It's been a long winter with a lot of tack cleaning days for all of us, but spring is not too far away (yea!). Spring is also membership renewal time. Remember to update Coggins certificates to be returned with your application.  

 

Speaking of memberships, we are very grateful to those of you who include a donation with your renewal, no matter the size. With all the rain and winter weather, there has been an inordinate amount of trail maintenance this past year as well as an increase in the cost of insurance; all help is appreciated

 

Many thanks to all who sent contact information to volunteer for trail maintenance and never fear, we will be calling on you from time to time! Our Trail Chairpersons have your information. We sincerely appreciate your willingness to pitch in.

 

We are very excited that Liz Dicey is designing a new web site for us!  The new site will be easier to navigate and easier to keep updated with trail notices, new photos, etc. We are hoping to have it up and running sometime in March. We will post it on FETA's Facebook page when it becomes active.  Meanwhile, our present site is still available with all the information and forms you need.

 

Ride Safe and Friendly,

Judith

This newsletter is published quarterly by season as content demands.  It is sent electronically to FETA members only.  If you are no longer a FETA member or prefer not to receive the newsletter, please scroll to the bottom and click on the safe unsubscribe link to have your email address immediately removed from the mailing list.  Please do not send the newsletter to your spam folder.  Having the newsletter reported as spam reflects poorly on us.  This is not a solicitation nor do we share your email address with anyone.

Washed out culvert on Iris Trail

Rain and wind plague the trails with downed trees, keeping Carol Propest and her chainsaw busy. Carol has used the blower on some of the trails that tend to stay wet. She is also working on improving the trail signage at FENCE for better clarification.

 

Thank you to Jim and Ann Troppmann for providing transport service to Jonathan Rowe as he investigated the work that needed to be done on the North Peniel trails. Jim and Ann also cleared a short reroute around a very muddy area near Honeyhill. As a result of the extended work, the North Peniel trails are much improved.

 

Bob Lesowitz extended his volunteer trail work from Little Mountain area to the North Peniel trails and Rondo Ridge. Thanks for all of your help on maintaining the trails Bob!

 

Here is a brief re-cap of just some of the trail maintenance and repairs performed by Jonathan over the past few months:

 

• Repair of the first stream crossing at FENCE.  

• Re-grading the trail above the pond at FENCE which is eroding.  

• Substantial improvement by the re-grading of several stream crossings on the North Peniel Trails.  

• The ravine in the North Peniel area had become deeply eroded over the years. The ravine was widened.  

• Repair of two stream crossings in Pretty Bottom.  

• Finished work on Pony Track to eliminate wet areas.

The 2014-15 membership applications will be sent to your email address inbox around April 1.  In order to renew promptly, please remember to:

• Send email changes to Roberta Axelrod at information@fetatrails.org.  This will insure delivery of the application to your inbox.
• Check your records now and call your vet to update your Coggins if necessary. Outdated or missing Coggins is a frequent problem that delays completion of renewals.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please click here to send Roberta an email. 

On Friday, November 15, 2013 Cotton Patch farm hands Faith, Tremayne and Emilio began work on Still Branch Trail at 7:30am. They finished at 4:00pm.

Tremayne graded the trail with the tractor. The surface was then raked smoothed.  Faith measured and cut the geo-textile ground cloth. Ground staples were used to hold it in place. Faith measured and cut the geo-web which was then held in place on the trail with rebar j-hooks. The concrete curbs were put in place for drainage then the geo materials were covered in washed stone.

The job was completed on Monday when a top layer of rock dust was spread over the stone. The geo-web and curbs were covered upon finishing. The total distance covered is more than 75 ft. long and 6 ft. wide.  Visit the FETA Trail Photos Gallery to see photos of the progress.

I am available to accompany riders on the trails in the Hunting Country area of the trail system.  I can show you the trails at Cotton Patch, Scriven, Hooker Ridge, Rondo Ridge, Chinquapin, FENCE, Pretty Bottom, and Stoneybrook.  Riders are welcome to meet me at Cotton Patch or the parking areas at FENCE, River Road, or Carriage Row.  You can call me at 828-817-5412 or send me an email to schedule a ride.

Anyone interested in leading rides, please send me your contact information to be included in the next newsletter.  Also, remember to check our FETA Facebook page to post rides or to connect with other riders.

Questions or comments?  Board members are happy to talk to you any time.  They are:

  

Judith Kerns, President                                  Faith Jorgenson, Communications

    Dot Moyer, Vice President                          Roberta Axelrod, Membership

Gail Gardner, Secretary                                      Rhonda King, Member Relations

     Bill Kerns, Treasurer                                         Ric Rondell, Trails Chair

   Anne Swift, Trails Chair 

 

 

                                            Liz Dicey            Tina Walker               

                                            Mike Frye           Aleah Wicks                          

 

 

Trail Area Representatives are:

  Nancy:  Chinquapin Farm                                     Dot:  Pretty Bottom, Stonybrook

Rhonda:  Pony Track, Hunting Woods                 Judith:  River Rd, Carriage Row

   Faith:   Hunting Country Rd to River Rd                 Ric:  North Peniel Trails

    Anne:  FENCE                                                 Tina:  Little Mountain Trails

 

FETA's Board meets the 4th Tuesday evening of the month at 6:30.  All members are welcome to attend, raise questions or issues at the start of the meeting, or just observe.  Contact Judith Kerns for location.  No July or December meeting. 

  

Faith Jorgenson, Editor
Foothills Equestrian Trails Association