Dirt Trails Closed 12/24/19

Shimek Dirt Trails Are Closed:

Monitor status at:

Iowa DNR Status/Closure site
https://www.iowadnr.gov/Pla…/State-Parks/Alerts-and-Closures
or Call DNR Shimek office phone 319-878-3811 for trail status message.

First Day Hike 2020 Planned at Black Oak Lake in Shimek Forest

Join DNR Technician Patrick Thomas at Black Oak Lake on January 1 for a moderate 1-mile hike. We will walk around the lake to view wildlife; an additional 2-mile hike option will be available. Dress for the weather.
Cancellation Information: Call 319-931-7805 if inclement weather or questions.

Black Oak Lake is located about 1 mile north of Farmington. Take J56 (also called Pearl St.) north out of town for about 1 mile.  See the green line on the map below.  The yellow lines are hiking trails.

 Look for the small Black Oak Lake sign on the East side just past the DNR Headquarters

Drive about 0.6 miles on the good gravel road through pines and hardwood to the parking area by the lake.

There is a lovely small picnic area with tables and a unisex toilet facility.

 Just below the parking area is the ADA accessible ramp down to the lake and dock.

 Taking the trail to the left of the lake and up a small rise, one comes to the first of several bridges you will cross.  You'll need to come hike with us to see the rest of the trail and the birds and wildlife that reside in the area.

Here's the other end of the trail at the far end of the damn that forms the lake..

There is lots to see and weather permitting, we will see it all on January 1st.  Come join us at 10:00AM

Note: All photos were made on 12/12/2019. 

The science of what damage can be done when riding on muddy trails

This article explains the impact riding, hiking, or biking can have when trails are used in wet and muddy conditions.  It is a very informative article shared by the Kansas Chapter.  The same damage would apply to the trails we enjoy in Shimek State Forest.

Article is
Courtesy of
Denise S

Erin Glassman‎ to Back Country Horsemen of America Kansas Chapter

December 1 at 10:56 AM

Hi guys, this is your current BCHK State chapter President, Erin Glassman and soon to be Trails Chair for Kansas Horse Council. I had seen a post about a very serious threat to access for us horseback trail enthusiasts earlier on Facebook today and thought this would be a great time to start making some posts about trail issues.

The post in question talked about some horseback riders getting on muddy trails on one of the rail trails.

There is a science and thought process going into the construction of the trails we get to ride in Kansas; here I'm going to talk a little bit about the impact we create on trail surface with various soil types.

According to Gene Wood in "Recreational Horse Trails in Rural and Wildland Areas: Design Construction and Maintenance", there are four basic soil properties that we can be aware of (p 5,6). These are texture, drainage, structure and bulk density; I'll not go into incredible detail here, but these details help us to determine how much impact we as trail-users have in particular areas.

There are three primary soil particle types that we deal with when it comes to texture. These include sand, silt, and clay.

Sandy trails tend to drain well and not hold mud; they can stand up to almost any kind of traffic in any weather. However, they erode very quickly on slopes and going off-trail in sandy soil quickly creates new trails where land management agencies may not want new trails to exist.

Silt soil particles are highly erodible and can be very sensitive to trail traffic and water flow, especially after having been wet.

Clay tends to be cohesive to itself and depending on the type of clay may cause slippery trails or mud that binds highly to users tread, whether it be hiking shoes, bike tires or horse hooves.

Beyond the soil types, trails that have been improved with gravel or other materials to harden them tend to cup or rut easily. (Wood, p 92) (This is what has happened on the rail-trails in our state this weekend and why we really must pay attention to where we are riding, particularly if we see that we are doing damage or signs are posted to deter riding when muddy conditions exist).

In Kansas we have a variety of soil types that our trails exist on; no matter what type, riding or hiking on the trails when they are muddy can create damage and more work for trail maintenance workers, whether they be the State Park employees or volunteer groups.

Guys, we do leave damage on muddy trails and it IS hard to negotiate even for horses when it dries up. All trail users should stay off of muddy trails, whether it be horses, bikers or hikers; there's just no question about it. If you have to go out and ride, go on a road and try to help all of us out.

