEMA agreed to pay to repair the flood damaged rails. That project of bridge replacement, bridge upgrades, & cross ties replacement are now in progress. During a November 2021 public meeting, Mitch DeBoard guessed, around 20% of the $7M project is complete. FEMA will only pay for stuff damaged by the wash out.
There's really two sections to ERTS. The main trail is right along Elk River. The second part is the spur line formally used by the Buffalo Creek and Gauley Railroad (BC&G) and runs from Dundon nearly up to Widen. Total length of that spur is around 17 miles. Both the main and spur lines are included in the State Park organization according to the Gov.
There is a real difference between the two. On the main line, all rails and ties have been removed. It is strictly for feets and bikes. On the spur line, the rails have been left in place and a hiking trail will run beside rails. In places, that's going to be a tight fit to say the least.
After the 2016 Great Wash Out, FEMA agreed to pay to repair the flood damaged rails. That project of bridge replacement, bridge upgrades, & cross ties replacement are now in progress. During a November 2021 public meeting, Mitch DeBoard guessed, around 20% of the $7M project is complete. FEMA will only pay for stuff damaged by the wash out.
About every 3rd cross tie will be replaced by FEMA
You can see the work going on by driving on Swandale Road. This pic shows the ties after being removed from under the rails.
Here's the gizmo that pulls the ties away from the rail. Our guesstimate is, contractors can yank out out 300 or so ties each work day. A total of 1300+ ties will be replaced when all done.
The dead ties are being loaded into green dumpsters and hauled away.
About two miles up Swandale Road, where Joe Nutter used to have a Summer camp, you can see all the ties laid aside.
Deadline to complete the spur is May 1st 2021. It's looks
like they may meet their deadline and on time. Original
plans called for running the pedal powered cars on the new
stretch of track in the Summer of 2022. Us back seat drivers
have been voicing the need for a "railbus" to run on that
line too.
And now and now, there has been talk about working a deal with Cass Scenic Railroad for those experienced people to run this tourism ride and include reaaaaaaaaaaaaal steam engines. Keep your fingers crossed readers.
Finally, if we get some snow this Winter, ERTS will make a great place to go cross country skiing.
See you on the trail
AW
And now and now, there has been talk about working a deal with Cass Scenic Railroad for those experienced people to run this tourism ride and include reaaaaaaaaaaaaal steam engines. Keep your fingers crossed readers.
Finally, if we get some snow this Winter, ERTS will make a great place to go cross country skiing.
See you on the trail
AW