 

Kathy

Editor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fundraiser At River Valley November 9, 2019

 

The fundraiser held at the River Valley Lodge was enjoyed by everyone who attended.  The food was exceptional. The entertainment proved to be very "entertaining." 

 

Friends of Shimek was able to raise over $4100 to help maintain the campground and trails in Shimek Forest.

 

  

Chef Gary Schieffer preparing ribs and chicken to serve for the evening meals. 

Thank you to Gary and Denise Schieffer who prepared and served 80 people with delicious BBQ, cole slaw, mac and cheese and beans. They also provided before dinner appetizers--some crunchy onion rings and cheese balls that were available at the outdoor kitchen.

 

So many wonderful desserts -pies, brownies, and cakes

 



 

The Tubador--Gary McCurdy of Wahington, IA both teaches and entertains.

Comedian Timmy Ink-Watts ..you guessed it--motorcycle humor!

Jewel and Brian McDonald entertaining attendees at the FOS Fundraiser.

 





Shimek Forester John Byrd thanked FOS and Grantors Lee County Charitable Fund and the William M and Donna J Hoaglin Foundation for their support.

 FOS President Ringo Covert missed his introduction--he was hard at work washing up pots and pans and being sure we left the Lodge spick and span.

 

Thank you to Gary and Denise Schieffer who prepared and served 80 people with delicious BBQ, cole slaw, mac and cheese and beans. They also provided before dinner appetizers--some crunchy onion rings and cheese balls that were available at the outdoor kitchen.

 

Thank You to Carolyn & Steve Kokjohn, owners of River Valley, for providing FOS this great venue for the Fundraiser.

 

Thank you to everyone that made this fundraiser a successful event!

 

 

 

 

The William M. and Donna J. Hoaglin Foundation, Inc.

The William M. and Donna J. Hoaglin Foundation, Inc. awards grant to resurface the Shimek Forest Wet Weather Trails

 

 

The William M. and Donna J. Hoaglin Foundation, Inc. of Mt. Pleasant has awarded a $10,000 grant to Friends of Shimek (FOS) to be used to resurface the existing Wet Weather Trails in the Lick Creek Unit of Shimek Forest. 

According to Ringo Covert, President of Friends of Shimek, the William M. and Donna J. Hoaglin Foundation has been instrumental in developi...ng the Wet Weather Trails. The Foundation provided the first grant in 2012 to begin the Wet Weather Trail system (WWT). They made an additional grant a couple of years later that expanded the Wet Weather Trails to over 6 miles. These grants have made the vision of Forester John Byrd a reality—a vision to have firm trails that can be ridden in wetter weather to assure that all 25 plus miles of trails in the Lick Creek Unit are protected from damage. This concept has radically affected the usage and condition of the trails at Shimek Forest. Now, in only the very wettest weather –such as the spring thaw—are all trails closed. Instead, what is now 6.5 miles of Wet Weather Trails (mileage excludes roads) are available to ride when weather conditions mean that the dirt trails could be seriously damaged and the likelihood of injury to horses or riders on those trails make them not safe to use. The Wet Weather Trails provide a wide, rocked surface that is firm and sustainable.

This grant funds Phase 2 of a plan to resurface the entire Wet Weather Trail System. The first part was to correct damage from the past winter, which was funded by a grant from the Lee County Charitable Fund and has been completed. This grant from the William M. and Donna J. Hoaglin Foundation is now being used to purchase rock to resurface all areas of the WWT to reduce damage in the near future. It will be matched by $3,000 from FOS using funds raised through events such as the November 9th Fund Raiser. Forester John Byrd has committed the Shimek DNR crew and equipment to resurface the trails with rock. By the very nature of the trails—ridden regularly in all condition--- the maintenance of the trails will be an on-going issue but this complete re-rocking will improve all surfaces, requiring only annual upgrades for the foreseeable future.
The project is already underway. The photos show the work being done to improve both surface appearance and durability by adding and packing the rock on the trails and one of the recently re-rocked trails being ridden. Work will complete next spring to have the trails in the best condition for spring riding.